英國的科學(xué)家們表示，一項(xiàng)簡單的皮膚拭子檢查可用來幫助診斷退化性大腦疾病帕金森病。對志愿者的研究表明，該檢查能快速測出皮脂中顯示患病跡象的化合物，皮脂是一種保護(hù)皮膚的油性物質(zhì)。

There are an estimated 145,000 people living with Parkinson's in the UK, but there is no cure and no definitive test for the disease.

據(jù)估計(jì)，英國約有14.5萬人患有帕金森病，但目前沒有治愈該病的方法，也沒有能檢測出該病的可靠手段。

The researchers say trials on 500 people showed a skin swab could correctly identify 85% of cases.

研究人員們說，對500人進(jìn)行的試驗(yàn)表明，有一項(xiàng)皮膚拭子檢查可以正確識別85%的病例。

Their new technique works by analysing compounds found in the sebum – the oily substance that coats the skin – and identifying changes in people with the disease.

他們的新技術(shù)依靠分析皮脂（包裹皮膚的油性物質(zhì)）中的化合物，并識別它們在患者身上的變化來進(jìn)行檢測。

The team at the University of Manchester said this is the first step towards what could be a fast, painless and cheap form of diagnosis. It could also be used to track the progression of Parkinson's and to measure whether new experimental treatments are having an impact.

曼徹斯特大學(xué)的研究團(tuán)隊(duì)表示，這是實(shí)現(xiàn)快速、無痛、廉價(jià)診斷方式的第一步。這項(xiàng)技術(shù)還可以用來追蹤帕金森病的病情變化，并檢測新的實(shí)驗(yàn)性治療是否有效。

詞匯表

cure 治療、治愈
definitive 結(jié)論性的，完全可靠的
trials 試驗(yàn)
skin swab 皮膚拭子檢查
identify 確認(rèn)，識別
technique 技術(shù)
sebum 皮脂（皮膚上的一種油性物質(zhì)）
substance 物質(zhì)
coats 給…覆蓋一層 （涂層）
painless 無痛的
diagnosis 診斷
progression 進(jìn)展

閱讀理解：請?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? At the moment, there is no way to make people with Parkinson's completely healthy again.

2. According to the researchers, what could the skin swab do?

3. What is the sebum?

4. What could the skin swab test be used to measure?

答案  

1. True or false? At the moment, there is no way to make people with Parkinson's completely healthy again.
True. There is no cure for Parkinson's.

2. According to the researchers, what could the skin swab do?
The researchers say trials on 500 people showed a skin swab could correctly identify 85% of cases.

3. What is the sebum?
The sebum is the oily substance that coats the skin.

4. What could the skin swab test be used to measure?
It could be used to measure whether new experimental treatments are having an impact.