英国的科学家们表示，一项简单的皮肤拭子检查可用来帮助诊断退化性大脑疾病帕金森病。对志愿者的研究表明，该检查能快速测出皮脂中显示患病迹象的化合物，皮脂是一种保护皮肤的油性物质。

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.

据估计，英国约有14.5万人患有帕金森病，但目前没有治愈该病的方法，也没有能检测出该病的可靠手段。

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

研究人员们说，对500人进行的试验表明，有一项皮肤拭子检查可以正确识别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.

他们的新技术依靠分析皮脂（包裹皮肤的油性物质）中的化合物，并识别它们在患者身上的变化来进行检测。

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.

曼彻斯特大学的研究团队表示，这是实现快速、无痛、廉价诊断方式的第一步。这项技术还可以用来追踪帕金森病的病情变化，并检测新的实验性治疗是否有效。

词汇表

cure 治疗、治愈
definitive 结论性的，完全可靠的
trials 试验
skin swab 皮肤拭子检查
identify 确认，识别
technique 技术
sebum 皮脂（皮肤上的一种油性物质）
substance 物质
coats 给…覆盖一层 （涂层）
painless 无痛的
diagnosis 诊断
progression 进展

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

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.