【在生活中學習語言】《中英對照讀新聞》Blood pressure drug ’can cut risk of diabetics going blind’ 高血壓藥物「能減少糖尿病患失明風險」
◎陳成良

A blood pressure drug can cut the risk of diabetes sufferers going blind, a study shows.

一種高血壓藥物能降低糖尿病患者失明風險，一項研究顯示。

The drug, called Candesartan, reduces the chance of diabetics developing a syndrome called retinopathy, in which the retina becomes damaged, affecting sight.

這種稱為「坎地沙坦」的藥物，能降低糖尿病患得到一種稱為「視網膜病變」症候群的機率，此病症會損害視網膜，影響視力。

The study shows that patients with Type 1 diabetes, the most common kind diagnosed in children, who were given the drug were almost a fifth less likely to develop the condition.

該研究顯示，患有第一型糖尿病，也就是兒童最常被診斷出的糖尿病之病患，服用這種藥物後，出現這種病症的機率少了5分之1。

Scientists tested the effects of the blood pressure drug on almost 2,000 patients. They found that it reduced the chance of developing retinopathy by 18 percent.

科學家對將近2,000名病患測試這種高血壓藥物。他們發現，該藥降低罹患視網膜病變的機率達18%。

There was also a small slow down in the progression of the disease in those who already had retinopathy, the study, reported in the Lancet medical journal found.

那些已罹患視網膜病變的人，病情蔓延的速度也小幅減緩，發表在「刺胳針」醫學期刊中的這項研究指出。

If caught early enough patients can have laser surgery to improve their eyesight, but in severe cases retinopathy can lead to blindness.

若能及早發現，病患就能接受雷射手術來改善視力，但若干嚴重病例中，視網膜病變可能導致失明。

It is caused by complications from diabetes which can damage the blood vessels linked to the retina at the back of the eye. This can cause leakage around the eye, over time blocking vision.

它是由糖尿病併發症所引發，能損害眼球後方與視網膜相連的血管。這種情況會導致眼睛周圍出現漏縫，經過一段時間便會阻絕視力。

新聞辭典

go blind：片語，失明。類似用法還有go crazy（發狂）、go wrong（出問題）等。

Type 1 diabetes：醫學名詞，第一型糖尿病，又稱胰島素依賴或少年型糖尿病，主要是因胰臟分泌胰島素的細胞被破壞所致，患者需要注射胰島素來控制體內血糖。

complication：在醫學上指的是「併發症」。complication另一個意思是「糾紛、混亂」，例句：We cannot allow further complication of this matter.（我們不能讓這件事進一步複雜化。）

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