It’s been known by a few names, but has hosted plenty of big names in the past

One of Manchester’s original 1960s skyscrapers is set to undergo a ‘statement of intent’ makeover with a four-storey ‘extension’.

The 21-storey Manchester One block on Portland Street towered over Manchester when it opened as St Andrew’s House in 1962, the same year the CIS Tower emerged on the other side of town as Britain’s tallest building, 118m (387 feet) high. The 77m (252 ft) tall skyscraper is now home to Gaydio radio station and the Polish consulate, among others.

But despite still being home to dozens of firms, owners Bruntwood SciTech plan to redevelop it with a £17m ‘statement of intent’ revamp.

“Manchester One has been an enduring fixture of the city for decades and is synonymous with Manchester’s skyline,” said Matthew Morten, director at Bruntwood SciTech.

Advertisement

“These proposals represent our commitment to ensuring it remains both sustainable and inspiring, and the £17 million investment is a clear statement of intent about the building’s importance to both our portfolio and to Manchester.

“We’re reimagining this building with our customers at the heart of every decision. This transformation is about creating a best-in-class environment that helps businesses attract and retain the talent they need, supports work-life balance through dedicated wellness facilities and flexible workspace, and ultimately enhances productivity. It’s a place that continues to support not just work, but wellbeing, collaboration, sustainability and community.

“Manchester remains integral to our vision, and sustained investment here and across our cities is central to our growth strategy and our determination to provide the infrastructure that enables businesses and cities to thrive.”

Advertisement

Most notably, the plans include a four-storey ‘extension’ to the building at street level, with the green-clad addition serving as the building’s main reception with a double-height ceiling providing space for a cafe open to the public.

The original tower’s facades will undergo a full makeover to ‘refresh’ its appearance. Floorplans will also be changed, resulting in an extra 30,000 sq ft (2,787 sqm) over both buildings.

Developers submitted a planning application for the revamp on Wednesday (February 4), and are hopeful to begin building work this summer before opening the space in early 2028, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

More than 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory diseases

Advertisement

More than 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory diseases, according to the British Heart Foundation. It’s also estimated that one in 12 people is affected by the disease globally.

Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is often caused by fatty deposits in the arteries, and this can cause a higher risk of blood clots.

It can also cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. Some blood tests are able to measure different types of fats within the body.

With February marking National Heart Month, LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor surveyed 500 UK respondents to find out how much they know about the symptoms of heart disease. Lloyds’ Dr Bhavini Shah explains these symptoms in detail and shares practical steps on how to reduce your risk.

Symptoms of heart disease

Chest pain is a common symptom of heart disease. Chest pain that feels like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or heaviness could be a symptom of a heart attack, and it’s essential to dial 999, reports the Mirror. Of those who were surveyed, 80% identified chest pain as a symptom, making it the most recognised overall.

Alongside this, 77% correctly identified shortness of breath as a symptom. Dr Shah explains that if the heart isn’t pumping enough blood throughout the body, fluid may build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and leading to shortness of breath.

Irregular heart rhythms can also indicate heart disease, something 70% of people recognised. Whilst this might not be directly linked to a serious condition, it’s important to get this checked to understand any underlying issues.

A total of 66% of surveyed respondents acknowledged that extreme fatigue can also be a symptom, making day-to-day activities or mild exercise exhausting.

Dr Shah also says that leg swelling, medically known as oedema, is a less well-known symptom of heart disease and occurs when fluid builds up in the tissue. This can worsen throughout the day. Less than half (46%) were aware of this.

If you have any of these symptoms and are concerned you may be at risk of a heart attack, it’s essential to dial 999. Additionally, seek medical attention from a GP.

How to reduce your risk of heart disease

Eat healthily

Cutting down on fat intake is an effective way to not only lower your risk of coronary heart disease but also help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. According to the NHS, a high-fibre, low-fat diet is recommended and should include at least five servings of fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains (oats, rye and brown rice).

The NHS also advises limiting salt intake to no more than 6g per day and avoiding saturated fats, as they can increase cholesterol levels. Get active Dr Shah recommends maintaining an active lifestyle to ward off heart disease. The British Heart Foundation states that regular physical activity can cut your heart disease risk by as much as 35%.

Remaining physically active also assists in controlling blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels. Health experts suggest participating in a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise weekly. Whether it involves brisk walking, cycling, swimming or joining fitness sessions, discovering an enjoyable activity could support consistency and help maintain healthy habits.

Stop smoking

The charity Action on Smoking and Health explains that cigarette smoking harms arterial walls, particularly the coronary arteries. A substance known as acrolein disrupts the body’s cholesterol processing capabilities, resulting in elevated bloodstream levels.

Reduce alcohol consumption

A further method to lower heart disease risk involves drinking alcohol moderately. NHS guidance states that both men and women should consume no more than 14 units of alcohol weekly, with these units distributed across a minimum of three days rather than consumed in one session.

Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to elevated blood pressure. Consistently exceeding the recommended 14 weekly units over a decade can heighten your chances of developing heart disease or experiencing a stroke.

Get enough sleep

It’s crucial to ensure adequate rest each night. Insufficient sleep may heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A healthy adult requires between seven and nine hours nightly. Teenagers, children and infants will need more, anywhere from eight to 16 hours.

Making modest yet achievable adjustments to your daily habits can have a significant impact on your cardiovascular health.

Imagine diagnosing one of the most challenging neurological diseases with just a quick finger-prick, a few drops of blood and a test sent in the post. This may sound like science fiction, but we are hoping our research could soon help it become a reality.

Our team at the UK Dementia Research Institute’s Biomarker Factory at UCL are part of the global effort working to develop and validate a test for Alzheimer’s disease. We’re currently working to overcome the various technical challenges facing these tests so that this test can one day soon be available to the broader public.

What do finger-prick tests look for?

At their core, these finger-prick tests are designed to detect specific biomarkers.
Biomarkers are biological molecules found in the blood which indicate signs of disease. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, the brain gradually accumulates abnormal proteins. These proteins form structures such as amyloid plaques and tau tangles which damage the brain’s neural networks. They’re also involved in brain inflammation.

These abnormal proteins can be detected in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and, importantly, the blood years before symptoms arise.

Recently, research has also shown these biomarkers can be measured in dried blood samples from a simple finger-prick. A study focusing on 337 people showed that these dried blood samples can reliably detect Alzheimer’s-related changes in biomarkers with a diagnostic accuracy of around 86% compared to conventional methods.

Once refined and validated, these tests could aid with early detection, screening at-risk people, tracking disease progression or even evaluating the effectiveness of emerging treatments.

What are the shortcomings of current diagnostic tools?

In addition to cognitive tests (which check for cognitive decline and memory problems), there are currently two robust approaches for diagnosing signs of Alzheimer’s in the brain.

The first is PET imaging. These scans detect disease characteristics using radioactive tracers which light up areas of the brain where tangles and plaques may be present. However, PET scans are expensive, use radioactivity and require specialist facilities.

The second method uses a spinal tap to extract cerebrospinal fluid (the clear, colourless liquid that protects the brain and extracts waste). This looks for the same biomarkers as finger-prick tests. However, this method is invasive and can be painful and stressful to patients. Some people also may not be eligible to have it done.

Cognitive tests also have shortcomings. As a result, people whose first language isn’t the one in which the test is being administered, or those who have other health conditions that also cause cognitive problems, may be misdiagnosed.

And, while cognitive testing can give an idea about a potential issue, these tests alone can’t tell us what specific condition is causing symptoms. This can also lead to misdiagnosis.

Even traditional blood tests done in a clinic have limitations. These tests require immediate processing (or refrigeration) and careful handling to avoid influencing biomarker levels. This makes traditional blood tests impractical for large-scale, population-level screening – particularly in underserved or rural regions.

By contrast, the finger-prick test we’re developing can be done at home and posted to a lab without refrigeration.

What are we working on in the lab?

Our lab is currently working to improve the sensitivity, reliability and real-world usability of these finger-prick tests.

We’re currently experimenting with different, sensitive biomarker detection methods – using just tiny volumes of blood collected from either the finger or the vein and seeing how these compare.

Alongside tau and amyloid, we’re also testing other proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and various neurodegenerative disorders – such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

À lire aussi :
New Alzheimer’s drug: what you need to know about donanemab’s promising trial results

Our hope with these tests is not only to identify Alzheimer’s disease, but to catch it before irreversible brain damage occurs. This would open a window for early intervention.

With novel therapies emerging that may slow the disease, early identification is critical.

What challenges have we encountered?

Designing these tests hasn’t been straightforward. We’ve encountered a few major hurdles along the way.

The first hurdle we encountered had to do with the biomarkers themselves.

Alzheimer’s biomarker levels are often much lower in the blood than they are in cerebrospinal fluid. So the technological methods needed to measure them accurately had to be very sensitive.

Another obstacle we encountered related to sample quality. Without refrigeration, the proteins can degrade – giving inaccurate readings and potentially misdiagnoses. So we’re currently working to develop collection and mailing methods that ensure these dried blood proteins are stable and don’t degrade before testing.

Data interpretation has also been a challenge. Although these tests are accurate for the majority of cases, we still need to figure out how to interpret outliers – such as participants who have high biomarker levels without other signs of the disease, and those who have low biomarker levels with significant signs of the disease. So even when we detect elevated biomarkers, interpreting what that means for a person’s Alzheimer’s risk is complex.

Alzheimer’s biomarkers are also not exclusive to the disease. Similar biomarkers can occur in other neurological conditions such as vascular dementia, multiple sclerosis, and even in otherwise asymptomatic people or even healthy newborns.

We’ve since refined our tests so they’re more sensitive and have sourced and are currently comparing devices that make at-home sample collection easier. These solutions are steadily improving test reliability.

What could our work mean for Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

It’s important to emphasise that these tests are still at least a few years away from routine use. But, if validated, finger-prick tests could revolutionise Alzheimer’s diagnosis in several ways.

It would allow for earlier detection of the disease and broaden access for patients. It would also enable larger, more diverse population studies to be conducted – reducing historical gaps in Alzheimer’s research and improving our understanding of the disease globally.

The idea of diagnosing Alzheimer’s with a quick, finger-prick test marks a profound shift in how we could approach neurodegenerative diseases. Moving beyond invasive, costly procedures toward accessible, patient-friendly diagnostics carries enormous potential — for patients, their families and future research.

A MAN was reportedly sexually assaulted while walking on a street in an industrial town.

The victim was confronted and assaulted by the attacker at 3:30pm on 22 December 2025 on William Street, Sittingbourne.

Kent Police have released an e-fit image of the suspect and are calling for anyone who recognise him to contact them.

The suspect first approached the man and made sexual comments to him before touching him over his clothes.

He is described as 5 foot 5 inches tall, spoke broken English, and was wearing a black bomber jacket and jeans at the time of the incident.

Anyone who recognises the man can contact Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 46/218884/25. 

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The search for “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother still had no suspect or person of interest Wednesday, authorities said, four days after she disappeared with signs of forced entry at her home in southern Arizona.

Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will over the weekend and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said they don’t have credible information indicating Guthrie’s disappearance was targeted. Guthrie has limited mobility, and officials do not believe she left on her own. Nanos said she is of sound mind.

“Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement on social media Wednesday. “Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family.”

Multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes Tuesday that they handed over to investigators. The sheriff’s department has said it’s taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

The Pima County sheriff and the Tucson FBI chief urged the public to offer tips during a news conference Tuesday. Nanos has said Guthrie needs daily medication and could die without it. Asked whether officials were looking for her alive, he said, “We hope we are.”

Authorities say Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Tucson area, where she lived alone, and she was reported missing midday Sunday. Someone at her church called a family member to say she was not there, leading family to search her home and then call 911.

DNA samples have been gathered and submitted for analysis as part of the investigation. “We’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos said.

There were signs of forced entry at Guthrie’s home, evidence of a nighttime kidnapping, and several personal items were still there, including Guthrie’s cellphone, wallet and car, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of an anonymity. Investigators were reviewing surveillance video from nearby homes and information from area license plate cameras and analyzing local cellphone towers data.

For a third day Wednesday, “Today” opened with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. NBC Sports said Tuesday that Guthrie will not be covering the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics “as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.”

The “Today” host grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at Tucson television station KVOA. Her parents settled in Tucson in the 1970s when she was a young child. The youngest of three siblings, she credits her mom with holding their family together after her father died of a heart attack at 49, when Savannah was just 16.

___

Billeaud reported from Phoenix and Balsamo from Washington.