Frequent cannabis use could raise your risk of asthma, researchers say

New research shows an association between regular cannabis use and asthma among individuals in the U.S.

• A new study shows there were more cases of asthma among individuals in the United States who used cannabis in the past month.
• Negative effects of cannabis use include respiratory and cardiovascular problems, cognitive impairment, poor school or work performance, and mood disorders.
• The effects of secondhand smoke from cannabis may also raise asthma risk.
• The legalization of cannabis in many states may have contributed to the recent rise in asthma cases.

A new study showed asthma was more prevalent among individuals in the United States who reported cannabis use in the past month.

Asthma was also more common among people who used cannabis 20–30 days each month.

The findings were recently published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Researchers analyzed data from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health a representative, which included 32,893 U.S. individuals aged 12 and up.

Specifically, they looked at the association between frequency of any cannabis, blunt use, or both in the past month among participants with asthma, while also taking into account demographics and current cigarette smoking.

Results indicate the more often cannabis is used, the higher the incidence of asthma. Further studies are needed to understand this association.

Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, not involved in the study, told Medical News Today:

“As the study showed, increased use of cannabis seems to correlate with the increased prevalence of asthma. It’s important to note the way cannabis was delivered was traditional (used in a blunt form) as opposed to edibles. Therefore, it is unclear if it’s the contaminants of smoke or the THC itself which is causing the increased prevalence of asthma in those users.”

What are the potential harms of cannabis use?

Cannabis or marijuana is the third most used psychoactive substance worldwide, after alcohol and tobacco (nicotine), Dr. Sobia Farooq, an asthma specialist at Cleveland Clinic not involved in the study, told MNT.

The potency of cannabis has significantly increased worldwide over the past two decades, which may factor into the higher rates of adverse effects related to the substance.

“There are several potential negative effects of cannabis including respiratory, cardiovascular, cognitive impairment, poor school or work performance and psychiatric comorbidity such as mood disorders and psychosis,” Dr. Farooq said.

Smoking cannabis may contribute to respiratory symptoms and possibly respiratory disease. The available data suggest that smoking cannabis is associated with:

·        cough

·        sputum production

·        wheezing

·        dyspnea

Cannabis inhalation may also exacerbate symptoms in people with asthma, but the association between chronic cannabis use and asthma had been unclear.

The current study addressed asthma prevalence among people who use cannabis users and shows an increased prevalence among this demographic, Dr. Farooq noted.

Why is cannabis use associated with asthma risk?

Cannabis use is steadily increasing, which may play a role in the rise in asthma cases.

“We know that secondhand cigarette smoking is related to asthma,” Dr. Horovitz explained. “With cannabis, I would imagine there may be also a correlation with secondhand smoking and increased prevalence of asthma.”

Increased cannabis use often means more instances of secondhand smoke exposure, which can be harmful to individuals, especially children with developing respiratory systems, Dr. Farooq explained.

Exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke may worsen asthma symptoms or contribute to the development of respiratory issues in susceptible individuals.

The study’s findings also indicate that state-level cannabis policy could have downstream effects on children’s respiratory health. It raises the question if this emerging health problem may be due to the legalization of cannabis.

“It’s typical to point to that one factor because of socioeconomic reasons, particularly air pollution,” Dr. Horovit said. “But you can’t isolate it and say that’s the reason. It’s multifactorial.”

Legalization has led to increased availability and accessibility of cannabis products, which could result in more opportunities for youth exposure, either directly or indirectly, through secondhand smoke, Dr. Farooq noted.

Legalization may also contribute to the idea that cannabis is less harmful, which in turn, could lead to excessive use among adults and increased exposure to young people.

How to cut back or stop using cannabis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3 out of 10 people who use cannabis may have cannabis use disorder (CUD).

Some people may turn to edibles to avoid smoking cannabis, but this tactic could lead to dependence.

“Edibles are a way to but back on smoking,” Horovitz stated. “However, it doesn’t stop the habit — it’s a way of stopping the smoking part of the problem.”

Cutting back or stopping cannabis use is a personal decision that may require effort and support.

“Setting clear goals, gradual reduction, identifying the triggers, considering alternatives like starting a new hobby or exercise, creating a support system for yourself and seeking a professional help to consider cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),” Dr. Farooq suggested.

“At times medications can also be used to help assist the process.”

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cannabis-use-may-increase-asthma-risk

Malaria vaccine rollout in Cameroon may lower death risk in children by 13%

• For the first time, an effective new malaria vaccine — RTS,S/AS01 — has rolled out in Cameroon, Africa.
• RTS,S/AS01 has shown modest efficacy against symptomatic malaria in clinical trials.
• The GSK-developed vaccine, also known as Mosquirix, is one of two malaria vaccines to receive approval from the World Health Organization (WHO).
• WHO has also recommended the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which shows 75% effectiveness against symptomatic malaria over 24 months.

An effective new malaria vaccine, Mosquirix, has rolled out in Cameroon and could reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in children by 13%.

An effective new malaria vaccine was rolled out for the first time in Cameroon, Africa, on January 22.

Global health officials say the immunization campaign for the RTS,S vaccine (Mosquirix) marks a historic moment in the fight against this mosquito-borne disease, one of the most life threatening infections in the world.

The vaccine drive in Cameroon is the first official public launch of the Mosquirix vaccine outside of clinical trials, which have shown a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality, including malaria-related deaths, in children who were eligible to receive it.

At least 20 African countries have made plans for malaria vaccine rollouts as cases and deaths related to the disease continue to climb. The majority of malaria cases occur on the continent, with an estimated half-million deaths among children each year.

According to the Africa CDC, in 2016, there were around 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries globally and 445,000 deaths. That same year, 90% of malaria cases and 91% of malaria deaths occurred in the WHO AFRO Region.

But malaria is both preventable and curable, especially with the help of the new vaccine.

“We are not just witnessing, but actively participating in a transformative chapter in African public health history,” said Mohammed Abdulaziz, the head of disease control and prevention at Africa CDC, at a recent press conference.

“For a long time, we have been waiting for a day like this. It brings more than just hope. It brings a reduction in the mortality and morbidity associated with malaria,” Abdulaziz added.

Mosquirix ‘moderately effective’ against malaria

The rollout of a new malaria vaccine arrives as mosquitos have become increasingly resistant to insecticides and the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria has become resistant to anti-malarial drugs.

However, the development of effective vaccines against malaria has been met with challenges due to the complexity of Plasmodium parasites. Widespread administration of effective vaccines in hard-hit areas has been slow as clinical trials have struggled to find sufficient evidence on malaria vaccine effectiveness.

RTS, S/AS01, or Mosquirix, is one of two malaria vaccines to be recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the prevention of malaria in children. It was first developed in 1987, is manufactured by GSK, and has been studied extensively. It received its WHO recommendation in 2021.

The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine is a recombinant protein-based vaccine targeting the Plasmodium parasite before it invades and infects red blood cells.

Past studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa have shown that Mosquirix has only modest efficacy.

A phase 3 clinical trial published in 2015 demonstrated that four doses of RTS,S/AS01 were 36% effective in children ages 5–17 months over a 48-month follow-up period.

Research from 2023 notes a pilot implementation of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, is associated with a 30% reduction in hospital admissions for severe malaria.

By comparison, a 2022 phase 2 clinical trial shows another malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, was 75% effective against first and multiple occurrences of malaria after three doses over a 24-month follow-up period. This vaccine was recommended by the WHO in 2023.

The Mosquirix rollout in Cameroon now signals an opportunity to test this vaccine’s effectiveness on a larger scale in real-world settings.

“The burden of malaria is so high in Africa, with over 95% of fatal cases occurring in that continent, that even a moderately effective vaccine would have a huge impact on the epidemic,” Dr. Monica Gandhi, MPH, an infectious diseases specialist with the University of California, San Francisco, noted to Medical News Today.

“The two WHO-approved vaccines for malaria reduce cases by about 50% after one shot among children 5 months and older and by 75% if given seasonally. The roll-out in Africa (here in 42 districts in Cameroon) is a historic achievement that should curb childhood mortality from this preventable infectious disease. The main disadvantage of this vaccine is that is likely to have to be given annually for full effect.” — Dr. Monica Gandhi, infectious disease specialist

What to know about malaria

In 2022, as many as 608,000 deaths were caused by malaria worldwide.

Around 95% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan African countries, and as much as 80% of those deaths occur in children under 5 years old.

Malaria is caused by unicellular parasites from the genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted through mosquito bites. Five species of Plasmodium may cause malaria in humans, but Plasmodium falciparum is the main cause of severe illness and death.

When a human is bitten by female mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium, the parasites enter the bloodstream and eventually infect the liver. Here, they multiply for 7–10 days, rendering the host asymptomatic. Symptoms occur once the parasites reenter the bloodstream and infect red blood cells, causing them to burst.

In addition to the new malaria vaccine, other preventive measures to protect against malaria include insecticides and antimalarial drug treatments.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/new-cameroon-malaria-vaccine-lower-all-cause-mortality-risk-in-children

Prenatal exposure to PM 2.5 may up severe respiratory distress in newborns

Prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborn babies, according to new research led by one of Indian-origin.

The risk increases with exposure specifically to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which occur in wildfire and cigarette smoke and vehicle emissions, among other sources.

Babies born to mothers exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 are more likely to experience severe respiratory distress, requiring interventions such as assisted ventilation and systemic antibiotics.

The association between PM2.5 exposure and severe respiratory distress remained consistent whether the exposure occurred during the pre-pregnancy stage or at any stage during pregnancy.

NO2 exposure in mothers was associated with an increased need for systemic antibiotics among babies, revealed the findings, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

“Mothers’ exposure to air pollution while pregnant is known to be associated with adverse long-term respiratory issues, such as asthma, in their children,” said Chintan K. Gandhi, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at Pennsylvania University in the US.

“However, what we didn’t know is that maternal exposure to air pollution could cause babies to suffer severe respiratory distress soon after birth.”

To conduct the study, the researchers analysed the exposures of 2,001 pregnant women from 10 Canadian cities to environmental chemicals, including PM2.5 and NO2.

The team estimated the women’s exposures to PM2.5 and NO2 beginning three months prior to pregnancy through the end of the third trimester by using models based on satellite information and ground-level air quality monitoring devices.

However, Gandhi said, “There really is no safe level of air pollution.”

“We found that the more air pollution mothers were exposed to, the greater the chances that their babies would suffer severe respiratory distress,” he said.

While the team did not investigate the specific mechanism through which pollutants are transmitted from mother to child, Gandhi pointed to previous research indicating heightened inflammatory markers in mothers exposed to air pollution.

These markers, detected through blood tests in the same cohort of mothers, underscore a potential pathway for the impact of air pollution on maternal health and its subsequent influence on newborns, he said.

“Our findings hold substantial importance as they suggest that preventing death and illness in babies due to respiratory distress is plausible through the reduction or elimination of air pollution. It is imperative for policymakers to grasp the gravity of this situation,” Gandhi said.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/6692.htm

New AI-based test to detect ovarian cancer early with 93% accuracy

Scientists have combined machine learning with information on blood metabolites to develop a new test able to detect ovarian cancer with 93 per cent accuracy.

For over three decades, a highly accurate early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer has eluded physicians.

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the silent killer because the disease is typically asymptomatic when it first arises -- and is usually not detected until later stages of development, when it is difficult to treat.

According to John McDonald, Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology, US, the new test’s accuracy is better in detecting ovarian cancer than existing tests for women clinically classified as normal, with a particular improvement in detecting early-stage ovarian disease in that cohort.

The new test, published in the online issue of the medical journal Gynecologic Oncology, uses a patient’s individual metabolic profile to assign a more accurate probability of the presence or absence of the disease.

"This personalised, probabilistic approach to cancer diagnostics is more clinically informative and accurate than traditional binary (yes/no) tests," McDonald said.

"It represents a promising new direction in the early detection of ovarian cancer, and perhaps other cancers as well."

McDonald said that while the average five-year survival rate for late-stage ovarian cancer patients, even after treatment, is around 31 per cent -- but that if ovarian cancer is detected and treated early, the average five-year survival rate is more than 90 per cent.

"Clearly, there is a tremendous need for an accurate early diagnostic test for this insidious disease," McDonald said.

And although development of an early detection test for ovarian cancer has been vigorously pursued for more than three decades, the development of early, accurate diagnostic tests has proven elusive.

Because cancer begins on the molecular level, McDonald said, there are multiple possible pathways capable of leading to even the same cancer type.

"Because of this high-level molecular heterogeneity among patients, the identification of a single universal diagnostic biomarker of ovarian cancer has not been possible.

"For this reason, we opted to use a branch of artificial intelligence -- machine learning -- to develop an alternative probabilistic approach to the challenge of ovarian cancer diagnostics."

The researchers developed their integrative approach by combining metabolomic profiles and machine learning-based classifiers to establish a diagnostic test with 93 per cent accuracy when tested on 564 women from Georgia, North Carolina, Philadelphia, and western Canada.

As many as 431 of the participants were active ovarian cancer patients, and while the remaining 133 women in the study did not have the cancer. Further studies have been initiated to study the possibility that the test is able to detect very early-stage disease in women displaying no clinical symptoms, McDonald said.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/6703.htm

Breaking the silence: Cervical cancer awareness unveiled

Cervical cancer is a condition where there is an abnormal growth of the cells lining the cervix (the part that connects the uterus and the vagina) or the lower portion of the uterus.

The infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause (about 90%) of cervical cancer.

Every 2 minutes a woman is dying worldwide because of cervical cancer – a cancer which can be eliminated. In India, nearly 1 person dies of HPV related cancer every 5 minutes.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of cervical cancer in 2020 was estimated to be 6,04,000 new cases and 3,42,000 deaths, marking it as the fourth most prominent cancer in women. India accounts for nearly one-fourth of global cases of cervical cancer every year, with a mortality rate of nearly one-third.

WHAT IS HPV?

HPV is a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex.

There are around 150 different types of HPV. At least 14 types of HPV known as high-risk types can cause 6 types of cancer in men and women: cancer of cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus and oropharynx.

HPV infects both men and women alike.

HPV is spread skin to skin primarily during sexual contact.

An estimated > 50% – 80% will get at least one type of HPV infection in their lifetime.

HPV usually causes no symptoms and for most people, HPV will go away on its own in about 2 years; however, if it does not, there is a chance that over time it may cause cervical cancer.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CERVICAL CANCER?

Persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV.

Having HIV.

Tobacco smoking.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER?

Early on, cervical cancer may not cause signs and symptoms.

Advanced cervical cancer may cause unusual bleeding between periods, after menopause, or after sexual intercourse, increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, symptoms like persistent pain in the back, legs, or pelvis, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite, vaginal discomfort, swelling in the legs.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR CERVICAL CANCER TO DEVELOP?

Research has shown that HPV infected cells can develop into cancerous tumor 10-20 years after infection or even longer too. Therefore, regular screening and vaccination are important. The purpose of cervical cancer screening is to detect these changes while they are still easily treatable.

WHAT CAN ONE DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CERVICAL CANCER?

Taking vaccination against HPV.

Screening, early diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions.

Abstaining from smoking.

WHAT IS HPV VACCINE AND WHO CAN TAKE IT?

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

There are 6 HPV Vaccines available globally and all of them protect against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18.

BIVALENT (HPV 16,18)

QUADRIVALENT (HPV 16,18,6,11)

NANO VALENT (HPV 16,18,6,11,31,33,45,52,58)

Dosing schedule:

On Time: AGES 9-14 yrs: 2 doses (at 0, 6 month)

Late/ Extra dose: AGES: 15-26 yrs: 3 doses (at 0, 2 and 6 month)

Immunocompromised: ANY AGE: 3 doses (at 0, 2 and 6 month)

HPV vaccination prevents new HPV infections but does not treat existing infections or diseases. This is why the HPV vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV. One should get screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if one has received an HPV vaccine.

WHAT SCREENING TESTS ARE AVAILABLE?

HPV test and the Pap test are screening tests that can help identify pre-cancerous disease or cervical cancer early.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause cell changes on the cervix.

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, which are cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.

WHAT ARE THE SCREENING OPTIONS AVAILABLE?

FOR WOMEN AGED 21 TO 30 YRS: Pap smears every 3 years.

AGE: 30 TO 65 YRS: There are 3 screening options.

HPV testing alone: To be repeated every 5 years.

HPV testing along with pap smear: To be repeated every 5 years.

Pap testing alone: To be repeated every 3 years.

AGE MORE THAN 65 YRS:

No need of screening if previous results are normal.

No need of screening if cervix along with uterus is removed for benign conditions.

World cervical cancer awareness month is a global healthcare event observed for the entire month of January every year, its aim to raise awareness of cervical cancer globally.

LEARN. PREVENT. SCREEN is the theme for the year 2024.

The theme emphasizes the necessity of educating people with knowledge about minimizing cervical cancer risks and the life-saving importance of regular screenings.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/sponsored-lifestyle/breaking-the-silence-cervical-cancer-awareness-unveiled-9134950/

Covid deaths may be linked to a fatal lung disease: Scientists

A fatal lung disease that begins with dry cough, causes breathing difficulty, and worsens over years may have played a significant role in the deaths caused by Covid-19 infections, according to a scientist duo.

Much like cancer, the disease called interstitial lung disease (ILD), goes undetected for years.

As the disease progresses, the lung shrinks, making it difficult for the patient to breathe.

India has an incidence rate of 10 to 20 cases per 100,000 in the population related to industries and lung diseases.

"The interstitium is the connective tissue between two sacs or the region that links alveoli together in the lungs. When this interstitium thickens, it constricts the air sacs, reducing lung size. This constriction leads to a decrease in airway size, resulting in a significant reduction in the overall oxygen intake. This condition, known as restriction, involves compression due to the shrinking of connective tissue between the lung alveoli," Dr Asmita Mehta, Professor and HoD of Respiratory Medicine at Amrita Hospital Kochi, told IANS.

What makes the disease fatal is the late diagnosis, said the distinguished pulmonologist.

"By the time the patient will come to us, it will be too late because the diagnosis of ILD happens very late. ILD starts with a very, very minor symptom, dry cough and breathing difficulty, which progresses over years. Just like cancer, the diagnosis of ILD is also delayed," she said.

Professor Athol Wells, associated with Royal Brompton Hospital in London and Imperial College London, said that the average survival is three to four years after diagnosis. It is because of the tremendous delay between the time of starting symptoms and the diagnosis made.

"It is a fatal disease with a very bad quality of life and significant morbidity," the Professor told IANS.

Covid-19 infection is known to cause fibrosis (scarring) in the lungs. While the condition reversed in some people and they returned to their pre-Covid status, however, in some there was no reversal and the infection turned fatal.

This could have been due to pre-existing ILD, the scientists said.

"There is a fibrosis which causes scarring that will be irreversible. So those people who developed severe Covid, developed almost respiratory failure to the extent that they were on ventilator support for 15-20 days,” Mehta said.

"I strongly doubt that they were already having some coexisting ILD before they developed Covid and then went on ventilator. They could not go back to that normal level.

"I always had a doubt that they might have an already coexisting disease, which was not diagnosed before Covid. In another set of people, we saw total reversal of lung fibrosis," she said.

The experts noted that people who already had diseased lungs due to ILD and if they developed Covid, they had more chances for need of ventilation, ICU care and a worse prognosis. They also had a prolonged recovery time and long Covid syndrome.

"I have no doubts that if you have interstitial lung disease before you get Covid, you are at much higher risk of dying of Covid because you are starting with the loss of your lung reserve in the first place," Wells said.

"Abnormalities that are there beforehand might not have declared themselves clinically. Because together with Covid it may have caused damage to your immune system," he said, adding that the disease may also likely worsen long Covid.

While there are about 200 types of ILD, if a person is diagnosed at the juncture of lung inflammation, the disease can be cured. But it "tends to be overlooked" and the coughs get treated for asthma, or other lung disorders.

Further, Mehta said that it also becomes hard to explain the disease to the patients, "because unlike cancer it is not much understood, and not much publicised disease, but it is increasing in India".

The scientists told IANS that pollution, and smoking are major reasons for the disease, but many are also autoimmune in nature that are majorly genetic.

Mehta said people with excreta exposure like farmers or those who indulge in rubber tapping in Kerala, or those exposed to particular fungi in Kerala also have some kind of ILD. The scientists urged the need to sensitise doctors to diagnose ILD early, and not to look at coughing and breathing problems among people as only cases of asthma, COPD, or tuberculosis.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/6224.htm

Female reproductive traits may lead to diabetes, high cholesterol later in life: Study

Researchers have suggested that female reproductive characteristics that may be overlooked as risk factors could eventually lead to "metabolic dysfunction" in later life, according to a new study.

Metabolic health is characterised by optimal blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and body fat.

According to the study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, alterations in these characteristics may lead to the development of Type-2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

"Our review provides insights into potential underlying causes and risk factors for poorer metabolic function," said lead author Amy R. Nichols PhD, MS, RD, a research fellow at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

"Current evidence linking certain female reproductive traits to chronic metabolic health and disease suggests that screening for reproductive risk factors across life course may be an initial step to aid prevention or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases," she added.

These reproductive risk factors include early age of first menstruation, menstrual irregularity, the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), high weight change in pregnancy, abnormal blood sugar and lipid levels during pregnancy, and the severity and timing of menopausal symptoms, the study noted.

Moreover, the researchers pointed out that these traits may share underlying mechanisms leading to poorer metabolic health, including genetic influences, hormonal fluctuations, or body fat.

Though acknowledging these reproductive milestones as risk factors is one step toward better understanding the development of metabolic dysfunction, the researchers said that future research is needed to understand these complex relationships.

"Clinical evidence gathered in the health care setting across the female reproductive lifespan may be critical for patient education, implementing prevention strategies, and staving off disease onset," said senior author Emily Oken MD, MPH, at the Harvard Medical School Professor.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/6385.htm

Sepsis, tropical fever most common causes for community-acquired acute kidney injury in India: Study

The findings underscored the high mortality risk among patients from most deprived socio-economic groups

Sepsis and tropical fever were found to be the most common causes of community acquired-acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in India, whereby kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood, according to a new research published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia journal.

While sepsis refers to the presence of pus-forming bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues, tropical fever is the infection characterised by fever and unique to or prevalent in tropical or subtropical regions.

Conducted across nine tertiary care centres in India, the study also found that the most common comorbidities in these CA-AKI patients included hypertension and diabetes.

The team of scientists, including those from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, and Madras Medical College, Tamil Nadu, observed that presenting CA-AKI patients to tertiary care units was associated with high mortality.

They also found that a significant number of these patients progressed to developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The findings underscored the high mortality risk among patients from most deprived socio-economic groups, the researchers said, urging for immediate attention for targeted interventions. Previous evidence has found CA-AKI to be common in India and other low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

For the study, the team included 3,711 CA-AKI patients older than 12 years and admitted to either the inpatient or emergency departments of the participating hospitals. They defined CA-AKI as "AKI occurring outside the hospital setting - typically in the community or home setting". AKI recently replaced the term "acute renal failure".

The researchers constructed the participants' clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic profiles, along with collecting data regarding their risk factors and causes, comorbidities, complications and patient outcomes.

The team followed up each patient for renal outcomes at discharge and at one and three months after the onset of AKI, with patient outcomes being classified as survivor or non-survivor.

They analysed the data and found that the highest prevalence of AKI was in patients 55-64 years of age, with women being more likely to present with advanced AKI stage 3.

The most common pre-existing comorbidity was found to be hypertension (21.4 per cent), followed by diabetes mellitus (19.1 per cent), chronic liver disease (11.7 per cent), and coronary artery disease (4.2 per cent).

The researchers said that patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension were more likely to develop stage 3 AKI.

Of the total 3,711 patients, 58.1 per cent lived in rural areas and over one-third consumed alcohol regularly, the researchers found.

Upon performing statistical analyses, the researchers found that older age (over 65 years), alcohol abuse, hypertension, inability to urinate, low platelet count and low socioeconomic status were "significant" predictors of mortality. The mortality risk in patients with AKI was higher in the most deprived group, they said.

"This is the largest registry-based study to report CA-AKI in India. The registry included multiple centers representative of rural and urban populations and major tertiary care centers from north to south and west to eastern parts of India," the researchers wrote.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/sepsis-tropical-fever-most-common-causes-for-community-acquired-acute-kidney-injury-in-india-study-584881

Sclerostin key protein for cardiovascular health in patients with diabetes: Study

The results revealed significantly higher levels of sclerostin in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, suggesting a possible link between this protein and atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis, a common complication of this disease, involves the deposition of substances such as cholesterol and fats in the arteries.

Researchers have provided significant insights into the role of sclerostin in protecting against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

According to the study published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, sclerostin, commonly linked with the regulation of bone formation, has emerged as a protective factor in vascular health, especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Atherosclerosis, a common complication of this disease, involves the deposition of substances such as cholesterol and fats in the arteries, resulting in the formation of plaques that can reduce blood flow and increase the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases, the researchers said.

The study included 121 controls and 139 patients with type 2 diabetes (48 with cardiovascular disease and 91 without).

The results revealed significantly higher levels of sclerostin in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, suggesting a possible link between this protein and atherosclerosis.

Researchers have demonstrated that sclerostin is also helpful in lowering arterial calcification, which is linked to the onset of atherosclerosis.

The researchers from ibs.GRANADA, the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, the Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES) of the Carlos III Health Institute, as well as the University of Granada (UGR), conducted 'in vitro' experiments on vascular smooth muscle cells, replicating pathophysiological conditions of patients with type 2 diabetes.

"They found that sclerostin overexpression reduced calcium deposits, decreased cell proliferation and inflammation, and promoted cell survival," the study said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/sclerostin-key-protein-for-cardiovascular-health-in-patients-with-diabetes-study-585461

Stress can increase inflammation in body; is linked to metabolic syndrome: Study

The study shows that lifestyle, genetics and stress can help in developing metabolic syndrome - a group of diseases with risk of major health problems.

Lifestyle and genetics, as well as a variety of other factors both within and outside of our control, have been linked to the development of metabolic syndrome, a group of diseases that increase the risk of major health problems.

A new study discovered that stress, due to its proclivity to increase inflammation in the body, is also associated to metabolic syndrome, prompting researchers to propose that inexpensive and very simple stress-management approaches may be one strategy to help improve biological health outcomes.

"We were specifically examining people in midlife - a time that is critical to determine those who will experience accelerated aging. Stress is an important contributor to several negative health outcomes as we age," said senior author Jasmeet Hayes, associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.

"There are many variables that influence metabolic syndrome, some we can't modify, but others that we can. Everybody experiences stress," Hayes said. "And stress management is one modifiable factor that's cost-effective as well as something people can do in their daily lives without having to get medical professionals involved."

The research was published recently in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health.

Links between stress and biological health are established, but few previous studies had looked specifically at the involvement of inflammation in stress's connection to metabolic syndrome.

People with metabolic syndrome are diagnosed with at least three of five factors that increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes and other health issues - excess belly fat, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high levels of fasting blood glucose and triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. The condition is also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome.

Using data from a sample of 648 participants (average age 52) in a national survey titled Midlife in the United States, first author Savana Jurgens built a statistical model to gauge how inflammation may fit into the relationship between stress and metabolic syndrome. Information from respondents' reported perceived stress, blood biomarkers for inflammation, and physical exam results indicating risk factors for metabolic syndrome was used for the analysis.

"There's not much research that has looked at all three variables at one time," said Jurgens, a psychology graduate student in Hayes' lab. "There's a lot of work that suggests stress is associated with inflammation, inflammation is associated with metabolic syndrome, and stress is associated with metabolic syndrome. But putting all those pieces together is rare."

Inflammation composite scores were calculated using biomarkers that included the better-known IL-6 and C-reactive protein as well as E-selectin and ICAM-1, which help recruit white blood cells during inflammation, and fibrinogen, a protein essential to blood clot formation.

The statistical modeling showed that stress does indeed have a relationship with metabolic syndrome, and inflammation explained over half of that connection - 61.5%, to be exact.

"There is a small effect of perceived stress on metabolic syndrome, but inflammation explained a large proportion of that," Jurgens said.

The results made sense - stress is just one of many factors that can launch health markers into a state of disarray. Other factors include a range of behaviors including inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, smoking and poor sleep, as well as low socioeconomic status, advanced age and being female.

But considering that an estimated 1 in 3 American adults has metabolic syndrome, knowing how to lower risk or prevent it altogether is important, Hayes said. The findings also add to evidence that stress, and its connection to inflammation, can have a big impact on biological health in general.

"People think of stress as mental health, that it's all psychological. It is not. There are real physical effects to having chronic stress," Hayes said. "It could be inflammation, it could be metabolic syndrome, or a number of things. This is another reminder of that." (ANI)

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/stress-can-increase-inflammation-in-body-is-linked-to-metabolic-syndrome-study-101706516836314.html

Immunotherapy eliminates senescent cells, making chemotherapy more efficient: Study

The study shows that Immunotherapy helps in elimination of zombi cells, which can help in making cancer treatment more efficient.

Apart from eliminating a significant portion of the tumour cells, cancer therapies such as chemotherapy also produce senescent tumour cells, which are also referred to as "zombi cells." Senescent cells do not proliferate, but regrettably, they create an atmosphere that is conducive to the growth of tumour cells that may have evaded the effects of the chemotherapy, which can lead to the ultimate regeneration of the tumour.

An international team of researchers led by Dr. Manuel Serrano at IRB Barcelona have described how cancer cells that have become senescent after chemotherapy activate the PD-L2 protein to protect themselves from the immune system while recruiting immune suppressor cells. The latter creates an inhibitory environment that impairs the ability of lymphocytes to kill cancer cells. Based on these findings, scientists wondered what would be the effect of inactivating PD-L2. Interestingly, senescent cells lacking PD-L2 are rapidly eliminated by the immune system. This intercepts the capacity of senescent cells to create an immunosuppressive environment and, as a result, lymphocytes retain their full capacity to kill those cancer cells that may have escaped the effects of chemotherapy.

"By blocking PD-L2 in mouse models, we have seen that chemotherapy is more effective against cancer. This finding paves the way to consider the use of a potential PD-L2 inhibitor as an adjuvant in the treatment of this disease," explains Dr. Manuel Serrano, currently at Altos Labs (Cambridge, United Kingdom).

The study has been done using cell lines and animal models of melanoma, pancreatic and breast cancer.

Senescence -- a common phenomenon in cancer therapies

Cellular senescence is a process that occurs naturally during ageing and it is common in the context of cancer therapies. Most of these treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy) act by causing extensive cellular damage and, as a result, bring about senescent cells, particularly within the tumour. The team of scientists will now study whether senescent cells linked to the ageing of the organism also exhibit elevated levels of PD-L2.

"Although more experiments are needed to characterise the role of this molecule in different types of human cancers, this work has enhanced our understanding of the role of PD-L2 and the interaction of senescent cells with the immune system," explains Dr. Jose Alberto Lopez, a postdoctoral researcher from the same laboratory and first author of the work together with Dr. Selim Chaib. In 2024, Dr. Lopez will be starting a new laboratory at the Salamanca Cancer Research Center, a joint endeavour between the University of Salamanca and CSIC. Dr. Chaib is now at the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota (United States).

This work has been carried out in collaboration with the groups led by Drs. Joaquin Arribas, Alena Gros and Maria Abad at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). Dr. Arribas is now the director of the Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM) and Dr. Abad works at Altos Labs. The team led by Drs. James Kirkland and Tamara Tchkonia at the Mayo Clinic contributed important data to this study.

This work has also involved the company Rejuveron Senescence Therapeutics, which is developing antibodies against PD-L2 for clinical use and has central offices in Zurich and Barcelona. 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/immunotherapy-eliminates-senescent-cells-making-chemotherapy-more-efficient-study-101706516680108.html