AI helps researchers uncover gut-brain interactions in Alzheimer's

AI may help reveal new treatment pathways for Alzheimer’s disease.

• Research has suggested that the gut microbiome is disrupted in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers from Ohio now propose this could be a target for treatment.
• They propose receptors that are present in the gut and brain could be the key to targeting the gut-brain axis.
• Using existing artificial intelligence (AI) tools researchers predicted which metabolites, the by-products of bacteria in the gut, would bind with which receptors by predicting their shape.
• They then used machine learning tools to predict which receptors and metabolites could have an influence on Alzheimer’s disease, and tested lab-created neurons to observe the effect of two metabolites on tau levels, a protein whose overaccumulation is linked to cognitive impairment.
• Machine learning has been used to predict how metabolites created in the gut bind with receptors found in the gut and brain.

A library of metabolites and receptor binding pairs, recently created by researchers, could be used by researchers to shed some light on the role of the microbiome in Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, OH recently evaluated the shapes of over 1 million potential pairs of metabolites and receptors to see which ones might bind together.

By identifying which metabolites bound with specific receptors, researchers were able to identify the biological pathways these metabolites might affect, and also identify the purpose of some receptors.

Lead author of the research — which appears in Cell Reports — Feixiong Cheng, PhD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Genome Center, explained in a press release:

“Gut metabolites are the key to many physiological processes in our bodies, and for every key there is a lock for human health and disease. The problem is that we have tens of thousands of receptors and thousands of metabolites in our system, so manually figuring out which key goes into which lock has been slow and costly. That’s why we decided to use AI.”

How does gut health influence brain health?

The presence of certain metabolites in the gut is partly indicative of the presence of certain bacteria in the gut, as these metabolites are created via the breakdown of food in the gut by the bacteria.

Alzheimer’s disease has previously been linked to changes in the gut microbiome in humans, and it is likely that the gut affects brain health due to its role in immune function.

Steve Gendron, PhD, who specializes in immunology and endocrinology, and was not involved in the recent study, made the following analogy in explaining the potential mechanisms to Medical News Today:

“Imagine the gut as a bustling market where all sorts of chemicals are being exchanged. These chemicals can hop on the bloodstream express and make their way to Brain Central Station. Scientists think this line of communication might influence brain health because if the market (gut) starts selling the wrong stuff (like inflammatory chemicals), it might contribute to the brain’s decline, seen in Alzheimer’s. It’s a bit like if bad ingredients were used in a cake — you end up with a baking disaster.”

While the role of the immune system in Alzheimer’s disease is not well understood, research has linked inflammation to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and chronic inflammation could play a role in the initiation of the disease.

Cheng, the study’s lead author, told MNT that “Alzheimer’s disease is a challenging disease by lack of effective treatment.“

However, he added, the “'[b]rain-gut axis’ has showed potential to treat brain disorders.“

“We posit that [the] ‘brain-gut axis’ may be a good target for Alzheimer’s disease drug development because we don’t have to deliver molecules/compounds to brain via improving gut health.”– Feixiong Cheng, PhD

Using AI to explore disease pathways in Alzheimer’s

If potentially harmful binding of metabolites to receptors could be prevented, then potentially Alzheimer’s disease risk could be reduced. To identify the binding pairs, the researchers behind the current study first carried out a genetic analysis to identify relationships between 408 receptors and Alzheimer’s disease.

Using the genetic code for these receptors researchers used existing artificial intelligence (AI) resources to predict the shape of the proteins that they code for. This gave a good idea of the shape of the binding regions of the receptors.

Researchers were then able to predict which metabolites would bind to these receptors and how. Most of the metabolites discovered were lipid, or lipid-like metabolites.

New treatment targets for Alzheimer’s?

They also looked at how these receptors might respond to the microbiome of somebody with Alzheimer’s disease. By investigating bacteria known to be abundant in the microbiome of somebody with Alzheimer’s disease researchers identified two metabolites — agmatine and phenethylamine, which are abundantly produced by Bacteroides fragilis and Ruminococcus, respectively.

Researchers then decided to observe the impact of these metabolites on the neurons of people with Alzheimer’s disease by creating forebrain neurons using induced pluripotent stem cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

They found that agmatine reduced levels of p-tau181, p-tau205, and total tau. Further studies on phenethylamine showed that it significantly reduced levels of p-tau181, p-tau205, and total tau in human induced pluripotent forebrain neurons in a dose-dependent manner.

This is a promising find, since overaccumulation of tau is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

“In the current studies, we only quantified tau phosphorylation because tau phosphorylation is a more robust assay established by our lab and other scientists,“ Cheng said.

“We are doing more preclinical [animal] studies to further test efficacy of gut metabolites (i.e., agmatine) and we may test it in future trials we get very successful in our ongoing and future preclinical studies, including both safety in older individuals and high efficacy,” he added.

The study authors point out that 99% of clinical trials into pharmaceutical interventions for Alzheimer’s disease have not been successful, and Cheng says their findings could point to a new target:

“This is exact[ly] our hypothesis: Improving gut health may influence the tau levels in the brains and further prevent or even treat Alzheimer’s disease. However, we need more research to be done in the future to investigate this hypothesis further and we are working on it now using animal and human samples.”

Open access resource for Alzheimer’s researchers

Other researchers are welcome to use the findings from this study, in the hope it will help future studies, Cheng told us.

“We are working on open science approaches to help Alzheimer’s disease research community and help our colleagues free access of all our ‘big data’ findings to guide their future research to fight Alzheimer’s disease crisis,” said Cheng.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ai-helps-researchers-uncover-gut-brain-interactions-in-alzheimers#Open-access-resource-for-Alzheimers-researchers

Vitamin D may balance gut microbiome to give cancer immunotherapy a boost

A new study investigates vitamin D’s effect on the gut microbiome and its potential to help cancer immunotherapy work better.

• Over the past few years, researchers have focused on using vitamin D to prevent and treat different cancers.
• Previous research has looked at using vitamin D in conjunction with cancer immunotherapy.
• Researchers from The University of Manchester have found that vitamin D helps balance the gut microbiome, improving the way cancer immunotherapy treatments work via a mouse model.

Over the past few years, several studies have focused on using vitamin D to prevent and treat different types of cancers, including prostate, skin, breast, and bowel cancers.

Previous research has also linked high vitamin D levels to a decreased risk of developing cancer and a reduced cancer mortality rate.

Scientists have also examinedTrusted Source the use of vitamin D in conjunction with a newer type of cancer treatment called immunotherapy.

Now researchers from the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute at The University of Manchester in the U.K. have found that vitamin D helps balance the gut microbiome, improving the way cancer immunotherapy treatments work, via a mouse model.

The study was recently published in the journal Science.

Using immunotherapy to fight cancer 

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to help improve its ability to fight cancer.

Different types of immunotherapy treatments include monoclonal antibodiesTrusted Source, immune checkpoint inhibitorsTrusted Source, immune system modulatorsTrusted Source, cancer vaccinesTrusted Source, and adoptive cell therapiesTrusted Source like CAR T-cell therapy.

Over the years, the U.S. FDA has approvedTrusted Source several immunotherapy treatments for different types of cancers, with more being added over time.

“Immunotherapy reinvigorates the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells,” Evangelos Giampazolias, PhD, group leader of the Cancer Immunosurveillance Group at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, the University of Manchester and lead author of this study, explained to Medical News Today.

“Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of one of the deadliest forms of cancer, metastatic melanomaTrusted Source, and now is approved as a forefront treatment in a wide range of malignancies including those of kidneyTrusted Source and lungTrusted Source,” Giampazolias said.

“However, not all patients respond equally well to this therapy, and only a small group experience long-lasting (benefits),” Giampazolias continued. “Therefore, understanding when and how our immune system identifies malignant cells as a threat is critical for designing therapies that boost its ability to eliminate cancer,” he added.

How does vitamin D affect gut health and cancer treatment?

Giampazolias said that he and his colleagues were intrigued by the fact that the cancer-protective role of vitamin D was absent in mice treated with antibiotics or raised in sterile environments without any living microorganisms.

“Based on these (findings) we hypothesized that vitamin D promotes cancer immunity by influencing the communities of ‘friendly’ microorganisms that live inside the animals, known as (the) microbiome.

We found that vitamin D affects the cells lining the intestine, causing an increase in the levels of a bacteria called Bacteroides fragilisTrusted Source.”– Evangelos Giampazolias, PhD

According to Giampazolias, Bacteroides fragilis is a member of a larger community of microorganisms inhabiting the intestines of mice and humans.

“To determine if the bacteria alone could improve immunity to cancer, mice on a diet containing standard levels of vitamin D were given Bacteroides fragilis,” Giampazolias said. “These mice showed improved ability to resist tumor growth. However, this effect was not observed when the mice were given (a) diet deficient in vitamin D.”

“It is still unclear how Bacteroides fragilis (promotes) anti-cancer immunity but overall, our findings highlight an unprecedented link between vitamin D and gut microbiome that influences immune responses to cancer in mice,” he continued. “Further work is warranted to confirm a possible link between vitamin D and cancer immunity in humans.”

Potential new avenues for improving cancer treatment

After reviewing this study, Anton Bilchik, MD, PhD, surgical oncologist, chief of medicine, and director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA, told MNT this is a very important study because while doctors have known that vitamin D is important in preventing cancers, the mechanism has been unclear.

Bilchik noted:

“This is one of the first studies to suggest that vitamin D influences a bacteria within our body Bacteroides, which then influences the immune system to reduce the chance of getting cancer. But even more important, demonstrates that immunotherapy is likely to be more effective in the presence of vitamin D. So these are completely novel mechanisms that have been described.”

MNT also spoke with Shama Farooq, MD, MBBS, a neuro-oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey.

Farooq said these findings suggest a potential link between vitamin D levels, the microbiome, and cancer immunity, offering potential new avenues for improving cancer treatment and prevention strategies:

“Continued research into enhancing the body’s immunity and optimizing immunotherapy is crucial because cancer is a complex disease with diverse mechanisms of evasion. By exploring new ways to boost the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells, researchers can develop more effective and targeted treatments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and survival rates.”

How much vitamin D is needed to help lower cancer risk? 

Based on this research, readers may wonder if they should make sure their vitamin D levels are correct to help potentially lower their cancer risk.

Bilchik said it’s important for vitamin D levels to be within the normal range, not only for perhaps the prevention of cancer but also because it plays a very important role in bone density, reduction in fracturesTrusted Source, and reducing the chance of osteoporosis.

“Vitamin D plays many important roles and despite the fact that vitamin D is easily available through plants, meat, (and the) sun, it’s surprising how many people are vitamin D deficient,” he added.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, levels of 50 nanomoles per liter of vitamin D or aboveTrusted Source are the healthy range for bone and overall health for most people. Levels below 30 nanomoles per liter or above 125 nanomoles per liter may cause health issues.

“Based on this study, readers should consider ensuring their vitamin D levels are adequate as part of a comprehensive approach to potentially lowering their risk of cancer,” Farooq said. “While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship, maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D is generally beneficial for overall health and may contribute to reducing cancer risk.”

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-balances-gut-microbiome-to-improve-cancer-immunotherapy#How-much-vitamin-D-is-needed-to-help-lower-cancer-risk?

Undiagnosed immune deficiency rising among Indian children: Doctors

Undiagnosed immune deficiency is significantly rising among children under the age of five in India, said doctors here on Sunday, as part of the World Primary Immunodeficiency Week.

Every year, April 22 to 29 is observed as World Primary Immunodeficiency Week. It aims to raise awareness about Primary immunodeficiencies (PIs), also known as inborn errors of immunity (IEI) -- a group of 450 rare and chronic conditions where a part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function correctly.

Dr Gaurav Kharya, Director, Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS that the prevalence of primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) is rising in India.

“These are potentially fatal genetic conditions that affect a child's immune system, making them more susceptible to infections, autoimmunity, and malignancies,” he explained.

While there is no nationwide data on the prevalence of PIDs in India, statistical projections claim that there could be more than one million patients with PIDs in the country.

Dr Sagar Bhattad, Consultant - Paediatric Immunology & Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, told IANS that over the past seven years, the hospital has identified more than 450 children suffering from rare and complex immune deficiency diseases.

“Whereas, a decade ago, the number was limited to 1-2 cases per month, which has now increased to 10-12 every month -- a significant five-fold increase. In the past year alone, over 125 diagnoses were made, and experts predict this number to rise substantially in the coming years.

“It is estimated that before 2004, less than 50 cases of immune deficiency were identified nationally. This number has risen dramatically, with an estimated 300-500 cases diagnosed in 2014 and a further increase to 2,500-3,000 cases projected in 2024. This represents a staggering 300-400 per cent increase over the past decade,” Dr Sagar said.

The doctors blame lack of awareness about the conditions as well as treatment facilities to be a major reason for the rise in PIDs.

"These genetic conditions are more common in communities that practise consanguineous marriages. Many cases of immunodeficiency go undiagnosed due to a lack of facilities and awareness, especially in rural areas,” Dr Gaurav said.

“The lack of awareness and diagnostic facilities are often the reasons why these patients do not reach tertiary care centres where they can be treated for these disorders,” he explained.

The doctors stressed the need for recognising the signs and symptoms that can help in early diagnosis, as well as better outcomes. Genetic testing during pregnancy can be key to identifying potential problems and preventing recurrence in future pregnancies.

According to Dr Gaurav, bone marrow transplant (BMT), which replaces the defective immune cells of the patient with healthy cells from a compatible donor, has emerged as a potentially curative treatment for several types of primary immunodeficiencies.

“If a child falls ill repeatedly and requires frequent antibiotics, it could be a sign of a serious genetic immune problem. These conditions can affect multiple children in the same family,” Dr Sagar said.

“By identifying these conditions at early stages, children can receive the targeted treatment they need to avoid frequent infections and the overuse of antibiotics,” he said, calling for a wider availability of affordable genetic testing to enable earlier diagnoses and improve treatment outcomes.

“By working together, we can ensure that no child misses out on a healthy life due to an undiagnosed immune deficiency,” the doctor said.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/24444.htm

Why young men must be aware of testicular cancer

lthough rare and curable, young men must be aware of testicular cancer, which can severely impact their reproductive health, say experts.

Testicular cancer is not only rare worldwide, but also in India. The country has one of the lowest incidences of testicular cancer with less than 1 man per 100, 000 population affected by this condition. However, it is the most common cancer in young men aged 15 to 35 years, and can significantly affect their fertility levels.

"Testicular cancer has a direct impact on the organs that produce sperm, which may interfere with the ability to reproduce," Dr Pallavi Prasad, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru, told IANS.

"Surgery is frequently used as the primary therapy for testicular cancer, which involves removing the cancerous testicle. While this surgery tries to eliminate malignant cells, it may influence sperm production. Even if the remaining testicle is healthy, sperm production might be temporarily or permanently impaired," she added.

In addition, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, used to target cancer cells throughout the body, can also cause collateral harm to sperm cells, reducing sperm production and quality. The doctor suggested fertility preservation methods, like sperm banking to save sperm samples before cancer treatment.

"Men can maintain the prospect of biological parenting by storing sperm before treatment, even if cancer therapy influences fertility. However, it is important to note that fertility preservation methods may not be available to all men, and the decision to explore such treatments might be difficult. Treatment urgency, financial factors, and personal preferences may all impact people's fertility preservation decisions," Dr Prasad said.

Although precise reasons behind testicular cancer are not yet understood, risk factors include early exposure to oestrogens via hormone therapy, and congenital conditions like small testes, or undescended testes (cryptorchidism), among others.

Dr Shalabh Agrawal, Consultant, Urology, C.K. Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS that the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a painless enlargement in one of the testicles.

"This is in contrast to a sudden, painful enlargement, which is more likely to be due to an infection rather than cancer. If a patient is being treated for a long-standing testicular infection but the enlargement persists, they should be screened for the possibility of testicular cancer," he added.

Yet, “testicular cancer is considered a highly treatable form of cancer, with a 10-year survival rate exceeding 90 per cent,” Dr Agrwal said, stressing the need for early detection via self-examination.

"The self-examination should be performed daily, after showering, by gently palpating both testicles to check for any abnormalities in size, position, or the presence of lumps or swelling. If any such changes are detected, it is essential to promptly report them to a healthcare provider for further evaluation and appropriate management," he added.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/24500.htm

 

Experts developing immune-enhancing therapies to treat TB: Study

Experts are developing revolutionary immune-enhancing medicines known as host-directed therapies, which employ the body's immune system to target TB, to tackle even drug-resistant strains of the illness.

Associate Professor Susanna Brighenti, Centre for Infectious Medicine (CIM), ANA Futura at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, will give a presentation at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona.

The reported global number of people newly diagnosed with TB was 7.5 million in 2022, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths. An estimated 410 000 cases and 160 000 deaths were due to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

"Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have evolved a remarkable ability to manipulate the human immune response and undermine antimicrobial effector functions in host immune cells," explains Assoc Professor Brighenti. "While some new antimicrobial therapies are coming through, treatment with antibiotics remains an intensive and long process even for drug-susceptible forms of the disease. Importantly, mutations conferring antibiotic resistance are intrinsic properties of mycobacteria that effectively develop resistance to old as well as new groups of antibiotics, accentuating the need for adjunct treatments. Thus, new treatments are going to be absolutely vital in the battle against TB."

Host-directed therapies (HDT) aim to strengthen the body's immune responses and represent an underexplored opportunity to improve treatment of TB, particularly MDR-TB. HDT are designed to target several immune pathways in infected cells to restore or induce antimicrobial functions instead of inhibiting bacterial growth directly. This may involve enhanced production of immune peptides or toxic molecules that contribute to bacterial killing, but it could also include rebalancing of inflammatory responses. Assoc Professor Brighenti will explain how her research collaboration has generated a platform for immune reconstitution in TB, using small molecule compounds including histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.

"These drugs can regulate transcription of genes in cells such as those in the immune system, and thus enhance the expression of proteins associated with the antibacterial host defence. We have identified several HDAC inhibitors that reduce Mtb growth inside immune cells by some 50-75%, even in the absence of antibiotics," she explains. "That may not sound so impressive, but these immunomodulatory compounds could work well as a complement to standard therapy and exert additive or synergistic effects together with the antibiotics. This would provide the possibility to reduce the dose and treatment length required with antibiotics to improve patient outcomes."

In this way, it is conceivable that the effect of existing antibiotics could be guarded by add-on therapies that restore protective immunity and limit excess inflammation and/or immunosuppression in patients with TB. Standard anti-TB treatment involves daily administration of 4-9 antibiotics, but instead of adding yet another antimicrobial drug to the regimen, an immune-enhancing compound could promote clinical recovery of patients with severe forms of TB and poor prognosis, especially MDR-TB.

Assoc Prof Brighenti says "Implementation of immunotherapy as a complement to standard therapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and asthma/allergy. Similarly, our research on immune enhancement as a complement to antibiotics may become a game-changing treatment option for patients with TB that has the potential to impact clinical management and prevent spread of TB infections and drug resistance in this pivotal moment in our history when antimicrobial resistance constitutes a serious threat to human health."

She adds, "Short-term, approved and already available 'off-the-shelf' therapeutics would represent an initial logical step to implement HDTs of patients with TB. This could include for example, HDTs based on glucocorticoid treatment or cytokine neutralisation (eg. anti-IL-6, anti-1b) to reduce inflammation, while metformin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also promote or rewire the immune response.

"Long-term, more precise immunomodulatory interventions in TB such as local administration of specific HDAC inhibitors, can be tested in clinical trials with the aim to customise therapy for patients with MDR-TB. Today, several HDAC inhibitors are FDA-approved for different diseases - for example, Vorinostat, Belinostat, and Panobinostat for different cancers, Phenylbutyrate for urea cycle disorders and Givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while the ones we have found to be most effective to reduce intracellular M. tuberculosis growth needs to be first tested in pre-clinical models for toxicity and efficacy before progressing to clinical trials."

Importantly, like many other diseases, TB can be divided into different sub-groups and using a one-fits-all approach to treatment is not necessarily best. Tailored treatments that are optimised to individual patient needs, so called personalised medicine, will also be part of the future for TB management.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2024/24550.htm#google_vignette

Traffic noise can increase risk of cardiovascular disease: Study

Researchers are calling for this type of noise pollution to be recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

The international team of researchers reviewed epidemiological data, which provides evidence for identifying risk factors of a certain disease.

Spike in traffic noise can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, researchers have found.

Having found evidence linking traffic noise and the risk of developing heart and related conditions, researchers are calling for this type of noise pollution to be recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

The international team of researchers reviewed epidemiological data, which provides evidence for identifying risk factors of a certain disease.

In their review, the researchers found evidence that for every 10 decibel increase in noise coming from road traffic, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke and diabetes, heightened by 3.2 per cent.

In particular, they said, night-time traffic noise that disrupts and shortens sleep time can increase levels of stress hormones in the blood vessels, thereby promoting inflammation, high blood pressure and vascular diseases.

"It is also important for us that traffic noise is now finally recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to the strong evidence," Thomas Münzel, senior Professor at the University Medical Centre Mainz, Germany, and lead author of the study published in the journal Circulation Research, said.

The researchers also suggested strategies for local authorities to mitigate noise from road, rail and air traffic.

Erecting noise barriers along busy roads in densely populated areas can significantly reduce noise levels up to 10 decibels, they said.

Constructing roads using noise-reducing asphalt has been shown to reduce levels by 3-6 decibels, the authors said.

Other strategies they suggested included limiting driving speed, and developing and promoting the use of low-noise tyres.

At the individual level, the researchers recommended using bicycles, shared rides and public transport for lowering urban road traffic noise.

For reducing aircraft noise, strategies like optimising and planning air routes using GPS to direct them away from densely populated areas can be adopted. Imposing bans for take-offs and landings during night-time can significantly reduce air traffic noise, the researchers advised.

Regular maintenance of railways, including brake upgrades, was also suggested for lowering rail traffic noise.

"With an increasing proportion of the population exposed to harmful traffic noise even after the Covid pandemic has ended, noise control efforts and noise reduction laws are of great importance for future public health," Münzel said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/traffic-noise-can-increase-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-study-615640

Wiping out polio ‘not guaranteed’, support needed, says Bill Gates

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest donor for eradicating polio

Success in the fight to wipe out polio is not guaranteed, according to tech billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation has poured billions into the effort.

Gates warned against complacency in tackling the deadly viral disease as he welcomed a $500 million pledge from Saudi Arabia on Sunday to fight polio over the next five years, bringing it in line with the US as one of the biggest national donors.

However, there is still a $1.2-billion-dollar funding gap in the $4.8 billion budget for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative up to 2026, a spokesperson said. The new money from Saudi Arabia will go some way towards closing that.

Saudi Arabia has supported polio eradication for more than 20 years, but the significant increase in funding comes amid a “challenging” situation, said Abdullah Al Moallem, director of health at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, the kingdom’s aid arm.

Cases of polio, a viral disease that used to paralyse thousands of children every year, have declined by more than 99 per cent since 1988 thanks to mass vaccination campaigns.

But the aim of getting cases down to zero, particularly in the two countries where the wild form of the virus remains endemic – Afghanistan and Pakistan – has been held up by insecurity in the regions where pockets of children remain unvaccinated.

“It’s not guaranteed that we will succeed,” Gates told Reuters in an online call last week. “I feel very strongly that we can succeed, but it’s been difficult.” The support of powerful Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia would help, he added, particularly in addressing some lingering suspicions about vaccination.

The foundation said it would open a regional office in Riyadh to support the polio and other regional programs.

It is allocating $4 million to humanitarian relief in Gaza, to be distributed through UNICEF, it said. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre will also allocate $4 million, it said.

The first missed target for eradicating polio was in 2000, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest donor trying to realise that goal.

“If we’re still here 10 years from now, people might be urging me to give up,” Gates said. “But I don’t think we will be. If things go well, we’ll be done in three years,” he said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/wiping-out-polio-not-guaranteed-support-needed-says-bill-gates-615662

Global measles cases see 88 per cent jump in 2023: World Health Organization

From 1,71,153 measles cases in 2022, it nearly doubles to 3,21,582 in 2023

“Over the last decade there has been significant progress towards measles and rubella elimination," O’Connor said.

The number of measles cases worldwide has witnessed a significant increase of 88 per cent in 2023 from 2022, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday.

From 1,71,153 measles cases in 2022, it nearly doubled to 3,21,582 in 2023, said Patrick O’Connor of the WHO, who presented the research at the ongoing ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona.

The report blamed the lack of vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic behind the significant increases in measles worldwide.

“Over the last decade there has been significant progress towards measles and rubella elimination—the Regional Verification Commissions for Measles and Rubella Elimination from all of the WHO regions will review all national measles and rubella 2023 reports in 2024,” O’Connor said.

“The measles virus is extremely infectious and any gaps in immunisation coverage are potential risks for the outbreak. So, coverage needs to be high but also uniform and equitable,” he added.

2024 is likely to see a further increase in measles cases as some 94,481 cases have been reported up to early April. While 45 per cent of these cases have been in the WHO European region, Yemen, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are the countries with the highest reported measles incidence in the world, the report said.

“Worryingly, the number of countries suffering large or disruptive measles outbreaks (defined as 20 cases/million population continuously over a 12-month period) has tripled from 17 to 51,” the report said.

Meanwhile, the report showed that vaccination against measles averted an estimated 57 million deaths globally from 2000 to 2022. Of these, 1.5 million are in the European region where there has been a 98 per cent reduction in annual measles deaths from 3,584 in 2000 to 70 in 2022.

“Over the last 20 years, there has been significant progress toward achieving measles and rubella elimination—in order to solidify and maintain those gains, we need to ensure high, uniform and equitable routine immunisation coverage; and robust outreach and rapid outbreak response,” O’Connor said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/global-measles-cases-see-88-per-cent-jump-in-2023-world-health-organization-615688

Vitamins and infertility: How vitamin deficiency can cause fertility issues in men and women

PCOS in women is aggravated due to Vitamin D deficiency while for men,Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with reduced sperm quality and infertility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also related to female reproductive complications, affecting 4%− 20% of women of reproductive age and is also aggravated due to Vitamin D deficiency while for men, vitamin deficiencies can also play an important role in fertility issues where Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with reduced sperm quality and infertility. Fertility issues in India are rising and are getting higher than ever but conceiving a child is a no less than a dream for a woman.

 

Research suggests that adequate levels of Vitamin D are essential for maintaining optimal sperm production and function. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dt Reenu Dubey, Consultant Dietician at Motherhood Hospitals in Bangalore's Electronic City, shared, “There are many factors’ one needs to consider and take care that can affect their fertility. One of the most important factors affecting fertility in individuals is Vitamin deficiency.”

She revealed a list of vitamins and how it can affect their fertility -

Vitamin D:

·  Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various reproductive health issues, including infertility.

·  Research suggests that adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for the production of reproductive hormones in both men and women.

·  Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with decreased sperm motility and lower levels of testosterone in men, while in women, it can disrupt the menstrual cycle and impair ovarian function.

 

Vitamin B12:

·  Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in DNA synthesis and cellular metabolism, which are essential for reproductive health.

·  Deficiency in vitamin B12 has been linked to ovulatory dysfunction and irregular menstrual cycles in women.

·  In men, low levels of vitamin B12 have been associated with decreased sperm count and motility, potentially leading to male infertility.

 

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9):

·  Folic acid is essential for cell division and DNA synthesis, making it crucial for reproductive health and fetal development.

·  In women, inadequate levels of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects in newborns and increase the risk of miscarriage.

·  Additionally, folic acid deficiency has been linked to decreased sperm count and increased sperm abnormalities in men, affecting fertility.

 

Vitamin C:

·  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect sperm cells from oxidative damage.

·  Low levels of vitamin C have been associated with decreased sperm quality, including reduced sperm motility and increased DNA damage.

·  In women, vitamin C deficiency may lead to impaired ovarian function and reduced fertility.

Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr M Rajini, Consultant Gynecologist at CARE Hospitals in Hyderabad's Banjara Hills, echoed that vitamin deficiencies can indeed have an impact on fertility, although the specific mechanisms can vary depending on the vitamin in question –

 

•Vitamin D: Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with infertility in both men and women. In men, vitamin D deficiency may lead to decreased sperm motility and concentration. In women, it may disrupt the menstrual cycle and interfere with hormone balance, potentially affecting ovulation.

 

•Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that plays a role in sperm health. Deficiency in vitamin C can lead to sperm damage due to increased oxidative stress, potentially reducing sperm count and motility.

 

•Vitamin E: Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect sperm from oxidative damage. Deficiency in vitamin E may lead to decreased sperm quality and fertility issues in men.

 

•Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to infertility in both men and women. In men, it may affect sperm production and quality. In women, it can disrupt ovulation and menstrual cycles, potentially leading to infertility.

 

•Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Folic acid is crucial for fetal development and may also play a role in fertility. Deficiency in folic acid has been associated with ovulatory infertility in women and may increase the risk of miscarriage.

 

•Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential for reproductive health in both men and women. Deficiency in vitamin A may disrupt the production of sex hormones and impair sperm and egg development, potentially leading to fertility issues.

 

•Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is involved in hormone regulation and may affect fertility. Deficiency in vitamin B6 can disrupt hormone balance in women, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty conceiving.

 

It's important to note that while vitamin deficiencies can contribute to fertility issues, they are often just one factor among many. Other factors such as age, overall health, lifestyle factors (such as diet and exercise) and underlying medical conditions can also influence fertility.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/vitamins-and-infertility-how-vitamin-deficiency-can-cause-fertility-issues-in-men-and-women-101714119039540.html

 

New study reveals health risks of neotame, a common sugar substitute used in cakes

These findings serve as a timely reminder of the potential health risks associated with artificial sweeteners, urging consumers and regulatory authorities to exercise caution when considering their use in food products.

A recent study has revealed alarming results of the health effects of neotame, a sugar substitute widely used in cakes, soft drinks, and chewing gum. Researchers have discovered that even small amounts of neotame consumption can lead to significant damage to the gut, resulting in various health issues.

Led by Dr Havovi Chichger, the study highlights the detrimental impact of neotame on intestinal health. Despite being marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar, neotame has been linked to the onset of irritable bowel syndrome, insulin resistance, and even sepsis, a life-threatening condition responsible for numerous fatalities annually in Britain.

The study underscores concerns surrounding the use of certain artificial sweeteners, including neotame, which have been shown to possess what researchers describe as a "toxic effect" on health.

Dr Chichger stressed the importance of considering the risks associated with sweeteners when incorporating them into food products.

Originally developed in 2002 as a replacement for aspartame, neotame, also known as E961, has gained widespread popularity in recent years, featuring prominently in the ingredients list of various consumer products.

However, researchers warn that neotame poses a significant threat to health due to its ability to disrupt the delicate balance of intestinal bacteria, leading to the deterioration of the gut wall and subsequent illness.

Despite previous safety approvals by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2010, concerns persist regarding the long-term effects of neotame consumption. Dr Chichger reveals that EFSA is currently reassessing the safety of neotame, highlighting the need for evidence-based risk assessments to ensure consumer safety.

These findings serve as a timely reminder of the potential health risks associated with artificial sweeteners, urging consumers and regulatory authorities to exercise caution when considering their use in food products. As the debate surrounding the safety of neotame continues, further research is imperative to elucidate its full impact on human health.

https://www.wionews.com/world/new-study-reveals-health-risks-of-neotame-a-common-sugar-substitute-714930