Scientists identifies genes that make humans, Labradors more likely to become obese

Researchers have discovered genes linked to obesity in both Labradors and humans. They say the effects can be over-ridden with a strict diet and exercise regime.

Washington DC [US], March 9 (ANI): Researchers have discovered genes linked to obesity in both Labradors and humans. They say the effects can be over-ridden with a strict diet and exercise regime.

Researchers studying British Labrador retrievers have identified multiple genes associated with canine obesity and shown that these genes are also associated with obesity in humans.

The dog gene found to be most strongly associated with obesity in Labradors is called DENND1B. Humans also carry the DENND1B gene, and the researchers found that this gene is also linked with obesity in people.

DENND1B was found to directly affect a brain pathway responsible for regulating the energy balance in the body, called the leptin melanocortin pathway.

An additional four genes associated with canine obesity, but which exert a smaller effect than DENND1B, were also mapped directly onto human genes.

"These genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with. But the results emphasise the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight," said Alyce McClellan in the University of Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and joint first author of the report.

"We found that dogs at high genetic risk of obesity were more interested in food," said Natalie Wallis in the University of Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and joint first author of the report.

She added: "We measured how much dogs pestered their owners for food and whether they were fussy eaters. Dogs at high genetic risk of obesity showed signs of having higher appetite, as has also been shown for people at high genetic risk of obesity."

The study found that owners who strictly controlled their dogs' diet and exercise managed to prevent even those with high genetic risk from becoming obese -- but much more attention and effort was required.

Similarly, people at high genetic risk of developing obesity will not necessarily become obese, if they follow a strict diet and exercise regime -- but they are more prone to weight gain. (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/scientists-identifies-genes-that-make-humans-labradors-more-likely-to-become-obese/

Study observes possible foundations of human intelligence

A study has demonstrated how neurons in the human brain generate memories and establish narratives. Contrary to previous beliefs, individual neurons represent the concepts we learn, regardless of the context in which we encounter them.

A study has demonstrated how neurons in the human brain generate memories and establish narratives.

Contrary to previous beliefs, individual neurons represent the concepts we learn, regardless of the context in which we encounter them.

Unlike other animals, this allows humans to establish higher and more abstract relationships, laying the foundation of human intelligence.

A study led by Dr Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, group leader of the Neural Mechanisms of Perception and Memory Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, has allowed scientists to observe for the first time how neurons in the human brain store memories independent of the context in which they are acquired.

Published in Cell Reports, the study confirms that neurons can distinguish objects or people regardless of their context, enabling the formation of higher and more abstract relationships, which constitute the basis of human intelligence.

This is the first study to observe this neuronal behavior in humans.

Until now, research conducted on animals had shown significant differences in the coding of concepts (such as a specific place, object, etc.) when the context changed. As a result, it was believed that such memories were stored in different groups of neurons.

The study led by Dr. Quian Quiroga has yielded "surprising responses" that contradict previous findings, as neuronal responses to a specific concept remain the same when the context changes, such as remembering having seen a person in different locations.

"The basic principle of neuronal coding in humans is the opposite of what has been observed in other species, which has significant implications," notes Quian Quiroga

"Memories are stored in a much more abstract manner in humans compared to other animals. You can think of concepts or anything else in more abstract terms, independent of the context in which you learned them," explains Dr. Quian Quiroga, suggesting that this could be one of the "foundations of human intelligence."

Quian continues, "This ability allows us to make much more abstract and complex associations and inferences than if we were forced to think of each concept within a specific, concrete context,"

In other words, humans can decontextualize their memories to create more abstract thought. (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/study-observes-possible-foundations-of-human-intelligence/

AI can help clinicians personalise treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Study

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a condition characterized by daily excessive worry lasting at least six months, have a high relapse rate even after receiving treatment.

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a condition characterized by daily excessive worry lasting at least six months, have a high relapse rate even after receiving treatment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) models may help clinicians identify factors to predict long-term recovery and better personalize patient treatment, according to researchers.

The researchers used a form of AI called machine learning to analyze more than 80 baseline factors -- ranging from psychological and sociodemographic to health and lifestyle variables -- for 126 anonymized individuals diagnosed with GAD. The data came from the U.S.

National Institutes of Health's longitudinal study called Midlife in the United States, which samples health data from continental U.S. residents aged 25 to 74 who were first interviewed in 1995-96.

The machine learning models identified 11 variables that appear most important for predicting recovery and nonrecovery, with up to 72% accuracy, at the end of a nine-year period. The researchers published their findings in the March issue of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

"Prior research has shown a very high relapse rate in GAD, and there's also limited accuracy in clinician judgment in predicting long-term outcomes," said Candice Basterfield, lead study author and doctoral candidate at Penn State.

"This research suggests that machine learning models show good accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in predicting who will and won't recover from GAD. These predictors of recovery could be really important for helping to create evidence-based, personalized treatments for long-term recovery."

The researchers found that higher education level, older age, more friend support, higher waist-to-hip-ratio and higher positive affect, or feeling more cheerful, were most important to recovery, in that order.

Meanwhile, depressed affect, daily discrimination, greater number of sessions with a mental health professional in the past 12 months and greater number of visits to medical doctors in the past 12 months proved most important to predicting nonrecovery.

The researchers validated the model findings by comparing the machine learning predictions to the MIDUS data, finding that the predicted recovery variables tracked with the 95 participants who showed no GAD symptoms at the end of the nine-year period.

The findings suggest that clinicians can use AI to identify these variables and personalize treatment for GAD patients -- especially those with compounding diagnoses, according to the researchers. (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/ai-can-help-clinicians-personalise-treatment-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder-study/

Parasitic worms could be hiding in you, how to spot unusual signs

Real worms have now replaced fictitious worms as a point of discussion in many other households with young children

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi once commented that she used the mythical concept of “sugar worms” to get her children to brush their teeth after sweets.

It's a trick I poached to convince my daughter to do the same. She's since grown wise to this, but now luckily manages to navigate her way around a toothbrush twice a day without resistance.

Real worms have now replaced fictitious worms as a point of discussion in many other households with young children. Every few weeks, nurseries and schools inform parents of yet another occurrence of threadworm. It's not surprising that these wriggly beasties keep rearing their heads, considering how easily transmissible they are.

Threadworm

Threadworm infestation is a common minor ailment, particularly in kids. The worm species that causes it – Enterobius vermicularis – goes by many other names, including pinworm. This is because it really is as thin and pointy as a pin, and silvery-white in appearance. It's also sometimes known as seatworm, possibly because the body parts it most commonly affects are those which you sit on.

The circle of life for a threadworm is simple. Their larvae come from ingested eggs that then hatch in the small intestine. They typically form a colony within the first part of the large intestine (the caecum).

But their most noticeable effect appears to be on the back passage, since the female worms migrate there, usually at nighttime, to lay their eggs. This results in the common symptoms of a very itchy bottom, especially at night. The itching naturally makes the sufferer scratch, installing the newly laid eggs under their fingernails and allowing them to spread to other hosts through contact. It can affect anyone – both adults and children 

It's possible to spot threadworms in the stool after a bowel movement. They can make themselves known in several other ways, including nighttime irritability and bed wetting. Because the worms prefer living in the intestine, in rare conditions they may cause abdominal pain and mimic appendicitis. In fact, in some cases the appendix is removed and found to be chock-full of wriggling worms.

The condition is usually mild and can be treated at home. Mebendazole, an oral anti-worm medication, can be bought over the counter at most pharmacies and is normally effective.

It's recommended to treat everyone in the household over the age of two, in case they have already spread – remembering that sometimes there are no symptoms to be noted at all. But it's important to speak to a doctor for children younger than two years old, and pregnant or breastfeeding women with threadworm, as medication may not be suitable.

Hygiene measures are important to help clear the infection and prevent the spread, especially in those who can't take medication. This involves scrupulous washing of hands, laundry and avoiding scratching the affected areas. It's a good idea to trim fingernails too, to prevent the eggs from getting caught under them.

Hookworm

Threadworms aren't the only worms (helminths) that invade humans. Hookworms, for example, affect about 470 million people worldwide. Infections in the UK are rarer, since hookworms favour a warmer climate.

Like threadworm, they also tend to take up residence in the small intestine – though they can also get there in a much more complicated way. The larvae of hookworms are able to pass through the skin and travel to the lungs in the bloodstream. Once there, they journey upwards into the throat where they can then be swallowed down.

Since the respiratory tract and gut are the favourite places for these worms to bunk down, the symptoms of a hookworm infection tend to be associated with them – such as coughing and wheezing. Inflammation in the small intestine, triggered by the infestation can generate abdominal pain and diarrhoea. It can also hamper the absorption of proteins and iron from the gut, causing anaemia.

A characteristic rash might be noted in the stage where the larvae start to burrow through the skin – looking a bit like a snake writhing through it. In the medical profession, we call this cutaneous larva migrans.

Like threadworm, hookworm can also be treated with oral medications.

Filariae

Worms don't just invade the gut or lungs. Some of them work their way into other regions of the body. Take lymphatic filariasis, a condition that arises when certain worms of the Filariidae order, infiltrate the lymphatic system.

The lymph vessels act as drainage pipes, removing excess fluid from the tissues and returning it to the bloodstream. When the worms invade and inflame the lymphatic system, the result is lymphoedema – an accumulation of fluid in the extremities (like the legs), which causes swelling and discomfort.

In extreme cases, the swelling can be profound, resulting in a condition known as elephantiasis. This is because the worm infestation causes not just swelling, but also skin changes – making it thicker and tougher, and taking on the appearance of elephant skin.

These are just a few of the helminth conditions that can affect humans. Other examples include tapeworms and whipworms – which are also intestinal. Ringworm is a misnomer though, and not a worm at all – it's actually caused by a fungal infection.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/parasitic-worms-could-be-hiding-in-you-how-to-spot-unusual-signs/

Memory impair in aged rats after 3 days of high-fat eating: Study

Researchers fed separate groups of young and old rats the high-fat diet for three days or for three months to compare how quickly changes happen in the brain versus the rest of the body when eating an unhealthy diet.

Just a few days of eating a diet high in saturated fat could be enough to cause memory problems and related brain inflammation in older adults, a new study in rats suggests.

Researchers fed separate groups of young and old rats the high-fat diet for three days or for three months to compare how quickly changes happen in the brain versus the rest of the body when eating an unhealthy diet.

As expected based on previous diabetes and obesity research, eating fatty foods for three months led to metabolic problems, gut inflammation and dramatic shifts in gut bacteria in all rats compared to those that ate 'normal chow', while just three days of high fat caused no major metabolic or gut changes.

Notably, 'Normal chow' is a term used to describe a standard diet for laboratory animals that is made from grains, cereals, and animal by-products.

When it came to changes in the brain, however, researchers found that only older rats -- whether they were on the high-fat diet for three months or only three days -- performed poorly on memory tests and showed negative inflammatory changes in the brain.

The results dispel the idea that diet-related inflammation in the aging brain is driven by obesity, said senior study author Ruth Barrientos, an investigator in the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at The Ohio State University. Most research on the effects of fatty and processed foods on the brain has focused on obesity, yet the impact of unhealthy eating, independent of obesity, remains largely unexplored.

"Unhealthy diets and obesity are linked, but they are not inseparable. We're really looking for the effects of the diet directly on the brain. And we showed that within three days, long before obesity sets in, tremendous neuroinflammatory shifts are occurring," said Barrientos, also an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health and neuroscience in Ohio State's College of Medicine.

"Changes in the body in all animals are happening more slowly and aren't actually necessary to cause the memory impairments and changes in the brain. We never would have known that brain inflammation is the primary cause of high-fat diet-induced memory impairments without comparing the two timelines."

The research was published recently in the journal Immunity & Ageing. (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/memory-impair-in-aged-rats-after-3-days-of-high-fat-eating-study/

Aspirin may prevent some cancers from spreading: Study

Scientists have uncovered the mechanism by which aspirin stimulates the immune system and can reduce the metastasis of some cancers.

In the study, published in Nature, the scientists say that discovering the mechanism will support ongoing clinical trials, and could lead to the targeted use of aspirin to prevent the spread of susceptible types of cancer, and to the development of more effective drugs to prevent cancer metastasis.

Studies of people with cancer have previously observed that those taking daily low-dose aspirin have a reduction in the spread of some cancers, such as breast, bowel, and prostate cancers, leading to ongoing clinical trials.

However, until now it wasn't known exactly how aspirin could prevent metastases.

In this study, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, the scientists say their discovery of how aspirin reduces cancer metastasis was serendipitous.

They were investigating the process of metastasis, because, while cancer starts out in one location, 90% of cancer deaths occur when cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

The scientists wanted to better understand how the immune system responds to metastasis, because when individual cancer cells break away from their originating tumour and spread to another part of the body they are particularly vulnerable to immune attack.

 The immune system can recognise and kill these lone cancer cells more effectively than cancer cells within larger originating tumours, which have often developed an environment that suppresses the immune system.

The researchers previously screened 810 genes in mice and found 15 that affected cancer metastasis. In particular, they found that mice lacking a gene that produces a protein called ARHGEF1 had less metastasis of various primary cancers to the lungs and liver.

The researchers determined that ARHGEF1 suppresses a type of immune cell called a T cell, which can recognise and kill metastatic cancer cells.

To develop treatments to take advantage of this discovery, they needed to find a way for drugs to target it. The scientists traced signals in the cell to determine that ARHGEF1 is switched on when T cells are exposed to a clotting factor called thromboxane A2 (TXA2).

This was an unexpected revelation for the scientists, because TXA2 is already well-known and linked to how aspirin works.

This new research found that aspirin prevents cancers from spreading by decreasing TXA2 and releasing T cells from suppression. They used a mouse model of melanoma to show that in mice given aspirin, the frequency of metastases was reduced compared to control mice, and this was dependent on releasing T cells from suppression by TXA2.

The scientists caution that, in some people, aspirin can have serious side-effects and clinical trials are underway to determine how to use it safely and effectively to prevent cancer spread, so people should consult their doctor before starting to take it. (ANI)

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/aspirin-may-prevent-some-cancers-from-spreading-study/

Two leptospirosis deaths in Ernakulam over past one month

The district reported a total of 35 suspected and confirmed cases of leptospirosis over the past four weeks

Two persons have succumbed to leptospirosis in Ernakulam since February 1, 2025.

Those who succumbed to the diseases include a 51-year-old female and a 28-year-old male of Veliyathunad near Aluva on March 3 and February 22 respectively. The district reported a total of 35 suspected and confirmed cases of leptospirosis over the past four weeks, according to the Department of Health.

The areas that had reported the cases over the last one month included Ayyampuzha, Kothamangalam, Cheruvattoor, Vennala, Mudakuzha, Keezhmad, Mazhuvannoor, Thammanam, Angamaly, Chowara, Veliyathunad, Puthuvype, Keechery, Kakkanad, Karumaloor, Kalamassery, Choornikkara, Ponnurunni, Ramamangalam, Vazhakulam, and Chambakara.

On deaths due to leptospirosis, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, chairman of the research cell, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala, said that leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that has effective treatment as well as preventive measures.

“Unfortunately, since initial symptoms are just like any other viral illness, leptospirosis might always not be suspected at the outset. Agriculture workers, waste management staff, and people living in waterlogged areas are at high risk. If they develop fever and body pain, they should be treated immediately on suspicion, as early treatment can save lives,” he said. Dr. Jayadevan said people who were at risk could also take doxycycline in advance so that infection could be prevented. The medicine is available at primary health centres, he added.

Fever cases

According to official data, the district reported 11,190 fever cases between February 1 and March 4, 2025. An average of around 350 fever cases daily had been reported in this period. A daily average of nearly 10 suspected and confirmed dengue cases were also recorded over the past four weeks.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/two-leptospirosis-deaths-in-ernakulam-over-past-one-month/article69294809.ece

Multiple menopause symptoms linked to cognitive decline risk

Having multiple menopause symptoms may increase a person’s risk of cognitive decline, a new study finds.

• Menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, may be accompanied by a number of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes.
• Not every woman experiences adverse effects during menopause but, for many, symptoms can impact quality of life.
• Now, a study has found that people who experience more menopause symptoms are more likely to have poor cognitive function and mild behavior impairments, both potential markers of dementia, as they age.
• The researchers suggest that estrogen-based hormone therapy may help to mitigate these later effects, and perhaps reduce dementia risk.

Menopause, the end of a woman’s reproductive years, occurs around the age of 52 years and is accompanied by a range of physical and mental changes.

These changes, which start in the years leading up to menopause and may continue for some time after the end of the menstrual periods, can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• hot flashes
• sleep disturbances
• vaginal dryness
• mood swings
• weight gain.

 

Such symptoms do not affect all of those going through menopause but, for others, severe symptoms can impact quality of life.

A new study, led by researchers at the University of Calgary, Canada, has found that people who experience a greater number of symptoms around menopause may have an increased likelihood of experiencing cognitive and behavioral impairments in their later years.

The study, which is published in PLOS One, suggests that these markers of dementia may be mitigated by estrogen-based hormone therapy used to alleviate menopausal symptoms.

Stefania Forner, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association director of medical and scientific relations, who was not involved in this research, commented for Medical News Today that:

“As this is an observational and not a population-based study, and all data is self-reported, generalizations of these findings require caution. And though there may be a connection between Alzheimer’s/ dementia/ cognitive decline and perimenopause and menopause, there is not yet convincing evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship; more studies are needed to further understand this relationship.”

Burden of menopausal symptoms linked to cognitive decline risk

The cross-sectional study used data from the ongoing Canadian Platform for Research Online to Investigate Health, Quality of Life, Cognition, Behaviour, Function, and Caregiving in Aging (CAN-PROTECT) study.

According to Robin Noble, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for Let’s Talk Menopause, who was likewise not involved in this research, “this is an important study, as it looks at symptom burden, though it is limited by the retrospective approach — using recall of severity of symptoms — which the authors certainly acknowledge.”

The 896 respondents in this study were all at postmenopausal stage, with an average age of 64.2 years at the time of the study, and an average age at menopause onset of 49.4 years. A total of 666 reported menopausal symptoms, 166 of whom had used hormone therapy to alleviate those symptoms.

From their responses, researchers assessed how many menopausal symptoms each person had experienced — their burden of menopausal symptoms.

These symptoms included irregular periods, hot flashes, chills, vaginal dryness, weight gain, slowed metabolism, night sweats, sleep problems, mood symptoms, inattention or forgetfulness, and other unnamed symptoms.

The researchers then assessed the participants’ current cognitive and behavioral state using the ECog II, a measure of everyday functioning that can indicate early neurodegenerative disease, and the MBI-C, which detects changes preceding mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Those who reported a greater burden of menopausal symptoms were significantly more likely to show cognitive symptoms and mild behavioral impairment, both of which may indicate greater risk of dementia.

Previous studies have linked some menopausal symptoms with cognitive issues, but this is the first study to find an association between overall symptom burden and cognitive and behavioral impairment.

The researchers suggest that there is a dose-dependent effect, with a higher total number of symptoms having a greater effect on cognition and behaviour postmenopause than any single menopause symptom.

Does hormone therapy help lower the risk of cognitive decline?

Somi Javaid, MD, FACOG, OB/GYN and founder of HerMD, not involved in this research, emphasized that this study did not provide sufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about the cognitive effects of hormone therapy.

“Hormone therapy’s effects on the brain are nuanced. While it provides behavioral benefits, its impact on cognitive function requires more data,” she told MNT.

About a quarter of those who reported menopausal symptoms used hormone therapy to alleviate these. These included estradiol-based therapy, conjugated estrogens, estrogen-progesterone combinations, and estrogen-progestin combinations, progestin alone, and unnamed hormone therapy types.

The study found that those on hormone therapy had lower mild behavioral impairment scores, but there was no significant relationship between hormone therapy and cognitive scores.

However, mild behavioral impairment has been shown to predict dementia risk, with greater levels of impairment linked to greater dementia risk, so hormone therapy could help lessen the likelihood that a person will develop dementia.

Javaid advised that earlier hormone therapy could be beneficial: “We currently understand that hormone therapy is most effective when started in early menopause, as this is when estrogen’s neuroprotective effects are most impactful.”

What might this link mean for dementia risk?

Experts agreed that time of intervention, whether in the form of hormone therapy, other medical intervention, or lifestyle modifications, could be key to managing a woman’s risk of dementia.

Noble told MNT: “It has been widely accepted that an early menopause increases the risk for dementia, thus it is quite intuitive to consider treatment with hormones for people who experience menopause earlier than average. What is not known is how hormone therapy impacts the risk for dementia for people transitioning into menopause at a normal age.”

And lead author of the study, Zahinoor Ismail, FRCPC, of the University of Calgary, Canada, and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, said in a press interview that early interventions, not only hormone therapy but also “managing vascular risk factors, reducing inflammation from Western diet and environmental toxins, optimizing gut health and gut biome diversity, and supporting social interactions,” could help reduce dementia risk.

“As with nearly every condition in women, more data is needed,“ Javaid further pointed out. “However,“ she said, “if we truly want to move the needle in prevention of disease, rather than chasing it, we must identify when intervention is needed. We begin to see these changes in women in the perimenopausal years. This would support early intervention.”

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/menopause-symptoms-associated-with-future-memory-and-cognitive-issues#What-might-this-link-mean-for-dementia-risk

Stem cell therapy could heal injured corneas, restore vision

An experimental stem cell therapy could help reverse corneal damage in people with a vision-threatening eye condition.

• Researchers estimate that more than 10 million people worldwide live with corneal blindness caused by disease or injury to the eye’s cornea.
• Unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a type of corneal disease caused by certain injuries that can lead to vision loss.
• A new clinical trial is testing a potential new stem cell treatment for LSCD.
• Researchers reported that 50% of treated study participants experienced complete cornea restoration after 3 months.

As of 2019, researchers estimate that more than 10 million people globally live with corneal blindness due to disease or injury to the eye’s cornea.

The cornea is the outermost clear layer on the front of the eye. It is vital for clear vision, as it provides up to 75%Trusted Source of the total focusing power of the eye.

Unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a corneal disease that occurs when there is a shortage of the limbal stem cells that typically regenerate the cornea as needed. This can lead to eye pain, blurred vision, and even vision loss.

LSCD can be caused by corneal injuries, such as ocular surface burnsTrusted Source, chemical injuries, and wearing contact lenses.

Currently, treatments for LSCD include surgical options, such as limbal stem cell transplants, as well as corneal scraping and amniotic membrane patching.

Ula Jurkunas, MD, associate director of the Cornea Service at Mass Eye and Ear, and professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, told Medical News Today that:

“Current treatment options for limbal stem cell deficiency caused by cornea injuries have considerable limitations, including injury to the healthy eye from removal of stem cells, or limited effectiveness. Because of this deficiency, they are unable to undergo a cornea transplant, the current standard of care, and they are often left blind in the affected eye and in great pain.”

Jurkunas is the principal investigator of a clinical trial testing a potential new stem cell treatment for LSCD.

She is also the lead author of a study recently published in the journal Nature CommunicationsTrusted Source that reported findings from this trial, including complete cornea restoration in 50% of treated study participants after 3 months.

Testing novel CALEC stem cell therapy for eye damage

This clinical trial revolved around an experimental stem cell therapy called cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC), which had reportedly been developed by researchers in the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

“In the CALEC procedure, a very small biopsy is performed in a patient’s healthy eye, which removes a small amount of limbal cells,” Jurkunas explained. “Then, the cells are transported to a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where they are expanded on a scaffold, a process that takes about two to three weeks.”

“The resulting stem cell graft is then brought back to Mass Eye and Ear, where it is transplanted into the patient’s damaged eye,” she continued. “After a brief recovery, the stem cell graft replenishes the limbal stem cells and restores the cornea’s surface. At this point, a patient can undergo a cornea transplant, or in the case of some patients in our study, do not need further cornea treatment.”

“We felt it was important to find new options for our patients that are safe to the donor and recipient eye, and effective,” Jurkunas added. “We feel the CALEC procedure fills some of these current gaps, and our study finds it was safe and feasible, and led to improvements in the cornea surface.”

50% achieved complete corneal restoration in 3 months

At the study’s conclusion, researchers found the CALEC treatment completely restored the cornea of 50% of the 15 study participants recruited for this clinical trial at their 3-month follow-up.

Additionally, their complete success rate increased to 79% at the 12-month mark and 77% by 18 months after treatment.

“These findings are significant because it shows that CALEC’s effectiveness improved overtime, which can translate into a lasting benefit for patients who undergo these treatments,” Jurkunas said.

Researchers also reported a high safety profile for CALEC, with no serious issues occurring to either the donor or recipient eyes.

“Some existing methods to replenish limbal epithelial cells do not have as high of a safety profile; for example risking the healthy donor eye through the incision required to remove cells,” Jurkunas explained.

“CALEC, however, did have a high safety profile for patients. Only one infection occurred, and that was not due to the CALEC transplant itself. This is very important, because for a procedure to be widely used, it needs to be a safe option for patients,” she emphasized.

As for the next steps of this clinical trial, Jurkunas said they plan to expand to a phase 3 study of CALEC, that includes a randomized design testing it against a different treatment:

“Additionally, we are working to see [if] this stem cell transplant is feasible if it is allogenic (from a separate donor), rather than autologous (from the patient’s healthy eye). An allogenic approach may benefit patients who have sustained an injury, like a chemical burn, in both eyes.”

‘Really exciting’ findings according to eye experts

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Benjamin Bert, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, about this study, who commented that any developments, especially in this area of treating corneal disease, is very important and very exciting.

“The limbal stem cells are cells that we are born with and then do not produce any additional during our lifetime, so if there’s damage to those, it’s somewhat irreversible,” Bert explained. “So the ability to repopulate those damaged cells using our own cells is a really exciting idea.”

“Previously, the only way to fix this was with a transplant from a cadaver donor,” he continued. “And there’s such a huge blood supply to this particular part of the cornea that people had to be on full systemic immunosuppression, as if they had a kidney transplant or a lung transplant, and we know that those medications have major side effects. So being able to repopulate these damaged cells using our own cells avoids all of those potential complications.”

For future research, Bert said he would like to see it continue to progress, and see how feasible it would be on a larger scale.

“The description of how they’re able to culture these cells requires pretty advanced technology, so it’s a question of can this be expanded so that it can be offered to many patients, or is it going to be limited just to these more academic centers where they have the laboratories and the capabilities to do it,” he added.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/experimental-stem-cell-therapy-could-heal-injured-corneas-restore-vision#Really-exciting-findings-according-to-eye-experts

Cabinet approves scheme to prevent, control livestock diseases with Rs.3,880 cr outlay

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a significant Rs.3,880 crore Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme to address critical animal health challenges. The comprehensive scheme targets prevention of diseases like foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, and lumpy skin disease through vaccination and enhanced veterinary infrastructure. By introducing the Pashu Aushadhi component, the government aims to provide affordable generic veterinary medicines and improve rural healthcare accessibility. The initiative is expected to boost livestock productivity, generate employment, and protect farmers from economic losses due to animal diseases.

"Implementation of LHDCP will facilitate reduction in livestock disease losses" - Union Cabinet Communique

Cabinet approves scheme to prevent, control livestock diseases with Rs.3,880 cr outlay

New Delhi, March 5: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the revision of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) with a total outlay of Rs.3,880 crore.

Key Points

1 Cabinet approves comprehensive Rs.3,880 cr livestock health program

2 Targets critical animal disease control and veterinary care

3 Includes new Pashu Aushadhi medicine component

4 Aims to boost rural agricultural productivity

 

The scheme consists of two components namely National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), LH&DC; and Pashu Aushadhi has been added to the list.

“LHDC has three sub-components that is, Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP), Establishment and Strengthening of existing Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries - Mobile Veterinary Unit (ESVHD-MVU), and Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD). The Pashu Aushadhi is a new component added to the LHDCP scheme,” according to a Cabinet communique.

“The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.3,880 crore for two years that is, 2024-25 and 2025-26, which includes provision of Rs. 75 crore to provide good quality and affordable generic veterinary medicine and incentive for the sale of medicines under Pashu Aushadhi component,” it added.

The scheme is aimed to boost the productivity of the livestock, which is impacted adversely due to diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lumpy skin disease, among others.

“Implementation of the LHDCP will facilitate a reduction in these losses by preventing diseases through immunisation,” said the Cabinet.

The Scheme also supports door-step delivery of livestock health care through the subcomponents of mobile veterinary units (ESVHD-MVU). It will also help improve the availability of generic veterinary medicine -- Pashu Aushadhi through a network of PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendra and Cooperative Societies.

It will “help in prevention and control of livestock diseases through vaccination, surveillance and upgradation of healthcare facilities”, the Cabinet said.

It will also improve productivity, generate employment, encourage entrepreneurship in the rural area, and prevent economic losses of farmers due to disease burden.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/cabinet-approves-scheme-prevent-control-livestock-diseases-rs3880-cr-958

Prolonged use of anti-inflammatory pills can prevent dementia: Study

A groundbreaking study suggests long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might help prevent dementia development. Researchers tracked over 11,000 participants and discovered a 12% reduced dementia risk with prolonged medication use. The findings could potentially revolutionize dementia prevention strategies. More research is needed to fully understand and validate these promising results.

"Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process" - M. Arfan Ikram, Erasmus MC University Medical Center

Prolonged use of anti-inflammatory pills can prevent dementia: Study

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications may decrease the risk of developing dementia, claimed a study on Wednesday.

Key Points

1 Long-term NSAID use linked to reduced dementia risk

2 Study tracked 11,745 adults over 14.5 years

3 Short-term medication shows no significant benefits

4 Global dementia cases near 10 million annually

Previous research has suggested that inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of dementia. The NSAID medications, with their anti-inflammatory effects, can help protect against dementia -- which affects more than 55 million people worldwide.

"Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process," said M. Arfan Ikram, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

The researchers focussed their study on 11,745 adults with an average follow-up of 14.5 years. Of these 9,520 participants had used NSAIDs at any given time, and 2,091 participants developed dementia.

The results, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, showed that long-term NSAID use was associated with a 12 per cent reduced risk of developing dementia.

Short- and intermediate-term use did not provide benefits. Also, the cumulative dose of NSAIDs was not associated with decreased dementia risk, the team said.

The findings suggest that prolonged, rather than intensive, use of anti-inflammatory medications may help protect against dementia.

"There is a need for more studies to further consolidate this evidence and possibly develop preventive strategies," Ikram said.

A recent study published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, that looked at health data from over 130 million individuals showed that antibiotics, antivirals, vaccinations, and anti-inflammatory medication are associated with reduced risk of dementia.

This finding supports the hypothesis that common dementias may be triggered by viral or bacterial infections.

According to data from the World Health Organization, every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia -- currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60-70 per cent of cases.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/prolonged-use-anti-inflammatory-pills-prevent-dementia-study-676