The news that matter in Europe
The news that matter in Europe
El debate sobre la legalización de las drogas ha durado años y se ha avanzado poco hacia un compromiso que satisfaga los intereses de todas las partes. Por un lado, algunas personas apoyan la idea de legalizar completamente todas las drogas o, al menos, despenalizarlas. Sin embargo, si las drogas…
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It is made of a flexible and stretchable polymer containing embedded electronics and medication
Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have developed a “smart” wound dressing that supports tissue regeneration and controls the healing process, reports the site of the…
Les scientifiques ont réalisé un scanner de la momie de Jed-Hor de Heidelberg, en Allemagne, qui représente un homme âgé qui vivait en Égypte, apparemment au 4ème-1er siècle avant JC. L’examen de son crâne a montré qu’il avait souffert d’une mastoïdite aiguë, qui a probablement entraîné des complications mortelles…
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On April 18th the European Patients’ Rights Day is celebrated, which is the annual recurrence that celebrates patients’ and civil society organisations in their efforts to advance patients’ rights at the global and European level.
The European Patients’ Rights Day was created by the…
It has been found that mental health problems are often reflected in the language used by sufferers
Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil are using artificial intelligence and the social platform Twitter to create predictive models for depression and anxiety, which in the…
Le gouvernement grec a récemment lancé un nouveau programme appelé « laissez-passer dentiste », offrant des soins dentaires préventifs gratuits aux enfants âgés de 6 à 12 ans. Le programme a été introduit par un projet de loi présenté au Parlement par le ministère de la Santé et rendu possible grâce à une…
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Il s’agit d’une traduction de l’article initialement publié en espagnol par Carlos Berbell, du portail juridique spécialisé CONFILEGAL, le journal juridique le plus renommé et le plus lu d’Espagne. La liberté d’expression, à condition qu’elle serve l’intérêt général et n’utilise pas manifestement…
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Night sweats can tell you about your health. This may indicate the presence of dangerous diseases.
1. Menopause is the most common cause of night sweats in women. Sweating is caused by abrupt hormonal changes, in particular, changes in estrogen levels. Medications to regulate hormonal levels, which the gynecologist will prescribe, will help to overcome this symptom. Also, doctors recommend sleeping in a cool room on sheets made from natural fabrics.
2. Most of the factors that are associated with night sweats are not serious problems that require treatment. But profuse night sweats can be caused by chronic diseases such as tuberculosis.
Sweating can be accompanied by periodic fever, chest pain, coughing (sometimes bloody), and heavy breathing.
3. Anxiety and nerves can also cause fever and sweating. It can also be a symptom of diseases of the neurological system, in particular, Parkinson’s disease.
4. People who suffer from chronic hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) obviously have night sweats and a feeling of heavy breathing.
5. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces hormones overtime, affecting metabolism. This can cause severe fatigue during the day and excessive sweating at night.
6. Certain medications (hormone therapy, medications to lower blood sugar, cortisone, steroids for inflammation and pain, medications to cope with anxiety and depression) can also cause side effects such as night sweats.
Climate change is leading to an increase in mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, according to a study by British experts published in the Lancet Planetary Health magazine. They analyzed data on the prevalence of both diseases, which can also cause death.
Significant growth in dengue has been reported in African countries such as Sudan and Eritrea, as well as in Colombia since 2000. From 505.4 thousand at the beginning of the 21st century, the number will increase to 5.2 million in 2019.
The study’s authors, who are from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases, believe that the increase in greenhouse gases makes mosquitoes more dangerous. Global warming is prolonging the season in which insects transmit diseases to humans through bites.
Experts predict that if the Earth’s temperature rises by 3.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, the death toll from mosquito-borne diseases will increase significantly. As early as 2080, about 8 billion people could be at risk of contracting malaria and dengue, up 4.7 billion from 1970-1999.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 400,000 people die of malaria worldwide each year, mostly children. In 2019, more than 90 percent or about 240 million cases of malaria were registered in Africa. A vaccine has been developed to treat severe malaria, but there is still no cure for dengue.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide
Everyone has heard of cholesterol, but in fact few people know what exactly it is and what vital functions it performs in the human body.
Cholesterol is divided into high-density lipoprotein (HDL or so-called “good” cholesterol) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or so-called “bad” cholesterol). While the excess amount of bad cholesterol that circulates in the blood begins to be deposited in the arteries and creates the preconditions for a cardiovascular accident, good cholesterol works on the opposite principle – it “robs” bad cholesterol and helps to expel it from the body.
Very often there are high levels of total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, which are not characterized by any symptoms. When we talk about elevated or high cholesterol, we mean elevated from the considered normal upper limit values of cholesterol in the blood.
People usually do not think that they can be affected, and the consequences of this. And even if they know that they have high blood cholesterol levels, they do not take it seriously until there are no major consequences and complications. (It is believed that the most common complications caused by high cholesterol are heart attack or stroke)
And while we tend to believe that these are “diseases” in adults and “this will not happen to me”, studies show that the food we eat, our lifestyle and age affect only up to 20% of the formation of bad cholesterol, and hereditary burden as much as 80%.
Familial hypercholesterolemia
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited condition characterized by higher than normal levels of LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the blood. Familial hypercholesterolemia causes up to 10% of early-onset or pre-existing cardiovascular disease
If your relative or relatives have had a heart attack, needed a stent or had a bypass earlier in life – before the age of 55 in men and before the age of 65 in women – these are signs that your family may there is familial hypercholesterolemia.
Although high blood cholesterol is usually asymptomatic, other signs and symptoms of familial hypercholesterolemia besides family history may include:
• Fatty deposits on the skin called xanthomas; usually found on the hands, elbows, knees and ankles
• Fat deposits in the eyelid area called xanthelasmas
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Spasms of one or both calves when walking
• Chest pain
• Sudden stroke-like symptoms such as speech problems, sagging on one side of the face, weakness in the arm or leg and loss of balance
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a significantly poorly diagnosed problem – only 10% of people born with FH know they have it and are diagnosed today.
This is due to low public awareness, the inability to link high cholesterol to a genetic cause, and that many people with FH do not show visible symptoms and therefore do not receive the necessary care.
The good news is that familial hypercholesterolemia can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and a family history of early cardiovascular disease. Genetic testing can also be used to confirm the presence of FH.
The European Society of Cardiology and the European Community of Atherosclerosis recommend the use of foods rich in phytosterols and supplements containing fermented red rice under the action of yeast.
Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in young people are not uncommon. We also find upper or slightly elevated blood sugar levels. This change progresses over time and increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or gout.
There must be an awareness that prevention is extremely important!
Stress, unhealthy diet, smoking are definitely among the causes of high cholesterol, but I also have patients who have cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol, even though they exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. In these cases, it is more a matter of hereditary burden. If there are relatives in the family with a heart attack or heart problems, especially at an earlier age, they are very likely to inherit.
Saffron, in particular its extracts, is considered a popular natural health product. It amazingly improves the overall condition of the body.
Saffron is the best way to improve your mood in a natural way. This is the most expensive spice on the planet, it is valuable because of its properties: the ability to improve mood, relax, increase concentration, improve sleep and other valuable effects.
Extracts made from saffron stigmas and petals have a similar effect because they include the same components – carotenoids. Saffron to improve mood Saffron is a popular herbal product for normalizing mood and relieving anxiety. The fact is that the plant has the ability to increase the content of neurotransmitters in the brain: serotonin and dopamine.
Saffron also controls the body’s response to stress.
Studying the effects of saffron extract in a clinical study allows to draw conclusions about its properties to improve mood and relieve stress in adult volunteers. In another study, saffron extract (14 mg – 2 times a day) was given to adolescents who were in a bad mood and anxious for 8 weeks. As a result, there was a visible improvement in the symptoms caused by the mood of adolescents – emotionality, fear of separation and social phobia.
Saffron and drugs with similar action
One of the side effects of antidepressants, which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs for short), is genital dysfunction.
In women, it manifests itself in such signs: decreased libido and sexual arousal. In men, when taking these drugs, erectile dysfunction and loss of interest in intimacy are not excluded. During the experiment, one group of volunteers of both sexes took SSRIs, another group consumed saffron petal extract (30 mg per day). As a result, in group № 2 there was a significant improvement in some aspects of intimate function. In women, sexual arousal increased, in men there was a positive dynamics in erectile function.
Saffron relieves anxiety and improves sleep quality
Saffron is used as an herbal product to combat stress and improve the quality and duration of night sleep. In a special experiment, volunteers aged 18-70 years with sleep problems consumed 14 mg of saffron extract twice a day for 28 days. As a result, there was a clear improvement in the dynamics of night sleep. Other health benefits of saffron
Saffron has a beneficial effect on the following health problems:
– improving brain function
– protection of the brain and eyes from the aging process
– weakening of the symptoms of PMS
– support in regulating appetite and weight control
– prevention of delayed muscle pain syndrome after intense exercise
– Relieve painful cramps during menstruation
– increase fertility in men
– support for cardiovascular function
– activation of anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms
Traveling with children who vomit in the car is not pleasant at all.
Kinetosis (nausea when traveling) is a general feeling of weakness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, which is caused by repetitive movement. These complaints develop when the inner ear, eyes and other parts of the body detect the presence of movement, but send mixed signals to the brain. Any type of transport (car, ship, plane) can cause kinetosis.
Children are more likely to suffer from travel sickness than adults. About half of children between the ages of 4 and 10 have complaints in a car, plane or boat. Girls are more susceptible to kinetosis than boys.
What are the symptoms of travel sickness?
The most common symptoms include:
o Nausea
o Increased salivation
o Vomiting
o Pale face
o Sweating
o Dizziness
o Headache
tips to prevent travel sickness
If your child is nauseous while traveling, there are several proven ways to help him avoid nausea and dizziness:
Let the child have something to do in the car that does not provoke his complaints. Don’t let him look at or read a book.
Overeating often provokes nausea and dizziness in the car. When traveling, avoid heavy, spicy and fatty foods.
Do not eat foods with a strong odor while traveling.
Do not smoke in the car when the child is with you. Tobacco smoke often causes nausea and vomiting in young children who are on the road.
Let him eat dry biscuits.
Try to choose the place in the vehicle where the child feels as little shaking as possible.
In the car, let it look into the distance. If you are on a ship or yacht, go to the deck and watch the movement on the horizon. In an airplane, put him on the window seat and look out. There is the least shaking in the seats above the wings of the aircraft.
The best way to stop travel complaints is to stop moving. If you cannot stop the journey, have the child sit or lie down in the part of the vehicle where there is the least movement.
The reason hugs are so nice is because of our sense of touch. This is an extremely important feeling that allows us not only to physically explore the world around us, but also to communicate with others by creating and maintaining social connections.
Touch consists of two different systems. The first is “quick touch” – a system of nerves that allows us to quickly detect contact (for example, if a fly lands on your nose or touches something hot). The second system is “slow touch”. This is a population of recently discovered nerves called c-tactile afferents that process the emotional meaning of touch.
Touch is the first sensation that begins to function in the mother’s womb (around the 14th week). From the moment we are born, the tender mother’s caress caresses us with many health benefits, such as lowering the heart rate and promoting the growth of connections between brain cells.
When someone hugs us, the stimulation of c-tactile afferents in the skin sends signals through the spinal cord to the networks for processing emotions in the brain. This causes a whole waterfall of neurochemical signals that have proven health benefits.
1. Improve sleep.
Gentle touch is known to regulate our sleep as it lowers the levels of the hormone cortisol. That is why many people choose to sleep next to their partner or with their baby.
Cortisol is a key regulator of the sleep-wake cycle and when we are stressed, its amounts increase. Not surprisingly, high levels of stress can cause insomnia.
2. Reduces stress
In addition to the pleasant sensations that the hug brings immediately, touch also has longer-term benefits for our health, making us less reactive to stress. Careful touch in the early stages of development leads to higher levels of oxytocin receptors and lower levels of cortisol in areas of the brain that are vital for regulating emotions. Babies who are cuddled frequently grow up less responsive to stressors and show lower levels of anxiety.
3. It is part of our well-being.
Throughout our lives, social touch unites us and helps maintain our relationships. When touch is desired, the benefits are shared by both participants.
Even petting a pet can make you feel much better. Oxytocin levels increase for both you and your pet.
4. It is easier to fight infections.
Studies show that cuddling in bed can protect us from colds. After observing the frequency of hugs among 400 adults, who were then exposed to the common cold virus, the researchers found that the “hugs” gained easily because they were less likely to catch a cold. And even if they got sick, the symptoms were less pronounced.
Plant-based meat substitutes have a taste and texture similar to real beef, and the 13 ingredients listed on their labels – vitamins, fats and proteins – seem to make them essentially equivalent to real meat.
But a more in-depth study by Duke University’s research team on the nutritional content of plant alternatives to meat, using a sophisticated scientific tool called metabolomics, shows that they are as different as plants and animals.
Meat substitute manufacturers are working hard to make the plant product as similar as possible to meat, including by adding legemoglobin, a molecule containing soy iron, and extracts of red beets, berries and carrots to mimic blood. The structure of the fake meat is compacted by adding indigestible fibers such as methyl cellulose. And to bring plant-based meat alternatives to protein levels in meat, they use isolated plant proteins from soy, peas and other plant sources. In some meat substitutes, vitamin B12 and zinc are also added to further reproduce the nutritional value of the meat.
But many other nutrients are missing from the labels and that’s where the products differ significantly from meat, according to a study published this week in Scientific Reports.
The metabolites that scientists measure are building blocks of the body’s biochemistry. They are crucial for energy conversion, the transmission of signals between cells, the construction of structures and their destruction, as well as many other functions. There are more than 100,000 such molecules in biology, and about half of the metabolites circulating in human blood are expected to come from what we eat.
“For consumers who read labels, they may seem nutritionally interchangeable,” said Stefan van Vliet (), a PhD student at the Duke University Institute of Molecular Physiology who leads the study. “But peeking behind the curtain with the help of metabolomics and looking at the expanded nutritional profiles, we found that there are big differences between meat and its plant-based alternatives.”
The Institute of Molecular Physiology’s main metabolic laboratory compares 18 samples of popular plant meats, an alternative to 18 beef samples from a ranch in Idaho. The analysis of 36 carefully prepared pies found that 171 of the 190 metabolites they measured were very different between beef and plant-based meat substitutes.
Beef contains 22 metabolites that are missing in plant substitutes. The plant substitute contains 31 metabolites that meat does not have. The biggest differences are observed in the amino acids, dipeptides, vitamins, phenols and the types of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids found in these products.
Several metabolites known to be important for human health have been found either exclusively or in much larger amounts in beef, including creatine, spermine, anserin, cysteamine, glucosamine, squalene and omega-3 fatty acids DHA. .
“These nutrients have potentially important physiological, anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory roles,” the authors write in the article.
“These nutrients are important for our brain and other organs, including our muscles,” van Vliet said. “But some people on a vegan diet (without animal products) can also live a healthy life – that’s very clear.”
In addition, the plant-based meat alternative contains several beneficial metabolites that are not found in beef, such as phytosterols and phenols.
“It’s important for consumers to understand that these products shouldn’t be considered interchangeable, but that doesn’t mean one is better than the other,” said van Vliet, who describes himself as omnivorous and enjoys vegetarian food. , but also eats meat. “Plant and animal foods can be supplemented because they provide different nutrients.”
More research is needed to determine whether there are short-term or long-term effects from the presence or absence of certain metabolites in meat and plant alternatives to meat, the study authors recommend.
Reference: Stephan van Vliet et al, A metabolomics comparison of plant-based meat and grass-fed meat indicates large nutritional differences despite comparable Nutrition Facts panels, Scientific Reports (2021). DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-021-93100-3
Source: Lab analysis finds near-meat and meat are not nutritionally equivalent – Karl Leif Bates, Duke University School of Nursing
Sweet but healthy. Everything you need to know about mulberries and why you should include them in your diet
The beginning of July is the height of the mulberry season, the sweetest, but no less useful berry. We will tell you what is the use of mulberry and what contraindications it has.
Mulberry is a fruit of the mulberry tree, related to figs and breadfruit. Although in Ukraine the tree mostly grows solely for the sake of fruit, in Asia and North America mulberry trees are grown for the sake of leaves, because this is the only food for silkworms.
Mulberries are black, white, and pink, and the berries are often made into wine, fruit juice, tea, jam or canned food, but they can also be dried and used as a natural sweetener or eaten as a snack.
Fresh mulberries are 88% water and contain only 60 calories per glass. In wet weight, they contain 9.8% carbohydrates, 1.7% fiber, 1.4% protein and 0.4% fat. Mulberries are often consumed dried, like raisins. In this form, they contain 70% carbohydrates, 14% fiber, 12% protein and 3% fat, making them quite rich in protein compared to most berries.
Mulberry is rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C and iron:
• Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that is important for skin health and various bodily functions
• Iron is an essential mineral with various functions, such as transporting oxygen throughout the body
• Vitamin K1, also known as phylloquinone – important for blood clotting and bone health
• Potassium – a mineral that can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease
• Vitamin E – an antioxidant that protects against oxidative damage
Mulberry is also rich in plant compounds such as anthocyanins. However, it should be noted that ripe, rich mulberry is richer in plant compounds and has a higher antioxidant capacity than colorless and unripe berries.
The health benefits of mulberry
1.Reduces cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is an important fatty molecule found in every cell in your body. However, elevated blood cholesterol levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Animal studies show that mulberry extracts can reduce excess fat and lower cholesterol levels. They can also improve the ratio between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol.
Additionally, some test-tube experiments show that they reduce the formation of fat in the liver, potentially helping to prevent fatty liver disease.
2. Improves blood sugar control
People with diabetes are at risk of a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and need to be careful when eating carbohydrates.
Mulberry contains the compound DNJ, which inhibits an enzyme in the intestines that breaks down carbohydrates. Hence, mulberries may be beneficial for diabetes by slowing the rise in blood sugar after a meal. However, there have been no studies on humans yet and it is too early to talk about 100% of the mulberry work.
In any case, like most berries, mulberry contains very few carbohydrates, even in dry form, and therefore becomes an affordable and safe dessert for people with diabetes.
3. Reduces the risk of cancer
Research has shown that increased stress in the body causes oxidative damage to cells and tissues, which is associated with an increased risk of cancer.
For hundreds of years, mulberry has been part of traditional Chinese medicine as a cancer treatment. Some researchers now believe that these known preventive effects may have a scientific basis.
Animal studies show that the antioxidants in mulberry sap can reduce oxidative stress – potentially lowering the risk of cancer. Keep in mind that the same applies to fruits and vegetables in general. There is no evidence that mulberries reduce cancer risk more than other fruits or berries.
4. Improves digestion
Because mulberries contain dietary fiber, they can help improve digestion by increasing stool volume and making food easier to move through the digestive tract. As a result, they help relieve constipation, bloating, and stomach cramps.
In addition, healthy digestion is a prerequisite for maintaining an optimal weight. Thus, they are great for weight loss programs.
5. Helps the immune system
Mulberry contains alkaloids that help activate macrophages, which in turn stimulate the immune system, keeping it alert to health threats. The vitamin C found in these berries is also an immune-boosting nutrient.
Contraindications and side effects
Mulberry allergies are rare, but mulberry pollen sometimes causes allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Eating mulberries in moderation is good for your health. But according to a test by the American Diabetes Association, it was found that eating too much mulberry can lower blood sugar levels to dangerously low levels and cause hypoglycemia. …
Mulberry use
Mulberry has a sweet and delicious taste, is rich in nutrients and has a number of potential health benefits that are important for building a healthy diet.
The fruit of this tree is a great ingredient for making delicious smoothies, jams, desserts and snacks. And berries can be eaten raw, and dried and frozen for the winter.
Mulberry is also an effective skin and hair care product. Berries help reduce breakouts and dark spots. Mulberry also promotes hair growth and helps maintain color.
Parkin protein (green signal) is in a different part of the cell than the mitochondria (red signal) at time 0 (left image) but then co-localizes with the mitochondria after 60 minutes (right image). Credit: Salk Institute
Enzyme with central role in cancer and type 2 diabetes also activates “clean-up” protein in Parkinson’s.
When cells are stressed, chemical alarms go off, setting in motion a flurry of activity that protects the cell’s most important players. During the rush, a protein called Parkin hurries to protect the mitochondria, the power stations that generate energy for the cell. Now Salk researchers have discovered a direct link between a master sensor of cell stress and Parkin itself. The same pathway is also tied to type 2 diabetes and cancer, which could open a new avenue for treating all three diseases.
“Our findings represent the earliest step in Parkin’s alarm response that anyone’s ever found by a long shot. All the other known biochemical events happen at one hour; we’ve now found something that happens within five minutes,” says Professor Reuben Shaw, director of the NCI-designated Salk Cancer Center and senior author of the new work, detailed in Science Advances on April 7, 2021. “Decoding this major step in the way cells dispose of defective mitochondria has implications for a number of diseases.”
Parkin’s job is to clear away mitochondria that have been damaged by cellular stress so that new ones can take their place, a process called mitophagy. However, Parkin is mutated in familial Parkinson’s disease, making the protein unable to clear away damaged mitochondria. While scientists have known for some time that Parkin somehow senses mitochondrial stress and initiates the process of mitophagy, no one understood exactly how Parkin was first sensing problems with the mitochondria—Parkin somehow knew to migrate to the mitochondria after mitochondrial damage, but there was no known signal to Parkin until after it arrived there.
Shaw’s lab, which is well known for their work in the fields of metabolism and cancer, spent years intensely researching how the cell regulates a more general process of cellular cleaning and recycling called autophagy. About ten years ago, they discovered that an enzyme called AMPK, which is highly sensitive to cellular stress of many kinds, including mitochondrial damage, controls autophagy by activating an enzyme called ULK1.
Following that discovery, Shaw and graduate student Portia Lombardo began searching for autophagy-related proteins directly activated by ULK1. They screened about 50 different proteins, expecting about 10 percent to fit. They were shocked when Parkin topped the list. Biochemical pathways are usually very convoluted, involving up to 50 participants, each activating the next. Finding that a process as important as mitophagy is initiated by only three participants—first AMPK, then ULK1, then Parkin—was so surprising that Shaw could scarcely believe it.
To confirm the findings were correct, the team used mass spectrometry to reveal precisely where ULK1 was attaching a phosphate group to Parkin. They found that it landed in a new region other researchers had recently found to be critical for Parkin activation but hadn’t known why. A postdoctoral fellow in Shaw’s lab, Chien-Min Hung, then did precise biochemical studies to prove each aspect of the timeline and delineated which proteins were doing what, and where. Shaw’s research now begins to explain this key first step in Parkin activation, which Shaw hypothesizes may serve as a “heads-up” signal from AMPK down the chain of command through ULK1 to Parkin to go check out the mitochondria after a first wave of incoming damage, and, if necessary, trigger destruction of those mitochondria that are too gravely damaged to regain function.
The findings have wide-ranging implications. AMPK, the central sensor of the cell’s metabolism, is itself activated by a tumor suppressor protein called LKB1 that is involved in a number of cancers, as established by Shaw in prior work, and it is activated by a type 2 diabetes drug called metformin. Meanwhile, numerous studies show that diabetes patients taking metformin exhibit lower risks of both cancer and aging comorbidities. Indeed, metformin is currently being pursued as one of the first ever “anti-aging” therapeutics in clinical trials.
“The big takeaway for me is that metabolism and changes in the health of your mitochondria are critical in cancer, they’re critical in diabetes, and they’re critical in neurodegenerative diseases,” says Shaw, who holds the William R. Brody Chair. “Our finding says that a diabetes drug that activates AMPK, which we previously showed can suppress cancer, may also help restore function in patients with neurodegenerative disease. That’s because the general mechanisms that underpin the health of the cells in our bodies are way more integrated than anyone could have ever imagined.”
Reference: “AMPK/ULK1-mediated phosphorylation of Parkin ACT domain mediates an early step in mitophagy” by Chien-Min Hung, Portia S. Lombardo, Nazma Malik, Sonja N. Brun, Kristina Hellberg, Jeanine L. Van Nostrand, Daniel Garcia, Joshua Baumgart, Ken Diffenderfer, John M. Asara and Reuben J. Shaw, 7 April 2021, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4544
Survival for a baby born with a birth defect — otherwise known as a congenital anomaly — is a “post-code lottery,” according to scientists from 74 countries.
A study published today (July 13, 2021) in The Lancet, led by researchers from King’s College London, examined the risk of mortality for nearly 4000 babies born with birth defects in 264 hospitals around the world. The study found babies born with birth defects involving the intestinal tract have a two in five chance of dying in a low-income country compared to one in five in a middle-income country and one in twenty in a high-income country.
Gastroschisis, a birth defect where the baby is born with their intestines protruding through a hole by the umbilicus has the greatest difference in mortality with 90% of babies dying in low-income countries compared with 1% in high-income countries. In high-income countries, most of these babies will be able to live a full life without disability.
Principal Investigator Dr. Naomi Wright is a Paediatric Surgery Registrar from King’s College London who has devoted the last four years to studying these disparities in outcome. She said: “Geography should not determine outcomes for babies who have correctable surgical conditions. The Sustainable Development Goal to ‘end preventable deaths in newborns and children under 5 years old by 2030’ is unachievable without urgent action to improve surgical care for newborns in low- and middle-income countries.”
Mr. Andrew Leather, co-author and Director of the King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships at King’s College London said: “There needs to be a focus on improving surgical care for newborns in low- and middle-income countries globally. Over the last 25 years, while there has been great success in reducing deaths in children under 5 years by preventing and treating infectious diseases, there has been little focus on improving surgical care for babies and children and indeed the proportion of deaths related to surgical diseases continues to rise.
“Birth defects are now the 5th leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age globally, with most deaths occurring in the newborn period. Birth defects involving the intestinal tract have a particularly high mortality in low- and middle-income countries as many are not compatible with life without emergency surgical care after birth.”
In high-income countries, most women receive an antenatal ultrasound scan to assess for birth defects. If identified, this enables the woman to give birth in a hospital with children’s surgical care so the baby can receive help as soon as it is born. In low- and middle- income countries, babies with these conditions often arrive late to the children’s surgical center in a poor clinical condition. The study shows that babies who present to the children’s surgical center already septic with infection have a higher chance of dying.
Co-author Mr. Niyi Ade-Ajayi, Paediatric Surgeon at King’s College Hospital and Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons added: “The study highlights the importance of perioperative care (the care received either side of the corrective operation or procedure) at the children’s surgical center. Babies treated at hospitals without access to ventilation and intravenous nutrition when needed had a higher chance of dying. Furthermore, not having skilled anesthetic support and not using a surgical safety checklist at the time of operation were associated with a higher chance of death.”
The team of researchers found that improving survival from these conditions in low- and middle-income countries involves three key elements:
They acknowledge that this requires strong teamwork and planning between midwifery and obstetric teams, newborn and pediatric teams, and children’s surgical teams at the children’s surgical center, alongside outreach education and networking with referring hospitals.
They also urge that alongside local initiatives, surgical care for babies and children needs to be integrated into national and international child health policy and should no longer be neglected within global child health.
Cases of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fell significantly in both adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) held online this year.
Influenza A and influenza B (which both cause flu) and RSV are common causes of respiratory infections, particularly in winter. There are 9 to 45 million of cases of flu in the US each year. RSV is particularly common in under-twos but can affect people of all ages.
The retrospective study, by Ms. Siri Sarvepalli and colleagues at Wayne State University, Detroit, USA, looked at whether the incidence of these and other respiratory infections fell during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It involved comparing the results of PCR tests for various infections carried out at the Detroit Medical Centre (DMC) and Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM) between September 2019 and February 2020 with the results from September 2020 to February 2021.
The PCR tests used samples from nasopharyngeal swabs to test for influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-COV-2. Samples from throat swabs were used in PCR tests for Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a bacterial throat infection that typically follows viral upper respiratory tract infections.
Data on other respiratory virus infections was also reviewed.
For adults, in the 2019-2020 season, 11.5% of influenza A, 13.1% of influenza B, and 9% of RSV tests were positive. In the 2020-2021 season, 0% of influenza A, influenza B, and RSV tests were positive.
For children, in the 2019-2020 season, 12.4% of influenza A, 20.2% of influenza B, and 23.7% of RSV tests were positive. In the 2020-2021 season, 0% of influenza A and influenza B returned positive. One RSV test was positive.
The number of tests for GAS was dramatically reduced compared to the previous year. Some 933 GAS tests were carried out in adults in the 2019-20 period (of which 22.8% were positive), compared to 212 (23.11% were positive) a year later. For children, the figure fell from 3,984 tests (of which 27% were positive) to 777 (20.98% positive). See table in link below.
Incidence of other, less common, respiratory viruses had also fallen. In 2019-2020, the proportion of tests for other respiratory viruses that came back positive ranged from 0.2-4.2% (Parainfluenza virus 1: 3.5%, parainfluenza virus 2: 0.4%, human metapneumovirus: 4.2%, Coronavirus 229E: 0.2%) as compared to 0% in 2020-2021 — a change described as “remarkable” by the study’s authors. Data on these infections from 42 medical centers across the Midwest of the US revealed a similar pattern across the entire region. (See table 3 of the poster above.)
The researchers say: “The incidence of influenza A and B and RSV infections in the 2020-2021 season decreased significantly compared to the 2019-2020 season in both pediatric and adult populations. Community mitigating measures such as social distancing, school closures and use of masks may have decreased the spread of viral pathogens. This may also explain the decrease in GAS infections, which typically occur after an infection with a respiratory virus.”
In addition, infection with COVID-19 may have protected people against other respiratory viruses, through viral interference. This occurs when one virus temporarily blocks a co-infection from another virus and was seen during the H1N1 “swine flu” pandemic in 2009.
Similar reductions in incidence of influenza and other respiratory viral infections have been noted elsewhere, including in the southern hemisphere where Australia, Chile and South Africa reported just 51 cases of flu in total in the 2020 flu season.
Ms. Sarvepalli says: “It is likely that the number of cases of flu and other respiratory infections will rise back to normal in the coming years as SARS-CoV-2 becomes a seasonal virus.
“However, if handwashing and other mitigating measures are followed to the same extent as last winter, numbers could instead remain lower than usual.”
This article is based on poster presentation 2678 at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). The material has been peer-reviewed by the congress selection committee. The research has been submitted to a journal but the full paper is not available at this stage.
Human pollution is often evident from oil slicks and plastic drifting on shore, but many of the drugs that we consume also end up washing out into our water and current effluent treatment isn’t equipped to deal with them. Drugs such as fluoxetine — also known as Prozac — creeping into our waterways can embolden fish and alter their behavior, but pharmaceutical pollution doesn’t end with prescribed medication. Illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, can also accumulate in our waterways.
“Whether illicit drugs alter fish behavior at levels increasingly observed in surface water bodies was unclear,” says Pavel Horký from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic. He and his colleagues, from the same university and the University of Southern Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, decided to investigate whether brown trout (Salmo trutta) are at risk of addiction from illegal methamphetamine in their waterways and discovered that they are. The team publish this alarming discovery in Journal of Experimental Biology.
After isolating brown trout in a tank of water laced with 1 μg l-1 methamphetamine (a level that has been found in freshwater rivers) for 8 weeks, Horký and colleagues transferred the fish to a freshwater tank and checked whether the animals were experiencing withdrawal — offering them a choice between freshwater or water containing methamphetamine — every alternate day for 10 days. If the fish had become addicted to the low levels of methamphetamine in their water, they would be feeling the effects of withdrawal and would seek the drug when it was available.
Tracking the fish’s choices, it was clear to the team that the trout that had spent 2 months in methamphetamine-contaminated water had become addicted, selecting water containing the drug as they suffered withdrawal during the first 4 days after moving to freshwater. In addition, the addicted fish were less active than trout that had never experienced the drug, and the researchers found evidence of the drug in the fish’s brains up to 10 days after the methamphetamine was withdrawn. It seems that, even low levels of illicit drugs in our waterways can affect the animals that reside there.
Horký is also concerned that drug addiction could drive fish to congregate near unhealthy water treatment discharges in search of a fix, as well as disturbing their natural tempo of life. “The elicitation of drug addiction in wild fish could represent another example of unexpected pressure on species living in urban environments,” he suggests.
Reference: “Methamphetamine pollution elicits addiction in wild fish” by Horký, P., Grabic, R., Grabicová, K., Brooks, B. W., Douda, K., Slavík, O., Hubená, P., Sancho Santos, E. M. and Randák, T., 6 July 2021, Journal of Experimental Biology.
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242145
In 2020, more than 740 000 of new cases of cancer were associated with alcohol consumption. This is one of the highlights of the new global study carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published by The Lancet Oncology.
Risky and heavy drinking patterns (more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day) represented 86% of the total alcohol-attributable cases in 2020, show the new data. But the data also reveal that light to moderate drinking (up to 2 alcoholic drinks per day) is dangerous. This drinking pattern represented 1 in 7 alcohol-attributable cancers and accounted for more than 100 000 new cancer cases worldwide.
“Today, many people across the WHO European Region are still not aware that alcohol is rated as a Group 1 human carcinogen – alongside tobacco, asbestos and radioiodine. There is no safe amount of consumed alcohol. As it passes through the body, it can damage the organs it comes in contact with, causing different types of cancer, from oral cavity to female breast to liver and rectum,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Acting Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.
According to the IARC report, the alcohol-related cancer types with the largest numbers of new cases in 2020 were:
New IARC data also show the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for alcohol consumption: the proportions of new cancer cases that could have been avoided if no one in the population consumed alcohol.
According to the publication, the lowest PAFs in 2020 were recorded in northern Africa and western Asia – less than 1% in both sexes.
The highest PAFs were recorded among men in eastern Asia (9%) and central and eastern Europe (8%), and among women in central and eastern Europe (3%), Australia and New Zealand (3%), and western Europe (3%).
The European Region has the highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. Cancer is not the only regional problem in this context – alcohol use is attributable to more than 200 health conditions (diseases and injuries) in the Region alone, and leads to almost 1 million deaths each year.
“WHO presented a series of best buys – cost-effective policies that can reduce alcohol consumption levels in Member States. These are measures in the domains of fiscal policies and marketing regulations, and are aimed at reducing easy access,” added Dr Ferreira-Borges.
“If those policies could be implemented fully across the Region, we could save thousands of lives that are now being lost due to cancer and other noncommunicable diseases, and make people healthier and happier.”