Health & Medicine
Autoimmune encephalitis and psychiatric disorders
Despite the latest advances in medical research, the causes of psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia (a long-term illness that affects the person’s perception of reality) remain a puzzle for researchers and doctors around the world. Unlocking the mechanisms behind these diseases is paramount for effectively treating or even preventing them. Through her study of an uncommon case of autoimmune encephalitis, […]
Simple blood tests could predict immunotherapy effectiveness
Despite the extensive use of immunotherapy in patients suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, this therapy has significant limitations. Not everyone responds to treatment and current therapies can have serious adverse side effects. When working at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA, Dr George Laliotis and his team discovered that biochemical factors, measured […]
The heart of the matter: Elamipretide in the treatment of Barth syndrome
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an ultra-rare but debilitating genetic disease affecting cell mitochondria. High infant mortality due to cardiac complications and a weakened immune system significantly decrease life expectancy. Current medications treat symptoms but not the cause, leaving an unmet clinical need to develop effective treatments that target the underlying pathology. Dr Hani N Sabbah, Professor of Medicine at Wayne […]
Artemis:DNA-PKcs: A new drug target for cancer treatment?
Cells encounter DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) every day. Because they can lead to loss of genetic information, DSBs must be repaired. Nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) is the major pathway for repairing DSBs, and the key enzymes include Artemis nuclease and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). For the first time, Dr Go Watanabe and his team from the University […]
Ketamine: An old medication with newly discovered actions in pain and breathing regulation
Pain that lasts longer than the expected period of healing is tormenting a significant percentage of the population and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Although medications are available to control it, its management often involves trial and error, especially in cases where specific nerve damage cannot be found. Professor Albert Dahan at the Leiden University Medical Center in […]
Unlocking iodine’s true potential
Despite it being a cornerstone antibacterial application in hospitals, ‘iodine’ is often used with reservations about staining and toxicity. Such reservations have historical roots founded on unfortunate misconceptions that also mask the remarkable properties of an iodine solution’s active agent – molecular iodine. Dr Jack Kessler, Douglas C Spitz, and colleagues at I2Pure, USA, have demonstrated that molecular iodine is […]
Should pre-anaesthesia consultations be done telephonically?
Anaesthesiologists play a crucial role in preparing a patient ahead of surgery, and not just physically. Pre-anaesthesia consultations are an opportunity to engage with patients, involve them in important choices, and consider these when making diagnostic, therapeutic, or palliative care decisions. Dr Sibylle Kietaibl at the Evangelical Hospital Vienna in Austria suggests such consultations should also consider patient preferences around […]
Co-existence of hepatosteatosis and skeletal muscle fat infiltration
Accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatosteatosis) and muscle (myosteatosis) affects normal physiological functioning, leading to poorer health outcomes. But what is the concurrence of these two conditions in the general population, and are there common underlying mechanisms? Professor Julie Pasco and colleagues at Deakin University and Barwon Health in Australia investigate these metabolic alterations in a population-based study providing […]
Botulinum neurotoxin type A resistance: An emerging problem
Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A), often referred to as ‘Botox’, is commonly used to treat medical conditions and increasingly in cosmetic procedures. However, long-term use and high doses of BoNT-A may lead to immunoresistance, limiting its future therapeutic benefit. A panel of experts including Dr Mary Dingley, Cosmetic Medicine Centre, Australia, is addressing this emerging issue. Its published recommendations offer a […]
The impact of body lotions on the skin microbiome and ceramides
Moisturising products can help improve the look and feel of dry skin, but little is known about how these products may impact the bacterial ecosystem of the skin, the skin microbiome. Researchers Dr Barry Murphy and Dr Andrew Mayes from Unilever R&D explored the changes in skin health and the associated microbiome after using a body lotion for five weeks. […]