Archive for category: News

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that endovascular thrombectomy may improve functional outcomes in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion presenting after 24 hours, highlighting the need for randomized clinical trials to confirm its efficacy.

For vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO) that lasts more than 24 hours, the effectiveness and safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) combined with best medical therapy (BMT) are yet unknown. Thus, this study assessed the effects of EVT in patients treated for vertebrobasilar artery blockage more than 24 hours after the last known well time.

The patients from 11 comprehensive stroke centers in China were recruited for this research between 2019 and 2024. Included were eligible individuals whose vertebrobasilar artery occlusions were treated more than 24 hours after the expected occurrence. 2 groups of patients were created: those who had BMT alone and those who received EVT with BMT. Good functional status (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-3) at 90 days was the main result. Ninety-day mortality and symptomatic cerebral bleeding within 24 hours were safety outcomes.

Of the 202 patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion, 101 had EVT with BMT, and 101 received BMT alone. Of these patients, 158 were male [78.2%] and their median [IQR] age was 64.0 [56.2-70.0] years. The median (IQR) period from onset to admission was 48 (24-96) hours, and the median (IQR) posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed Tomography Score was 8 (8-9).

71 patients who had EVT with BMT had a greater rate of a favorable functional outcome at 90 days than 71 patients who received BMT alone, according to the primary analysis using propensity score matching (41 patients [57.7%] vs. 32 patients [45.1%]; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.35 [95% CI, 1.02-1.79]).

When comparing EVT with BMT to BMT alone, the death rate was reduced (9 patients [12.7%] vs. 20 patients [28.2%]; aRR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.08-0.81]); however, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of symptomatic cerebral bleeding (4 patients [5.6%] vs. 0 patients; P =.13). EVT with BMT showed a similar functional outcome benefit in the inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis (aRR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.04-1.71]).

Overall, compared to those who got BMT, selected individuals with VBAO who received EVT more than 24 hours after the beginning of symptoms were more likely to have high functional status at three months. For individuals with baseline NIHSS scores of 10 or above, the potential benefit of EVT could be higher.

Source:

Liu, S., Xu, Y., Nguyen, T. N., Gao, F., Xue, Y., Liu, S., Wang, S., Zhang, B., Luo, L., Yue, X., Chang, B., Li, H., Xu, G., Zhang, P., Liu, Y., Cao, Y., Shi, W., Wang, S., Zhao, L., … Wei, M. (2025). Outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion beyond 24 hours. JAMA Network Open, 8(6), e2515526. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15526

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was linked to prediagnostic use of sedatives, antidepressants, hypnotics, and anxiolytics.

While a number of studies have indicated that people with a history of mental illnesses are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS, there is little and conflicting evidence linking the use of popular psychiatric drugs to ALS. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate if the risk and course of ALS are related to the prescribed use of popular psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants, hypnotics and sedatives, and anxiolytics.

Based on the Swedish Motor Neuron Disease Quality Registry, this nationwide register-based case-control study was carried out in Sweden among all patients diagnosed with ALS between January 1, 2015, and July 1, 2023. These patients were matched for age and sex with up to five people who did not have ALS, as well as their spouses and full siblings.

Following diagnosis, ALS patients were monitored for a median (IQR) of 1.33 (0.64-2.37) years. Conditional logistic regression models were used to compare patients with ALS to population or relative control participants in order to evaluate the probability of ALS diagnosis linked to prediagnostic prescription usage of popular mental drugs. Following diagnosis, ALS patients were monitored to see whether prediagnostic prescription usage of popular mental drugs was associated with the advancement of the disease.

In a research study with 1,057 ALS cases and 5,281 controls (mean age 67.5 years; 53.1% male), using psychiatric drugs before being diagnosed with ALS was associated with a higher chance of getting the condition. In particular, the strongest correlation (OR 6.10) was seen for hypnotic/sedative usage during the first year, followed by anxiolytic use (OR 1.60) and antidepressant use (OR 1.21) across longer time periods.

For all 3 medication groups, the increased risk remained even after excluding prescriptions written in the year before the diagnosis. With the exception of hypnotics and sedatives, similar correlations were found when comparing with relatives, allaying worries regarding hereditary influences. Additionally, ALS patients who had previously used antidepressants or anxiolytics had lower survival times.

Overall, the use of antidepressants, hypnotics and sedatives, or anxiolytics was linked to an increased chance of receiving an ALS diagnosis in the future. Among ALS patients, prediagnostic usage of several of these drugs was likewise linked to a worse survival rate and a quicker functional deterioration.

Reference:

Chourpiliadis, C., Lovik, A., Ingre, C., Press, R., Samuelsson, K., Valdimarsdottir, U., & Fang, F. (2025). Use of common psychiatric medications and risk and prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. JAMA Network Open, 8(6), e2514437. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14437

Having a dog at home could help to prevent eczema in children who are genetically prone to the condition, a study suggests.

Children with a change in their DNA that increases their chance of developing eczema were less likely to have the condition if they were exposed to a dog in early life, researchers say.

The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say.

The study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, and experts caution that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children.

Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact.

The international study team, led by scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Bristol, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Helmholtz Munich, examined data from almost 300,000 people to investigate whether those who are prone to developing eczema might respond differently to environmental factors.

Researchers tested for interactions between the 24 most significant eczema-associated genetic variants and 18 early life environmental factors during the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s first year of life.

An initial analysis of more than 25,000 individuals suggested there may be a relationship between seven environmental factors – dog ownership, elder sibling, cat ownership, breastfeeding, smoking, antibiotic use and washing practices – and at least one established genetic variant for eczema.

They then tried to replicate their findings in a larger group of almost 255,000 people. The strongest interaction found was between a region of DNA code that increased the risk of eczema, but in children or babies whose families owned a pet dog, that risk disappeared.

The variation in genetic code was located near a gene for interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) – a protein involved in immune cell function and inflammation.

Lab tests confirmed that in human skin cells with the genetic variant, molecular signals from a dog that could trigger allergy instead worked to suppress skin inflammation.

The findings suggest that the IL-7R protein may provide a potential target for future treatment or prevention of eczema, experts say.

The study also pointed to a similar effect among young children with older siblings, but further studies are needed to confirm the link. Scientists suggest that exposure to a variety of bacteria at an early age, through contact with dogs and other children, could be behind the protective effect.

Populations used in the study were limited to those from a white European background. Research involving a more diverse group of people is needed to better understand interactions between genetic and environmental factors linked to eczema in other ancestral groups, the team say.

Professor Sara Brown, from the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “The most difficult questions I’m asked by parents in clinic are about why their child has eczema, and how they can help. We know that genetic make-up affects a child’s risk of developing eczema and previous studies have shown that owning a pet dog may be protective, but this is the first study to show how this may occur at a molecular level. More work is needed, but our findings mean we have a chance to intervene in the rise of allergic disease, to protect future generations.”

Dr Marie Standl, from Helmholtz Munich, said “This study sheds light on why some children develop eczema in response to environmental exposures while others don’t. Not every preventive measure works for everyone – and that’s precisely why gene–environment studies are crucial. They help us move toward more personalized, effective prevention strategies.”

Reference:

Marie Standl, Ashley Budu-Aggrey, Luke J. Johnston, Martina S. Elias, S. Hasan Arshad, Peter Bager, Veronique Bataille, Helena Blakeway, Klaus Bønnelykke, Dorret Boomsma, Ben M. Brumpton, Gene–Environment Interaction Affects Risk of Atopic Eczema: Population and In Vitro Studies, Allergy, https://doi.org/10.1111/all.16605 

Racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival have been extensively studied, with Black patients experiencing worse 5-year relative survival rates compared to Asian, Hispanic, and White patients. Factors such as diagnosis delays, lack of appropriate treatment, advanced disease, and aggressive tumor histology contribute to these survival disparities. While previous research has shown no regional differences in survival among Black and Hispanic patients, recent studies have identified associations between county-level socioeconomic status (SES) and uterine cancer survival, particularly in the Northeast.

Recently published study aimed to explore the interplay of geography, diversity, and race and ethnicity in uterine cancer survival disparities. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Research Plus Data, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 162,500 adult females diagnosed with uterine cancer between 2000 and 2019. The primary outcome was uterine cancer-specific survival.

Methods

Ethnicity was determined using the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Hispanic Identification Algorithm, while race was self-reported. The study included Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White patients. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess survival distributions and estimate hazard ratios for the associations between race/ethnicity and cancer-specific survival.

Results

The study found that Asian patients with nonendometrioid or advanced-stage tumors had better cancer-specific survival compared to White patients. No significant differences were noted between Hispanic and White patients. Geographic variations in racial and ethnic disparities were observed, with survival disparities being more pronounced in locations with greater racial and ethnic diversity. The study highlighted the need for further research to understand the causes of these disparities. Limitations of the study included its descriptive nature, limited focus on specific geographic locations, and the aggregation of racial and ethnic groups into broad categories. Despite these limitations, the study’s strengths included the use of a large cancer database and an analytic approach that enabled the detection of granular racial and ethnic survival disparities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of considering geographic variations, diversity, and race and ethnicity in understanding uterine cancer survival disparities. Future research should focus on identifying the causes of these disparities and prioritizing interventions in locations with the most significant racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival.

Key Points

– Racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival have been extensively studied, with Black patients experiencing worse 5-year relative survival rates compared to Asian, Hispanic, and White patients.

– Factors such as diagnosis delays, lack of appropriate treatment, advanced disease, and aggressive tumor histology contribute to survival disparities among different racial and ethnic groups. – Recent studies have identified associations between county-level socioeconomic status (SES) and uterine cancer survival, particularly in the Northeast, highlighting geographic variations in survival disparities.

– A retrospective cohort study of 162,500 adult females diagnosed with uterine cancer between 2000 and 2019 using the SEER Research Plus Data showed varying cancer-specific survival outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups.

– Asian patients with nonendometrioid or advanced-stage tumors had better cancer-specific survival compared to White patients, while no significant differences were noted between Hispanic and White patients.

– Further research is needed to understand the causes of racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival, with a focus on geographic variations, diversity, and race and ethnicity to prioritize interventions in areas with significant disparities.

Reference –

Caitlin E. Meade et al. (2025). Geographic Variation Of Racial And Ethnic Differences In Uterine Cancer Survival. *JAMA Network Open*, 8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.7227.

New Delhi: The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has accepted the Bioequivalence (BE) study report and granted approval to Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd to conduct a Phase III clinical trial of Semaglutide Injection (Synthetic Origin) for weight management.