Researchers identify new way to inhibit immune cells that drive allergic asthma

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, have discovered that a protein called Piezo1 prevents a type of immune cell in the lung from becoming hyperactivated by allergens. The study, to be published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), suggests that switching on Piezo1 could represent a new therapeutic approach to reducing lung inflammation and treating allergic asthma.

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Canada to make contraception for women free

Canada will cover the full cost of contraception for women, the government said Saturday as it highlighted the first part of a major health care reform.

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Latur Doctor, 5 others booked for assaulting lift contractor over alleged caste discrimination

Latur: A shocking case of assault has emerged from Latur in Maharashtra, where a lift installation technician was allegedly thrashed by a doctor and five others over a monetary dispute, reportedly triggered by caste discrimination.

The victim had got a contract of Rs 19 lakh to install a lift in a new hospital and had started work after spending some amount for preliminary purchases, the official said.

According to PTI, the official said, “As per the complainant, the doctor who owns the hospital asked him to stop work after getting to know his caste. He wanted the victim to return the money already spent. This led to a dispute”. 

Also Read:Bengaluru doctor booked for performing 74 illegal abortions in 3 years

“The man has said he was abducted and assaulted by the doctor and five others between March 26 and 28 and left near Latur railway station in an unconscious state,” the MIDC police station official informed.

In a distressing turn of events, the victim alleges that he was forcibly abducted and subjected to physical assault by the doctor and five others between March 26 and 28. He claims to have been left unconscious near Latur railway station following the ordeal.

A case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he added.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that in a shocking incident, a doctor was accused of assaulting a patient at the District Hospital Mahoba. The disturbing video was caught on CCTV camera and has since become viral on social media, prompting the authorities to launch a probe. Taking cognisance of the matter, the District Magistrate (DM) of Mahoba ordered an investigation into the matter and a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the concerned doctor.  

Also Read:ENT medico alleges ragging, doctor booked

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Bhubaneshwar Doctor Couple murder case: 5 persons sentenced to life imprisonment

Bhubaneshwar: A court has sentenced life imprisonment to five robbers, including a woman, for the brutal murder of an elderly couple, both retired doctors, in Sailashree Vihar, Bhubaneshwar in 2015.

The convicts were found guilty of the murder of a 73-year-old doctor and his wife 67-year-old wife. The victims, an eye surgeon and a pathologist were discovered dead in their home’s ground floor on November 15, 2015.
Also Read:Odisha: Research Fund declared for all Govt Medical Colleges, PG institutes

The doctor had been strangled, with his hands and legs bound, while Sushma had sustained severe head and neck injuries, lying in a pool of blood. The motive behind this brutal act was determined to be robbery. The mastermind behind the plan was a person identified as Tikina, who had served as the couple’s maid. She enlisted the help of the other four individuals to carry out the crime, reports the Times of India. 

Prateek Singh, the deputy commissioner of police, highlighted the success of the prosecution in proving the charges against the accused, leading to their conviction. “Tikina, who was the couple’s maid, hatched the plan and engaged the four men. The prosecution succeeded in substantiating the charges against the accused, leading to their conviction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Prateek Singh,” added. He also noted that within the last three months, Bhubaneswar has seen convictions in at least 28 cases. 

Also Read:Home visit turns dangerous for Odisha doctor, Rs 10 lakh extorted

A similarly shocking incident took place in Bhubaneswar last year when a government doctor was allegedly kidnapped and later extorted of Rs 10 lakh by a couple who called him into their house for a check-up by pretending to be sick. In that case, also, police arrested four persons including a woman under sections 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 385 (Putting person in fear of injury to commit extor­tion), 386 (Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 387, 389, 394 (Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) and 120-B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on the doctor’s statement who filed a complaint immediately after being released by the accused.

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Kombucha tea may be linked to fat loss, finds study

According to research conducted at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and published in the journal PLOS Genetics, drinking kombucha tea may help reduce fat accumulation and lower triglyceride levels.

When a person has too much fat stored within their body, particularly triglycerides, it can increase their risk for several health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart failure.

Kombucha tea is a fermented drink made from black tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The addition of bacteria and yeast also makes it a probiotic beverage. Previous animal and small-scale human studies have suggested that kombucha may be helpful in the treatment of several diseases, including diabetes, liver disease, and gut health. Other animal and pre-clinical research has found that kombucha may assist with different aspects of cardiovascular health, such as lowering cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

In the study, researchers used C. elegans to investigate whether intestinal colonization with Kombucha-associated microbial species rewired host metabolism and developed a reproducible method to culture animals on lawns of KT microbes consisting of microbes found in all commercial and homebrewed KTs.

The results revealed that animals feeding on KT microbes accumulate significantly less fat than animals consuming either an E. coli diet, any of the individual three KT-associated microbial species, or a simple non-fermenting mix of these three species. Furthermore, the data suggested that KT consumption reduces fat storage by modulating host lipid metabolism pathways rather than restricting caloric intake.

“We were very surprised to find that the probiotic microbes in kombucha tea could colonize the worm gut and stimulate a fasting-like metabolic response in the host, which occurred even though these animals showed no defects in intestinal nutrient absorption. Incredibly, this response was only seen in animals consuming microbes isolated from a long-term, fully fermented kombucha tea culture and not a simple mix of non-fermenting kombucha-associated microbes. This observation suggested that microbial metabolites produced during the fermentation process could be shaping host metabolic pathways,” said Rob Dowen, PhD, professor of cell biology and physiology in the School of Medicine at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lead author of this study.

Reference: Rachel N. DuMez-Kornegay,Lillian S. Baker,Alexis J. Morris,Whitney L. M. DeLoach,Robert H. Dowen; Kombucha Tea-associated microbes remodel host metabolic pathways to suppress lipid accumulation; Journal: PLOS Genetics; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011003

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COPD patients with severe disease and recent exacerbations more likely to continue chest wall oscillation therapy: Study

COPD patients having severe disease and recent exacerbations are more likely to continue chest wall oscillation therapy suggests a study published in the Respiratory Medicine.

High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is a form of airway clearance therapy that has been available since the mid-1990s and is routinely used by patients suffering from retained pulmonary secretions. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), neuromuscular disease (NMD), and other disorders, including bronchiectasis (BE) and COPD (without BE), are commonly prescribed this therapy. Limited evidence exists describing HFCWO use in the BE population, its impact on long-term disease management, and the specific patient populations most likely to benefit from this therapy. This study sought to characterise the clinical characteristics of patients with BE who have documented use of HFCWO at baseline and 1-year follow-up. An analysis from a large national database registry of patients with BE was performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients receiving HFCWO therapy at baseline are reported. Patients were stratified into two groups based on continued or discontinued use of HFCWO therapy at 1-year follow-up.

Results: Over half (54.8 %) of patients who reported using HFCWO therapy had a Modified Bronchiectasis Severity Index (m-BSI) classified as severe, and the majority (81.4 %) experienced a worsening in the prior two years. Of patients with 1-year follow-up data, 73 % reported continued use of HFCWO. Compared to patients who discontinued therapy, these patients were more severe at baseline and at follow-up suggesting that patients with more severe disease are more likely to continue HFCWO therapy. Patients who have more severe disease and continue to experience exacerbations and hospitalizations are more likely to continue HFCWO therapy.

Reference:

Basavaraj A, Choate R, Becker BC, Aksamit TR, Metersky ML; Bronchiectasis and NTM Research Registry Investigators. The severity of bronchiectasis predicts use of and adherence to high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy – Analysis from the United States Bronchiectasis and NTM research registry. Respir Med. 2024 Mar;223:107555. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107555. Epub 2024 Feb 1. PMID: 38307319.

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Isotretinoin use does not significantly change patients’ impulsivity severity in acne vulgaris: Study

Turkey: Treatment with isotretinoin improves the severity of anxiety symptoms, depression, and attention performance in acne vulgaris (AV), according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Dermatology.

However, the researchers found no significant change in patients’ impulsivity severity based on self-reports and behavioral performances based on the Go/No-go Task (GNG) and Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART).

Acne vulgaris is one of the frequent dermatologic diseases that usually impacts people during adolescence. Reports have shown that isotretinoin, the first-line therapy option for moderate-to-severe AV, could lead to suicidality and mood disturbances. Impulsivity is the tendency to act prematurely without foresight and is a significant risk factor for suicidality.

Against the above background, Çağrı Öğüt MD, Neslihan D. Öğüt from Uşak University Faculty of Medicine in Uşak, Turkey, and colleagues aimed to test the hypothesis that isotretinoin would lead to an increase in impulsivity.

For this purpose, the researchers enrolled seventeen patients with acne vulgaris. The study was planned as a naturalistic 3-month follow-up study. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Go/No-go Task (GNG), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) were administered before and after the isotretinoin treatment.

The study led to the following findings:

  • There was a significant improvement in the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms in acne patients at the end of 3 months.
  • Self-report impulsivity characteristics with BIS stayed unchanged.
  • No statistically significant difference was found in behavioral task results associated with response inhibition with GNG and impulsive decision-making with BART.
  • There was a significant decrease in omission errors, with GNG suggesting improvement in the attention domain after the follow-up.

In conclusion, the study showed an improvement in the patients’ attention performance after isotretinoin treatment.The finding is consistent with studies showing increased attention performance with isotretinoin treatment. Attention is one of the main symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, improvement in attention performance may be related to mood symptoms.

“It has been reported that months are needed for isotretinoin treatment to lead to behavioral changes in patients,” the researchers wrote.

According to the data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the median duration of isotretinoin use was 3 months in patients who attempted suicide. Therefore, patients were re-evaluated at the end of three months.

The researchers showed an improvement in the death thoughts at the end of isotretinoin treatment detected in four patients at the beginning of the study. At the end of the follow-up, no patient with death thoughts or suicidal ideation was observed.

The finding indicates that isotretinoin is a safe treatment option in patients with AV. Nevertheless, it has been reported that some subgroups may be specifically vulnerable to suicidal thoughts triggered by isotretinoin. Suicide risk may increase in certain subgroups with increased impulsivity with isotretinoin treatment.

Reference:

Öğüt, Ç., & Öğüt, N. D. (2024). No association between isotretinoin and impulsivity in patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris. International Journal of Dermatology, 63(4), 484-490. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.16997

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Rheumatic diseases associated with childbearing problems, claims research

A new paper in Rheumatology, published by Oxford University Press, finds that rheumatic diseases can lead to reproductive problems, though some conditions have more detrimental effects than others.

Immune-mediated diseases are a varied group of conditions, but each display an aberrant activity of the immune system. Some diseases, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and type 1 diabetes, occur mostly before patients reach their reproductive years, but others show up later in life. Scientists have investigated systemic lupus erythematosus for its impact on reproductive health; the condition increases the risk for some adverse pregnancy outcomes, including pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, C-sections, and low birth weight. But the impact of other autoimmune diseases-such as spondyloarthritides, psoriasis, or alopecia areata—on fertility and pregnancy is unclear or the research is inconsistent.

Researchers here used data from Finnish nationwide health registers to study the impact of immune-mediated diseases on reproductive health measures such as reproductive success, and for women, ever having experienced adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Out of all people in Finland born between 1964 and 1984, 7.9% of the women and 7.8% of the men had an autoimmune disease diagnosed before or during reproductive years.

The researchers found that many immune-mediated diseases had little impact on the number of children. However, women with selected immune-mediated diseases experience a higher prevalence of childlessness, with the top three diseases with largest differences being Addison’s disease (23.9% more childlessness), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (9.3%), and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (8.6%). Several of the rheumatic diseases—particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis-lead to higher rates of childlessness and fewer children. The investigation also revealed that, on average, people with rheumatic diseases had children earlier.

The risks for pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, preterm delivery, non-elective C-sections and need of neonatal intensive care were increased for many conditions. Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, type 1 diabetes, and Addison’s disease showed over two-fold risks for some of these outcomes. However, the risk of gestational diabetes was not higher for patients with any of the rheumatic diseases compared to the population.

Men with rheumatic conditions also had a higher prevalence of childlessness than controls (mean difference 4.7%), with most diseases showing no difference but some diseases resulting in much higher prevalence of childlessness, with the top three diseases being myasthenia gravis (20.1% more childlessness), Addison’s disease (16.4%), and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (13.7%).

“Despite seeing an elevated risk for diverse childbearing problems in rheumatic and other immune-mediated diseases, many of the complications are still fairly rare,” said Anne Kerola, the lead author of the study. “Family planning should actively be discussed between patients, both men and women, with rheumatic diseases and their healthcare providers. Pregnancies in women with rheumatic diseases are carefully followed up to tailor medications appropriately, which helps reduce risks.”

Reference:

Anne M Kerola, Antti Palomäki, Hannele Laivuori, Tarja Laitinen, Martti Färkkilä, Kari K Eklund, Samuli Ripatti, Markus Perola, Andrea Ganna, Joni V Lindbohm, Nina Mars, Patterns of reproductive health in inflammatory rheumatic diseases and other immune-mediated diseases: a nationwide registry study, Rheumatology, 2024;, keae122, https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae122.

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Case Study: Acute Kidney Injury Post-Pancreatectomy Linked to Oxalate Nephropathy

A recent case study published in the BMC Nephrology reported a 75-year-old man who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3, as classified by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, weeks after undergoing Whipple surgery for distal cholangiocarcinoma. This case highlighted the critical connection between post-surgical malabsorption, inadequate pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and excessive vitamin C intake that leads to oxalate nephropathy, a condition marked by kidney damage due to oxalate crystal deposition.

Following the Whipple procedure the patient experienced a significant decline in kidney function, a complication which initially was confusing to his healthcare providers. The detection of acute kidney injury came at a critical juncture when the patient was due to start adjuvant chemotherapy, that highlighted an unexpected hurdle in his cancer treatment journey. The laboratory tests revealed markedly increased creatinine levels along with an increase in urinary oxalate levels, the absence of the typical signs like the hematuria or leucocyturia.

A meticulous kidney biopsy was instrumental in diagnosing oxalate nephropathy which uncovered the presence of numerous intratubular oxalate crystals, despite their absence in urinalysis. The surgical removal of part of the pancreas led to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and subsequent fat malabsorption, while the non-compliance of the patient with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and daily consumption of vitamin C supplements further exacerbated the condition.

The study underlined the pathophysiology of secondary hyperoxaluria and its progression to oxalate nephropathy which emphasized the need for increased awareness of this condition as a potential cause of acute kidney injury post-pancreatectomy. The secondary hyperoxaluria can stem from increased oxalate or precursor intake, fat malabsorption or diminished intestinal oxalate degradation which often culminates in a perfect storm for patients with specific surgical histories and dietary habits.

The prompt intervention including the resumption of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and the introduction of calcium carbonate resulted in the improvement of the patient’s kidney function. However, the subsequent advancement of his cancer illuminated the complexities of managing post-surgical complications amidst the ongoing oncological concerns.

This case report contributes significantly to the medical literature by marking as the first reported instance of acute oxalate nephropathy post-pancreatectomy compounded by vitamin C intake. It prompts a reevaluation of post-operative care strategies in ensuring compliance with enzyme replacement therapy and rethinking nutritional supplements in vulnerable patients. Overall, this report emphasizes the importance of considering oxalate nephropathy in differential diagnoses for AKI following the pancreatectomy. 

Reference:

Barani, C., Aydin, S., Demoulin, N., & Jadoul, M. (2024). Oxalate nephropathy after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report. In BMC Nephrology (Vol. 25, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-024-03543-9

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Probiotic-rich Kombucha Tea may reduce fat, triglyceride and positively impact Host Metabolism: Study

Kombucha Tea (KT) has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, including protection against metabolic diseases. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims has been lacking. A recent study aimed to investigate how the probiotic microbes in Kombucha Tea impact host metabolism using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.

This study was published in the journal PLoS Genetics. The study was conducted by Rachel N. and colleagues.

Despite its long-standing use in traditional medicine, the precise mechanisms underlying the purported health benefits of Kombucha Tea remain elusive. This study sought to elucidate how Kombucha Tea-associated microbes (KTMs) influence host physiology, particularly in relation to lipid metabolism, using C. elegans as a model system.

Researchers established a method to exclusively feed C. elegans a diet consisting of Kombucha Tea-associated microbes (KTM). They observed the colonization of KTM in the nematode’s gut and investigated its effects on host development, fecundity, and lipid metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed metabolic changes.

The key findings of the study were:

• Colonization of KTMs: C. elegans fed a diet of KTM displayed robust colonization of the gut by KTMs, with no adverse effects on host development or reproduction.

• Reduction in Lipid Accumulation: Consumption of KTMs led to a significant reduction in total lipid stores and lipid droplet size in C. elegans, indicating an impact on host lipid metabolism.

• Metabolic Rewiring: Transcriptomic analysis revealed widespread transcriptional changes in core lipid metabolism pathways, including upregulation of lysosomal lipase genes involved in lipid degradation, resembling a fasting-like response.

The study sheds light on how Kombucha Tea influences host metabolism through its probiotic microbes. By colonizing the gut of C. elegans, KTMs induce a metabolic shift towards increased lipid utilization, resulting in reduced fat accumulation. These findings align with the reported health benefits of Kombucha Tea in humans, suggesting its potential as a complementary health intervention.

Understanding the mechanisms by which Kombucha Tea affects host metabolism provides insights into its potential therapeutic applications for metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes. Incorporating Kombucha Tea or its probiotic components into dietary interventions may offer novel approaches for managing metabolic diseases.

In conclusion, the study illuminates how Kombucha Tea-associated probiotic microbes influence host metabolism, leading to reduced fat accumulation in C. elegans. These findings contribute to our understanding of the health benefits associated with Kombucha Tea consumption and pave the way for future research exploring its therapeutic potential in human metabolic disorders. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and translate them into clinical applications.

Reference:

DuMez-Kornegay, R. N., Baker, L. S., Morris, A. J., DeLoach, W. L. M., & Dowen, R. H. (2024). Kombucha Tea-associated microbes remodel host metabolic pathways to suppress lipid accumulation. PLoS Genetics, 20(3), e1011003. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011003

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