Semaglutide May Offer Early Heart Disease Protection in High-Risk Patients even before weight loss, finds study

Researchers have found in a new study that semaglutide could provide cardiovascular benefits to high-risk patients even before significant weight loss occurs and prior to reaching the full target dose.

Semaglutide can rapidly reduce heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular complications in adults with overweight or obesity who have pre-existing cardiovascular disease but not diabetes, according to a secondary analysis of the landmark Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes (SELECT) trial from the same international author team being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11-14 May).

“These results highlight semaglutide’s early action on decreasing major cardiovascular events, with significant benefits already evident by the first 6 months, and for some, even earlier, even before any major weight loss and before most patients would have been titrated to their full target dose of 2.4 mg,” said lead author Dr Jorge Plutzky, Director of Preventive Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and a member of SELECT Steering Committee.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 medication initially approved for treating adults with type 2 diabetes, in whom it has already shown cardiovascular benefit. But semaglutide is also approved for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight who have at least one other health issue.

This GLP-1 class of medications simulate the functions of the body’s natural incretin hormones, which help to lower blood sugar levels after a meal and provide a fullness signal to the brain, helping patients to lower daily calorie intake and promoting their weight loss.

In 2023, in a landmark finding, the SELECT trial showed that adults with overweight or obesity but without diabetes, who had previously experienced a heart attack, stroke and/or had peripheral artery disease, taking semaglutide had a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes compared to those on placebo over the course of 3 years [1]. SELECT was not specifically a weight loss trial; patients received semaglutide or placebo in a blinded manner, but did not receive dietary or weight loss guidance.

This new analysis presented at ECO, focused on the difference in early cardiovascular events with semaglutide versus placebo from randomisation up to 12 months, with a focus on 3 and 6 months, to better understand the drug’s effects, time to cardiovascular benefit, as well as predictors that might help identify patients at risk for early cardiovascular events.

The researchers looked at data from 17,604 adults (aged 45 or older; 72% male) from 804 sites in 41 countries with overweight or obesity (BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher) who were enrolled and treated with weekly injections of semaglutide (at doses slowly titrated to 2.4 mg at week 16) or placebo.

The study found that semaglutide was associated with a 38% reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within the first 3 months compared to placebo (36 vs 58 respectively)

Within the first 6 months, semaglutide was associated with a 41% reduced risk of MACE compared to placebo (67 vs 113 respectively)

Notably, at 3 and 6 months, most patients had not yet lost much weight and many were not yet on the full target dose of semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly.

“Our findings reveal an early separation in the treatment effect of semaglutide that occurs even without a significant amount of weight lost and prior to full semaglutide titration,” said Dr Plutzky. “More research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which semaglutide produces these early clinical benefits, but they may include the drug’s positive effects on reducing inflammation, blood sugar, blood pressure, direct effects on the heart and blood vessels, early dietary changes, or an interaction among these or other responses.”

Despite these important findings, the authors note that SELECT is not a trial looking to prevent first cardiovascular events-all SELECT patients had a history of heart disease, placing them at high risk. It is worth noting, they say, given their cardiovascular history, that SELECT patients were already on other cardio-protective medications, for example to tackle cholesterol and blood pressure, meaning semaglutide had benefits on top of these other agents.

Reference:

Semaglutide may provide early protection against heart disease in high-risk patients-even before clinically meaningful weight loss and prior to the full target dose, European Association for the Study of Obesity, Meeting: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2025).

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GLP-1 Drugs Show Promise for Children with Severe Obesity, Swedish Data Reveals

Data from a Swedish clinic suggests that GLP-1 drugs can be effective in managing severe obesity in children, offering a promising treatment option for pediatric weight management. The new study suggests that Children who are living with severe obesity are more likely to experience a clinically relevant change in BMI when GLP-1 agonist drugs form part of their treatment.

The new research is being presented at year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists mimic the action of a hormone called GLP-1 to reduce appetite and feelings of hunger, slow the release of food from the stomach and increase feelings of fullness after eating.

“GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults,” says researcher Dr Annika Janson, of the National Childhood Obesity Centre, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. “They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment.

“However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don’t come up in research studies.

“Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available.”

To find out more, Dr Janson and colleagues examined the impact of adding GLP1- receptor agonists to an existing treatment programme for child obesity.

The study involved 1,126 children (51.6% boys) age 0-16 years with severe obesity, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force criteria1, who were receiving intensive health behaviour and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) at the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm.

IHBLT involves addressing several aspects of life that can improve health and weight in collaboration with the family, school and other stakeholders. Healthy foods and nutrition, meal size, meal order, screen time, physical activity and psychological wellbeing are all addressed, often by a multi-disciplinary treatment team.

From 2023, the GLP-1 drugs, initially liraglutide and later semaglutide, were included in some patients’ programmes. Around one in four patients were prescribed GLP-1 drugs.

The reduction in average BMI was similar between the cohorts up until 2022.

In the 2023 group, 30% experienced clinically relevant change in BMI – that is, a reduction that was great enough to improve their health (in technical terms, 0.25 standard deviations of BMI). This compares to around 27% of those who were treated earlier.

The researchers attribute this to the addition of the GLP-1 drugs to the treatment programme, although they explain that even in children they are prescribed for, use is not consistent. The design of the study means that different proportions of children are using drugs at different times. One point prevalence estimate from January 2025 showed one quarter of children in the 2023 cohort were using them at that point.

This is not a huge difference yet – but there is a trend, say the researchers. Dr Janson explains: “Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them 6-12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI.

“These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox.”

Dr Janson concludes: “Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite – both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with.

“Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling.

“GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and while they won’t help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications.”

Reference:

GLP-1 drugs are helpful for children who are living with severe obesity, data from Swedish clinic indicates, European Association for the Study of Obesity, Meeting: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2025).

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Eating ultra-processed foods may harm your health, suggests study

Consumption of ultra-processed foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, potato chips and packaged cookies, may be associated with adverse health outcomes, according to research being presented at the ACC Asia 2025 Together with SCS 36th Annual Scientific Meeting taking place May 9-11 in Singapore. This risk for hypertension, other cardiovascular events, cancer, digestive diseases, mortality and more, increased with every 100 grams of ultra-processed foods consumed each day.

“Ultra-processed foods are characterized by high sugar, high salt, and other non-nutritive components, exhibiting low nutritional density yet high caloric content,” said Xiao Liu, MD, with the department of cardiology at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. “These products may contribute to adverse health outcomes through multiple mechanisms, including but not limited to dysregulation of blood lipid profiles, alterations in gut microbiota composition, promotion of obesity, induction of systemic inflammation, exacerbation of oxidative stress and impairment of insulin sensitivity.”

The systematic review included 41 prospective cohort studies spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania assessing the association between ultra-processed foods and health outcomes prior to April 2024. Taken together, the studies involved a total of 8,286,940 adult patients aged 18 years or older from the general population (30.8% male, 69.2% female).

All included studies used the Nova food classification system to define ultra-processed foods as industrially manufactured food products derived from natural foods or other organic constituents. These products undergo extensive multi-stage processing and typically contain significant quantities of food additives, including preservatives, colorants and flavor enhancers. According to the researchers, common examples of ultra-processed foods include commercially produced breads, sugar-sweetened beverages, potato chips, chocolate confectionery, candy, packaged cookies, etc.

The study found ultra-processed food consumption was associated with hypertension, cardiovascular events, cancer, digestive diseases and all-cause mortality. Each additional 100 g/day of ultra-processed food consumption was associated with a 14.5% higher risk of hypertension, 5.9% increased risk of cardiovascular events, 1.2% increased risk of cancer, 19.5% higher risk of digestive diseases and 2.6% higher risk of all-cause mortality. Researchers also observed increased risk of obesity/overweight, metabolic syndromes/diabetes and depression/anxiety.

The researchers used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence included in the analysis. GRADE assessment indicated high to moderate certainty for most outcomes, except low certainty for metabolic syndrome/diabetes.

“Clinicians should clearly explain that ultra-processed foods are typically high in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats, while being low in fiber, essential vitamins, and other protective nutrients. This nutritional imbalance contributes to a wide range of adverse health outcomes,” Liu said. “Emerging evidence suggests a dose-response relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and negative health outcomes-meaning the more ultra-processed foods consumed, the greater the health risk. Therefore, reducing ultra-processed foods intake, even modestly, may offer measurable health benefits.”

According to the researchers, governments may consider implementing measures to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods and mitigate the associated health impacts. Some suggested measures include establishing stringent food labeling regulations, requiring manufacturers to provide explicit and comprehensive ingredient disclosures—particularly detailing all additives present in ultra-processed foods, Liu said. Clinicians should also encourage patients to gradually lower their ultra-processed food intake, replacing them with more nutritious, minimally processed foods.

While the study was limited in generalizability and comparability by different definitions of ultra-processed foods, Liu said the findings are not just about what to avoid, but also about what to embrace. Emerging evidence has linked health benefits to whole foods, simple ingredients, and culturally appropriate healthy eating patterns such as the Mediterranean or DASH diet, he said. High quality studies about this topic are further needed.

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Caffeine May Curb Obesity and Diabetes Risk, Genetic Study Finds

Sweden: A new study published in BMJ Medicine suggests that individuals with naturally higher plasma caffeine concentrations may have a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, largely due to lower body fat levels. The findings, drawn from a two-sample Mendelian randomisation analysis, provide insight into caffeine’s potential long-term metabolic effects.

“Lifelong genetically predicted higher plasma caffeine levels are associated with lower body mass index and reduced body fat, which in turn are linked to a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” the researchers stated. They further noted that nearly half of caffeine’s protective effect against type 2 diabetes is likely mediated by its impact on reducing body weight.

The research aimed to determine whether plasma caffeine levels, influenced by genetic variants, have a causal effect on adiposity, type 2 diabetes, and major cardiovascular diseases. The study utilized data from genome-wide association studies involving predominantly European participants.

Susanna C Larsson, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, and colleagues focused on two genetic variants—rs2472297 (near the CYP1A2 gene) and rs4410790 (near the AHR gene)—which are known to affect caffeine metabolism and blood concentrations.

The study led to the following findings:

  • Individuals genetically predisposed to higher plasma caffeine levels were found to have lower body mass index (BMI) and reduced total body fat.
  • For each standard deviation increase in plasma caffeine (around 4.8 kg/m² in BMI), there was a significant decline in both BMI and fat mass.
  • There were no significant changes in fat-free mass, including muscle and bone.
  • Higher plasma caffeine levels were associated with a 19% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, based on FinnGen and DIAMANTE consortia data.
  • Nearly 50% of this reduced diabetes risk was attributed to BMI reduction, suggesting body fat plays a key mediating role.
  • There were no strong associations between plasma caffeine levels and risks of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, or ischaemic heart disease.

These findings build on earlier short-term studies showing that caffeine intake may promote modest weight loss. While observational research has linked coffee consumption with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, this new genetic evidence offers stronger support for a potential causal relationship, especially concerning diabetes prevention.

The researchers emphasized the need for longer-term clinical trials to explore whether caffeine-containing, non-caloric beverages could be beneficial in managing or preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes. They noted that although the findings are promising, further investigation is needed to translate these genetic insights into practical dietary or therapeutic interventions.

“The genetic study provides compelling evidence that elevated plasma caffeine may contribute to lower body fat and reduced type 2 diabetes risk, paving the way for future research on caffeine’s role in metabolic health,” they concluded.

Reference:

Larsson, S. C., Woolf, B., & Gill, D. (2023). Appraisal of the causal effect of plasma caffeine on adiposity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease: Two sample Mendelian randomisation study. BMJ Medicine, 2(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000335

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Long working hours may alter brain structure, preliminary findings suggest

Long working hours may alter the structure of the brain, particularly the areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function, such as working memory and problem solving, suggest the findings of preliminary research, published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

Ultimately, overwork may induce neuroadaptive changes that might affect cognitive and emotional health, say the researchers.

Long working hours have been linked to heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and mental health issues. And the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that overwork kills more than 800,000 people every year, note the researchers.

While the behavioural and psychological consequences of overwork are reasonably well understood, the underlying neurological mechanisms and anatomical changes aren’t, they add.

To explore this further, the researchers deployed structural brain volume analysis to compare the impact of overwork on specific brain regions in healthcare workers routinely clocking up long working hours, defined as 52 or more a week.

They drew on data from the Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort Study (GROCS) and from MRI scans carried out for a research project on the effects of working conditions on brain structure.

Participants in GROCS were asked to have an additional MRI scan, and the final analysis included 110 people after excluding those with missing data or poor MRI image quality. Most were clinicians: 32 worked excessive weekly hours (28%); 78 worked standard hours.

Those putting in long working hours every week were significantly younger, had spent less time in work and were more highly educated than those clocking up standard hours.

Differences in brain volume were assessed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM)—a neuroimaging technique that identifies and compares regional differences in levels of grey matter—and atlas-based analysis, which uses pre-defined references to identify and label structures in images like brain scans.

Comparative analysis of the findings showed that people who worked 52 or more hours a week displayed significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation, unlike participants who worked standard hours every week.

For example, atlas-based analysis revealed a 19% increase in the volume of the middle frontal gyrus among those clocking up long working hours compared with those working standard hours.

This part of the brain has a major role in various cognitive functions, particularly in the frontal lobe. It’s involved in attention, working memory, and language-related processing.

VBM showed peak increases in 17 regions, including the middle frontal gyrus, the superior frontal gyrus, which is involved in attention, planning, and decision-making, and the insula.

The insula has a key role in integrating sensory, motor, and autonomic feedback from the body. It’s involved in emotional processing, self-awareness, and understanding social context.

This is a small observational snapshot study, and as such, no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. And the researchers acknowledge that in the absence of long term data, it’s unclear whether these structural changes are a consequence of overwork or a predisposing factor.

But they nevertheless point out: “While the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the exploratory nature of this pilot study, they represent a meaningful first step in understanding the relationship between overwork and brain health.”

They add: “Notably, the increased brain volumes observed in overworked individuals may reflect neuroadaptive responses to chronic occupational stress, although the exact mechanisms remain speculative.”

They continue: “The observed changes in brain volume may provide a biological basis for the cognitive and emotional challenges often reported in overworked individuals. Future longitudinal and multi-modal neuroimaging studies are warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.”

And they conclude: “The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours.”

Reference:

Jang W, Kim S, Kim Y, et alOverwork and changes in brain structure: a pilot studyOccupational and Environmental Medicine Published Online First: 13 May 2025. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110057

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BMC Study Reveals Strong two way relationship Between Anxiety and Cancer Risk

A recent study published in the journal of BMC Cancer found a significant two-way relationship between anxiety disorders and cancer and revealed that individuals with anxiety are more likely to develop certain types of cancer, and vice versa. 

After analyzing data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, this retrospective cohort study followed two large patient groups between 2003 and 2016. The first group included over 23,000 individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders, while the second group included more than 33,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer between 2003 and 2005. Each of these groups was compared with matched control cohorts using a 1:4 case-control sampling method. This study then applied Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate the risk of developing the opposite condition.

The individuals with anxiety disorders were 29% more likely to develop cancer when compared to those without anxiety (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [AHR] = 1.29; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.23–1.35). The risk was even higher for certain cancers. Thyroid cancer had the strongest link, with an AHR of 2.13 (CI: 1.60–2.82), followed closely by skin cancer (AHR: 2.10; CI: 1.63–2.71) and prostate cancer (AHR: 1.97; CI: 1.59–2.47).

But the reverse was also true, where the patients diagnosed with cancer were 63% more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than individuals without cancer (AHR = 1.63; CI: 1.56–1.71). Again, specific cancer types appeared to have a more pronounced effect. The patients with nose cancer had over three times the risk of developing anxiety (AHR: 3.12; CI: 2.41–4.03). Other cancers with strong associations included leukemia (AHR: 2.54; CI: 1.63–3.96), thyroid cancer (AHR: 2.34; CI: 1.84–2.97), and oral cancer (AHR: 2.04; CI: 1.65–2.52).

While the exact mechanisms behind this bidirectional relationship remain unclear, the results point towards chronic stress, inflammation, hormonal changes, and shared biological pathways that may all play roles in linking these two conditions. Overall, these findings illuminate the importance of psychological evaluation in cancer patients and vigilant physical health screening in those with chronic anxiety.

Recognizing the two-way relationship can help guide early intervention and integrated treatment approaches. Further studies could lead to better screening programs and encourage collaboration between oncology and mental health services.

Reference:

Yen, S.-H., Hsu, Y.-H., Phiri, D., Kuo, C.-C., Fang, H.-F., & Chung, M.-H. (2025). Bidirectional relationship between anxiety disorder and cancer: a longitudinal population-based cohort study. BMC Cancer, 25(1), 761. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13930-6

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Electrical Stimulation enhances Antimicrobial Effect against bacterial biofilm in Titanium Implants: Study

A new study published in the Journal of Oral Biosciences showed that electrical stimulation (ES) applied to titanium or titanium-based implants provides antimicrobial action against bacterial biofilms, with effectiveness influenced by the level of applied tension. Combining ES with antimicrobials shows a stronger effect than using ES alone.

Because of its exceptional biocompatibility, great mechanical strength, and resistance to corrosion, titanium and its alloys are used to make implants for dental and medical applications. Infections linked to implants, however, continue to be a leading cause of treatment failure. Planktonic bacteria adhere to the surface of the implant and form a biofilm, which is the first step in these infections.

The two most popular methods of treating infections are surgery and the use of medications. However, the number of effective antibiotics available on the market is declining, and biofilms are becoming more and more resistant to antimicrobials. Many illnesses and impairments are treated using ES.

Furthermore, among other things, ES is being researched for the treatment of wounds, pain management, preventing muscular atrophy, boosting collagen secretion, and enhancing osseointegration. Thereby, to determine if electrical stimulation of titanium implants or titanium-based implant materials has antibacterial characteristics against bacterial biofilms, this investigation was carried out.

In February 2024, the search was carried out across a number of databases, including Google Scholar, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed/Medline. Furthermore, a manual search of the included papers’ reference lists was carried out. In vivo and in vitro studies assessing the impact of electrical stimulation on titanium implants or titanium-based implant materials in lowering biofilm development or adherence as well as eliminating or decreasing the survival of bacterial biofilms were among the qualifying requirements.

The inverse variance approach using random- and fixed-effects models was used to calculate the variability between studies. The prediction interval and I2 statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity. Using funnel plots, publication bias was assessed qualitatively.

The key outcome of this study directed towards the fact that current and voltage, two electrical stimulation parameters, showed antibacterial activity and had either bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects.

Overall, this study was able to conclude that ES in titanium implants or titanium-based implant material offers antibacterial potential against bacterial biofilms based on the research that was part of this systematic review and meta-analysis. The majority of applications test ES as an extra therapy or in synergism with medications, surfaces, or antimicrobial agents.

Source:

Kreve, S., & Reis, A. C. (2025). Efficacy of electrical stimulation for antimicrobial capacity of titanium materials implants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Oral Biosciences, 67(2), 100669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.job.2025.100669

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Renalase, dopamine and norepinephrine biomarkers for hypertension development in CKD Patients: Study

A recent study published in BMC Nephrology found early diagnosis and risk assessment through renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its strong link to arterial hypertension (HT).

CKD affects millions globally and often leads to irreversible kidney damage. More than 90% of individuals with CKD develop HT, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. The study included 117 patients across varying stages and treatment types of CKD, and examined how levels of renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine differ in relation to disease severity and comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

The participants were categorized into 4 patient groups into those undergoing hemodialysis (both before and after sessions), individuals receiving peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant recipients (pre- and post-operation), and conservatively managed patients at stages 2 to 5 of CKD. A control group of 31 healthy individuals was also included for baseline comparison. All biochemical measurements were conducted using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

The results of this study highlighted significant differences in the levels of these three biomarkers among the CKD patient groups when compared to the healthy control group. Renalase, known for its role in degrading catecholamines and regulating blood pressure, showed notably decreased levels in patients suffering from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) accompanied by hypertension. This points to a potential role of renalase deficiency in exacerbating hypertensive outcomes in CKD patients.

Dopamine, which helps regulate renal blood flow and sodium balance, showed the highest levels in patients whose CKD was caused by glomerulonephritis. This could suggest a compensatory mechanism or indicate different pathophysiological trajectories in glomerular-based kidney disease.

Norepinephrine, associated with the body’s stress response and sympathetic nervous system activation, was lowest in patients who had both hypertension and diabetes, which accelerates kidney damage. This depletion may reflect an exhausted adrenergic system in these high-risk patients.

The study illuminates the potential of these biomarkers in not only monitoring CKD progression but also in predicting the onset of cardiovascular complications and creating patient-specific treatment strategies. The ability to stratify risk based on biochemical profiles could revolutionize how CKD and HT are managed, particularly in resource-limited settings where early detection is critical.

Overall, renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine could soon become essential components of routine diagnostic panels, in guiding nephrologists for early intervention and improving long-term outcomes for CKD patients worldwide.

Source:

Heryć, R., Cecerska-Heryć, E., Serwin, N., Stodolak, P., Goszka, M., Polikowska, A., Ciechanowski, K., & Wiśniewska, M. (2025). Renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine as markers for the development of hypertension in CKD patients. BMC Nephrology, 26(1), 200. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04114-2

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Metabolic syndrome common among patients with major depressive disorder associated with depression severity: Study

A new study published in the journal of Cureus showed that metabolic syndrome (MetS) was present in roughly 28% of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients who had not yet received therapy.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects an estimated 280 million people worldwide and is a primary cause of disability, with the WHO projecting that it will become the most common mental health burden by 2030. Emerging data supports a bidirectional association between MDD and metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes low HDL-C, high blood pressure, raised fasting glucose, high triglycerides, and a larger waist circumference. This study was set to look at the incidence of MetS and its components in untreated MDD patients at a tertiary care hospital, as well as its association to depression severity. Understanding this relationship is critical since MetS in MDD patients raises cardiovascular risk and impairs long-term results.

This cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2023 to August 2024 at the Department of Psychiatry, Lahore General Hospital, Pakistan. Non-probability sequential sampling was used to enroll 290 untreated MDD patients. Diagnoses were made using DSM-5 criteria, and depression severity was assessed using the HAM-D-17 scale.

The NCEP ATP III criteria were used to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS), and biochemical and anthropometric data were collected using established procedures. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between HAM-D scores and metabolic indicators, whereas binary logistic regression was used to identify MetS predictors after controlling for age, gender, waist circumference, triglycerides, and HAM-D score. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05.

The average age of the 290 patients was 37.39 ± 10.78 years; 109 (37.6%) were men and 181 (62.4%) were women. Of the patients, 81 (27.9%) had MetS. Of them, 102 (35.2%) had central obesity, 104 (35.7%) had hypertension, 89 (30.7%) had hypertriglyceridemia, 88 (30.3%) had impaired fasting glucose, and 42 (14.5%) had low HDL-C.

Of the subjects, 193 (66.6%) had at least one metabolic anomaly identified. The patients with MetS had considerably higher mean HAM-D scores than those without the condition. Depression ratings were greater in patients with central obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and impaired fasting glucose. For low HDL-C, no discernible change was found.

All MetS components, with the exception of HDL-C, showed significant correlations with the degree of depression, according to chi-square analysis. Overall, to lower cardiovascular risk and enhance overall clinical outcomes, the results of this study emphasized the significance of frequent metabolic screening and integrated treatment methods for people with depression.

Source:

Faizan, A. Y. W., Faizan, S., Ilyas, S., Mudassar, H., Khalid, H., Naseer, S., Naeem, I., Haider, M. Z., Jamil, M. I., & Ahmed, A. (2025). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with major depressive disorder. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.83066

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Paxlovid Lowers Long-Term Stroke and Death Risk in COVID Patients, confirms study

Researchers have discovered in a new study that using Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) early in the course of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 can substantially lower the long-term risk of stroke and death. The research conducted on more than 180,000 patients in the United States, revealed individuals who were administered Paxlovid within five days of a COVID-19 diagnosis experienced reduced rates of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The study was conducted by Cheng-Hsun and colleagues published in the Journal of Medical Virology.

This large retrospective cohort study employed data from the TriNetX electronic health record database among 118 million patients across the United States. Adults aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2022 and 2023 were included in the analysis. Patients were categorized into two groups: those who received Paxlovid within five days of diagnosis and those who did not receive Paxlovid.

To ascertain the validity of the results, patients with prior cerebrovascular disease, early death (within 3 months), other antiviral treatment, or serious disease necessitating ICU admission or respiratory therapy were excluded. This would allow us to distinguish the effect of Paxlovid on long-term outcomes from that of severe underlying illness or treatments.

The analysis date for the analysis was the diagnosis date of COVID-19. A strong 1:1 propensity score match was employed to establish two equally matched groups to compare. Analysis of outcomes using Kaplan–Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the risk of stroke and death after more than 90 days since initial infection.

Key Findings

Analysis was conducted using 181,992 matched patient pairs, setting a solid base for comparison. The findings included:

  • A 15% lower risk of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in the Paxlovid group during the long COVID period (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.85; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.80–0.89).

  • A 32% reduced risk of all-cause mortality among Paxlovid users at 90 days after infection (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.63–0.73).

  • The benefits were observed in all the various subgroups such as age, sex, body mass index, and prior conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

  • In the older population, the stroke risk was also decreased (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.76–0.86).

  • Among obese subjects, the protective effect persisted (Adjusted HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78–0.96).

  • The effects were also present irrespective of immunization status, indicating that protection by Paxlovid was immunization-independent.

Paxlovid treatment during the acute phase of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 lowered the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and all-cause mortality after more than 90 days following infection.These findings suggest that early antiviral treatment could be a protective measure against long COVID complications, with effects consistently being seen across age groups, health status, and vaccination status.

Reference:

Chuang, C.-H., Wang, Y.-H., Yeh, L.-T., & Yeh, C.-B. (2025). Long-term stroke and mortality risk reduction associated with acute-phase Paxlovid use in mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Journal of Medical Virology, 97(4), e70351. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.7035

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