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FDA Approves Delgocitinib Cream for Chronic Hand Eczema

The FDA has approved delgocitinib cream as a topical treatment for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) in adults, according to the manufacturer’s announcement on July 23, 2025.

ANZUPGO is an innovative steroid-free, topical pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for adults with CHE.1 ANZUPGO inhibits the JAK-STAT pathway, specifically blocking the activity of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), and suppresses the various inflammatory responses that play a key role in the onset and subsequent flares of CHE.

The FDA approval of ANZUPGO marks a significant milestone in LEO Pharma’s strategy to expand its presence in the U.S. market and deliver purposeful innovation in skin health. In preparation for bringing ANZUPGO to the U.S. patients, LEO Pharma has significantly upscaled its operations across key functions – including a 50% increase in the sales force.

“ANZUPGO is a good example of how we transform a real need in the market into medicines that can help make a difference for people living with serious skin diseases such as CHE,” said Christophe Bourdon, CEO, LEO Pharma. “After successfully launching ANZUPGO in several countries, we’re proud to now bring this innovation to adult patients with moderate-to-severe CHE in the United States. The approval of ANZUPGO reinforces our commitment to investing in difficult-to-treat skin conditions to deliver new treatments to patients where the need is greatest. We’re truly grateful to the patients and physicians who participated in our studies and helped make this approval possible.”

CHE is a highly debilitating inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately one in ten adults worldwide, causing itchy, painful, blistered, or swollen skin that can interfere with daily activities. The FDA approval of ANZUPGO provides adults in the U.S. living with moderate-to-severe CHE with the first and only treatment option specifically approved for this skin disease, just as it will be the first and only topical pan-JAK-inhibitor on the U.S. market.

“Chronic hand eczema can be a very difficult disease for adults to manage, especially given the lack of treatment options in the U.S. until now,” said Robert Spurr, EVP and President, North America, LEO Pharma. “As the first and only FDA-approved treatment specifically for CHE in the U.S., ANZUPGO further establishes our company’s real commitment to bringing treatments to market that address unmet needs in medical dermatology.”

The FDA approval is the latest regulatory milestone for ANZUPGO, following the European Commission (EC) approval in 2024 and several launches internationally, including Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

About ANZUPGO® (delgocitinib) Cream

ANZUPGO® (delgocitinib) cream is currently FDA approved in the U.S. as the first and only treatment for chronic hand eczema (CHE). ANZUPGO is also approved in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) in adults for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or not advisable. ANZUPGO cream is also under investigation in other markets. Use of ANZUPGO in combination with other JAK inhibitors or potent immunosuppressants is not recommended by the U.S. FDA.

ANZUPGO cream is a topical pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe CHE in adults. It inhibits the activation of JAK-STAT signaling, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of CHE.

In 2014, LEO Pharma A/S and Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) entered into a license agreement in which LEO Pharma gained exclusive rights to develop and commercialize delgocitinib for topical use in dermatological indications worldwide, excluding Japan, where JT retains rights.

About Chronic Hand Eczema

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is defined as hand eczema (HE) that lasts for three or more months or relapses twice or more within a year. HE is one of the most common skin disorders of the hands and in a substantial number of patients, it can develop into a chronic condition. CHE affects approximately one in ten adults worldwide. It is a fluctuating disorder characterized by itch and pain, and patients may experience signs such as erythema, scaling, lichenification, hyperkeratosis, vesicles, edema, and fissures on hands and wrists.6 The pathophysiology is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation of the skin, and alterations of the skin microbiome.

CHE has been shown to cause psychological and functional burdens that impact patient quality of life, with approximately 70% of individuals who live with severe CHE admitting to problems in performing everyday activities. Furthermore, careers and earning potential have also been shown to be impacted by the burden of living with CHE.

AD109 shows positive results for Obstructive sleep apnea in Phase 3 Results

Topline results from a second phase 3 trial of AD109-an investigational oral therapy combining aroxybutynin and atomoxetine-were announced for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). AD109 aims to enhance oxygenation during sleep by improving upper airway muscle tone through its dual mechanism: antimuscarinic and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.

LunAIRo was a 12-month study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of AD109 in adults with mild, moderate and severe OSA, across a wide range of weight classes, with the primary endpoint determined at 26 weeks.

The LunAIRo trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in airway obstruction at 26 weeks. Participants treated with AD109 achieved a mean reduction in AHI of 46.8% from baseline at week 26 (vs 6.8% with placebo; p<0.001). The reduction in AHI remained significant at end of study (week 51, p<0.001). AD109 was generally well-tolerated, with the most common treatment-emergent adverse events being mild or moderate in severity, and consistent with prior studies. No serious adverse events related to AD109 were reported in the LunAIRo trial.

The LunAIRo topline results align with the positive topline results previously reported from Apnimed’s SynAIRgy Phase 3 clinical trial, which the Company believes support the safety and efficacy of AD109 in treating adults with mild, moderate and severe OSA, subject to review by FDA.

“With two large Phase 3 studies now demonstrating a consistent and significant efficacy profile for AD109, we are closer to delivering the first oral pharmacotherapy for over 80 million U.S. adults with OSA. Given the scale of unmet need in OSA, where the majority of patients remain untreated, we believe AD109, as a simple once-daily oral drug, has the potential to expand and reshape the treatment landscape, which would represent a significant commercial opportunity for Apnimed. Based on the Phase 3 data from LunAIRo and SynAIRgy, Apnimed plans to file a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. FDA in early 2026. As we prepare for FDA regulatory filing and commercialization of AD109, we’re focused on ensuring we have the capabilities, people, and partnerships in place to bring this innovative drug to patients suffering from OSA and the clinicians who treat them,” said Larry Miller, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Apnimed. “We’re especially grateful to the study participants, the investigators, and the study sites that contributed to our AD109 Phase 3 clinical program. Their partnership and trust have been instrumental in advancing a new approach to OSA—one that has the possibility of changing how this chronic disease is treated.”

Select Additional Results

In addition to meeting the primary endpoint, AD109 demonstrated improvements in additional topline secondary and exploratory endpoints in the LunAIRo study, including:

• Meaningful improvements in oxygenation as assessed by reductions in hypoxic burden (p<0.0001) and oxygen desaturation index (p<0.001) at week 26 and at end of study (week 51)

• A significant proportion of participants achieved a ≥50% reduction in AHI from baseline at week 26 (p<0.0001) and at week 51 (p<0.0001)

• AD109 improved OSA disease severity for 45.0% of participants at week 26, and 47.5% at week 51

• AD109 achieved OSA complete disease control (AHI<5) for 22.9% of participants at week 26, and 22.5% at week 51

Analysis of additional objective, subjective and exploratory endpoints and safety data from the LunAIRo and SynAIRgy studies are ongoing and will be reported at a medical congress later this year.

“The consistency of the promising findings across both the LunAIRo and SynAIRgy trials provides robust clinical evidence that AD109 meaningfully improved sleep apnea severity and oxygenation,” said Sanjay Patel, MD, study chair for the LunAIRo clinical trial and Director, UPMC Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Clinical Program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “This is the first time we’ve seen a once-daily oral medication demonstrate such significant, durable effects in a broad patient population with OSA.”

“The vast number of people currently living with untreated OSA points to a need for additional treatment options. As someone living with OSA, the LunAIRo study gives me hope that novel pharmacotherapy treatments are on the horizon and can potentially improve so many lives,” said Emma Cooksey, patient advocate and Sleep Apnea Program Manager at Project Sleep. “Innovation in this space is long overdue, and it’s encouraging to see meaningful progress being made.”

About the LunAIRo Study

The LunAIRo study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT05811247) is a 12-month randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm one-year clinical trial of AD109, an investigational fixed dose combination of aroxybutynin 2.5mg/atomoxetine 75mg, in participants with OSA who are intolerant of or currently refuse continuous positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. The primary endpoint was assessed at 26 weeks, as with the SynAIRgy Phase 3 trial. The trial enrolled 660 adult participants from 64 centers in the US. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either AD109 or placebo (AD109, n=329; placebo, n=331) and instructed to take their assigned treatment once-daily before bedtime.

Enrolled participants in LunAIRo were representative of the real-world OSA population, include the diverse demographic composition of the United States and the typical profiles seen in a sleep clinic population. Participants included 46% females, multiple racial groups, and varied weight classes spanning healthy weight, overweight, and with obesity. Participants were distributed across OSA severity levels, including mild (37%), moderate (33%), and severe (30%). Participants had symptoms reflective of the OSA patient experience.

About AD109

AD109 is designed to be the first pharmacological treatment to improve oxygenation during sleep by directly addressing the neuromuscular root cause of upper airway collapse in people with obstructive sleep apnea. It is a first-in-class anti-apneic neuromuscular modulator, combining aroxybutynin, a novel antimuscarinic, and atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). Their combined pharmacological synergy targets the underlying neuromuscular root cause of OSA. AD109 is a once-daily pill taken at bedtime that is designed to lower the complexity of intervention and may help more people benefit from effective, restorative sleep. In a disease characterized by complex and invasive treatment options, AD109 may be a simple solution to help improve oxygenation and wellbeing for people living with OSA.

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious, chronic sleep-related breathing disease in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, leading to intermittent oxygen deprivation. It is caused by two overlapping mechanisms: neuromuscular dysfunction during sleep and predisposing anatomic abnormalities. OSA affects individuals across all walks of life, impacting both males and females of all age groups, ethnicities, and weight classes, including those with or without obesity. An estimated more than 80 million people in the United States and nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from OSA. Up to 80% of people living with OSA are undiagnosed and therefore untreated.

An individual with OSA can experience hundreds of sleep apnea events in a single night, each one reducing the blood oxygen levels and negatively impacting cellular functions vital to normal health and function. Failure to effectively treat OSA increases the risk of serious long-term health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive impairment, metabolic dysfunction, and early mortality. Yet, the majority of those diagnosed with OSA refuse, abandon, or underutilize treatment. Currently, no available pharmacological treatments directly address the underlying neuromuscular dysfunction that is present in OSA.

Machine Learning Flags Key Risks for Early Macular Degeneration: Hypertension, Joint Disorders, and Dyslipidemia: Study

USA: A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science and presented at the 2025 ARVO Annual Meeting has identified critical comorbidities that may help predict early-onset age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Conducted by Ethan Wu and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the study leveraged machine learning to examine how systemic health conditions influence the early development of AMD—a major cause of visual loss among the aging population.

The study analyzed data from 930 individuals diagnosed with AMD, categorizing them into two groups: early-onset (before age 65; n=392) and late-onset (after age 85; n=538). To enable standardized comparisons, only comorbidities identified before age 55 were included. The researchers extracted demographic and health information from electronic medical records to construct detailed patient profiles.

Using unsupervised clustering via Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), the team identified three distinct patient clusters based on comorbidity patterns. Cluster 1 had the highest proportion of early-onset AMD cases (76.09%) and was notably marked by inflammatory joint disorders (60.1%) and hypertension (34.1%). Cluster 2, which also had a high burden of early-onset AMD (69.83%), showed a significant association with hypertension (25.9%). In contrast, Cluster 3 had the lowest rate of early-onset cases (27.02%) and presented minimal or no comorbidities.

To assess predictive potential, the researchers applied machine learning models—including gradient-boosted decision trees and random forests—to comorbidity data. The gradient-boosted decision tree model achieved a prediction accuracy of 75.84%, relying solely on comorbidities to determine the likelihood of early AMD onset.

In analyzing which comorbidities were most predictive, hypertension emerged as the top-ranked factor, followed by dyslipidemia and inflammatory joint disorders. These findings highlight the potential of systemic health factors in influencing the earlier manifestation of AMD.

The study also found that patients with early-onset AMD had a significantly higher average number of comorbid conditions compared to those with late-onset AMD (3.32 ± 0.24 versus 0.16 ± 0.02), indicating a potential role of overall disease burden in accelerating retinal degeneration.

The authors concluded that hypertension, dyslipidemia, and inflammatory joint disorders are strongly associated with early AMD onset. They emphasized the need for ophthalmologists to consider patients’ systemic health profiles during routine evaluations. Integrating comorbidity screening and proactive management may enable earlier diagnosis and personalized interventions to slow disease progression.

This innovative study emphasizes the promise of machine learning in ophthalmology and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex, age-related diseases like AMD.

Reference:

Ethan Wu, Nasiq Hasan, Sharat Chandra Vupparaboina, Jessica Ye Jiang, Joseph DeCicco, Kiran Vupparaboina, Sandeep Bollepalli, José-Alain Sahel, Jay Chhablani; Identifying Key Co-Morbidities for Predicting Early-Onset Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Machine Learning. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2025;66(8):293.

Ultrasound Screenings After UTI in Children May Miss Abnormalities if Limited to Under-2: Study Suggests

Finland: A recent study published in Acta Paediatrica has brought new insights into the detection of urinary tract abnormalities in children following a urinary tract infection (UTI). Conducted by Dr. Mikael Hakkola and colleagues from the University of Oulu in Finland, the study questions the prevailing practice of limiting ultrasound (US) screening to children under two years of age after a UTI episode.

The cohort study assessed 2050 children aged 0–16 years who underwent US screening after experiencing a UTI between 2004 and 2015 at a pediatric university hospital in Finland. Importantly, children with known urinary tract pathologies were excluded to ensure the focus remained on new or previously undetected abnormalities.

The key findings include the following:

5.7% (116 out of 2050) of the children had abnormal findings on their urinary tract ultrasound.
Among children diagnosed with pyelonephritis, 70% of the abnormalities were found in those younger than two years.
Being under two years of age did not significantly increase the risk of abnormal ultrasound findings (odds ratio: 0.99).
Male children were more likely to have urinary tract abnormalities.
Children with recurrent urinary tract infections showed a higher risk of abnormalities.
Infections caused by pathogens other than Escherichia coli were associated with a greater likelihood of abnormal ultrasound results.

Current clinical guidelines in many countries recommend conducting a urinary tract ultrasound only in children under the age of two following a UTI. However, the study highlights that this approach could result in missing nearly one-third of children with abnormalities, as 30% of the abnormal findings in pyelonephritis cases occurred in children older than two.

“Our findings suggest that the existing age cut-off in guidelines may not be sufficient to detect all cases of urinary tract abnormalities after UTI,” the researchers noted. They advocate for expanding ultrasound screening to include all children after their first episode of pyelonephritis, irrespective of age.

The authors call for a reassessment of current diagnostic protocols and recommend that future research adopt a prospective, longitudinal approach encompassing children of all ages diagnosed with UTI. This would offer a clearer understanding of the risk distribution and help optimize screening strategies to improve early detection of potential complications.

The authors concluded, “The study urges pediatricians and healthcare policymakers to reconsider current practices surrounding post-UTI imaging. Broadening the screening criteria could play a key role in early identification and management of urinary tract abnormalities, thereby improving outcomes for affected children.”

Reference:

Hakkola, M., Tervo, I., Pieviläinen, O., Heiskanen, J., Honkila, M., Pokka, T., Paalanne, N., Venhola, M., Perhomaa, M., & Ruuska-Loewald, T. Abnormal Ultrasound Findings After a Urinary Tract Infection in Children. Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70152

Low-Dose Aspirin Linked to Reduced Breast Cancer Recurrence, But Not Lower Mortality: Study Finds

Denmark: A large-scale Danish study suggests that long-term use of low-dose aspirin may help reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence, although it does not appear to improve overall survival outcomes.

The study, conducted by Elisabeth Solmunde and colleagues from the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, examined the long-term effects of low-dose aspirin on breast cancer recurrence and mortality. The findings were published in Scientific Reports following an extensive follow-up period of up to 23 years.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 20,500 women aged 40 years and older who were diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer between 1996 and 2004. Information regarding low-dose aspirin use was obtained through the Danish Prescription Registry, while data on cancer recurrence came from the Danish Breast Cancer Group database and a validated algorithm.

The study revealed the following findings:

Throughout 232,000 person-years of follow-up, 4,527 women experienced a recurrence of breast cancer.
The 20-year cumulative recurrence rate was lower among low-dose aspirin users (17.8%) compared to non-users (22.4%).
Among women who remained disease-free for at least 10 years, aspirin users had a recurrence rate of 9.9%, compared to 12.7% in non-users.
Aspirin use was associated with a modest reduction in recurrence risk, with a 20% lower hazard at five years post-diagnosis (adjusted HR 0.80).
There were similar trends of reduced recurrence at 10 and 15 years; however, these were not statistically significant.
Aspirin users had slightly higher all-cause mortality compared to non-users, with a five-year hazard ratio of 1.08.
Comparable mortality trends were observed at the 10- and 15-year follow-ups.

“These findings suggest that while aspirin may have a protective effect against cancer recurrence, its impact on overall survival remains unclear,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers noted that the increased mortality among aspirin users could be due to “confounding by indication”—meaning that individuals taking aspirin may have underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which could increase their risk of death from other causes before cancer recurrence occurs.

Given aspirin’s widespread availability, low cost, and favorable safety profile, these findings carry potential public health significance. The authors emphasized that while the results point toward a possible anti-cancer benefit of aspirin, caution is warranted in interpretation due to the influence of competing risks.

“Further insights are anticipated from upcoming pooled data from the ongoing ABC and Add-Aspirin trials, which may provide more definitive evidence regarding aspirin’s role in breast cancer recurrence and survival,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Solmunde, E., Pedersen, R. N., Nørgaard, M., Mellemkjær, L., Friis, S., Ejlertsen, B., Ahern, T. P., & P., D. (2025). Association between low-dose aspirin use and breast cancer recurrence: A Danish nationwide cohort study with up to 23 years of follow-up. British Journal of Cancer, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03112-3

Using Diaphragm Position on Chest Radiograph for Assessing Lung Volume in Infants not accurate and precise: JAMA

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that the use of diaphragm position on chest radiographs lacked the precision needed to accurately assess aerated lung volume and guide clinical decisions in infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Therefore it will be worthwhile to use a combination of clinical and diagnostic radiographic features to assess lung volume rather than diaphragm position alone.

Although it is standard procedure and advised by NICU guidelines, using chest radiographs to direct lung aeration during respiratory support in neonates has never been proven to be effective. Thus, this study was set to characterize the relationship between the infant’s diaphragm position on a chest radiograph and the computed tomography (CT) measurement of aerated lung capacity.

The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, was the site of this retrospective cross-sectional study. Infants without congenital lung pathology who had a chest CT scan within 30 days of delivery, from July 9, 2012, to December 31, 2022, were included. Analysis of the study’s data took place between December 2022 and September 2023.

CT semiautomated tissue segmentation was used to quantify lung volume, and a consistent definition was used to establish diaphragm position. The measures from the chest radiograph were unknown to all of the investigators who were examining the CT scans, and vice versa. The distribution and accuracy of the total lung volume at each of the diaphragm positions (6th-11th posterior rib) were the main results.

A total of 218 newborns (mean [SD] age, 37.9 [1.9] weeks gestation at birth; 119 male [55%]; median [IQR] age, 11 [3-20] days) had their imaging data examined. A primary cardiac diagnosis was made for 132 (61%) of the infants, whose mean (SD) weight at scan was 3055 (584) g. The diaphragm location was represented by 6 to 11 posterior ribs. Lung volume and diaphragm position were only weakly correlated (Kendall τ = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.16–0.31).

The degree of consolidation (Kendall τ = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.21-0.38), apex-diaphragm distance (Kendall τ = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.51), hemithorax (left, Kendall τ = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.15-0.34; right, Kendall τ = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.31), and Hounsfield unit values (Kendall τ = −0.05; 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.06) all showed a similar weak association. Overall, in response to these findings, the diaphragm position as determined by the number of posterior ribs on a chest radiograph may not be accurate enough for practical use as a surrogate of lung volume, even though it has long been clinically accepted.

Source:

Dahm, S. I., Sett, A., Gunn, E. F., Ramanauskas, F., Hall, R., Stewart, D., Koeppenkastrop, S., McKenna, K., Gardiner, R. E., Rao, P., & Tingay, D. G. (2025). Diaphragm position on chest radiograph to estimate lung volume in neonates. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2108

Mayo Clinic’s AI tool identifies 9 dementia types, including Alzheimer’s, with one scan

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps clinicians identify brain activity patterns linked to nine types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, using a single, widely available scan-a transformative advance in early, accurate diagnosis.

The tool, StateViewer, helped researchers identify the dementia type in 88% of cases, according to research published online on June 27, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. It also enabled clinicians to interpret brain scans nearly twice as fast and with up to three times greater accuracy than standard workflows. Researchers trained and tested the AI on more than 3,600 scans, including images from patients with dementia and people without cognitive impairment.

This innovation addresses a core challenge in dementia care: identifying the disease early and precisely, even when multiple conditions are present. As new treatments emerge, timely diagnosis helps match patients with the most appropriate care when it can have the greatest impact. The tool could bring advanced diagnostic support to clinics that lack neurology expertise.

The rising toll of dementia

Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form, is now the fifth-leading cause of death globally. Diagnosing dementia typically requires cognitive tests, blood draws, imaging, clinical interviews and specialist referrals. Even with extensive testing, distinguishing conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia remains challenging, including for highly experienced specialists.

StateViewer was developed under the direction of David Jones, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Neurology Artificial Intelligence Program.

“Every patient who walks into my clinic carries a unique story shaped by the brain’s complexity,” Dr. Jones says. “That complexity drew me to neurology and continues to drive my commitment to clearer answers. StateViewer reflects that commitment — a step toward earlier understanding, more precise treatment and, one day, changing the course of these diseases.”

To bring that vision to life, Dr. Jones worked alongside Leland Barnard, Ph.D., a data scientist who leads the AI engineering behind StateViewer.

“As we were designing StateViewer, we never lost sight of the fact that behind every data point and brain scan was a person facing a difficult diagnosis and urgent questions,” Dr. Barnard says. “Seeing how this tool could assist physicians with real-time, precise insights and guidance highlights the potential of machine learning for clinical medicine.”

Turning brain patterns into clinical insight

The tool analyzes a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, which shows how the brain uses glucose for energy. It then compares the scan to a large database of scans from people with confirmed dementia diagnoses and identifies patterns that match specific types, or combinations, of dementia.

Alzheimer’s typically affects memory and processing regions, Lewy body dementia involves areas tied to attention and movement, and frontotemporal dementia alters regions responsible for language and behavior. StateViewer displays these patterns through color-coded brain maps that highlight key areas of brain activity, giving all clinicians, even those without neurology training, a visual explanation of what the AI sees and how it supports the diagnosis.

Mayo Clinic researchers plan to expand the tool’s use and will continue evaluating its performance in a variety of clinical settings.

Reference:

Leland Barnard, Hugo Botha, Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier, An FDG-PET–Based Machine Learning Framework to Support Neurologic Decision-Making in Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, Neurology, https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213831.

Air pollution linked to adverse birth outcomes, reveals Indian study

Prenatal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and climatic factors, such as temperature and rainfall, are associated with adverse birth outcomes in India, according to a study published July 2nd, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Mary Abed Al Ahad from the University of St Andrews, U.K.

Ambient air pollution poses a global threat to human health, with a disproportionate burden of its detrimental effects falling on those residing in low and middle-income countries. Referred to as the silent killer, ambient air pollution is among the top five risk factors for mortality in both males and females. With a diameter of less than 2.5 microns, ambient fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which primarily originates from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, is considered the most harmful air pollutant. In the 2023 World Air Quality Report, India was ranked as the third most polluted country out of 134 nations based on its average yearly PM2.5 levels.

Ambient air pollution has been associated with a range of pediatric morbidities, including adverse birth outcomes, asthma, cancer, and an increased risk of chronic diseases. Most studies investigating the association between ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes have primarily been conducted in high-income countries. Despite the alarming rise in air pollution levels in India, there has been a paucity of research exploring its impact on adverse birth outcomes.

To address this knowledge gap, the researchers investigated the impact of ambient air pollution on adverse birth outcomes at the national level, focusing on low birth weight and preterm birth, and used different geospatial models to highlight vulnerable areas. The analysis provided evidence of the association between in-utero exposure to PM2.5 and adverse birth outcomes by leveraging satellite data and large-scale survey data. The individual-level analysis revealed that an increase in ambient PM2.5 is associated with a greater likelihood of low birth weight and preterm birth. Climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature were also linked to adverse birth outcomes. Children residing in the Northern districts of India appeared to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of ambient air pollution.

According to the authors, the geostatistical analysis underscores the need for targeted interventions, particularly in Northern districts. In addition, the National Clean Air Program should be intensified, with stricter emission standards and enhanced air quality monitoring. Climate adaptation strategies, such as developing heat action plans and improving water management, should be incorporated into public health planning to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures and irregular rainfall. Public health initiatives should be implemented to raise awareness of the risks of air pollution and climate change, particularly among pregnant women.

Reference:

Arup Jana, Malay Pramanik, In-utero exposure to PM2.5 and adverse birth outcomes in India: Geostatistical modelling using remote sensing and demographic health survey data 2019–21, PLOS Global Public Health, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003798.

Patients continue to lose weight in the years after ‘tummy tuck’: Study

Most patients undergoing “tummy tuck” surgery (abdominoplasty) to remove excess skin and tissue after weight loss continue to lose weight in the months and years after surgery, suggests a follow-up study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

“We found that patients not only maintained their weight loss after abdominoplasty, but also continued to lose weight over time – up to ten pounds, on average,” comments senior author John Y.S. Kim of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. “This postoperative weight loss appears greater, and increases at later follow-up times, in patients with initially higher body mass index [BMI].”

Continued weight loss up to five years after tummy tuck

Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the abdomen. In 2023, ASPS Member Surgeons performed more than 170,000 abdominoplasties, according to ASPS statistics. Many of these procedures are performed in patients with massive weight loss that leaves them with excess, sagging skin.

Plastic surgeons have observed that patients may continue to lose weight after abdominoplasty. However, there is little research evidence on this issue, including whether the abdominoplasty procedure itself contributes to long-term weight loss.

Dr. Kim and colleagues performed a study to assess changes in body weight in 188 patients who underwent abdominoplasty between 2018 and 2022. Ninety-seven percent of patients were women. The average preoperative weight was about 168 pounds with a BMI of 27.7. Most patients underwent liposuction or a further procedure to remove excess fat (lipectomy) at the same time as abdominoplasty. Trends in body weight were assessed through up to five years after surgery.

The results showed continued weight loss after abdominoplasty. At three to six months, average weight loss was between five and six pounds, with about a three percent decrease in BMI. From one to four years, weight loss was about five pounds, for a BMI reduction of about two percent. By five years (in a limited number of patients), average weight loss was nearly ten pounds, with more than a five percent decrease in BMI.

‘Near-constant negative change in body weight’ after abdominoplasty

Overall, about 60% of patients lost weight during follow-up. Further analysis showed a “near constant negative change in body weight that did not significantly change over time,” the researchers write.

After adjustment for other factors, continued weight loss was more likely for older patients, for those who underwent liposuction/lipectomy, and those who had never smoked. Weight loss was greater for patients who had higher body weight and BMI before surgery, and for a small number of patients who used the newer weight loss medication semaglutide.

The study adds new evidence that “post-abdominoplasty weight reduction is a quantifiable phenomenon and that patients undergoing abdominoplasty continue to lose a significant amount of weight for up to five years after surgery,” the researchers write. They note some key limitations of their study, including varying follow-up times and potential confounding factors.

The study cannot definitively explain why patients continue to lose weight after surgery. However, Dr. Kim and coauthors write, “We have found that patients who were able to achieve weight loss after their abdominoplasty succeeded in developing healthy habits that centered around nutrition and exercise.” They highlight the need for an “evidence-based platform” to assess weight changes after abdominoplasty and to identify factors associated with long-term weight loss.

Reference:

Bricker, Jonathan MD; Ferenz, Sarah BA; Moradian, Simon MD; Termanini, Kareem MD; Jackson, Brandon MD; Kim, John Y. S. MD. What Happens to Weight following Abdominoplasty: An Analysis of 188 Consecutive Cases. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 156(1):p 51e-58e, July 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011959

Psychedelics and cannabis offer treatment hope for people with eating disorders: JAMA

A pioneering international survey of people living with eating disorders has found that cannabis and psychedelics, such as ‘magic mushrooms’ or LSD, were best rated as alleviating symptoms by respondents who self-medicated with the non-prescribed drugs.

The worst-rated drugs were alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and cocaine.

Prescribed drugs, such as antidepressants, were generally not well rated for treating eating-disorder symptoms but were positively rated for effects on general mental health.

The research, led by PhD student Sarah-Catherine Rodan at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, is published today in JAMA Network Open.

Ms Rodan said: “Our results provide important insights into the lived experiences of people with eating disorders and their drug use, highlighting promising avenues for future research into treatments.

“The findings suggest more research, including large clinical trials, should be undertaken around the beneficial effects of cannabis and psychedelics for people with eating disorders.”

The Lambert Initiative researchers will shortly launch a clinical trial of psilocybin in treating anorexia nervosa in collaboration with the Inside Out Institute at the University of Sydney.

Scope and response of survey

The study analysed responses from over 7600 self-allocated participants in 83 countries, making it the most comprehensive survey ever conducted on this topic.

The research focused on how people with different types of eating disorders use prescription and non-prescription drugs, and how they perceive these substances’ effects on their mental health and eating disorder symptoms.

The major categories of eating disorders were well-represented in the survey: anorexia nervosa (40%); bulimia nervosa (19%); binge-eating disorder (11%); and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) (9%). About one third of respondents were not formally diagnosed with an eating disorder but self-reported an eating disorder that caused distress.

Co-morbid mental health conditions, which are often found in these populations, were frequently reported including depression (65%), generalised anxiety disorder (55%), ADHD (33%), drug dependence (15%) and alcohol dependence (9%).

Respondents were predominantly female (94%), with most from English-speaking places, like Australia (30%), the UK (21.3%) and the US (18%).

The results revealed patients with eating disorders have high rates of cannabis and psychedelic use relative to the general populations and rate their effects positively in terms of managing symptoms. Notably, cannabis was highly rated by respondents with restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia and ARFID, most likely because it enhances the rewarding value of food, addressing a core issue in these eating disorders.

In contrast, prescription stimulants such as lisdexamfetamine, which have strong appetite suppressing effects and are sometimes prescribed for binge eating disorder (BED), were positively rated by people with BED but poorly rated by those with restrictive type disorders.

Psychedelics, typically only taken once or twice a year by respondents, were reported to have remarkable long-lasting benefits, supporting recent research showing their therapeutic potential in treating conditions such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, commonly prescribed medications – such as antidepressants – which are typically taken daily, were generally rated as relatively ineffective for reducing ED symptoms but were widely acknowledged to help with overall mental health.

The survey also found that drugs like alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine, although quite widely used, led to negative outcomes on eating disorder symptoms and general mental health.

Ms Rodan said: “These findings highlight an important pattern: with traditional medications often falling short in treating eating disorders directly, while many individuals are self-medicating with substances they perceive as helpful. This underlines the urgent need to better investigate these substances in rigorously controlled clinical trials.”

Next steps: clinical trials

The insights gained by this study have already prompted further research initiatives. The Lambert Initiative, in collaboration with the Inside Out Institute at the University of Sydney, is preparing to launch a clinical trial of psilocybin in treating anorexia nervosa. Additionally, a pilot study examining the therapeutic potential of the non-intoxicating cannabis component, cannabidiol (CBD), in treating severe anorexia in young people, is nearing completion.

Professor Iain McGregor, the senior author on this paper and Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative, said: “This research suggests that cannabis and psychedelics hold significant promise for improving quality of life in individuals suffering eating disorders. This is particularly salient since current pharmacological options for these patients are severely limited and current treatment outcomes so disappointing.

“Of course, rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits and better determine safety profiles.”

Ms Rodan said: “I hope this study gives a voice to people living with eating disorders, revealing that their often-stigmatised experiences with drugs might in fact have therapeutic potential. We are extremely grateful to the many thousands of respondents who took the time to provide such detailed responses around their lived experiences. This should spur further research and open new treatment pathways for these challenging conditions.”

Reference:

Rodan S, Maguire S, Meez N, et al. Prescription and Nonprescription Drug Use Among People With Eating Disorders. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2522406. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.22406.