Medical Bulletin 01/Jul/2025

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Why Asthma Often Comes Back After Stopping Biologic Drugs?

While biological drugs have significantly improved the quality of life for individuals with severe asthma, a new study from the Karolinska Institutet suggests they may not completely eliminate the underlying immune cells that drive inflammation. Published in the journal Allergy, the research raises questions about the long-term effectiveness of these treatments and highlights the need for continued therapy in many cases.

Biologics, including medications like mepolizumab and dupilumab, are widely prescribed for patients with severe asthma and are known to control symptoms effectively. However, little has been understood about how these drugs interact with the immune system at a cellular level.

In the study, researchers analyzed blood samples from 40 patients before and during biologic treatment. Using advanced techniques like flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing, they discovered that some immune cells associated with high inflammatory potential, rather than decreasing, actually increased during treatment. These cells are known to contribute significantly to airway inflammation in asthma.

"This suggests that biologics might not attack the root of the problem, no matter how much they help asthma patients during treatment," said Professor Jenny Mjösberg, senior author of the study. "Continued treatment might be necessary to keep the disease under control."

Given that biologics have only been in use for less than a decade, their long-term impact remains uncertain. The next phase of the study will examine samples from patients with extended treatment histories and include analysis of lung tissue to determine how immune cells behave directly within the airways.

Reference: Lorenz Wirth, Whitney Weigel, Christopher T. Stamper, Johan Kolmert, Sabrina de Souza Ferreira, Quirin Hammer, Maria Sparreman Mikus, Jakob Theorell, Lars Andersson, Ann‐Sofie Lantz, Eva Wallén‐Nielsen, Anne Petrén, Craig E. Wheelock, Apostolos Bossios, Nikolaos Lazarinis, Andrei Malinovschi, Christer Janson, Barbro Dahlén, Thomas Hochdörfer, Christopher Andrew Tibbitt, Sven‐Erik Dahlén, Valentyna Yasinska, Jenny Mjösberg. High‐Dimensional Analysis of Type 2 Lymphocyte Dynamics During Mepolizumab or Dupilumab Treatment in Severe Asthma. Allergy, 2025; DOI: 10.1111/all.16633

Preliminary Study from Karnataka Medical College Reveals High Cardiac Risk Among Adolescents

A new preliminary study conducted by the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI), Hubballi has raised alarms about rising cardiovascular risk among adolescents. The findings indicate that a significant number of overweight school-going students showed biochemical markers associated with a heightened risk of adverse cardiac events, challenging the long-standing perception of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as ailments exclusive to adulthood.

The study, launched in February 2025 by the Multi-Disciplinary Research Unit (MDRU) of KMCRI, aimed to assess early signs of cardiovascular metabolic risk in adolescents. With growing evidence suggesting early onset of risk factors, the research team focused on 30 asymptomatic, overweight students from Class VIII and IX, selected from six schools across both urban and rural regions of Dharwad district.

The students underwent comprehensive screening, including blood tests and assessments of lifestyle factors such as screen time, physical activity, and dietary habits. Despite the limited sample size, the results were alarming. One student was found to be diabetic, and four were diagnosed with hypertension. Notably, 11 students had elevated triglyceride levels, with one registering a critically high value of 499 mg/dL. Additionally, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were elevated in five students each.

Perhaps most concerning, the study found elevated homocysteine levels in 26 out of 30 participants, a marker associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Elevated Lipoprotein (a) was found in four students, and 18 had significantly high levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), indicating inflammation and cardiac stress. Overall, over 80% of participants displayed biochemical profiles suggesting subclinical cardiac risk.

“This preliminary study highlights the alarming prevalence of early cardiac risk among adolescents,” said Dr. Ram Kaulgud, MDRU nodal officer, and co-investigator Dr. Manjunath Nekar.

Encouraged by recognition from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), KMCRI now plans to expand the study in collaboration with other Medical Research Units (MRUs) across the state.

The findings highlight the urgent need for preventive health strategies, including lifestyle interventions and routine cardiac screening in school health programmes.

Can Electric Fields Help Heal Spinal Cord Injuries?

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers have developed a promising new treatment for spinal cord injuries using electric field therapy. The animal study offers hope for a future medical device that could one day restore movement and sensation in people living with spinal cord damage an area long considered untreatable.

Spinal cord injuries sever communication between the brain and body, often leading to permanent loss of function.

To explore a potential solution, researchers created an ultra-thin electronic implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord, specifically over the site of injury in rats. Before birth and shortly after, the body uses naturally occurring electric fields to guide the development of the nervous system. This study aimed to replicate that process artificially.

Over the course of 12 weeks, rats that received daily, precisely controlled electric stimulation at the injury site showed significant improvements. After just four weeks, those treated displayed greater movement than untreated counterparts and reacted more swiftly to gentle touch—suggesting recovery of both motor and sensory functions.

"This indicates that the treatment supported recovery of both movement and sensation," said Dr. Bruce Harland, a senior research fellow in the School of Pharmacy at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. "Just as importantly, our analysis confirmed that the treatment did not cause inflammation or other damage to the spinal cord, demonstrating that it was not only effective but also safe."

The team now plans to fine-tune the parameters of the therapy, including strength, frequency, and duration, with the long-term goal of translating it into a clinical solution for human patients and even pets.

Reference: Bruce Harland, Lukas Matter, Salvador Lopez, Barbara Fackelmeier, Brittany Hazelgrove, Svenja Meissner, Simon O’Carroll, Brad Raos, Maria Asplund, Darren Svirskis. Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats. Nature Communications, 2025; 16 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60332-0