Medical Bulletin 17/June/2025

Here are the top medical bulletins for the day:

Smarter, Cheaper, Faster AI Tool for Cancer Monitoring: Study Finds

A team of scientists from the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS) has developed an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based method called "Fragle" that simplifies and accelerates cancer tracking using blood tests. Their research, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, demonstrates how Fragle can provide accurate, affordable, and faster monitoring of cancer by analyzing DNA fragment sizes in blood, without relying on expensive gene sequencing.

Tracking cancer using blood-based tests, known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, is not new. However, existing methods depend heavily on detecting cancer-specific mutations, which can vary widely between individuals. This often results in inconsistent findings and high costs, limiting their usefulness for routine monitoring during treatment. Fragle addresses this challenge by focusing not on genetic mutations, but on the size patterns of DNA fragments in the blood—a unique feature of cancer DNA.

Fragle’s AI model can distinguish between healthy and cancerous DNA by analyzing fragment size patterns, using only a small amount of DNA. Fragle offers a faster and potentially more affordable way to monitor cancer through blood tests. “Just as scientists tracked COVID-19 outbreaks by detecting viral particles in wastewater, Fragle analyzes DNA fragments in blood to monitor cancer treatment response and detect relapse early,” explains Dr. Anders Skanderup, Senior Principal Scientist at A*STAR GIS and lead author of the study.

The method has been tested on hundreds of patient samples across various cancer types and is compatible with most hospital DNA profiling systems, allowing for rapid integration into clinical practice. Importantly, Fragle can detect minimal residual disease (MRD)—tiny traces of cancer left after treatment—helping catch relapse earlier than imaging scans.

Why Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Are Rising in Women?

Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) are rising with the steepest increases seen among women, young adults, and Indigenous populations. A new study published in JAMA Network reveals that between 2018 and 2022, ALD deaths rose by nearly 9% each year—more than double the annual increase of 3.5% seen from 2006 to 2018.

Researchers conducted the study using national death certificate data, focusing on fatalities from alcohol-associated hepatitis and cirrhosis, two severe forms of liver disease. These conditions cause inflammation, liver cell death, and often irreversible damage. Experts link the alarming rise to increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period also marked by spikes in obesity, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses.

The findings show that American Indian and Alaska Native adults were disproportionately affected. In 2022, alcohol-related cirrhosis deaths in these groups reached 33 per 100,000 people—the highest among all racial and ethnic populations studied. Deaths from hepatitis doubled in these communities.

Young adults also saw a significant rise in mortality. People aged 25 to 44 had the largest yearly increase in deaths from alcohol-associated hepatitis between 1999 and 2022.

Women, too, are increasingly vulnerable to alcohol-related liver conditions. Due to biological differences, including lower alcohol metabolism and higher body fat, even moderate drinking has a more harmful impact on women’s organs than on men’s. “Women produce less alcohol dehydrogenase – an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down alcohol, resulting in more alcohol reaching the liver,” experts explain.

As alcohol consumption remains high, public health experts stress the urgent need for education, early intervention, and accessible support services to prevent further loss of life from this entirely preventable disease.

Simple Routine Habit May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Lower Back Pain: Study

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that walking more each day—particularly up to about 125 minutes—can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic lower back pain. The research, drawn from data in Norway’s large-scale Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study, offers fresh insight into how both the duration and intensity of walking impact back health, especially in older adults.

Lower back pain remains one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and contributes to high health care costs. While staying active is often recommended to manage back pain, there has been little clarity on whether walking specifically helps. To explore this, researchers analyzed data from more than 31,000 individuals who participated in the HUNT4 study between 2017 and 2023. Participants wore two accelerometers—one on the thigh and one on the lower back—for a week to track their physical activity in five-second intervals. Walking was classified into slow, moderate, and brisk speeds based on energy expenditure.

Participants were also asked whether they had experienced pain or stiffness in muscles or joints lasting at least three months in the past year. Those reporting pain in the lower back were categorized as having chronic lower back pain.

The study found that people who walked more each day had a lower risk of developing chronic lower back pain. “Those who walked for at least 78 minutes daily saw a reduced risk, with the greatest benefit observed in those walking 125 minutes or more per day.” Walking more than 100 minutes daily reduced the risk by 23% compared to those walking less than 78 minutes. This effect was most consistent in adults aged 65 and older.

Although the study was observational and relied on self-reported pain history, the findings point to walking as a practical, low-impact activity to support back health. Walking not only helps manage lower back discomfort but also offers broader health benefits, including better cardiovascular fitness and lower stress. Even modest increases in daily walking can make a meaningful difference over time.

Reference: Haddadj R, Nordstoga AL, Nilsen TIL, et al. Volume and Intensity of Walking and Risk of Chronic Low Back Pain. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(6):e2515592. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15592