Medical Bulletin 04/September/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Weight loss surgery outcomes may be influenced by Inflammation, shows study

Higher levels of inflammation in the blood of patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery predict poorer weight loss six months after the procedure, according to a recent study by researchers from IoPPN, King’s College London. The analysis showed a strong relationship between depression and inflammation in obese patients before and after surgery and it indicated that it was increased inflammation, rather than depression that was driving poor weight loss after bariatric surgery.

The 85 participants in the study, were all obese (BMI >35) and part of the ongoing Bariatric Surgery & Depression study. Levels of proteins released during inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), were measured before and after surgery in participants’ blood and tissue.

Reference: ‘Peripheral inflammation associated with depression and reduced weight loss: a longitudinal study of bariatric patients’ by McLaughlin, A. P et al was published in Psychological Medicine. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291723002283

Small measures that can reduce hip fractures

Simple strategies to strengthen your bones, implemented by the whole community not just those at higher risk, could lead to a substantial decrease in hip fractures, a new Australian study suggests.

A hip fracture, particularly in the elderly, dramatically increases the risk of death. Around 37 percent of men and 20 percent of women die within one year of a hip fracture. It also causes significant pain and suffering, loss of mobility and independence, and increased healthcare costs.

Professor Tuan Nguyen said, “Bone health is affected by lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity and nutrition, including vitamin D and dietary calcium intake. Stopping smoking, maintaining moderate physical activity, and eating a healthy diet can all help reduce bone loss.”

Reference: Prevention of hip fractures: trade-off between minor benefits to individuals and large benefits to the community, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, DOI 10.1002/jbmr.4907 

Blood test can predict progression to Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroscience researchers at Wayne State University published a review article that confirms the usefulness of neurofilament light (NfL) blood levels to predict the likelihood and rate of progression of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Blood-based NfL is a minimally invasive and easily accessible biomarker, making it a useful clinical biomarker.

Though NfL levels also increase in typical aging as a non-specific marker of neuronal damage, the levels, as well as the rate of increase, seen in Alzheimer’s dementia are higher. Higher serum NfL is also correlated with more severe brain glucose hypometabolism, and diminished white matter integrity, in persons on the Alzheimer’s continuum.

Longitudinal studies also consistently found significant relationships between blood NfL and atrophy in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Reference: “The Potential of Blood Neurofilament Light as a Marker of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease,” is published in the journal Brain, Aug. 4, 2023, (doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad267)