Medical Bulletin 12/ November/ 2024

Published On 2024-11-12 09:30 GMT   |   Update On 2024-11-12 09:30 GMT
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Here are the top medical news for the day:

Researchers Produce Viable, Embryo Forming Egg Cells from Underdeveloped Oocytes
Mature egg cells, or oocytes, are essential for fertilization in assisted reproductive technologies. However, some ‘denuded’ oocytes, or those lacking the protective granulosa cell layer, fail to mature. Now, in a new study by researchers at Shinshu University, the team has developed a method to culture mature oocytes from these denuded oocytes in the lab.
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The study published online in Biology of Reproduction, Assistant Professor Kanako Morohaku and her team at Shinshu University have identified a novel method to produce viable, embryo-forming eggs from denuded oocytes taken from “preantral” follicles in mice.
The researchers isolated denuded oocytes and granulosa cell s from mice, which were then grown together in a U-shaped lab dish for eight days. This led to the formation of granulosa cell-oocyte complexe, which allowed the oocytes to interact with supporting cells again. These oocytes were cultured with granulosa cells under high (20%) and low (5%) concentrations of oxygen to observe the difference in oocyte growth.
They observed that low oxygen levels significantly improved the development of granulosa cell-oocytes and stimulated the formation of transzonal projections, thin cellular connections necessary for oocyte growth. After eight days, these reassembled granulosa cell-oocytes were cultured on a collagen-coated membrane for four additional days, leading to the maturation of oocytes into fertilizable eggs.
To test their viability, the researchers fertilized the eggs and transferred 126 embryos into female mice, following which they obtained six live pups. “To the best of our knowledge, our new culture protocol is the first to successfully obtain offspring from preantral follicle-derived denuded oocytes grown by reconstructing granulosa cell-oocytes in vitro,” explains Mr. Tomohiro Kohama, a PhD student and one of the authors.
By enhancing the viability of denuded oocytes, this innovative approach could offer renewed hope for individuals facing infertility and contribute to the conservation of endangered species.
Reference: Tomohiro Kohama, Ikuo Tomioka, Kanako Morohaku, In vitro production of viable eggs from undeveloped oocytes in mouse preantral follicles by reconstructing granulosa cell–oocyte complexes, Biology of Reproduction, 2024;, ioae125, https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioae125
Health Warning: Lead in Turmeric Found to Exceed Safe Limits by 200 Times in India
Lead levels in turmeric sold in India, Nepal and Pakistan were several times higher than the regulatory limit, according to a new study.
Samples from India’s Patna, and Pakistan’s Karachi and Peshawar had lead levels in turmeric exceeding 1,000 microgram/gram (μg/g), the study published in Science of The Total Environment found. Guwahati and Chennai also saw levels exceeding the regulatory limit set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The regulatory limit for lead in turmeric whole and powder is 10 μg / g, states FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Children having blood lead level of 10 µg / L is associated with a loss of 1 intelligence quotient point. While there is no known safe blood lead concentration, even blood lead concentrations as low as 3.5 µg / dL may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioural difficulties and learning problems.
The researchers analysed turmeric samples were collected from 23 major cities across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal between December 2020 and March 2021. Their analysis found that 14 per cent of turmeric samples had lead levels above 2 μg / g, while the World Health Organization maintains that no quantity of lead consumption is safe. In India, Patna and Guwahati the maximum levels were found to be 2,274 μg / g and 127 μg / g. Samples in both places were reportedly sourced from Bihar, the study highlighted.
Polished turmeric roots were found to be most contaminated, followed by loose powder, packaged branded powder and unpolished roots. The loose, under-regulated spices were more likely to be adulterated than packaged turmeric, the study pointed out.
The study also concluded that the most likely source of lead in turmeric samples was lead chromate, a yellow pigment used in paints, rubber, plastics and ceramic coatings. FSSAI’s rules require turmeric to be free from lead chromate, added starch and any other extraneous colouring matter.
Reference: Forsyth, J. E., Mistree, D., Nash, E., Angrish, M., & Luby, S. P. (2024). Evidence of turmeric adulteration with lead chromate across South Asia. Science of The Total Environment, 949, 175003.
Daytime Sleepiness May Be Linked to Pre-Dementia Syndrome
Older people who are sleepy during the day or lack enthusiasm for activities due to sleep issues may be more likely to develop a syndrome that can lead to dementia, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study found that people with excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of enthusiasm to get things done were more likely to develop the syndrome than people without those sleep-related issues. The study does not prove that these sleep-related issues cause the syndrome, it only shows an association.
The study involved 445 people with an average age of 76 who did not have dementia. Participants took questionnaires for sleep at the start of the study. They were asked about memory issues and their walking speed was tested on a treadmill at the start of the study and then once a year for an average of three years.
The sleep assessment asked questions such as how often people had trouble sleeping because they wake up in the middle of the night, cannot fall asleep within 30 minutes, or feel too hot or cold and whether they take medicine to help them sleep. The question to assess excessive daytime sleepiness asks how often people have had trouble staying awake while driving, eating meals or engaging in social activity. The question on enthusiasm asks how much of a problem people have had keeping up enough enthusiasm to get things done.
A total of 177 people met the definition for poor sleepers and 268 met the definition for good sleepers. At the start of the study, 42 people had motoric cognitive risk syndrome. Another 36 people developed the syndrome during the study.
Of those with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of enthusiasm, 35.5% developed the syndrome, compared to 6.7% of the people without those problems. Once researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the risk of the syndrome, such as age, depression and other health conditions, they found that people with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of enthusiasm were more than three times more likely to develop the syndrome than those who did not have those sleep-related problems. A limitation of the study is that participants reported their own sleep information, so they may not have remembered everything accurately.
Reference: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5211
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