Medical Bulletin 16/January/2023

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Novel drug combination therapy may treat often fatal childhood brain tumor

The most common malignant paediatric brain tumour, medulloblastoma (MB), can be divided into four main molecular subtypes. The most urgent need for novel, effective treatment is for Group 3 MB with MYC amplification (MYCamp-G3-MB), which has been demonstrated to be very aggressive and to have the worst prognosis.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a drug combination that may offer a better prognosis for children diagnosed with MYC amplified Medulloblastoma, an often deadly form of brain cancer. The research was conducted in collaboration with the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) University Hospital Dusseldorf.

Reference:

Siddhartha Mitra et al,Tacedinaline (CI-994), a class I HDAC inhibitor, targets intrinsic tumor growth and leptomeningeal dissemination in MYC-driven medulloblastoma while making them susceptible to anti-CD47- induced macrophage phagocytosis via NF-kB-TGM2 driven tumor inflammation,Journal of Immunotherapy

Social bonds can improve health: global study

The study, led by researchers at the University of Kent, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Coventry University, used self-reported data from more than 13,000 people across 122 countries, gathered during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The time people spent with family over the festive period could have improved their health, according to new research which examined how social bonds with close social circles and extended groups relate to health and psychological wellbeing.

Reference:

Dr Martha Newson et al,Having strong social connections can improve your health, according to global study UNIVERSITY OF KENT,Coventry University

New approach for treating lupus holds promise, finds study

Lupus, including SLE, occurs when the immune system attacks a person's own healthy tissues, causing pain, inflammation and tissue damage. Lupus most commonly affects skin, joints, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels. About 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide have a form of lupus, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Treatments for lupus aim to control symptoms, reduce immune system attack of tissues, and protect organs from damage. Only one targeted biologic agent has been approved for treating SLE, belimumab in 2011.

Reference:

JEFFREY RATHMELL et al,Elevated transferrin receptor impairs T cell metabolism and function in systemic lupus erythematosus, Science Immunology, doi 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq0178 

Joint deformities may be caused by oversensitive sensory neurons: Study

Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a disorder characterized by congenital joint deformities, or contractures, that often restrict movement in the hands and feet and is estimated to afflict roughly one in 3,000 individuals worldwide. Alleviating the symptoms often requires invasive surgeries. Although mutations in genes associated with muscle and joint function have been linked to DA, gain-of-function mutations in PIEZO2 - a principal mechanosensor in sensory neurons that underlies touch sensation, proprioception, and other mechanosensory processes - have been found in patients with DA subtype 5 (DA5).

However, the mechanism by which PIEZO2 mutations cause DA is unknown. Using a mouse model, Shang Ma and colleagues found that over-expression of the mutant Piezo2 gain-of-function allele in proprioceptive neurons that enervate muscles and tendons during a critical postnatal period during development can cause joint contracture. These defects were not caused when the dysfunctional allele was expressed in skeletal muscles, cartilage, or tendons.

Reference:

Shang Ma et al,Excessive mechanotransduction in sensory neurons causes joint contractures,Science,doi 10.1126/science.add3598