Medical Bulletin 17/February/2023

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Genes that may predict complications from obesity exhibit sexual dimorphism: Study

In a new study published February 16, 2023, in Nature Genetics, researchers from the University of Chicago characterized the impact of a genetic variant associated with a higher waist-to-hip ratio, a measure of abdominal fat, that is necessary for formation of fat cells in humans. This variant is also associated with higher cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels in women, but not men, and it contributes to excess fat accumulation as the result of diet in female mice, but not males, suggesting that similar genes might lead to different patterns of fat distribution and obesity-related disease risk for women.

Obesity causes many health problems and worsens several chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, however, some obese people are more susceptible to complications than others. Scientists have long been searching for genes linked to obesity that predispose people to such conditions, but zooming in on hundreds of leads to identify genes that may increase risk has been difficult.

Reference:

Marcelo Nobrega et al,Genetics of sexually dimorphic adipose distribution in humans,Nature Genetics.

Breakthrough for ‘next generation’ light-activated cancer treatment

Scientists at the University of East Anglia are a step closer to creating a new generation of light-activated cancer treatments.

The futuristic sounding treatment would work by switching on LED lights embedded close to a tumour, which would then activate biotherapeutic drugs.

These new treatments would be highly targeted and more effective than current state-of-the-art cancer immunotherapies.

New research published today reveals the science behind this innovative idea.

It shows how the UEA team have engineered antibody fragments - which not only ‘fuse’ with their target but are also light activated.

It means that in future, immunotherapy treatments could be engineered to attack tumours more precisely than ever before.

Reference:

Dr Amit Sachdeva et al,UEA scientists make breakthrough for ‘next generation’ cancer treatment,Nature Chemical Biology.

Changes in children’s face shapes associated with mothers’ alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy: Study

FASD is defined as a combination of growth retardation, neurological impairment and recognisably abnormal facial development. Symptoms include cognitive impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning difficulties, memory problems, behavioural problems, and speech and language delays.

Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology to find a link between alterations in the shape of children’s faces and the amount of alcohol their mothers drank, both before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy.

Reference:

“Association between prenatal alcohol exposure and children’s facial shape: a prospective population-based cohort study”, by X. Liu et al. Human Reproduction journal. doi:10.1093/humrep/dead006