Medical Bulletin 19/August/2025

Michael Pluess, Professor in Developmental Psychology at University of Surrey and Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London said: “This is the first meta-analysis providing robust evidence that highly sensitive people are more prone to common mental health problems. However, it is important to remember that highly sensitive people are also more responsive to positive experiences, including psychological treatment. Our results provide further evidence that sensitive people are more affected by both negative and positive experiences and that the quality of their environment is particularly important for their well-being.”

Reference: Falkenstein, T., Sartori, L., Malanchini, M., Hadfield, K., & Pluess, M. (2025). The Relationship Between Environmental Sensitivity and Common Mental-Health Problems in Adolescents and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychological Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026251348428

One Workout May Trigger Tumor-Suppressing Proteins in Cancer Survivors

A new study published by Edith Cowan University (ECU) reveals that just one session of resistance or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help in the fight against cancer. The research, conducted by ECU PhD student Francesco Bettariga, shows that a single workout significantly boosts levels of myokines—muscle-produced proteins known for their anti-cancer properties—potentially reducing cancer cell proliferation by 20 to 30%.

The study focused on breast cancer survivors, measuring their myokine levels before, immediately after, and 30 minutes’ post-exercise. Both forms of training, resistance and HIIT, resulted in a marked increase in myokine production. Findings are published in breast cancer research and treatment.

While increased myokine levels after exercise are well-documented in healthy individuals, Bettariga sought to determine whether the same effect could be seen in breast cancer survivors—whose bodies may be compromised by cancer or its treatment. “The results from the study show that both types of exercise really work to produce these anti-cancer myokines in breast cancer survivors,” he said. “The results from this study are excellent motivators to add exercise as standard care in the treatment of cancer.”

Bettariga’s broader research also explored the role of body composition in inflammation, a key driver of breast cancer recurrence and progression. Persistent inflammation, often worsened by treatment side effects, promotes tumour growth and weakens immune response. “Strategies are needed to reduce inflammation which may provide a less supportive environment for cancer progression,” he noted.

The study found that reducing fat mass and increasing lean muscle through regular exercise significantly decreased inflammatory markers. However, Bettariga cautioned against relying solely on weight loss without physical activity. "You never want to reduce your weight without exercising, because you need to build or preserve muscle mass and produce these chemicals that you can't do through just diet alone."

Reference: Francesco Bettariga, Dennis R. Taaffe, Cristina Crespo-Garcia, Timothy D. Clay, Mauro De Santi, Giulia Baldelli, Sanjeev Adhikari, Elin S. Gray, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton. A single bout of resistance or high-intensity interval training increases anti-cancer myokines and suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro in survivors of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2025; 213 (1): 171 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-025-07772-w

Are You Measuring Blood Pressure the Wrong Way? Researchers suggest Simple Fix

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have uncovered the underlying reason why the most common form of blood pressure measurement — the cuff-based auscultatory method — may often produce inaccurate readings. Their findings, published in the journal PNAS Nexus, offer a clearer understanding of the physics behind these inaccuracies and suggest simple adjustments to current protocols could significantly improve health outcomes.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading preventable risk factor for premature death globally. However, current methods of measuring blood pressure can miss up to 30% of cases of systolic hypertension due to underestimation. The Cambridge team set out to understand why this widely used method — which relies on listening to blood flow sounds as a cuff deflates around the upper arm — is prone to such errors.

To investigate, researchers built a simplified physical model that mimicked the conditions of blood flow and artery behavior during cuff inflation and deflation. Unlike previous studies that used rubber tubes (which do not replicate how arteries behave when blood flow is stopped), the Cambridge model used tubes that fully collapse under pressure — more accurately representing human arteries.

The study revealed that when the cuff cuts off blood flow to the lower arm, the downstream pressure drops significantly. This causes the artery to remain closed longer as the cuff deflates, delaying the return of blood flow sounds and leading to an underestimation of systolic blood pressure. “We are currently not adjusting for this error when diagnosing or prescribing treatments, which has been estimated to lead to as many as 30% of cases of systolic hypertension being missed,” said co-author Kate Bassil.

Crucially, the researchers suggest that a simple change — such as raising the arm before measurement — could standardize downstream pressure and improve accuracy without requiring new equipment. “You might not even need new devices, just changing how the measurement is done could make it more accurate,” added Professor Anurag Agarwal.

The team now aims to secure funding for clinical trials and collaborate with clinicians and industry partners to refine and validate their findings across broader populations.

Reference: Kate Bassil, Anurag Agarwal. Underestimation of systolic pressure in cuff-based blood pressure measurement. PNAS Nexus, 2025; 4 (8) DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf222