Medical Bulletin 20/ November/ 2024
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Here are the top medical news for the day:
New Nasal Vaccine May Reduce Whooping Cough Spread
A new nasal vaccine developed by Tulane University may hold the key to reducing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease.
Current pertussis vaccines are widely used and effective at preventing whooping cough, caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. However, the vaccines fail to clear bacteria from the upper respiratory tract, allowing even vaccinated individuals to spread the disease.
The new vaccine combines the traditional pertussis antigens with an innovative adjuvant called T-vant, which boosts the body’s immune response specifically in the respiratory tract. In a study published in npj Vaccines, mice immunized intranasally with the new T-vant vaccine showed no signs of the bacteria in the lungs and nasopharynx i.e. the upper throat area behind the nose – three weeks after infection. The bacteria remained prevalent in upper respiratory tract of mice that received the traditional vaccine intramuscularly.
“By developing a vaccine that can not only protect individuals but also prevent transmission, we hope to improve on existing vaccines and limit the spread of whooping cough in communities,” said lead study author Lisa Morici, professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine.
The T-vant adjuvant is derived from bacterial outer membrane vesicles, tiny particles that naturally stimulate the immune system. The study found that the adjuvant encouraged a mucosal immune response, spurring the activation of immune cells in the respiratory tract critical for halting the bacteria’s ability to colonize.
The study also found no adverse effects on lung tissue following immunization, highlighting the vaccine’s safety.
Reference: Galeas-Pena, M., Hirsch, A., Kuang, E. et al. A novel outer membrane vesicle adjuvant improves vaccine protection against Bordetella pertussis. npj Vaccines 9, 190 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-00990-1
Can Use of Lotions and Shampoos During Pregnancy Lead to Asthma in Baby?
A new study from researchers at Kumamoto University sheds light on a potential link between exposure to certain everyday chemicals during pregnancy and the development of asthma in children. The study analyzed data from over 3,500 mother-child pairs as part of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), a large-scale nationwide research project.
Key Findings:
High levels of butylparaben, a chemical commonly used in personal care products like lotions and shampoos, during early pregnancy were associated with a 1.54-fold increase in the odds of asthma development in children (Odds Ratio: 1.54).
Exposure to 4-nonylphenol, a chemical found in some cleaning products and plastics, showed a striking gender-specific effect. Boys born to mothers exposed to this chemical had 2.09 times higher odds of developing asthma, while no such association was observed in girls.
Led by Dr. Shohei Kuraoka and his team at Southern Kyushu and Okinawa Unit Center of Japan Environment and Children’s Study, researchers measured 24 types of phenols in urine samples collected from pregnant women. They then tracked the health of their children until the age of four. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how everyday chemical exposures might contribute to respiratory and allergic conditions in children.
“These results emphasize the need for careful evaluation of chemical exposure during pregnancy,” said Dr. Kuraoka. “Understanding these risks allows us to develop better guidelines to protect maternal and child health.”
Reference: Kuraoka, S., Oda, M., Ohba, T., Mitsubuchi, H., Nakamura, K., Katoh, T., ... & Ohga, S. (2024). Association of phenol exposure during pregnancy and asthma development in children: The Japan Environment and Children's study. Environmental Pollution, 361, 124801.
Smarter Blood Tests to Detect Diseases Sooner: Researchers
Michigan State University researchers now can identify more proteins, or biomarkers, in blood plasma, including those linked to specific diseases like cancer. The new method takes a deeper look at the proteins in plasma and reveals biomarkers that enable researchers and ultimately physicians to detect diseases sooner. The findings are published in Nature Communications.
“The ability to identify biomarkers advances medicine in two key ways,” said Morteza Mahmoudi, associate professor in the Department of Radiology and Precision Health Program in the MSU College of Human Medicine. “First, using a simple blood test, diseases can be identified and diagnosed earlier. That means faster treatment and better patient outcomes. Second, it helps clinicians choose the most effective treatment plan. For example, if a clinician knows at the very earliest stage of cancer that it’s metastatic, their approach to treating and managing the disease would be totally different than if they know the cancer is benign.”
“Small Molecule Modulation of Protein Corona for Deep Plasma Proteome Profiling,” shares their new methodology for deep analysis of proteins in plasma.
“Our innovative approach significantly reduces the masking effects of highly abundant plasma proteins, which often hinder the detection of critical biomarkers in human plasma,” Mahmoudi explained. “By minimizing these interactions, we can increase the visibility and identification of low-abundance proteins, making it easier to detect important biomarkers that would otherwise remain hidden. This enhancement leads to improved diagnostic capabilities, allowing for more precise and earlier detection of diseases.”
The new method reduces interference from the most common proteins in blood, allowing researchers to detect lesser-known, low-abundance proteins that are often crucial in identifying diseases. By adding small molecules to the blood sample, they can expose these important proteins on the surface of nanoparticles, making them easier to spot using mass spectrometry — a technique that uses electric and magnetic fields to separate and analyze ionized particles.
“Our team started spiking a range of carefully selected small molecules to the plasma with the aim of minimizing the interactions of highly abundant proteins with nanoparticles,” Mahmoudi said. “Then using mass spectrometry, we could increase the depth of proteome coverage by over seven-fold.”
Reference: Ashkarran, A.A., Gharibi, H., Sadeghi, S.A. et al. Small molecule modulation of protein corona for deep plasma proteome profiling. Nat Commun 15, 9638 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53966-z
WHO and partners Strengthen Efforts Against cervical cancer
As world leaders arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the G20 Summit this weekend, the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue will be illuminated in the colour teal. The Brazilian advocates behind this effort are among many around the globe joining the World Health Organization (WHO) to mobilize efforts on a worldwide “Day of Action for Cervical Cancer Elimination.” Other countries are marking the day with campaigns to provide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening, launching new health policies to align with the world’s first-ever effort to eliminate a cancer, and raising awareness in communities.
Four years ago to the day, 194 countries resolved to eliminate cervical cancer and WHO launched a global strategy. Since then, significant progress has been made. At least 144 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine, over 60 countries now include HPV testing in their cervical screening programmes and 83 countries include surgical-care services for cervical cancer in health-benefit packages.
“I thank all the health workers who are playing a critical role in this global effort,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “While we are making progress, we still face huge inequities, with women in low-income countries bearing most of the burden. Only with strong leadership and sustained investment can we achieve our shared goal of equitable access for communities most in need.”
Marking this campaign for the fourth year, governments, partners and civil society are organizing various activities and commitments.
For example in India, Civil society groups in different states will host a series of activities that include awareness campaigns and trainings for health-care professionals.
WHO is launching new guidance on Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for HPV screening tests. This technical product outlines preferred standards for new HPV tests. The tests should be able to function even in remote areas in low- and middle-income country settings where disease burden is highest. The TPPs highlight the importance of tests that give women the option to collect their own samples for testing; and the value of tools that enable HPV testing in settings closer to where women receive care.
The new publication aims to support innovation in the HPV testing market, emphasizing high-performance, low-cost, and accessible solutions, particularly transformative in resource-limited settings.
Reference: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-11-2024-who-and-partners-rally-cervical-cancer-elimination-efforts
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