Medical Bulletin 22/ August/ 2024
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Here are the top medical news for the day:
Obesity in Kids Linked to Increased Risk of Immune-Related Skin Disorders
In a recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests that Childhood obesity can play a role in the onset of prevalent immune-mediated skin disorders (IMSDs), including alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Keeping a healthy weight might reduce the likelihood of developing these skin conditions.
Immune-mediated skin disorders(IMSDs) significantly impact the quality of life for children and their families, affecting emotional, physical, social, and functional wellbeing. While some biologic treatments have shown effectiveness for managing atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in children, the limited treatment options and lack of clinical trials for systemic therapies pose significant challenges.
The rise in childhood obesity over recent years has become a major public health crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic and national lockdowns. However, the exact mechanisms by which obesity contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancers, are still not fully understood.
This research analysed data from 2,161,900 children spanning from 2009 to 2020 to investigate the connection between obesity, changes in body weight, and the onset of Immune-mediated skin disorders.
The research result indicates that obese children were more prone to developing common Immune-mediated skin disorders compared to those with a normal weight. Among the three prevalent Immune-mediated skin disorders, atopic dermatitis showed the clearest pattern: children who gained weight (from normal to overweight) had a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis than those who kept a normal weight, while children who lost weight (from overweight to normal) had a reduced risk compared to those who remained overweight.
Reference: Childhood obesity, weight change, and pediatric immune-mediated skin diseases. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 144(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.01.037
Pregnant Women’s Gut Bacteria Impact Baby's Brain Growth
The presence of Bifidobacterium breve in the mother’s gut during pregnancy promotes healthy brain development in the fetus.
In the study published in the Journal Molecular Metabolism, researchers have compared the fetal brain development in mice with mothers lacking gut bacteria against those with mothers who were given Bifidobacterium breve orally during pregnancy but had no other bacteria in their gut.
Nutrient transport to the brain was enhanced in fetuses of mothers who received Bifidobacterium breve, and other beneficial changes were observed in growth-related cell processes.
Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial bacterium naturally found in the gut and is available as a supplement in probiotic drinks and tablets.
Obesity or chronic stress can disrupt the gut microbiome of pregnant women, often leading to fetal growth issues. Up to 10% of first-time mothers have babies with low birth weight or fetal growth restriction. Inadequate growth in the womb increases the risk of conditions such as cerebral palsy in infants and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, autism, and schizophrenia later in life.
These findings suggest that taking Bifidobacterium breve supplements during pregnancy may enhance fetal brain development and support the healthy development of the baby.
The study was conducted in mice, enabling a controlled assessment of Bifidobacterium breve's effects that would be challenging to achieve in humans. The researchers were able to precisely control the mice's genetics, microorganisms, and environment. They believe that the effects observed are likely to be similar in humans.
The researchers now intend to continue their work by tracking brain development in the offspring after birth and exploring how Bifidobacterium breve interacts with other gut bacteria in natural conditions.
Reference: Lopez-Tello, J., Kiu, R., Schofield, Z., Zhang, C. X. W., van Sinderen, D., Le Gall, G., Hall, L. J., & Sferruzzi-Perri, A. N. (2024). Maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism in germ-free mice. Molecular Metabolism, 69, 102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2024.102004
Red and Processed Meat Linked to Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk, study finds
The study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology has found that meat consumption, especially processed and unprocessed red meat, is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Global meat production has surged significantly in recent decades, with meat consumption often surpassing dietary recommendations in numerous countries. Previous studies have suggested that higher consumption of processed and unprocessed red meat is linked to a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, although the findings have been inconsistent and inconclusive.
To determine the association between consumption of processed meat, unprocessed red meat and poultry and type 2 diabetes, researchers analyse data from 1.97 million participants, from 31 study cohorts in 20 countries. Their extensive analysis took into account factors such as age, gender, health-related behaviours, energy intake and body mass index.
The researchers discovered that consuming 50 grams of processed meat daily—about two slices of ham—correlates with a 15% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next decade. Similarly, eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat daily—roughly the size of a small steak—was linked to a 10% higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Regular consumption of 100 grams of poultry per day was associated with an 8% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, further analyses under various scenarios showed that the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes weakened, while the links to type 2 diabetes for processed meat and unprocessed red meat remained consistent.
Reference: Meat consumption and incident type 2 diabetes: A federated meta-analysis of 1.97 million adults with 100,000 incident cases from 31 cohorts in 20 countries. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 12(4), 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00179-7
How Smoking 1-2 Cigarettes a Day Affects Newborn Health
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health reveals that even smoking just 1-2 cigarettes a day, whether before or during pregnancy, is significantly linked to serious health issues in newborns.
According to the researchers, these findings underscore the importance for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to quit smoking in order to safeguard their baby's health. While advancements in maternity care have significantly reduced newborn deaths and serious health problems, neonatal intensive care unit admissions remain relatively common, and neurodevelopmental issues may continue into adulthood.
What is less understood is how the timing and extent of maternal cigarette smoking might impact the newborn. This is crucial because many women think it is acceptable to smoke before conception or during the first trimester, or that light smoking poses minimal risk, the researchers note.
Bottom of ForFor the analysis researchers included 12,150,535 mother-infant pairs from 2016 to 2019 and of these pairs, just over 9%, 7%, 6%, and just under 6% of the mums reported smoking cigarettes before pregnancy, and in the first, second, and third trimester, respectively. Smoking intensity was classified as 0, 1–2, 3–5, 6–9, 10–19, and 20 or more cigarettes/day.
The women who smoked had more risk factors for neonatal health issues which includes the requirement for assisted ventilation right after birth; assisted ventilation lasting more than 6 hours; admission to the NICU for ongoing mechanical ventilation; surfactant replacement therapy; suspected sepsis; and seizures or severe neurological problems.
The prevalence of all these issues was just under 9.5%.
If a mother smoked before becoming pregnant, the likelihood of her baby facing multiple significant health problems at birth increased by 27%. This risk rose to 31-32% if she smoked at any point during her pregnancy. Specifically, the risk of the baby needing admission to neonatal intensive care was 24% higher if the mother smoked before pregnancy and 30-32% higher if she smoked during pregnancy.
Even light smoking—1–2 cigarettes a day—was associated with a heightened risk of major neonatal health issues.
Reference: Maternal cigarette smoking before or during pregnancy increases the risk of severe neonatal morbidity after delivery: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort
study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2024-222259
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