Medical Bulletin 7/December/2022

A 2018 study uncovered an innate immune response triggered when bacteria is inhaled through the nose. The study also showed that the Extracellular Vesicle (EVs) shuttle protective antibacterial proteins through the mucus from the front of the nose to the back of it along the airway, which then protects other cells against the bacteria before it gets too far into the body.

Now researchers at Mass Eye and Ear and Northeastern University have discovered the previously unidentified immune response inside the nose that fights off viruses responsible for upper respiratory infections. Further testing revealed this protective response becomes inhibited in colder temperatures, making an infection more likely to occur.

Reference:

Benjamin S. Bleier et al,Cold exposure impairs extracellular vesicle swarm–mediated nasal antiviral immunity, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.09.037

A healthy lifestyle may prevent more than half of inflammatory bowel disease cases: Study

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD for short, affects an estimated 3 million adults in the US and another 1.3 million in Europe. And diagnoses have been increasing, particularly in newly industrialised countries.

Previously published research has linked IBD risk with several lifestyle factors, but it's not clear if adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle might lower the risk of developing the condition in the first place.

Reference:

Lifestyle factors for the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328174

Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods linked with Cognitive Decline: JAMA Neurology study

A higher percentage of daily consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with cognitive decline among adults from an ethnically diverse sample, according to a recent study published in JAMA Neurology.

Although the consumption of ultra-processed food has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, little is known about the association of the consumption of ultra-processed foods with cognitive decline.

Reference:

Gomes Gonçalves N, Vidal Ferreira N, Khandpur N, et al. Association Between Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Cognitive Decline. JAMA Neurol. Published online December 05, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4397

TAILORx trial's 12 years of recurrence and survival outcomes in more than 10,000 women with early breast cancer

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer with no spread to the lymph nodes accounts for about one-half of all new breast cancers in the United States each year.

Long-term recurrence and survival data are now available from the groundbreaking Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (Rx) or TAILORx trial. With 12 years of follow-up, the updated analysis confirms the original findings that chemotherapy has no benefit for a large proportion of women with early-stage breast cancer. In addition, the longer follow-up reveals unexpected information about late recurrences. There was also a higher risk of early recurrence in Black women.

Reference:

Joseph A. Sparano, et al,The TAILORx trial in over 10,000 women with early breast cancer reaches 12 years of recurrence and survival outcomes

ECOG-ACRIN CANCER RESEARCH GROUP