Medical Bulletin 9/August/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Key cause of restricted blood flow to the brain in vascular dementia discovered

Groundbreaking new research has uncovered a potential route to developing the first ever drug treatments for vascular dementia, that directly target a cause of the condition. The research, has shed light on how high blood pressure causes changes to arteries in the brain, a process that leads to the devastating condition.

The study, from researchers at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre at The University of Manchester, reveals that – in mice – high blood pressure disrupts messaging within artery cells in the brain. They found that this occurs when two cell structures, that normally help transmit messages that tell arteries to dilate, move further apart. This stops the messages reaching their target, which causes the arteries to remain permanently constricted, limiting blood flow to the brain.

Reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Uncoupling of Ca2+ sparks from BK channels in cerebral arteries underlies hypoperfusion in hypertension-induced vascular dementia. (doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307513120)

Study shows that mineralization of bone matrix regulates tumor cell growth

An interdisciplinary Cornell team has identified a new mechanism regulating tumor growth in the skeleton, the primary site of breast cancer metastasis: mineralization of the bone matrix, a fibrous mesh of organic and inorganic components that determines the unique biochemical and biomechanical properties of our skeleton.

A connection between reduced bone health and the behavior of tumor cells is well-established. For example, decreased bone-mineral density has been correlated with increased risk for metastasis, and incomplete fracture healing has been shown to enhance bone metastasis. However, no one had been able to isolate which specific role bone-matrix mineralization plays in this process.

Reference: Nature Biomedical Engineering, DOI 10.1038/s41551-023-01077-3 

Menstrual discs found to be best for heavy monthly blood flow

Amid widely differing capacities of available menstrual hygiene products, a menstrual disc—similar in shape to a diaphragm—may be best for dealing with heavy monthly blood flow as well as indicating excessive blood loss, suggests research published online in the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.

To strengthen the evidence base and help improve diagnostic accuracy, the researchers compared the absorbency/fillable capacity of 21 currently available and commonly used menstrual hygiene products, using human red blood cells.

Reference: Red blood cell capacity of modern menstrual products: considerations for assessing heavy menstrual bleeding, BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, DOI 10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-201895