Medical Bulletin 06/ May/ 2025 - Video

Patients suffering from depression, anxiety and trauma-related disorders experienced significant relief from their symptoms after a new treatment that uses sound waves to modulate deep brain activity, according to new research published in Molecular Psychiatry. The study shows that low-intensity focused ultrasound technology can safely and effectively target the amygdala -- a brain region known to be hyperactive in mood and anxiety disorders -- without surgery or invasive procedures.

In the double-blind study, 29 patients with various mood and anxiety disorders received MRI-guided focused ultrasound to the left amygdala.

The results showed both immediate reductions in amygdala activity, and after three weeks of daily sessions, patients experienced clinically significant improvements in negative affect and symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD.

"Participants showed marked improvements across a range of symptoms after just three weeks of daily treatments," said Gregory Fonzo, Ph.D., senior author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Dell Med.

"What makes this approach revolutionary is that it's the first time we've been able to directly modulate deep brain activity without invasive procedures or medications."

"For decades, the amygdala has been a target of interest, but access has required either brain surgery or indirect approaches through cortical stimulation," said Fonzo.

"This technology opens a new frontier in psychiatric treatment, potentially offering relief to patients who haven't responded to traditional therapies."

The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse events, suggesting a promising safety profile as researchers move toward larger clinical trials.

Reference: https://dellmed.utexas.edu/news/new-non-invasive-brain-stimulation-technique-shows-significant-reduction-in-depression-anxiety-and-ptsd-symptoms

A new study has revealed critical insights into how impaired mitochondrial dynamics and quality control mechanisms in skeletal muscle influence insulin sensitivity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The findings are published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. ​

The research team focused on the significance of deubiquitinating enzymes, or DUBs, in regulating mitochondrial dynamics within skeletal muscle.

Findings suggest that mitochondrial fragmentation can bypass defects in mitophagy, the process by which cells remove damaged mitochondria, to sustain skeletal muscle quality control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

This adaptation may help maintain mitochondrial function despite impaired mitophagy.​

In other words, the study shows that people with Type 2 Diabetes have fewer healthy mitochondria, the parts of the cell that produce energy, because a certain protein - dynamin-related protein 1, or DRP1 - is working too much.

In addition, another group of proteins - DUBs - are shown to interfere with a process that helps the body clean up damaged mitochondria.

This interference makes it harder for muscles to use insulin properly, which is a key issue in diabetes.

The research findings advance the understanding of how impaired mitochondrial dynamics and quality control may contribute to skeletal muscle insulin resistance and the manifestation of Type 2 Diabetes, and also provides key evidence that DUB antagonists may play an important role in preventing or treating Type 2 Diabetes.

"Our research team examined how certain enzymes affect mitochondria in muscle cells of people with diabetes," said Dr. Kirwan, Executive Director and George A. Bray, Jr. Endowed Super Chair in Nutrition at Pennington Biomedical. "We found that when the normal cleanup process for damaged mitochondria isn't working well, the cells adapt by breaking mitochondria into smaller pieces. This alternative approach helps maintain muscle function despite the metabolic challenges of Type 2 diabetes. Our study highlights the complex interplay between mitochondria and insulin, paving the way for future interventions aimed at improving metabolic health."

Reference: https://www.pbrc.edu//news/media/2025/journal-of-cachexia-sarcopenia-and-muscle.aspx

A recent study published in The Lancet eBioMedicine has revealed a strong association between exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)—a chemical widely used to make plastics more flexible—and heart disease-related deaths globally. The study, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, concluded that in 2018 alone, DEHP exposure contributed to an estimated 356,238 cardiovascular deaths among individuals aged 55 to 64. Notably, India bore the highest burden, accounting for nearly one-third of these global deaths, with 103,587 fatalities.

The researchers analysed urine biomarker data and environmental metrics from over 200 countries and territories to assess DEHP exposure levels and associated mortality. DEHP, commonly found in food containers, toys, shampoos, lotions, and medical equipment, has been linked to inflammation in heart arteries, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study highlighted that over 75 per cent of DEHP-related deaths occurred in regions such as Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific—areas where regulatory enforcement remains weak.

India's elevated mortality rate was attributed to rapid industrial expansion, heavy reliance on DEHP-containing products, and delayed policy actions. In contrast, nations like Canada, Australia, and the United States began implementing phthalate restrictions as early as 2008. China and India introduced measures much later, with India only recently incorporating DEHP restrictions into food packaging.

Beyond heart disease, DEHP exposure is also linked to obesity, diabetes, fertility issues, cancer, and premature birth. The economic fallout is immense, with estimated global costs ranging from $510 billion to $3.7 trillion annually. The researchers urged global regulatory action to limit DEHP use and encouraged individuals to reduce personal plastic exposure by avoiding products with vague labels and opting for safer alternatives through verified databases.

Reference: Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost, Hyman, Sara et al., eBioMedicine, Volume 0, Issue 0, 105730