Medical Bulletin 11/September/2025 - Video

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from Finland and the UK have provided the first convincing evidence that myocardial infarction—or heart attack—may be an infectious disease. This paradigm-shifting discovery challenges the long-held belief that heart attacks are caused solely by cholesterol buildup and inflammation and opens new pathways for diagnostics, treatment, and even vaccine development.

The collaborative research investigated the role of bacteria in coronary artery disease. The study used advanced molecular and imaging techniques on tissue samples collected from individuals who had died from sudden cardiac death and patients undergoing surgery for atherosclerosis.

The researchers found that atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries, long believed to be the primary culprits behind myocardial infarctions, can contain dormant bacterial biofilms. These gelatinous structures, composed of bacteria embedded in a self-produced matrix, are capable of surviving undetected in the body for years, shielded from both immune responses and antibiotics.

According to the study, an external trigger such as a viral infection may disturb the dormant biofilm, leading to bacterial proliferation and an immune system response. This inflammation can rupture the fibrous cap of a cholesterol-rich plaque, causing a thrombus (blood clot) that ultimately leads to a heart attack.

To validate their findings, the researchers developed a targeted antibody, which revealed biofilm structures in arterial tissues. In cases of myocardial infarction, bacteria released from the biofilm were detected and shown to have provoked inflammatory responses.

“Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking,” said Professor Karhunen, lead author of the study. “Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material – DNA – from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques.”

Reference: Pekka J. Karhunen, Tanja Pessi, Sohvi Hörkkö, Vesa Karhunen, Sirkka Goebeler, Anne‐Mari Louhelainen, Mika Martiskainen, Teppo Haapaniemi, Johanna Lappeteläinen, Tommi Ijäs, Leo‐Pekka Lyytikäinen, Emma Raitoharju, Thanos Sioris, Sari Tuomisto, Heini Huhtala, Chunguang Wang, Claudia Monaco, Niku Oksala, Terho Lehtimäki, Reijo Laaksonen. Viridans Streptococcal Biofilm Evades Immune Detection and Contributes to Inflammation and Rupture of Atherosclerotic Plaques. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2025; 14 (16) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.125.041521

Omega-3-Rich Diet Help Protect Children Against Nearsightedness: Study Finds

A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oils, may lower the risk of developing nearsightedness (myopia) in children, while a high intake of saturated fats may increase the risk, according to new research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The findings provide some of the first human evidence supporting a potential protective role for omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in eye development.

The prevalence of myopia is increasing globally, with projections suggesting that nearly half the world’s population could be affected by 2050.

Researchers studied 1,005 Chinese children aged 6 to 8 from the population-based Hong Kong Children Eye Study. Participants’ eyesight was measured alongside a detailed food frequency questionnaire completed by their parents, capturing intake from 280 food items. The study also accounted for lifestyle factors such as screen time, outdoor activity, and parental history of myopia.

Around 27.5% of the children were found to have myopia. Analysis showed that higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with shorter axial length, a key indicator of slower myopia progression and better spherical equivalent (SE) scores. In contrast, higher saturated fat intake correlated with longer axial length and worse spherical equivalent scores, suggesting a greater risk of nearsightedness.

“This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary ω-3 PUFA intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting ω-3 PUFAs as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development,” the researchers concluded.

They suggest omega-3s may improve blood flow in the eye's vascular layer, potentially preventing oxygen deficiency—a key driver in myopia development. Further research across diverse populations will be needed to validate these findings.

Reference: Xiu Juan Zhang, Yuzhou Zhang, You Juan Zhang, Jun Yu, Fang Yao Tang, Yi Li, Suey Yeung, Ka Wai Kam, Kunal Agrawal, Nicholas Chieh Loh, Patrick Ip, Ian CK Wong, Wei Zhang, Alvin L Young, Clement C Tham, Chi Pui Pang, Li Jia Chen, Jason C Yam. Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a protective factor of myopia: the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2025; bjo-2024-326872 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2024-326872

AI Model May Accurately Predict Kidney Failure Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

A study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University has shown that using integrated clinical and insurance claims data, analyzed through machine learning, deep learning, and explainable artificial intelligence (AI), can significantly improve the prediction of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, could help clinicians intervene earlier and reduce healthcare disparities and costs.

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition in which kidney function gradually declines over time. It affects 8% to 16% of the global population, and around 5% to 10% of those diagnosed ultimately reach end-stage renal disease, a life-threatening stage requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. Early identification of high-risk patients is critical.

To address this challenge, the researchers analyzed data from more than 10,000 chronic kidney disease patients between 2009 and 2018, combining electronic health records with insurance claims data. They tested a variety of predictive models over five different observation periods and found that integrated models consistently outperformed those using a single data source. A 24-month observation window was found to be optimal, offering a balance between early detection and predictive accuracy.

“Our study presents a robust framework for predicting end-stage renal disease outcomes, improving clinical decision-making through integrated multisourced data and advanced analytics,” said Rema Padman, professor at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College, who led the research. “Future research will expand data integration and extend this framework to other chronic diseases.”

The team also found that using the 2021 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation significantly improved prediction accuracy and reduced racial bias—particularly for African American patients.

Despite promising results, the researchers acknowledged some limitations, including the use of data from a single institution and potential observational bias in electronic health records.

Reference: Yubo Li, Rema Padman, Enhancing end-stage renal disease outcome prediction: a multisourced data-driven approach, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 2025;, ocaf118, https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaf118