Medical Bulletin 29/November/2025 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

New research links tattoos to increased melanoma skin cancer risk

Tattoos might seem like harmless self-expression, but could they secretly raise your skin cancer risk? A new Swedish study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found tattooed individuals had a 29% higher risk of melanoma—a deadly skin cancer tied to UV exposure—compared to those without tattoos.

Melanoma arises from pigment cells and spreads aggressively, unlike squamous cell carcinoma from surface skin cells, which is less severe. Both link to sun damage, but tattoos may trigger unique risks through ink particles migrating to lymph nodes, potentially causing chronic inflammation that fuels cancer.

Researchers conducted a case-control study using Sweden's national registries. They identified 2,880 melanoma cases (aged 20-60, diagnosed 2017) and 2,821 squamous cell carcinoma cases (2014-2017), matching each to three cancer-free controls by age and sex. Questionnaires went to participants, capturing tattoo details like presence, size, location, age, and timing relative to cancer diagnosis. Responses came from 5,695 in the melanoma arm and 6,151 in the squamous cell arm. Analyses adjusted for sun exposure, tanning beds, smoking, skin type, education, income, and more to minimize bias.

Tattooed people showed 29% higher melanoma odds, strongest for tattoos over 10 years old, though smaller sample sizes urge caution. No link emerged with squamous cell carcinoma, and tattoo size didn't amplify risk—surprising given more ink exposure.

Tattoo ink may not stay put; immune responses transport particles systemically, possibly sparking inflammation linked to cancer. While causation isn't proven and one study isn't definitive, those with tattoos should stay vigilant: use sunscreen, skip tanning, and monitor moles. Future research on ink types and UV interactions is crucial as tattoos grow mainstream.

REFERENCE: Emelie Rietz Liljedahl; Kari Nielsen; Malin Engfeldt; Anna Saxne Jöud; Christel Nielsen; Does tattoo exposure increase the risk of cutaneous melanoma? A population-based case-control study; European Journal of Epidemiology, 2025; DOI: 10.1007/s10654-025-01326-6

Indian scientists identify rare gene mutation causing recurrent neurological disorders in children

Indian scientists from Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, have uncovered a rare USP18 gene mutation causing repeated brain problems in kids, bringing India's first case of this ultra-rare disorder to light.

This breakthrough, published in Clinical Dysmorphology, spotlights Pseudo-TORCH syndrome type 2—a genetic condition mimicking brain infections but without germs. Previously known in just 11 cases worldwide, it now has an Indian footprint thanks to teams from Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Ramjas College (Delhi University), and Redcliffe Labs.

Pseudo-TORCH syndrome type 2 tricks doctors because symptoms like seizures, developmental delays, small head size (microcephaly), and brain calcium buildup look like infections from birth. But it's genetic: the USP18 gene normally keeps the immune system in check to avoid over-inflammation. A faulty gene makes immunity hyperactive, attacking the brain during fevers and causing recurrent decline.

The discovery came from an 11-year-old girl with lifelong issues—fever-triggered unconsciousness (febrile encephalopathy), seizures, slow growth, and worsening brain scans showing calcium deposits. After years of mystery, doctors used exome sequencing (scanning most genes) plus mitochondrial DNA checks.

This revealed a new mutation: c.358C>T (p.Pro120Ser). Parents carried one faulty copy each (heterozygous), confirming inheritance. This change weakens the USP18 protein, unleashing uncontrolled inflammation.

This is the first USP18 case with repeated fever-brain attacks, expanding global knowledge. Early genetic tests like exome sequencing can now diagnose quickly, skip wrong infection treatments, and focus on immune control.

Experts like Dr. Vykuntaraju K. Gowda and Dr. Himani Pandey stress this advances precision medicine in India. It gives families answers, guides care, and pushes genomic testing for unexplained kid brain issues—potentially saving lives through targeted therapies.

REFERENCE: Gowda, Vykuntaraju K.a,*; Srinivasan, Varunvenkat M.b,*; Varghese, Archanaa; Kinhal, Uddhava V.a; Pandey, Himanic; Lal, Devid. USP18 gene mutation associated with recurrent encephalopathy, intracranial calcification, and microcephaly: case report, long-term follow-up, and literature review. Clinical Dysmorphology ():10.1097/MCD.0000000000000538, August 15, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/MCD.0000000000000538

Study reveals hidden metabolic impacts of soybean oil consumption

Soybean oil, the world’s most widely used cooking oil and common in processed foods, may contribute to obesity, according to a study from the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

The research, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, explores why diets high in soybean oil cause weight gain in mice and uncovers a key liver protein’s role in this process.

Soybean oil is rich in linoleic acid—a fatty acid converted inside the body into oxylipins, which are linked to inflammation and fat accumulation. Previous studies showed soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, but this study reveals it’s not the oil itself or linoleic acid alone that’s problematic—it's what obesity-causing fat turns into in the body.

Researchers fed normal mice and genetically engineered mice high-fat diets rich in soybean oil. While most normal mice gained weight and developed fatty livers, the engineered mice remained lean and liver-healthy. These modified mice produced a variant of the liver protein HNF4α, which changes how the body metabolizes linoleic acid, reducing oxylipin formation. Oxylipins were found necessary for weight gain in normal mice but were lower in engineered mice.

Interestingly, mice on low-fat diets with elevated oxylipins didn’t gain weight, indicating oxylipins alone aren’t enough to cause obesity—other metabolic factors contribute too. The study also found that blood oxylipin levels don’t reliably indicate early obesity; only liver oxylipins correlated with body weight, suggesting common blood tests may miss early signs.

Soybean oil consumption in the U.S. has increased fivefold over the past century, now making up nearly 10% of calories. Though free of cholesterol, soybean oil has been linked to higher cholesterol levels in mice and may promote metabolic diseases due to excessive linoleic acid intake, especially from processed foods.

The team plans to investigate whether other oils high in linoleic acid—like corn and sunflower oils—affect weight similarly. They caution that while soybean oil isn’t inherently harmful, modern consumption levels exceed what our bodies evolved to handle, triggering harmful metabolic pathways. These findings could influence future nutrition policies aimed at reducing chronic metabolic diseases.

REFERENCE: Deol, P., et al. (2025). P2-HNF4α Alters Linoleic Acid Metabolism and Mitigates Soybean Oil-Induced Obesity: Role for Oxylipins. Journal of Lipid Research. doi: 10.1016/j.jlr.2025.100932. Journal of Lipid Research. https://www.jlr.org/article/S0022-2275(25)00195-6/fulltext