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Gut Bacteria at MS Diagnosis May Predict Disease Course, Study Suggests

Gut Bacteria at MS Diagnosis May Predict Disease Course, Study Suggests

A recent study indicates that the composition of gut bacteria at the time of a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis could provide early insights into how the disease will progress. Researchers observed significant differences in the overall gut microbiome between newly diagnosed MS patients and healthy individuals. They also identified specific bacterial patterns linked to MRI features associated with a less favorable MS prognosis. These features include a high lesion burden, the presence of spinal cord lesions, infratentorial lesions (affecting lower brain parts), and active inflammatory lesions. The study, published in eBioMedicine, analyzed stool samples from 53 adults with MS and 55 healthy controls, all newly diagnosed and not yet on disease-modifying therapies. The findings suggest that gut microbial profiling could serve as an early prognostic biomarker for MS, potentially aiding in identifying patients at higher risk of a negative disease course.

Mizzou Alum John Ruth Drives $10 Million State Investment for Rare Disease Research, Establishes Center for Translational Neurogenetics

Mizzou Alum John Ruth Drives $10 Million State Investment for Rare Disease Research, Establishes Center for Translational Neurogenetics

John Ruth, a University of Missouri (Mizzou) alumnus, has spearheaded a significant initiative resulting in a $10 million investment from the state of Missouri to fund research into rare genetic disorders. This funding has led to the establishment of the Center for Translational Neurogenetics (CTN) at Mizzou. Ruth's advocacy was motivated by his daughter, Kamdyn, who was diagnosed with Baker-Gordon Syndrome, an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by an SYT1 gene mutation. Through the Genetic Autism Alliance, an independent nonprofit he founded, Ruth championed the cause for increased research into such conditions, which often lack private industry investment due to their rarity. Mizzou researchers at the CTN have already developed a gene-editing technique called CRISPR-SWITCH, creating a preclinical model of Baker-Gordon Syndrome that more accurately reflects the human condition, offering new avenues for study and potential therapeutic development.

University of Colorado Anschutz Researchers Link Exosomes to Lingering Shingles Pain

University of Colorado Anschutz Researchers Link Exosomes to Lingering Shingles Pain

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz have identified extracellular vesicles, known as exosomes, as a likely cause of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the persistent pain some individuals experience after a shingles infection. The study, led by Andrew Bubak, PhD, found that even after the varicella zoster virus (VZV) has cleared the body, exosomes released by nerve cells continue to transmit inflammatory signals. When healthy nerve cells were exposed to exosomes from PHN patients, they exhibited similar harmful changes seen during viral infection, despite the absence of the virus. This suggests that PHN may arise from a 'failure-to-resolve' model, where the body's healing response remains active, preventing nerves from recovering normally. The findings, published in *Annals of Neurology*, indicate that these exosomes sustain a state of inflammation and abnormal nerve remodeling, contributing to chronic pain.

UC San Diego Researchers Identify Antibody Potentially Protecting Brain After Traumatic Brain Injury

UC San Diego Researchers Identify Antibody Potentially Protecting Brain After Traumatic Brain Injury

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System have identified a naturally occurring antibody, anti-NMDAR1, that may protect individuals from developing depression and PTSD symptoms following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, analyzed blood samples and psychiatric assessments from 1,025 active-duty U.S. Marines before and after a seven-month combat deployment to Afghanistan between 2011 and 2013. The findings indicate that Marines with higher levels of this antibody had a significantly lower risk of developing depression and PTSD symptoms after experiencing a TBI. Specifically, participants with a lifetime history of TBI who were in the top quarter for natural anti-NMDAR1 antibody levels showed approximately 25% lower depression symptom scores and 22% lower PTSD symptom scores post-deployment compared to those with lower levels. These individuals were also less likely to report moderate-to...

Banner Health Generates $12 Billion Annual Economic Impact Across Six States

Banner Health Generates $12 Billion Annual Economic Impact Across Six States

Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the U.S., is a significant economic driver, generating an estimated $12 billion in annual economic impact across the six states it serves. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Banner Health operates 33 hospital locations and over 400 outpatient sites, employing nearly 60,000 team members. As Arizona's largest healthcare provider and private employer, the organization supports a total of 140,000 jobs. Its operations extend to California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. The health system reinvests all earnings back into the community, focusing on increasing access to healthcare in rural areas, funding life-saving research, and training future healthcare professionals. This commitment includes providing mobile mammography services, healthcare for uninsured children, and support for cancer patients' housing needs.

Researchers Develop Part-Human, Part-Mouse Brains for Disease Study, Raising Ethical Questions

Researchers Develop Part-Human, Part-Mouse Brains for Disease Study, Raising Ethical Questions

Recent advancements in neuroscience have led to the creation of part-human, part-mouse brains. Researchers have genetically engineered mice to lack their own cerebral cortex and subsequently implanted human brain cells into these mice. This innovative approach aims to provide a more accurate model for studying human-specific psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases, which are difficult to research using traditional animal models or lab-grown organoids alone. The human cells are integrated into the mouse brain, forming connections and developing in a more natural environment than a petri dish. This method allows scientists to observe how human neurons function and interact within a living system, offering new insights into complex brain conditions.

US regulators examine testosterone therapy for women as experts debate evidence, safety

US regulators examine testosterone therapy for women as experts debate evidence, safety

By Siddhi Mahatole and Padmanabhan Ananthan Sept 17 (Reuters) - US health regulators weighing testosterone use in menopausal women at a public meeting on Thursday were told by some experts that a female-specific product was needed while others pointed to gaps in evidence on the hormone's broader

New Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Poorer Attention and Increased Dementia Risk

New Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Poorer Attention and Increased Dementia Risk

A recent study has found an association between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and poorer attention, as well as increased estimated dementia risk scores. Dr. Darren Gitelman, a behavioral neurologist and senior medical director of Advocate Memory Center at Advocate Health Care, emphasized that while the study does not definitively prove causation, it contributes to a growing body of research exploring the impact of diet on brain health. Ultra-processed foods are defined as industrially produced items containing ingredients not typically used in home cooking, such as artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Examples include many packaged snacks, sugary drinks, frozen meals, and processed meats. In the study, ultra-processed foods constituted approximately 41% of participants' daily caloric intake. Notably, even individuals who largely adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet exhibited poorer attention scores when their consumption of ultra-processed foods was higher. Dr. Gitelman...

University of California San Diego Researchers Identify Natural Antibody Protecting Against Psychiatric Symptoms After Traumatic Brain Injury

University of California San Diego Researchers Identify Natural Antibody Protecting Against Psychiatric Symptoms After Traumatic Brain Injury

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System have identified a naturally occurring antibody, anti-NMDAR1, that may protect against the development of depression and PTSD symptoms following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, analyzed blood samples and psychiatric assessments from 1,025 U.S. Marines before and after a seven-month combat deployment to Afghanistan between 2011 and 2013. They found that Marines with higher levels of this antibody had a significantly lower risk of developing depression and PTSD symptoms after deployment, with approximately 25% lower depression scores and 22% lower PTSD scores among those in the top quarter for antibody levels. These individuals were also less likely to report moderate-to-severe depression and used fewer psychiatric medications. The antibodies were detectable in blood for over a year, suggesting a relatively long-term protective trait. This rese...

Siensmetrica Appoints Former Wiley CEO Brian Napack to Advisory Board to Enhance AI-Powered Biomedical Research Evaluation

Siensmetrica Appoints Former Wiley CEO Brian Napack to Advisory Board to Enhance AI-Powered Biomedical Research Evaluation

Siensmetrica Appoints Former Wiley CEO Brian Napack to Advisory Board to Enhance AI-Powered Biomedical Research Evaluation

Fructose May Uniquely Harm Metabolism, Promoting Fat Production and Storage

Fructose May Uniquely Harm Metabolism, Promoting Fat Production and Storage

A new report published in Nature Metabolism indicates that fructose, a common sugar found in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, may uniquely harm metabolism by promoting fat production and storage. Unlike glucose, fructose bypasses key regulatory steps in the body's energy-processing pathways. This can lead to increased fat synthesis in the liver, elevated blood triglyceride levels, and reduced insulin sensitivity. The research suggests that the body responds to fructose as a metabolic signal to store fat, a mechanism that was beneficial during periods of food scarcity but contributes to chronic disease in today's environment of constant food availability. Concentrated sources of fructose, such as those in sodas, sweetened beverages, and many processed foods, are highlighted as particular concerns, rather than fructose found naturally in whole fruits which come with fiber and nutrients.

$1.1 billion from Nike co-founder will build Oregon’s first women’s hospital

$1.1 billion from Nike co-founder will build Oregon’s first women’s hospital

Phil and Penny Knight have committed $1.1 billion to build Oregon's first hospital dedicated to women's health at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center