Cancer cells have a notorious ability to multiply rapidly and spread easily throughout the body. One of the reasons they are so successful is their ability to undergo a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity, which makes them resistant to elimination by anticancer therapies. In an effort to find new ways to combat this resistance, researchers have been searching for newer anticancer agents that can target these “rogue” cancer cells.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Hideyuki Saya, Director of the Oncology Innovation Center at Fujita Health University in Japan, has made a groundbreaking discovery about the potential of benzaldehyde to halt therapy-resistant pancreatic cancer. This sweet-smelling molecule is responsible for the aroma of almonds, apricots, and figs, but it also has potent anticancer properties.

The researchers were driven by a desire to uncover the mechanism behind benzaldehyde’s anticancer effects, particularly after learning that one of their colleagues had demonstrated its potential back in the 1980s. The first author of the study, Dr. Jun Saito, was motivated by her parents’ pioneering work on benzaldehyde and its derivatives.

The team conducted extensive research using a mouse model grafted with growing pancreatic cancer cells. They found that benzaldehyde inhibited the growth of these cancer cells, even when they had become resistant to radiation therapy and treatment with osimertinib, an agent blocking tyrosine kinases in growth factor signaling.

Their findings revealed that benzaldehyde exerts its anticancer effects by preventing interactions between a key signaling protein called 14-3-3ζ and histone H3. This interaction is crucial for cancer cell survival and treatment resistance. By blocking this interaction, benzaldehyde reduced the expression of genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity.

The study also showed that benzaldehyde synergized with radiation therapy to eliminate previously resistant cancer cells. Furthermore, a derivative of benzaldehyde was found to inhibit the growth of pancreatic tumors and suppress epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity, preventing metastasis.

Dr. Saya’s team believes that their results suggest that inhibition of the interaction between 14-3-3ζ and its client proteins by benzaldehyde has the potential to overcome the problem of therapy resistance. This study opens up possibilities for using benzaldehyde as a combinatorial anticancer agent, alongside molecular-targeted therapies.

The implications of this research are significant, offering new hope for patients with therapy-resistant pancreatic cancer. Further studies will be necessary to confirm these findings and explore their potential applications in the clinic.

The diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often sparks controversy when it comes to adults. While originally developed for children, the diagnostic criteria can be difficult to apply in grown-ups. This is partly because the criteria are based on child behavior, and when diagnosing adults, these criteria rely heavily on subjective experiences such as difficulty concentrating or being impulsive.

A recent study from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil shed light on this issue, examining how 292 credible studies on ADHD diagnosed their adult subjects. The researchers found that half of the studies did not ensure a thorough diagnostic assessment before the trial to rule out other disorders like depression or schizophrenia. This methodological shortfall is problematic because it makes it impossible to know which disorders and symptoms the treatment investigated in these trials potentially had an effect on.

Moreover, over half of the studies included subjects who had already been diagnosed with other mental disorders, making the diagnosis even more challenging. The researchers pointed out that this lack of consistency in diagnostic assessment can make research results from many clinical trials difficult to utilize. Despite being considered particularly trustworthy, the results of these trials may inform guidelines used to treat adult ADHD patients.

The study’s findings emphasize the need for consistent and robust diagnoses in psychiatric research. One of the problems with the diagnostic assessment in many of the clinical trials was that it seemed to have been carried out by individuals without proper training or using methods that were not thorough enough. In some cases, the assessment and diagnosis were made by the subject themselves, or even with the help of a computer.

As Julie Nordgaard highlighted, “In psychiatry, we really need all diagnoses, not just ADHD, to be made with the same uniform criteria and by trained professionals.” This is especially crucial in situations where a diagnosis like adult ADHD is increasing. Without thorough diagnostic assessments, people may receive incorrect diagnoses, and thus, ineffective or unnecessary treatment that can cause side effects.

The study’s conclusion serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous methodology and consistency in psychiatric research. By prioritizing accurate diagnoses and thorough assessments, researchers can ensure that their findings are reliable and useful for informing guidelines and treatments for patients with complex mental health conditions like adult ADHD.

Synthetic storm: The Alarming Rise of THC, CBD, and SCs Vaping Among US Adolescents

Research has revealed that adolescent vaping of current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased between 2021 and 2023. This trend is particularly alarming given the lack of understanding about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed national trends of adolescent cannabis vaping from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2021, 2022, and 2023, comprising a total of 69,899 US middle and high school students (aged 11 to 18 years).

Lead investigator Jack Chung, BApsych (Hons), National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, and School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, says, “We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs from 2021 to 2023. THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase. Adolescents increasingly expressed uncertainty about the substances they were vaping; for example, uncertain respondents answering ‘don’t know’ if they have vaped SCs tripled across the years.”

In 2023, it is estimated that 7.4% (or 2.55 million) of US adolescents were currently vaping THC, while 2.9% (or 999,000) were vaping CBD, and 1.8% (or 620,000) were vaping SCs.

Individuals who vape cannabis exhibit more mental health symptoms compared to those who use traditional combustion methods of dry herbs and flowers. SCs are typically lab-synthesized to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids and often bind more strongly to brain receptors, leading to more intense and unpredictable health consequences.

Mr. Chung remarks, “One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs. This trend is particularly alarming given that these substances are often accessed through unregulated, illicit markets, where there are no safety standards or quality controls.”

Co-investigator Gary C.K. Chan, PhD, National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, adds, “We still know very little about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping, which makes it even more important to understand what’s in your vape.”

This study is one of the first to track national adolescent vaping prevalence of THC, CBD, and SCs independently, given that most recent studies categorized various cannabinoids vaping under the umbrella term “cannabis vaping,” despite their vastly different psychological and health effects.

Mr. Chung concludes, “Experimentation with substance use among teenagers is often driven by peer influence, curiosity, and a desire for social acceptance. This age group may also be increasingly exposed to cannabis-related marketing on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, as well as social media influencers and celebrities.”