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Diseases and Conditions

Unlocking the Mystery of Calciphylaxis: Researchers Identify Key Pathway Responsible for Rare and Serious Condition

The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising, with more than 800 million people affected worldwide. Vascular diseases in patients with CKD are unique and grouped as uremic vascular diseases. One of them, calciphylaxis, typically affects patients with end-stage, advanced kidney disease. It is a condition characterized by severe, painful and non-healing skin ulcers with no known cure. Researchers have now discovered a novel biological pathway, called the IL6 pathway, central to the skin lesion initiation and progression. Blocking this pathway they believe, will likely prevent progression of the skin ulcers and resolve the pain seen in patients with calciphylaxis.

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The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is growing at an alarming rate, affecting more than 800 million people worldwide. A unique aspect of vascular diseases in patients with CKD is the group known as uremic vascular diseases. One such condition, calciphylaxis, typically affects individuals with end-stage kidney disease and is characterized by severe, painful, and non-healing skin ulcers.

For the first time, researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, have made a groundbreaking discovery. They identified a novel biological pathway called the IL6 pathway as central to the initiation and progression of calciphylaxis. This breakthrough finding opens up new possibilities for treatment.

According to Dr. Vipul Chitalia, corresponding author and professor of medicine, “This study reveals a pathological cycle between fat under the skin, sweat glands, and small blood vessels that keeps feeding onto itself. If this cycle isn’t stopped and remains unchecked, it will lead to the skin ulcers that won’t heal.” Dr. Chitalia emphasizes that blocking the IL6 pathway may prevent progression of the skin ulcers and resolve pain in patients with calciphylaxis.

In their study, researchers analyzed human calciphylaxis skin and blood samples for proteins and genes to understand disease-causing mechanisms. They then applied an FDA-approved drug to see if the disease-causing pathway could be suppressed. The findings suggest that drugs already available can block this pathway, potentially preventing further progression of the condition.

While more research is needed to confirm these results in human trials, this discovery brings new hope for patients with calciphylaxis. As Dr. Jean Francis, co-author and associate professor of medicine, notes, “Those drugs are likely to prevent progression of the skin ulcers and resolve the pain that we see in patients with calciphylaxis.”

These findings have been published online in Science Translational Medicine, shedding light on a rare and serious condition. Further research is necessary to fully understand the implications of this discovery and to bring about effective treatments for patients with calciphylaxis.

Birth Control

A Safer, Cheaper Vision Correction Method May Be on the Horizon

Scientists are developing a surgery-free alternative to LASIK that reshapes the cornea using electricity instead of lasers. In rabbit tests, the method corrected vision in minutes without incisions.

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This revolutionary approach to vision correction is called electromechanical reshaping (EMR). This method utilizes electrical impulses to reshape the cornea, potentially providing a safer and more affordable alternative to traditional LASIK surgery. Researchers at Occidental College have made significant progress in this area, with initial studies demonstrating promising results on rabbit eyeballs.

The researchers’ innovative technique involves using platinum “contact lenses” that provide a template for the corrected shape of the cornea. By applying an electric potential to these contact lenses, they create a precise pH change within the tissue, loosening its rigidity and making it malleable. This enables them to reshape the cornea without any incisions or ablative procedures.

In their experiments on rabbit eyeballs, the team successfully reshaped the corneas of 12 separate specimens, 10 of which were treated as if they had myopia (nearsightedness). The treatment effectively corrected the focusing power of the eye in all “myopic” eyeballs. Moreover, the cells within the eyeball survived this procedure because the researchers carefully controlled the pH gradient.

The researchers emphasize that while these initial results are promising, their work is still in its early stages. They plan to conduct further animal studies and investigate the potential of EMR for treating a range of vision problems, including astigmatism, near- and far-sightedness. However, the team’s scientific funding uncertainties have put them on hold.

Despite these challenges, the researchers remain optimistic about the potential of this new technique. They believe that if successful, EMR could provide a widely applicable, vastly cheaper, and potentially even reversible method for vision correction, surpassing current treatments like LASIK.

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Children's Health

Uncovering the Inaccuracy: Why Common Blood Pressure Readings May Miss 30% of Hypertension Cases

Cambridge scientists have cracked the mystery of why cuff-based blood pressure monitors often give inaccurate readings, missing up to 30% of high blood pressure cases. By building a physical model that replicates real artery behavior, they discovered that low pressure below the cuff delays artery reopening, leading to underestimated systolic readings. Their work suggests that simple tweaks, like raising the arm before testing, could dramatically improve accuracy without the need for expensive new devices.

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The measurement of blood pressure has been a cornerstone of medical practice for decades. However, despite its widespread use, research suggests that common cuff-based blood pressure readings may be inaccurate and potentially miss up to 30% of hypertension cases.

A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has shed new light on this issue by building an experimental model that explains the physics behind these inaccuracies. Their findings, reported in the journal PNAS Nexus, have significant implications for patient health outcomes and highlight the need for more accurate measurement methods.

The auscultatory method, which relies on inflating a cuff around the upper arm to measure blood pressure, has long been considered the gold standard. However, this study reveals that it overestimates diastolic pressure while underestimating systolic pressure. The researchers attribute this discrepancy to a previously unidentified factor: the delayed reopening of arteries due to low downstream pressure.

To replicate this condition in their experimental rig, the Cambridge team used tubes that lay flat when deflated and fully closed when inflated with cuff pressure. This setup allowed them to study the effects of downstream blood pressure on artery closure and reopening, leading to a better understanding of the mechanics behind inaccurate readings.

The researchers propose several potential solutions to address this underestimation, including raising the arm before measurement to produce a predictable downstream pressure. This simple change does not require new devices but can make blood pressure measurements more accurate.

If new devices for monitoring blood pressure are developed, they may incorporate additional inputs that correlate with downstream pressure, such as age, BMI, or tissue characteristics, to adjust ‘ideal’ readings for each individual.

The study’s authors emphasize the need for clinical trials to test their findings in patients and collaborate with clinicians to implement changes to clinical practice. Funding from organizations like the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will be essential to support further research and development.

By uncovering the inaccuracies in common blood pressure readings, this study has significant implications for patient health outcomes and highlights the need for more accurate measurement methods. The proposed solutions have the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, ultimately saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.

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Allergy

“The Silent Invader: How a Parasitic Worm Evades Detection and What it Can Teach Us About Pain Relief”

Scientists have discovered a parasite that can sneak into your skin without you feeling a thing. The worm, Schistosoma mansoni, has evolved a way to switch off the body’s pain and itch signals, letting it invade undetected. By blocking certain nerve pathways, it avoids triggering the immune system’s alarms. This stealth tactic not only helps the worm survive, but could inspire new kinds of pain treatments and even preventative creams to protect people from infection.

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A new study published in The Journal of Immunology has made an intriguing discovery about how a parasitic worm evades detection and what it can teach us about pain relief. Researchers from Tulane School of Medicine found that the Schistosoma mansoni worm, which causes schistosomiasis, suppresses neurons in the skin to avoid triggering an immune response.

When this worm penetrates human skin, typically through contact with infested water, it produces molecules that block a protein called TRPV1+, which is responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. This clever mechanism allows the worm to infect the skin largely undetected.

The researchers believe that the S. mansoni worm evolved this strategy to enhance its own survival and found that blocking TRPV1+ also reduced disease severity in mice infected with the parasite. The study suggests that identifying the molecules responsible for suppressing TRPV1+ could lead to new painkillers that do not rely on opioids.

Moreover, the researchers discovered that TRPV1+ is essential for initiating host protection against S. mansoni infection. When this protein is activated, it triggers a rapid mobilization of immune cells, which induces inflammation and helps fight off the parasite. This finding highlights the critical role of neurons in pain-sensing and immune responses.

The study’s lead author, Dr. De’Broski R. Herbert, emphasizes that identifying these molecules could inform preventive treatments for schistosomiasis. He envisions a topical agent that activates TRPV1+ to prevent infection from contaminated water for individuals at risk of acquiring S. mansoni.

This groundbreaking research has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of pain relief and immune responses, offering new avenues for developing innovative therapies that could benefit millions worldwide.

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