Tag Archives: medicine

Americans Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine for Advancements in Understanding the Human Immune System

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Three distinguished scientists (two from the U.S. and one from Japan) have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their pivotal discovery related to peripheral immune resistance.

Mary E. Blankku, Fred Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi Shiko were jointly recognized for their breakthrough that “has invigorated the field of peripheral tolerance and contributed to the advancement of medical treatments for cancer and autoimmune disorders,” as stated in a news release by the Nobel Committee. The three recipients will share a prize of 11 million Swedish Kronor (approximately $1.2 million).

“This could also enhance the success rates of organ transplants. Several of these therapies are currently in clinical trials,” he noted.

Autoimmune diseases may arise when T cells, which serve as the body’s main defense against harmful pathogens, malfunction.

Their collective discovery establishes an essential foundation for understanding alternative methods by which the immune system, known as peripheral resistance, functions.

To mitigate damage, our bodies attempt to eliminate malfunctioning T cells within the thymus, a lymphoid organ, through a mechanism termed central resistance. Associated Press.

The groundbreaking research began in 1995 when Sakaguchi, a prominent professor at the Center for Immunology Frontier Research at Osaka University in Japan, uncovered a previously unknown class of immune cells that defend against autoimmune diseases.

Six years later, in 2001, Mary Blankku, who now serves as a senior program manager at the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle, along with Ramsdell, a scientific advisor to Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco, identified a specific genetic mutation responsible for a severe autoimmune disease known as IPEX.

They designated this gene as foxp3.

By 2003, Sakaguchi confirmed that the FOXP3 gene he had identified nearly a decade prior was crucial for cell development. These cells are now referred to as regulatory T cells, which are essential in monitoring other T cells to prevent their malfunction.

“Their discoveries were vital for understanding the immune system’s functioning and why serious autoimmune diseases don’t affect everyone,” remarked All Kampe, Chairman of the Nobel Committee.

Nobel Committee Executive Director Thomas Perman announced the award on Monday morning, stating that he was only able to reach Sakaguchi.

“I hugged him in his lab, and he expressed immense gratitude, stating it was a tremendous honor. He was quite moved by the news,” Perman mentioned.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 10th, coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, a Swedish industrialist who founded the award to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to humanity. The inaugural award was revealed in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of his passing.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will be announced in Stockholm at the Karolinska Institute on Monday, followed by the prizes for Physics, Chemistry, and Literature on the ensuing days.

The Nobel Peace Prize will be revealed on Friday.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Trio for Contributions to Immune Resistance

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Mary Blankku, Fred Ramsdell, and Sato Shimajimajima have been announced as winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine by Committee Executive Director Thomas Perman.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three groundbreaking researchers: Mary Blank, Fred Ramsdel, and Shimon Sakaguchi. They have made significant discoveries regarding a unique type of immune cell that prevents the immune system from attacking its own body.

“We have opened up an entirely new area in immunology,” stated Marie Warren Hellenius from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

T cells, a type of immune cell, are crucial for detecting and neutralizing harmful viruses and bacteria. These cells are continuously produced throughout a person’s life.

At times, newly formed T cell receptors may mistakenly target the body’s own proteins instead of those from viruses or bacteria, resulting in autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

The body possesses mechanisms to eliminate autoreactive T cells, with newly generated ones migrating to the thymus for evaluation. This has long been believed to be the sole process for the removal of self-targeting T cells.

Yet in 1995, Sakaguchi, now at Osaka University, demonstrated through a mouse study that other circulating cells in the bloodstream must provide some form of protection against autoreactive T cells. When the thymus is removed post-birth, mice develop autoimmune conditions; however, this outcome is averted when healthy T cells are introduced. His research identified that these particular T cells feature the CD25 protein on their surface, thereby classifying them as CD25-regulated T cells.

Meanwhile, Blankku, currently affiliated with the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle, and Ramsdell, who advises Sonoma Bitherapeutics in San Francisco, studied mouse strains predisposed to autoimmune diseases. In 2001, Brunkow and Ramsdell identified that these mice possess mutations in a gene located on the X chromosome, specifically FOXP3.

Individuals with mutations in this gene are particularly susceptible to autoimmune disorders due to a condition known as IPEX syndrome. In 2003, Sakaguchi connected these findings, showing that the FOXP3 gene is integral to the development of the CD25-regulated cells his team had identified. Many researchers previously remained skeptical of Sakaguchi’s assertions, according to Warren Hellenius. However, the findings from Brunkow and Ramsdell solidified the case.

The discovery of regulatory T cells could pave the way for improved treatments across a variety of conditions. Increasing the presence of regulatory T cells may help mitigate autoimmune responses that lead to diseases like type 1 diabetes. Conversely, reducing these cells can amplify the immune system’s response against cancer. Numerous clinical trials are currently being conducted.

“Their discoveries have been fundamental in understanding the workings of the immune system and explaining why serious autoimmune diseases don’t universally develop,” remarked Orkenpe, the chairman of the Nobel Committee, in a statement.

Topics:

  • Immune system/
  • Nobel Prize

Source: www.newscientist.com

Doctors Believe Kennedy’s Proposal for Nutrition Education in Medicine is Sound in Theory

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is advocating for enhanced nutrition education for doctors.

On Wednesday, he revealed that a specialized team within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will address the “serious lack of nutrition education in medicine.” Their aim is to significantly incorporate nutrition into the medical curriculum, licensing exams, residency training, board accreditation, and continuing education requirements for physicians.

“We can reverse the chronic disease epidemic by simply modifying our diet and lifestyle, but for that to happen, nutrition must be an essential part of every physician’s training,” Kennedy stated. Watch the video on X. “We’ll initiate this by integrating nutrition into the pre-med programs at universities and assessing it through the MCAT.”

This shift includes cutting vaccine research and reducing federal health agencies as Kennedy makes more controversial decisions to reform American public health.

HHS did not answer specific inquiries but highlighted an NBC News press release.

The department has instructed medical education institutions to present written plans for integrating nutrition education by September 10th. The American Association of Medical Colleges has established the Medical College Entrance Examination (MCAT), which sets coursework requirements or recommendations that pre-med students should follow.

Numerous doctors commended the announcement, acknowledging nutrition’s vital role in managing and preventing chronic diseases. Kennedy’s personal commitment aims to elevate the importance of the policies he championed upon taking office. However, while some worry about insufficient time for nutritional counseling, HHS advocates believe it is preferable to bolster hospital staffing with nutritionists or enhance counseling coverage. Others contend that Kennedy’s announcement could undermine trust in physicians and raise concerns about their patient care capabilities.

In June, Texas and Louisiana enacted laws aligning with Kennedy’s proposed medical education reforms. In Texas, physicians must complete nutrition courses to renew their licenses, while medical schools are required to include nutrition education to access certain public funds. Louisiana mandates that some doctors undergo at least one hour of continuing education in nutrition every four years.

Dr. Natewood, a primary care physician at Yale School of Medicine and director of culinary medicine, endorsed the need for doctors to be well-trained in nutrition. However, he questioned whether this approach is the most effective means of addressing chronic diseases.

“It’s somewhat short-sighted to assume that providing nutritional counseling is the solution to this chronic disease crisis,” he asserted.

“Many appointments are for sick patients who seek quick solutions to multiple complex issues,” Wood added.

In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Kennedy expressed concern that healthcare providers tend to “overlook” nutrition education requirements. He referenced a 2022 Journal of Wellness Survey, which indicated that medical students receive less than one hour of formal nutrition training annually. He also cited findings from Nutrition for Journal’s Research Advances in 2024, reporting that 75% of U.S. medical schools require coursework in clinical nutrition.

Previously, Kennedy proposed withholding funds from medical schools lacking nutrition courses.

“This motivated me to enter this field, as nutrition is a primary health factor for many of my patients, yet it was largely absent from my education.”

He expressed support for Kennedy’s policy initiatives regarding nutrition education in medicine.

“The federal government is essentially stating, ‘If you’re not fulfilling your duties—if you’re not training your doctors accordingly—we’ll halt funding.’ And they will heed that warning,” Mozaffarian remarked.

However, the American Association of Medical Colleges contends that medical students do receive training on dietary impacts on health. According to their recent surveys of U.S. and Canadian medical schools, all 182 institutions now include nutrition as a crucial aspect of the curriculum, up from 89% five years ago.

“The School of Medicine acknowledges the significant role nutrition has in preventing, managing, and treating chronic health conditions, and thus incorporates essential nutrition education into the core curriculum,” stated AAMC Chief Academic Officer Alison Wehrran.

Kennedy’s appeal for enhanced nutrition education has ignited discussions about the realistic expectations patients can have from primary care physicians.

Mozaffarian emphasized that the aim is not to transform doctors into nutritionists, but to equip patients with the knowledge needed to identify dietary concerns and refer them to specialists.

Conversely, Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, believed that physicians already possess this foundational knowledge.

“I am not uninformed about nutrition; that’s the implication,” he remarked.

Scott pointed out that malnutrition in the U.S. is not solely due to a lack of awareness regarding healthier food choices; it’s also a consequence of systemic barriers, such as lack of affordable healthcare or limited access to healthy food options. Approximately 18.8 million people in the U.S. live in food deserts, which are low-income areas far from grocery stores.

“There are numerous creative and feasible solutions, but if I were leading HHS, this medical education requirement would be the least of my priorities,” he commented.

Wood suggested that a more effective approach would be to advocate for increased access to nutritionists covered by insurance. For instance, while Medicare may cover these services, it usually requires patients to have diabetes or develop kidney disease. Coverage may vary for private insurances and Medicaid patients, he noted.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Nature is Medicine at This Hawaii Clinic

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50 states, 50 revisions

The air is filled with birds chirping, and the land is a tableau of soft greenery and gentle light. This is Ho’oulu ‘āina, a 100-acre reserve with an unusual twist. It is linked to a community health center and is where patients come to heal the land and themselves.

As climate change accelerates and the Trump administration abandons the fight, Ho’oulu ‘āina is an example of how people in all 50 red and blue states are working to restore land, clean waterways, reduce pollution and protect wildlife.

50 states, 50 revisions This is a series about local solutions to environmental issues. I’ll come more this year.

Twenty years ago, Ho’oulu ‘āina was ignored and overrunned with trash and invasive plants. But today it is thriving.

And then, volunteers and patients who spent a long time there, removing non-enemous plants and growing vegetables, fruits and herbs, experienced body and soul recovery.

There is Growing research It shows that spending time in nature can improve mental, physical and cognitive health.

Older people who once relied on canes and pedestrians have regained some mobility. Diabetics have seen their glucose levels drop. The depressed teens woke up brightly. In Hawaiian, the name Ho’oulu ‘āina means “growing for the land.”

“Many people within the health centre saw the land as a way and a kind of tool to improve human health,” said Puni Jackson, program director at Ho’oulu ‘āina. But for the native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who make up the majority of clinic patients, the connection to nature is both familial and profound, Jackson said. “It’s a sacred relationship,” she said.

Ho’oulu ‘āina is a 10-minute drive from the clinic, a bushy road, crossing a wooden bridge, above a rugged dirt driveway leading to grassy fields adjacent to the forest. The land features bread and banana trees, medicinal plants and taro, organic gardens, low-haired buildings, and a small pharmacist who watches patients by Jackson, an indigenous medical practitioner of Hawaii.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Exploring the Future of Forensic Medicine: Blood Droplets in Microgravity

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High blood splatter

“Get ready!” This immortal motto of the Scout movement will come to the mind of many readers who read the paper “Dynamics of bloodstain patterns in microgravity environment: Pilot study observations on the next frontier of forensic medicine.”

Reader Sarah Rosenbaum flagged feedback on the study’s first clearly stated purpose: “Investigating the ultimate violent criminal acts that occur outside of the global environment.”

This is the most futuristic forensic science. “It’s almost here.” The most effective approach is joint criminal investigation between the United Kingdom and the United States. The researchers are from Staffordshire University and Hull University in the UK, and the University of Louisville in Kentucky and Roswell Police in Georgia in the US.

“We hypothesize that the calculated impact angles would be more accurate if gravity were removed as a force acting on the blood droplet in flight,” they write.

They performed tests, or rather flew, aboard a parabolic flight research airplane that took off and landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Fort Lauderdale, like many cities in Florida, is no stranger to blood splatter. We see a steady increase in the number of violent crimes According to statistics reported by the local police department’s crime analysis department, it will occur between 2020 and 2023.)

In the experiment, “a 1 cc syringe containing a blood analogue was used to inject the liquid onto a flight path approximately 20 cm long, which was intercepted by a 16.5 cm x 16.5 cm target.” [made of] Fifty pound paper adhered to foam board backing.

The study found that droplets that hit paper at a 90-degree angle behaved as predicted by the traditional forensic blood droplet equation. But while this is a blood-stirring challenge for forensic scientists and true crime enthusiasts alike, someone needs to come up with a better equation for predicting what will happen from the other angle.

Thinking: Inside the box

Seeing sometimes leads to believing. Feeling, hearing, and reasoning are equally powerful when combined.

Shorey Croom, Hanbei Chow, and Chaz Firestone of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, explain this in the magazine. PNAS How did they try to answer the question “?” “Can you tell what another person is trying to learn just by observing their movements?”

They filmed a volunteer shaking an opaque box and attempting to measure i) the number of objects hidden inside, or ii) the shape of the objects inside. He then asked others to watch the video and tried to determine “who is shaking because of the numbers and who is shaking because of the shapes.” Most observers were pretty good at recognizing who was shaking and why.

Back in 2017, Milte Plesier of Delft University in the Netherlands and Jeroen Smeets of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam spoke to attendees of the IEEE World Haptics Conference in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, about a project they called “How many objects are in this box?”

Their method was simple. “We investigated how accurately participants could determine the number of wooden balls inside a box by shaking it.” They found that while they were able to perform the task accurately, they systematically underestimated the number of more spheres. The larger numbers they tested were 4 and 5. The situation with larger quantities remains theoretically unknown.

stick to fruit

Many scientists will not be able to determine whether the metal sticks to the fruit.

Generally speaking, if properly persuaded, they will. News about this can be found at “Reversibly attaching metals and graphite to hydrogels and tissues” by Wenhao Xu, Faraz Burni, and Srinivasa Raghavan of the University of Maryland.

writing in diary ACS Central Science “We have discovered that hard conductors (such as metals and graphite) can be bonded to soft aqueous materials (such as hydrogels, fruit, and animal tissue) without the use of adhesives.” The adhesion is caused by a low direct current electric field… [This] It can also be achieved underwater, where normal adhesives cannot be used.

“The experiment is very simple,” the study says, anticipating that many people would be surprised by such a simple, hitherto essentially unknown effect.

Accidental genital glow

Faraz Alam sent us the results of his research with colleagues at Imperial College London, published in the journal 2013. PLoS One “This is the paper on which I accidentally made my genitals glow in the dark.” The title is “Non-invasive monitoring of Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine efficacy using intravital optical imaging”. Those reproductive organs belonged to mice.

This spurred feedback that reminded me of a paper on humans published in 1950 by P. A. MacDonald and M. Sidney Margolese. Obstetrics and gynecology questionnaire. They called it “Luminous phenomenon of female external genitalia”.

These are both examples of how scientists perceive the wonders of biology.

Mark Abrahams hosted the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founded the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Previously, he was working on unusual uses of computers.his website is impossible.com.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Breakthrough in Personalized Medicine: Mini Organs Grown from Fetal Tissue by Scientists

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A new breakthrough in medical research could lead to personalized therapy for babies in the womb. Scientists have successfully grown small organs, known as organoids, from fetuses for the first time. This allows for monitoring the health of the fetus by cloning its organs.

Organoids are complex 3D models of organs made from human cells, retaining the DNA of the original cells, in this case, amniotic fluid cells. These organoids mimic human tissue and provide a more detailed view of any malformations compared to traditional imaging techniques like MRI or ultrasound.

Developed by researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), this new technology enables a functional assessment of a baby’s congenital condition before birth. This groundbreaking method does not involve access to fetal tissue and is a significant advancement in prenatal diagnosis.

Lead author Dr. Mattia Gerli highlights the potential of organoids to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry and clinics, particularly in fetal development. The study focuses on utilizing amniotic fluid cells to create organoids for prenatal medicine.

Growth process of mini organs

The process involves extracting cells from amniotic fluid, identifying tissue-specific stem cells, and culturing them to form organoids such as lungs, intestines, and kidneys. These organoids show similar functions and gene expressions to the corresponding organs.

In a study comparing organoids from infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia to healthy infants, researchers found that treatments could be monitored at the cellular level. This breakthrough enables more information for parents during early pregnancy and expands research in fetal development beyond legal limitations.

Gerli emphasizes the potential of organoids in studying human development and advancing prenatal medicine. This innovation opens up a new field of research that was previously limited due to legal restrictions on fetal sampling.

The future of personalized therapy for babies in the womb looks promising with the use of organoids in medical research and fetal diagnosis.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com