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Time of India
13-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Heart rhythm disorder traces to bacterium lurking in gums: Study
Tokyo: New research shows that the gum disease bacterium P. gingivalis can slip into the bloodstream and infiltrate the heart. There, it quietly drives scar tissue buildup -- distorting the heart's architecture, disrupting electrical signals, and raising the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Clinicians have long noticed that people with periodontitis, a common form of gum disease, seem more prone to cardiovascular problems. One recent meta-analysis has linked it to a 30% higher risk of developing AFib, a potentially serious heart rhythm disorder that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other life-threatening complications. Globally, AFib cases nearly doubled in under a decade, rising from 33.5 million in 2010 to roughly 60 million by 2019. Now, scientific curiosity is mounting in how gum disease might be contributing to that surge. Researchers have discovered DNA from harmful oral bacteria in heart muscle, valves, and even fatty arterial plaques. Among them, P. gingivalis has drawn particular scrutiny for its suspected role in a growing list of systemic diseases, including Alzheimer's, diabetes, and certain cancers. It has previously been detected in the brain, liver, and placenta. But how it manages to take hold in the heart has been unclear. This study, published in Circulation, provides the first clear evidence that P. gingivalis in the gums can worm its way into the left atrium in both animal models and humans, pointing to a potential microbial pathway linking periodontitis to AFib. "The causal relationship between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation is still unknown, but the spread of periodontal bacteria through the bloodstream may connect these conditions," said study first author Shunsuke Miyauchi, assistant professor at HU's Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences. "Among various periodontal bacteria, P. gingivalis is highly pathogenic to periodontitis and some systemic diseases outside the oral cavity. In this study, we have addressed these two key questions: Does P. gingivalis translocate to the left atrium from the periodontitis lesion? And if so, does it induce the progression of atrial fibrosis and AFib?" added Miyauchi. To simulate how P. gingivalis might escape the mouth and create problems elsewhere, researchers created a mouse model using the bacterium's aggressive W83 strain. They divided 13-week-old male mice into two groups: one had the strain introduced into the tooth pulp, the other remained uninfected. Each was further split into subgroups and observed for either 12 or 18 weeks to track the cardiovascular risks of prolonged exposure. Intracardiac stimulation -- a diagnostic technique for arrhythmia -- revealed no difference in AFib risk between infected and uninfected mice at 12 weeks. But by week 18, tests showed that mice exposed to the bacterium were six times more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms, with a 30% AFib inducibility rate compared to just 5% in the control group. To see if their model accurately replicated periodontitis, the researchers examined jaw lesions and found its telltale signs. They detected tooth pulp decay and microabscesses caused by P. gingivalis. But the damage did not stop there. They also spotted the bacterium in the heart's left atrium, where infected tissue had turned stiff and fibrous. Using loop-mediated isothermal amplification to detect specific genetic signatures, the team confirmed that the P. gingivalis strain they had introduced was present in the heart. In contrast, the uninfected mice had healthy teeth and no trace of the bacterium in heart tissue samples. Twelve weeks after infection, mice exposed to P. gingivalis already showed more heart scarring than their uninfected counterparts. At 18 weeks, scarring in the infected mice had climbed to 21.9% compared to the likely ageing-related 16.3% in the control group, suggesting that P. gingivalis may not just trigger early heart damage, but also speed it up over time. And this troubling connection was not only seen in mice. In a separate human study, researchers analysed left atrial tissue from 68 AFib patients who underwent heart surgery. P. gingivalis was found there, too, and in greater amounts in people with severe gum disease. (ANI)
Fibre2Fashion
10-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Australia's manufacturing contraction eases in April: Ai Group
The Ai Group Australian Industry Index showed a slight improvement in April 2025, rising by 5.1 points to -15.0 (seasonally adjusted), though the index has remained in contraction for thirty-four consecutive months. Activity indicators painted a mixed picture. The activity/sales sub-index rose by 7.1 points to -18.3, while employment worsened, falling 5.8 points to -18.2 — a reflection of persistent labour shortages and pre-election business caution. Respondents cited continued cost-of-living pressures and labour market tightness as key challenges. Leading indicators, including new orders and input volumes, remained unchanged at -20.7 and -13.1 respectively, reflecting ongoing uncertainty in the domestic and global economic environment. Businesses reported holding off on investment and order placements amid fluctuating demand and geopolitical instability. Inflationary pressures appeared to ease further. While the sales price indicator dropped to -6.3, signalling weakened pricing power, input prices and wages saw marginal adjustments, a release from the Ai Group said. The wage price indicator rose 7.1 points to 39.8 but has remained largely steady since mid-2024. Businesses remain concerned about future price volatility stemming from US trade tensions and currency swings. Australia's broader manufacturing sector (PMI) also saw a softer contraction in April, with the index rising by 3.7 points. However, upstream manufacturing faced headwinds, as the chemicals sub-sector fell to -9.8—its lowest level since January—due to global trade friction and rising material costs. In downstream manufacturing, machinery and equipment fell sharply to -37.3, the lowest level since February 2021, amid supply chain bottlenecks and falling capital expenditure. Food, beverages and textiles saw the only improvement, rising 10.6 points to -16.6, though exports were hindered by high freight costs and tariff-related trade instability. Capacity utilisation edged down to 78.4 per cent, its lowest since mid-2020, as businesses grappled with equipment constraints, input shortages, and election-driven uncertainty. Australia's manufacturing sector (PMI) saw a softer contraction in April, rising by 3.7 points. However, upstream manufacturing remained under pressure as the chemicals sub-sector fell to -9.8, its lowest since January, impacted by global trade tensions and higher material costs. Broader industrial recovery remains fragile amid ongoing economic uncertainties. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Israeli researchers discovered stress in pregnancy affects baby's brain before birth
Jerusalem: Israeli researchers have discovered that stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy affects the foetus's brain. The discovery led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) could pave the way for new treatments or interventions to support a baby's healthy development after birth, Xinhua news agency reported. Published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, the study revealed that maternal stress during pregnancy could "reprogramme" key molecular pathways in the foetus, particularly the cholinergic system -- a network of nerve cells responsible for regulating stress responses and inflammation. The researchers analysed blood samples from 120 newborns and their mothers collected at birth, focusing on small RNA molecules known as tRNA fragments (tRFs), many of which originate from mitochondrial DNA. These molecules play a critical role in regulating cellular functions and responses to stress. 'We found that even before babies take their first breath, the stress their mothers experience can shape how their bodies manage stress themselves,' said Prof. Hermona Soreq, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The study also uncovered major differences between male and female infants. Baby girls showed a sharp decrease in specific tRFs, called CholinotRFs, which are involved in the production of acetylcholine -- a brain chemical crucial for memory and immune function. While baby boys showed elevated levels of an enzyme (AChE) that breaks down acetylcholine, suggesting a diminished capacity to manage stress. Using machine learning, the researchers determined with 95 per cent accuracy whether baby girls had been exposed to maternal stress during pregnancy based on their RNA profiles. This discovery may help explain why children exposed to stress in the womb are more likely to face mental health or developmental challenges later in life. The researchers said the findings could raise awareness and lead to better support for pregnant women under stress, even if they don't have a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression.
The Star
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Star
Israeli researchers discovered stress in pregnancy affects baby's brain before birth
JERUSALEM, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have discovered that stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy affects the fetus's brain, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) said in a statement on Monday. The discovery could pave the way for new treatments or interventions to support a baby's healthy development after birth, the researchers noted. Published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, the study revealed that maternal stress during pregnancy can "reprogram" key molecular pathways in the fetus, particularly the cholinergic system -- a network of nerve cells responsible for regulating stress responses and inflammation. The researchers analyzed blood samples from 120 newborns and their mothers collected at birth, focusing on small RNA molecules known as tRNA fragments (tRFs), many of which originate from mitochondrial DNA. These molecules play a critical role in regulating cellular functions and responses to stress. The study also uncovered major differences between male and female infants. Baby girls showed a sharp decrease in specific tRFs, called CholinotRFs, which are involved in the production of acetylcholine -- a brain chemical crucial for memory and immune function. While baby boys showed elevated levels of an enzyme (AChE) that breaks down acetylcholine, suggesting a diminished capacity to manage stress. Using machine learning, the researchers were able to determine with 95 percent accuracy whether baby girls had been exposed to maternal stress during pregnancy based on their RNA profiles. This discovery may help explain why children exposed to stress in the womb are more likely to face mental health or developmental challenges later in life. The researchers said the findings could raise awareness and lead to better support for pregnant women under stress, even if they don't have a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression.
