Latest news with #IsaiahArkin
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Common chocolate ingredient could be potent flu treatment, scientists find
The drug combination of chocolate ingredient theobromine, and the lesser-known compound arainosine, could be a potential gamechanger in treating flu, even outperforming the most widely used anti-influenza medication Tamiflu, according to the study published in the journal PNAS. The combination therapy works by targeting a key weakness in the influenza virus – a microscopic channel the virus uses to replicate and spread. Blocking this gate could effectively cut off the virus's ability to survive, scientists say. Researchers found that the treatment dramatically outperformed oseltamivir (Tamiflu), even against drug-resistant strains of the virus in both cell cultures and animal trials. They identified this new drug combination by scanning a library of repurposed compounds originally developed for other diseases. 'We're not just offering a better flu drug, we're introducing a new way to target viruses – one that may help us prepare for future pandemics,' said study co-author Isaiah Arkin. Influenza outbreaks challenge global public health systems every year due to unpredictable mutations undergone by the virus that counter vaccines and existing drugs. Some strains of the virus even break out into pandemics, such as the 2009 swine flu pandemic which led to over 284,000 deaths. Seasonal flu viruses also inflict deeper costs to poultry industries, while also sparking global fears of cross-species transmission to humans. For instance, just one recent bird flu outbreak in the US led to the loss of over 40 million birds and billions of dollars in economic damage. ADVERTISEMENT However, current flu treatments, like Tamiflu, are losing ground as the virus adapts. This is because most drugs currently in use target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time. Instead of this protein, the latest study targeted the flu virus's M2 ion channel, which plays a key role in its replication. Researchers also found that the drug duo's potential for eliciting resistance from the virus is 'significantly smaller'. 'Using a combined approach, a synergistic combination of arainosine and theobromine is shown to be particularly potent against swine flu, avian flu,' scientists wrote. 'In conclusion, the outcome of this study represents a new potential treatment option for influenza alongside an approach that is sufficiently general and readily applicable to other viral targets,' they wrote.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Common chocolate ingredient could be potent flu treatment, scientists find
A new combination of drugs, including a compound present in chocolate, can treat several influenza strains, including bird and swine flu, a new study has found. The drug combination of chocolate ingredient theobromine, and the lesser-known compound arainosine, can be a potential gamechanger in treating flu, even outperforming the most widely used anti-influenza medication Tamiflu, according to the study published in the journal PNAS. The combination therapy works by targeting a key weakness in the influenza virus, a microscopic channel the virus uses to replicate and spread. Blocking this gate could effectively cut off the virus's ability to survive, scientists say. Researchers found that the treatment dramatically outperformed Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) even against drug-resistant strains of the virus in both cell cultures and animal trials. They identified this new drug combination by scanning a library of repurposed compounds originally developed for other diseases. 'We're not just offering a better flu drug, we're introducing a new way to target viruses—one that may help us prepare for future pandemics,' said study co-author Isaiah Arkin. Influenza outbreaks challenge global public health systems every year due to unpredictable mutations undergone by the virus that counter vaccines and existing drugs. Some strains of the virus even break out into pandemics, such as the 2009 swine flu which led to over 284,000 deaths. Seasonal flu viruses also inflict deeper costs to poultry industries while also sparking global fears of cross-species transmission to humans. For instance, just one recent bird flu outbreak in the US led to the loss of 40 million birds and billions in economic damage. However, current flu treatments, like Tamiflu, are losing ground as the virus adapts. This is because most drugs currently in use target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time. Instead of this protein, the latest study targetted the flu virus' M2 ion channel, which plays a key role in its replication. Researchers also found that the drug duo's potential for eliciting resistance from the virus is 'significantly smaller'. 'Using a combined approach, a synergistic combination of arainosine and theobromine is shown to be particularly potent against swine flu, avian flu,' scientists wrote. 'In conclusion, the outcome of this study represents a new potential treatment option for influenza alongside an approach that is sufficiently general and readily applicable to other viral targets,' they wrote.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Common chocolate ingredient could be potent flu treatment, scientists find
A new combination of drugs, including a compound present in chocolate, can treat several influenza strains, including bird and swine flu, a new study has found. The drug combination of chocolate ingredient theobromine, and the lesser-known compound arainosine, can be a potential gamechanger in treating flu, even outperforming the most widely used anti-influenza medication Tamiflu, according to the study published in the journal PNAS. The combination therapy works by targeting a key weakness in the influenza virus, a microscopic channel the virus uses to replicate and spread. Blocking this gate could effectively cut off the virus's ability to survive, scientists say. Researchers found that the treatment dramatically outperformed Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) even against drug-resistant strains of the virus in both cell cultures and animal trials. They identified this new drug combination by scanning a library of repurposed compounds originally developed for other diseases. 'We're not just offering a better flu drug, we're introducing a new way to target viruses —one that may help us prepare for future pandemics,' said study co-author Isaiah Arkin. Influenza outbreaks challenge global public health systems every year due to unpredictable mutations undergone by the virus that counter vaccines and existing drugs. Some strains of the virus even break out into pandemics, such as the 2009 swine flu which led to over 284,000 deaths. Seasonal flu viruses also inflict deeper costs to poultry industries while also sparking global fears of cross-species transmission to humans. For instance, just one recent bird flu outbreak in the US led to the loss of 40 million birds and billions in economic damage. However, current flu treatments, like Tamiflu, are losing ground as the virus adapts. This is because most drugs currently in use target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time. Instead of this protein, the latest study targetted the flu virus' M2 ion channel, which plays a key role in its replication. Researchers also found that the drug duo's potential for eliciting resistance from the virus is 'significantly smaller'. 'Using a combined approach, a synergistic combination of arainosine and theobromine is shown to be particularly potent against swine flu, avian flu,' scientists wrote. 'In conclusion, the outcome of this study represents a new potential treatment option for influenza alongside an approach that is sufficiently general and readily applicable to other viral targets,' they wrote.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: Flu drug with compound found in chocolate tops Tamiflu in early study
Aug 6 (Reuters) - (This is an excerpt of the Health Rounds newsletter, where we present latest medical studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here.) An experimental flu-fighting drug combination that includes a compound found in chocolate is more effective than the current most commonly used influenza treatment, researchers reported in PNAS, opens new tab. In test tubes and in animal experiments, the combination of theobromine and arainosine was more effective than Roche's (ROG.S), opens new tab Tamiflu against even the deadliest flu strains, including bird flu and swine flu, the researchers said. Theobromine is a stimulant naturally found in cacao plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words for 'food of the gods.' Theobromine plus arainosine – a synthetic compound that interferes with the ability of cells to repair themselves – together target proteins on the virus that serve as pathways for ions to travel in and out. Without functioning ion channels, the virus can't survive. Existing drugs typically target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time, the researchers said. 'We're not just offering a better flu drug,' study leader Isaiah Arkin of Hebrew University in Jerusalem said in a statement. 'We're introducing a new way to target viruses... that may help us prepare for future pandemics.' Because many viruses, including coronaviruses, also rely on ion channels, this new approach could form the basis of future antiviral strategies, the researchers said. U.S. diagnoses of early-stage colorectal cancers rose steeply among 45- to 49-year-olds during 2019 to 2022, after new guidelines called for screening in that age group, according to new research from the American Cancer Society published in JAMA. The surge included a 50% relative increase from 11.7 to 17.5 cases per 100,000 people of that age from 2021 to 2022, researchers found. The increase in diagnoses was largely attributable to detection of early-stage tumors, which increased by 18.8% annually from 2019 to 2022 for colon cancers and by 25.1% per year for rectal cancers. The finding, opens new tab 'is promising news because the uptick of cases is likely due to first-time screening in the wake of new recommendations for younger average-risk adults to begin testing for colorectal cancer earlier,' study leader Elizabeth Schafer of the ACS said in a statement. Earlier detection of these cancers often leads to better outcomes for patients, health experts say. The recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening was lowered to 45 from 50 years by the ACS in 2018 and by the United States Preventive Services Task Force in 2021. A second study, opens new tab in JAMA found that colorectal cancer screening among U.S. adults 45-49 years of age increased by 62% from 2019 to 2023. 'It's not only thrilling to see the increase in colorectal cancer screening among younger adults, but also how it likely ties into rises in earlier stage diagnosis as noted in the other ACS led paper,' Jessica Star of the ACS, who led the second study, said in a statement. 'However, we still have a long way to go. Screening for colorectal cancer in ages 45-49 remains suboptimal and has not increased equitably by both" education and insurance coverage status. A third paper, opens new tab in JAMA reports on a randomized trial testing various methods for encouraging more screening. Among 20,500 participants, sending an unsolicited stool test kit by mail was the most effective way to boost screening rates for adults ages 45 to 49 years. However, those authors said, 'overall screening rates were low, underscoring the need for more effective strategies to engage this age group.' (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
