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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Tea and dark chocolate could help you live longer, Queens study shows
Tea, berries and dark chocolate could lead to a longer life span, new research has indicated. The study found those who consume a diverse range of foods rich in flavonoids, such as tea, berries, dark chocolate, and apples, could lower their risk of developing serious health conditions and have the potential to live longer. The study was led by a team of researchers from Queen's University Belfast, Edith Cowan University Perth, and the Medical University of Vienna and Universitat Wien. The findings reveal increasing the diversity of flavonoids within your diet could help prevent the development of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological disease. Flavonoids are found in plant foods like tea, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, apples, grapes, and even red wine and dark chocolate. Published on Tuesday in Nature Food, the research tracked more than 120,000 participants aged from 40 to 70 years old for over a decade. It is the first study of its kind to suggest there is a benefit to consuming a wide range of flavonoids beyond that of simply consuming a high quantity. Study co-lead, Professor Aedín Cassidy from the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's said: 'We have known for some time that higher intakes of dietary flavonoids, powerful bioactives naturally present in many foods and drinks, can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and neurological conditions like Parkinson's. 'We also know from lab data and clinical studies that different flavonoids work in different ways, some improve blood pressure, others help with cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation. This study is significant as the results indicate that consuming a higher quantity and wider diversity has the potential to lead to a greater reduction in ill health than just a single source.' Edith Cowan University research fellow, first author and co-lead of the study, Dr Benjamin Parmenter, made the initial discovery that a flavonoid-diverse diet is good for health. He explained: 'Flavonoid intakes of around 500mg a day was associated with a 16% lower risk of all-cause mortality, as well as a 10% lower risk of CVD [cardiovascular disease], type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disease. That's roughly the amount of flavonoids that you would consume in two cups of tea. 'However, those who consumed the widest diversity of flavonoids, had an even lower risk of these diseases, even when consuming the same total amount.' Read More Families criticise delays to inquiry into epilepsy drug valproate
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What did Beethoven really look like? Scientists think they finally know — and he was a bit of a grouch
Turns out Beethoven didn't just sound intense — he looked it, too. Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven's death, scientists say they've finally pieced together what the famously moody maestro actually looked like — and let's just say he wouldn't exactly be mistaken for a people person, originally reported by the Daily Mail. 'I found the face somewhat intimidating,' admitted Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert who used 19th-century skull photos, facial modeling, and AI to reconstruct the furrowed countenance of classical music's original bad boy. The first-of-its-kind digital render shows the German composer just as he's often been depicted in oil paintings: scowling and brooding. 'He was indeed irritable, untidy, clumsy, rude, and misanthropic,' British conductor Mark Wigglesworth said in a blog post — though he added, 'Beethoven could be witty, caring, mischievous, generous, and kind.' So what turned the artist formerly known as Ludwig into such a legendary grouch? Experts say it may have been as much biology as biography. In 2023, a groundbreaking DNA study published in Current Biology cracked open the medical mystery of Beethoven's tumultuous life — and painful death at age 56. Researchers sequenced his genome using five strands of his preserved hair and determined he likely died from liver failure caused by chronic alcohol consumption, combined with hepatitis B and a genetic predisposition for liver disease. Reportedly, the beloved composer began suffering bouts of jaundice in 1821, a symptom of liver disease, and had progressive hearing loss that left him completely deaf by his mid-40s. 'Most people who do genetic testing for fun, including myself, will find that there is nothing wrong with them,' lead researcher Tristan Begg said. 'But in this study we had fascinating results in every branch we looked at, from disease risk to the family tree.' Indeed, Beethoven's tangled roots may have been more than musical — the study also suggested a child may have been born from an affair in his family line. As if that weren't enough, bones believed to be fragments of Beethoven's skull — long stashed in a tin marked 'Beethoven' by the descendant of a Viennese doctor — were recently donated to the Medical University of Vienna by California businessman Paul Kaufmann. 'It is extremely emotional to me to return the fragments where they belong, back to where Beethoven is buried,' Kaufmann told CNN in 2023. Moraes reconstructed Beethoven's famously intense visage — aided by old skull images and tissue-thickness data — and reinforced by a death mask made while the composer still had a pulse. 'I academically explored his genius, revealing what made him an icon of Western music,' Moraes said of his 2025 study. 'I analyzed his revolutionary creativity, resilience in composing despite deafness, intense focus, problem-solving ability, and tireless productivity, despite a challenging personality.'
Medscape
12-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Drug Slows Progression of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
AMSTERDAM — Norucholic acid (NCA), an investigational therapy, demonstrated significant superiority over placebo in halting disease progression in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), meeting the primary efficacy endpoint in a phase 3 trial presented on May 10 at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress 2025. NCA was four times more effective in partially normalizing the liver enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (odds ratio [OR], 4.16), without worsening of the histologic Ludwig stage of PSC. Results held true with and without concomitant ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Michael Trauner, MD The interim 96-week efficacy and safety results were presented by Michael Trauner, MD, professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, who first developed the compound two decades ago. 'In this study, NCA hit the primary and key secondary endpoint in this clinical trial that included liver histology and biochemical features,' said Trauner. 'There were higher response rates for NCA than placebo both with and without concomitant UDCA, as well as improvement and less worsening of histological disease stages with NCA compared with placebo.' First Data to Offer Hope for Reducing PSC Progression PSC is a rare, progressive cholangiopathy characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, with no current medical therapy proven to alter its course. NCA works by inducing bicarbonate-rich hypercholeresis and promoting cholangiocyte protection, with additional anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The multicenter, international, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 3 study builds on earlier phase 2 findings in which NCA improved cholestasis markers in a dose-dependent manner and was well tolerated. Patients (n = 301) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either NCA 1500 mg once daily (n = 205) or placebo (n = 96), stratified by concomitant UDCA use. Biopsies were done 4-8 weeks prior to randomization and again at week 96 and will be repeated at week 192. The study remains ongoing, with 2 additional years of blinded treatment planned. The combined primary endpoint was defined as partial normalization of ALP to less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal and no worsening of Ludwig histologic stage. Secondary endpoints included modified Nakanuma staging, liver stiffness measurement (FibroScan), enhanced liver fibrosis and Amsterdam-Oxford scores, patient-reported pruritus and fatigue, and overall quality of life. 'The population was typical of PSC, with men in their 40s making up 74% of participants, and around 70% had inflammatory bowel disease,' reported Trauner. Baseline ALP was approximately 300 U/L, and liver stiffness and enhanced liver fibrosis scores were around 10. Most patients presented with Ludwig stage 2 or 3 disease. Statistically Significant Benefit Compared With Placebo By week 96, 27.3% of patients in the NCA group and 37.5% in the placebo group had discontinued the trial. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the combined primary endpoint was achieved by 15.1% of patients in the NCA group vs 4.2% in the placebo group, a difference of 10.96% (95% CI, 4.6%-17.3%) and an OR of 4.16 (95% CI, 1.42-12.22; P = .0048). Patients without a second biopsy were considered nonresponders. In the per-protocol analysis, which included only participants who completed both biopsies, the benefit remained significant: 18.2% for NCA vs 6.6% for placebo, with a difference of 11.7% (95% CI, 3.0%-20.3%) and an OR of 3.36 (95% CI, 1.12-10.11; P = .0155). The key secondary endpoint of ALP less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal and no worsening according to modified Nakanuma staging was also met. NCA again outperformed placebo: 15.1% vs 5.2%, a difference of 9.9% (95% CI, 3.3%-16.5%). Consistent Efficacy, With or Without UDCA Trauner noted that NCA demonstrated greater efficacy than placebo in both subgroups, with and without concomitant UDCA. The treatment difference with UDCA was 7.5% (95% CI, 0.4%-14.7%), whereas without UDCA, the difference increased to 23.4% (95% CI, 11.3%-35.5%). 'Those not receiving UDCA had a much higher response rate at 23% with NCA,' he said. Histologic and Biochemical Improvements; Safety Good Histologic improvement by at least one Ludwig stage occurred in 25.2% of patients in the NCA group compared with 10.5% in the placebo group ( P = .0217). Notably, progression to cirrhosis (Ludwig stage 4) occurred less frequently in the NCA group (5.9% vs 10.7%). Significant improvements were also seen in liver enzymes, including ALP, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, with greater reductions in the NCA group at week 96. The Amsterdam-Oxford prognostic score increased significantly more in the placebo group, indicating greater disease progression. NCA was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile comparable to that of placebo. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 97.6% of the NCA group and 92.7% of the placebo group. The most common adverse events included diarrhea, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and nasopharyngitis. Expert: 'Desperate Need for Treatment' Ahmed Elsharkawy, MD, consultant hepatologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom, who co-moderated the session, underscored the importance of these findings. 'There is a desperate need for patients with PSC to have access to treatments that slow down the progression of their condition, as we currently do not have any available drugs to treat them,' he explained. Reflecting on the study's impact, he added, 'This study provides the first-ever data that offers some hope that norucholic acid can help reduce progression of the disease for some but unfortunately not yet all patients with the condition. This is hopefully the first step towards developing a cure for this devastating condition that disproportionately affects young individuals.'
Hans India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Study shows diabetes drug may help treat prostate cancer
New Delhi: Certain drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes can also be used to treat prostate cancer, according to a study. Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer. They showed that the protein PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) -- central to the regulation of metabolic processes -- can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells. But PPARγ is already known to be a target of certain drugs including so-called thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. The findings "showed that the diabetes drug pioglitazone influences the activity of PPARγ and thus inhibits the growth behaviour and metabolism of tumour cells. Furthermore, initial results revealed that prostate cancer patients with diabetes who were treated with PPARγ agonists had not relapsed at the time of data collection," explained Emine Atas from the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy at the varsity. The study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer, indicates that such drugs could slow down growth of prostate cancer cells, representing a promising approach for the treatment of prostate cancer. The researchers examined cell cultures and tissue samples from patient cohorts. They analysed how different activation states of the protein affect the cells. Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. Despite enormous medical advances in recent years, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with an estimated 1.4 million diagnoses and 375,000 deaths worldwide in 2020. The currently available treatment methods range from surgery and radiotherapy to medication. The identification of previously unknown molecular mechanisms could help to develop targeted therapies. PPARγ, as a potential regulator of tumour growth, is a promising option that will now be investigated in further studies, said the researchers.
Bahrain News Gazette
07-05-2025
- Health
- Bahrain News Gazette
Dr. Falk Pharma announces positive results from its pivotal phase 3 trial on norucholic acid in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Freiburg, May 7 th , 2025 Study results demonstrate superiority of norucholic acid (NCA) over placebo in the combined primary endpoint. There is currently no approved medicine to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis. The results of the 96-week analysis of the NUC-5 trial will be presented at 2025 EASL Congress in Amsterdam. Dr. Falk Pharma, a research-based pharmaceutical company specializing in digestive and metabolic medicine, today announced positive results from its pivotal, phase 3 trial (NUC-5) on norucholic acid (NCA) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). NUC-5 (NCT03872921) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 301 patients with PSC, who receive either 1,500 mg NCA or placebo for a total of 192 weeks. At the primary data analysis after 96 weeks of treatment, the primary endpoint of combined partial normalization of blood levels of a liver enzyme linked to PSC (alkaline phosphatase) and no worsening of disease stage on histology was achieved by a statistically significantly greater proportion of patients receiving NCA than placebo. Significant superiority of NCA was also observed in multiple secondary endpoints. The safety results revealed similar rates of study patients with adverse events and serious adverse events between the NCA and placebo groups. The topline results from NUC-5 will be presented during the Late Breaker session on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the EASL Congress in Amsterdam. PSC is a rare, progressive disease in which the immune system attacks the bile ducts in the liver, which leads to fibrosis, or the formation of scar tissue. A considerable proportion of patients develop bile duct, liver, or colorectal cancer, while many others eventually progress to cirrhosis of the liver. No approved pharmaceutical treatment is currently available, and the most effective treatment option is liver transplantation. 'Finding a medicine that effectively treats PSC has been a challenge in the field of hepatology for decades' said Prof. Michael Trauner, Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria and principal investigator of the trial. 'After so many disappointments in this space, the first positive results from a phase 3 study on PSC is a watershed moment for people with PSC, their families, physicians and the entire PSC community. The results of this study will not only advance patient care but will also give researchers new insights into the disease itself'. 'We are very excited about the positive results of the NUC-5 trial, which was the largest clinical trial on PSC to date which compared biopsies from patients before and after treatment' said Dr. Kai Pinkernell, Managing Director Science and Innovation for Dr. Falk Pharma. 'A trial of this duration and involvement is a major undertaking, and we thank all of the participating patients, investigators, and trial staff for their dedication to this trial'. About norucholic acid Norucholic acid is an engineered bile acid derivative. Unlike endogenous bile acids, it undergoes no meaningful amidation with glycine or taurine, allowing NCA to be absorbed from bile by cholangiocytes and subsequently re-secreted into bile by hepatocytes in a process called cholehepatic shunting. This together with putative direct anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic mechanisms are thought to confer protective effects in PSC. In a previous phase 2 trial, 12 weeks of treatment with NCA was shown to significantly reduce levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). About NUC-5 NUC-5 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 301 patients with biopsy-confirmed PSC and levels of ALP at least 1.5-fold greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN). The combined primary endpoint was partial normalization of ALP to <1.5-fold ULN and no worsening of disease stage by histology (Ludwig classification). The key secondary endpoint was partial normalization of ALP to <1.5-fold ULN and no worsening of disease stage by histology (modified Nakanuma staging). At week 96, 15.1% of patients receiving NCA achieved the primary endpoint compared to 4.2% of placebo patients (p = 0.0048). Similarly, 15.1% of NCA patients versus 5.1% of placebo patients achieved the key secondary endpoint (p = 0.0086). NCA treatment led to improvement by at least 1 Ludwig stage for 25.2% of NCA patients compared to 10.5% of placebo patients (p = 0.0217). Furthermore, worsening by at least one Ludwig stage was observed in 40.4% of placebo patients compared to 20.3% of NCA patients (p = 0.0069). Blood levels of multiple liver enzymes improved under NCA but not placebo. NCA was well tolerated, with similar rates of serious adverse events between the two arms. NUC-5 is still ongoing, with patients receiving continuous double-blind treatment with either NCA or placebo for an additional 96 weeks. Additional results will be reported after the conclusion of all 192 weeks of double-blind treatment. Patients completing all 192 weeks of double-blind treatment will have the option of receiving open-label treatment with NCA for up to 72 weeks. Read the abstract here (LBO-001) About Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH has been developing and marketing innovative medicines to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease or eosinophilic esophagitis as well as hepatobiliary disorders such as primary biliary cholangitis for over 60 years. As the international experts in digestive and metabolic medicine, the company brings together physicians, scientists, and patients to devise new and powerful approaches to patient care. Dr. Falk Pharma engages in pre-clinical and clinical stage research that aims to meaningfully improve therapeutic practice as well as patient health and well-being. A family-owned business with a global presence, Dr. Falk Pharma has ten affiliates in Europe and Australia and is continuously growing. The company has its headquarters and R&D facilities in Freiburg, Germany, its pharmaceutical products are manufactured in Europe, mainly at sites in Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH employs approximately 1400 individuals globally and 340 in Freiburg. Further information on Dr. Falk Pharma can be found online: GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001095027
