Latest news with #NTNU
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Doctors sound alarm over anti-inflammatory drugs taken by millions that leave you open to deadly viral infections
Drugs were designed to banish discomfort and disease. But a new study has revealed that a class of common anti-inflammatory drugs may actually make people sicker. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) discovered that a class of medications called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors can make the body vulnerable to viral infections. The medications work by blocking immune system proteins in the body that often lead to inflammation and pain. They are used to treat of a variety medical conditions suffered by millions globally, including rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, alopecia, and certain bone cancers. They are relatively new drugs, and the first JAK inhibitor, sold under the brand name Jakafi for cancer treatment, was only just approved by the FDA in 2011. However, there is now evidence suggesting these drugs - which are typically taken as pills - could help the flu, Covid-19 and other viruses infiltrate the body's immune system, potentially leading to severe infection. The scientists say this is because the drugs 'suppress an important immune signaling pathway that helps protect healthy cells from viral attacks.' The scientists found drugs in the class, such as baricitinib, which is sold under the brand name Olumiant for the treatment of alopecia - slow down the genes that respond to viruses. 'These genes play a crucial role in the body's response to viral infections,' said Aleksandr Ianevski, an NTNU researcher and co-author of the new paper. By stopping or slowing down this pathway, JAK inhibitors remove the body's 'antiviral shield'. This allows viruses to more easily gain a foothold in the body and spread. The researchers used advanced techniques in a lab to look at how JAK inhibitors impact organs and how viruses attack the body once they have been exposed. They examined cells from the lungs, eyes and brain, as well as laboratory-created mini-organs. Off the back of their findings Erlend Ravlo, a PhD research fellow at NTNU, said: 'Although JAK inhibitors are effective in the treatment of inflammation, this shows that they can pose a hidden risk for patients who have latent or active viral infections.' The findings suggest healthcare professionals should be cautious when prescribing JAK inhibitors, especially during viral outbreaks. Common side effects of the medications include headaches, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, acne, and elevated cholesterol. Meanwhile, rarer but more serious side effects include severe infections like pneumonia or shingles, damage to the stomach or intestines, and changes in blood cell counts. While the immunosuppressive effects of the drugs could be harmful, the researchers point out that it could be useful in controlled environments, such as in the development of vaccines or screening of antiviral drugs. 'We recommend further studies to better understand how the drugs can be used optimally, especially during virus outbreaks or pandemics,' says Ianevski. The researchers hope to increase awareness among doctors and researchers about the effects of these drugs to prevent patients from developing new illnesses. This is especially important for vulnerable patients, such as the elderly or individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. The findings were published in the medical journal, NAR Molecular Medicine.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
‘Hidden risk' of widely-used prescription drugs — you're more likely to get the flu and Covid while on them
Since we take prescription drugs to feel better, it's alarming to think that some common ones can actually make you more sick. But that's precisely what a shocking new study out of Norway has revealed. 'We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of a class of anti-inflammatory drugs. They can help viruses spread more easily in the body,' Denis Kainov, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), said in a press release. Advertisement A new study has found some common drugs can actually make you more sick. Getty Images Janus kinase inhibitors — also known as JAKs — are commonly prescribed for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. You might know them by their brand names, such as Xeljanz, Olumiant and Rinvoq. But while they may ease inflammatory conditions, it seems they can also inflame your chances of catching a nasty bug. Advertisement 'Among the viruses that more easily affect the body with the help of these drugs are Rift Valley fever virus, influenza A, adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,' Kainov said. Kainov and his team found that these drugs can suppress interferon-stimulated genes, which play a crucial role in the body's response to viral infections, thereby facilitating the spread of viruses. They therefore urge medical professionals to exercise caution when prescribing these drugs to patients who might be at risk. 'Among the viruses that more easily affect the body with the help of these drugs are Rift Valley fever virus, influenza A, adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,' Kainov said. Getty Images Advertisement 'We recommend further studies to better understand how the drugs can be used optimally, especially during virus outbreaks or pandemics,' Aleksandr Ianevski, an NTNU researcher, said. JAKs aren't the only class of medication to make headlines recently for some unpleasant side effects. Other common drugs, such as statins — which are meant to lower cholesterol — and certain medications for high blood pressure have also been implicated in exposing patients to a higher risk of infection. Advertisement In a somewhat more bizarre twist, reports reviewed by the BBC suggest some common drugs that are meant to treat Parkinson's and other movement disorders have been pushing people into sexually deviant behavior. And the FDA recently issued a warning about generic versions of a widely-used hair loss drug — finasteride — that is frequently distributed by popular telehealth brands like Hims and Keeps, after dozens of users reported sexual dysfunction, brain fog and suicidal thoughts.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Common anti-inflammatory drugs may leave body open to viral attacks, study suggests
A new study says some anti-inflammatory drugs could allow viruses to spread more easily. (Credit: Pexels) Some medications used to treat autoimmune diseases may also make viral infections worse, new research suggests. A study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) found that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors — a class of anti-inflammatory drugs — can suppress a key part of the immune response, potentially allowing viruses like influenza and COVID-19 to replicate and spread more easily. JAK inhibitors are used globally for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and atopic dermatitis. The researchers say these drugs block an important immune response known as type I interferon (IFN) signalling, which helps infected cells sound the alarm to neighbouring cells, slowing viral spread and giving the body time to mount a broader defence. In a video interview with on Monday, NTNU researcher and study co-author Denis Kaynov compared the body's layered immune response to a race with hurdles. 'These inhibitors remove the first line of hurdles — our innate immune defences — allowing viruses to run faster,' he said. 'Without that early delay, the adaptive immune system doesn't have time to respond properly, which increases the risk that the virus spreads rapidly from cell to cell and organ to organ.' The researchers used a range of human cell types, including lung, eye and brain cells. Kaynov says the team later moved to organoids — simplified lab-grown mini-organs — to mimic the behaviour of full organs more accurately. While JAK inhibitors are effective in controlling chronic inflammatory conditions, Kaynov says they may leave patients vulnerable if they become infected with a virus. 'If you're on this kind of medication and get an infection like the flu, the virus could spread much more easily in the body,' he said. 'It's important to consult your physician if you suspect an infection while taking these drugs.' Although the research remains in early stages, one infectious diseases specialist says the findings are worth noting. 'This is very, very early on in the pipeline,' Isaac Bogoch said in an interview with last week. 'It's pre-clinical research, which is extremely important and needs to be done, but also just the first step.' Bogoch says the broader risks of JAK inhibitors are already well known. 'They're not like taking acetaminophen,' he said. 'There's a well-established link to higher susceptibility to infections — especially bacterial ones — so it's not entirely surprising that viral vulnerability is also being investigated.' Bogoch emphasized that while the research doesn't call for immediate clinical changes, it does raise useful questions about drug safety, especially for older adults or patients with multiple health conditions. Despite the concerns, the NTNU team sees potential upsides. In highly controlled lab environments, the same drug effects that make the body more vulnerable could be used to researchers' advantage — for example, to help manufacture viral materials for vaccines or cancer therapy. Kaynov says clinical trials aren't on the horizon — 'it would potentially kill a lot of people,' he noted — but the lab results could influence how doctors advise patients during active outbreaks. If someone becomes sick while taking JAK inhibitors, Kaynov says they should contact a doctor to assess whether to pause the medication or consider alternatives. 'It really depends on the virus,' he said. 'Some kill in hours or days. Others linger. But the timing of the immune response is critical either way.'
India Today
20-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Scientists find common arthritis drugs could weaken immunity against Covid, flu
Drugs are meant to make us feel better, either by treating disease or easing symptoms. But sometimes, certain medicines could have unexpected side effects that could make things worse, especially during a virus outbreak.A team of scientists in Norway has now found that a commonly used group of anti-inflammatory drugs called Janus kinase inhibitors, or JAK inhibitors could actually make it easier for viruses like influenza and Covid-19 to spread inside the findings are published in NAR Molecular drugs are often used to treat chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune according to researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), they may also reduce the body's natural defences against viruses."We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of these drugs. They can help viruses spread more easily in the body,' said Professor Denis Kainov from NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular simple terms, the drugs seem to weaken an important signalling process in the immune system, one that helps protect healthy cells from being this pathway is blocked, the body's ability to detect and fight viruses is research team tested the effects of JAK inhibitors on human cells taken from the lungs, eyes, and also studied mini-organs grown in the lab and used advanced gene analysis found that a drug like baricitinib, commonly used for arthritis, slows down the activity of certain genes that kick into action when a virus genes act like a security system in the body. When it's down, viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (which causes Covid) adenovirus, and influenza A can spread Ravlo, the study's lead author, said the findings show that while JAK inhibitors are useful in managing inflammation, they could carry hidden risks during viral infections, especially for people with a weak immune system.'Doctors should be careful when prescribing these drugs, particularly during times when viruses like Covid-19 or flu are circulating widely,' Ravlo the researchers also said that in controlled environments, such as during vaccine development or drug screening, this side effect might actually be instance, by making it easier to test how well a new antiviral treatment scientists are now calling for more research into how these drugs work in real-world conditions.
New York Post
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Women will do this if they think you're hot — and they might not even realize it: dating coach
There's a body of proof that she's into you. Coquettish glances and flirtatious smiles — they're often good indicators that a lady is hot-to-trot for what a guy's got. But the cutesy cues are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to telltale hints that a woman wants the man on the receiving end of her sensuous stare, so says a dating coach who's decoding the come-hither gestures of a gal on the prowl. 3 Dating coach Gracie Pleshcourt has virally shared the top five clues that woman drop when they're romantically interested in man. InsideCreativeHouse – 'Five body language signs women do when they find you attractive,' wrote Gracie Pleschourt, a romance pro with a knack for helping fellas find love, in the closed-captions of a clip with 2 million TikTok views. The relationship savant, from the Midwest, then revealed the most obviously subtle moves of a wannabe-sweetie. 'Play with her hair,' Pleschourt listed as the No. 1 demonstration of desire. 3 Hair twirling and head tilting are just two of the main moves that ladies often make when they want a date, according to Pleshcourt. Scott Griessel – 'Adjust their top,' she said of the second-most sultry signal. 'Plays with jewelry. Tilts her head and listens. Touches her lips,' all took the third, fourth and fifth spots on Pleschourt's risqué roster. But, if the body language isn't quite translating, folks can always fall back on their funny bones. 'Laughing or giggling at the other person's jokes is an effective flirtation tactic for both sexes,' Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, a professor at NTNU's Department of Psychology, in a recent study. 3 Science has proven that joking and laughing are prime flirting tactics for both men and women. – Then, of course, there's the 'sticky eyes' method. 'You pick your target, stare at them until they look back at you,' Chelsea Anderson, a self-crowned 'professional life-hacker,' explained to her more than 6.8 million social media fans. 'Once you make eye contact, you look away like you've been caught.' 'The next time you look at them and they meet your eye again, don't look away,' she continued. 'Let them break first — you're going to have to hold [your stare] uncomfortably long.' 'And in about 45 seconds they will be in front of you as if they'd been summoned,' Anderson assured. 'It's one of my most powerful hacks.'
