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Reuters
09-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: Experimental Bayer drug eases menopause-like symptoms from breast cancer therapy
July 9 (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.) The hot flashes and night sweats that plague breast cancer survivors during years-long hormone-suppressing therapy are eased by an experimental non-hormonal drug being developed by Bayer ( opens new tab, according to results from a late-stage trial. The participants in the trial – similar to two-thirds of breast cancer patients overall - had tumors that use the hormones estrogen and progesterone to grow. The goal of so-called endocrine therapy is to block those hormones, which reproduces the uncomfortable menopause symptoms. The most effective way to relieve these symptoms in healthy women is to replace the hormones, which is not feasible when tumors use the hormones to grow. In a year-long trial involving 474 breast cancer patients experiencing daily hot flashes due to hormone-suppressing therapy, 316 received Bayer's elinzanetant and 158 received a placebo. Within three months, more than 70% of those on elinzanetant reported at least a 50% reduction in moderate-to-severe hot flashes, compared to about 36% of the placebo group, the researchers reported at a recent meeting of cancer doctors and in The New England Journal of Medicine, opens new tab. The Bayer drug also significantly improved sleep quality and menopausal quality of life by week 12. 'It is important to treat vasomotor symptoms because they can negatively impact quality of life and lead to women prematurely stopping their breast cancer treatment,' said study leader Dr. Fatima Cardoso of the Champalimaud Clinical Center in Lisbon. Elinzanetant belongs to a new class of drugs called neurokinin receptor antagonists that target the neurobiological mechanisms in the brain involved in hot flashes and night sweats. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved an Astellas Pharma (4503.T), opens new tab drug from the class under the brand name Vezoah for easing symptoms of menopause. It is not approved for treating breast cancer patients, so that use would be off-label, the study authors noted. Doctors can prescribe any approved medicine as they see fit, but companies can only promote them for approved uses. An editorial, opens new tab published with the study notes that up to 90% of women with early breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy experience hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms, which may impact their survival if the symptoms lead them to quit taking the medications. In one large study of breast cancer survivors, half the participants reported non-adherence to endocrine therapy, the editorial says. Bayer is awaiting approval of elinzanetant from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Cases of type 1 diabetes caused by cancer immunotherapy drugs can be controlled – and even reversed – by treatment with already approved medicines for autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, laboratory studies suggest. Type 1 diabetes, in which the body mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, occurs in 1% to 2% of patients receiving immunotherapies known as checkpoint inhibitors, such as Merck's (MRK.N), opens new tab Keytruda and Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMY.N), opens new tab Opdivo. The condition is often permanent, requiring insulin therapy for life. With the increased use of the blockbuster cancer drugs, 'preventing long-term autoimmune damage is becoming a critical part of survivorship care,' study leader Dr. Melissa Lechner of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said in a statement. 'This is one of the first times we've found a way to intervene in these toxicities in a meaningful way,' she added. Her team identified a new group of immune cells called CD4+ T follicular helper cells, or Tfh cells, which produce signaling molecules called IL-21 and IFN-gamma that fuel the immune attack on the pancreas. In experiments in mice, the researchers found that a class of drugs known as JAK inhibitors, which block the IL-21 and IFN-gamma pathways, not only blocked the effects of the two signaling molecules but also reduced the number of Tfh cells and, in some cases, restored normal blood sugar levels. The results were reported in JCI Insight, opens new tab. Available JAK inhibitors include Pfizer's (PFE.N), opens new tab Xeljanz, Rinvoq from AbbVie (ABBV.N), opens new tab and Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab Olumiant. 'This is the first study to identify Tfh cells and the IL-21/IFN-gamma pathway as key drivers of checkpoint inhibitor–induced type 1 diabetes,' said Lechner. 'Importantly, we show that this pathway can be therapeutically targeted with a drug that is already FDA-approved and widely available without weakening the immune system's ability to fight cancer.' (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Is exercise really better than drugs for cancer remission? It's an appealing idea – but it's misleading
You might have seen the recent headlines on a new study on exercise and cancer recovery suggesting that 'exercise is better than a drug' in preventing cancer returning. Cue a wave of commentary pitting 'big pharma' against fitness, as if we must choose between pills and planks. It's an appealing narrative – but it's also misleading. We don't need to choose between the two. In fact, the best health outcomes often come from combining medicine with a broader view of health that includes movement, diet, social connection and mental wellbeing. Let's consider what the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, actually looked at. It focused on colon cancer – the third-most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Between 2009 and 2024, researchers set up a randomised trial across 55 centres – mainly in Australia and Canada – where 889 patients who had had surgery for colon cancer, and who had completed chemotherapy, were split into two groups randomly. Over a three-year period, one group received a structured exercise programme (the exercise group of 445 patients) and the other received health education materials alone (the health education group of 444 patients). One thing you may already have clocked here is that the patients all received chemotherapy after their cancer surgery. So nothing about the experiment put exercise head-to-head with cancer medicines. Instead, they asked what kind of exercise support after surgery and chemotherapy treatments might improve overall health, and potentially keep the cancer from recurring. The structured exercise group received health education materials, such as an exercise guidebook for colon cancer survivors, and support from a certified personal trainer for three years. In the first six months, they received 12 mandatory in-person behavioural-support sessions, 12 mandatory supervised exercise sessions plus 12 optional supervised exercise sessions. Over the next two and a half years, the frequency of in-person and supervised sessions slowly decreased to help patients transition to more independent exercise routines. In contrast, the health education group received only general health education materials on the benefits of physical activity and a healthy diet. At a median follow-up of almost eight years, disease-free survival was significantly longer in the structured exercise group (90.3%) than in the health education group (83.2%). Both groups increased their physical activity levels over the three years, but the structured exercise group met the goal of increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity. This roughly added to their existing activity levels about an hour of brisk walking three to four times a week or a 30-minute jog three to four times a week. The better health outcomes could also be linked to the social contact that patients in the exercise group had, given they were enrolled in a structured and supervised programme with a personal trainer to support them and not left on their own. What struck me, and the authors, from their study is that knowledge alone – even among those who have had colon cancer and have been advised to exercise – isn't enough to shift activity levels. Structure, supervision and social contact matter. Being told to 'move more' is easy. Actually changing your habits – especially after cancer treatment – is hard. That transition requires coaching, encouragement, and the support and time to build confidence. We have known for a long time that a generally physically and socially healthy life can be very effective in warding off disease, even cancer. What this study actually gives us is some direction for the best way to make that happen, and a look at how positive the effects can really be. Perhaps I'm biased as a personal trainer, but structured exercise is one of the best investments you can make for your health – whether it's in recovery from cancer or trying to prevent getting cancer. This doesn't have to be one-on-one gym sessions, which can be costly and out of reach for many. It could be joining affordable boot camps in the park – that cost as much as your morning latte – or free classes in discount gym chains. Plus, you might make a few new friends and improve your social life too. The real headline isn't that exercise is better than drugs for cancer recovery. It's that just telling people to move without offering support – ie the health education movement – isn't enough. Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, and the author of How Not to Die (Too Soon)
Medscape
03-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Apheresis May Sweep Microplastics From Veins
Microplastics are particles ranging from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters in diameter, and nanoplastics, which are even smaller, are found in virtually every environment on Earth, from mountain peaks to ocean depths, and from the smallest animals in the food chain to human brain cells. These particles can originate from the breakdown of larger plastic items or be intentionally manufactured for use in products, such as cosmetics, synthetic fabrics, and pharmaceuticals. Recent studies suggest that the human brain may contain up to a teaspoon of microplastics and nanoplastics, with the tiniest fragments primarily composed of polyethylene, the same material commonly used in plastic bags and food packaging. These particles have been detected in areas such as the walls of blood vessels in the brain and within immune cells. However, it remains unclear whether microplastics contribute to the progression of neurological diseases or whether these conditions render the brain more susceptible to particle infiltration. In animal studies involving fish and rodents, prolonged exposure to nanoplastics has been linked to memory impairment, brain inflammation, and alterations in synaptic protein levels. Beyond the brain, microplastics have been found in human feces, arterial plaques, and even the placenta. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine linked the presence of microplastics in the arteries to a heightened risk for heart attack, stroke, and overall mortality. Therapeutic Apheresis According to a preliminary study published in Brain Medicine by researchers at Technische Universität Dresden in Dresden, Germany, therapeutic apheresis, a medical procedure that filters tiny particles from the blood, may help remove microplastics from the human body. The technique can capture particles as small as 200 nanometers, which is approximately 5000 times smaller than a millimeter. In this study, the researchers evaluated the procedure in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. They analyzed the waste fluid discarded during apheresis using a specialized infrared spectroscopy technique. The analysis detected substances that matched the chemical signatures of polyamide and polyurethane, two common types of industrial plastics. This suggests that microplastics may have been successfully removed from the blood of patients during the procedure. Notably, this study did not measure the total amount of microplastics removed or compare their levels in patients before and after apheresis. What has been demonstrated so far is the presence of microplastics in the waste material discarded by the device — an observation that suggests, but does not yet confirm, the effective removal of these substances from the human body. Researchers have cautioned that the detected materials may reflect chemical structures common to proteins, meaning that further analysis is required to verify the exact nature of the removed particles. Nonetheless, the findings offer hope to researchers seeking to address the growing accumulation of microplastics in the human body. The authors recommended conducting studies with larger groups and quantitative analyses comparing the levels of microplastics in the blood before and after the procedures. The authors concluded that 'such analyses will help determine particle removal from blood and tissues and assess correlations with symptom improvement in conditions like myalgia encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.' Alternative Approaches Currently, evidence that microplastics are effectively removed from the human body after ingestion is limited. A 2011 study examined bisphenol A (BPA) levels in blood, sweat, and urine samples from 20 individuals. In 16 cases, BPA appeared only in sweat, suggesting that induced perspiration may help eliminate certain compounds from the body. However, more studies are needed to assess its long-term safety and efficacy. 'That is why we focus on reducing exposure to microplastics in the first place,' said Nicholas Fabiano, MD, a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and co-author of a related article in Brain Medicine . The challenge of this research began with tracking the effects of microplastic particles. 'From a clinical perspective, it is very difficult to establish a direct link between exposure to microplastics and adverse health outcomes,' said Fabiano. To address this, he advocated the creation of new tools to measure dietary risks, such as a dietary microplastic index. 'We propose the development of a Dietary Microplastic Index that could be integrated with existing dietary risk assessment tools to estimate microplastic exposure based on the types of food consumed,' he said.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A chilling risk of recreational nitrous oxide use: Frostbite
Recreational use of nitrous oxide — often referred to as whippets or laughing gas — left a 23-year-old with frostbite in his mouth and throat, according to a report of the man's case published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Recreational nitrous oxide use has been on the rise in recent years: Data from America's Poison Centers shows a nearly 60% increase in reports of intentional exposure to the drug from 2023 to 2024. The Food and Drug Administration has issued several warnings advising people against inhaling nitrous oxide products, which are often marketed to be used to make whipped cream. Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in the skin and deeper tissues, damaging cells and disrupting blood flow. Dr. Michael Patrizio, associate director of acute care at the University of Virginia, said getting frostbite in the mouth and throat from inhaling nitrous oxide is rare, but not unheard of. The patient told Patrizio that his painful swallowing and hoarseness started immediately after he inhaled nitrous oxide directly from a canister two days prior. White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat. 'Had he not been forthcoming with that information, that probably wouldn't have been something that crossed my mind,' said Patrizio, who saw the man at the campus's outpatient clinic and was a co-author of the case report. 'I would have thought a viral infection — mono, strep throat — or an STI in the throat.' When a compressed gas expands, it can cool to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit — this is why compressed gas is used to cool refrigerators. Canisters of compressed nitrous oxide work in the same way. When the gas is released, it cools, sometimes drastically. 'This has the potential to cause frostbite,' Dr. Cara Borelli, an addiction medicine physician at Yale University, said in an email. Borelli wasn't involved with the patient's case. Surgeons use compressed nitrous oxide to perform ablations, a procedure that uses extreme cold or heat to remove tissue. 'If you have someone using drugs in an uncontrolled setting, you may certainly be doing damage to tissue that you don't want to be doing damage to,' said Dr. Jeffrey Ruwe, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic who wasn't involved with the man's case. Overall, cases of frostbite from nitrous oxide canisters are rare, though they are likely underreported, Patrizio said. More commonly than in the mouth and throat, illicit nitrous oxide use leads to frostbite burns on the thighs and hands, since people hold chilled canisters and fill balloons with the gas, which allows the gas to warm before people inhale it. Frostbite can be serious — at least several people have required skin grafts and surgery due to nitrous oxide burns on their legs and hands — however 'that's not really the risk people think of,' Patrizio said. The more common risks of recreational nitrous oxide use include a ruptured lung, from inhaling the gas too deeply, and a lack of oxygen in the brain, he said. It can also cause vitamin deficiencies that can lead to potentially fatal neurological problems. 'Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12, meaning that the body's B12 does not function as it is supposed to,' Borelli said. The body uses vitamin B12 to synthesize myelin, a substance made from fats and proteins that surrounds and insulates nerves. If this sheath breaks down, it can cause serious neurological issues. After chronic use, nitrous oxide can cause nervous system and brain changes that can progress from weakness and unsteadiness to paralysis. 'That's very real,' Ruwe said. Patrizio told his frostbitten patient to use over-the-counter pain medication, lidocaine and a steroid paste to reduce inflammation and swelling while his frostbite healed. Ruwe said this may not be the case for everyone. 'Frostbite is very, very rare, but if inhaled directly from a higher-pressure tank, or if it causes airway swelling, it could be time-sensitive and potentially deadly,' he said. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New AI tool is better than doctors at diagnosing complicated medical issues, Microsoft says
Microsoft said it is one step closer to 'medical superintelligence' after a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool beat doctors at diagnosing complex medical problems. Tech giants are racing to develop superintelligence, which refers to an AI system that exceeds human intellectual abilities in every way – and they're promising to use it to upend healthcare systems around the world. For the latest experiment, Microsoft tested an AI diagnostic system against 21 experienced physicians, using real-world case studies from 304 patients that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading medical journal. The AI tool correctly diagnosed up to 85.5 per cent of cases – roughly four times more than the group of doctors from the United Kingdom and the United States, who had between five and 20 years of experience. Related As AI reshapes patient care, human nurses are pushing back against its creeping influence The model was also cheaper than human doctors, ordering fewer scans and tests to reach the correct diagnosis, the analysis found. Microsoft said the findings indicate that AI models can reason through complex diagnostic problems that stump physicians, who specialise in their fields but are not experts in every aspect of medicine. However, AI 'can blend both breadth and depth of expertise, demonstrating clinical reasoning capabilities that, across many aspects of clinical reasoning, exceed those of any individual physician,' Microsoft executives said in a press release. 'This kind of reasoning has the potential to reshape healthcare'. Microsoft does not see AI replacing doctors anytime soon, saying the tools will instead help physicians automate some routine tasks, personalise patients' treatment, and speed up diagnoses. Microsoft's AI system made diagnoses by mimicking a doctor's process of collecting a patient's details, ordering tests, and eventually narrowing down a medical diagnosis. A 'gatekeeper agent' had information from the patient case studies. It interacted with a 'diagnostic orchestrator' that asked questions and ordered tests, receiving results from the real-world workups. Related Is AI going to steal your job? Probably not, new study finds The company tested the system with leading AI models, including GPT, Llama, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek. OpenAI's o3 model, which is integrated into ChatGPT, correctly solved 85.5 per cent of the patient cases, compared to an average of 20 per cent among the group of 21 experienced doctors. The researchers published their findings online as a preprint article, meaning it has not yet been peer-reviewed. Microsoft also acknowledged some key limitations, notably that the AI tool has only been tested for complicated health problems, not more common, everyday issues. Related AI to shape EU health policymaking without new rules The panel of doctors also worked without access to their colleagues, textbooks, or other tools that they might typically use when making diagnoses. 'This was done to enable a fair comparison to raw human performance,' Microsoft said. The company called for more real-world evidence on AI's potential in health clinics, and said it will 'rigorously test and validate these approaches' before making them more widely available.
