Latest news with #UniversityofWashington
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Breakthrough for MALE birth control pill: Experimental hormone–free tablet passes its first safety test in men
For decades, the responsibility of taking a birth control pill has been placed firmly on the shoulders of women. But that could soon change – as an experimental pill for men that works by blocking sperm production has just passed its first safety test in humans. The hormone–free contraceptive tablet, called YCT–529, has already been found to prevent 99 per cent of pregnancies during experiments in mice. It works by blocking access to vitamin A in the testes, preventing sperm production without affecting testosterone levels – meaning libido is not impacted. The male pill, which experts hope will be available this decade, is the only one currently being tested in humans. For the latest trial, researchers recruited 16 men who were put on different doses of the pill across several days. Instead of testing how effective it was in humans – all of the men had undergone vasectomies – the aim was to discover if there were any side–effects. Analysis revealed there were no concerning changes in heart rate, hormone function, inflammation, mood or sexual function. Next, the team will test the pill in larger trials that will look at how effective it is in preventing sperm production in humans. The results of the safety trial, published in the journal Communications Medicine, are a critical first step toward getting the pill approved, experts said. 'We really need more reversible contraceptive methods for men,' Dr Stephanie Page, an endocrinologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine and who wasn't involved in the study, told Scientific American. Currently, the other male birth control options are vasectomies – a surgical procedure that involves cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles – or condoms. Vasectomies, also known as 'the snip', can be reversed but the success rate of reversal procedures vary widely. Earlier tests in male primates also found the drug lowered sperm counts within just two weeks. Crucially, both mice and non–human primates fully regained fertility after stopping the drug and no side effects were detected in either species. Mice regained fertility within six weeks, while non–human primates fully recovered their sperm count in 10 to 15 weeks. How does it work? Researchers have understood for decades that vitamin A is essential for male fertility. YCT–529 is a retinoic acid receptor–alpha (RAR–a) inhibitor that prevents production of sperm cells in the testes as well as their release. It does this by blocking RAR–alpha – one of three nuclear receptors that bind retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A. YCT–529 is being worked on as part of a collaboration between University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Columbia University in New York and San Francisco–based firm YourChoice Therapeutics. 'A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control,' Gunda Georg, chemist and pharmacist at the University of Minnesota, said earlier this year. 'It will allow a more equitable sharing of responsibility for family planning and provide reproductive autonomy for men.' Both the animal studies and the human trial results suggest that the approved pill would likely be taken once a day, but further trials will confirm that dosing. 'The positive results from this first clinical trial laid the groundwork for a second trial, where men receive YCT–529 for 28 days and 90 days, to study safety and changes in sperm parameters,' the study authors wrote in their paper, published in the journal Communications Medicine. Currently, around a quarter of women who use contraception take an oral birth control pill, but there are no equivalent methods available for men. If the male pill proves to be as effective in humans as it is in mice, it would be on a par with the female birth control medication. Lead author and YourChoice Therapeutics' Chief Science Officer Nadja Mannowetz said: 'A peer–reviewed publication for our first–in–human study reinforces YCT–529's strong safety profile. 'It also shows "the Pill for men" had no effect on sexual desire or mood.' Nearly half of all pregnancies globally are unintended, suggesting an urgent need for more male contraceptive options. There is also high demand for new methods. A recent study showed men are very interested in using new male contraceptive options and women are confident they'll take them correctly. 'Studies and surveys continue to show that men want to share the burden of pregnancy prevention with their partners,' Akash Bakshi, CEO of YourChoice Therapeutics, said. 'But they have just one non–permanent contraceptive option—condoms—and it's 170 years old. Innovation is long overdue. 'Data show men favour an oral contraceptive and one that's hormone–free, positioning YCT–529 as potentially transformative for a healthcare segment that's been stagnant for more than a century and a half.' Women have several birth control options available including short–term rapid methods like birth control pills and patches and a contraceptive cap or diaphragm. They also have long–term options such as implants, which produce hormones that stop the release of an egg. Some opt for an intrauterine device – a T–shaped device placed into the uterus to prevent an egg from implanting. The birth control pill or patches are about 93 per cent effective at preventing pregnancies. However long–term devices like the intrauterine device are more than 99 per cent effective. There have been few changes in male contraception compared with the range of options available to women. Although there's ongoing research into a male contraceptive pill, there is not one available yet. At the moment, the 2 contraceptive methods available to men are: Condoms – a barrier form of contraception that stops sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg Vasectomy – a minor, usually permanent, surgical procedure that stops sperm from reaching the semen ejaculated from the penis The withdrawal method of taking your penis out of your partner's vagina before ejaculating is not a method of contraception. This is because sperm can be released before ejaculation and cause pregnancy.
France 24
8 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
South Korea sees record birth rate growth for Jan-May
The country has one of the world's longest life expectancies and lowest birth rates -- a combination that presents a looming demographic challenge. Seoul has poured billions of dollars into efforts to encourage women to have more children and maintain population stability. "The number of newborns for the January–May period stood at 106,048, a 6.9 percent increase, the highest growth rate since such data collection began in 1981," said Kang hyun-young from Statistics Korea. The surge follows South Korea's first annual increase in the number of births in more than a decade, driven by a rise in marriages. In 2024, the number of newborns rose by 8,300, or 3.6 percent, to 238,300 from the previous year. April in particular saw a spike, with year-on-year growth reaching 8.7 percent and the number of births totalling 20,717 that month. The latest figure marks a sharp turnaround from early 2024, when the number of births for the January–May period dropped by 2.7 percent from the previous year. The fertility rate, or the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, for May stood at 0.75. The country needs a fertility rate of 2.1 children in order to maintain the country's population of 51 million. At current rates, the population will nearly halve to 26.8 million by 2100, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle. Marriage correlation The increase is attributable "to a rise in the number of women in their early 30s, leading to an overall increase in marriages", Kang told AFP. "In South Korea, there is a strong correlation between marriage and childbirth, which has driven the increase in births during the first five months," she added. In 2024, the country saw a 14.8 percent on-year increase in the number of marriages, with more than 220,000 couples tying the knot. Many government benefits designed to support child-rearing do not cover parents who are not legally married. Analysts say there are multiple reasons for the low birth rate, from high child-rearing costs and property prices to a notoriously competitive society that makes well-paid jobs difficult to secure. The double burden for working mothers of managing the brunt of household chores and childcare while also maintaining their careers is another key factor, they say. In a bid to reverse the trend, the South Korean government offers cash subsidies, babysitting services, and support for infertility treatment. Neighbouring Japan is grappling with the same issue -- it has the world's second-oldest population after Monaco, and the country's relatively strict immigration rules mean it faces growing labour shortages.
NBC News
20 hours ago
- Health
- NBC News
The pandemic aged our brains, whether we got Covid or not, study finds
Brain aging may have sped up during the pandemic, even in people who didn't get sick from Covid, a new study suggests. Using brain scans from a very large database, British researchers determined that during the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, people's brains showed signs of aging, including shrinkage, according to the report published in Nature Communications. People who got infected with the virus also showed deficits in certain cognitive abilities, such as processing speed and mental flexibility. The aging effect 'was most pronounced in males and those from more socioeconomically deprived backgrounds,' said the study's first author, Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, a neuroimaging researcher at the University of Nottingham, via email. 'It highlights that brain health is not shaped solely by illness, but also by broader life experiences.' Overall, the researchers found a 5.5-month acceleration in aging associated with the pandemic. On average, the difference in brain aging between men and women was small, about 2.5 months. 'We don't yet know exactly why, but this fits with other research suggesting that men may be more affected by certain types of stress or health challenges,' Mohammadi-Nejad said. Brains shrink as people age. When gray matter shrinks prematurely, it can lead to memory loss or judgment problems, although the pandemic study doesn't show whether people with structural changes will eventually develop cognitive deficits. The study wasn't designed to pinpoint specific causes. 'But it is likely that the cumulative experience of the pandemic—including psychological stress, social isolation, disruptions in daily life, reduced activity and wellness—contributed to the observed changes,' Mohammadi-Nejad said. 'In this sense, the pandemic period itself appears to have left a mark on our brains, even in the absence of infection.' An earlier study on how teenagers' brains were affected by the pandemic discovered a similar result. The 2024 research from the University of Washington found that boys' brains had aged the equivalent of 1.4 years extra during the pandemic, while girls aged an extra 4.2 years. In the new study, Mohammadi-Nejad and his team turned to the UK Biobank, a massive database which launched in 2006, to determine whether the pandemic had any impact on people's brains. The database has been keeping track of anonymous health data from 500,000 volunteers who were recruited between 2006 and 2010, when the participants were between 40 to 69 years old. Thus far, the biobank has collected 100,000 whole body scans. To develop a baseline model of normal aging, to compare with what might have occurred during the pandemic years, the researchers used imaging data from 15,334 healthy individuals that had been collected prior to the pandemic. 'We used this large dataset to teach our model what typical, healthy brain ageing looks like across the adult lifespan,' Mohammadi-Nejad explained. Next the researchers turned to a group of 996 participants who had two scans, the second taking place on average 2.3 years after the first. Of these participants, 564 had both scans prior to the pandemic, which helped the artificial intelligence learn how the brain changes when there is no pandemic. The other 432 had a second scan after the start of the pandemic, mostly between 2021 and 2022, allowing the researchers to investigate how the pandemic might have affected brain aging. Although these second scans were done later in the pandemic, 'they reflect brain changes that likely happened during the height of the pandemic, when people experienced the most disruption,' Mohammadi-Nejad said. Other research has suggested that environmental factors might cause a person's brain to age prematurely. One study conducted in the Antarctic tied living in relative isolation to brain shrinkage. 'The most intriguing finding in this study is that only those who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed any cognitive deficits, despite structural aging,' said Jacqueline Becker, a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 'This speaks a little to the effects of the virus itself.' And that may eventually help explain syndromes, such as long Covid and chronic fatigue, she said. What we don't know from this study is whether the structural brain changes observed in people who didn't get Covid will amount to any observable changes in brain function, Becker said. Adam Brickman, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said the study is a compelling narrative, but 'still a hypothesis.' It doesn't show whether the accelerated aging seen in people who didn't get Covid will persist long term, said Brickman, who was not involved with the study. If the brain indeed was changed by the pandemic in meaningful ways, then people might counter those changes by doing things that are healthy for the brain, he said. 'We know that exercise is good for the brain and keeping blood pressure at a healthy level, for example. We know that sleep and social interactions are important.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Warning as underwater volcano off US West Coast is rocked by 300 earthquakes: 'It could erupt any day'
A massive underwater volcano off the coast of Oregon has been rocked by hundreds of earthquakes a day, a sign that it could soon erupt. Axial Seamount, the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest, is nestled about 300 miles off the coastline and nearly a mile beneath the ocean's surface. Scientists have detected around 100 earthquakes per day, with recent peaks hitting 300 a day. Seismic activity is a sign magma is moving up through cracks in the volcano. The quakes are small, typically magnitude 1 or 2, and too far offshore for humans to feel, but they're frequent. William Wilcock, a professor of oceanography at the University of Washington, said: 'If this was a volcano in places where people lived, they would be evacuated.' Experts believe pressure is building, magma is on the move, and the stage may be set for an eruption similar to the spectacular one that occurred in 2015, which saw 500 quakes per day, then 1,000, and then 2,000. Since the magma is rising from deep within the Earth through a complicated and irregular pathway, the inflation has been less uniform and slower than in past eruptions, making this event harder to predict, Wilcock explained. 'We think there will be some warning,' Wilcock said. 'But then again… volcanoes do tend to surprise people.' The uncertainty means that the volcano by all appearances may erupt any day now, but researchers believe it's likelier the eruption will come by July 2026, or as late as May 2027. When Axial Seamount does erupt, the number of underwater quakes is expected to skyrocket, rising from a hundred per day right now to as many as 10,000 earthquakes within a 24-hour period, according to Interesting Engineering. At the heart of the volcano lies a magma chamber, a reservoir of molten rock half a mile beneath the seafloor. As magma rises, it inflates the chamber like a balloon, stressing the surrounding rock and triggering swarms of tiny earthquakes. Scientists have installed an array of ultra-sensitive sensors, including underwater seismometers and GPS stations, to monitor every shake and swell beneath the waves, but it's not just the earthquakes that have them on alert. Another warning sign is inflation, the slow swelling of the volcano as magma fills the chamber below. In 2015, Axial Seamount was inflating at two feet per year. Now, it's rising at about eight inches annually. That's still significant, but less predictable. 'This time, it's been very erratic,' Wilcock said. 'It inflated quickly, then almost completely stopped. That's what's made this eruption harder to predict.' When the volcano erupted a decade ago, lava came pouring out, producing 450-foot-thick lava flows. It also formed massive structures known as pillow lavas, bulbous tubes of molten rock that solidify quickly in seawater. Additionally, the eruption triggered roughly 8,000 earthquakes, causing the bottom of the ocean to sink nearly eight feet. This time, there's also the possibility that lava could erupt from a dike, a crack that pushes magma sideways through the Earth's crust rather than directly out of the seafloor. Emilie Hooft, a geophysicist at the University of Oregon, said: 'If that happens, the magma could travel laterally and erupt somewhere unexpected.' Due to the volcano's remote location, an eruption wouldn't threaten human life directly, but scientists are still watching it closely. The forecasting knowledge scientists have gained from studying the Axial Seamount could help them predict eruptions from nearby volcanos that do pose a risk to people. For example, Washington State's Mount Rainier is just 240 miles from the Axial Seamount. Mount Rainier has been one of the most active volcanos in the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Range, and a devastating eruption remains a real possibility in the near future. Experts have said that it is only a matter of time until Mount Rainier unleashes a deadly volcanic event upon the Pacific Northwest. This huge, active stratovolcano looms over nearly 90,000 people living in cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington, and Portland in Oregon.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Even a single slice of sausage a day can increase the risk of chronic diseases.
Bad news for sausage fans: According to a new study, even small amounts of processed meat can increase the risk of chronic diseases. A ham sandwich here, a snack salami there–what sounds harmless can lead to diabetes, coronary heart disease, or colon cancer. FITBOOK nutrition expert presents the study results to you. Processed meat products have long been suspected of promoting chronic diseases. However, the strength of the connection–and whether even small amounts are harmful–remained unclear until now. A research team led by Demewoz Haile from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington aimed to find out exactly that. The goal was to systematically quantify the impact of common food groups on the development of chronic diseases. Given that chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and colon cancer cause a significant disease burden worldwide, precise insights into diet-related risk factors are of great importance for public health.1 How the Researchers Proceeded The study was conducted as a so-called 'Burden of Proof' analysis–an advanced method based on systematic reviews (meta-analyses) and statistical modeling. The unique aspect: With this special method, the researchers were able to calculate dose-response relationships–that is, how much the risk increases with different consumption levels. They deliberately calculated conservatively to avoid overestimating effects. They used only existing data from large observational studies. What is the 'Burden of Proof' Method?The 'Burden of Proof' studies are a series of particularly elaborate meta-analyses developed by the IHME. They compile data from numerous observational studies and assess how strong and reliable the connection is between a risk factor (e.g., processed meat) and a disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes). The result is presented with a star system–from weak (one star) to strong evidence (five stars). The aim is to reduce scientific uncertainties and enable reliable statements for dietary recommendations. For the present study, data from a variety of prospective cohort studies and case-control studies were included, such as: 15 studies with over 1.1 million participants on the link between processed meat and type 2 diabetes 11 studies with over 1.17 million participants on processed meat and CHD 18 studies with over 2.67 million participants on processed meat and colon cancer Also interesting: The less meat in the diet, the lower … Even One Sausage a Day Is Too Much The analysis showed that even the smallest daily amounts of processed meat are associated with a measurable increase in disease risk–in all areas studied. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increased by an average of 11 percent with a daily intake of 0.6 to 57 grams. Assuming a person eats 50 grams per day (equivalent to two to three slices of cold cuts or a Vienna sausage), the risk increased by a whopping 30 percent. The results for colon cancer were similarly unfavorable. Here, a daily intake of 0.78 to 55 grams resulted in an average risk increase of seven percent. Those who eat 50 grams of processed meat daily have a 26 percent higher risk of colon cancer. For CHD, a daily 50-gram portion led to a 15 percent increase in risk. The study authors noted: The risk increased continuously with the amount–but particularly strongly at low, everyday amounts. Sugary Drinks and Trans Fats Also Showed a Negative Effect The authors also considered two other common food groups that showed a negative effect on the development of chronic diseases: sugary drinks and trans fats. The analysis included 19 studies on sugar-sweetened beverages and diabetes (563,444 participants), eight studies on CHD (961,176 participants), and 6 studies with 226,509 people on trans fats and CHD. The result: Consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., soft drinks) increased the risk of diabetes by 20 percent and CHD by seven percent when 250 grams were consumed daily. If trans fats (e.g., in croissants, fries, ready meals) made up one percent of daily energy intake, the risk of chronic diseases increased by 11 percent. Significance of the Results Even the smallest amounts of sausage, soft drinks, and trans fats can increase the risk of three of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Particularly critical: The steepest increase in risk occurred at low daily intake levels–areas that many people regularly consume. For everyday life, this means: Even those who 'moderately' indulge in processed meat or soft drinks may potentially expose themselves to an increased risk of disease. This result is also reflected in the 2024 updated recommendations of the German Nutrition Society. Instead of 600 grams, only 300 grams of meat and sausage can be consumed per week–if one wants to eat these foods at all. The DGE emphasizes: 'Even with a consumption of no or less than 300 grams of meat per week, the nutritional goals can be achieved.'2 For research, the study underscores the need to precisely capture dose-response relationships–not least to be able to provide realistic and effective dietary recommendations. Context and Possible Limitations The study uses an advanced methodology with systematic literature search and precise dose-response modeling. The 'Burden of Proof' method is among the most demanding approaches in nutritional epidemiology today. Also noteworthy is the transparency of the work: The data, methods, and codes are publicly accessible, and conflicts of interest have been disclosed and excluded. The work was peer-reviewed and published in 'Nature Medicine,' a renowned journal. However, there are limitations: The results are based on observational studies–studies that cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships but only show associations. These were each internally rated with only two stars, 'indicating weak associations or conflicting evidence and underscoring both the need for further research and–given the high burden of these chronic diseases–the advisability of continuing to limit the consumption of these foods,' the study authors conclude. Less Is More Small amounts of processed meat seem harmless, but they are not. The current study shows that small amounts of sausage and the like are enough to significantly increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, CHD, and colon cancer. Particularly insidious: The greatest risk increase occurs with small, everyday portions. So, if you want to do something good for your health in the long term, you might want to opt for the plant-based alternative at your next snack. Less is clearly more in this case–and sometimes even life-extending. The post Even a single slice of sausage a day can increase the risk of chronic diseases. appeared first on FITBOOK.
