Health

Alzheimer’s disease Affects 5 People in the UK After Decades Of Medical Treatment

Published

10 months ago

January 30, 2024

Arsi2021

Alzheimer's disease Affects 5 People in the UK After Decades Of Medical Treatment

(CTN News) – New research shows five people in the UK were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from decades-old medical treatment.

It’s the first known case of medically acquired AD in living people, but outside experts say the findings need to be interpreted carefully.

A pituitary gland from cadavers (c-hGH) was used to treat the individuals as children. 30,000 people, mostly children, got treatment with c-hGH between 1958 and 1985 for genetic disorders and growth hormone deficiency.

After three Americans who received the treatment died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) after batches of c-hGH contaminated with disease-causing prions, the therapy was stopped in 1985.

A couple of years ago, the researchers discovered that c-hGH batches also contained amyloid-beta protein, which could be transmitted decades later. Researchers and clinicians at a prion clinic led by one of the lead researchers referred or reviewed these five cases.

Researchers say there are no reports of amyloid-beta being transmitted through other medical or surgical procedures, and there’s no evidence that amyloid-beta can spread in daily activities.

“However, the recognition of amyloid-beta transmission in these rare situations should lead us to review measures to prevent accidental transmission via other medical or surgical procedures, to prevent such cases from happening again,” a press release said. John Collinge, MD, director of UCL’s Institute of Prion Diseases and head of the National Prion Clinic, is the lead author.

“We also found that Alzheimer’s and some other neurological conditions share similar disease processes to CJD, which could be important for understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease,” Collinge said.

Nature Medicine published the findings online on January 29.

A previous 2015 study found that archived c-hGH samples were also contaminated with amyloid-beta protein. A study in 2018 showed that c-hGH samples stored for decades could still transmit amyloid-beta.

They said the findings suggested that people who didn’t die from CJD might develop AD after being exposed to contaminated c-hGH.

Between 2017 and 2022, patients at the National Prion Clinic in the UK developed neurologic symptoms consistent with AD.

Between 2017 and 2022, expert doctors referred or reviewed the cases. The clinic coordinates the National Prion Monitoring Cohort, a longitudinal study of people with confirmed prion diseases.

Three patients were diagnosed with AD before referral; two met the criteria for AD diagnosis, and three did not meet the criteria. Three of the patients, two of whom had AD, died.

In the study, c-hGH was prepared using Wilhelmi or Hartree-modified Wilhelmi preparation (HWP).

Another two cases showed progressive brain volume loss on brain imaging, elevated total tau and phosphorylated tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and amyloid-beta deposits on autopsy.

Different patients showed up for the study. Some were not symptomatic, while others didn’t meet current Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic criteria.

Treatment duration and frequency differed among them, as did their ages at the start and end of treatment. Other factors likely contributed to the different phenotypes recorded in individuals, researchers said.

Researchers examined and ruled out other factors that might explain the individuals’ cognitive symptoms, including childhood intellectual disability linked with dementia risk and growth hormone deficiency, which led to c-hGH treatment and cranial radiotherapy for four of the individuals.

All five cases with samples available for testing were also ruled out for inherited diseases.

The authors write that all the patients in this study were treated with HWP c-hGH. We conclude that the findings observed are most plausible if [amyloid-beta] transmission is the most plausible explanation given the strong experimental evidence for [amyloid-beta] transmission from HWP c-hGH batches.”

AD is thought to have three etiologies, like other prion diseases: sporadic, inherited, and rare acquired forms.

“Alzheimer’s disease should now be recognized as a potentially transmissible disease because of the clinical syndrome that these people developed,” the authors wrote.

“As with human prion diseases, we found that iatrogenic Alzheimer’s disease differs phenotypically from sporadic and inherited forms. There are protective factors that aren’t known, but some people remain asymptomatic despite exposure to [amyloid-beta] seeds,” they wrote.

A companion editorial was written by Mathias Jucker, PhD, of the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, and Lary C. Emory University’s Department of Neurology’s Dr Walker said they should be taken with a measure of scepticism..”

“These are complex and diverse cases; all of the people involved had been treated for a variety of illnesses earlier in life, and it’s hard to exclude that these circumstances contributed to their complicated disease phenotypes,” they wrote.

They say, “There are good reasons to take the findings seriously.”

“It reinforces the potential of amyloid-[beta] seeds for early prevention, as well as the need for informed caution when handling surgical instruments, tissues, and therapeutic biologics, particularly those from people.”

Study Reveals Cases of Medically Acquired Alzheimer’s Disease in the UK

According to Christopher Weber, PhD, director of global science initiatives for the Alzheimer’s Association, the idea that amyloid-beta is transmissible between people has been proven before.

By injecting amyloid-beta into an animal’s brain, we’ve known for a long time that it’s possible to make amyloid buildup like Alzheimer’s.

Moreover, we transfer human Alzheimer’s genes into animals to cause brain changes that look like Alzheimer’s. “Thus, the idea of amyloid being transferable between people isn’t as new as the new paper suggests.”

Weber said that the study highlights the importance of safety measures to prevent accidental transmission of amyloid-beta.

Scientists and clinicians need to understand the possible risks and ensure all transmission methods are eliminated, such as sterilizing surgical instruments completely and conscientiously, he says.

Ultimately, we shouldn’t put amyloid-beta in people’s brains, either accidentally or on purpose, and we must ensure we don’t do it.

Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), University College of London Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and Stroke Association funded the study. Jucker and Walker report no conflicts of interest. Collinge’s stockholder and director is D-Gen, Ltd., an academic spin-off company that diagnoses, decontaminates, and cures prion diseases.

Up Next

HFEA Launches Online Tool For Comparing NHS Funding for Fertility Treatments Across the UK

Don't Miss

Hepatitis A May Be Spread At ShopRite, Says Philadelphia’s Health Department

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

Published

2 months ago

October 7, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

Published

2 months ago

October 6, 2024

VORNews

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP