Day: April 14, 2025

Categories : Healthcare Politics and RegulationsTags :

Government Announces 1200 New Doctor Positions – But Nursing Loses out

On By ModernMedia

In a move that will come as a relief for the hundreds of unemployed doctors currently seeking positions within public healthcare, the Department of Health has announced the creation of 1650 new positions for healthcare professionals. The move includes 1200 new positions for doctors – but only 200 for nurses.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement at a media briefing on Thursday 10 April.

“We believe we’re in a position to announce today that the council has approved the advertisement of 1200 jobs for doctors, 200 for nurses and 250 for other healthcare professionals,” Motsoaledi stated. This would come with a cost of R1.78 billion – out of a healthcare budget that has not risen in line with inflation.

Jobless doctors picketed earlier this year as more than 1800 were left in limbo without positions – the true number is likely higher. The South African Medical Association (SAMA) had sent an urgent letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, warning that if the problem was not addressed, doctors would leave for the private sector or emigrate, leading to the collapse of the public healthcare sector.

The road to specialisation had also been made more challenging by the shortage of positions, with junior doctors have been taking unpaid roles. Such unpaid work does not count toward the registrar component of specialisation and largely only serves to bump up the doctor’s CV by, for example, enabling them to apply for diplomas. Hiring freezes also saw GPs unable to move into government positions, and the limited number of registrar positions has also by some accounts become a bottleneck, with no additional registrar positions added for the past 10–15 years.

Regarding the loss of US funding for HIV programmes, he said that there was a buffer of stock for ARVS, and that “no person needing ARVs would lack” those drugs.

But the small number of new nurse positions was not well received. The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) was particularly unimpressed given the pressure on overburdened nurses.

DENOSA spokesperson Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni said, “In the face of a nationwide crisis of nurse shortages, this announcement is not only shockingly inadequate but downright insulting to the nursing fraternity.”

Calling it a “slap in the face”, she continued: “The shortage of nurses in South Africa is nothing short of a devastating crisis. The Free State alone faces a 28% vacancy rate, and similar figures are reflected in other provinces such as the Eastern Cape. National projections estimate that South Africa could be short by over 100 000 nurses by 2030 if urgent interventions are not made.”

DENOSA plans to “name and shame” institutions that have become “dangerous to communities” as a result of unresolved poor conditions.

Categories : Exercise NeurologyTags :

Myelin Becomes a Nutrient of Last Resort for the Brain

On By ModernMedia
Myelin sheath damage. Credit: Scientific Animations CC4.0

According to a study published by Nature Metabolism, marathon runners experience reversible changes in their brain myelin. These findings indicate that myelin exhibits previously unknown behaviour, which contributes towards the brain’s energy metabolism when other sources of energy are running low. Understanding how myelin in the runners recovers quickly may provide clues for developing treatments for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Exercise for a long period of time forces the human body to resort to its energy reserves. When running a marathon, for example, the body mainly consumes carbohydrates, such as glycogen, as a source of energy, but it resorts to fats when the glycogen in the muscles is used up. Myelin, which surrounds neurons in the brain and acts as an electrical insulator, mainly comprises lipids, and previous research in rodents suggests that these lipids can act as an energy reserve in extreme metabolic conditions.

A study conducted by researchers from the UPV/EHU, CIC biomaGUNE and IIS Biobizkaia shows that people who run a marathon experience a decrease in the amount of myelin in certain regions of the brain. According to the study, this effect is completely reversed two months after the marathon.

Carlos Matute, Professor of Anatomy and Human Embriology at the UPV/EHU and a researcher at IIS Biobizkaia, and Pedro Ramos-Cabrer, Ikerbasque Research Professor at CIC biomaGUNE, together with Alberto Cabrera-Zubizarreta, radiologist at HT Médica, used magnetic resonance imaging to obtain images of the brains of ten marathon runners (eight men and two women) before and 48 hours after the 42-kilometre race. Likewise, the researchers took images of the brains of two of the runners two weeks after the race, and of six runners two months after the race as a follow-up.

By measuring the fraction of myelin water in the brain – an indirect indicator of the amount of myelin – the authors discovered “a reduction in the myelin content in 12 areas of white matter in the brain, which are related to motor coordination and sensory and emotional integration”, explained Carlos Matute. Two weeks later, “the myelin concentrations had increased substantially, but had not yet reached pre-race levels”, added Pedro Ramos. The authors saw that the myelin content had recovered fully two months after the marathon.

Myelin, the brain’s fuel

The researchers concluded that “myelin seems to act as an energy source when other brain nutrients are depleted during endurance exercise, and that further research is needed to establish how extreme exercise is related to the amount of myelin in the brain. Trials in a larger cohort are needed”, said Ramos-Cabrer.

This study reveals that “brain energy metabolism is more complex than previously thought. The use of myelin as brain fuel opens up new insights into the brain’s energy requirements”, explained Matute. Furthermore, according to the authors, more studies are needed to assess whether these changes exert any effect on the neurophysiological and cognitive functions associated with these regions, but they point out that most of the myelin in the brain is not affected.

The results of this work break new ground in the energy role of healthy, aging and diseased myelin in the brain. “Understanding how the myelin in the runners recovers quickly may provide clues for developing treatments for demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, in which the disappearance of myelin and, therefore, of its energy contribution, facilitates structural damage and degeneration,” said Matute. At the same time, the researchers are keen to stress that running marathons is not harmful for the brain; “on the contrary, the use and replacement of myelin as an energy reserve is beneficial because this exercises the brain’s metabolic machinery”.

Source: University of the Basque Country

Categories : COVIDTags :

Certain Nasal Bacteria May Boost the Risk for COVID-19 Infection

On By ModernMedia
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – Credit: CDC

A new study from researchers at the George Washington University has found that certain bacteria living in the nose may influence how likely someone is to get a COVID-19 infection. Published in EBioMedicine, the research reveals that certain types of nasal bacteria can affect the levels of key proteins the virus needs to enter human cells, offering new insight into why some people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.

“We’ve known that the virus SARS-CoV-2 enters the body through the respiratory tract, with the nose being a key entry point. What’s new – and surprising – is that bacteria in our noses can influence the levels of proteins that the virus uses to infect cells,” said Cindy Liu, associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Higher Gene Expression of Viral Entry Proteins Increases COVID-19 Infection Risk

In the study, Liu and her team analysed nasal swab samples from over 450 people, including some who later tested positive for COVID-19. They found that those who became infected had higher levels of gene expression for two key proteins: ACE2 and TMPRSS2. ACE2 allows the virus to enter nasal cells, while TMPRSS2 helps activate the virus by cleaving its spike protein.

Those with high expression for these proteins were more than three times as likely to test positive for COVID-19, while those with moderate levels had double the risk. The study also found that people who became infected had more unstable levels of gene expression, with the sharpest increases just days before testing positive, suggesting rising expression levels may signal increased vulnerability to the virus.

Notably, while women generally had higher gene expression levels of these proteins – consistent with previous studies showing higher COVID-19 infection rates in women – men with higher levels were more likely to get infected, indicating elevated protein levels may present a greater risk for men.

Nasal Bacteria May Play a Role in COVID-19 Risk

To understand what could impact the expression levels of these viral entry proteins, the researchers turned to the nasal microbiome – the diverse community of bacteria that naturally reside in the nose. They found that certain nasal bacteria may affect the expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, influencing the respiratory tract’s susceptibility to COVID-19.

The study identified three common nasal bacteria – Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis/nonliquefaciens – that were linked to higher expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and increased COVID-19 risk. On the other hand, Dolosigranulum pigrum, another common type of nasal bacteria, was connected to lower levels of these key proteins and may offer some protection against the virus.

“Some bacteria in your nose may be setting the stage – or even holding the door open – for viruses like SARS-CoV-2 to get in,” said Daniel. Park, a senior research scientist at GW and the first author of the study.

While some of the high-risk bacteria were less common, 20% of participants carried enough S. aureus to nearly double their risk for having elevated ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression, making it a major nasal microbiome risk factor for increasing individuals’ risk for COVID-19 infection.

Why This Matters

The findings offer new potential ways to predict and prevent COVID-19 infection. The study suggests that monitoring ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression could help identify individuals at higher risk for infection. The research also highlights the potential of targeting the nasal microbiome to help prevent viral infections.

“We’re only beginning to understand the complex relationship between the nasal microbiome and our health,” said Liu. “This study suggests that the bacteria in our nose – and how they interact with the cells and immune system in our nasal cavity – could play an important role in determining our risk for respiratory infections like COVID-19.”

The team plans to explore whether modifying the nasal microbiome, such as through nasal sprays or live biotherapeutics, could reduce the risk of infection – potentially paving the way for new ways to prevent respiratory viral infections in future pandemics.

Source: George Washington University

Categories : Pain ManagementTags :

Medicinal Cannabis is Linked to Long-term Benefits in Health-related Quality of Life, Study Finds

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Kindel Media on Unsplash

Patients prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia maintained improvements in overall health-related quality of life (HRQL), fatigue, and sleep disturbance across a one-year period, according to a study published April 2, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Margaret-Ann Tait from The University of Sydney, Australia, and colleagues. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain also improved over time for those with corresponding health conditions.

Research into the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis has increased since the discovery of the analgesic properties in cannabis plant compounds. In 2016, advocacy groups lobbied the Australian government to bring about legislation changes that allow patients who were not responding to conventional treatment to access medicinal cannabis with a prescription from clinicians. More than one million new patients in Australia have received medicinal cannabis prescriptions for more than 200 health conditions.

A multicenter prospective study called the QUEST initiative (QUality of life Evaluation STudy) recruited adult patients with any chronic health condition newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil between November 2020 and December 2021. Tait and colleagues gathered 12-month follow-up data to determine if previously reported improvements at three months would be maintained long-term. Of 2744 consenting participants who completed baseline assessments, 2353 also completed at least one follow-up questionnaire and were included in analyses, with completion rates declining to 778/2353 (38%) at 12 months. Participants with clinician-diagnosed conditions completed questionnaires covering condition-specific symptoms, and HRQL, which encompasses physical, emotional, social, and cognitive function, as well as bodily discomfort.

The researchers found that short-term improvements in overall HRQL reported at three months were maintained over a 12-month period in patients prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia. People with chronic health conditions reported improvements in fatigue, pain, and sleep. Patients with anxiety, depression, insomnia, or chronic pain diagnoses also showed improvements in condition-specific symptoms over 12 months. Patients treated for generalized anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, and PTSD all showed improvements in HRQL. Participants with movement disorders had improved HRQL but no significant improvements in upper extremity function scores.

The study was large enough to assess patients across a wide range of chronic conditions and socio-demographics in a real-world setting. However, without a control group, it was not possible to confidently attribute changes over time to medicinal cannabis.

Despite this limitation, the results suggest that prescribing medicinal cannabis to patients with chronic health conditions may improve pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression and overall HRQL. The findings also suggest that any improvements would be apparent quickly and maintained long-term. According to the authors, the results from this study contribute to the emerging evidence base to inform decision making both in clinical practice and at the policy level.

The authors add: “This is promising news for patients who are not responding to conventional medicines for these conditions.”

Provided by PLOS

Categories : NeurologyTags :

Alleviating Motion Sickness with a Unique Sound

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Researchers at Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine has discovered that using “a unique sound stimulation technology” – a device that stimulates the inner ear with a specific wavelength of sound – reduces motion sickness. Even a single minute of stimulation reduced the staggering and discomfort felt by people that read in a moving vehicle. The results, published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, suggest a simple and effective way to treat this common disorder.

“Our study demonstrated that short-term stimulation using a unique sound called ‘sound spice®’ alleviates symptoms of motion sickness, such as nausea and dizziness,” said study leader Takumi Kagawa. “The effective sound level falls within the range of everyday environmental noise exposure, suggesting that the sound technology is both effective and safe.”

The discovery is an important expansion of recent findings about sound and its effect on the inner ear. Increasing evidence has suggested that stimulating the part of the inner ear associated with balance using a unique sound can potentially improve balance. Using a mouse model and humans, the researchers identified a unique sound at 100Hz as being the optimal frequency.

“Vibrations at the unique sound stimulate the otolithic organs in the inner ear, which detect linear acceleration and gravity,” study leader Masashi Kato explained. “This suggests that a unique sound stimulation can broadly activate the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.”

To test the effectiveness of the devices, they recruited voluntary participants who were exposed to the unique sound. Following the stimulation, motion sickness was induced by a swing, a driving simulator, or riding in a car. The researchers used postural control, ECG readings, and Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire results to assess the effectiveness of the stimulation.

Exposure to the unique sound before being exposed to the driving simulator enhanced sympathetic nerve activation. The researchers found symptoms such as “lightheadedness” and “nausea,” which are often seen with motion sickness, were alleviated.

“These results suggest that activation of sympathetic nerves, which are often dysregulated in motion sickness, was objectively improved by the unique sound exposure,” Kato said.

“The health risk of short-term exposure to our unique sound is minimal,” Kagawa said. “Given that the stimulus level is well below workplace noise safety standards, this stimulation is expected to be safe when used properly.”

Their results suggest a safe and effective way to improve motion sickness, potentially offering help to millions of sufferers. The researchers plan to further develop the technology with the aim of practical application for a variety of travel situations including air and sea travel.

Source: Nagoya University