Day: August 29, 2025

Categories : Cardiovascular DiseaseTags : Leave a comment

Inflammation Marker May ID Unaccounted-for Cardiovascular Risk in Women

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Teona Swift on Unsplash

Cardiologists have long known that up to half of all heart attacks and strokes occur among apparently healthy individuals who do not smoke and do not have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, the “standard modifiable risk factors” which doctors often call “SMuRFs.” How to identify risk among the “SMuRF-Less” has been an elusive goal in preventive cardiology, particularly in women who are often under-diagnosed and under-treated.

A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers that leverages data from the Women’s Health Study has found hsCRP, a marker of inflammation, can help identify women who are at risk but are missed by current screening algorithms. Results are presented at a late-breaking clinical science session at the European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) and simultaneously published in The European Heart Journal.

“Women who suffer from heart attacks and strokes yet have no standard modifiable risk factors are not identified by the risk equations doctors use in daily practice,” said Paul Ridker, MD, MPH, a preventive cardiologist at Mass General Brigham’s Heart and Vascular Institute. “Yet our data clearly show that apparently healthy women who are inflamed are at substantial lifetime risk. We should be identifying these women in their 40s, at a time when they can initiate preventive care, not wait for the disease to establish itself in their 70s when it is often too late to make a real difference.”

As part of the federally funded study, researchers studied 12 530 initially healthy women with no standard modifiable risk factors who had the inflammatory biomarker hsCRP measured at study entry and who were then followed over 30 years. Despite the lack of traditional risks, women who were inflamed as defined by hsCRP levels > 3 mg/L had a 77% increased lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, a 39% increased lifetime risk of stroke, and a 52% increased lifetime risk of any major cardiovascular event.

Additionally, researchers released a new analysis of randomised trial data showing that “SMuRF-Less but Inflamed” patients can reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke by 38% using statin therapy.

“While those with inflammation should aggressively initiate lifestyle and behavioural preventive efforts, statin therapy could also play an important role in helping reduce risk among these individuals,” said Ridker.

Source: Mass General Brigham

Categories : Cardiovascular Disease Mental HealthTags : Leave a comment

A Connection Between Mental Health and Heart Disease, Increased Mortality Risks

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Alex Green on Pexels

Every 34 seconds, someone in the United States dies from heart disease. As nearly half of the country suffers from some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), another 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, signalling an inevitable overlap.

Now, a new report from Emory University shows that certain mental health conditions escalate the risk of developing heart disease by 50–100% – and adverse outcomes from existing heart conditions by 60–170%.

The report, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, summarises cardiovascular health disparities among those diagnosed with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The article is part of a series aiming to raise awareness around disparities in CVD health in four populations: women, the elderly, racial minorities and those with mental health conditions.

Emory University professor Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD, led this metareview linking mental health conditions to CVD, along with co-authors Amit Shah, MD, and Douglas Bremner, MD, also Emory professors.

The report associated the following conditions and their corresponding risks of developing CVD:

  • Major depression, 72%
  • PTSD, 57%
  • Bipolar disorder, 61%
  • Panic disorder, 50%
  • Phobic anxiety, 70%
  • Schizophrenia, nearly 100%

The research also shows that these conditions are associated with a poorer prognosis, greater risk for readmission and higher mortality from existing heart conditions. For example, major depression more than doubles the mortality rate in those with existing CVD.

Additionally, the report emphasises a bidirectional relationship. “More than 40 percent of those with cardiovascular disease also have a mental health condition,” adds Vaccarino.

The physiology of stress

According to the report, a well-documented relationship exists among depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, and abnormal stress responses in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA).

The former allows the brain to manage involuntary responses, such as functions of the liver, heart, sweat glands, and eye muscles. ANS also manages both acceleration and deceleration of these functions, regulating inflammatory responses. Since most major organs have ANS nerve endings, this system impacts most bodily functions.

The hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) also influences immune response and metabolism, which can impact cardiovascular function.

According to the report, dysregulation of these systems creates “adverse downstream effects that can affect cardiovascular risk chronically, including increased inflammation, metabolic abnormalities, high blood pressure, enhanced systemic vascular resistance and autonomic inflexibility.” Inflammation has also been implicated in both the development of heart disease and mental health conditions.

Social determinants and quality of care

The role of social determinants of health in CVD disparities is critical. Those with mental health conditions may face disruptions and barriers in the continuum of care, such as affordability and accessibility. Compromised health literacy or communication can also impede access to health screenings and treatment.

Clinicians could also be challenged to care for patients with certain mental conditions, which can be compounded by stigma and existing models that fragment mental and physical health care. Stigmas are also present in the field of clinical research, where having a mental health condition is often an exclusionary criterion in randomised trials.

Moreover, according to the report, current prediction models don’t account for mental health disorders when forecasting the risk of developing heart disease.

Next steps toward a healthier future

To address the disparities of CVD among people with mental health disorders, the authors recommend an integrated approach with interdisciplinary care encompassing behavioural, mental and cardiovascular health.

“The tight connection between cardiovascular and psychological health warrants changes in the health care system that are more amenable to patients with comorbidities,” says Vaccarino. “A clinical team would be ideal for the care of these patients – a team of specialists, social workers, and nursing staff who work in collaboration to provide multidisciplinary care and resources.” 

The report concludes that closing the health disparity gap upholds the rights of those living with a mental health condition to achieve the highest level of health and fully participate in society. 

Source: Emory University

Categories : Regenerative Medicine Skeletal SystemTags : Leave a comment

Repurposed Multiple Sclerosis Drug Could Help Bones Heal Faster

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson found evidence that a drug that improves the ability to walk in people with multiple sclerosis can also make bone fractures heal faster.

The findings help further the understanding of specific factors involved in the bone healing process, and potentially open avenues for new therapeutic approaches.

“Broken bones are typically slow to heal in many people, and they can impact lives for months and in different ways. People lose time at work and daily activities at home with family and friends are impacted,” said senior author John Elfar, MD, professor, surgeon and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. “This drug has the potential to change that.” 

Elfar partnered with Prem Kumar Govindappa, PhD, DVM, an assistant professor in the department, on the preclinical study that showed treatment with the drug 4-aminopyridine, or 4-AP, resulted in leg fractures healing faster and stronger than without the drug. The paper was published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

“Mice with bone fractures healed quicker and were stronger after they healed after treatment with 4-AP,” said Elfar said, who is a member of the university’s BIO5 Institute. “We saw more bone mass and less intermediate cartilage, meaning there was accelerated bone healing.” 

The drug is approved for use in chronic neurological conditions, where it helps with walking by improving how signals from the brain and spinal cord reach limbs.

The team also saw improvements in bone mass and the ability to bear weight after treatment with 4-AP. Collagen deposition and bone mineralization, both of which are necessary for bone healing, also received a boost. Collagen forms the structural foundation of bones. In bone mineralization, minerals like calcium and phosphate join the newly forming bone matrix, strengthening and hardening the bone.

“We found that every fine-tuned measure of the strength of bone was better after administering 4-AP to mice,” Elfar said. “We also found more BMP2 protein in bone-forming cells at the fracture site, which again told us we found something that could accelerate the process.”

Examining human bone cells exposed to 4-AP in a dish, the scientists saw increased production of bone morphogenetic protein, or BMP2, a bone-building substance used clinically to help with some kinds of bone repair. BMP2 prompted the production of stem cells that become cells called osteoblasts, which are essential to form new bone.

The research team also measured 4-AP’s effects on human bone narrow mesenchymal stem cells and human osteoblast cells in the lab. 4-AP increased the conversion of the stem cells into osteoblasts and the latter’s ability to migrate and grow, which are essential to the healing process.

Elfar said that 4-AP’s role in driving BMP2 gene and protein activity is key to its bone healing effects, and using 4-AP to prompt BMP2 production in the body could be especially important.

“BMP2 is a hormone the body makes to accelerate bone healing,” Elfar said. 

BMP2 is known to modulate bone healing and is approved for use in certain medical procedures, including spinal fusion and sinus reconstruction surgery. An artificial version that has orthopedic medicine uses can have side effects, though, including bone resorption and cervical spine swelling. Finding a way to channel naturally produced BMP2 could improve bone healing while avoiding such problems.

The scientists previously showed that 4-AP could prevent bone and muscle loss in a mouse model of nerve damage. Similarly, they saw indications of 4-AP’s healing effects for wound, nerve and limb injuries. 

The researchers plan to eventually test 4-AP’s potential use in healing bones in a clinical trial. They also want to better understand the drug’s effects on BMP2 production, and more broadly, on the biology of healing bone.

Source: University of Arizona

Categories : Antibiotics Pain ManagementTags : Leave a comment

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen Linked to Antibiotic Resistance

On By ModernMedia

Study evaluated nine common medications used in old age care homes

Photo by Kampus Production

New research from the University of South Australia shows that the trusted staples of paracetamol and ibuprofen are quietly fuelling one of the world’s biggest health threats: antibiotic resistance.

In the first study of its kind, researchers found that ibuprofen and paracetamol are not only driving antibiotic resistance when used individually but amplifying it when used together.

Assessing the interaction of non-antibiotic medications, the broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacin, and Escherichia coli, researchers found that ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly increased bacterial mutations, making E. coli highly resistant to the antibiotic.

It’s an important finding that has serious health implications, particularly for people in aged care homes, where multiple medications are regularly administered.

The World Health Organization reports that antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to public health, and that bacterial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019.

Lead researcher UniSA’s Associate Professor Rietie Venter says the findings raise important questions about the risks of polypharmacy in aged care.

“Antibiotics have long been vital in treating infectious diseases, but their widespread overuse and misuse have driven a global rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” Assoc Prof Venter says.

“This is especially prevalent in residential aged care facilities, where older people are more likely to be prescribed multiple medications – not just antibiotics, but also drugs for pain, sleep, or blood pressure – making it an ideal breeding ground for gut bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.

“In this study we looked at the effect of non-antibiotic medicines and ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic which is used to treat common skin, gut or urinary tract infections.

“When bacteria were exposed to ciprofloxacin alongside ibuprofen and paracetamol, they developed more genetic mutations than with the antibiotic alone, helping them grow faster and become highly resistant. Worryingly, the bacteria were not only resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, but increased resistance was also observed to multiple other antibiotics from different classes.

“We also uncovered the genetic mechanisms behind this resistance, with ibuprofen and paracetamol both activating the bacteria’s defences to expel antibiotics and render them less effective.”

The study assessed nine medications* commonly used in residential aged care: ibuprofen, diclofenac, paracetamol, furosemide, metformin, atorvastatin, tramadol, temazepam, and pseudoephedrine.

Assoc Prof Venter says the study shows how antibiotic resistance is a more complex challenge than previously understood, with common non-antibiotic medications also playing a role.

“Antibiotic resistance isn’t just about antibiotics anymore,” Assoc Prof Venter says.

“This study is a clear reminder that we need to carefully consider the risks of using multiple medications – particularly in aged care where residents are often prescribed a mix of long-term treatments.

“This doesn’t mean we should stop using these medications, but we do need to be more mindful about how they interact with antibiotics – and that includes looking beyond just two-drug combinations.”

The researchers are calling for further studies into drug interactions among anyone on long-term medication treatment regimes so we can gain a greater awareness of how common medications may impact antibiotic effectiveness.

Source: University of South Australia

Categories : Medical IndustryTags : Leave a comment

Boehringer Ingelheim and Aspen Pharmacare Announce New Partnership to Bring Treatments Closer to Patients in South Africa

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Khwanchai Phanthong on Pexels

As of September 2025, Aspen Pharmacare will undertake the distribution of selected Boehringer Ingelheim prescription medicines across South Africa. This partnership represents a significant step towards ensuring that more patients gain timely access to the treatments they need, helping improve health outcomes today and for generations to come.

“Our priority is always patients. Partnering with Aspen means we can bring our innovative medicines to people faster, addressing urgent needs in cardio-renal-metabolic and lung diseases as well as stroke. As a company, we focus on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Together, we are not only improving access today but also transforming the lives of future generations across South Africa,” says Dr Anthony Lauw, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim Southern Africa.

Commenting on the partnership, Heinz Schütte, Aspen Regional CEO South Africa Commercial said: “For us, this collaboration is about putting patients first. By leveraging our reach and expertise in South Africa, we can ensure that Boehringer Ingelheim’s innovative therapies are accessible to more people, when and where they need them. This is an important milestone in our ongoing mission to improve health outcomes across the country.”

Boehringer Ingelheim, an independent and family-owned company, takes a long-term view of healthcare, investing heavily in research and development to deliver innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs.

This agreement was approved by the South African Competition Tribunal on 15 July 2025, following a recommendation from the Competition Commission.