Day: May 26, 2026

Categories : AgeingTags :

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Offer Little to No Meaningful Benefit on Fracture and Fall Prevention

On By ModernMedia

Recommendations for calcium and vitamin D supplementation should be re-evaluated, suggest researchers

Photo by Kampus Production

Calcium, vitamin D, or combined supplements offer little to no clinically meaningful benefit on fracture and fall prevention in most older people, finds an in-depth review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ.

Almost a third of people aged 65 and older fall each year, often resulting in fractures, which are linked to pain, reduced quality of life, and the need for residential care. Preventing falls and fractures is therefore a global public health priority.

Several previous evidence reviews have found no reduction in fractures with either calcium or vitamin D supplements and results are inconsistent for combined use. The benefit of vitamin D on falls also remains unclear.

Yet despite this, many clinicians, guidelines, and regulatory agencies recommend vitamin D supplements (with or without calcium) for bone health, and prescriptions have increased substantially in recent years.

To address this uncertainty, researchers in Canada reviewed the results of 69 randomised controlled trials involving 153,902 adults that assessed the effect of calcium or vitamin D supplements – or a combination of both – on reducing the number of fractures and falls compared with placebo or no treatment.

The trials were of varying quality, but the researchers were able to assess their risk of bias and certainty of evidence using established tools.

After agreeing on clinically meaningful thresholds, the researchers found little to no effect for experiencing any fracture from use of calcium supplements (moderate certainty evidence from 11 trials; 9,067 participants), vitamin D supplements (high certainty evidence from 36 trials; 92 045 participants), or combined supplementation (high certainty evidence from 15 trials; 51 126 participants).

Calcium, vitamin D, or combined supplementation also appeared to have little to no effect on specific fractures, such as hip fractures, or falls, based largely on moderate to high certainty of evidence.

The researchers acknowledge that some analyses included a small number of trials and participants, so these findings should be interpreted with caution, and results may not apply to individuals with specific bone disorders or to those receiving drug treatment for osteoporosis.

However, the findings were consistent after further analyses to account for differences such as participant age, sex, history of fractures and falls, and average dietary calcium intake, supporting the strength of their conclusions.

As such, they say these findings “do not support routine supplementation with calcium or vitamin D, or combined supplementation to prevent fractures and falls” and they suggest clinicians, guideline panels, and regulatory agencies “should re-evaluate their general recommendations for calcium and vitamin D supplementation in light of current evidence.”

Evidence from rigorous and well-powered trials is needed to inform recommendations for supplementation in higher-risk groups, say researchers in a linked editorial.

In the meantime, they suggest that focus and funding should be redirected towards interventions that have been shown to offer meaningful prevention of falls and falls related injuries, such as balance and resistance exercise, and interventions that combine elements like exercise, hazard assessment or education, tailored to individual risk.

Source: The BMJ Group

Categories : CancerTags :

One‑week Radiotherapy Course Effective for Early‑stage Breast Cancer

On By ModernMedia

New UK research has found that a one-week course of post-surgery radiotherapy is just as safe and effective as the traditional three-week course for people with early-stage breast cancer. 

The FAST-Forward trial, led by Keele’s Professor Murray Brunt and sponsored by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, followed more than 4000 patients for a decade after their treatment.  

The 10-year results of this phase III randomised trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and published in the Lancet Oncology, show that a shorter, five-day radiotherapy schedule provides the same level of cancer control as the traditional three-week treatment.  

These findings build on previous five-year results that have already driven a shift in clinical practice. Since 2020, it is estimated that tens of thousands of people in the UK have already benefited from the shorter course on the NHS. Researchers expect this approach will also reduce the burden on people undergoing treatment for breast cancer worldwide and expand access to life-saving radiotherapy.  

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, and radiotherapy plays a critical role in reducing the risk of recurrence after surgery. A shorter treatment course is not only more convenient for patients – it also reduces hospital visits and eases pressure on radiotherapy services, making treatment more accessible.  

The research team compared the traditional schedule of 15 treatments over three weeks with two shorter schedules that used five treatments over one week. The two shorter courses gave slightly different amounts of radiation to allow the research team to work out the best dose.   

After 10 years, cancer coming back in the treated breast was very low in all three groups: 3.6% for the standard three-week treatment, 2.9% with the one-week treatment with a slightly higher dose, 2.1% with the one-week treatment with a slightly lower dose.   

The lower dose one-week treatment had side effects that were very similar to the standard approach, with no increase in long-term breast or chest wall changes. Because of this, this dose and schedule are now the recommended option.  

Professor Murray Brunt, chief investigator of the FAST-Forward study and Professor of Clinical Oncology at Keele University, said: “These 10-year results provide definitive long-term evidence that one-week radiotherapy given at an appropriate dose to the breast is a safe, effective, and more practical option for people with breast cancer. 

“By reducing treatment from 15 sessions to just five, we can offer patients the same excellent cancer control with fewer hospital visits, less disruption to their daily life, and reduced pressure on healthcare services. This approach has already transformed practice in the UK and has the potential to improve access to life-saving treatment for people with cancer worldwide. 

“Hearing patients talk about how much it helps to only need one week of radiotherapy has been really encouraging for everyone involved.”  

Professor Judith Bliss, Professor of Clinical Trials at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who co-led the trial, said: “The FAST-Forward trial is transforming cancer treatment by reducing standard breast radiotherapy from 3 weeks to just one week, without compromising effectiveness.  

“The streamlined schedule has made radiotherapy more accessible, particularly for people who find it difficult to attend hospital and those in lower-income countries.”  

“The FAST-Forward trial is part of a long-term programme of research into improving breast cancer radiotherapy at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).  

“These final 10-year results mark a significant milestone in breast cancer treatment and reinforce the growing shift toward more efficient radiotherapy approaches. The success of FAST-Forward has led to the ongoing NIHR-funded FAST-Forward Boost trial, which is investigating whether more extensive radiotherapy – including an additional ‘boost’ dose for some patients – can also safely be delivered in five days.  

Professor Anthony Gordon, Director for NIHR’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, added: “The legacy of the FAST-Forward trial is clear to see, with thousands of women benefiting from shorter courses of radiotherapy and fewer hospital visits, helping the health and care sector to achieve more effective and efficient use of resources. The new 10-year results show the benefit of investing in high-quality, long-term research to improve the health and wealth of the nation.  

“NIHR’s research aims to tackle the most urgent health and social care challenges, targeting the areas of greatest need and where the most significant impact can be made. The findings from the FAST-Forward trial have already made a considerable difference to the treatment regimens that breast cancer patients undergo, making them more efficient, while at the same time, easing pressure on NHS services.”

Source: Keele University

Categories : Infection ControlTags :

Can New Research on Malaria Enzymes Help Overcome Challenges to Treatment?

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Ekamelev on Unsplash

Research published in The FEBS Journal may help overcome challenges to the treatment of malaria – a tropical disease caused by infection of red blood cells with Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted through infected mosquito bites. The research is based on a strategy that targets an enzyme specific to the parasite, Falcipain-2 (FP2), which is essential for parasite survival and growth within the host.

FP2 allows the parasite to digest human haemoglobin so that it can replicate inside red blood cells, which leads to severe malaria symptoms, including red blood cell destruction. Although FP2 is parasite-specific, it is highly similar to a class of human enzymes called cathepsins. This study therefore sought to determine the detailed structural and functional characterizations of FP2 so that it could be targeting without harming cathepsins.

Previously, the researchers identified that polyethylene glycol (PEG) can form stable interactions with FP2. In this latest study, they focused on how different PEG molecules bind to FP2 and its target, haemoglobin. Their computational analyses identified a binding region, or pocket, of a particular PEG called PEG400 with FP2. This pocket exhibits minimal conservation in human cathepsins. PEG400 was capable of binding FP2 and affecting its digestion of haemoglobin.

“The findings pave the way for designing and incorporating new small molecule inhibitors of FP2 activity, suggesting opportunities for selective antimalarial therapies with a cumulative benefit of reducing off-target specificity,” said corresponding author Sampa Biswas, PhD, who conducted this work while at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, in India, and is currently at InBOL (Indian Barcode of Life) Health Care.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Cancer General InterestTags :

One Mother Beat Blood Cancer Against the Odds. Thousands of Others Are Still Searching for Their Chance.

On By ModernMedia

As a professional photographer and mother of two young children, Claire had always been busy, but the long hours and constant fatigue felt like an occupational hazard. She never imagined that exhaustion could signal something far more serious than a demanding schedule.

Then, in January 2024, it happened: Claire blacked out at her desk while editing videos. It was her body’s final, unmistakable warning. What followed was a hospital stay, a bone marrow biopsy, and a diagnosis that would change her life forever. Claire had been diagnosed with blood cancer, specifically Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a serious bone marrow condition that, without treatment, can be fatal.

She was just 30 years old. And she was far from alone. Blood cancer remains one of the top five causes of cancer death in South Africa. Despite being potentially curable, countless patients never find their matching donor in time. Claire was determined not to become another statistic.

A Road Full of Obstacles

Claire’s path to diagnosis was not straightforward. Doctors initially attributed her worsening symptoms to iron deficiency, leaving her untreated as her condition quietly progressed. By the time MDS was correctly identified, the only viable path forward was a stem cell transplant.

While awaiting a donor match, Claire endured bi-weekly injections to keep her body stable, a gruelling holding pattern as her family and medical team searched for hope. That hope came through DKMS Africa, which successfully identified a fully matched, unrelated donor for Claire.

The first transplant, using cells from that 100% unrelated matched donor, was performed with great hope. Unfortunately, it was not successful.

Claire’s medical team was not deterred. Turning to family, they proceeded with a haplo-identical transplant, a “half-match” procedure using stem cells donated by Claire’s brother. This second transplant was successful.

Why Every Match Still Matters

Claire’s outcome is cause for deep gratitude and genuine celebration. But her journey also carries an urgent message that must not be lost in the relief of her survival.

Haplo-identical transplants, where stem cells are donated by a family member who is only a partial genetic match rather than a full one, can offer a path forward when a fully matched donor cannot be found. However, this option is not available or ideal for everyone. Not all patients have a suitable family donor, and even when they do, the procedure carries greater medical complexity and risk than a fully matched stem cell transplant.

For most patients, a 100% match from an unrelated donor remains the gold standard: the safest and most effective option. Yet only around 30% of patients find a compatible donor within their own family, meaning the remaining 70% depend entirely on a stranger’s decision to join the registry. The more people who register as potential donors, the greater the chance that every patient in need will find their match.

The critical shortage of registered donors, particularly from diverse ethnic backgrounds, means that for many, the search ends without a match. Despite blood cancer being potentially curable, countless patients never find their matching donor in time.

Every name added to the registry is a potential lifeline for someone, somewhere, waiting for their match.

A Family Restored

Today, Claire is recovering. Her children have their mother. Her family, who stood beside her through diagnosis, uncertainty, and two transplants, now share in a renewed sense of hope and possibility.

Her story does not end with survival. It continues with a plea to every person who has considered registering as a stem cell donor and hasn’t yet done so. “Help save others like me. We need more people to register as potential stem cell donors. Your registration could mean the difference between life and death.”

Categories : Cardiovascular DiseaseTags :

Self-reported Family History Often Underestimates Relatives’ Heart Attacks

On By ModernMedia
Pexels Photo by Freestocksorg

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that people’s own reports of heart attacks in the family only partially correspond with register data. The findings suggest that heart attacks among relatives are often underreported, particularly for events occurring early in life.

Asking patients about cardiovascular disease in the family is common practice in both research and clinical risk assessment. But how reliable is this information? Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have investigated this by comparing self-reported family history with Swedish national registers. 

The study included just over 25 000 participants from the Swedish SCAPIS cohort. Participants were asked to state whether their parents or siblings had suffered a heart attack, and the information was then compared with diagnoses in the Patient and Cause of Death Registers.

The results, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, show that the agreement between self-reported data and register data was only moderate. 

“Our findings show that data from questionnaires only capture part of the occurrence of heart attacks in families,” says Agnes Wahrenberg, researcher at the Department of Clinical Research and Education and resident physician at Södersjukhuset. The study forms part of her doctoral thesis.

For heart attacks in close relatives, the sensitivity was 57.6 per cent, meaning that many cases identified in the registers were not reported in the questionnaires. Misreporting was more common for cases of heart attack occurring early in life.

At the same time, the study highlights the unique opportunities that Swedish health registers offer for research into hereditary cardiovascular disease.

“These registers can be used to supplement and validate family history information in both large cohorts and future register studies,” says Per Svensson, associate professor at the same department and senior physician at Södersjukhuset.

Despite these limitations, the researchers emphasise that self-reported information remains valuable, as it is easy to obtain and can help identify individuals at increased risk in everyday clinical practice.

“It can be difficult to know exactly which diseases have occurred in relatives, particularly further back in time. The Swedish registers are a unique complement to studies on family history and cardiovascular disease, as they enable a more comprehensive assessment of disease in relatives”, says Agnes Wahrenberg.

Source: Karolinska Institutet