Author: ModernMedia

Categories : Mental HealthTags :

Ketamine no Benefit for Patients Hospitalised with Depression

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Researchers from Trinity College, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland, investigate use of twice-weekly ketamine infusions as an add-on treatment for inpatients with serious depression

Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Findings from a randomised and blinded clinical trial investigating repeated ketamine infusions for treating depression have revealed no extra benefit for ketamine when added onto standard care for people admitted to hospital for depression. The paper is published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

The KARMA-Dep (2) Trial involved researchers from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Trinity College Dublin, and Queens University Belfast, Ireland. It was sponsored by Trinity College Dublin  and led by Declan McLoughlin, Research Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

Depression has been recognised by the World Health Organization as a leading cause of disability globally.  According to the Health Research Board’s most recent report, there were 15 631 adult admissions to psychiatric services in Ireland in 2023. Similar to previous years, depressive disorders accounted for the highest proportion (about 24%) of all admissions.

Studies show that about 30% of people with depression do not respond sufficiently well to conventional antidepressants, which mostly target monoamine neurotransmitters, for example serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.  There is thus a need for new treatments.  One such novel treatment is the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine when given intravenously in low sub-anaesthetic doses. Ketamine works differently to other antidepressants and is believed to mediate its effects in the brain through the chemical messenger glutamate.

Single infusions of ketamine have been reported to produce rapid antidepressant effects, but these disappear within days. Nonetheless, ketamine is increasingly being adopted as an off-label treatment for depression even though the evidence to support this practice is limited. One possibility is that repeated ketamine infusions may have more sustained benefit. However, this has so far been evaluated in only a small number of trials that have used an adequate control condition to mask the obvious dissociative effects of ketamine, e.g. altered consciousness and perceptions of oneself and one’s environment. 

KARMA-Dep 2 is an investigator-led trial, sponsored by Trinity College Dublin and  funded by the Health Research Board. The randomised trial was developed to assess antidepressant efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life during and after serial ketamine infusions when compared to a psychoactive comparison drug midazolam. Trial participants were randomised to receive up to eight infusions of either ketamine or midazolam, given over four weeks, in addition to all other aspects of usual inpatient care. 

 The trial findings revealed that:

  • There was no significant difference between the ketamine and midazolam groups at the end of the treatment course on the trial’s primary outcome, which was an objective measurement of depression. This was assessed with the commonly used Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
  • There was no significant difference between the two groups at the end of the treatment course on a subjective, patient-rated, scale for depression.  This was assessed with the commonly used Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, Self-Report scale (QIDS-SR-16). 
  • No significant differences were found between the ketamine and midazolam groups on secondary outcomes for cognitive, economic or quality-of-life outcomes. 
  • Despite best efforts to keep the trial patients and researchers blinded about the randomised treatment, the vast majority of patients and raters correctly guessed the treatment allocation. This could lead to enhanced placebo effects.

Speaking about the impact of the findings, Declan McLoughlin, Research Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, said:

“Our initial hypothesis was that repeated ketamine infusions for people hospitalised with depression would improve mood outcomes. However, we found this not to be the case. Under rigorous clinical trial conditions, adjunctive ketamine provided no additional benefit to routine inpatient care during the initial treatment phase or the six-month follow-up period. Previous estimates of ketamine’s antidepressant efficacy may have been overstated, highlighting the need for recalibrated expectations in clinical practice.” 

Lead author of the study, Dr Ana Jelovac, Trinity College Dublin, said:

“Our trial highlights the importance of reporting the success, or lack thereof, of blinding in clinical trials. Especially in clinical trials of therapies where maintaining the blind is difficult, e.g. ketamine, psychedelics, brain stimulation therapies. Such problems can lead to enhanced placebo effects and skewed trial results that can over-inflate real treatment effects.”.

Source: Trinity College Dublin

Categories : Obstetrics & Gynaecology Substance UseTags :

Study Explores How Prenatal Cannabis Exposure May Affect Foetal Brain Development

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Source: Pixabay CC0

Researchers at UTHealth Houston are examining the biological effects of prenatal cannabis exposure and its potential impact on foetal brain development. Supported by a $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the study aims to improve screening tools, public health guidance, and prenatal care strategies for pregnant people who use cannabis.

Led by Laura Goetzl, MD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, the five-year grant will fund the study, “Foetal neuronal extracellular vesicle biomarkers of in-utero effects of maternal cannabinoid use and human foetal brain development and neurobehavioral outcomes.”

“In recent years, cannabis use among pregnant women has increased, either recreationally or to help relieve nausea and vomiting during pregnancy,” Goetzl said. “Despite this rise, the effects on a baby’s brain are not well understood. Our hope through this research is that we can better identify risk factors and help health care providers give expecting mothers the best possible guidance.

The study will explore early biological signs, or biomarkers, to show how cannabis exposure influences a baby’s developing brain.

“During pregnancy, small bubbles called neuronal extracellular vesicles travel from the foetus into the mother’s bloodstream,” Goetzl said. “Through studying these small particles, we hope to gain valuable insight into foetal brain development without invasive testing.”

In collaboration with the University of Colorado, the research study will focus on how prenatal cannabis exposure may influence brain growth and neurobehavioral outcomes in children, including their potential for developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism later in life.

The project is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01DA060319.

Source: UTHealth Houston

Categories : Lab Tests and Imaging Skeletal SystemTags :

When a Limp Isn’t Just a Sprain in Adolescents

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A timely X-ray can save young hips

Frog leg lateral view of the hips. Widening of the growth plate (physis) with blurring and irregularity of the femoral neck (metaphysis). Inferior offset of the head in relation to the neck (early slip).

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common adolescent hip disorder. It occurs when the ball at the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) slips off the neck of the bone through the growth plate (physis). A bit like an ice cream sliding off a cone… Dr Ryno du Plessis, a renowned orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon in the Western Cape, talks about what it is and why it is often misdiagnosed.

SCFE usually happens during growth spurts in children aged 9 to 16 years and is more common in boys and in children with obesity, endocrine disorders, or other risk factors.

Why is this problem often missed?

AP view of the hips. ‘Melting ice cream sign’: Femoral head (epiphysis) slipping off the femoral neck (metaphysis) though the growth plate (physis) like an ice cream melting from the cone.

Despite its frequency, SCFE is routinely misdiagnosed or diagnosed late – unfortunately, sometimes months after symptoms start. Studies show that over 50% of SCFE cases are not diagnosed at the first medical visit.

Here’s why:

  • Pain felt in the knee or thigh: Physicians often focus on the wrong joint and the hip is never X-rayed
  • Labeled as a groin strain: Adolescents in sports may be diagnosed with muscle strains or ‘growing pains’
  • Symptoms develop gradually: Children may limp without severe pain, leading to delayed concern
  • Physiotherapy prescribed early: Instead of imaging – patients are referred to physio – delaying diagnosis
  • Lack of hip-specific X-rays: It requires a frog-leg lateral X-ray.

Why does delay matter?

The longer the slip is left untreated, the more serious the outcome. Every week or month of delay increases the severity of the deformity, often silently.

Late diagnosis risks:

  • More severe deformity
  • Loss of bloody supply to the femoral head. This is known as avascular necrosis and can lead to pain, limited movement and eventually, hip collapse and osteoarthritis
  • Early-onset hip arthritis
  • Complex surgery

Children diagnosed early often need just one screw to stabilise the hip. Those who are diagnosed late may face major reconstructive surgery, longer recovery, and reduced hip function for life.

Red flags for parents, teachers and coaches

If you notice any of the following signs in a child or teen – especially those who are overweight – take it seriously and ask for a hip X-ray:

  • Limping for more than a week
  • Complaints of pain in the knee, thigh, groin, or buttock
  • Walking with the foot turned outwards
  • Stiffness or loss of motion in the hip
  • Sudden inability to walk or stand after a minor stumble (may indicate an unstable SCFE)

Radiology – diagnostic challenges

Dr Jaco Greyling, a radiologist from SCP Radiology, says SCFE diagnoses can be delayed due to several factors, including

  • Hip X-rays not ordered by the initial healthcare provider (eg, GP or physiotherapist)
  • Only a single anterior-posterior pelvis projection is performed, whereas a frog-leg lateral view must also be specifically requested by the referring physician. Radiologists should ensure the child returns for this view if it was not initially ordered
  • Findings in the pre-slip phase are subtle and may be missed, even by experienced radiologists

He says, ’the recommended imaging is an anterior-posterior pelvic view which shows malalignment and widening of the growth plate and a frog-leg lateral view, the most sensitive for detecting early or subtle slips.’

‘Key radiological signs,’ says Dr Greyling are:

  • Widening of the growth plate
  • Loss of height of the femoral head
  • Loss of alignment of the anatomical lines that intersect with the femoral head
  • ‘Melting ice cream sign’ slipping off the femoral neck at the growth plate (epiphysis).

Follow-up recommendations:

Dr Greyling suggests repeat imaging within two weeks if symptoms persist, and an early referral to a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and an MRI for patients with risk factors and ongoing pain.

Who’s at risk?

  • Children aged 9-16 years
  • Boys are at greater risk than girls
  • BMI in the overweight/obese range
  • Family history of hip disorders
  • Endocrine disorders: Hypothyroidism, growth hormone treatment, kidney disease

Treatment

Early SCFE is usually treated with in-situ fixation using one or two screws. The goal is to stabilise the rounded end of a long bone to prevent further slippage.

In cases where both hips are at risk (especially in young or overweight patients), pinning of the opposite hip as well is sometimes recommended to prevent it from occurring.

Severe or late cases have a high risk of AVN, which is the death of bone tissue caused by a disruption in its blood supply, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential bone collapse or joint destruction over time and permanent disability.

The take-home message

SCFE is treatable and preventable if recognised early.

If a child has an unexplained limp, especially with thigh or knee pain, don’t assume it’s just a strain. Ask the doctor directly: “Could this be SCFE? Should we get hip X-rays done?”

One simple question. One X-ray. It could save a child’s hip.


Categories : Lab Tests and Imaging NeurologyTags :

New Brain Imaging Technique Can Detect Early Frontotemporal Dementia

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Photo by Anna Shvets

A new international study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet demonstrates that it is possible to detect subtle changes in the brain and identify early signs of hereditary frontotemporal dementia using advanced brain imaging techniques. The study has recently been published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a neurodegenerative disease that often affects people in middle age and is a common cause of dementia before the age of 65. The disease is particularly difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as the earliest symptoms are behavioural changes and may resemble primary psychiatric disease and symptoms later on can resemble conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In about a third of cases, frontotemporal dementia is hereditary, making families with known mutations an important resource for research.

New type of MRI technique

In the current study, researchers from Karolinska Institutet, together with an international research network, examined the brain’s microstructure in over 700 individuals – both carriers of FTD mutations and control subjects. The researchers used a new type of MRI technique that measures how water molecules spread within the grey matter of the brain, where greater diffusion indicates microstructural damage to brain tissue. In this way, the technique can reveal early damage in the cerebral cortex before the brain begins to shrink, known as brain atrophy, or cognitive problems arise.

The results revealed that the new method is more sensitive than the established imaging technique that measures the thickness of the cerebral cortex. Among individuals with a mutation in the C9orf72 gene, the researchers could detect changes in the brain even before any clinical symptoms appeared. For mutations in the MAPT gene, changes were observed at mild symptom stages, whereas for carriers of GRN mutations, alterations emerged only at more advanced stages.

Identifying individuals at risk

“Our findings show that changes in the brain’s microstructure can be detected before visible brain atrophy, and these changes are closely linked to how the disease develops,” explains corresponding author Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez, researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

“This could be valuable for identifying individuals at risk and for evaluating new therapies in clinical trials.”

The researchers also followed the participants over time and showed that a greater spread of water molecules in brain tissue at the start of the study was linked to a faster decline in behaviour and cognitive ability. This was true for all three mutation types.

“Our results suggest that measurements of the brain’s microstructure could become an important tool for identifying individuals at risk of frontotemporal dementia and for monitoring disease progression in clinical trials,” says Caroline Graff, professor at the same department and last author of the study.

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : Paediatrics Respiratory DiseasesTags :

Combination Inhaler Cuts Asthma Attacks in Children by Nearly Half

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Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels

Findings from a trial comparing the real-world effectiveness of asthma inhalers could reshape how children with asthma are treated.

In the first randomised controlled trial to investigate the use of a 2-in-1 inhaler as the sole reliever therapy for children aged 5 to 15, an international team found the combined treatment to be more effective than salbutamol, the current standard for asthma symptom relief in children, with no additional safety concerns.

The results show that using a single 2-in-1 anti-inflammatory reliever inhaler – which combines the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) budesonide and the fast-acting bronchodilator formoterol – reduced children’s asthma attacks by an average of 45%, compared to the widely-used salbutamol inhaler.

Asthma attacks in children may be life-threatening and reducing their frequency and severity is a public health priority.

The 2-in-1 budesonide-formoterol inhaler is widely recommended as the preferred reliever treatment for adults, but children are still usually prescribed salbutamol.

Researchers say the findings, published in The Lancet, provide the evidence needed to bring children’s global asthma guidelines into line with adults’, which could benefit millions of children around the world with mild-to-moderate asthma.

The CARE study (Children’s Anti-inflammatory REliever) was designed and led by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), in collaboration with Imperial College London, University of Otago Wellington, Starship Children’s Hospital, and the University of Auckland. It recruited 360 children across New Zealand who were then randomly assigned to receive either budesonide-formoterol or salbutamol for on-demand symptom relief.

The trial lasted a year and the budesonide-formoterol reliever resulted in a lower rate of asthma attacks than salbutamol reliever, with rates of 0.23 versus 0.41 per participant per year. This means that for every 100 children with mild asthma who are switched from salbutamol to a 2-in-1 budesonide-formoterol inhaler, there would be 18 fewer asthma attacks per year. Importantly, the study also confirmed the safety of the combined-inhaler approach, with no significant differences in children’s growth, lung function, or asthma control between the two groups.

Dr Lee Hatter, lead author of the study and Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the MRINZ, said: “This is a key step in addressing the evidence gap that exists between asthma management in adults and children. For the first time, we have demonstrated that the budesonide-formoterol 2-in-1 inhaler, used as needed for symptom relief, can significantly reduce asthma attacks in children with mild asthma. This evidence-based treatment could lead to improved asthma outcomes for children worldwide.”

Professor Richard Beasley, Director of MRINZ and senior author of the study, said: “Implementing these findings could be transformative for asthma management on a global scale. The evidence that budesonide-formoterol is more effective than salbutamol in preventing asthma attacks in children with mild asthma has the potential to redefine the global standard of asthma management.”

The burden of asthma in the estimated 113 million children and adolescents with asthma worldwide is substantial. The latest study builds on previous studies in adults led by MRINZ researchers which shaped international asthma treatment guidelines. These findings contributed to the recommended use of the 2-in-1 ICS–formoterol reliever inhaler as the preferred reliever treatment for adults with asthma around the world.

The incorporation of findings from the CARE study into global asthma treatment strategies could help reduce disparities in care and ensure that more children access effective, evidence-based treatments.

The researchers say that global health organisations have long advocated for child-targeted asthma interventions, and their findings provide crucial evidence to support those efforts.

However, the authors acknowledge some limitations of the clinical trial. It was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which stringent public health measures and fewer circulating respiratory viruses contributed to the lower than predicted rate of severe asthma attacks. The authors also acknowledge the challenges with the identification of asthma attacks in children, and the potential bias with the lack of blinding of the randomised treatments. They say though that the study’s findings are generalisable to clinical practice due to its pragmatic, real-world design.

Professor Andrew Bush, from Imperial College London, senior respiratory paediatrician and co-author of the CARE study, said: “Having an asthma attack can be very scary for children and their parents. I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to prove that an inhaler that significantly reduces attacks – already a game-changer for adults – is safe for children with mild asthma too. We believe this will transform asthma care worldwide and are excited to be building on this work with the CARE UK study.”

Professor Helen Reddel, Chair of the Science Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), commented on the global significance of the study, saying that it fills a critically important gap for asthma management globally. Professor Reddel said: “Asthma attacks have a profound impact on children’s physical, social and emotional development and their prevention is a high priority for asthma care. It is in childhood, too, that lifelong habits are established, particularly reliance on traditional medications like salbutamol that only relieve symptoms and don’t prevent asthma attacks.”

Professor Bob Hancox, Medical Director of the New Zealand Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, said: “This is a very important study for children with mild asthma. We have known for some time that 2-in-1 budesonide/formoterol inhalers are better than the traditional reliever treatment in adults, but this had not been tested in children. This research shows that this 2-in-1 inhaler is effective and safe for children as young as 5. This information will help to reduce the burden of asthma for many children, and both they and their families will breathe easier because of it.”

Source: Imperial College London

Categories : Diet and Nutrition Ethics and LawTags :

Retracted: Widely-reported Trial on Apple Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss

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Journalists and others should no longer reference or use the study findings in future reporting

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

BMJ Group has retracted research suggesting that small daily quantities of apple cider vinegar might help people who are overweight or obese to lose weight.

The small clinical trial was published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health in March 2024 and its findings press released. The study findings generated widespread international attention at the time, and continue to be frequently referred to in media coverage.

The retraction was prompted by concerns raised about the quality of the work, including the approach to statistical analysis of the data; implausible statistical values; the reliability of the raw data; inadequate reporting of methods; and lack of prospective trial registration, which breaches BMJ Group’s editorial policy.

Initially, concerns were raised in critiques of the study, some of which were published as letters in the journal. But after review by BMJ Group’s content integrity team, the study was referred to statistical experts to evaluate its reliability.  This included attempts to replicate the results and examine the authenticity of the underlying data supplied by the authors.

It wasn’t possible for the statisticians to replicate the results and multiple analytical errors were identified. There were also irregularities in the data set, and their report, which is appended to the retraction notice, concluded that the data collected from each participant would require further independent scrutiny.

The authors said that the identified errors were honest mistakes, but they agree with the decision to retract the study.

Dr Helen Macdonald, Publication Ethics and Content Integrity Editor at BMJ Group, said: “Tempting though it is to alert readers to an ostensibly simple and apparently helpful weight loss aid, at present the results of the study are unreliable, and journalists and others should no longer reference or use the results of this study in any future reporting.”

She added: “This retraction reflects our strategic and proactive approach to investigating concerns raised about the content we publish. We act where necessary in the interests of openness and the importance of correcting the scientific record.

“While we deal with allegations as swiftly as possible, it’s very important that due process is followed. Investigations are often complex. This one involved detailed scrutiny of data and correspondence with researchers, institutions, and other experts, for example. Reaching a sound and fair and final decision can therefore take several months.”

Commenting on the decision to publish the study despite the lack of trial registration, Professor Martin Kohlmeier, editor in chief of BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, explained: “In hindsight, this was the wrong decision to make. But the authors come from a scientific environment that is underrepresented in nutritional research and the journal aims to prioritise high quality evidence, which usually comes from clinical trials.

“These are relatively unusual in nutritional research as they can be challenging to undertake because of the numbers of participants and time needed to obtain meaningful results.”

Source: The BMJ Group

Categories : Exercise GenderTags :

Gender Equality Universally Linked to Physical Capacity

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Fitness amongst young adults varies widely from one country to another, and is strongly associated with both socioeconomic development and gender equality, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science reports. The results indicate that levels of development and gender equality in a society can affect differences in physical capacity and therefore public health in general.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important factor of health and life-expectancy. For this present study, researchers systematically reviewed data from 95 studies in 24 countries involving a total of over 119 000 adult participants.  

CRF is measured by what is known as the VO2peak, which is the highest oxygen uptake a body achieves during physical exertion.  

The group, which included researchers from KI and Shanghai University of Sport, studied correlations between CRF, the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII).  

HDI is a measure of societal parameters like education, income and life-expectancy, while GII reflects differences between women and men in terms of health, education and labour. 

Clear correlation in women 

The results show that people in countries with a higher HDI were, on average, fitter, a correlation that was particularly salient amongst women, where young women in countries with a medium HDI had a higher VO2peak than women in countries with a low HDI (31.2 versus 28.5mL/kg/min). However, a further HDI increase from medium to high gave only small improvements. 

“Our results suggest that societal structures impact greatly on people’s access to exercise and thus their fitness levels,” says the study’s lead author Nicolas Pillon, researcher at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, KI. 

The study also shows that higher gender equality (a lower GII) correlates with a higher level of fitness in both women and men. Again, the difference was the most notable amongst young women, who in countries with high gender equality had on average a 6.5mL/kg/min higher VO2peak than their peers in countries with low gender equality. 

“Our results underpin the importance of societal interventions and guidelines that reduce social and gender-related hindrances to physical exercise but point out that more research is needed from countries with a lower HDI, and on the obstacles facing different ethnic and socioeconomic communities,” says Barbara Ainsworth, researcher at Shanghai University of Sport and head of the study. 

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : DermatologyTags :

When Hair Breaks Records: What Extraordinary Growth Reveals about Hair

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Science-backed insights and fascinating feats from the world of hair growth

Photo by Natasha Brazil on Unsplash

From a 2.26-metre Afro to hair strong enough to suspend a person mid-air, some of the world’s most jaw-dropping records remind us just how extraordinary human hair can be. While these feats may seem unbelievable, they highlight the biology behind hair’s strength, resilience, and growth potential.

“Exceptional hair growth is the result of discipline, not coincidence,” says Dr Kashmal Kalan, Medical Director at Alvi Armani South Africa. “A healthy scalp and uninterrupted growth cycles form the foundation for strong, resilient hair.”

The Biology Behind Every Strand

Hair grows in three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest). The anagen phase – lasting anywhere from two to seven years – largely determines how long hair can grow before naturally shedding. People who achieve exceptional lengths often have extended anagen phases, allowing their hair to keep growing far beyond the average.

While genetics set the baseline, lifestyle and environment play a powerful role in influencing growth potential. Nutrition, hormones, stress levels, and scalp health all impact the length and quality of the anagen phase. “We can’t rewrite DNA,” notes Dr Kalan, “but we can influence how genes express themselves.”

Lifestyle Matters

Healthy hair begins long before the styling stage.

  • Nutrition: Diets rich in protein, healthy fats, and vitamins support follicle strength.
  • Stress: Elevated stress hormones can shorten the growth phase and trigger shedding.
  • Sleep: Proper rest gives follicles the recovery time they need.
  • Scalp care: Gentle exfoliation, oiling, and protective styling can improve circulation and reduce breakage.

Science over hype

Despite bold marketing promises, there are no “miracle” serums that can regrow hair overnight. “Anything claiming dramatic growth in weeks is a red flag,” says Dr Kalan. Scientifically supported treatments – such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesotherapy, and exosome therapy – can optimise follicle function, strengthen roots, and support sustained, natural growth.

“Healthy hair growth is a process grounded in biology, not marketing,” adds Dr Kalan.

Regenerative Approaches for Natural, Lasting Results

At Alvi Armani South Africa, regenerative science is at the core of every treatment. Using advanced techniques such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) alongside PRP and exosome therapy, the clinic works with the body’s own biology to restore growth naturally.

“Our goal is always natural, lasting outcomes – hair that feels and looks strong, resilient, and vibrant,” concludes Dr Kalan.

From strength and endurance to sheer volume and creativity, these hair-related world records showcase just how remarkable human hair can be.

  • Most golf tees in hair: Anya Bannasch (USA) set a 2024 record with 711 golf tees in her hair – almost double her original goal.
  • Longest time suspended by hair: Leila Noone, a circus artist, hung from a single knot of her hair for over 25 minutes beneath California’s redwoods in 2025.
  • Largest afro: Jessica Martinez from New York City is attempting to break the record with an afro measuring about 36 cm high and 51 cm wide, inspiring confidence in natural hair.
  • Largest ball of human hair: “Hoss”, made entirely from donated hair, continues to grow through global contributions and features in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! exhibitions.

These feats highlight the versatility, strength, and creative expression found in something as simple – and as complex – as human hair.

For more information, visit www.alviarmani.co.za.

Categories : Lab Tests and Imaging NeurologyTags :

New Laser System Measures Scalp and Brain Blood Flow

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This optical measurement could offer an affordable and scalable way to diagnose stroke, brain injury and other conditions

Experimental arrangement of the SCOS system for measuring cerebral blood dynamics during superficial temporal artery (STA) occlusion. (a) 3D visualization of the SCOS device positioned over the temple region and the occlusion site near the ear bone. (b) Top and lateral views of the device, illustrating different detecting channels for sensing the scalp, skull, and brain layers. Credit: Liu et al., APL Bioengineering, 2025

Measuring blood flow in the brain is critical for responding to a range of neurological problems, including stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and vascular dementia. But existing techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, are expensive and therefore not widely available.

Researchers from the USC Neurorestoration Center and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have built a simple, noninvasive alternative. The device takes a technique currently used in animal studies known as speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) and adapts it for potential clinical use in humans. It works by capturing images of scattered laser light with an affordable, high-resolution camera.

“It’s really that simple. Tiny blood cells pass through a laser beam, and the way the light scatters allows us to measure blood flow and volume in the brain,” said Charles Liu, MD, PhD, professor of clinical neurological surgery, urology and surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, director of the USC Neurorestoration Center and co-senior author of the new research.

The device has already been tested with humans in small proof of concept studies demonstrating the tool’s utility for assessing stroke risk and detecting brain injury. In the current study, published in APL Bioengineering, Liu and his team sought to confirm that SCOS is truly measuring blood flow in the brain, rather than in the scalp, which also contains many blood vessels. The question has long plagued researchers who use light-based technology to visualize the brain.

Liu’s team took an innovative approach: By temporarily blocking blood flow to the scalp, they confirmed that SCOS readings were indeed measuring signals from blood vessels in the brain. Readings from 20 participants showed that positioning the detector at least 2.3cm away from the laser source provided the clearest measurement of brain blood flow. The study, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred Mann Foundation and the USC Neurorestoration Center, was just published in the journal APL Bioengineering.

“For the first time in humans, this experimental evidence shows that a laser speckle optical device can probe beyond the scalp layers to access cerebral signals,” said Simon Mahler, PhD, who is now an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology and one of the paper’s coauthors. “This is an important step toward using SCOS to non-invasively measure blood flow in the brain.”

Tracking brain blood flow

For years, researchers measuring brain signals with light-based technology, such as lasers and fibre optics, have used statistical simulations to estimate which signals originate in the brain versus the scalp. The USC Neurorestoration Center team found a direct way to test the difference, thanks to a collaboration between surgeons, engineers and neurologists.

“I perform surgeries to increase blood flow in the brain, and many of these involve temporarily stopping blood flow in the scalp,” said Jonathan Russin, MD, now professor and chief of neurosurgery at the University of Vermont, who continues to collaborate with the USC Neurorestoration Center. “That gave us a simple way to test the technology – by creating a change that affected only the scalp’s circulation while leaving the brain’s blood flow untouched.”

In 20 participants, the researchers temporarily stopped blood flow to the scalp, then collected a series of SCOS readings. By gradually moving the detector further from the head, they captured signals reaching progressively deeper towards the brain. They found that positioning the detector 2.3cm from the head allowed them to measure brain blood flow while minimising interference from the scalp.

The findings confirm the utility of SCOS for non-invasively detecting brain blood flow and provide important guidance for other researchers working with light-based technology, Liu said.

Bringing SCOS to patients

Beyond advancing research, the study helps confirm the clinical potential of SCOS for detecting and responding to stroke, brain injury and dementia. Because all of the team’s research has been done with humans, the tool is poised for rapid translation from the lab to the clinic.

“We look directly at humans in essentially the same way the tool will be applied, so there’s nothing lost in translation,” Liu said. “We are never more than one step away from the problem we’re trying to solve.”

The technique is already being used by some of the team’s collaborators to help diagnose stroke and TBI. Next, the researchers will continue to refine the technology and software, working to improve the resolution of images and the quality of data extracted from readings.

“With the knowledge that we’re now measuring exactly what we intend to measure, we’re also going to expand our testing of this technique with patients in clinical settings,” Liu said.

Source: Keck School of Medicine of USC

Categories : NeurologyTags :

Fibroblasts Have Hidden Powers That Could Heal Brain Injuries

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A mouse brain cortex seven days after a stroke that caused injury. Fibroblasts (green) have created collagen (pink) to form a protective scar layer around the injury. All images by Molofsky Lab, UCSF

Healing from any injury involves a delicate balance between scarring and inflammation – two processes that can wreak havoc as well as make repairs.

When the injury is to the brain, the balance is that much more important, yet scientists know almost nothing of how this process works.

Now, a study from UC San Francisco spotlights how a cell type called a fibroblast, that plays a healing role in other parts of the body also performs a similar function in the brain. The discovery is a step toward finding new ways to treat brain injuries, which are the nation’s leading cause of death and disability and for which there aren’t any drugs that can intervene.

Fibroblasts were only identified in the brain in the last decade. They reside mostly in the meninges, a set of protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Until now, scientists thought they mostly served to maintain the structure of the meninges and its network of blood vessels.

Ari Molofsky, MD, PhD, a professor of laboratory medicine, suspected the fibroblasts might be doing much more than that. He and Tom Arnold, MD, a professor of paediatrics, discovered that when the brain is injured – whether from a blow or a stroke – fibroblasts navigate from the meninges and surround the injured tissue where they create a protective barrier, or scar.

The same injury 14 days after the stroke. The scar now surrounds the whole injury, which is less swollen. Some fibroblasts have returned to their usual location in the meninges. Those that remain have switched roles and are now recruiting immune cells to moderate inflammation.

Then, about a week later, after the scar has formed, the fibroblasts adopt new roles. Some recruit immune cells that are required for healing; others ensure that the immune response doesn’t cause too much inflammation; and still others return to the meninges. Understanding these distinct stages could spur new interventions to help people with serious injuries.

Various views of a mouse brain cortex seven days after a stroke that caused injury. Green dots show fibroblast cells; pink areas show collagen produced by the fibroblasts to create a protective scar layer; and blue shows blood vessels with fibroblasts.

“Our study reveals opportunities to enhance the natural repair process,” said Molofsky, the senior author of the study, which appeared in Nature. “The goal is to give someone who’s experienced a traumatic brain injury or stroke the best outcome possible, based on the stage of healing they’re in.”

Therapies currently in clinical trials for lung and liver fibrosis target a molecule that prompts fibroblasts to create scarring. This suggests that other similar drugs could enhance healing in the early stages of a brain injury.

Molofsky’s study also offers an ideal venue for scientists to learn how fibroblasts are doing their work elsewhere in the body. Being largely devoid of immune cells, the brain offers a much clearer view than other organs like the lungs or liver, where immune cells may be too crowded around fibroblasts to see what they are doing.

“There’s a lot of potential here,” Molofsky said. “These overlooked cells seem adept at solving the common challenge of balancing healing and inflammation.”

Source: University of California – San Francisco