Author: ModernMedia

Categories : New Compounds and TreatmentsTags : 1 Comment

Surprising Drug Duo Outperforms Oseltamivir in Treating Flu

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In a potential game-changer for how we treat the flu, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have unveiled a new drug pairing that outperforms oseltamivir – the most widely used anti-influenza medication – against even the deadliest flu strains, including bird(avian) and swine flu.

The surprising duo? One of them is theobromine, a compound found in chocolate.

In a study recently published in PNAS, researchers, led by Prof Isaiah (Shy) Arkin, have developed a novel combination therapy that targets a key weakness in the influenza virus: its ion channel, a microscopic gate the virus uses to replicate and spread. By blocking this gate, the team effectively cut off the virus’s ability to survive.

Their study, conducted at Israel’s new Barry Skolnick Biosafety Level 3 facility, tested this combo, consisting of theobromine and a lesser-known compound called arainosine, against a broad range of flu viruses. In both cell cultures and animal trials, the treatment dramatically outperformed oseltamivir (Tamiflu), especially against drug-resistant strains.

“We’re not just offering a better flu drug,” said Prof Arkin. “We’re introducing a new way to target viruses – one that may help us prepare for future pandemics.”

Why It Matters

The stakes are high: Influenza continues to sweep the globe each year, with unpredictable mutations that challenge vaccines and existing drugs. In the U.S. alone, seasonal flu costs an estimated $87 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity. Past pandemics – like the 2009 swine flu – have inflicted even deeper global costs, and the cost of future pandemics was estimated to rise even further up to $4.4 trillion.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of avian flu have devastated poultry industries and sparked fears of cross-species transmission to humans. Just one recent outbreak in the U.S. led to the loss of 40 million birds and billions in economic damage.

Current flu treatments, like oseltamivir, are losing ground as the virus adapts. Most drugs in use target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time. That’s where Arkin’s team saw an opening.

A New Strategy for Old Viruses

Instead of fighting the virus head-on with traditional antivirals, the researchers zeroed in on the M2 ion channel – a crucial viral feature that helps the virus replicate. Past efforts to block this channel have largely failed due to drug resistance. But the new theobromine–arainosine combo sidesteps this resistance, even neutralising hard-to-treat strains.

The team discovered the combo by scanning a library of repurposed compounds, many originally developed for other diseases, and testing their effects on both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant versions of the virus.

Broader Implications

The implications extend beyond influenza. Because many viruses, including coronaviruses, also rely on ion channels, this new approach could form the basis of future antiviral strategies.

The next steps include human clinical trials, but the early results offer hope not just for a better flu treatment, but for a smarter way to fight viral disease in general. ViroBlock, a startup company emanating from the Hebrew University, has been entrusted to develop the discoveries to reach the public.

Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Categories : Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Big Data Begins to Crack the Puzzle of Endometriosis

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Scientists at UC San Francisco have found that endometriosis, a painful chronic disease that often goes undiagnosed yet is estimated to affect as many as 200 million women worldwide, frequently occurs alongside conditions like cancer, Crohn’s disease, and migraine.

The research could improve diagnosis and, ultimately, treatments for endometriosis, preventing women from having to go on long diagnostic journeys in which they are told that nothing is wrong with them.

The study, which appeared in Cell Reports Medicine on July 31, used computational methods developed at UCSF to analyse anonymised patient records collected at the University of California’s six health centres.

“We now have both the tools and the data to make a difference for the huge population that suffers from endometriosis,” said Marina Sirota, PhD, the interim director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute (BCHSI), professor of pediatrics, and senior author of the paper. “We hope this can spur a sea change in how we approach this disorder.”

“The impact on patients’ lives is huge”

Endometriosis, often called ‘endo,’ occurs when the endometrium, the blood-rich tissue that grows in the uterus before being expelled each month during menstruation, spreads to other nearby organs. It causes chronic pain and infertility. It is estimated that nearly 10% of women worldwide suffer from it.

“Endo is extremely debilitating,” said Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc, a physician-scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF and co-author of the paper. “The impact on patients’ lives is huge, from their interpersonal relationships to being able to hold a job, have a family, and maintain psychological wellbeing.”

The gold standard to diagnose endometriosis is surgery to find endometrial tissue outside of the uterus, and it is mainly treated with hormones to suppress the menstrual cycle, or surgery to remove the excess tissue.

But not everyone responds to hormonal therapy, which can have debilitating side effects. Even after surgery, the condition can flare up. Removal of the uterus is a last-ditch measure that is usually reserved for older women; but some women continue to experience pain even after a hysterectomy.

Giudice partnered with Sirota to leverage the UC health system’s anonymised patient data against endo, which can vary dramatically across patients. Both Giudice and Sirota are principal investigators at the UCSF-Stanford Endometriosis Center for Discovery, Innovation, Training and Community Engagement (ENACT).

“This data is messy; it was not collected for research purposes but for the real, human purpose of helping women who need care,” Sirota said. “We had the rare chance to rigorously assess how endometriosis presents across UCSF’s patient population and then ask whether these observations held true with patients seen at the other UC health centers.”

Data connects the dots for understanding endometriosis

Using algorithms developed for the task, Umair Khan, a bioinformatics graduate student in Sirota’s lab and first author of the paper, hunted for connections linking endometriosis with the rest of each patient’s health history.

He compared endo patients with patients who did not have it, and categorised the patients with endo into groups based on shared health histories. He mapped his findings from the UCSF data against the rest of the UC’s health data to see if they held up across California.

“We found over 600 correlations between endometriosis and other conditions,” Khan said. “These ranged from what we already knew or suspected, like infertility, autoimmune disease, and acid-reflux, to the unexpected, like certain cancers, asthma, and eye-related diseases.”

Some patients had migraines, bolstering previous studies suggesting that migraine drugs might help treat endometriosis.

“In the past, studies like this would have been nearly impossible,” said Tomiko Oskotsky, MD, an investigator at ENACT, associate professor in UCSF BCHSI, and co-author of the paper. “It was only 12 years ago that de-identified electronic health records became available at this scale.”

The study supports the growing understanding of endometriosis as a “multi-system” disorder – a disease arising from dysfunction throughout the body.

“This is the kind of data we need to move the needle, which hasn’t moved in decades,” Giudice said. “We’re finally getting closer to faster diagnosis and, eventually, we hope, tailored treatment for the millions of women who suffer from endometriosis.”

Source: University of California – San Francisco

Categories : Antibiotics PaediatricsTags :

Probiotics for Preterm Babies Lowered Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria in the Gut

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Preterm babies with very low birth weight who received a probiotic alongside antibiotics had fewer multidrug resistant bacteria and a more typical gut microbiome, a new study shows.

The paper published in Nature Communications is the result of a trial testing probiotics among a group of 34 pre-term babies born with a very low birth weight, under 1500g representing around 1-1.5% of babies born around the world. The study sequenced gut bacteria from the babies during the first three weeks after birth.

The collaborative study led by Professor Lindsay Hall and Dr Raymond Kiu from the University of Birmingham found that among babies who received a probiotic treatment of a certain strain including Bifidobacterium alongside antibiotics, levels of typical bacterial strains associated with early-life gut microbiota were at levels typical among full-term babies, reducing both the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and the number of multi-drug resistant bacteria in the gut.

In the context of the global AMR crisis, this is a major finding, especially for NICUs where preterm infants are especially vulnerable. Probiotics are now used in many neonatal ICUs around the UK, and the WHO have recommended probiotic supplementation in preterm babies. Our paper shows how beneficial this intervention can be for babies born prematurely to help them give their gut a kickstart, and reduce the impact of concerning pathogens taking hold.Professor Lindsay Hall – University of Birmingham

There were lower levels of drug-resistant pathogens including Enterococcus associated with risks of infections and longer hospital stays. Babies who received probiotics also saw higher levels of certain positive bacteria found naturally in the gut.

Among babies who didn’t receive probiotics, analysis of the gut bacteria found that while some differences occurred between those receiving antibiotics or not, both groups saw a dominant microbiome develop that included key bacteria (pathobionts) that can cause health problems including life-threatening infections during the crucial period after birth, as well as in later life.

Professor Lindsay Hall from the University of Birmingham and a group leader at Quadram Institute Bioscience, and senior corresponding author of the study said: “We have already shown that probiotics are highly effective in protecting vulnerable preterm babies from serious infections, and this study now reveals that these probiotics also significantly reduce the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and multidrug-resistant bacteria in the infant gut. Crucially, they seem to do so selectively – targeting resistant strains without disrupting non-resistant strains that might be beneficial.

“In the context of the global AMR crisis, this is a major finding, especially for NICUs where preterm infants are especially vulnerable. Probiotics are now used in many neonatal ICUs around the UK, and the WHO have recommended probiotic supplementation in preterm babies.

“Our paper shows how beneficial this intervention can be for babies born prematurely to help them give their gut a kickstart, and reduce the impact of concerning pathogens taking hold.”

Dr Raymond Kiu from the University of Birmingham, first and co-corresponding author of the paper said: “Sequencing technology has now confirmed that probiotic Bifidobacterium rapidly replicates in the preterm gut during the first three weeks of life. Importantly, this successful colonisation drives the maturation of the gut microbiota and is linked to a noticeable reduction in multi-drug-resistant pathogens – pointing to its pivotal role in improving neonatal health. Our findings also shed light on the complex interactions between antibiotics, probiotics, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in shaping the early-life microbiome.

“We believe this research lays the groundwork for future studies exploring the role of probiotics in antimicrobial stewardship and infection control among preterm populations.”

Source: University of Birmingham

Categories : Cardiovascular DiseaseTags :

Why Common Blood Pressure Readings May Be Misleading – and How to Fix Them

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Researchers have found why common cuff-based blood pressure readings are inaccurate and how they might be improved, which could improve health outcomes for patients.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the top risk factor for premature death, associated with heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. However, inaccuracies in the most common form of blood pressure measurement mean that as many as 30% of cases of high blood pressure could be missed.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, built an experimental model that explained the physics behind these inaccuracies and provided a better understanding of the mechanics of cuff-based blood pressure readings.

The researchers say that some straightforward changes, which don’t necessarily involve replacing standard cuff-based measurement, could lead to more accurate blood pressure readings and better results for patients. Their results are reported in the journal PNAS Nexus.

Anyone who has ever had their blood pressure taken will be familiar with the cuff-based method. This type of measurement, also known as the auscultatory method, relies on inflating a cuff around the upper arm to the point where it cuts off blood flow to the lower arm, and then a clinician listens for tapping sounds in the arm through a stethoscope while the cuff is slowly deflated.

Blood pressure is inferred from readings taken from a pressure gauge attached to the deflating cuff. Blood pressure is given as two separate numbers: a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 is considered ‘ideal’.

“The auscultatory method is the gold standard, but it overestimates diastolic pressure, while systolic pressure is underestimated,” said co-author Kate Bassil from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. “We have a good understanding of why diastolic pressure is overestimated, but why systolic pressure is underestimated has been a bit of a mystery.”

“Pretty much every clinician knows blood pressure readings are sometimes wrong, but no one could explain why they are being underestimated — there’s a real gap in understanding,” said co-author Professor Anurag Agarwal, also from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.

Previous non-clinical studies into measurement inaccuracy used rubber tubes that did not fully replicate how arteries collapse under cuff pressure, which masked the underestimation effect.

The researchers built a simplified physical model to isolate and study the effects of downstream blood pressure — the blood pressure in the part of the arm below the cuff. When the cuff is inflated and blood flow to the lower arm is cut off, it creates a very low downstream pressure. By reproducing this condition in their experimental rig, they determined this pressure difference causes the artery to stay closed for longer while the cuff deflates, delaying the reopening and leading to an underestimation of blood pressure.

This physical mechanism — the delayed reopening due to low downstream pressure — is the likely cause of underestimation, a previously unidentified factor. “We are currently not adjusting for this error when diagnosing or prescribing treatments, which has been estimated to lead to as many as 30% of cases of systolic hypertension being missed,” said Bassil.

Instead of the rubber tubes used in earlier physical models of arteries, the Cambridge researchers used tubes that lay flat when deflated and fully close when the cuff pressure is inflated, the key condition for reproducing the low downstream pressure observed in the body.

The researchers say that there are a range of potential solutions to this underestimation, which include raising the arm in advance of measurement, potentially producing a predictable downstream pressure and therefore predictable underestimation. This change doesn’t require new devices, just a modified protocol.

“You might not even need new devices, just changing how the measurement is done could make it more accurate,” said Agarwal.

However, if new devices for monitoring blood pressure are developed, they might ask for additional inputs which correlate with downstream pressure, to adjust what the ‘ideal’ readings might be for each individual. These may include age, BMI, or tissue characteristics.

The researchers hope to secure funding for clinical trials to test their findings in patients, and are looking for industrial or research partners to help refine their calibration models and validate the effect in diverse populations. Collaboration with clinicians will also be essential to implement changes to clinical practice.

The research was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Anurag Agarwal is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. 

Reference:
Kate Bassil and Anurag Agarwal. ‘Underestimation of systolic pressure in cuff-based blood pressure measurement.’ PNAS Nexus (2025). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf222.

Republished from University of Cambridge under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Read the original article.

Categories : Uncategorized

Research Finds that Morning Coffee Really Does Lift Mood

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People who regularly consume caffeine are usually in a better mood after a cup of coffee or another caffeinated drink – an effect that is much more pronounced in the morning than later in the day. This finding comes from a new study by researchers at the University of Warwick and Bielefeld University, published in the journal Scientific Reports. Participants reported feeling significantly happier and more enthusiastic on those mornings compared with other days at the same hour when they had not yet had coffee.

Links to negative moods such as sadness and feeling upset were also observed, though these effects were less pronounced: after drinking coffee, participants felt slightly less sad or upset than on comparable days without coffee. Unlike the boost in positive emotions, this effect was not dependent on the time of day.

In total, 236 young adults in Germany were studied over a period of up to four weeks. Participants completed short questionnaires on their smartphones seven times a day, indicating their current mood and whether they had consumed a caffeinated drink in the preceding 90 minutes. Accordingly, the study focused on caffeine consumption in everyday life, not just in artificial laboratory settings.

Perceived effect regardless of consumption habits

The researchers also investigated whether coffee has different effects on different individuals. Justin Hachenberger from the Bielefeld University in Germany says, ‘We were somewhat surprised to find no differences between individuals with varying levels of caffeine consumption or differing degrees of depressive symptoms, anxiety, or sleep problems. The links between caffeine intake and positive or negative emotions were fairly consistent across all groups.’

The researchers expected that people with higher levels of anxiety would experience negative mood changes, such as increased nervousness, after consuming caffeine. However, Hachenberger emphasises that people who react to caffeine in a bad way may avoid it and that the study did not include people who completely abstain from caffeine.

Role of caffeine withdrawal symptoms remains unclear

The researchers explain the mood-boosting effect of caffeine on morning mood with its ability to block adenosine receptors, which promotes wakefulness and makes people feel more energetic. ‘Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, which can increase dopamine activity in key brain regions – an effect that studies have linked to improved mood and greater alertness’, says Professor Anu Realo from the University of Warwick.

Yet, it remains unclear whether these effects are related to a reduction in withdrawal symptoms after a night’s sleep. ‘Even people with moderate caffeine consumption can experience mild withdrawal symptoms that disappear with the first cup of coffee or tea in the morning’, says Anu Realo.

Caffeine consumption: a universal habit

‘Around 80 per cent of adults worldwide consume caffeinated beverages, and the use of such stimulating substances dates far back in human history’, says Professor Sakari Lemola from Bielefeld University, the study’s senior author. ‘Even wild animals consume caffeine; bees and bumblebees prefer nectar from plants that contain caffeine.’

Still, the study authors caution that caffeine can lead to dependence. Excessive intake is linked to various health risks, and consuming it later in the day can lead to sleep problems.

Source: Bielefeld University

Categories : New Compounds and TreatmentsTags :

Small Molecule Could Alleviate Paracetamol-induced Liver Injury

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Human liver. Credit: NIH

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is one of the most common painkillers and is found in hundreds of different medications. While safe at recommended doses, paracetamol overdose is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the U.S. Now, researchers propose that a new molecule has the potential to treat acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI) and other inflammatory conditions. They conducted a small-scale mouse trial and found that the new compound decreased AILI-caused liver inflammation and prevented liver damage. 

Jannatun Nayem Namme, a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, will present her team’s results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2025 is being held Aug. 17-21; it features about 9000 presentations on a range of science topics.  

Most acetaminophen overdoses are accidental, often due to people unintentionally consuming multiple products containing the painkiller or misinterpreting dosage. After taking a recommended amount of paracetamol, a person’s liver converts a small percentage of it into a toxic molecule called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Normally, the liver can quickly metabolise NAPQI into a non-toxic form. But if a person takes too much acetaminophen, NAPQI builds up and causes irreversible cell damage, leading to liver injury or death. Currently, N-acetylcysteine is the only drug available to treat AILI, and it must be administered within eight hours of overdose. 

To develop novel treatments for inflammatory conditions, such as AILI, and neurodegenerative conditions, Namme and her colleagues previously focused on small molecules that reduce the activity of inflammation-causing proteins, known as inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are also involved in pyroptosis, a type of cellular death associated with AILI. While developing inflammasome inhibitors, the researchers noticed that some of the compounds they created could target a specific inflammatory protein called gasdermin D (GSDMD). GSDMD is involved in pyroptosis. 

Namme and the team synthesised several different GSDMD-inhibiting compounds and tested them for their ability to bind to GSDMD. They discovered that one small molecule, which they labelled YM81, selectively binds to and inhibits GSDMD from initiating pyroptosis.  

Next, the researchers treated five mice with AILI using YM81 and compared them to 10 mice given a placebo. They monitored the extent of liver damage in the animals 17 hours after the acetaminophen overdose. Compared to the placebo group, mice treated with YM81 had significantly lower levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, two liver injury biomarkers. These results indicate that the YM81 treatment helped decrease liver inflammation by inhibiting GSDMD. 

Shijun Zhang, the study’s principal investigator, says that YM81 is in the early stages of drug development. “In the future, we will focus on optimising YM81 to increase its potency, safety and stability, in addition to exploring its therapeutic potential in additional animal models,” he says. 

Namme adds that GSDMD inhibitors like YM81 have the potential to treat other inflammatory conditions. “GSDMD is a common protein involved in multiple inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as arthritis, sepsis and gout,” she says. “Targeting GSDMD could offer a therapeutic strategy to reduce the inflammation and damage from multiple diseases and causes.”

Source: American Chemical Society

Categories : Mental Health Substance UseTags :

Cannabis Potency May Be Driving a Rise in Schizophrenia

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A new article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warns of the mental health dangers stemming from the increasing potency of cannabis. In Ontario, there has been a more than 14-fold increase in risk for visiting the emergency department for cannabis-related schizophrenic disorders. After a cannabis-induced psychotic episode, cessation of cannabis use is necessary to reduce the risk of relapse, and in severe cases, antipsychotics may be needed.

“Cannabis from the 2000s is not the same as in 2025,” said coauthor Dr Nicholas Fabiano, MD, resident and researcher with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario. “THC content has increased by 5 times. This is likely a significant driver in the increasing link between cannabis use and schizophrenia.”

  1. Cannabis potency is increasing — The concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has increased fivefold in the last 20 years in Canada from about 4% to 20% in most legal dried cannabis.
  2. High-potency and regular cannabis use is linked to increased risk of psychosis — The risk of psychosis is increased in people using high-potency THC (more than 10% THC), people using it frequently, and those who are younger and male. A history of mental disorders (depression, anxiety, etc) also appears to increase the risk.
  3. Cannabis-induced psychosis and cannabis use disorder increase the risk of schizophrenia — A recent study of 9.8 million people in Ontario found a 14.3-fold higher risk of developing a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder in people visiting the emergency department for cannabis use and a 241.6-fold higher risk from visits for cannabis-induced psychosis.
  4. Treatment requires stopping cannabis and taking medication — Continued use of cannabis after a first episode of cannabis-induced psychosis is linked to greater risk of returning symptoms. Antipsychotic medication can help people with severe and prolonged symptoms.
  5. Behavioural options may help with cannabis cessation — Motivational interviewing or cognitive behavioural therapy by a physician or psychologist can help build skills to resist cravings and follow treatment recommendations.

Source: EurekAlert!

Categories : Ageing Expert OpinionTags :

From Lifespan to Healthspan: Why Preventive Healthcare Matters Now More Than Ever

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South Africa is facing a major health transition. While the average life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past century, the quality of those additional years, commonly referred to as one’s ‘healthspan,’ remains under threat from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This threat calls for a renewed national focus on prevention and early intervention to address the rapidly growing challenge.

The Healthspan Imperative

According to health data presented at the 2025 Momentum Healthcare Insights Summit, NCDs such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders now account for 51% of all deaths in South Africa. In contrast, communicable diseases make up around 40% and non-natural causes (like accidents and violence) account for a mere 9%. This shift reflects a global trend, although some challenges remain; infectious diseases become more manageable, while chronic conditions associated with lifestyle and ageing take centre stage.

Damian McHugh, Chief Marketing Officer at Momentum Health

“Medical advances have added years to our lives, but not necessarily life to our years. More and more, there is growing evidence to support the fact that prevention offers the greatest potential to reduce the burden as well as cost of chronic disease and improve quality of life,” says Damian McHugh, Chief Marketing Officer at Momentum Health.

Prevention Outperforms Treatment

The summit highlighted compelling evidence that prevention is more effective than treatment for advanced disease. For example, research from the American Cancer Society shows that tobacco control measures, such as smoking bans and taxes, have prevented 3.8 million lung cancer deaths in the United States since 1970. The most effective way to save lives from late-stage lung cancer has not been through treatment, but through reducing or eliminating smoking altogether.

The same principle applies to other chronic diseases. Managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, high blood glucose, and abnormal cholesterol can actively prevent or delay the onset of disease. These factors are strongly influenced by behaviours such as a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, unmanaged stress levels, and even excessive alcohol use or smoking.

Investing in regular health check-ups and preventative care can mitigate the risk of serious health problems, ultimately reducing the incidence of costly, advanced illnesses. Simple lifestyle changes, such as prioritising rest and recovery, making time to connect with loved ones, maintaining balanced nutrition, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in regular exercise not only promotes physical and mental health, but can also translate into significant long-term savings in healthcare costs.

“Making quality healthcare more accessible, while enabling and rewarding healthy, preventative habits can lead to complete physical and mental health and wellbeing. Investing in access and wellbeing is a powerful pathway to realising more wealth and more health for more South Africans,” says McHugh.

Measuring and Managing Healthspan within the South African Context

Momentum Health’s data reveals that many South Africans are living longer, but the average age of medical scheme beneficiaries has increased by nearly three years over the past decade, and the proportion of pensioners in medical schemes is rising. Without proactive measures, our nation’s ailing healthcare system will face increasing claims and costs as the population ages and chronic diseases become more prevalent.

Momentum Health believes that the solution lies in taking measures to improve access to both quality medical care and reliable health information and empowering individuals to take responsibility for their own health.

South Africa’s rising NCD burden is not inevitable. With early detection, healthy lifestyle choices, and consistent engagement with preventative healthcare, individuals can not only extend their lifespan but also improve the years lived in good health.

“Prevention isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a public health imperative. By investing in wellness now, we can reduce the future burden on our healthcare system and help more South Africans enjoy longer, healthier lives,” concludes McHugh.

Categories : Expert Opinion HospitalsTags :

HASA CEO Talks About Partnerships, Purpose and the Pursuit of Universal Healthcare

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He speaks in measured tones – calm, reflective, deliberate. But when Dr Dumisani Bomela describes the future he envisions, the words carry power. For the CEO of the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), healthcare is not just a profession. It is a promise rooted in dignity, equity and access to every South African.

Q: Dr Bomela, what drew you to medicine and what keeps you committed to healthcare in South Africa?
A: I have always seen healthcare as an act of service. As a doctor, you learn to see beyond symptoms, to understand the person behind the diagnosis. As a leader at HASA, I take that same approach. Our work is about people. About making sure that every South African can get quality care when they need it.

Q: HASA represents South Africa’s private hospital sector. Why is this sector important to the country’s overall health system?
A: Private hospitals are a cornerstone of healthcare in South Africa. We treat millions of patients each year. More than that, HASA members invest heavily in medical training, advanced technology and infrastructure. We are strategic partners in the national system, that makes our sector a vital national asset.

Q: How does HASA contribute to economic development beyond just healthcare?
A: Healthcare is a growth engine. HASA members are major employers, from doctors and nurses to technicians and support staff. We support local communities and stimulate investment. When healthcare systems are strong, economies thrive – and so do people.

Q: What is HASA’s stance on universal health coverage?
A:  We believe every person has the right to choose their provider and to receive high-quality care. That is why we support reforms that strengthen the system and build equity. HASA members are ready to work side by side with the government to make that vision a reality. Our hospital groups bring deep experience, including in some cases from geographies where universal healthcare systems operate, and strong infrastructure to the table.

Q: What kind of leadership do you believe is needed in South African healthcare today?
A: We need leaders who listen. Who understand not just policy, but people. Leadership in healthcare must be grounded in compassion and collaboration. At HASA, we strive to lead by example, building trust, fostering partnerships, and always remembering that every system ultimately affects human lives.

Q: How do HASA hospitals stay at the forefront of medical technology and innovation?
A: By investing intentionally. Our members understand that modern medicine is not static, it is constantly evolving. We equip our hospitals with advanced diagnostic and treatment tools. But technology alone is not enough. We also invest in people – training nurses, specialists and support teams to lead with excellence.

Q: In a country facing complex health challenges, how do you stay hopeful?
A: Hope grows where there is action. Across our hospitals, I see incredible work being done every day – surgeons saving lives, nurses comforting families, teams innovating to improve care. We are proving, together, that with collaboration and commitment, South Africa’s health system can be strong, inclusive and world-class.

Q: What gives you the greatest sense of pride in your work with HASA?
A:  Honestly, it is seeing the impact private hospitals have. When families walk out of our hospitals healed. When professionals grow into health leaders. When communities feel their well-being is supported. These outcomes remind us why the work matters. My pride does not come from titles; it comes from knowing we are making a real, human difference every single day.

Categories : Immune SystemTags :

Research Shines a Light into Sex Differences in Diseases

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Photo by Daniil Onischenko on Unsplash

Many diseases affect men and women differently. Asthma tends to strike men earlier in life, yet more women develop asthma as they get older. Parkinson’s is more common in men, but Alzheimer’s is more common in women. 

The differences are even more stark when it comes to autoimmune disease. Women are around two and a half times more likely than men to develop multiple sclerosis and nine times more likely to develop lupus.

Why would some diseases strike one sex more than another? And why do some tissues, such as the lungs and brain, seem especially vulnerable to these sex-based differences?

To answer these questions, scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) are leading new research into how our immune cells defend specific parts of the body.

In a new Science review, LJI Professor, President & CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, MBA, and LJI Associate Professor Sonia Sharma, PhD, examine how genetics, sex hormones, and environmental factors come together to shape the immune system.

“In just the last two years, LJI scientists have uncovered a whole new body of information about how the immune systems of men and women are very different,” says Saphire. “We’re looking at what is genetically encoded in our XX or XY chromosomes, and how hormones like oestrogen and testosterone affect what is genetically programmed into our immune cells.”

In the paper, the researchers define biological sex (in an immunology context) as the presence of XX chromosomes in females and XY chromosomes in males. “Every cell in your body is either XX or XY,” says Saphire. “That X chromosome has many, many immune-related genes. Women have two copies of each. That gives them, in a sense, twice the palette of colours to paint from in formulating an immune response. It can also give them a stronger immune response for those genes that are doubly active – active in both copies simultaneously.

Sex hormones are important for much more than reproductive function. Immune cells can also sense hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone and use them to determine which genes to turn on or off and which ones to turn on more brightly or dim. This means similar immune cells can do different things, depending on whether that cell is from a male or a female. 

Further, female cells vary in which of their two copies of X is “turned on.” As a result, women have organs with a collage, or mosaic, of immune cells that work differently in different tissues. This innate “variety” of immune cells appears to be an effective way to ward off infectious disease (women are better than men at fighting off pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2). 

But scientists have also found that having more genes from X chromosomes may predispose women to autoimmune disease. This increased X chromosome “dosage” is closely linked to a higher risk for autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome and scleroderma.

New research into sex-based immune system differences is also critical for developing new cancer immunotherapies, Sharma explains.

“We’re increasingly understanding how sex-based differences affect disease outcomes. When it comes to medicine, one size doesn’t fit everybody,” says Sharma, who directs LJI’s Center for Sex-Based Differences in the Immune System. “This is leading to new research, particularly in the cancer field, toward precision medicine. We’re asking how a person’s individual immune system is contributing to controlling that cancer through immunotherapy.”

Saphire and Sharma also highlight environmental factors, such as nutrition and chemical exposures, that may add to the complex interplay of chromosomes and sex hormones. Men and women also appear to have some signature differences in their skin and gut microbiomes.

The researchers hope these foundational discoveries can lead to medical advances for all, and they’re working with collaborators across the country to move this research forward. “It takes a team to translate these findings,” says Sharma.

The new review, titled “Sex differences in tissue-specific immunity and immunology,” includes co-author Alicia Gibbons of LJI and UC San Diego.

Source: La Jolla Institute for Immunology