On Monday, World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative Rik Peeperkorn told UN News about the desperate conditions he had seen at Al-Ahli before the attack, and the severe restriction on movement that is preventing thousands being evacuated for medical treatment outside of Gaza.
“I was in Gaza several weeks ago and I came out in early March, just before the aid blockade started and the attacks started up again.
When I was there, during the ceasefire, we were organising polio vaccinations and medevacs (medical evacuations), and we stocked up on essential medicine and medical supplies. This was also the only time there were proper food stocks in Gaza.
There was almost a ray of hope among all the misery. Places I’d been before, like Rafah in the south, or Jabalia in the north, were utterly devastated wastelands, but people, including our own staff, were going back to their homes, trying to repair destroyed houses or building makeshift camps. You saw commercial activities restarting, and a choice of food.
But then, of course, with the blockade, food, water and essential medicines very quickly began running out. Even though we stocked up during the ceasefire, we are now critically low on supplies and it is challenging to keep hospitals even partly open.
We have completely run out of therapeutic milk, antibiotics, to treat severe infections, trauma painkillers, insulin, ambulance spare parts, oxygen tanks etc.
Medical evacuation of patients from Gaza (file)
A couple of days before the attack on Al Ahli, a medical specialist there told us that the hospital was already overflowing because it’s one of the key hospitals in the north for trauma patients [those who have suffered severe and life-threatening injuries], and that they were forced to perform surgery under questionable sterile conditions.
They were lacking enough surgical gowns, drapes or gloves. They even had to wear the same gloves from one operation to the next. Because of the lack of equipment, surgeries could take hours, increasing the risk of permanent disability or amputations.
The staff asked us for the supplies that we have in our two warehouses in the south of Gaza, but we were not allowed.
This aid blockade needs to be lifted, and we have to get back to an arrangement whereby we can have humanitarian corridors throughout Gaza, without being denied or delayed entry. Even when a war is going on, humanitarian supplies should be allowed in and aid workers should be able to do their work.
Today I spoke to my team leads in Gaza, who have been to Al-Shifa hospital. Al-Shifa, now the major surgical and trauma centre for the north, is completely overwhelmed and under-supported. We are looking at the possibility of getting some patients from Al-Shifa to the south but everything is complex.
Far too few patients have been able to leave Gaza for the urgent care they so desperately need. We estimate that up to 12,000 patients need medical evacuation but, since the blockade we have only been able to evacuate 121 people, including 73 children.
“We call for the immediate resumption of medical evacuation through all possible routes. That should happen now.”
Several staff members, including two nurses, were injured in the strike on the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Khan Younis according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and health agencies, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.
The incident follows a separate strike on Sunday on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which had been a key facility treating victims of Israeli airstrikes in the north.
“The latest strikes on hospitals further cripples Gaza’s health care system,” Mr. Dujarric said.
“There are currently very few beds available in hospitals and patients are being accommodated in tents.”
He added that according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), only 21 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain “just partially functional” and almost all have sustained some damage in the conflict.
He further reported that, according to health partners, there is an urgent need for thousands of blood units for life-saving operations.
Furthermore, there are serious concerns that food warehouses have reached “very low levels” as no aid has entered Gaza in weeks.
Meanwhile, amid the devastation a rare moment of relief came as humanitarians in Gaza successfully installed a backup generator at Kamal Adwan Hospital to power a water system producing 20 cubic metres of clean water per hour.
Mr. Dujarric reiterated the UN’s call on all parties to ensure that civilians are respected and always protected, and that they have the basic necessities to survive.
“All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally, and a ceasefire must be restored and renewed without delay,” he added.
Developed after over three years of negotiations under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), the draft outlines a framework for strengthening international collaboration, equity and resilience in the face of future global health threats.
“The nations of the world made history in Geneva today,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, not only did they put in place a generational accord to make the world safer. They have also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well and that in our divided world – nations can still work together to find common ground and a shared response to shared threats.”
‘One health’ approach
Negotiations began in December 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when WHO member States agreed on the urgent need for a legally binding international instrument and established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB).
The process involved 13 formal rounds of negotiations, many of which were extended into the early hours, culminating in Wednesday’s consensus after a final overnight session.
Key elements of the proposed agreement include a commitment to a “One Health” approach to pandemic prevention, stronger national health systems, setting up a coordinating financial mechanism, and creating a globally coordinated supply chain and logistics network for health emergencies.
The draft also proposes a new pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, increased support for technology and knowledge transfer as well as capacity-building, and outlines a skilled, trained and multidisciplinary national and global health emergency workforce.
National sovereignty upheld
The text further affirms national sovereignty in public health decisions. It states explicitly that nothing in the agreement gives WHO the authority to mandate health measures such as lockdowns, vaccination campaigns, or border closures.
The draft will now be submitted for consideration to the 78th World Health Assembly – UN’s highest forum for global health – set to begin on 19 May. If adopted, it will be subject to ratification by individual nations.
According to media reports, the United States did not participate in the final round of negotiations, following its January announcement to withdraw from the global health body, and would not be bound by the pact.
Five Facts: Proposed pandemic agreement.
A breakthrough for health equity
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros praised the negotiating teams and the INB leadership for their perseverance and shared purpose.
“This achievement is not just a diplomatic success,” he said. “It reflects your resilience, unity and unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of people everywhere.”
INB Co-Chair Precious Matsoso of South Africa called the outcome a breakthrough for health equity.
“The negotiations, at times, have been difficult and protracted. But this monumental effort has been sustained by the shared understanding that viruses do not respect borders – that no one is safe from pandemics until everyone is safe,” she said.
Fellow Co-Chair Anne-Claire Amprou of France added that the agreement lays the foundation for a stronger, more equitable global health security architecture.
“This is a historic agreement for health security, equity and international solidarity,” she said.
Learning from COVID-19, looking to the future
The agreement emerges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in global health systems and stark inequalities in access to diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. The virus claimed nearly seven million lives worldwide, severely disrupted economies, and overwhelmed healthcare services across the globe.
At the same time, the pandemic triggered the largest vaccination campaign in history, with over 13.3 billion doses administered globally by April 2023.
Looking ahead, Tedros emphasised the agreement’s long-term significance.
“The importance of this agreement goes beyond our current challenges,” he said.
“It is vital for future generations – for our children and grandchildren. By building a strong framework for pandemic preparedness and response, we ensure they inherit a safer and healthier world.”
A view of the closing session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB).
On March 28, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar brought a terrible destruction with them. Many states and regions of the country including Mandale, Sagaiing, Magway, Bago have lost mass and property, and huge human needs are steeped. The United Nations Agency (UNFPA) for sexual and reproductive health, along with its partners organizations in this difficult time, is engaged in providing life -saving help to the needy population, especially women and girls.
In a shocking incident at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Jadcherla, Telangana, over 50 students fell ill due to suspected food poisoning. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has raised serious concerns about food safety and emergency response on the campus.
The students began exhibiting symptoms of nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and fever shortly after consuming food from the campus canteen. In an attempt to manage the situation, the varsity administration arranged for private doctors to treat the affected students on the premises and makeshift medical facilities were set up in common rooms and the library.
However, the administration’s response was met with criticism. The students alleged that the management was trying to suppress the incident and shield those responsible.
Campus Crisis: Allegations and MLA’s Intervention
The students claimed that the administration’s failure extended beyond the provision of safe and hygienic food, pointing out the lack of emergency medical transportation. No ambulances were arranged for students requiring urgent care, exacerbating the crisis.
The situation escalated when Jadcherla MLA P. Anirudh Reddy visited the NMIMS campus. Expressing shock at the lack of proper medical infrastructure, Reddy confronted university officials and questioned the qualifications of the doctors attending to the students.
Reddy demanded immediate action, stating, “You are only trying to protect the university. Protect the children. Shift them to hospitals immediately.” Following Reddy’s intervention, around 15-20 affected students were transferred to hospitals in Mahabubnagar and Hyderabad for specialized treatment.
However, the students’ ordeal didn’t end there. They voiced longstanding complaints about poor food hygiene in the campus canteen, citing low-quality groceries, vegetables, and cooking oil used in the preparation of meals.
Longstanding Complaints and Media Intervention
The students claimed that despite several representations over the poor quality of food and drinking water provided to them, the college administration had been acting with negligence. They alleged that the mess in charge had consistently denied all their allegations, leading to a situation that could have been avoided with timely action.
The incident at NMIMS is not an isolated one. It brings to light the larger issue of food safety and hygiene in educational institutions. In the past, similar incidents have occurred in various parts of the country, underscoring the need for stringent food safety measures and emergency response systems on campuses.
The university administration, which also tried to prevent the media from entering the campus to report the incident, was compelled to let them in after they protested. This incident has not only exposed the administration’s negligence but also highlighted the importance of media in bringing such issues to light.
Private equity firm Odyssey is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Honeywell’s face mask unit, a potential deal valued at around $1.5 billion. This acquisition marks a strategic move by Odyssey to capitalize on the surging demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), driven by the global pandemic. The deal would be a significant milestone in the PPE industry, as face masks have become an essential commodity worldwide.
The ongoing talks, initially reported by Bloomberg News, suggest Odyssey’s growing interest in expanding its investment portfolio within the PPE sector. Honeywell, a global conglomerate known for its diversified product offerings, including aerospace systems and engineering services, has played a key role in meeting the massive demand for PPE during the COVID-19 crisis.
While the reasons behind Odyssey’s interest in Honeywell’s face mask division remain unspecified, the acquisition is seen as a calculated effort to tap into the lucrative market. The surge in demand for PPE since the pandemic began has transformed the sector, making it an attractive investment opportunity for private equity firms.
PPE Market
If the deal proceeds, it could have broader implications for both companies and the PPE market. Honeywell’s face mask unit, known for its production capacity and established reputation, has been a leader in addressing global PPE needs. Odyssey’s acquisition could further shake up the competitive landscape as private equity firms continue to show interest in PPE-related assets.
This is not the first time a private equity firm has targeted the PPE industry. In 2016, Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Ansell Limited’s industrial and medical gloves business for $600 million, a deal that highlighted the profitability of the sector even before the pandemic. Odyssey’s potential acquisition of Honeywell’s unit could be viewed in a similar light, setting the stage for more deals as the industry continues to expand.
While the deal is still in its negotiation phase, the final terms could evolve as discussions progress. The outcome will not only impact Odyssey’s investment portfolio but also shape Honeywell’s future business strategy. Industry stakeholders are watching closely, as this acquisition could set a benchmark for future investments in the PPE market.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company known for its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, is scaling up its operations in India to meet rising global demand. The company plans to double its senior leadership team in India and increase its total workforce by 16%, bringing its headcount to 5,000 by next year. This move underscores India’s growing importance in the global pharmaceutical landscape, offering cost-effective operations and a flourishing ecosystem of AI start-ups.
In a strategic push, Novo Nordisk is partnering with local AI firms to streamline various functions such as document summarization and insight extraction. These collaborations aim to improve efficiency, with AI tools reducing the time required for regulatory submissions from 40 hours to just 40 minutes, according to John Dawber, Novo Nordisk’s managing director for global business services. The company already uses these AI solutions across its global operations.
India has been a key location for Novo Nordisk for 17 years, particularly its Bengaluru operations, which handle vast amounts of data related to drug safety and efficacy. This includes monitoring clinical trials and tracking reports of side effects. Dawber foresees the Bengaluru center becoming a near mirror image of the company’s headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, within the next three years, playing a pivotal role in research and development.
Novo Nordisk’s expansion aligns with a broader trend of pharmaceutical giants betting big on India. Companies like Sanofi and Bristol Myers Squibb are also increasing their investments in the country, recognizing the potential for AI and digital technologies to enhance drug development.
A Competitive Landscape
The rising global profile of Wegovy, along with its diabetes counterpart Ozempic, has boosted Novo Nordisk’s standing. Half of the company’s global safety assessment work, which includes monitoring drug side effects and submitting reports to health regulators, is already handled by its India-based team. In addition, the team contributes to key processes like safety update reports and risk management plans.
While Novo Nordisk did not disclose the financial details of its expansion or AI partnerships, it confirmed that it is open to further collaborations with Indian start-ups.
As Novo Nordisk and rivals like Eli Lilly race to capture the burgeoning global weight-loss market, which analysts predict could hit $150 billion in the next decade, the company’s Indian operations are set to play a crucial role in driving innovation and maintaining competitiveness.
Bengaluru, Oct 8 – Dozee, a leading Indian health-tech company, has introduced a breakthrough service for non-resident Indians (NRIs) to monitor their parents’ health remotely in real-time.
The new offering, Dozee Shravan, is an AI-powered Remote Parent Monitoring (RPM) solution, designed to alleviate the concerns of NRIs who struggle to manage their elderly parents’ health from abroad. This innovative service leverages clinical-grade technology to provide continuous, contactless health monitoring and real-time alerts for early detection of potential health issues.
Dozee Shravan’s launch addresses a critical gap in healthcare for millions of NRIs. Managing the health of aging parents from overseas often involves infrequent check-ins, reliance on extended family, and limited telemedicine—systems that frequently fail during emergencies.
Furthermore, current monitoring solutions are often cumbersome, relying on wearables or manual intervention, which many elderly people find uncomfortable or difficult to maintain. The lack of continuous monitoring and real-time alerts exacerbates the problem, leading to overlooked health issues and delayed medical intervention.
“Caring for our parents is deeply rooted in Indian culture. With Dozee Shravan, NRIs can now be reassured that their parents in India are continuously monitored and cared for, allowing them more quality time and peace of mind,” said Mudit Dandwate, CEO & Co-Founder of Dozee.
The Dozee Shravan system operates on AI-powered Ballistocardiography, using advanced algorithms to track vital signs such as heart rate, respiration, non-contact blood pressure, and sleep patterns. By providing real-time alerts for any abnormalities, it allows for prompt medical attention before conditions worsen. Health data is securely shared with both families and healthcare providers in India, adhering to international standards for data privacy, including US FDA clearance.
Dozee’s technology is already trusted by over 280 hospitals across India, the USA, and Africa, where it has proven effective in reducing critical care admissions and improving patient outcomes. The introduction of Shravan marks a significant expansion into personal healthcare monitoring, offering a solution tailored specifically for NRIs managing elderly care from afar.
Key Features of Dozee Shravan:
Contactless, Continuous Monitoring: Unlike traditional wearables, Dozee Shravan offers AI-based monitoring without physical devices, ensuring minimal disruption to daily life.
Real-Time Alerts and Notifications: Any deviation in vital signs triggers immediate notifications to both NRIs and healthcare providers, enabling timely interventions.
Integration with Healthcare Providers: Dozee collaborates with top hospitals across India, ensuring parents receive comprehensive care, from routine check-ups to emergency responses.
Proactive Health Management: The system provides monthly health reports and trends, allowing families to track long-term patterns and make informed decisions.
Ease of Use: Shravan’s simple, user-friendly interface is designed to be accessible for elderly users, seamlessly integrating into their daily routine.
The introduction of Shravan highlights Dozee’s commitment to transforming healthcare in India and globally. With this launch, the company aims to empower NRIs to take an active role in their parents’ health, ensuring that early warnings are captured and acted upon, reducing the risk of critical health events.
This latest innovation builds on Dozee’s proven track record in hospital settings, where its Early Warning System has been instrumental in preventing life-threatening emergencies and optimizing patient care. By bringing this technology into homes, Dozee is offering NRIs a much-needed solution to the challenge of long-distance caregiving.
The launch of Dozee Shravan not only fills a crucial gap in the healthcare system but also reinforces India’s role as a global leader in health-tech innovation. As more NRIs turn to advanced, AI-driven solutions for elder care, Shravan is poised to become a trusted tool for safeguarding the health of elderly parents across India.
A groundbreaking study led by the University of South California (USC) has unveiled a concerning link between high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, and sleep disruptions.
This research, published in the journal Environmental Advances, has shed light on the potential health risks associated with these pervasive chemicals. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of industries around the globe since the 1940s. They are found in a wide range of consumer products that people use daily such as cookware, pizza boxes, and stain repellants.
Due to their chemical structure, PFAS are resistant to heat, water, and oil, earning them the moniker forever chemicals. They do not break down easily and can persist in the environment and the human body for extended periods. The USC study examined the blood samples and sleep patterns of 144 participants aged between 19 and 24.
The researchers found that higher levels of four specific types of PFAS – PFDA, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOS – were significantly associated with less sleep or worse quality of sleep.
The Impact of PFAS on Sleep and Health
Young adults with higher levels of these toxic chemicals in their blood had 80 fewer minutes of sleep at night. They also had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up, or feeling tired during waking hours. Sleep is a fundamental pillar of health.
A person must sleep 7-8 hours daily. Prolonged poor sleep may raise chronic health issues, including diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. The study’s findings are particularly concerning given the widespread presence of PFAS in our environment and daily lives.
Previous studies have shown that PFAS have contaminated water, food, and people through products such as Teflon pans, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, and food packaging. They have also been linked to cancers of the breast, ovary, skin, and uterus in women, among other diseases.
The USC study also examined the overlap between genes affected by the four forever chemicals and genes related to sleep disorders. Out of 600-plus candidate genes, seven activated by PFAS seemed to influence sleep.
Historical Parallels and Reducing Exposure
This included HSD11B1, which helps produce the hormone cortisol that plays an important role in regulating the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Another gene was cathepsin B, related to cognitive function and memory. Disruption in this gene was linked to Alzheimer’s.
The study’s findings echo historical events where chemicals once deemed safe were later found to have harmful effects on human health. For instance, lead was widely used in paint, gasoline, and plumbing until research revealed its toxic effects, particularly in children. Similarly, asbestos was a popular building material until its fibers were found to cause lung diseases.
The USC study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that PFAS could be the next major public health concern.
To reduce exposure to PFAS, individuals can avoid using products that are stain-resistant, waterproof, or nonstick, as these often contain PFAS. They can also choose natural fiber clothing, use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic cookware instead of Teflon or other nonstick pans, and be cautious with food packaging, especially for microwave meals.
Filtering drinking water with a system designed to remove PFAS, if necessary, and being mindful of personal care products, checking labels for PFAS ingredients, can also help. As we continue to learn more about these forever chemicals, it is crucial that we take steps to minimize our exposure and protect our health.
A new Australian study has revealed that regular snoring may lead to higher blood pressure. Researchers from Flinders University in South Australia found that people who snore often are more likely to suffer from elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension.
The study monitored 12,287 participants over six months, using home-based sleep tracking technology. It showed that 15% of the participants snored for more than 20% of the night. Those who snored heavily had a 3.8 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure and 4.5 mmHg higher diastolic pressure compared to non-snorers.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when blood vessels have consistently high pressure. This condition can cause heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and other serious heart diseases.
“For the first time, we can say there’s a strong link between frequent snoring at night and high blood pressure,” said Bastien Lechat, lead author of the research from the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University in Australia. He stressed the importance of addressing snoring in managing hypertension.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.28 billion adults globally have hypertension, with nearly half of them unaware of their condition.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride), for the treatment of schizophrenia, a chronic mental health disorder. Developed by Karuna Therapeutics and now owned by Bristol Myers Squibb, Cobenfy works by targeting cholinergic receptors unlike traditional antipsychotic medications that target dopamine receptors.
This marks a significant departure from the conventional approach to schizophrenia treatment, according to the FDA. Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and behavioral disturbances. Those affected often struggle to maintain a grasp on reality and may experience cognitive impairments.
Globally, about 24 million people are living with schizophrenia, including 2.8 million in the U.S., where it ranks as one of the top 15 causes of disability. Tragically, the condition is linked to a shortened lifespan, with approximately 5% of patients dying by suicide, the FDA noted.
The approval of Cobenfy is seen as a hopeful development for individuals affected by schizophrenia. “Schizophrenia is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It is a severe, chronic mental illness that profoundly impacts quality of life,” said Tiffany Farchione, Director of the Division of Psychiatry at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This drug offers the first new approach to treating schizophrenia in decades, providing an alternative to previously prescribed antipsychotic medications.”
The effectiveness of Cobenfy was demonstrated in two clinical studies. Over a five-week period, patients’ symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), a 30-item tool used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Results showed that patients treated with Cobenfy experienced a significant reduction in symptoms compared to those on a placebo.
However, the FDA highlighted several side effects associated with the drug, including nausea, constipation, vomiting, increased heart rate, and diarrhea. Due to the risk of severe side effects, the agency advised against prescribing Cobenfy to patients with urinary retention, kidney, or liver disease.
Earlier this year, in March, Bristol Myers Squibb acquired Karuna Therapeutics for $14 billion, gaining exclusive rights to KarXT (Cobenfy). The company plans to launch the drug by the end of October, with a monthly cost of $1,850, or around $22,500 annually, according to Reuters.
Sales are projected to reach $2.5 billion in the U.S. by 2030. Bristol aims to provide insurance coverage for 80% of patients within the first 12 to 18 months of the drug’s release. To further assist patients, Bristol has introduced a support program called “COBENFY Cares.”
An Indian-origin scientist has found that reducing the risk of dementia in Alzheimer’s is possible by keeping diabetes under control.
Narendra Kumar, an associate professor at Texas A&M University in the US, spearheaded a study featured in the ‘American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’ journal, uncovering a robust connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Implementing preventative or mitigative measures for diabetes could potentially stall or mitigate the advancement of dementia symptoms in Alzheimer’s,” he emphasized.
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s represent two burgeoning health challenges worldwide. Diabetes disrupts the body’s energy conversion from food and affects approximately one in ten US adults. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s ranks among the top ten leading causes of death in the US, as highlighted in the research.
The team delved into how dietary patterns might influence Alzheimer’s progression in individuals with diabetes.
Their investigation unveiled that a high-fat diet diminishes the expression of Jak3, a specific protein in the gut. Mice lacking this protein showcased a cascade of inflammation from the intestines to the liver and brain. Consequently, these mice exhibited Alzheimer’s-like manifestations in the brain alongside cognitive decline.
The researchers propose that the route from the gut to the brain involves the liver. “As the primary metabolizer of our dietary intake, we hypothesize that the pathway from gut to brain involves the liver,” explained Kumar.
Their long-standing exploration of Jak3’s functions revealed that alterations in its expression due to dietary factors can lead to intestinal permeability, resulting in chronic inflammation, diabetes, diminished brain capacity to eliminate toxins, and dementia-like symptoms akin to Alzheimer’s disease.
A study by Rockefeller University scientists has nailed down reasons why older male fruit flies are more likely to pass mutations onto their offspring, with implications for a similar impact in humans with inherited diseases.
Since male reproductive system acts as the pivotal point for new genes, new mutations are inherited from fathers than from mothers, said the study though it did not clarify why younger fathers do not pass on more mutations to their off springs.
Though the trend has been observed for long, the reason remained a mystery. Now, the new study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution explored mutations that occur during the production of sperm from germline cells, known as spermatogenesis.
RNA sequencing data from fruit fly testes showing the marked difference between older sperm-related cells (teal, at left) and younger ones / Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
The scientists found that mutations are common in the testes of both young and old fruit flies, but more abundant in older flies compared to the younger fruit flies during spermatogenesis since the body’s genomic repair mechanisms remain active in them but fail to fix it in the testes of older flies.
“We were trying to test whether the older germline is less efficient at mutation repair, or whether the older germline just starts out more mutated,” says first author Evan Witt, a former graduate student in the lab. “Our results indicate that it’s actually both. At every stage of spermatogenesis, there are more mutations per RNA molecule in older flies than in younger flies.”
Self-care vital among the young
Genomes keep themselves busy using repair mechanisms and when it comes to testes, they work overtime as testes have the highest rate of gene expression of any organ. Moreover, genes that are highly expressed in spermatogenesis tend to have fewer mutations than those that are not. This sounds counterintuitive, but it makes sense: One theory to explain why the testes express so many genes holds that it might be a sort of genomic surveillance mechanism — a way to reveal, and then weed out, problematic mutations.
But when it comes to older sperm, the researchers found, the weed-whacker apparently sputters out. Previous research suggests that a faulty transcription-coupled repair mechanism, which only fixes transcribed genes, could be to blame.
Inherited or new mutations?
To get these results, scientists in the Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics did single-cell sequencing on the RNA from the testes of about 300 fruit flies, roughly half of them young (48 hours old) and half old (25 days old), advancing a line of inquiry they began in 2019.
In order to understand whether the mutations they detected were somatic, or inherited from the flies’ parents, or de novo—arising in the individual fly’s germline—they then sequenced the genome of each fly.
They were able to document that each mutation was a true original. “We can directly say this mutation was not present in the DNA of that same fly in its somatic cells,” says Witt. “We know that it’s a de novo mutation.”
This unconventional approach—inferring genomic mutations from single-cell RNA sequencing and then comparing them to the genomic data—allowed the researchers to match mutations to the cell type in which they occurred. “It’s a good way to compare mutational load between cell types, because you can follow them throughout spermatogenesis,” Witt says.
The human connection
The next step is to expand the analysis to more age groups of flies and test whether or not this transcription repair mechanism can occur—and if it does, identify the pathways responsible, Witt says. “What genes,” he wonders, “are really driving the difference between old and young flies in terms of mutation repair?”
Because fruit flies have a high reproductive rate, investigating their mutation patterns can offer new insights into the effect of new mutations in human health and evolution, says Zhao.
Witt adds, “It’s largely unknown whether a more mutated male germline is more or less fertile than a less mutated one. There’s not been very much research on it except for at a population level. And if people inherit more mutations from aging fathers, that increases the odds of de novo genetic disorders or certain types of cancers.”
Stressed university students might want to add walnuts to their daily diet in the weeks leading up to their next exam.
A new clinical trial of undergraduate students during their university studies has shown positive effects of walnut consumption on self-reported measures of mental health and biomarkers of general health.
The University of South Australia study, published in the journal Nutrients, also suggests that walnuts may counteract the effects of academic stress on the gut microbiota during periods of stress, especially in females.
Lead researchers, PhD student Mauritz Herselman and Associate Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya, say the results add to the growing body of evidence linking walnuts with improved brain and gut health.
Walnuts may counteract the effects of academic stress on the gut microbiota during periods of stress, especially in women./CREDIT:Open Verse
“Students experience academic stress throughout their studies, which has a negative effect on their mental health, and they are particularly vulnerable during exam periods,” Herselman says.
Eighty undergraduate students split into treatment and control groups were clinically assessed in three intervals, at the beginning of a 13-week university semester, during the examination period and two weeks after the examination period. Those in the treatment group were given walnuts to consume daily for 16 weeks over these three intervals.
“We found that those who consumed about half a cup of walnuts every day showed improvements in self-reported mental health indicators. Walnut consumers also showed improved metabolic biomarkers and overall sleep quality in the longer term.”
Students in the control group reported increased stress and depression levels in the leadup to exams but those in the treatment group did not. The walnut consumers also reported a significant drop in feelings associated with depression between the first and final visits, compared to the controls.
Previous research has shown that walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, as well as melatonin (sleep inducing hormone), polyphenols, folate and vitamin E, all of which promote a healthy brain and gut.
“The World Health Organization has recently stated that at least 75 per cent of mental health disorders affect people under the age of 24 years, making undergraduate students particularly vulnerable to mental health problems,” Herselman says.
Assoc Prof Larisa Bobrovskaya says mental health disorders are common in university students and can adversely affect students’ academic performance and long-term physical health.
“We have shown that consuming walnuts during stressful periods can improve mental health and general wellbeing in university students, as well as being a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many recipes, to fight some negative effects of academic stress,” Assoc Prof Bobrovskaya says.
“Due to fewer numbers of males in the study, more research is needed to establish sex-dependent effects of walnuts and academic stress in university students. It’s also possible that a placebo effect might have come into play as this was not a blind study.”
Womans’ propensity to deposit more fat in places like their hips, buttocks and the backs of their arms, so-called subcutaneous fat, is protective against brain inflammation, which can result in problems like dementia and stroke, at least until menopause, scientists report.
Males of essentially any age have a greater propensity to deposit fat around the major organs in their abdominal cavity, called visceral adiposity, which is known to be far more inflammatory. And, before females reach menopause, males are considered at much higher risk for inflammation-related problems from heart attack to stroke.
“When people think about protection in women, their first thought is estrogen,” says Alexis M. Stranahan, PhD, neuroscientist in the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “But we need to get beyond the kind of simplistic idea that every sex difference involves hormone differences and hormone exposure. We need to really think more deeply about the underlying mechanisms for sex differences so that we can treat them and acknowledge the role that sex plays in different clinical outcomes.”
Diet and genetics are other likely factors that explain the differences broadly assigned to estrogen, says Stranahan, corresponding author of a study in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes.
She acknowledges that the findings are potentially heretical and revolutionary and certainly surprising even to her. “We did these experiments to try and nail down, first of all, what happens first, the hormone perturbation, the inflammation or the brain changes.”
Brain Image (NIH)
To learn more about how the brain becomes inflamed, they looked at increases in the amount and location of fat tissue as well as levels of sex hormones and brain inflammation in male and female mice at different time intervals as they grew fatter on a high-fat diet.
Since, much like with people, obese female mice tend to have more subcutaneous fat and less visceral fat than male mice, they reasoned that the distinctive fat patterns might be a key reason for the protection from inflammation the females enjoy before menopause.
They found again the distinctive patterns of fat distribution in males and females in response to a high-fat diet. They found no indicators of brain inflammation or insulin resistance, which also increase inflammation and can lead to diabetes, until after the female mice reached menopause. At about 48 weeks, menstruation stops and fat positioning on the females starts to shift somewhat, to become more like males.
They then compared the impact of the high-fat diet, which is known to increase inflammation body wide, in mice of both sexes following surgery, similar to liposuction, to remove subcutaneous fat. They did nothing to directly interfere with normal estrogen levels, like removing the ovaries.
The subcutaneous fat loss increased brain inflammation in females without moving the dial on levels of their estrogen and other sex hormones.
Bottom line: The Womans’ brain inflammation looked much more like the males’, including increased levels of classic inflammation promoters like the signaling proteins IL-1β and TNF alpha in the brain, Stranahan and her colleagues report.
“When we took subcutaneous fat out of the equation, all of a sudden the females’ brains start to exhibit inflammation the way that male brains do, and the females gained more visceral fat,” Stranahan says. “It kind of shunted everything toward that other storage location.” The transition occurred over about three months, which translates to several years in human time.
Dr. Alexis Stranahan/CREDIT:Michael Holahan, Augusta University
By comparison, it was only after menopause, that the females who did not have subcutaneous fat removed but did eat a high-fat diet, showed brain inflammation levels similar to the males, Stranahan says.
When subcutaneous fat was removed from mice on a low-fat diet at an early age, they developed a little more visceral fat and a little more inflammation in the fat. But Stranahan and her colleagues saw no evidence of inflammation in the brain.
One take-home lesson from the work: Don’t get liposuction and then eat a high-fat diet, Stranahan says. Another is: BMI, which simply divides weight by height and is commonly used to indicate overweight, obesity and consequently increased risk of a myriad of diseases, is likely not a very meaningful tool, she says. An also easy and more accurate indicator of both metabolic risk and potentially brain health, is the also easy-to-calculate waist to hip ratio, she adds.
“We can’t just say obesity. We have to start talking about where the fat is. That is the critical element here,” Stranahan says.
ultra-processed foods
She notes that the new study looked specifically in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the brain. The hypothalamus controls metabolism and exhibits changes with inflammation from obesity that help control conditions that develop bodywide as a result. The hippocampus, a center of learning and memory, is regulated by signals associated with those pathologies but doesn’t control them, Stranahan notes.
While these are good places to start such explorations, other regions of the brain could respond very differently, so she is already looking at the impact of loss of subcutaneous fat in others. Also, since her evidence indicates estrogen may not explain the protection Women have, Stranahan wants to better define what does. One of her suspects is the clear chromosomal differences between the XX female and the XY male.
Stranahan has been studying the impact of obesity on the brain for several years and is among the first scientists to show that visceral fat promotes brain inflammation in obese male mice, and, conversely, transplanting subcutaneous fat reduces their brain inflammation. Females also have naturally higher levels of proteins that can tamp down inflammation. It’s been shown that in males, but not females, microglia, immune cells in the brain, are activated by a high-fat diet.
She notes that some consider the reason that females have higher stores of subcutaneous fat is to enable sufficient energy stores for reproduction, and she is not challenging the relationship. But many questions remain like how much fat is needed to maintain fertility versus the level that will affect your metabolism, Stranahan says.
–Dr. Alexis Stranahan/CREDIT:Michael Holahan, Augusta University
