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A recent study suggests that getting less than five hours of sleep in your mid-to-late twenties may increase your chance of developing at least two chronic diseases.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine, looked at the effect of sleep duration on the health of almost 7,000 men and women aged 50, 60, and 70 from the Whitehall II cohort study. Over a 25-year period, researchers looked at the association between how long each person slept, mortality, and whether they had been diagnosed with two or more chronic conditions (multimorbidity), such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.

People who reported getting five hours of sleep or less at age 50 were 20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease and 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases over 25 years, compared to people who slept for up to seven hours.

Additionally, sleeping for five hours or less at the age of 50, 60, and 70 was linked to a 30% to 40% increased risk of multimorbidity when compared with those who slept for up to seven hours.

Researchers also found that sleep duration of five hours or less at age 50 was associated with 25% increased risk of mortality over the 25 years of follow-up — which can mainly be explained by the fact that short sleep duration increases the risk of chronic disease(s) that in turn increase the risk of death.

Lead author, Dr Severine Sabia (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health, and Inserm, Universite Paris Cite) said: “Multimorbidity is on the rise in high income countries and more than half of older adults now have at least two chronic diseases. This is proving to be a major challenge for public health, as multimorbidity is associated with high healthcare service use, hospitalisations and disability.

“As people get older, their sleep habits and sleep structure change. However, it is recommended to sleep for 7 to 8 hours a night — as sleep durations above or below this have previously been associated with individual chronic diseases.
“Our findings show that short sleep duration is also associated with multimorbidity.

“To ensure a better night’s sleep, it is important to promote good sleep hygiene, such as making sure the bedroom is quiet, dark and a comfortable temperature before sleeping. It’s also advised to remove electronic devices and avoid large meals before bedtime. Physical activity and exposure to light during the day might also promote good sleep.”

As part of the study, researchers also assessed whether sleeping for a long duration, of nine hours or more, affected health outcomes. There was no clear association between long sleep durations at age 50 and multimorbidity in healthy people.

However, if a participant had already been diagnosed with a chronic condition, then long sleep duration was associated with around a 35% increased risk of developing another illness. Researchers believe this could be due to underlying health conditions impacting sleep.

Jo Whitmore, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: “Getting enough sleep allows your body to rest. There are a host of other ways that poor sleep could increase the risk of heart disease or stroke, including by increasing inflammation and increasing blood pressure.

“This research adds to a growing body of research that highlights the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.”

Also Read: People who have diabetes more often affected by trigger finger: Study

For decades, scientists in Berlin have been researching a bizarre hereditary illness that causes half of certain families’ members to have abnormally short fingers, hypertension and dangerously high blood pressure. Patients who are not treated frequently die of a stroke when they reach the age of 50.

The study’s findings were published in the journal Circulation. Researchers at the Max Delbruck Center (MDC) in Berlin discovered the cause of the disease in 2015 and were able to prove it five years later using animal models: a mutation in the phosphodiesterase 3A gene (PDE3A) causes its encoded enzyme to become overactive, affecting bone growth and causing blood vessel hyperplasia, resulting in high blood pressure.

Immune to hypertension-related damage

“High blood pressure almost always leads to the heart becoming weaker,” said Dr. Enno Klussmann, head of the Anchored Signaling Lab at the Max Delbruck Center and a scientist at the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK). As it has to pump against a higher pressure, Klussmann explains, the organ tries to strengthen its left ventricle. “But ultimately, this results in the thickening of the heart muscle – known as cardiac hypertrophy – which can lead to heart failure greatly decreasing its pumping capacity.”

But in hypertension patients with shortened fingers and mutated PDE3A gene, this doesn’t happen. “For reasons that are now partly – but not yet fully – understood, their hearts appear immune to the damage that usually results from high blood pressure,” said Klussmann.

The study is the result of a collaboration between researchers at the Max Delbruck Center, Charite – Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and the DZHK. In addition to Klussmann, professors Norbert Hubner and Michael Bader from the Max Delbruck Center were involved as final authors, along with Dr. Sylvia Bahring from the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) – a joint institution of Charite and the Max Delbruck Center. Together with 43 other researchers from Berlin, Bochum, Heidelberg, Kassel, Limburg, Lubeck, Canada, and New Zealand, the team has now reported its findings on the protective effects of the gene mutation – and why these results could change the way heart failure is treated in the future.

The publication has four first authors, three of whom conduct research at the Max Delbruck Center and one at the ECRC.

Two mutations with the same effect

The scientists performed their tests on human patients with hypertension and brachydactyly (HTNB) syndrome – i.e., high blood pressure and abnormally short digits – as well as on rat models and heart muscle cells. The cells were grown from specially engineered stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells. Before testing began, researchers altered the PDE3A gene in the cells and the animals to mimic HTNB mutations.

“We came across a previously unknown PDE3A gene mutation in the patients we examined,” reports Bahring. “Previous studies had always shown the mutation in the enzyme to be located outside the catalytic domain – but we have now found a mutation right in the center of this domain.” Surprisingly, both mutations have the same effect in making the enzyme more active than usual. This hyperactivity ramps up the degradation of one of the cell’s important signalling molecules known as cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate), which is involved in the contraction of the heart muscle cells. “It is possible that this gene modification – regardless of its location – causes two or more PDE3A molecules to cluster together and thus work more effectively,” Bahring suspects.

The proteins stay the same

The researchers used a rat model – created with CRISPR-Cas9 technology by Michael Bader’s lab at the Max Delbruck Center – to try to better understand the effects of the mutations. “We treated the animals with the agent isoproterenol, a so-called beta-receptor agonist,” says Klussmann. Such medications are sometimes used in patients with end-stage heart failure. Isoproterenol is known to induce cardiac hypertrophy. “Yet surprisingly, this occurred in the gene-modified rats in a manner similar to what we observed in the wild-type animals. Contrary to what we expected, existing hypertension did not aggravate the situation,” reports Klussmann. “Their hearts were quite obviously protected from this effect of the isoproterenol.”

In further experiments, the team investigated whether proteins in a specific signaling cascade of the heart muscle cells changed as a result of the mutation and if so which ones. Through this chain of chemical reactions, the heart responds to adrenaline and beats faster in response to situations such as excitement. Adrenaline activates the cells’ beta receptors, causing them to produce more cAMP. PDE3A and other PDEs stop the process by chemically altering cAMP. “However, we found little difference between mutant and wild-type rats at both the protein and the RNA levels,” Klussmann said.

More calcium in the cytosol

The conversion of cAMP by PDE3A does not occur just anywhere in the heart muscle cell, but near a tubular membrane system that stores calcium ions. A release of these ions into the cytosol of the cell triggers muscle contraction, thus making the heartbeat. After the contraction, the calcium is pumped back into storage by a protein complex. This process is also regulated locally by PDE.

Klussmann and his team hypothesized that because these enzymes are hyperactive in the local region around the calcium pump, there should be less cAMP, inhibiting the pump’s activity. “In the gene-modified heart muscle cells, we actually showed that the calcium ions remain in the cytosol longer than usual,” said Dr. Maria Ercu, a member of Klussmann’s lab and one of the study’s four first authors. “This could increase the contractile force of the cells.”

Activating instead of inhibiting

“PDE3 inhibitors are currently in use for acute heart failure treatment to increase cAMP levels,” Klussmann explains. Regular therapy with these drugs would rapidly sap the heart muscle’s strength. “Our findings now suggest that not the inhibition of PDE3, but – on the contrary – the selective activation of PDE3A may be a new and vastly improved approach for preventing and treating hypertension-induced cardiac damage like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure,” Klussmann said.

But before that can happen, he says, more light needs to be shed on the protective effects of the mutation. “We have observed that PDE3A not only becomes more active, but also that its concentration in heart muscle cells decreases,” the researcher reports, adding that it is possible that the former can be explained by oligomerization – a mechanism that involves at least two enzyme molecules working together. “In this case,” said Klussmann, “we could probably develop strategies that artificially initiate local oligomerization – thus mimicking the protective effect for the heart.”

Also Read: People who have diabetes more often affected by trigger finger: Study

People with diabetes are more likely than the general population to suffer from trigger finger or locked fingers. A study done by Lund University in Sweden found that when blood sugar levels are high, the risk of getting affected increases.

The study’s findings were published in the journal Diabetes Care. Trigger finger occurs when one or more fingers, most commonly the ring finger or thumb, become bent and difficult to straighten. The thickening of the tendons that bend the finger and their connective tissue sheath causes the finger to become stuck in a bent posture towards the palm. It is a painful ailment that is generally managed with cortisone injections but occasionally necessitates surgery.

“At the hand surgery clinic, we have noted for a long time that people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are more often affected by trigger finger. Over 20 percent of those who require surgery for this condition are patients who have, or will develop, diabetes,” says Mattias Rydberg, doctoral student at Lund University, resident physician at Skane University Hospital and first author of the study.

The researchers investigated two registers to see if high blood sugar (blood sugar dysregulation) increased the incidence of trigger finger. The first was Region Skane’s healthcare database, which included all diagnoses, and the second was the Swedish national diabetes register. Trigger finger affects between 1% and 1.5% of the population, although the diagnosis occurs in 10-15% of individuals with diabetes, and the occurrence is most common in type 1 diabetic patients.

The newly published study strengthens the pattern of blood sugar being a crucial factor for an increased risk of being affected by trigger finger. High blood sugar increased the risk of being affected by trigger finger among both men and women in the groups with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Blood sugar is measured in HbA1C, also referred to as long-term blood sugar, and when regulated, is under 48. The group of men with the worst regulated blood sugar (HbA1C > 64) had up to 5 times as high a risk of being affected than men with well-regulated (HbA1< 48) blood sugar.

“However, we can’t know for certain if any of the groups seek healthcare more often than others which could be a factor that affects the results,” says Mattias Rydberg.

The mechanism, or mechanisms, behind the increased risk are unknown, but there are theories that high blood sugar makes both the flexor tendons and their connective tissue sheaths thicker, thus causing them to lock more easily. It was previously known that those with unregulated blood sugar are more prone to nerve entrapments in the hand.

“It is important to draw attention to the complications from diabetes and how they can arise in order to discover them early, which enables faster treatment and thus a better outcome. In addition to nerve compressions and trigger finger, there may also be a link with thickening of the connective tissue in the palm (Dupuytren’s contracture), impairment of joint movement and the risk of arthritis at the base of the thumb,” says Lars B. Dahlin, professor at Lund University and consultant in hand surgery at Skane University Hospital.

“The mechanisms behind these complications probably differ in the case of diabetes. The results of this study are interesting, as we can show that blood sugar dysregulation has a connection with the development of trigger finger,” he added.

The next step in the research will be to chart how effective it is to operate on patients with diabetes who are affected by trigger finger.

“From our experience at the clinic, surgery goes well and there are few complications, but it takes a little longer for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to regain full movement and function. We want to investigate this hypothesis further.

Another interesting idea is to see if trigger finger could be a warning signal for type 2 diabetes. It is far from all who are affected by trigger finger that have diabetes, but it would be interesting to see if by using modern registers we can discover those who are in the risk zone for developing diabetes,” concludes Mattias Rydberg.

Also Read: Must follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, high-risk patients can get serious infection: Dr Randeep Guleria

With India reporting a highly infectious novel COVID-19 variant, former Delhi AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria advised the general public on Wednesday to practise COVID-appropriate behaviour.

He said, “I would suggest to everyone that if they are going out and especially in crowded places then they must wear a mask. High-risk groups, elderly people should avoid going out because there are high chances of spreading infection and some can also get a serious infection.”

“New variants are expected and this variant has a tendency to mutate that will continue, but now the situation is different, earlier, there was no vaccination, but people are now vaccinated also. But this doesn’t mean that people will stop taking precautions, festival season is coming up and cases are also rising,” he explained further.

Guleria said that the chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. “The chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. This time there will be a mild infection, fever cold, cough and body ache, the chances of recovery are within 3-4 days, usually, in this season, viral fever is reported due to COVID also.”

On Tuesday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a high-level conference with senior health officials to discuss the development of Omicron’s new sub-variants, which resulted in the decision to continue masks and COVID19-appropriate behaviour across the country.

The panel of scientists, medics, and senior government officials also advocated for more surveillance and genetic sequencing.

The health experts also recommended Eligible Population on Mission Mode to receive their COVID-19 prophylactic dose as soon as possible.

According to official sources, Niti Aayog member VK Paul, Chairperson of COVID-19 working group NTAGI NK Arora, NTAGI officials, NEGVAC officials, and other senior health authorities attended.

According to a state health department advisory issued earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra saw a 17.7 percent increase in coronavirus cases compared to the previous week.

According to statistics the new COVID cases are expected to increase in the state in the October 10-16 period this week by 17.7 per cent as compared to the period between October 3-9. This rise is noticed in Thane, Raigad and Mumbai says the official release from the health department.

While on October 17, India detected its first case of Omicron’s BQ.1 subvariant in a sample of a patient from Pune. The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5, which is behind the 60 per cent of COVID cases in the United States (US), as per reports.

Some experts from the health department predicted a rise in the coming winter season, especially in a festive environment. In Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), BA.2.75 decreased to 76 per cent from 95 per cent.

Maharashtra’s health department and experts have asked not to ignore flu-like symptoms and seek medical advice soon. They have advised observing Covid Appropriate behaviour in public places and getting vaccinated as per Government of India guidelines.

Experts from the department suggest that people with comorbidities need to take extra precautions while visiting public places. People suffering from Influenza-like illnesses should avoid public contact as much as possible. The BF.7 is also reported in Gujarat and confirmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.BF.7 is known as an

‘Omicron spawn’ that was first detected in China and now reached the United States, the UK, Australia, and Belgium.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 17 held a high-level meeting under health minister Veena George and said it is intensifying preventive measures in view of the new genetic variations of COVID-19 (XBB and XBB1) being reported from other parts of the world.

“Necessary instructions have been given to all the districts. The new strain is more contagious than any other strain of Covid-19 so far. Hence the resistance is strengthened. About 1.8 per cent of those infected may require hospital treatment. There is no cause for concern at present. But everyone should be careful. Everyone should wear a mask properly for self-protection. Masks must be worn by the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The minister requested that masks be worn at the airport and in closed places,” the Kerala health department said.

According to Kerala Health Expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, said, “These are immune escape variants. Since Omicron arrived in November 2021, it has been giving off branches that divide into smaller branches. Of these, BA.2 and BA.5 proved stronger than the rest.”

“From BA.2 and BA.5, a series of sublineages kept appearing. Each of these had additional mutations which were concentrated on the RBD or receptor binding domain of the spike protein of the virus. This is the part that the virus uses to attach to the human cell,” he added.

He said, “With convergent evolution involving about 5 frequently found mutations, the virus is now able to escape the immune response to the earlier versions, either from natural infection or through vaccination.”
This is why they are called immune evasive variants BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are names given to downstream descendants of BA.5.”

Dr Rajeev further explained also said that the pandemic isn’t over, precautions still need to be taken.
He said, “What we must realise is that the pandemic is not over. There will be periodic regional surges that especially coincide with festivals and group gatherings. Wearing masks Indoors and preferring outdoor to indoor gatherings are safe options. The vulnerable individuals will need to be specially protected.”

Also Read: Health of children, women suffered as a result of Covid, climate change: UN Report

According to a new UN report titled Protect the Promise, women’s and children’s health has suffered globally as the effects of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change converge with disastrous consequences for children, young people, and women.

Data presented in the report, which was released at the World Health Summit in Berlin, show that the majority of maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths occur in just two regions: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

It also shows a critical regression across virtually every major measure of childhood wellbeing, and many key indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the last Every Woman Every Child Progress Report published in 2020, food insecurity, hunger, child marriage, risks from intimate partner violence, and adolescent depression and anxiety have all increased.

An estimated 25 million children were un- or under-vaccinated in 2021 – 6 million more than in 2019 – increasing their risk of contracting deadly and debilitating diseases. Millions of children missed out on school during the pandemic, many for more than a year, while approximately 80% of children in 104 countries and territories experienced learning-loss because of school closures. Since the start of the global pandemic, 10.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19.

“At the core of our unkept promise is the failure to address the gaping inequities at the root of global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflicts and the climate emergency. The report describes the impacts of these crises on women, children and adolescents, from maternal mortality to education losses to severe malnutrition,” said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.

The report Protect the Promise provides wide-ranging evidence that children and adolescents face wildly divergent chances of leading a healthy life simply based on where they are born, their exposure to conflict, and the economic circumstances of their families. For example:

– A child born in a low-income country has an average life expectancy at birth of around 63 years, compared to 80 in a high-income country. This devastating 17-year survival gap has changed little over recent years. In 2020, 5 million children died even before the age of 5, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Meanwhile, most maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths are concentrated in just two regions – sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

– More than 45 million children had acute malnutrition in 2020, a life-threatening condition which leaves them vulnerable to death, developmental delays and disease. Nearly three-quarters of these children live in lower-middle-income countries. A staggering 149 million children were stunted in 2020. Africa is the only region where the numbers of children affected by stunting increased over the past 20 years, from 54.4 million in 2000 to 61.4 million in 2020.

– The six countries with the highest numbers of internally displaced persons – Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen – are also among the top 10 food-insecure countries.

– A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has around a 130 times higher risk of dying from causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in Europe or North America. Coverage of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care is far from reaching all women in low- and middle-income countries, leaving them at elevated risk of death and disability.

– Millions of children and their families are experiencing poor physical and mental health from recent humanitarian disasters in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen. In 2021, a record 89.3 million people worldwide were driven from their homes by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuse.

The report calls upon the global community to address this damaging trajectory and protect the promises made to women, children, and adolescents in the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, it advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, to address all crises and food insecurity, and empower women and young people around the world.

“The report advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, in all crises, and to re-imagine health systems that can truly reach every woman, child, and adolescent, no matter who they are or where they live,” said the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH (The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. “Experts and world leaders are calling for more women in policy- and decision-making at every level, meaningful engagement with young people, and primary health care systems which deliver what people need when and where they need it most.”

Protect the Promise is a bi-annual summary of progress in response to the UN Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women, Children, and Adolescents’ Health, published by global partners including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), and Countdown to 2030. It is the most complete evidence synthesis on the present situation of maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health, and it updates the previous Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy Progress Report, which was published in 2020.

Also Read: Exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness both during and after treatment : Study

Physical activity intervention during chemotherapy is safe, increases long-term cardiorespiratory fitness, and alleviates some of the side effects of cancer treatment, according to research published in JACC: CardioOncology. If exercise is not possible during chemotherapy, the individual can participate in a post-treatment exercise programme to regain function.

One of the most important independent predictors of cardiovascular health is cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). VO2peak drops by up to 25% during cancer treatment. Cancer treatment frequently has negative effects on the patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), such as decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, increased fatigue, and cardiovascular morbidity. Physical activity has been shown to reduce these risks.

Exercise therapy has been linked to improved cardiorespiratory fitness, increased VO2peak, and a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity, cancer mortality, and overall mortality.

“Exercise is widely recognised as beneficial to cancer patients. However, there is insufficient evidence on the best time to start exercising for improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients “Annemiek M.E. Walenkamp, MD, PhD, senior author of the study and a medical oncologist at University Medical Center Groningen in Groningen, the Netherlands, said

The ACT trial looked at the efficacy of exercise intervention during chemotherapy versus after treatment for improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness.

The study included adult patients who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, colon cancer, testicular cancer, or B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and were scheduled to receive curative chemotherapy. Between February 2013 and November 2018, trial participants were randomly assigned to a 24-week exercise intervention that began either during or after chemotherapy.

Rigorous exercise

Moderate to vigorous effort on a stationary bicycle, resistance training with weight machines and free weights, and badminton were all types of exercise. The difference in VO2peak one year after the intervention was the primary endpoint. At all time points, the secondary endpoints were VO2peak after chemotherapy and intervention, muscle strength, HRQoL, fatigue, physical activity, and self-efficacy.

The researchers discovered that the group that began exercise therapy during treatment reported less fatigue and increased physical activity, as well as a decrease in VO2peak, HRQoL, and muscle strength. Three months after chemotherapy, the group that started exercising after treatment had similar values to the group that started exercising during treatment. Regardless of timing, both groups returned to their baseline cardiorespiratory fitness one year after completing the exercise intervention.

“These findings suggest that the best time to exercise is during chemotherapy. When exercising during chemotherapy is not possible, starting a physical exercise programme after chemotherapy is a viable option “Walenkamp explained. “We hope that our findings will encourage health-care providers to advise patients on exercise interventions during anti-cancer treatment.”

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world in which knowledge and innovation improve cardiovascular care and outcomes. The mission of the College and its more than 56,000 members, as the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health.

The ACC confers credentials on cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and is a driving force behind the development of health policy, standards, and guidelines. In addition, the College offers professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and provides cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions.

The ACC’s JACC Journals are ranked among the top cardiovascular journals in the world in terms of scientific impact.

Also read: Researchers have figured out why breast cancer cells resist treatment

Because one-fourth of recurrent oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers lack ER expression, they are resistant to endocrine therapy and can spread uncontrollably.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a group of Baylor College of Medicine researchers reveals a mechanism that not only explains the process but also suggests ways to avoid it.

“For years, our goal has been to piece together the complex puzzle of breast cancer progression to understand how the players interact with one another to confer resistance to therapy and persistent growth,” said corresponding author Dr Weei-Chin Lin, a Baylor professor of medicine-haematology and oncology as well as molecular and cellular biology.

“Our goal is to overcome this barrier and restore ER receptor expression in these cancers so they can be treated again, giving patients a better chance of survival.”

The process by which breast cancer cells lose their ER

Resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer has previously been linked to two cellular proteins known as 14-3-3 and ER-36.

“We were surprised to find that over-expressing 14-3-3t in these tumours resulted in all of the cancer cells becoming ER-negative (ER-),” said Lin, a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. “I recall seeing the data for the first time. The transformation was dramatic: all of the tumours had lost their ER!”

Because studying the mechanism in animal models would be laborious, time-consuming, and costly, the researchers devised an alternative model. Lidija A., the first author,

Wilhelms Garan, a graduate student in Baylor’s Cancer and Cell Biology Graduate Program who works in the Lin lab, created a spheroid model of human breast cancer cells that mimics the progression from ER+ to ER- and serves as a useful experimental tool for future research.

“A breast tumour in a patient can take years to progress from ER+ to ER-; in our animal model, it takes several months; but in our spheroid model, it switches from ER+ to ER- in 1 to 2 weeks,” Garan explained.

The researchers discovered that when 14-3-3t is over-expressed in cancer cells under the right conditions, the cells increase their levels of ERa36, which is followed by ER loss.

“Other molecular players like AKT and GATA3 are also required,” Garan explained. “Most importantly, we discovered that factors produced by the tumour microenvironment, which includes fibroblasts and immune cells that are part of the tumour mass and interact with cancer cells, are also required for the progression from ER+ to ER-.”

“Other molecular players like AKT and GATA3 are also required,” Garan explained. “Most importantly, we discovered that factors produced by the tumour microenvironment, which includes fibroblasts and immune cells that are part of the tumour mass and interact with cancer cells, are also required for the progression from ER+ to ER-.”

“We knew 14-3-3t, ERa36, AKT, and GATA3 were key players in the transformation of ER+ breast cancer cells to ER- cells.” “Here, we’ve determined how they functionally interact with one another, laying out a road map that leads to ER loss,” Lin explained.

“I am very excited that we now have a valuable tool with our spheroid breast cancer model to study not only the cellular changes involved in breast cancer progression, but also to test drugs for their ability to inhibit the process that leads to ER loss.”

“In approximately 60% of breast cancers, the protein 14-3-3t is overexpressed. Not all patients with high 14-3-3t will develop the ER, but for those who do, our findings may one day aid in returning their tumours to a therapy-sensitive state “Garan stated. “Bringing discoveries to the clinic and improving people’s lives has always been a passion of mine in this research.”

Also Read: Mandaviya stresses on Covid Appropriate Behaviour amid emergence of new Omicron sub-variants

With the emergence of a new Omicron variant, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasised the importance of community awareness for the continued implementation of the COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), particularly in light of the upcoming festival season.

Earlier today, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met with senior health officials to discuss the emergence of new Omicron sub-variants.

The health officials discussed the country’s COVID-19 pandemic situation, the status of the vaccination drive, and the global scenario of new COVID-19 variants.

Bureaucrat Lav Agarwal made a detailed presentation on the global scenario of a surge in COVID cases, primarily in Europe and an analysis of various Omicron Variants in the world.

The presentation included a detailed analysis of the COVID-19 situation in the country with the trend of Covid-19 cases; daily cases being reported, active cases, case positivity and testing status along with state-wise weekly tests per million including a share of RT-PCR in tests conducted.

Manohar Agnani, AS (MoHFW) gave a presentation on the current status of vaccination in the country, availability of vaccines, and state-wise analysis of vaccine administration and highlighted the slow pace of administration of precautionary doses in the country.

To assess and control the spread of infection in a timely manner, the Union Health Minister emphasised the importance of adequate testing (with a higher proportion of RTPCR) and effective Covid-19 surveillance.

Mandaviya directed officials to continue focusing on surveillance across the country, particularly through sentinel sites, including monitoring of SARI and ILI cases, and on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to scan for any possible mutation in the aftermath of the discovery of Omicron variants in other countries. He also urged officials to closely monitor COVID-19-related hospitalizations.

He exhorted to increase the pace of vaccination including precautionary doses to the eligible beneficiaries.

The meeting was attended by Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt, S Aparna, Secretary (Pharmaceuticals), Rajiv Bahl, DG ICMR; along with other senior officials of the Health Ministry.

Also Read: WHO asks countries to recognize importance of investing in primary healthcare

According to WHO South-East Asia Region Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked countries to recognise the importance of investing in health, particularly in primary healthcare.

“Health is fundamental to economic security. This has been amply demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With a high risk of countries reducing investments in health to pre-COVID-19 levels, the World Health Organization has asked countries to recognize the importance of investing in health, particularly in primary healthcare,” Singh stated.

He added that the world was unprepared to deal with a pandemic of this scale, hence preparedness is the key. There is a need to fill the gaps in the delivery of health services and health coverage, she further said.

Robust healthcare systems respond better to health emergencies, she further stated.

“There is no economic security without health security. Health and well-being for all, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness have complementary roles. Investments in primary healthcare-oriented systems are the most efficient and equitable approach to achieving these goals,” she added.

“Since 2014, the South-East Asia Region has prioritized health workforce strengthening as a part of Regional Flagship Priority Programmes. The availability of doctors, nurses, and midwives has increased by over 30 per cent during this period which played a crucial role in the COVID-19 pandemic response,” Singh stated.

Singh further said that it is well established that countries with sustained investments in primary health care – with communities at the centre- could identify cases and mount an effective public health response to the pandemic more quickly.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call long anticipated by the global community. The world was unprepared to deal with a pandemic of this scale. Preparedness is the key. We need to fill the gaps in the delivery of health services and health coverage,” said the Regional Director.

To address gaps and prepare for the next pandemic, the Regional Director stressed on investments and strengthening the six pillars of health systems; service delivery, health workforce, access to medical products, vaccines and technologies, health information systems, and financing backed by political commitment at the highest levels.

Health care needs of all countries are expected to increase due to the underlying changes in population growth, increased life expectancies, and increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and injuries.

Economic hardships on account of COVID-19, the current geopolitical crisis, and inflationary pressures have hampered recovery with decades of progress in health service delivery and poverty reduction stalled or reversed. The majority of the 71 million pushed into extreme poverty by the end of 2020 reside in the region.

With history bearing testimony to the increase in frequency, diversity and scale of epidemics, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that decades of investments in expanding the health workforce and primary health care oriented health systems served as the foundation for countries to rapidly mount public health actions while maintaining essential health services with minimal disruption and allowing for countries to recover faster.

“The cost of inaction is far greater than action”, said Singh adding, “There is strong and growing evidence that health investment is a smart investment, which pays off by boosting economic performance and stability.”

The Regional Director highlighted the importance of adopting and leveraging technology in health services and pandemic response. Sri Lanka’s Health Information System was the first globally to be adapted to facilitate real-time COVID-19 surveillance. India’s COWIN platform facilitated the delivery of vaccines to over one billion people.

“The pandemic demonstrated how interconnected the world is and how rapidly a virus can transmit from one country to another. A country with a weaker health system poses a threat to health and prosperity everywhere. Now more than ever, we must ensure that adequately financed and quality health services are extended to all,” said Singh.

Also read: Wearing masks, Covid-appropriate behaviour to continue in country, report suggests

According to official sources, a meeting between Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and senior health officials about the emergence of Omicron’s new sub-variants resulted in the decision to continue masks and COVID19-appropriate behaviour across the country.

The scientists, doctors, and senior officials also advocated for increased surveillance and genome sequencing. According to official sources, Niti Aayog member VK Paul, Chairperson of COVID-19 working group NTAGI NK Arora, NTAGI officials, NEGVAC officials, and other senior health officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra recorded a 17.7 per cent rise in coronavirus cases compared to last week, according to a state health department bulletin.

The state has reported new Covid cases including the XBB, a new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been detected in parts of India, including Kerala.

Apart from this, Maharashtra has reported cases from other sub-variants of Omicron- BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 variant, which was detected for the first time in India on Monday from the sample of a patient in Pune.

XBB, a recombinant lineage between two Omicron sublineages BJ.1 and BA.2.75, is a fast-spreading variant, which was seen to have caused a spike across Singapore recently.

As per the Maharashtra Health Department report, the XBB has a growth advantage over BA.2.75 and evasive immune properties.

On October 17, India detected its first case of Omicron’s BQ.1 subvariant in a sample of a patient from Pune. The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5, which is behind the 60 per cent of COVID cases in the United States (US), as per reports.

Some health department experts predicted an increase in the coming winter season, particularly in a festive setting. BA.2.75 was reduced from 95% to 76% in Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

The Maharashtra health department and experts have advised people not to ignore flu-like symptoms and to seek medical attention as soon as possible. They advised practising Covid-appropriate behaviour in public places and getting vaccinated in accordance with Government of India guidelines.

According to department experts, people with comorbidities should take extra precautions when visiting public places. People suffering from influenza-like illnesses should limit their exposure to the public as much as possible.

The BF.7 is also reported in Gujarat which is confirmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre. BF.7 is known as ‘Omicron spawn’ that was first detected in China and now reached the United States, the UK, Australia, and Belgium.world

Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 17 held a high-level meeting under health minister Veena George. It said it is intensifying preventive measures in view of the new genetic variations of COVID-19 (XBB and XBB1) being reported from other parts of the world.

“Necessary instructions have been given to all the districts. The new strain is more contagious than any other strain of Covid-19 so far. Hence the resistance is strengthened. About 1.8 per cent of those infected may require hospital treatment. There is no cause for concern at present. But everyone should be careful.

Everyone should wear a mask properly for self-protection. Masks must be worn by the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The minister requested that masks be worn at the airport and in closed places,” the Kerala health department said.

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