#TheLancet

[usnewsper-politics]

Florida Governor's COVID-19 Study Misinterpreted, Sparks Political Tensions #contacttracingefforts #COVID19study #crisis #deathrates #FloridaGovernorRonDeSantis #hospitalizationrates #maskmandates #pandemic #policies #politicaltensions #politicization #publichealthofficials #reopeningbusinesses #reopeningschools #scientificresearch #seniors #specificpolicies #surgecapacity #testingrates #TheLancet #underlyinghealthconditions

[mariebenz]

Specific Probiotic Dramatically Decreases Staph Aureus in the Gut

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Michael Otto PhD Senior Investigator Laboratory of Bacteriology Chief of the Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section NIAID, NIH Bethesda, MD 20814 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Staphylococcus aureus is one the of the most important causes of infectious diseases worldwide. It is known mostly for causing skin infections in the community and as a hospital-associated pathogen. It is in fact the most frequent cause of infections patients acquire in the hospital when they are weakened by underlying diseases or immune-suppressing therapy. The type of infections Staph can cause in these situations are diverse – comprising bone, lung, and blood infections (sepsis) - and can be quite severe and often fatal. Except for moderately severe skin infections that may not require antibiotic treatment, treatment of Staph infections is by antibiotics. S. aureus has naturally been very responsive to penicillin-type antibiotics, but already in the mid of the last century, resistance to penicillin spread worldwide. Then, methicillin was invented to overcome this resistance, but nowadays there also is considerable spread of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). The current situation is difficult for two reasons: - First, S. aureus has become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics, and - Second, the alternatives to methicillin are often by far not as efficient as penicillin/methicillin against Staph. Researchers have therefore been searching for alternatives to antibiotics to treat Staph infections. Unfortunately, vaccines that work against Staph have not yet been produced despite intensive efforts for decades. Other modern approaches of treatment, like virulence-targeted drugs or phages are still only at the early investigational level. As with many diseases, an alternative to treatment is prevention. In the case of S. aureus, a type of preventative strategy that has often been proposed and tested is decolonization. This is based on the fact that ~ 1/3 of the population is naturally colonized with S. aureus (asymptomatically), and these colonized people have an increased risk of being infected. In other words, Staph infections stem from the Staph you carry on your body and which only under certain conditions causes infection. Thus, eliminating the colonizing Staph would reduce the risk for infection, which is the basis for Staph decolonization-based infection prevention strategies. MedicalResearch.com: Which type of probiotic was utilized in this study? Response: By definition, probiotics are supplements containing live microorganisms. While they have gained much attention and are heavily marketed, the scientific basis or mechanism of their alleged benefit is not that clear. Furthermore, when you buy a “probiotic”, it is often an ill-defined mixture of many bacterial strains. Our approach is categorically different. The probiotic strain we use, Bacillus subtilis, is very specific and the mechanism by which it works for our purpose, is also very specific and described by us in a paper in Nature published in 2018. So, we know exactly what is going on. Namely, Bacillus produces specific lipopeptides that inhibit the quorum-sensing system of S. aureus, which in turn we also showed is essential for S. aureus gut colonization. The beauty of this approach is that we can specifically target the “bad” S. aureus while leaving the composition of the microbiome intact (the “good” bacteria we need for efficient digestion and as recent research has shown, many other things). This is because the targeted system is virtually only found in Staph. Notably, this specificity is much higher than that of other so-called “microbiome editing” approaches that are often based on bacteriocins, which despite some specificity still eliminate quite large groups of bacteria. It is the most specific “microbiome editing” approach that I am aware of. I should emphasize, because this is often misunderstood, that this approach does not kill S. aureus – but it strongly diminishes its capacity to colonize the intestine. MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Response:  While I had to explain a lot about the scientific background – and we are proud we have such a detailed scientific basis, the trial is very straightforward. We simply wanted to test whether we can use this mechanism to decrease S. aureus colonization in humans in a way we had shown previously in the lab in mice. We gave healthy human volunteers Bacillus probiotic once daily for four weeks, and placebo to a control group, and checked after 4 weeks if there was an impact on S. aureus numbers in the intestine (as counted by analyzing feces). The effect was very strong: We could reduce S. aureus numbers by ~ 97%. With the intestinal site accounting for the vast majority of S. aureus numbers in the body, this approach thus eliminates > 95% of S. aureus in the body, while a nose-targeted approach can only eliminate a very small portion of S. aureus in the body. Likely, a decolonized nose is prone to be fast re-colonized from S. aureus in the gut. While a bit gross to describe how that works in detail, let’s just say we touch ourselves constantly everywhere without all the time using hand sanitizer. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Response: First, there is of course the implication that this is a fantastic way to eliminate most of S. aureus colonization without doing any “harm” to the microbiome. In fact, B. subtilis probiotic even has other described beneficial effects. Then, our data also have scientific value for our understanding of the role of S. aureus gut colonization. This is because we don’t have any data on whether the gut plays that dominant role that we assume – and which is in stark contrast to current thinking by many S. aureus researchers. Before, it was simply not possible to specifically eradicate S. aureus in the gut to see what happens to colonization of the nose. In the trial, we also measured nasal S. aureus after intervention and found that there was a significant reduction of nasal S. aureus numbers. This, we believe, is a strong indication of a dominant role of gut colonization for overall S. aureus colonization. For the S. aureus field, this I believe should prompt a categorical rethinking of our notion of S. aureus colonization and thus also decolonization efforts.  MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study? Response: Looking forward, the next logical step would be to perform trials to see whether this approach can be used to reduce infection rates. We are currently trying to identify a patient cohort where our approach is deemed to be best applicable. The nature of our decolonization approach is long-term. In contrast to antibiotics, it may not work as fast, but it can be extended as it doesn’t cause harm. Thus, this will not work for a patient coming into a hospital who is undergoing surgery the next day. Patients that we are thinking of who could benefit from this approach include those with increased S. aureus infection risk in long-term care facilities or chronic and recurring S. aureus infections. My current view of S. aureus colonization dynamics is that the intestinal colonization forms a big reservoir, while nasal colonization is secondary and needs occasional “re-inoculation” from the gut. However, the nose may be more important than the gut as a direct source for infection: via the respiratory tract or nose picking for wounds. That means for decolonization measures that a combination of (1) our probiotic to reduce overall and intestinal colonization long-term with (2) additional antibiotic/antiseptic-based eradication in the nose and on the skin is probably the best way to achieve a fast-acting but also more persistent prevention of infection. Disclosures: There are no disclosures. This study was entirely financed by grants of our Thai collaborators in addition to the intramural program of the NIAID. Citation: Pipat Piewngam, Sunisa Khongthong, Natthrit Roekngam, Yongyuth Theapparat, Somkiat Sunpaweravong, Damrongsak Faroongsarng, Michael Otto. Probiotic for pathogen-specific Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation in Thailand: a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Microbe, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00322-6 The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.     Read the full article

[bloghrexach]

💥 … July 19, 2024!!

Posted by: Abid H, Embracing Humanity, from LinkedIn …

“And this is why we went from 40,000 Palestinians 🇵🇸 #massacred — straight to 186,000 reported by #TheLancet!” —🍉🇵🇸✊🏽 … 💥

@hrexach

[artecluster]

Review on Cluster Headache @carminebinlab @thelancet

[takachan]

人の顔がゆがむ「相貌変形視」、患う人はこう見えている

Image:A.Melloetal.世界がこんなふうに見えるそう。ある58歳の男性が患っている珍しい病気、相貌変形視。画面や紙に描かれた顔は通常通り見えるのに、直接会った人の顔は歪んだり、爬虫類のようだったり、もしくは人間らしくない特徴を持って見えてしまう症状です。実際会う人の顔だけ歪むTheLancetに掲載された新しい研究によると、この男性の場合、相手の顔が悪魔のように見えるのは、人が物理的に https://www.gizmodo.jp/2024/03/haunting-distorted-demon-faces-rare-syndrome-insights-jpn.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr GIZMODE JAPAN

[neosciencehub]

Unraveling the Influenza Vaccine Shake-Up

Unraveling the Influenza Vaccine Shake-Up by @TheLancet @neosciencehub #neosciencehub #science #InfluenzaVaccine #WHODecision #BYamagataExclusion #VaccineStrategy #PandemicImpact #thelancet #journals #infectious #diseases #WHO #vaccines mRNA

The recent recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) to exclude the influenza B/Yamagata lineage from future influenza vaccines has sparked a significant shake-up in the field of influenza vaccination. This move was highlighted in the editorial of ‘The Lancet’ edition on ‘Infectious Diseases’ of December 2023 edition. It has far-reaching implications for vaccine formulation,…

[mercoglianotrueblog]

#EPA "air, water safe in #EastPalestine" but residents..

now we know unlikely #masks did anything at all

#TheLancet, #EcoHealthA.#NYTimes #WashingtonPost : no lab leak but #federal agencies now admit

the dirty chapter of so-called #vaccines imposed

https://salvatoremercogliano.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-science-that-mirrors-political-power.html?spref=tw

[haris786]

Dr Dilip Mahalanabis is no more

18-October-2022

#dilipmahalanabis

#ors

#oralrehydrtionsolution

#bangladesh

#thelancet

[usnewsper-politics]

Florida Governor's COVID-19 Study Misinterpreted, Sparks Political Tensions #contacttracingefforts #COVID19study #crisis #deathrates #FloridaGovernorRonDeSantis #hospitalizationrates #maskmandates #pandemic #policies #politicaltensions #politicization #publichealthofficials #reopeningbusinesses #reopeningschools #scientificresearch #seniors #specificpolicies #surgecapacity #testingrates #TheLancet #underlyinghealthconditions

[mariebenz]

Specific Probiotic Dramatically Decreases Staph Aureus in the Gut

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Michael Otto PhD Senior Investigator Laboratory of Bacteriology Chief of the Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section NIAID, NIH Bethesda, MD 20814 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Staphylococcus aureus is one the of the most important causes of infectious diseases worldwide. It is known mostly for causing skin infections in the community and as a hospital-associated pathogen. It is in fact the most frequent cause of infections patients acquire in the hospital when they are weakened by underlying diseases or immune-suppressing therapy. The type of infections Staph can cause in these situations are diverse – comprising bone, lung, and blood infections (sepsis) - and can be quite severe and often fatal. Except for moderately severe skin infections that may not require antibiotic treatment, treatment of Staph infections is by antibiotics. S. aureus has naturally been very responsive to penicillin-type antibiotics, but already in the mid of the last century, resistance to penicillin spread worldwide. Then, methicillin was invented to overcome this resistance, but nowadays there also is considerable spread of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). The current situation is difficult for two reasons: - First, S. aureus has become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics, and - Second, the alternatives to methicillin are often by far not as efficient as penicillin/methicillin against Staph. Researchers have therefore been searching for alternatives to antibiotics to treat Staph infections. Unfortunately, vaccines that work against Staph have not yet been produced despite intensive efforts for decades. Other modern approaches of treatment, like virulence-targeted drugs or phages are still only at the early investigational level. As with many diseases, an alternative to treatment is prevention. In the case of S. aureus, a type of preventative strategy that has often been proposed and tested is decolonization. This is based on the fact that ~ 1/3 of the population is naturally colonized with S. aureus (asymptomatically), and these colonized people have an increased risk of being infected. In other words, Staph infections stem from the Staph you carry on your body and which only under certain conditions causes infection. Thus, eliminating the colonizing Staph would reduce the risk for infection, which is the basis for Staph decolonization-based infection prevention strategies. MedicalResearch.com: Which type of probiotic was utilized in this study? Response: By definition, probiotics are supplements containing live microorganisms. While they have gained much attention and are heavily marketed, the scientific basis or mechanism of their alleged benefit is not that clear. Furthermore, when you buy a “probiotic”, it is often an ill-defined mixture of many bacterial strains. Our approach is categorically different. The probiotic strain we use, Bacillus subtilis, is very specific and the mechanism by which it works for our purpose, is also very specific and described by us in a paper in Nature published in 2018. So, we know exactly what is going on. Namely, Bacillus produces specific lipopeptides that inhibit the quorum-sensing system of S. aureus, which in turn we also showed is essential for S. aureus gut colonization. The beauty of this approach is that we can specifically target the “bad” S. aureus while leaving the composition of the microbiome intact (the “good” bacteria we need for efficient digestion and as recent research has shown, many other things). This is because the targeted system is virtually only found in Staph. Notably, this specificity is much higher than that of other so-called “microbiome editing” approaches that are often based on bacteriocins, which despite some specificity still eliminate quite large groups of bacteria. It is the most specific “microbiome editing” approach that I am aware of. I should emphasize, because this is often misunderstood, that this approach does not kill S. aureus – but it strongly diminishes its capacity to colonize the intestine. MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Response:  While I had to explain a lot about the scientific background – and we are proud we have such a detailed scientific basis, the trial is very straightforward. We simply wanted to test whether we can use this mechanism to decrease S. aureus colonization in humans in a way we had shown previously in the lab in mice. We gave healthy human volunteers Bacillus probiotic once daily for four weeks, and placebo to a control group, and checked after 4 weeks if there was an impact on S. aureus numbers in the intestine (as counted by analyzing feces). The effect was very strong: We could reduce S. aureus numbers by ~ 97%. With the intestinal site accounting for the vast majority of S. aureus numbers in the body, this approach thus eliminates > 95% of S. aureus in the body, while a nose-targeted approach can only eliminate a very small portion of S. aureus in the body. Likely, a decolonized nose is prone to be fast re-colonized from S. aureus in the gut. While a bit gross to describe how that works in detail, let’s just say we touch ourselves constantly everywhere without all the time using hand sanitizer. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Response: First, there is of course the implication that this is a fantastic way to eliminate most of S. aureus colonization without doing any “harm” to the microbiome. In fact, B. subtilis probiotic even has other described beneficial effects. Then, our data also have scientific value for our understanding of the role of S. aureus gut colonization. This is because we don’t have any data on whether the gut plays that dominant role that we assume – and which is in stark contrast to current thinking by many S. aureus researchers. Before, it was simply not possible to specifically eradicate S. aureus in the gut to see what happens to colonization of the nose. In the trial, we also measured nasal S. aureus after intervention and found that there was a significant reduction of nasal S. aureus numbers. This, we believe, is a strong indication of a dominant role of gut colonization for overall S. aureus colonization. For the S. aureus field, this I believe should prompt a categorical rethinking of our notion of S. aureus colonization and thus also decolonization efforts.  MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study? Response: Looking forward, the next logical step would be to perform trials to see whether this approach can be used to reduce infection rates. We are currently trying to identify a patient cohort where our approach is deemed to be best applicable. The nature of our decolonization approach is long-term. In contrast to antibiotics, it may not work as fast, but it can be extended as it doesn’t cause harm. Thus, this will not work for a patient coming into a hospital who is undergoing surgery the next day. Patients that we are thinking of who could benefit from this approach include those with increased S. aureus infection risk in long-term care facilities or chronic and recurring S. aureus infections. My current view of S. aureus colonization dynamics is that the intestinal colonization forms a big reservoir, while nasal colonization is secondary and needs occasional “re-inoculation” from the gut. However, the nose may be more important than the gut as a direct source for infection: via the respiratory tract or nose picking for wounds. That means for decolonization measures that a combination of (1) our probiotic to reduce overall and intestinal colonization long-term with (2) additional antibiotic/antiseptic-based eradication in the nose and on the skin is probably the best way to achieve a fast-acting but also more persistent prevention of infection. Disclosures: There are no disclosures. This study was entirely financed by grants of our Thai collaborators in addition to the intramural program of the NIAID. Citation: Pipat Piewngam, Sunisa Khongthong, Natthrit Roekngam, Yongyuth Theapparat, Somkiat Sunpaweravong, Damrongsak Faroongsarng, Michael Otto. Probiotic for pathogen-specific Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation in Thailand: a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Microbe, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00322-6 The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.     Read the full article

[danaediazillustration]

I was invited, among other five artist, to participate in the competition for the 2022 cover artist of the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a leading journal in the publication of research in infectious diseases. The topic to be illustrated was schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by worms that can infect the urinary tract and the intestine. Despite being one of the three finalist I did not make it to the end, but I am so grateful to have been invited to participate. Congrats to the winner and thanks to Marco De Ambrogi @marco_ceruleo for giving me the opportunity to take part in this. I look forward to seeing next year’s winner’s covers! #TheLancetInfectiousDiseases #TheLancet #cover #science #virology #health #schistosomiasis #parasiticdisease #editorialillustration #conceptualillustration #magazineillustration #illustration #illustratorsofinstagram #danaediazillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CW70SSUspVc/?utm_medium=tumblr

[desertbotanicalsblog]

Did you know? Economic well-being has long been known to decrease hair sales. The Lancet medical journal declared in 1882, "Europeans either will not sell their hair or have no longer any hair to sell." #hair #didyouknow #hairknowledge #thelancet #medicaljournal #hairsales Desert Botanicals Sonoranshine™️ Leave-in #glosser 🌱🌰🌵🏜 Vitamin nutrition including panthenol for hair rejuvenation, cactus and nut oils for shine, frizz protection and cuticle coating with healthy omega3 🌱🌰🌵🏜 Celebrating #hairstylists everywhere for their artwork, initiative and independence! #londonhair #londongstylist #londonwig #englandhair #englishwig #birminghamhair #glasgowhair #liverpoolhair #bristolstylist #manchesterstylist #sheffieldhair #leedsstylist #edinburghhair #yorkstylist #bristolhair #londontheater #film #movies #theater Everything we do is➡️➡️➡️parabenfree and crueltyfree 🐰🐭 👨‍🔬Formulated in #scottsdale⚗️ 🏜Proudly made in #arizona. 🌅 Learn more at➡️ www.dbotanicals.com https://www.instagram.com/p/CR6sGn4q4RZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mercoglianotrueblog]

Snowflakes voters

#DEI in US campuses is #marxist tool of radical agenda, 81% students got #sexual har.

elites flew to #Davos wanted only #pilots unvaxxed, #Schwab vaxxed is sick,#Musk mocks it

#TheLancet didn't admit pub. flawed study of #Pfizer effectiveness in #Israel

https://salvatoremercogliano.blogspot.com/2023/01/snowflakes-voters.html?spref=tw

[mariebenz]

Atopic Dermatitis- Eczema: New Antibody Therapy Has Potential to Modify Disease Course

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Guttman-Yassky Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD Waldman Professor and System Chair The Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology Director, Center of Excellence in Eczema Director, Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: The background for this study are studies that show that OX40 is a pathway that is upregulated in patients with atopic dermatitis (or eczema). OX40 is involved in activation of immune molecules associated with allergy and atopy, and also with formation of memory immune cells that are required for disease recurrence. The hypothesis to the study was that giving an OX40 antagonist will not only ameliorate the disease but perhaps have a remittive effect in that the disease will not come back. Indeed all drug doses were significantly effective at week 16, the primary endpoint compared to placebo and continued to improve towards week 36, the secondary endpoint. In addition, the responders to treatment maintained their responses for an additional 20 weeks, which is unusual, suggesting a potential for disease modification. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Response: That new treatments with potential disease modification (meaning that treatment will be possibly given infrequently or even the idea that we can stop treatment as some point without the disease recurrence, may be possible in the not far future.  MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study? Response: A phase 3 study is starting that will also involve adolescents. If it indeed works well and shows the same data, I would like to see this drug going into children where we need to see treatments that have a disease modifying effects so that children do not get treatment all their lives. MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures? Response: It is an exciting possible new treatments that if it works it will open a new era of disease modification in adults and importantly in children. Disclosures: I was the principal investigator for the study and am a consultant to Kyowa and Amgen that now co-develop the drug. Citation: An anti-OX40 antibody to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b study Guttman-Yassky, Emma et al. The Lancet, Volume 0, Issue 0 Published:December 09, 2022DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02037-2 The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.     Read the full article

[pagent]

Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA

“Although health care expenditure per capita is higher in the USA than in any other country, more than 37 million Americans do not have health insurance, and 41 million more have inadequate access to care. Efforts are ongoing to repeal the Affordable Care Act which would exacerbate health-care inequities. By contrast, a universal system, such as that proposed in the Medicare for All Act, has the potential to transform the availability and efficiency of American health-care services. Taking into account both the costs of coverage expansion and the savings that would be achieved through the Medicare for All Act, we calculate that a single-payer, universal health-care system is likely to lead to a 13% savings in national health-care expenditure, equivalent to more than US$450 billion annually (based on the value of the US$ in 2017). The entire system could be funded with less financial outlay than is incurred by employers and households paying for health-care premiums combined with existing government allocations. This shift to single-payer health care would provide the greatest relief to lower-income households. Furthermore, we estimate that ensuring health-care access for all Americans would save more than 68 000 lives and 1·73 million life-years every year compared with the status quo.”

Galvani, et al. The Lancet, Vol. 395, issue 10223, pp 524-533 (2020)