Insights, Perspectives & Ideas
Patient With Transplanted Pig Kidney Leaves Hospital for Home The New York Times, April 2024 Richard Slayman, 62, is the first patient to receive a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig. This transplant and its encouraging outcome represent a significant moment in medicine, possibly heralding an era of cross-species organ transplantation. Two previous transplants from genetically modified pigs failed, with both patients dying soon after. Although Mr. Slayman exhibited signs of cellular rejection on the eighth day after surgery, his doctors were able to reverse it. The kidney is now producing urine, removing waste products, balancing the body ’ s fluids and carrying out other key functions. As over 550,000 Americans have kidney failure, and over 100,000 are on a waiting list for a transplanted kidney from a human donor, the medical potential is tremendous.
Trial of Lixisenatide in Early Parkinson ’ s Disease The New England Journal of Medicine, April 2024 Parkinson's disease is a common debilitating disorder causing resting tremors, rigidity and slowness. A recent Phase 2 trial found that patients with early Parkinson ’ s taking lixisenatide, an older glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1 ) receptor agonist drug used for diabetes, experienced no worsening of motor symptoms over a year, in contrast to patients on a placebo. The findings add to a growing body of research that suggests that GLP-1 medications hold the potential to address Parkinson ’ s by reducing inflammation and protecting neurons from dying, which would be a critical new way of treating the disease. The incidence of side effects, however, may be a barrier to the wider use of lixisenatide for Parkinson ’ s disease and further exploration would be valuable.
Why Are So Many Young People Getting Cancer? What the Data Say Nature, March 2024 Rates for over a dozen early-onset cancers ( diagnosed under the age of 50 ) increased globally and have been predicted to rise by ~30% from 2019 to 2030. This has driven the push for more research and earlier screenings. In the U.S., the rates have increased faster in women than men. Researchers believe that social determinants of health, such as access to healthy foods, lifestyle factors and systemic racism, are likely contributing to early-onset cancer disparities. Early-onset cancers often affect the digestive system including colorectal, pancreatic and stomach cancers. Although rising obesity and processed foods can explain some of the increase, researchers are looking for clues in the gut microbiome and tumor genomes as well.
Health Effects of Fossil Fuel – Derived Endocrine Disruptors The New England Journal of Medicine, March 2024 Pollution is the leading cause of premature death globally, with over 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Chemical pollution is responsible for at least 1.8 million deaths annually, with less than 5% of ~350,000 chemicals being adequately studied. Fossil fuels contribute to pollution through the production of petrochemicals — endocrine-disrupting chemicals ( EDCs ) that interfere with hormonal function. EDCs are linked to cancer, neurodevelopmental harm, infertility and many other conditions. EDC-associated risks are higher during fetal and child development and with exposure to multiple EDCs. The greatest challenge to reducing harmful EDC exposures is the lack of legal requirements for comprehensive safety testing before chemicals are used in production and the marketplace.
The Mothers Who Aren ’ t Waiting To Give Their Children Cystic-Fibrosis Drugs The Atlantic, March 2024 Cystic fibrosis ( CF ) is a rare genetic disease that causes slow asphyxiation of the airways, pancreatic insufficiency and nutrient malabsorption and can lead to kidney and liver disease. In 2019, a triple combination of drugs, Trikafta ® , was introduced to help 40,000 Americans with CF. The drug has improved the outlook for children with CF and is available to children over the age of 2. However, pancreatic insufficiency is common among newborns with CF and 1 in 5 also develop an intestinal blockage called meconium ileus in utero. This prompted some expectant mothers to use the drug off-label to treat their children in the womb. Although experts initially worried that Trikafta could cause birth defects, hundreds of babies later, there has been no evidence of such.
Stop Misunderstanding the Gender Health Gap Wired, March 2024 The gender health gap is significant. Women receive worse care, have higher rates of adverse drug reactions, get diagnosed later and suffer more from common mental health conditions. Recognizing the causes and the societal assumptions that may contribute to the disparities may help narrow the gap. Studying social determinants of health, such as diet, stress and societal treatment, is crucial. Researchers are now using data from mobile phones to build personalized pictures of people to understand their complexities. Dr. Sarah Richardson and her team at the GenderSci Lab at Harvard University, for instance, has made progress in breaking down the causes for gender health disparities or "sex contextualism" as she calls it.
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