Categories : OphthalmologyTags : Leave a comment

Simple Pill Could Prevent Sight Loss in Common Form of Diabetic Retinopathy

On By ModernMedia
Retina showing reticular pseudodrusen. Although they can infrequently appear in individuals with no other apparent pathology, their highest rates of occurrence are in association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for which they hold clinical significance by being highly correlated with end-stage disease sub-types, choroidal neovascularisation and geographic atrophy. Credit: National Eye Institute

Researchers at Trinity, in collaboration with Breye Therapeutics, have found that an oral medication (Danegaptide) can protect against vision-threatening damage in Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR), which is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

The study, published today in leading international journal, Science Translational Medicine, highlights a new therapeutic approach that could replace or complement frequent, highly invasive eye injections for millions of patients with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy affects nearly 30% of people living with diabetes and the non-proliferative form (NPDR) represents the vast majority of cases. 

Currently, standard treatments such as intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are reserved for advanced stages of the disease after significant, often irreversible, vision loss has already occurred. Because these injections require regular and direct administration directly into the eye, early intervention has remained impractical.

Key findings

In pre-clinical models of the disease, administering Danegaptide rapidly reduced leakage of blood vessels in the retina, prevented inner blood-retina barrier (iBRB) breakdown, and reversed retinal oedema (swelling) with efficacy comparable to injectable therapies.

Additionally, in an early stage clinical trial involving 24 patients with NPDR, oral Danegaptide was safe and well-tolerated. Notably, 55% of participants demonstrated early signs of biological activity, including marked reductions in retinal leakage, decreased central subfield thickness, and resolution of intra-retinal fluid cysts.

What are the potential impacts of this research?

Global estimates suggest tens of millions of people are living with NPDR, with roughly one-third of adults with diabetes likely to develop this or another form of diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime.  

Given how debilitating the condition can be and the urgent need for better, less invasive treatments, this research offers significant hope that a simple oral medication could make a huge difference in effectively managing the condition and enabling affected people to live more normal lives. 

The findings are extremely promising and the research team now underlines the need to progress with larger Phase II clinical trials. 

“Managing diabetic eye disease before irreversible damage occurs has long been constrained by the burden of invasive injections,” said Professor Matthew Campbell, Chair of Neurovascular Genetics at Trinity College Dublin and senior author on the research paper. 

“Our findings demonstrate that a simple oral pill can effectively target and repair the inner blood-retina barrier. This potentially offers a non-invasive, preventive path forward that could protect vision in both eyes simultaneously, long before severe sight loss takes hold.” 

Dr Pete Adamson, CSO, Breye Therapeutics, added: “The data from this study validate a major paradigm shift in retinal care. By proving that an oral therapy like Danegaptide can directly protect the inner blood-retina barrier, we are opening the door to early, non-invasive intervention for NPDR. The successful Phase Ib results provide a very strong foundation for larger Phase II clinical trials to evaluate long-term efficacy.”

Source: Trinity College Dublin 

Categories : Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags : Leave a comment

Study Proposes Safer Alternative to Hormone Therapy During Menopause

On By ModernMedia
Liver cells viewed under a fluorescence microscope. On the left are healthy cells, and on the right, fat droplets stand out in yellow. The research revealed that activating the ERβ receptor induces the organ to completely oxidize these lipids to generate energy. Credit: Débora Santos Rocha et al./Comprehensive Physiology

By Maria Fernanda Ziegler  |  Agência FAPESP – When it comes to balancing hormonal changes during the transition to menopause, less can be more. Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil demonstrated this when testing an alternative strategy to conventional therapy. Rather than replacing oestrogen entirely, the team activated only one type of oestrogen receptor in the cells. This approach achieved a broad and beneficial metabolic effect without stimulating the growth of reproductive tissues, such as the uterus and breasts. This is important for individuals with a genetic predisposition to developing tumours.

“It’s a more targeted strategy. By acting only on that receptor, we were able to rebalance the metabolic effects of the drop in oestrogen during menopause without affecting potentially sensitive areas of the body,” explains the researcher Débora Santos Rocha, a FAPESP postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Chemistry (IQ-USP) and first author of the article published in the journal Comprehensive Physiology.

The study was conducted on female rats that had their ovaries removed to simulate menopause. In this model, the researchers used an experimental drug to activate only oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ), which is an important regulator of metabolism and does not stimulate reproductive tissues or increase the risk of hormone-sensitive tumours.

As Rocha explains, the significant drop in oestrogen during the transition to menopause disrupts the entire metabolism, potentially promoting the accumulation of visceral fat, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk. “In addition to their importance in reproduction, oestrogens play a central role in energy regulation. When their levels decrease, widespread metabolic changes also occur, increasing the risk of metabolic syndrome and diseases such as diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia [high cholesterol],” she states.

Conventional hormone replacement therapy attempts to counteract this loss by providing oestrogen and progesterone through pills, patches, or creams. However, by activating all oestrogen receptors indiscriminately, it may increase the risk of tumour growth in predisposed women. “It isn’t hormone replacement therapy that causes cancer. What happens is that if there are tumour cells in oestrogen-sensitive tissues, such as the uterus, breast, or endometrium, they may respond to the hormone and multiply more quickly,” Rocha explains.

A targeted solution with broad benefits

The results of the study show that the isolated activation of ERβ promoted profound metabolic reprogramming. “With the new approach, we restored fasting blood glucose levels, normalised the lipid profile, and reduced the size of fat cells. The pancreatic islets [cells that produce insulin and other hormones] regained their normal shape, and blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids returned to healthy levels. All of that occurred without any effect on the uterus, which indicates the safety of the approach,” comments Alicia Kowaltowski, a professor at IQ-USP and the research coordinator.

The study primarily focused on the liver. This is because the organ begins to process fats differently during the transition to menopause and in the absence of oestrogen. “Lipid metabolism changes significantly, and the liver accumulates more fat. ‘Bad’ cholesterol [LDL] in the blood increases, and various lipid profiles are altered. However, with the activation of ERβ, those parameters returned to normal,” says Rocha.

The same effect was observed in the analysis of isolated liver cells. “The drug remodels the metabolism of liver cells [hepatocytes], causing them to oxidise fatty acids more [ie, to ‘burn’ the building blocks of lipids to generate energy]. That reduces fat accumulation and improves the overall lipid profile. By activating that specific pathway, we modulate liver metabolism and make circulating lipids healthier,” the postdoctoral fellow explains.

Kowaltowski highlights another important finding from the study. “By activating ERβ, the drug causes liver cells to fully oxidize fatty acids, something that normally doesn’t happen since the liver typically performs only partial oxidation, generating ketone bodies [alternative energy sources that the body creates to compensate for a lack of carbohydrates]. With that ‘complete oxidation,’ fat is fully converted into CO₂, significantly improving the body’s lipid profile. It’s important to note that this pathway can be activated to provide metabolic benefits – something we hadn’t imagined,” she explains.

There is no one-size-fits-all model

Although the treatment did not prevent the weight gain characteristic of menopause, the authors note in the article that it broadly improved metabolic quality and the functioning of the liver, pancreas, and blood.

“Menopause is a phase characterised by a wide variability of symptoms among women, which makes it important to have a variety of therapeutic approaches. If we can modulate specific pathways, we pave the way for more personalized treatments. Perhaps the approach we’re presenting won’t be ideal for one person, but it could be decisive for another. The important thing is to have treatment options,” Kowaltowski emphasizes.


“Perhaps the approach we’re presenting won’t be ideal for one person, but it could be decisive for another. The important thing is to have treatment options,” emphasises Alicia Kowaltowski, a professor at IQ-USP (photo: Cecília Bastos/USP Imagens)

The research continues in a new project funded by FAPESP that is now focused on the transition to menopause (perimenopause), using an experimental model that more closely mimics human reality.

Rather than abruptly removing the ovaries from female rats, the new study will use a model of gradual ovarian reserve decline, enabling the researchers to observe hormonal change dynamics throughout the process. “We want to understand that transition and identify new therapeutic targets that could serve as alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy,” Rocha concludes.

The article “Estrogen receptor beta activation coordinates liver lipid remodeling and metabolic fluxes, preventing lipotoxicity” can be read at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cph4.70228.

Source: FAPESP

Categories : PaediatricsTags : Leave a comment

Probiotics for Very Preterm Babies Linked to Reduced Mortality

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Hush Naidoo on Unsplash

Probiotic supplementation in very preterm babies was linked to a lower risk of both severe intestinal disease and death. This is shown by a new study from the Karolinska Institutet, published in JAMA Network Open. The findings are based on data from nearly 4700 babies born prematurely in Sweden.

Very preterm babies are at increased risk of developing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal disease that can be life-threatening. Since 2020, the Swedish Neonatal Society has recommended that babies born between gestational weeks 28 and 31 receive daily probiotic supplements – that is, live bacteria that can influence the gut microbiota. This  is in line with a European recommendation based on international research.

In the current study, the researchers analysed data from the Swedish nNeonatal care quality register on 4695 babies born between 2017 and 2024. Of these, 1571 babies received a probiotic supplement containing three selected bacterial strains, whilst 3124 babies did not. The researchers investigated whether probiotic supplements could be linked to the risk of death or of developing NEC during their stay in the neonatal ward.

”We found that infants who received probiotics had a significantly lower risk of both NEC and death compared with those who did not receive the supplements. At the same time, mortality was low in both groups,” says Ayoub Mitha, a doctor and researcher at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, who is the study’s corresponding author.

Among children who received probiotics, 0.8% experienced death or NEC, compared with 3.4% among those who did not receive the supplement. The risk of death was 0.3% in the probiotic group compared with 1.4% in the group without probiotics. The risk of NEC was 0.6% and 2.5% respectively.

Similar results regardless method

The researchers used several different statistical methods to account for differences between the groups. The results were similar regardless of the analysis method. Further analyses suggested that a significant proportion of the lower mortality rate was linked to fewer children developing NEC.

However, the researchers found no clear link between probiotic supplementation and the risk of sepsis, a serious infection that can spread throughout the body. The proportion of children affected by sepsis was roughly the same in both groups.

“Our findings contribute to the international body of knowledge and may help healthcare professionals and families make informed decisions regarding probiotic supplements for very preterm infants. At the same time, it is important not to generalise the results to extremely preterm infants – those born before 28 weeks – as this group was not included in the study,” says Ayoub Mitha.

The researchers also emphasise that the study is observational. This means that it can show associations but cannot definitively establish cause and effect.

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : Neurology Pain ManagementTags : Leave a comment

Anti-epileptic Drug May Reduce Migraine Aura

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-3812757/

A new study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that 85 percent of patients with aura-dominant migraine experienced a reduction in monthly aura days by at least half following treatment with the anti-epileptic drug lamotrigine. The findings need to be confirmed in a controlled study, but could eventually be significant for a patient group that currently lacks a specific treatment for the aura itself.

Around 1.5 million people in Sweden suffer from migraine. Migraine affects both individuals’ daily lives and society as a whole. The disease limits the ability to work and participate in social activities, and leads to significant costs through sick leave, reduced productivity and increased healthcare needs. Women are three times as likely to be affected as often as men, a difference that is largely due to hormonal factors.  

Up to a third of people with migraine experience aura – a temporary neurological symptom that can cause visual disturbances, loss of vision, sensory disturbances, balance problems, and speech and language difficulties, among other symptoms. For some patients, aura is the most debilitating symptom of the disease, but there is currently no established treatment that specifically targets it. 

“Around 50,000 people in Sweden suffer from aura-dominant migraine. Aura is thought to be linked to cortical spreading depolarisation (CSD), a slowly progressing wave of altered nerve cell activity in the cerebral cortex,” says Gürdal Sahin, a researcher at Lund University and a specialist in neurology at the Skåneuro private clinic. 

Migraine with aura is also associated with a slightly increased risk of ischaemic stroke, particularly when combined with other vascular risk factors. It is therefore important to reduce modifiable risk factors. 

“There are now several effective treatments for migraine, including new medicines that block the neurotransmitter CGRP, which plays a key role in migraine attacks. Botulinum toxin is also used as a preventative treatment for chronic migraine. However, as there is no established treatment that specifically targets the aura itself, migraines with and without aura are often treated in a similar way, even though the aura appears to be partly based on mechanisms other than the headache itself,” Gürdal Sahin continues. 

The medicine lamotrigine is approved for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder, but not for migraine. However, as both epilepsy and migraine aura involve temporary changes in nerve cell activity, the researchers wanted to investigate whether the drug could also prevent aura. Lamotrigine affects the electrical activity of nerve cells by acting on sodium and potassium channels, and also reduces the release of, amongst other things, the neurotransmitter glutamate. In this way, the medicine can reduce the excessive excitability of the nerve cells. In theory, these mechanisms could help to prevent the emergence and spread of CSD. 

“In our study, we examined 81 patients with frequent or particularly troublesome migraine aura and treated them with lamotrigine. Among the patients included the number of days with aura fell on average from 6.9 to 1.4 days per month, representing a reduction of around 80 per cent,” says Sena Uzun, a doctoral student at Lund University. 

While previous studies involving lamotrigine have shown mixed results, the results of this study were particularly promising for patients with aura-dominant migraine. In this group, 85 per cent of patients experienced at least a 50 per cent reduction in the number of days with aura. Another interesting observation was that a slower dose escalation was associated with fewer side effects, which may be relevant when the treatment is evaluated in future clinical trials. 

“As the study is retrospective and lacks a control group, the results need to be confirmed. We are now proceeding with a national, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of lamotrigine. If the results can be confirmed, the drug could become a relatively inexpensive and well-established treatment option for a group of patients who currently have no treatment for the aura itself,” concludes Sena Uzun.

Original written by Åsa Hansdotter

Source: Lund University

Categories : HospitalsTags : Leave a comment

World Pharmacists Day – 25 September 2026

On By ModernMedia
Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals for many South Africans. Image created with AI.

Astrid Stealey, Area Managing Director, South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenvue

World Pharmacists Day is an opportunity to recognise the contribution pharmacists make to the health of communities across South Africa. But recognition must go hand in hand with ensuring they have the training, resources and support to meet the demands being placed on them.

Pharmacists are often among the most accessible healthcare professionals in their communities. They play an important role in helping people navigate everyday self-care, understand the responsible use of medicines and recognise when symptoms require referral to a doctor or another healthcare service. That guidance can help people make more informed decisions about their health, but it should never be taken for granted.

Kenvue’s previously published research found that 82% of surveyed South African pharmacists regularly provide advice to people who cannot access a GP. At the same time, 76% reported increased demands on their time.

These findings highlight both the value pharmacists provide and the pressure many are working under. Supporting them means investing in continuous professional education, access to credible, evidence-based information and systems that recognise both the potential and the limits of their role.

This year’s World Pharmacists Day 2026 theme, “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures,” captures that challenge well. A healthier future depends on pharmacists being equipped and supported to use their expertise confidently, responsibly and sustainably.

Categories : Gastrointestinal Lab Tests and ImagingTags : Leave a comment

Longer Intervals Between Colonoscopies May Be Safe

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Patients who have had high-risk polyps removed from their bowel can probably wait five years, rather than three, until their next colonoscopy without increasing their risk of colon and rectal cancer. This is shown by two new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which researchers from the Karolinska Institutet have participated. The findings, from ”Colonoscopy Intervals and Colorectal Cancer Incidence after Adenoma Removal” and “Colorectal Cancer Risk among Patients with Serrated Polyps” could reduce the number of examinations and thus the burden on both patients and the healthcare system.

Every year, around 1.9 million people worldwide are diagnosed with bowel cancer. To prevent the disease, many countries have introduced screening programmes that enable more polyps to be detected and removed before cancer develops.

However, some patients are assessed as being at increased risk of developing new polyps or cancer and are therefore recommended to undergo regular follow-up colonoscopies. These examinations are resource-intensive for the healthcare system and can be perceived as burdensome for patients.

The first results from the European Polyp Surveillance (EPoS) study, a large randomised research project on follow-up after polyp removal, are now being presented. In the EPoS II study, 10 799 patients across eight European countries who had previously had high-risk adenomas – a type of polyp – removed were followed up. Participants were randomised to undergo their first follow-up colonoscopy after either three or five years.

Low risk in both groups

After five years of follow-up, the risk of colorectal cancer was very low in both groups. Among those who waited five years for their first check-up, 0.77 per cent developed cancer, compared with 0.82 per cent among those examined after three years. Nor did the researchers observe any clear differences in how far the cancer had progressed when it was detected.

At the same time, the longer follow-up interval meant that the number of colonoscopies fell sharply. During the follow-up period, nearly 4200 fewer examinations were carried out in the group that waited five years for their first follow-up.

”More than 99 per cent of patients did not develop colorectal cancer within five years of the polyps being removed. “The results suggest that we need to reassess when these patients should be called in for their next colonoscopy,” says Hans-Olov Adami, Professor Emeritus at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet, who coordinated the Swedish part of the research project.

At the same time, the researchers are presenting results from the parallel EPoS III study, which involved 1,861 patients with so-called serrated polyps, another type of polyp that can also be a precursor to cancer. In that group, too, the risk of cancer was low. After five years, around one per cent of the participants had developed colorectal cancer and none had died from the disease.

“The low risk of cancer was observed in both patients with high-risk adenomas and those with serrated polyps. This also underlines the importance of the first colonoscopy, as the studies are based on the polyps having been detected and completely removed,” says Hans-Olov Adami.

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : Respiratory DiseasesTags : Leave a comment

Testing More People with TB Symptoms is Critical to Reducing New Infections, Study Finds

On By ModernMedia
Tuberculosis bacteria. Credit: CDC

By Marcus Low for Spotlight

Many people who report with TB symptoms at South Africa’s public sector clinics do not receive TB tests. Testing more of these people is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce rates of TB disease and death, according to a major new modelling study.

While South Africa has made substantial progress against tuberculosis (TB), we are not on track to meet key targets set for 2030. This is according to a new modelling paper published in the journal Global Health Action.

TB incidence in South Africa was projected to decline by 46% by 2030, relative to a 2015 baseline. The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB target adopted by South Africa aimed at an 80% reduction in incidence. TB mortality was projected to decline by 54%, against the End TB target of 90%.

The researchers also published uncertainty intervals around these estimates. Even though these intervals are relatively wide, their upper limits are below the End TB targets, suggesting that it is unlikely that South Africa will reach the targets by 2030. The modelling however also identified interventions that could help South Africa get closer to the targets.

The new research is an extension of Thembisa, an existing mathematical model of HIV and TB in South Africa. University of Cape Town epidemiologist Dr Leigh Johnson, who is the lead author of the new study, is also the key driving force behind Thembisa.

Identifying what works

The researchers estimated which of a long list of interventions would have the greatest impact against TB. In technical terms, they looked at how varying 27 different parameters linked to TB interventions impacted projected TB incidence and mortality from 2025 to 2040 by calculating correlation coefficients (see the paper for a more nuanced explanation).

They found that the greatest reductions in TB would be achieved if a high percentage (89%) of people reporting with TB symptoms were tested using new point-of-care TB tests. This would result in a 49% reduction in average TB incidence and a 67% reduction in average TB mortality, relative to a scenario in which there are no changes to current programmes. TB symptoms include persistent cough, chest pain, night sweats, fever, and unexplained weight loss. There is good evidence that many people who report with these symptoms at clinics are not offered molecular TB tests.

The World Health Organization earlier this year recommended the use of such new point-of-care TB tests. These tests aren’t yet in general use in South Africa, although they are being evaluated in pilot projects. The new tests can be run on both sputum and tongue swabs. For now, most molecular TB tests in South Africa still involve someone producing a sputum sample – which some people struggle with – and the sample being transported to a lab for testing.

The researchers also found that high rates of door-to-door testing with the new point-of-care tests could reduce TB incidence and mortality by 38% and 49% respectively, while combining high rates of door-to-door testing and digital chest X-ray screening in asymptomatic individuals could reduce TB incidence and mortality by 17% and 21%.

Even without the new tests, there are substantial gains to be had if testing was stepped up in people with symptoms. TB incidence could be reduced by as much as 29% if the level of sputum testing in individuals seeking care for TB symptoms were increased to the upper bound considered by the researchers.

Once people have been diagnosed with TB and start taking TB treatment, they typically become non-infectious within around two weeks. Diagnosing people more quickly thus results in people remaining infectious for shorter periods, thus slowing TB transmission.

Other influential parameters identified by the researchers include the extent to which COVID-19-related behaviour changes are sustained, the rate at which people living with HIV start taking antiretroviral treatment (untreated HIV is a major driver of TB), and the combined uptake and efficacy of 3HP, a relatively new form of TB preventive therapy.

Testing is the key

“We found that the rate of testing in people seeking treatment for TB symptoms is the most important driver of future TB incidence and mortality,” wrote the authors.“This finding is not surprising given the historically low rates of TB testing. In studies of patients seeking treatment for TB symptoms in South African health facilities, the proportion who received a TB test has been highly variable, ranging from 3% to 84%, with a median of only 30%. Similarly low rates have been reported in other countries with high TB burdens.”

The study authors write that these low rates of testing reflect the non-specificity of TB symptoms and healthcare workers’ concerns about the cost and time required to collect sputum specimens and to send them to a central laboratory for molecular testing. In one South African study, they point out that 36% of all people attending clinics had symptoms suggestive of TB.

“Conducting TB testing in such a large fraction of primary care attendees may be infeasible,” they write.

“Achieving high levels of testing in people with TB symptoms could require levels of laboratory testing beyond current testing capacity. However, new point-of-care tests performed on tongue swabs or sputum present an important opportunity to increase levels of TB testing in symptomatic individuals at reduced cost, without placing additional strain on laboratories.”

In addition to reduced cost, the new point-of-care tests also offer quicker results and have lower operational requirements. The main potential benefit of these tests over existing lab tests is thus that they are likely to be used much more frequently.

Regardless of the testing platform, the study authors argue there is a need to strengthen adherence to existing guidelines for systematic testing of all patients with symptoms suggestive of TB and that we need a larger healthcare workforce dedicated to TB diagnosis, better supply chains, and better monitoring systems to identify where and why symptomatic patients are not being tested.

Disclosure: The study reported on here was supported by the Gates Foundation. Spotlight receives funding from the Gates Foundation, but is editorially independent – an independence that the editors guard jealously. Spotlight is a member of the South African Press Council.

*This article was first published by Spotlight – health journalism in the public interest. Sign up to the Spotlight newsletter.

Categories : General InterestTags : Leave a comment

This Heritage Day, Help Strengthen Blood Stocks and Leave a Lasting Legacy

On By ModernMedia

A SANBS and Round Table Southern Africa partnership has helped bring more than 600 new donors into the blood donation network

A new five-part docuseries, Tafel Toure, from Round Table Southern Africa takes viewers inside the community projects driven by its members across the country. One episode takes viewers to the SANBS donor centre in Welkom, where Round Table members see first-hand what happens when ordinary South Africans make the decision to give blood and why those donations matter to patients in need.

The episode comes at a critical time for South Africa’s blood supply, with SANBS blood stock levels having declined below five days’ cover. The blood service is urging eligible South Africans to donate and help replenish stocks, particularly as regular donations are essential to maintaining a safe and sufficient blood supply.

For Round Table member and regular blood donor Stephan Theunissen, giving blood has become part of how he contributes to his community. The documentary follows him at the SANBS donor centre in Welkom as he shares why he continues to donate and encourages others to do the same.

“Giving blood is one of the simplest ways we can make a difference in our communities. You may never know whose life your donation will touch, but knowing that something as simple as taking an hour out of your day could help someone in need is what keeps me coming back and encouraging others to donate too,” says Theunissen.

Alongside Stephan’s personal experience, SANBS Donor Relations Practitioner Bronwyn Petersen takes viewers beyond the donation chair, explaining who can donate and why different blood components are needed.

“O-negative can be given to anyone in an emergency, and plasma helps stop severe bleeding and stabilise patients in trauma. Together, they’re often the first things a hospital reaches for when every second counts, which is why we always need more donors of both,” says Bronwyn.

Viewers are taken through the donation process alongside the presenter, offering a behind-thescenes look at what happens from the moment a donor arrives at the centre to the point where their donation becomes part of the blood supply.

The episode also highlights the growing impact of the SANBS and Round Table Southern Africa partnership, which has contributed to more than 600 new donors and over 100 blood drives.

As South Africa marks Heritage Month, the partnership provides a powerful example of how community action and a shared commitment to giving back can create a lasting impact.

“Round Table Southern Africa has always believed that real impact starts when ordinary people choose to get involved. Our partnership with SANBS is a powerful example of that. Through TafelToere, we hope to not only showcase what our members are doing in their communities, but also inspire more South Africans to put up their hands, donate blood and make a difference. One donation, one hour and one decision can ultimately help save a life,” says Wessels Dreyer, incoming President of Round Table Southern Africa.

Monique Schreiner, Senior Manager: Donor Relations at the South African National Blood Service, says the partnership demonstrates how community-driven action can help strengthen the country’s blood supply.

“We have fallen below five days’ blood stock cover, and this is a critical reminder of why regular blood donation matters. Every day, patients across South Africa rely on blood and blood products for emergency care, surgery and ongoing medical treatment. Partnerships such as the one with Round Table Southern Africa help us reach new donors and show people the real impact of their decision to donate,” says Schreiner.

She adds that the documentary offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look and builds greater understanding of the blood donation journey.

“Blood donation is a powerful example of how an individual act can have a far-reaching impact. Through this documentary, we have an opportunity to show people what happens behind the scenes and remind eligible South Africans that their decision to donate can help ensure blood is available when a patient needs it most.”

For Round Table, the episode is an opportunity to encourage more young men to see blood donation as a simple but meaningful way to contribute to their communities. The call, however, extends beyond Round Table’s membership, with eligible first-time, regular and lapsed donors all encouraged to play their part in maintaining South Africa’s blood supply

.Watch the Round Table Southern Africa docuseries, Tafel Toure, and follow Stephan Theunissen and the SANBS team as they take viewers behind the scenes of blood donation.

Categories : AllergiesTags : Leave a comment

Neuron Memory: Why Repeated Exposures Worsen Allergies

On By ModernMedia

A new preclinical study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham offers a potential explanation for two longstanding questions in allergy: Why do allergies often emerge only after repeated exposure, and why do people with one allergy frequently develop others? The findings are published in Immunity.

The team’s earlier work revealed that sensory neurons can directly sense certain allergens and help start the allergic immune response. The new study shows that these neurons do not simply detect allergens in the moment but can retain a metabolically encoded record of previous exposures that allows them to respond more strongly to later exposures, even after the original allergen is gone.

“Now that we know what may cause people to become allergic and pick up more sensitivities, we can design ways to stop it from happening,” said senior author Caroline L. Sokol, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist at Mass General Brigham.

“What is especially encouraging is that allergic memory in neurons faded with time in our models,” Sokol said. “We are now investigating whether we can deliberately reset this memory, which could ultimately offer a way to reduce the risk of developing allergies.”

The study grew from a familiar clinical observation – people tend to encounter the same pollen, pets or foods repeatedly before developing an allergy. Drawing on her perspective as a clinician, scientist and allergy sufferer, Sokol wondered whether the nervous system might help explain this delay.

“Neurons are known for their ability to form memories,” Sokol said. “We asked whether an initial allergen exposure might leave a trace – not enough on its own to trigger a full allergic response, but enough to prime the neurons to respond more strongly the next time.”

To test this idea, the researchers modelled recurrent allergen exposure in mice and found that an initial exposure activates a specific signaling pathway in neurons. This pathway not only primes them to later respond to the same allergen, as the team hypothesized, but also to other allergens that share the same enzymatic activity but have different molecular structures.

This suggests that sensory neurons may remember a shared feature of allergens rather than their precise molecular identity. This cross-allergen response may help explain why developing sensitivity to one allergen can increase susceptibility to others.

Source: Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Categories : Expert OpinionTags : Leave a comment

Beyond Dispensing: Why South Africa Needs to Make Better Use of Pharmacists to Improve Healthcare Access

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Healthcare access in South Africa is increasingly shifting towards prevention, early intervention and more accessible primary healthcare. Yet for many communities, accessing healthcare can still mean long waiting times, travel and delays in receiving care.

As pressure on the healthcare system continues, there is an opportunity to make better use of healthcare professionals who are already accessible within communities.

For many people, the pharmacist’s role has traditionally been associated primarily with dispensing medication. But the profession has evolved significantly. Pharmacists are increasingly contributing to medicine optimisation and adherence, chronic disease support, health screening and other primary healthcare services within their scope of practice.

According to Tanya Ponter, Pharmacy Director at Dis-Chem, pharmacists are equipped with skills that extend well beyond the dispensing of medicines.

“Pharmacists are trained to interrogate symptoms, review evidence and metrics that identify risk and make life saving decisions under pressure. Their expertise places them in a unique position to support patients beyond the traditional dispensing function and contribute to earlier intervention and better health outcomes.”

This evolving role is particularly important as South Africa looks for ways to improve access to primary healthcare. Pharmacists are often accessible within communities and can provide guidance, identify potential health risks and, where appropriate, refer patients to other healthcare professionals. What’s more, they are the most accessible clinical touchpoint for consumers and are always available to provide expert advice at no cost to patients.

“Expanded pharmacist-led services have the potential to reduce existing pressure on the healthcare system, with these professionals often being a first point of contact for patients in communities. Their presence can help address appropriate healthcare needs earlier and potentially reduce unnecessary demand on higher levels of care,” says Ponter.

With rising rates of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and HIV, pharmacists play an ongoing role in long-term wellness. To support complex patients who often take multiple pills, they offer guidance and medication reviews to simplify regimens and eliminate unnecessary or duplicate treatments.

As South Africa marks World Pharmacists Day, Ponter states that the profession should increasingly be viewed as an integral part of the country’s primary healthcare ecosystem.

“Pharmacists should not simply be seen as the final step between patients and prescriptions. They can help bridge the gap between communities and healthcare by supporting prevention, identifying risks earlier and helping patients navigate the healthcare system, particularly when barriers make accessing other healthcare services more difficult,” Ponter concludes.