Day: March 21, 2025

Categories : CancerTags : Leave a comment

Non-genetic Theories of Cancer Address Inconsistencies in Current Paradigm

On By ModernMedia

A recent essay argues for re-considering cancer as a genetic disease

3D structure of a melanoma cell derived by ion abrasion scanning electron microscopy. Credit: Sriram Subramaniam/ National Cancer Institute

It’s time for researchers to reconsider the current paradigm of cancer as a genetic disease, argued Sui Huang from the Institute for Systems Biology, USA, and colleagues in a new essay published March 18th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

The prevailing theory on the origin of cancer is that an otherwise normal cell accumulates genetic mutations that allow it to grow and reproduce unchecked. This paradigm has driven large-scale cancer genome sequencing projects, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, to identify cancer-driving mutations and develop drugs designed to target aberrant proteins and pathways.

In their new essay, Huang and colleagues argue that this somatic mutation theory of cancer is unproductive. They point to inconsistencies in the sequencing data that contradict the current theory, including the fact that many cancers have no known driver mutations while some normal tissues can harbor cancer-causing mutations.

They propose a broader, more “holistic” view that embraces organismal biology and theory. Specifically, they encourage considering alternative paradigms that encompass non-genetic processes involved in tumorigenesis. For example, they explain the concepts of cancer as a result of disruptions in gene regulatory networks (Huang) — or of tissue organization, a theory that considers the disturbance of the field generated by neighboring cells and surrounding tissue (Soto-Sonnenschein). The authors argue that these alternative explanations will guide experiments to advance our understanding of the origins of cancer.

The authors add: “A full embrace of the idea that the origin of cancer lies beyond the realm of genetic mutations will open new vistas on cancer treatment and prevention.  Accepting that not all carcinogens are mutagens will strengthen public health policies aimed to prevent exposure to environmental non-mutagenic factors that may promote cancer, such as food additives and plastics and many other toxicants that alter tissue homeostasis.”

Provided by PLOS

Categories : Neurodegenerative DiseasesTags : Leave a comment

Can Long-term Use of Anti-inflammatory Medications Prevent Dementia?

On By ModernMedia
Photo by cottonbro studio

Past research has suggested that inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of dementia and that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications may help protect against dementia due to their anti-inflammatory effects. A new large prospective study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society provides additional evidence, showing that long-term NSAID use is linked to a decreased risk of developing dementia.

In the population-based study of 11 745 adults with an average follow-up of 14.5 years, 9520 participants had used NSAIDs at any given time, and 2091 participants developed dementia. Long-term NSAID use was associated with a 12% reduced risk of developing dementia. Short- and intermediate-term use did not provide benefits. Also, the cumulative dose of NSAIDs was not associated with decreased dementia risk.

The findings suggest that prolonged, rather than intensive, use of anti-inflammatory medications may help protect against dementia.

“Our study provides evidence on possible preventive effects of anti-inflammatory medication against the dementia process. There is a need for more studies to further consolidate this evidence and possibly develop preventive strategies,” said corresponding author M. Arfan Ikram, MSc, MD, PhD, of Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Allergies PaediatricsTags : Leave a comment

Review Supports Introducing Small Amounts of Food Allergens During Early Childhood

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Corleto on Unsplash

A review in Clinical & Experimental Allergy concludes that exposing young children to small amounts of foods that they’re allergic to is safer than avoiding the foods altogether, which could be very dangerous if accidental exposure occurs.

The review notes that exposing preschool-aged children to small amounts of food allergens—called oral immunotherapy—can lessen the severity of a reaction following an accidental exposure. Also, delaying exposure until a later age misses the window of opportunity when oral immunotherapy is safest, and it prolongs unnecessary dietary restrictions. Also, after early childhood avoidance, some people who outgrow their allergy will not reincorporate the food into their diet due to fear and anxiety, thus potentially increasing their chance of redeveloping the allergy.

A growing body of evidence indicates that oral immunotherapy is safe and effective in preschoolers, but additional research is needed to clarify its impact on children’s health and quality of life.

“This research highlights a critical shift in how we approach food allergies—moving from strict avoidance to controlled exposure in early childhood, which not only reduces the risk of severe reactions but also helps prevent long-term negative consequences of living with food allergies,” said corresponding author Lianne Soller, PhD, of the University of British Columbia, in Canada.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Skeletal System Surgeries & ProceduresTags : Leave a comment

How Might ACL Surgery Increase the Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis?

On By ModernMedia
Anterior cruciate ligament injury. Credit Wikimedia/BruceBlaus CC4.0

Some individuals who have had anterior-cruciate-ligament reconstruction (ACLR), the kind of surgery often performed on athletes’ knees, may develop early-onset knee osteoarthritis. A new study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research indicates that altered knee joint movement after ACLR could be a contributing factor. 

The study used a unique dynamic X-ray imaging system to accurately measure knee joint movement during walking in people who had undergone ACLR surgery and those with healthy knees. Compared with healthy controls, ACLR patients had a higher vertical position of the patella and a higher location of articular contact between the patella and the femur. A higher riding patella in the ACLR patients was caused by a longer-than-normal patellar tendon, the structure connecting the patella to the tibia. A surprising finding was that a higher riding patella was observed in both the ACLR knee and the uninjured contralateral knee of the ACLR patients. 

Investigators suspect that a higher riding patella may contribute to the development of knee osteoarthritis by shifting the load bearing areas between the patella and the femur to regions of cartilage unaccustomed to load and leaving previously loaded regions unloaded. 

“We don’t know whether a longer-than-normal patellar tendon that resulted in a higher riding patella existed prior to the ACL injury or resulted from the ACL injury or ACLR surgery. Further research is needed to determine the cause of a longer-than-normal patellar tendon in individuals who have undergone ACLR surgery,” said corresponding author Marcus G. Pandy, PhD, MEngSc, of the University of Melbourne, in Australia. 

Source: Wiley