Category: 8. Health

CPADS integrates data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) databases, encompassing over 29,000 samples across 44 cancer types and involving 288 drugs. It provides five main analysis modules: differential expression analysis, correlation analysis, pathway analysis, drug analysis, and gene perturbation analysis. These modules enable users to explore gene expression changes, correlations between genes or drugs, pathway enrichment, drug sensitivity, and the impact of genetic perturbations on drug resistance.

The differential expression analysis module allows users to compare gene expression levels between control and drug-treated groups or between drug-sensitive and -resistant groups. The correlation analysis module supports both single-gene and multigene correlation studies, revealing how gene expression correlates with drug IC50 values. Pathway analysis is facilitated through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Single Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), and Pathview, enabling users to explore the enrichment of specific pathways in drug-treated samples. The drug analysis module examines the relationship between gene expression and drug IC50 values, helping to identify potential drug resistance markers. Lastly, the gene perturbation analysis module leverages data from GPSAdb and CGP to screen for genes associated with drug resistance.

The article highlights the case study of L1CAM as a potential drug resistance target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Through GSEA enrichment analysis, the study identified the upregulation of L1CAM in cisplatin-treated samples, suggesting its role in drug resistance. Further analysis using CPADS confirmed that L1CAM expression was significantly associated with cisplatin resistance and potentially with resistance to other drugs like bosutinib and rapamycin.

CPADS stands out from other web-based tools due to its extensive dataset, large sample size, and versatile analytical capabilities. It offers customizable visualizations and detailed guidelines, making it accessible to users without programming expertise. The tool is designed to evolve with the integration of new datasets and advanced analytical methods, aiming to become a comprehensive resource for pancancer pharmacogenomic research.

A large new meta-analysis of more than 800,000 participants to be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) shows that high adherence to three well-established healthy eating patterns is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of one’s ethnicity. The study is led by PhD student and Gates Cambridge Scholar Ms Jia Yi Lee, Professor Nita Forouhi, and colleagues from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.

The study investigated three healthy dietary patterns: the Mediterranean Diet, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). All three have been recommended for general health and their potential to reduce chronic disease risk.

Through a systematic search of published studies, the authors identified 33 publications reporting the association between these dietary patterns and type 2 diabetes. When all the available evidence was combined, the results showed that people who were in the top 10% for adherence to each dietary pattern had significantly lower risks of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with the 10% lowest adherence : a 17% lower risk for the Mediterranean Diet, a 21% lower risk for AHEI, and a 23% lower risk for the DASH diet. Importantly, the potential benefits of these dietary patterns did not appear to vary significantly across African, Asian, European, and Hispanic ethnic groups, despite known ethnic differences in dietary culture, as well as diabetes risk.

While some of the lowered risks did not reach statistical significance among Hispanics and mixed ethnic groups, this may be due to the limited data available from non-European ethnic groups in existing studies. Over one-third of the data included in this analysis came from people of European descent, highlighting the need for more research from underrepresented populations.

The authors conclude: “Although more research is needed in specific populations, this study strengthens the evidence that the Mediterranean, AHEI, and DASH dietary patterns may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes across diverse ethnic groups, and that they can be promoted across all populations.”

This analysis is part of a larger ongoing review examining the associations of various dietary patterns, including plant-based dietary patterns (that include vegetarian and vegan diets) with type 2 diabetes risk. The researchers will further determine whether similar benefits extend across ethnic groups for these other dietary patterns.

Source:

European Association for the Study of Diabetes

(Vax-Before-Travel News)

The Independent State of Samoa has temporarily closed schools due to a significant spike in Dengue fever cases in this South Pacific Ocean country. 

The Government of Samoa, Issue No.14, indicates the most affected areas include Northwest Upolu and the Apia Urban areas, although the mosquito-transmitted virus has spread across the country.

According to a post on Facebook, Caretaker Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio announced that schools will reopen following a thorough fumigation process.

In the statement, he said, “The closure of all schools nationwide will last one week, from July 28 to August 1, 2025, while school fumigation programs are carried out.”

From January to July 20, 2025, Samoa recorded 1,756 laboratory-confirmed cases of Dengue, with hospital reports indicating an average of over 100 new cases each week.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of two of Dengue’s four serotypes circulating in the country: DENV-1 and DENV-2.

Samoa, with about 200,000 residents and a featured vacation destination, is located west of American Samoa, which is also confronting a Dengue outbreak in 2025.

To alert all international travelers of this active health risk, the U.S. CDC updated its Dengue Travel Health Advisory in 2025. While Dengue vaccines have been approved, access is currently limited by country.

(Vax-Before-Travel News)

With the 2025-2026 Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus seasons launching in the United States, a debated innovation recently recieved positive data on how it can passively reduce respiratory diseases.

The new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine trialled commercially available germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) appliances in senior care facilities, finding they reduced rates of viral respiratory infections by about 12.2%.

GUV appliances, which purify the air with UV-C light rays and deactivate harmful micro-organisms like viruses and bacteria.

“Some of the key advantages of germicidal ultraviolet air-treatment appliances are that they are easily installed into existing facilities and cost-effective to use,” says lead author Dr Andrew Shoubridge from Flinders University and SAHMRI’s Microbiome and Host Health Programme, in a press release on July 28, 2025.

“When used in conjunction with existing infection control measures, they could be transformative in reducing rates of seasonal respiratory viral infections and protecting residential aged care facilities against emerging pathogens.”

This randomized clinical trial tested commercially available LAF Technologies GUV appliances that are already used in a wide range of clinical and commercial settings, including hospitals.

The appliances can be mounted to ceilings or walls, fitted into ventilated AC systems, are harmless to people, and have already proven to reduce levels of airborne pathogens in laboratory and hospital settings.

Senior author of the study, Professor Geraint Rogers, conceived this world-first trial and the transformative adaptation of this technology to reduce respiratory viral outbreaks in vulnerable older Australians.

“Our study aimed to explore new ways in which to protect aged care residents from harmful outbreaks of viruses, without disrupting their day-to-day activities.

“Based on our findings, it’s difficult to see why you wouldn’t install these appliances in aged care facilities.”

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, making up more than 80% of cases worldwide and being the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Major risk factors include having metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD, previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is linked to fat buildup in the liver and other metabolic issues.

Conditions like elevated cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure may increase your MASLD risk. With MASLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma cases expected to rise significantly, focusing on modifiable factors like diet and lifestyle could play a key role in prevention. Because of this, researchers conducted a review of the available data to determine links between dietary habits and liver cancer risk, and the results were published in Narrative Review.

How Was This Study Conducted?

To conduct this study, researchers used reports from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AIRC), to identify foods, dietary components, and contaminants that may increase the risk of liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma. To dig deeper, the researchers searched a medical research database for studies on certain foods and their connection to hepatocellular carcinoma, focusing on high-quality reviews and analyses.

The strength of the link between each dietary factor and hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated based on the quality of the research. 

What Did This Study Find?

Certain foods and nutrients were found to influence the risk of developing liver cancer. For example, aflatoxins (toxins from fungi in contaminated food) and alcohol are strongly linked to an increased risk, while coffee likely lowers the risk, and fish may have a limited protective effect. 

The researchers also addressed several more key findings for particular foods. Let’s break them down.

Meat

When it comes to meat, while The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified processed meats (like bacon and sausage) as cancer-causing to humans and red meats (like beef and pork) as probably cancer-causing, the researchers reported that there wasn’t strong evidence linking overall meat consumption to liver cancer specifically. 

The researchers reported that, based on data they evaluated, people who eat white meat have a 24% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and those who eat fish have a 9% lower risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, eating processed meat was linked to a 20% higher risk of liver cancer. No clear link was found between liver cancer risk and eating red meat or total meat overall.

Fat

Researchers found no clear link between overall fat intake and hepatocellular carcinoma, and there wasn’t enough evidence to say whether a low-fat diet helps mitigate cancer risk. However, eating more omega-3 fatty acids, like those in fish and flaxseeds, may be linked to a 51% reduced risk of liver cancer. 

On the flip side, eating more saturated fats was linked to a 34% higher risk of liver cancer. No strong connections were found for other types of fats.

Carbohydrates

There was no clear evidence linking carbohydrate intake to hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Similarly, there wasn’t quite enough proof to draw conclusions about glycemic index, or how quickly foods raise blood sugar. 

But some studies suggest that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages might double the risk of liver cancer, though other research found no such link.

Cereals, Vegetables, Fruit, Pulses and Grains

Besides the link between aflatoxins, or toxins from mold in contaminated grains and nuts, being strongly linked to a higher risk of liver cancer, there was no clear evidence connecting cereals, fruits, vegetables or vitamin C to liver cancer risk. The researchers noted that there wasn’t much research to rely on for those connections. Some studies do suggest that eating more vegetables may lower the risk, though no significant link was found for fruits. A Chinese study hinted that tomatoes might reduce liver cancer risk, but further research found no connection to lycopene, a nutrient in tomatoes.

Whole grains and fiber, particularly from grains and fruits, appear to offer protection. Regular fiber intake is associated with a 34% lower risk of liver cancer, with every 50 grams of daily fiber reducing the risk by 23%. Legumes, such as beans and lentils, may also lower the risk by 14%, with benefits seen at 8 to 40 grams per day. However, no significant links were found for refined grains or nut consumption. 

Micronutrients

Certain antioxidant nutrients may help lower the risk of liver cancer. For example, vitamin E, folate, β-carotene and manganese have been linked to a reduced risk of liver cancer. On the other hand, people with low vitamin D levels may have more than double the risk of liver cancer. Additionally, higher levels of vitamin D in the blood were associated with a 47% lower risk of liver cancer. 

Dietary Patterns

The Mediterranean diet, while not directly linked to reducing hepatocellular carcinoma risk, has strong evidence supporting its role in preventing weight gain, which may indirectly lower liver cancer risk. Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 32% lower risk of liver cancer after adjusting for factors like body mass index, diabetes, and smoking. 

Other diets, such as the DASH diet and Healthy Eating Index, also showed protective effects, but the Mediterranean diet had the strongest and most consistent results. Additionally, vegetable-based diets were linked to a lower risk of liver cancer, while Western-style diets (high in processed foods and sugar) were associated with an increased risk.

Limitations and Considerations

This study highlights important links between dietary habits and liver cancer risk, but comes with several limitations. The role of diet in modulating hepatocellular carcinoma risk is still not well understood, and the findings rely heavily on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which may exclude newer or smaller studies and introduce publication bias. Additionally, the complexity of dietary patterns and interactions between nutrients makes it challenging to isolate the effects of individual components.

Factors like physical activity, socioeconomic status and access to healthcare may also confound the results, making it difficult to attribute risk solely to diet. Moreover, the lack of long-term interventional studies and limited exploration of emerging dietary patterns, such as intermittent fasting, leave gaps in understanding the broader implications of diet on HCC risk. 

How Does This Apply To Real Life?

With liver cancer being one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, understanding how diet and lifestyle play a role is crucial. Making certain food choices, like eating more vegetables, legumes, whole grains and omega-3-rich foods like fish, may help lower your risk. Incorporating foods rich in omega-9 monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) is also beneficial for liver health, as the authors note. That means snacking on foods like olives, avocados, almonds and hazelnuts can offer some benefits for your liver health.

Cutting back on processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, saturated fats and alcohol is equally important. Additionally, adopting dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole, plant-based foods and healthy fats, has shown promise in reducing liver cancer risk indirectly by preventing weight gain and improving metabolic health.

Making some tweaks to your diet can be a slow and steady process—you don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Consider including a few Mediterranean diet meals in your routine each week, if you aren’t already. Even simple suppers like our No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad and this 20-minute Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry can be easy picks to add plenty of veggies and flavor to your day.

Our Expert Take

This study published in Narrative Reviews sheds light on the important connection between dietary habits and the risk of developing liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), particularly in the context of rising cases linked to metabolic disorders like MASLD. The findings suggest that making certain food choices such as increasing intake of vegetables, legumes, whole grains and omega-3-rich foods like fish may play a role in reducing HCC risk. At the same time, limiting processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, saturated fats, and alcohol is crucial. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of limiting exposure to aflatoxins, toxic substances found in contaminated foods like cereals, maize, rice, nuts, and spices. 

By making small, intentional changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can take meaningful steps to protect your liver and overall health. Remember, every small positive choice, whether it’s adding more veggies to your plate, swapping a cocktail for a mocktail or enjoying fish as a protein choice, each decision brings you closer to a healthier future.

More than 100,000 people in Wisconsin are living with epilepsy, and the experience can be different for every person.

Movies and television often depict seizures as large, full-body convulsions. “And that certainly happens to a lot of our patients,” clinical pharmacist Dr. Barry Gidal told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” 

But seizures vary from patient to patient, Gidal said, because the brain is such a complex organ. 

“A seizure is this sudden, massive electrical activity — like a storm that takes place in the brain … For a lot of our patients, it’s very subtle. They may stop talking, or get really confused, or look like they’re spacing out.”

As a pharmacy professor at UW-Madison, Gidal specializes in treatment research for adult epilepsy, a seizure disorder. He also sees patients in a clinical setting to manage their medications and reduce side effects and interactions. 

“I would encourage people struggling with epilepsy, even if their seizures are under pretty good control — which, in my mind, means being seizure-free — but are having side effects, to seek out an epilepsy center,” Gidal said. “Go have a different set of eyes see if you’re a candidate for different clinical studies or the newest medicines.”

Despite progress in epilepsy research, Dr. Gidal said he is worried about its future because of widespread cuts to research funding. 

“It’s not just the clinical studies — some of the basic science work takes years. We’ve got to understand the basic science if we want to come up with an idea for a new medicine. If the funding stops, that’s only going to impede things in progress,” Gidal said.

Gidal talked with host Kate Archer Kent about the cutting edge of epilepsy treatment and the challenge of affordability for patients.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Kate Archer Kent: What excites you about the hive of epilepsy research right now? 

Barry Gidal: As a pharmacist, you would probably expect me to say “the new drugs.” But I think, for me, it’s two areas: one is genetics. As we learn more about what is actually happening that’s causing the problem, there’s great research that, I hope, is able to continue looking at things like gene therapy. These are in the very nascent, early stages. Also, electrical devices that can do different types of stimulation within the brain to abort seizures are really getting started. Some of them are already making it to the clinic. 

KAK: I also understand that cannabis can be used in the treatment of epilepsy. What are you finding there?

BG: We use the term medical marijuana a lot. It’s very non-specific. If you look at the cannabis plant, it doesn’t just have one thing in it. Everybody thinks THC, or maybe CBD. But there’s hundreds of different chemicals. Some may be good for our brains, some may not be, but the only cannabinoid that’s been studied and now FDA approved for epilepsy is a purified form of cannabidiol, or CBD. And that’s really led to a lot of interesting new avenues of research. The purified, FDA approved form of CBD will work in a lot of different types of patients, in different types of seizures. So it’s really pretty exciting, but it’s not cannabis. It’s one molecule out of that plant.

KAK: In your research, you also learned that some over-the-counter CBD products are not correctly labeled. Can you tell us more about that?

BG: Yeah, that’s correct. That’s some work that came out of our lab and some other collaborations a couple years ago now. I mentioned there’s an FDA approved prescription form of CBD, but you can go anywhere and buy different CBD oils or tinctures — and that’s not the same thing. Here within the state of Wisconsin, we looked at lots of different over-the- counter forms of CBD that were being sold without a prescription, and we found lots of contamination. We found a lot of them had far less CBD than what the label indicated. A lot of them were contaminated with THC, which would be of concern if you’re giving this to your child to try to treat seizures or anything else. In a different study we found contamination with some heavy metals like lead. So in the over the counter world, there’s lots of concerns about the product’s purity.

KAK: Has that made you more cautious about using CBD protocols for a patient, or is the concern just in over-the-counter options?

BG: I think prescription CBD most clearly has a role and should be considered as an alternative. Right now we add prescription CBD onto somebody’s already existing anti-seizure medicine regimen. The over-the-counter stuff is “buyer beware” because I’m concerned about what other stuff is in there. Also, because of what we learned in clinical trials about the dosages that work to treat seizures, you can’t achieve the right doses without the prescription product. We also need to be mindful because CBD can cause some drug interactions. That’s my other concern — people using over-the-counter products without talking with their physician, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, etc., because it may interact with other medicines that they are taking. 

KAK: If a patient is struggling to cover the costs of the medications in managing their seizures and someone’s insurance won’t cover a particular medication, are you able to work with them to find something that will work? 

BG: Sadly, insurance coverage is an issue. Most neurologist offices are pretty adept at either getting prior authorizations, coupons or manufacturer rebates that are available for the drugs themselves. But it’s not easy, and it is time consuming. I also encourage patients to find a good pharmacy and a pharmacist that you can work with. A lot of times they know about some patient assistance programs that maybe the physician doesn’t. Pharmacists are willing to work with patients to try to come up with ways to help make this more affordable for patients. But yes, it’s a constant struggle.

KAK: You’ve spent so much of your career immersed in this neurological disorder. What gives you hope about epilepsy?

BG: Number one, it’s the patients. I know our patients’ lived experience, what they struggle with. It’s an opportunity to make a difference. But also the scientific and clinical community — nationally, here in the state and internationally. This is just a really amazing group of people that are really committed to helping with this disease and helping our patients. I refer to this as my extended family. They are very mission focused. (They’ll say) “let’s find a cure,” or “let’s find the most effective treatment that we can,” and “how can we also improve our patients’ quality of life?”