A stroke occurs when blood flow is cut off to the brain, either by a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic) or a blockage (ischemic). Both types of stroke are considered an emergency and require immediate medical attention.
To identify symptoms of a stroke, remember to BE FAST:
Learn about stroke risk and symptoms from GBMC
GBMC RX: Stroke risk awareness
B – balance may be affected
E – eyesight may become blurry or someone may experience double vision
F – facial dropping can occur
A – arms and legs may feel loss of sensation or grip
S – slurred speech
T – time to call 911
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, getting medical care within four hours is essential to help mitigate lasting effects like aphasia and movement issues. Women are more likely to develop blood clots, leading to an increased risk of stroke.
Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and diabetes. If you’re at risk, lifestyle changes like increasing movement, limiting alcohol and smoking, and eating a DASH diet for hypertension.
The Primary Stroke Center at GBMC has one of the highest stroke survival rates for inpatient stay, 1 month post-discharge and 6 months post-discharge in Maryland. Learn more here.
KIGALI, July 14 (Xinhua) — The 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science officially opened Monday in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, with a strong call to accelerate access to long-acting HIV prevention and treatment innovations amid growing global funding challenges.
The event, themed “Breakthroughs amid Crisis: the Future of HIV Innovation,” has convened about 4,000 participants, including global leaders, researchers, scientists, and civil society members.
Speaking at the conference, Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said that Rwanda’s experience in the HIV response over the past few decades demonstrates what is possible when countries prioritize people-centered approaches and invest in strategic partnerships.
“We have better tools for prevention and treatment. We have better ways to engage our communities to fight stigma and discrimination, and better integration within our systems. This means we can not only achieve HIV control, but we also need to strengthen our health systems,” he added.
IAS President Beatriz Grinsztein underlined new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, groundbreaking licensing agreements, and promising research as signs that long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options are becoming more feasible for widespread use.
“Our next challenge is clear: leaders must commit the funding and resources needed to integrate these scientific advances into health systems quickly and equitably so that people everywhere can benefit from these life-changing options,” Grinsztejn emphasized.
At the event, the WHO issued a statement announcing new guidelines that recommend using injectable lenacapavir twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis option for HIV prevention — a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response.
“While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is quoted as saying in the statement.
The IAS Conference on HIV Science is recognized as the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications.
Its 2025 edition, which runs until Thursday, features hundreds of sessions and presentations focused on translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, with a particular emphasis on solutions for regions and populations most affected by HIV. ■
Egret Therapeutics today announced the appointment of Dr. Geoffrey Ling, MD, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Ling, a renowned neurologist, Johns Hopkins professor, and former founding director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, joins Egret as the company intensifies its commitment to developing therapies for conditions with urgent military relevance, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI).
Dr. Ling is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and a retired U.S. Army colonel recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts on TBI in military settings. He has led groundbreaking research at DARPA, including the PREVENT program for blast-related brain injury and the Revolutionizing Prostheses initiative for brain-controlled prosthetic limbs. His career spans frontline neurocritical care in combat zones, high-level advisory roles in federal health innovation, and more than 150 scientific publications.
“The addition of Dr. Ling to Egret’s team marks a pivotal step as the company sharpens its vision to address the unique health demands faced by military personnel,” said Dr. Daniel Chai, Co-Founder of Egret Therapeutics. While Egret’s lead program targets acute ischemic stroke, the company’s broader mission is to mitigate secondary injury following acute insults—whether from ischemia or trauma—across both neurological and non-neurological conditions. This includes high-impact areas such as heart attack, where preserving tissue structure and function is critical to long-term recovery.
“Egret Therapeutics is on the verge of revolutionizing how we care for service members and civilians alike who suffer devastating injuries,” said Dr. Geoffrey Ling. “The company’s approach to preserving tissue after acute trauma could be a game-changer for military medicine. I am honored to join Egret’s SAB and excited to help accelerate the development of therapies that directly address the needs of those who protect our nation.”
Vedik Navale, Chief of Staff at Egret Therapeutics, commented, “Having Dr. Ling join our Scientific Advisory Board is a tremendous honor and a testament to Egret’s sharpened mission. His unparalleled expertise in military medicine and neurotrauma will accelerate our efforts to bring transformative therapies to those who need them most.”
About Egret Therapeutics
Egret Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that modulate innate immunity to preserve normal tissue structure and function following acute injury. Egret’s platform is designed to address the stereotyped mechanisms responsible for secondary injury across acute injuries that drive long-term disability. The company is pursuing clinical indications in neurology, cardiovascular health, trauma and spine-related conditions.
A new study reveals that ingestions of nicotine pouches by young children have surged in recent years. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers and found an alarming 763% increase in the rate of reported nicotine pouch ingestions among children younger than 6 years old from 2020 to 2023. Nicotine pouches were also more likely to be associated with serious medical outcomes or hospital admissions than other nicotine products like gum/lozenges, e-liquids, powder/granules, and tablets/capsules/caplets.
Nicotine pouches, which contain nicotine powder and are placed in the mouth, were not tracked in national poison center data until 2020. However, between 2020 and 2023 (the most recent year of data from the study), the rate of unintentional ingestion of nicotine pouches by young children increased at a fast rate – even as ingestion rates for other formulations of nicotine declined.
Nicotine pouches are a serious and growing toxic ingestion hazard among young children. The rapid increase in the number and comparative severity of nicotine pouch ingestions is a reminder of the public health challenges of the changing nicotine product market. This is why we need to continue ongoing surveillance and increase our efforts to prevent nicotine ingestions among young children.”
Hannah Hays, MD, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center
The study, published in Pediatrics, also investigated other nicotine products and formulations. Researchers examined nearly 135,000 cases of nicotine ingestions among children younger than 6 years old that were reported to U.S. poison centers from 2010 through 2023. Most ingestions occurred at home and involved children under the age of 2 years. While most exposures resulted in minor or no effects, there were 39 cases with major medical outcomes and two deaths.
The overall rate of all nicotine ingestions increased 59% from 2010-2015 before decreasing 34% from 2015-2023. This rate was primarily driven by the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine and nicotine solid formulations such as tablets, capsules, and caplets. The ingestion rate for liquid nicotine increased by 450% from 2010-2015 and then decreased by 45% from 2015-2023.
“This abrupt change in the rate trend for liquid nicotine ingestions corresponded with the passage of both state and federal legislation, including the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015, which required child-resistant packaging of liquid nicotine,” said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s. “This suggests that legislation can make a difference. However, despite this improvement, the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine remained higher than the rates for any other nicotine product, which clearly indicates that there are opportunities for further improvement.
“Many nicotine products are flavored and sold in colorful packaging that may be attractive to a young child,” said Dr. Smith. “Banning flavors in all nicotine products helps reduce unintentional ingestions by young children as well as discourage use among teens.”
Researchers also shared a few safety tips for parents and caregivers of young children. The safest choice is to keep all nicotine products out of the home. If you choose to have them in your home, you can lower the risk by following these steps:
Store nicotine products safely. If these products are kept in the home, store them up, away from food, and out of sight-preferably in a locked cabinet, drawer or box. While storing these products in purses or backpacks is not recommended when you have young children that live in or visit your home, if you are going to keep them in these places, make sure to store the purse/backpack up, away, and out of sight of children. Ask that caregivers around your child do the same in their homes.
Avoid using these products in front of children. It is helpful to not use these products in front of your children, especially if packaged to look like treats.
Save the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone and post it in a visible place in your home. The Poison Help Line provides free, confidential advice from experts, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Data for this study were obtained from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is maintained by America’s Poison Centers. Poison centers receive phone calls through the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and document information about the exposure, which is reported to the NPDS..
Source:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Journal reference:
Olivas, M., et al. (2025). Nicotine Ingestions Among Young Children: 2010–2023. Pediatrics. doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-070522.
Share on PinterestNew research suggests that eating more protein while taking GLP-1 drugs could help prevent muscle loss. Stocksy United
Increasing protein intake while taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss could help prevent muscle loss, according to a new study.
As a common side effect of weight loss, muscle loss could also lead to decreased bone density due to the effects on blood sugar management.
Experts recommend asking your doctor about increasing protein intake and incorporating strength training into your weight loss plan.
Higher protein intake may be the key to avoiding muscle loss, which often occurs in people who lose weight with GLP-1 medications.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School of Boston offered this advice in a new study presented on July 12 at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco.
The report described a small study of 40 people who lost weight with semaglutide compared to those who lost weight through a conventional diet and exercise program.
After three months, the semaglutide group lost more weight than the conventional group. The percentage of weight loss that was lean muscle mass was similar between the two groups.
Participants receiving semaglutide who lost more muscle mass than others were either older adults, females, or those who ate less protein while following a weight loss protocol.
“Older adults and women may be more likely to lose muscle on semaglutide, but eating more protein may help protect against this,” lead researcher Melanie Haines, MD, a neuroendocrinologist with Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a news release.
While promising, these results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and may warrant further investigation.
Kais Rona, MD, a bariatric surgeon at MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, explained that muscle is more easily lost during weight loss than fat. Rona wasn’t involved in the study.
“The amount of energy required from the body to maintain muscle is higher than the amount of energy required to maintain fat. This means that muscle tissue is more susceptible to breakdown,” Rona told Healthline.
“The disproportionately high percentage of muscle loss is a direct consequence of the higher metabolic requirements of muscle in comparison to fat,” he added.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is often prescribed off-label for weight loss, while Wegovy, which also contains semaglutide, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss.
Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have also emerged as highly effective medications for weight loss. Mounjaro is prescribed off-label for weight loss, while Zepbound is approved by the FDA for chronic weight management.
“These medications are very effective appetite suppressants in addition to reducing food intake by slowing down gut function,” Rona explained.
Therefore, when you eat less due to these medications, he noted, you may consume less protein as a result.
“Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue, and inadequate protein intake results in the breakdown of muscle, leading to a decrease in muscle mass,” Rona said.
Rona said a strength and resistance training program is “critical in maintaining muscle,” while taking GLP-1 drugs.
He also recommended a robust intake of protein. “I often recommend patients to have 1.2 to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.”
“These two strategies work together to stimulate muscle-protein synthesis and reduce the risk of muscle loss during weight reduction,” Routhenstein told Healthline.
“Lean protein “supports both weight management and muscle maintenance by promoting fullness, helping control appetite, and preserving muscle during weight loss, especially when combined with resistance training,” she explained.
Rona noted that protein is a macronutrient that helps produce “physiologic changes that help promote a healthy weight as well as maintain muscle.”
He added that high protein diets have been shown to reduce hunger, promote satiety, and improve metabolism.
Routhenstein recommended choosing lean sources of animal protein such as:
skinless poultry
fatty fish (salmon, sardines, tuna)
dairy (Greek yogurt)
She said plant-based options include legumes (e.g., lentils or black beans) and soy products (e.g., tempeh or tofu).
Routhenstein emphasized the value of a balanced diet for people trying to lose weight.
“The body also needs healthy fats and carbohydrates to fuel workouts, support hormone function, and promote overall health,” she said. “Relying solely on protein at the expense of other macronutrients can lead to nutrient imbalances and may not support long-term muscle health or disease prevention.”
Rona added that dietary supplements like daily multivitamins could be helpful for some people while taking GLP-1 drugs. “This is something important to discuss with one’s clinician,” he said.
Anyone with chronic health conditions, such as kidney or heart disease, should consult with their healthcare team before making significant changes to their diet.
Despite the glorious arrival of summer, there’s definitely a sting in the season’s tail – quite literally. Even in the UK, it’s not just sunburn we need to watch out for. From nettles to jellyfish, summer brings a full cast of prickly, buzzing, biting villains.
My own back patio is armed with an arsenal of citronella candles and incense sticks to fend them off – not just a lifestyle choice, but a survival strategy for someone as jumpy as me around insects.
Let’s break down the main culprits.
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Plant-based stings: nettles
First up, the humble but mighty common nettle, which thrives in hedgerows and gardens, often reaching impressive heights of up to two metres by midsummer. Their sting comes from tiny hairs called trichomes, which inject histamine and other irritants into the skin as a form of defence.
Histamine causes the classic signs of inflammation: redness, swelling, heat and pain – all of which are evident in the raised, red rash known as urticaria (or hives). Unsurprisingly, the Latin name for the nettle family is urtica, meaning “to sting.”
And what about that old remedy of rubbing a dock leaf on the sting? Honestly, good luck identifying one among the 200-plus species. While the sap might offer a mild soothing effect, there’s no strong evidence of an active compound that reduces symptoms.
If it works for you, great, but calamine lotion or over-the-counter antihistamines are far more reliable. And use some form of protection in the first place – if you’re clearing them from your garden, or foraging to make nettle pesto, wear gloves and proceed carefully.
Insects: bees, wasps and horseflies
As temperatures rise, so do the number of stinging insects like bees and wasps, not to mention the dreaded horseflies. While most don’t sting unless provoked (a mantra I repeat to myself regularly), when they do, it can be unpleasant.
Most stings cause local irritation – simple pain relief and antihistamines usually do the trick here. But sometimes, either the original sting or subsequent scratching can cause infections.
Cellulitis is a deeper skin infection that can spread quickly if untreated. While milder cases may clear up with oral antibiotics, some infections can be serious – even life threatening – and require hospital care.
If a sting site or the surrounding skin becomes red, warm, painful or swollen, seek urgent medical advice. And if you feel unwell with symptoms like fevers, chills or a racing heart, treat it as an emergency.
Insect stings can also trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. In the UK, stings account for around ten deaths per year: a small, but very sobering figure. Always take anaphylactic symptoms like facial swelling, difficulty breathing or dizziness seriously – and call 999 immediately.
Ticks: small bites, big risks
Tick bites are also more common in summer, thanks to more exposed skin and time spent in tall grass or woodlands. Ticks are tiny – often smaller than a poppy seed – and can be easily missed until they become engorged with blood.
They’re usually harmless, but some ticks carry diseases like Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can cause fatigue, joint pain and, if untreated, serious complications affecting the nervous system or heart.
Ticks can also spread tick-borne encephalitis, a viral infection that can lead to inflammation of the brain, though it’s very rare in the UK. Watch out for the telltale bullseye rash and flu-like symptoms after a bite – and seek urgent medical advice if they appear.
To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers, gripping as close to the skin as possible and pulling steadily. Don’t twist. You want the whole tick out, legs and all. And don’t squeeze its body, as this can force potentially infected fluids into your bloodstream, raising the risk of conditions like Lyme disease, among others.
Marine stings: jellyfish and friends
And finally, the unexpected seaside sting. Coastal waters can play host to a range of jellyfish, from the mildly irritating to the impressively painful.
Most UK species cause minor rashes, but be wary of the lion’s mane and the occasional (though rare) portuguese men o’war – not technically a jellyfish, but still best avoided.
Even jellyfish washed up on shore can sting, sometimes for days. If stung, rinse the area with seawater (not fresh water), or soak in warm water. Avoid rubbing or using urine – yes, that scene in Friends is not medically sound. Peeing on a jellyfish sting can make things worse by triggering more venom release from stuck tentacles.
If tentacles are still stuck to the skin, use tweezers or the edge of a credit card to remove them gently. Don’t use your bare hand – you could end up stinging that too.
And like insect stings, jellyfish can rarely trigger anaphylactic shock. If someone shows symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek emergency help.
From the garden to the seaside, summer has plenty of sting — but being prepared can make all the difference. Whether it’s nettles, bees or ticks, the best approach is prevention (think gloves, repellent and awareness), followed by prompt treatment if needed.
Use calamine or antihistamines for rashes, and tweezers for tick or jellyfish tentacle removal. Keep a close eye out for signs of infection or allergic reaction and always seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.
A Finnish population study shows that signs related to Alzheimer’s disease may already be found in the brain in middle age. In the future, blood-based biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease could allow earlier detection of the disease. This would allow preventive treatment to be targeted at the right individuals while the disease is still at the mild stage.
As the population ages, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing diseases are becoming more common. The disease processes leading to symptoms begin years or even decades before any decline in cognitive functions, such as memory, becomes apparent.
A study conducted at the University of Turku in Finland found that even middle-aged individuals may have high levels of blood-based biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and the levels are higher with increasing age.
A novel finding was that a high biomarker concentration in the parent, particularly mother, may be associated with higher biomarker levels in the middle-aged offspring. In addition, the researchers found that kidney disease may be linked to higher levels of biomarkers already in middle-age.
The APOE ε4 gene, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, was associated with higher blood-based biomarker levels in older age, but not yet in middle age.
A blood sample will help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the future
Recently, it has become possible to identify biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease through a blood sample. In the future, this offers a cost-effective method for identifying those at greatest risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and prioritising them for preventive treatments.
“In clinical practice, detecting beta-amyloid pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease currently requires imaging studies or cerebrospinal fluid sampling. However, recently developed ultrasensitive measurement technologies now allow the detection of Alzheimer’s disease-related brain biomarkers from blood samples,” says Suvi Rovio, Senior Researcher at the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku, who led the study.
It is not yet possible to definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with a blood sample, as the method is still limited by the lack of well-known reference values. Additionally, it remains unclear which confounding factors influence biomarker concentrations in blood related to Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the interpretations of the biomarkers obtained from blood sample could lead to misdiagnosis.
“In order to reliably use blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in the future, more research is needed across different population and age groups to standardize reference values,” highlights Rovio.
In the study, biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease were measured from blood samples of middle-aged participants (aged 41-56) and their parents (aged 59-90), with a total sample size of 2,051 individuals.
Until now, brain biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease have mainly been studied in older individuals. Our study provides new insights into biomarker levels and associated factors starting from middle age.”
Marja Heiskanen, Senior Researcher, Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku
The study is part of the national Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study coordinated by the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku in Finland. The research results have been published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity.
Source:
Turun yliopisto (University of Turku)
Journal reference:
Heiskanen, M. A., et al. (2025). Factors related to blood-based biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases and their intergenerational associations in the Young Finns Study: a cohort study. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. doi.org/10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100717.
There remains a continuous unmet need among French adults 65 or over as the pneumococcal disease (PD) burden remains substantial among this population, according to a study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.1 The researchers’ results helped them provide support for the recent recommendation change of increasing pneumococcal vaccination ages to all patients 65 and over.
“PD affects people of all ages, but young children (≤5 years of age, and especially those ≤2 years of age) and adults ≥65 years of age are at higher risk of PD or experiencing severe disease than other age groups,” wrote authors of the study. “Furthermore, adults with underlying medical conditions (UMCs), including chronic diseases or immunocompromising illnesses, have a higher likelihood of developing PD than those without UMCs, potentially leading to greater rates of hospitalization and mortality.”
PD, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, can be categorized as either invasive (e.g., meningitis, bacteremia, and bacteremic pneumonia), or noninvasive (e.g., bronchitis, otitis media, and sinusitis), according to study authors. | image credit: Ольга Лукьяненко / stock.adobe.com
While PD is known to impact at-risk populations, it too is manifested in 2 different types: invasive and noninvasive PD.1 However, when it comes to staying protected against either PD, both types are significantly prominent amongst populations. In a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers reported that both invasive and noninvasive PD remained significantly substantial from 2010 to 2018.2
Furthermore, focusing specifically on noninvasive PD, additional research shows that noninvasive pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia remains a significant burden despite widespread introduction of pneumococcal vaccines. This study explored data from January 1990 to March 2021.3
Researchers of the current study, however, focused on the overall PD burden within a specific location: France. The current standard of care for preventing PD among medium- or high-risk adults since 2023 has been the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20). In January 2025, the PCV20 recommendation was expanded to all adults 65 years or older.1
Despite data from the current study showing low rates of pneumococcal vaccination at 4.5% in 2018, those rates have since recovered, reported at 19% of patients in France from 2016 to 2022.4 Amid the ongoing trends in PD and pneumococcal vaccination rates, researchers assessed patients’ PD burden in France over a 4-year time period.
“To understand the extent of PD and its impact on public health, an assessment of the current PD landscape in France is considered crucial,” continued the authors.1 “This retrospective cohort study used data from the national health care data system to assess pneumococcal vaccination patterns and vaccine coverage and estimate the clinical and economic burden of PD in adults ≥18 years of age in France, by age group and by health risk status.”
The researchers’ cohort study consisted of adults in France 18 or older from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2018. To determine the official PD burden in France, they estimated in-patient PD incidence and the factors associated with mortality among this population.
The study consisted of 2 separate cohorts. Patients with UMCs, whether they had PD or not, were considered the “UMC population.” Those with PD leading to hospitalization were included in the “in-patient PD population” group. The final cohort analysis included a total of 7,947,622 patients in the UMC population (mean age, 65 years; 50.8% women) and 41,885 in the in-patient PD population group (59.6% were 65 or older).
“From 2015 to 2018, there was a notable increase in the absolute number of in-patient PD episodes, indicating a growing burden of PD among French adults,” they wrote.1 “The highest incidence of in-patient PD episodes was observed among adults ≥65 years of age (regardless of risk group) and among adults with UMCs.”
For the UMC population, the incidence rate of in-patient PD episodes was 121.98 per 100,000 person-years. The incidence rate of in-patient IPD on the overall study population was 4.82 episodes per 100,000 person-years. Furthermore, collectively observing the overall population, individuals with at least 1 UMC held a 15-fold increased risk of in-patient IPD.
With a persistent PD burden in this area of the world, despite expanded vaccine technology, this study reinforces the need for a revamp of France’s immunization efforts for pneumococcal diseases. As at-risk groups go unvaccinated and older adults experience increased hospitalization, the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate management, and targeted preventive strategies has been increasing substantially within the PD space.
“Our findings support the recent expansion of vaccination to all individuals ≥65 years of age, regardless of health risk status,” concluded the authors.1 “The role of further preventive measures against PD, such as the implementation of health insurance vouchers and the simultaneous administration of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for older adults, are important areas of future inquiry.”
READ MORE: Pneumococcal Resource Center
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References
1. Bailey MD, Farge G, Mohanty S, et al. Clinical burden of pneumococcal disease among adults in France: a retrospective cohort study. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025;21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2515760
2. López-Lacort M, Amini M, Emborg HD, et al. Incidence of invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations in people aged ≥50 years: assessing variability across Denmark and Spain. J Infect Dis. 2024;230(3):e559-e567. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae088
3. Lansbury L, Lim B, McKeever TM, et al. Non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia due to vaccine serotypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2022 Jan 24;44:101271. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101271.
4. Rolland S, Nguyen LL, Descamps A, et al. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage among adults hospitalised with acute respiratory infection in France: a prospective cohort study. IJID. 2025;153:107811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107811
Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that has metastasized to the brain were safely and successfully treated with targeted stereotactic radiation (SRT) rather than whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in a phase II trial, demonstrating the practicality of a less-invasive approach for patients with limited brain metastases. Findings from the study were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
“Despite being the historical standard, [WBRT] might not be necessary for all patients,” stated first author Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, Director of Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Our findings demonstrate that targeted, brain-directed radiation may be a viable treatment for patients with limited brain metastases from [SCLC] and potentially spare them from the side effects of [WBRT].”
Study Methods and Rationale
Although WBRT is known to cause significant long-term adverse effects, it is still the standard approach for patients with SCLC and brain metastases due to a lack of prospective data supporting stereotactic approaches and concerns for neurologic death without whole-brain radiation.
Investigators from Mass General Brigham conducted a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial to explore possible neurologic death rates for patients with SCLC and brain metastases when receiving SRT compared with historical WBRT controls. Patients were eligible for the study if they had 1 to 10 brain metastases. Prior brain-directed radiation therapy was not allowed in the study.
A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study between February 2018 and April 2023. Participants had a median of two brain metastases.
Key Study Findings
A total of 20 neurologic deaths and 64 non-neurologic deaths were reported with SRT. The median overall survival was 10.2 months and only 22% of patients required salvage WBRT.
The neurologic death rate was 11.0% at 12 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.8%–18.1%); the historical rate for patients managed with WBRT was 17.5% at 12 months.
“These results support a shift toward more personalized, targeted treatment approaches that can help maintain quality of life while effectively managing brain metastases,” Dr. Aizer said. “By avoiding [WBRT] in select patients, we may be able to improve quality of life and reduce cognitive side effects without compromising outcomes.”
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit ascopubs.org.
Approximately 65% of people undergoing chemotherapy experience hair loss. It is one of the most feared side effects of chemotherapy among patients.
Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, in partnership with the Paxman Scalp Cooling Research Centre, have found that combining scalp cooling treatment with antioxidants can significantly reduce or even prevent the damage to hair follicles caused by chemotherapy drugs.
The discovery, published in Frontiers of Pharmacology, has the potential to enhance and standardize scalp cooling efficacy levels, potentially transforming it into a more consistent and universally reliable method for preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
Boosting scalp cooling with antioxidants
Led by Dr. Nik Georgopoulos, associate professor in cell biology and Transforming Lives fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, the team of researchers used human keratinocytes and hair follicle cultures to explore how cooling and antioxidants can protect chemotherapy-treated cells.
The research demonstrates for the first time that cooling human hair follicles to an optimal temperature of 18°C can effectively prevent chemotherapy-induced damage. In contrast, sub-optimal cooling (measured at 26°C) failed to provide sufficient protection, offering a potential explanation for why scalp cooling does not work for some patients.
However, the study also found that combining sub-optimal cooling with antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine or resveratrol significantly enhances protection, delivering results comparable to those achieved with optimal cooling alone.
“Our findings suggest that the combination of cooling and antioxidants could be a game-changer in preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss and could make a real difference to the lives of cancer patients worldwide,” said Georgopoulos.
This combined approach was shown to reduce levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) – harmful molecules generated during chemotherapy that contribute to hair follicle damage. By counteracting the effects of inefficient cooling, the antioxidant-cooling combination offers a powerful strategy to improve the clinical effectiveness of scalp cooling treatments.
“It highlights the potential for a more effective and accessible solution to a common and highly distressing side effect of cancer treatment. By improving the quality of life for these patients, this method represents a significant advancement in supportive cancer care,” Georgopoulos added.
Decoding how scalp cooling protects hair
This research, developed over several years in collaboration with the Paxman Scalp Cooling Research Centre, represents a major step forward in understanding and improving scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients.
Through nearly 15 years of research, Georgopoulos’ team has demonstrated that by reducing the temperature of the scalp before, during and after chemotherapy treatment, scalp cooling triggers multiple beneficial biological effects that help protect hair follicles from the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs.
Cooling causes blood vessel narrowing (vasoconstriction) to preserve heat, which reduces blood flow to as little as 20%, meaning less chemotherapy drug reaches the hair follicles.
In addition, scalp cooling causes hair cells to become dormant and stop dividing so that the chemotherapy treatment, which targets rapidly dividing cells, will bypass them.
To build on this understanding, the new publication demonstrates that cooling lowers cellular metabolism and reduces toxic ROS production. By activating multiple protective mechanisms simultaneously, optimal scalp cooling can effectively help prevent hair loss.
Robyn Fink and Carmen Huff, both cancer patients who used scalp cooling during chemotherapy, shared their experiences, highlighting the varying effectiveness of the treatment. While both expressed gratitude, their stories reflect the individual differences in outcomes:
“Losing my hair was one of the most devastating parts of going through treatment – losing hair every time I showered was traumatizing and there were times I wanted to give up [scalp cooling], but I am so thankful I didn’t,” said Fink.
“I feel so happy and grateful. It allowed me to feel normal and enjoy normal things all summer. It gave me so much more confidence to have my hair. I was able to keep my cancer private when I wanted to and share when I felt comfortable,” said Huff.
“Our vision has always been to make our chemotherapy side effect management technology available to everyone, continually improving efficacy in the process,” said Richard Paxman OBE, chief executive officer of Paxman Scalp Cooling. “Our partnership with Sheffield Hallam University has been central to achieving this vision.”
“Led by Professor Georgopoulos and the team at SHU’s Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, this collaboration has delivered impactful findings which we hope will ultimately encourage further adoption worldwide. We are incredibly grateful for the team’s dedication and insight, and we are already working together on the next steps to translate this work into real-world solutions,” Paxman concluded.
Reference: Ibraheem K, Smith A, Collett A, Georgopoulos NT. Prevention of chemotherapy drug-mediated human hair follicle damage: combined use of cooling with antioxidant suppresses oxidative stress and prevents matrix keratinocyte cytotoxicity. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1558593
This article is a rework of a press release issued by Sheffield Hallam University. Material has been edited for length and content.
