Category: 8. Health

  • New study links marijuana to heart failure, echoing Christian medical professionals’ long-standing warnings against recreational use

    New study links marijuana to heart failure, echoing Christian medical professionals’ long-standing warnings against recreational use

     Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    A major new study has added to a growing body of research highlighting the health risks associated with marijuana use—particularly its impact on heart function—reinforcing concerns long voiced by Christian medical professionals. As global support for recreational legalization expands and acceptance increases among Christians, some Christian leaders are urging caution, citing both emerging health data and biblical principles that call believers to sobriety and self-control, especially in protecting young people from non-medical use.

    The June 2025 study published in Heart, a peer-reviewed journal of the British Medical Association, found that daily marijuana users are 34% more likely to develop heart failure than non-users. Drawing on data from over 150,000 U.S. adults tracked over several years, the study also linked marijuana use with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

    Reporting on the study, The New York Times noted that marijuana is now the most widely used federally illegal drug in the U.S., with daily use particularly prevalent among men ages 18 to 44. Experts cited in the article expressed concern about the drug’s cardiovascular impact. 

    Dr. Matthew Springer, a heart disease biologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), commented to the Times that marijuana inhalation delivers “thousands of chemicals deep into the lungs,” potentially increasing cardiovascular risk. His lab recently found that both edible and inhaled forms of marijuana were associated with comparable levels of blood vessel dysfunction.

    Complementing these findings, a March 2025 publication by the American College of Cardiology revealed that marijuana users under 50 are six times more likely to suffer a heart attack and three times more likely to die from cardiovascular causes compared to non-users.

    Despite mounting clinical evidence of health risks, marijuana continues to gain legal and public acceptance in the U.S. and worldwide. Although it remains illegal at the federal level, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in nearly half of U.S. states, contributing to its growing normalization and widespread use.

    A 2024 PRRI survey found that 66% of Americans support legalizing marijuana in most or all cases, with support somewhat lower among White evangelical Protestants (56%) and less than half of Hispanic Protestants (39%). A 2021 Pew Research study, however, highlighted that support for legalization of marijuana was significantly lower among White evangelical Protestants who attend church weekly or more (29%) versus those who attend less than weekly (64%). 

    In 2019, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA)—a U.S.-based nonprofit representing thousands of Christian healthcare professionals—issued a position statement cautioning against recreational marijuana use.

    “[T]here is a need for limiting access to marijuana,” the CMDA said. It warned of addiction, cognitive impairment, psychosis, and long-term health effects, especially among youth. “The adolescent brain is still developing and more vulnerable to the adverse effects of marijuana,” the statement emphasized.

    From a biblical perspective, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology and contributor to The Gospel Coalition, comments that Christian discipleship calls for sobriety and alertness of both body and spirit. In his article titled Should followers of Christ use recreational marijuana?, he argues that while Scripture does not specifically mention marijuana, it consistently warns against intoxication and spiritual dullness. “[M]arijuana clouds our ability to perceive the world clearly and dulls our sense of urgency about what disciples should be doing,” Vanhoozer writes. 

    Marijuana use extends well beyond North America, with changing laws and shifting social attitudes increasing access across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. According to the 2024 UN World Drug Report, an estimated 228 million people worldwide used cannabis in 2022, making it the most commonly used drug among the 292 million total drug users globally—a figure that has risen by 20% over the past decade.

    Though the Heart study primarily analyzed U.S. data, it draws on international research to provide global context. This includes cohort studies from Europe examining cardiovascular outcomes linked to cannabis use; early recreational legalization experiences in Canada; rising use across Latin America; and limited but growing data from Africa and Asia. The study suggests that the biological effects of cannabis on heart health—such as elevated heart rate and blood pressure—are likely consistent across populations.

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  • Regional Director Saima Wazed conferred Mental Health Award 2025

    Regional Director Saima Wazed conferred Mental Health Award 2025

    Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, was today felicitated with Mental Health Award 2025 at the 24th Annual International Mental Health Conference in Thailand. 

    “The award is in recognition of her invaluable contribution and transformative leadership, and a tribute to her profound impact in shaping the future of global mental health,” the award citation said. The award was presented on the opening day of the annual conference organized by the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, in collaboration with the Jittavejsart Songkrao Foundation and the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of psychiatry at ICONSIAM, Bangkok. 

    “Saima Wazed is a widely respected leader in the field of mental health and autism, recognized internationally for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts in advancing mental health and autism policies and driving globally acknowledged agendas. Her visionary work is firmly grounded in human rights, holistic care, and a deep understanding of cultural contexts. She has received numerous prestigious awards and has held significant leadership positions within the World Health Organization in the South-East Asia, fostering academic exchange and strengthening Thailand’s position as a center of global learning in mental health,” the citation read. 

    In her acceptance speech Wazed said, “I started this journey 20 years ago, when the mental health landscape in our region – in fact, around the world – looked very different to what it is today…. I’ve been fortunate to work in this field both as a practitioner and as a policy specialist…. On behalf of everyone I have worked with on this journey, I thank you for this award.” 

    The Regional Director lauded Thailand’s efforts in prioritising mental health, “I have seen with great appreciation and admiration all that Thailand has done for mental health.”

    The partnership between WHO and Thailand on mental health has been one of the most effective ones with initiatives such as the International Mental Health Workforce Training Program; Mental health and digital technologies Step-by-Step program, and ‘Tor-Tuem-Jai’ platform; implementation of the LIVE LIFE initiative for suicide prevention and evidence-based parenting interventions with LEGO Foundation, she said. 

    “As WHO’s Regional Director for South-East Asia, my colleagues and I have placed mental health as our very first priority area for the duration of my term. We look forward to continuing to work with you and look forward to all that we will achieve together,” Wazed said. 

     

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  • Long-term weight change among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy: a longitudinal study over 13 years | Breast Cancer Research

    Long-term weight change among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy: a longitudinal study over 13 years | Breast Cancer Research

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  • Physicians Call for American Dietary Guidelines to Prioritize Legumes as a Protein Source – vegconomist

    Physicians Call for American Dietary Guidelines to Prioritize Legumes as a Protein Source – vegconomist

    134 physicians have called on the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize beans, peas, and lentils as a protein source in the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

    In a letter sent on June 24, the doctors — all members of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) — said that promoting legume consumption would help to prevent and reduce chronic disease. In contrast, they claim that red and processed meats are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

    Furthermore, legumes are whole foods and are rich in fiber, which most Americans are deficient in. Some types are sourced from American farmers, who could benefit from an increase in legume consumption.

    Photo: Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels

    “Important and appropriate emphasis”

    Recently, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended that federal nutrition guidelines be modified to move legumes from the Vegetables Food Group to the Protein Food Group. It also suggested that Beans, Peas, and Lentils should be listed as the first protein subgroup, followed by Nuts, Seeds, and Soy Products. Seafood would come third, while Meats, Poultry, and Eggs would be last on the list.

    In their letter, the PCRM physicians support these recommendations, noting that the reorganization would “more accurately classify these foods as a major protein source in many Americans’ diets”. They also say the change would educate people on the nutritional value of legumes, while dispelling the myth that plant-based foods are an incomplete source of protein.

    “The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report put important and appropriate emphasis on beans and other plant-based foods,” said Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president of the Physicians Committee. “Overwhelming evidence supports the role of these foods in supporting cardiovascular health, promoting a healthy body weight, and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other serious conditions. It is vital that the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans prioritize these nutritious sources of protein.”

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  • Study illuminates caffeine’s longevity effects at the cellular level

    Study illuminates caffeine’s longevity effects at the cellular level

    A new paper reveals caffeine might play a role in slowing down the aging process at a cellular level — by tapping into an ancient cellular energy system. The study of fission yeast — a single-celled organism “surprisingly similar” to human cells — found that caffeine helps cells sustain life.

    Caffeine has long been linked to potential health benefits, including reduced risk of age-related diseases. But the researchers say until now, how it works inside our cells, and what exactly are its connections with nutrient and stress responsive gene and protein networks has remained a mystery.

    A few years ago, the same research team found that caffeine helps cells live longer by acting on a growth regulator called TOR (“Target of Rapamycin”). TOR is a biological switch that tells cells when to grow, based on how much food and energy is available.

    This switch has been controlling energy and stress responses in living things for over 500 million years.

    New research suggests caffeine helps cells age slower by activating their internal energy sensor, rather than directly influencing their growth.In the latest study, the scientists discovered caffeine doesn’t act on this growth switch directly. Instead, it works by activating another important system called AMPK, a cellular “fuel gauge” that is evolutionarily conserved in yeast and humans.

    “When your cells are low on energy, AMPK kicks in to help them cope,” explains the study’s senior author, Dr. Charalampos Rallis, a reader in Genetics, Genomics and Fundamental Cell Biology at Queen Mary University of London. “And our results show that caffeine helps flip that switch.”

    Caffeine’s effects at the cellular level

    Interestingly, AMPK is also the target of metformin, a common diabetes drug that’s being studied for its potential to extend human lifespan together with rapamycin, backed by advocates including longevity influencer Bryan Johnson and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

    Using their yeast model, the researchers showed that caffeine’s effect on AMPK influences how cells grow, repair their DNA, and respond to stress — all of which are tied to aging and disease.

    “These findings help explain why caffeine might be beneficial for health and longevity,” says Dr. John-Patrick Alao, the postdoctoral research scientist leading this study. 

    “And they open up exciting possibilities for future research into how we might trigger these effects more directly — with diet, lifestyle, or new medicines.”

    The study findings are published in the journal Microbial Cell.

    Previous research has spotlighted caffeine’s effects on human life quality, particularly for infants. A Rutgers Health study revealed that it may protect babies by preventing dangerous drops in oxygen that can cause death. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is the leading cause of infant deaths between one and 12 months old.

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  • Clinical courses and outcomes of cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-positive patients in Shiraz, Southern Iran: a retrospective study | BMC Infectious Diseases

    Clinical courses and outcomes of cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-positive patients in Shiraz, Southern Iran: a retrospective study | BMC Infectious Diseases

    CTX is among the most common opportunistic infections in patients with HIV/AIDS [3, 13]. The pathogenesis of the disease is attributed to the reactivation of the latent T. gondii infection, particularly in patients with immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV/AIDS [17]. This study investigated the prevalence, clinical course, and mortality rate of CTX in hospitalized HIV-positive patients. Our study showed a prevalence of 4% for toxoplasmosis and 2.17% for CTX among all patients with HIV/AIDS admitted over ten years to two main hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In 2007, Davarpanah et al. reported the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among patients with HIV/AIDS at 18.2% in Shiraz [15]. Additionally, the authors addressed a 10.4% prevalence of CTX in these patients. The relatively smaller sample size and the shorter period of the study by Davarpanah et al. may partly explain the differences between the findings of these two studies. However, the most important difference is that our study was focused on hospitalized patients with HIV/AIDS, while in the study by Davarpanah et al., the patients were included from an outpatient setting.

    Although several previous studies did not address this [3, 15, 18,19,20], our findings revealed a significantly higher prevalence of both toxoplasmosis (as a clinical cause for hospitalization) and CTX among HIV-positive females compared to HIV-positive males (4.32% vs. 1.59% and 7.03% vs. 3.18%, respectively). Previous research has highlighted the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among men and women with HIV/AIDS [21, 22]; however, our study focused on toxoplasmosis as a clinical diagnosis that necessitated hospital admission, rather than mere seropositivity. This distinction may explain the discrepancy in prevalence between our study and others. Thus, future systematic reviews and meta-analyses are needed to provide a more comprehensive and reliable conclusion.

    An important finding of our study was that more than half (57.89%) of the CTX patients were newly diagnosed with HIV infection. This aligns with findings from a case series study in Brazil, where CTX was reported as the first manifestation of HIV infection in 48.21% of patients [20]. Our study further revealed that the odds of developing CTX in HIV-positive patients increased as age decreased. Additionally, the mean age of CTX patients was 36.13 ± 9.20 years, compared to 40.25 ± 11.30 years in patients with a prior HIV diagnosis. Although the small sample size within these two subgroups limits the reliability of statistical analysis, these observations highlight the need for effective HIV screening programs, targeting at-risk young adults. Furthermore, similar to previous studies [8], the four most common symptoms among our patients were FND, decreased LOC, headache, and fever. Although with such symptoms, other differential diagnoses, such as brain stroke, encephalitis, meningitis, or bacterial brain abscess are at the top of the differential diagnosis list, special consideration should be given to HIV infection and CTX, particularly in young adults who are not previously diagnosed with HIV infection.

    Brain MRI is a more sensitive tool for diagnosing CTX lesions [8]; however, brain CT scans are more widely available as an initial imaging modality. The typical appearance of CTX lesions in brain CT scans may consist of ring-enhanced lesions with peripheral vasogenic edema and mass effect, particularly in basal ganglia and frontal and parietal lobes. In the brain MRI, typical lesions may appear as “eccentric target sign”, with an enhanced eccentric core and hypointense intermediate zones, surrounded by a hyperintense enhanced rim in a T1-weighted image. The lesions in T2-weighted MRI images are seen as “concentric target sign” with a concentric zone of hypo and hyperintensity [8, 23]. There are few case reports on unusual radiological findings of CTX, such as multiple hemorrhagic abscess lesions and diffuse white matter involvement with ependymal enhancement [24, 25]. Along with related neurological symptoms and physical exam findings, all of our patients underwent neuroimaging. While all of the patients had evidence of single or multiple brain lesions, in only eight initial imaging reports (42.11%), CTX was listed as a probable differential diagnosis by radiologists. Additionally, in six patients (31.58%), lymphoma/malignancies were reported as a suspected diagnosis.

    The suspicion of CTX is primarily based on a compatible clinical history, physical examination, neuroimaging findings, and serological evidence. Moreover, a positive radiological response to anti-Toxoplasma treatment also augments the primary diagnosis. A useful classification for diagnosing CTX has been proposed by Dian et al [7]. The four categories include histology- and laboratory-confirmed CTX, as well as probable and possible CTX. Histology- and laboratory-confirmed CTX require a compatible clinical syndrome, the presence of lesions in neuroimaging plus evidence of T. gondii tachyzoites in brain biopsy or its DNA in CSF-PCR, respectively. Probable CTX consists of a compatible clinical syndrome, presence of lesions in neuroimaging, and anti-Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity or radiological improvement in response to 10-14 days of empirical treatment. Finally, possible CTX applies in cases of death or absence of radiologic confirmation. We demonstrated that CTX was confirmed in the majority of the cases based on imaging and serological workups; however, in seven patients (36.84%) CSF analysis or brain biopsy (or both) was performed, probably due to a high suspicion for other diagnoses, such as lymphoma, or fungal and mycobacterial infections. In other words, our CTX cases were mostly (89.47%) diagnosed using probable CTX classification, that is, they were diagnosed based on compatible clinical presentation, presence of radiological lesions, and anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity. However, only two patients could be labeled as histology- and laboratory-confirmed CTX, who had positive brain biopsy and CSF-PCR results for T. gondii.

    Interestingly, one of our patients was seronegative for T. gondii IgG, and the diagnosis was established based on radiological findings and clinical improvement following anti-Toxoplasma therapy. This observation aligns with previous reports indicating that a small but significant subset of patients with CTX may be IgG seronegative [26]. Additionally, we encountered another patient who presented with clinical features consistent with CTX and was seropositive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. The diagnosis was further confirmed by a positive brain biopsy and CSF-PCR for T. gondii. This case may reflect a primary infection leading to CTX, particularly in light of the patient’s markedly low CD4+ T-cell count (50 cells/μL). However, given the rarity of primary T. gondii infections among patients with CTX [27], a false-positive IgM result cannot be ruled out. A much less likely possibility is reinfection with a different strain of T. gondii [4, 28].

    A three-drug regimen of pyrimethamine (50 mg/day), sulfadiazine (4 g/day), and folinic acid (25 mg/day) for six weeks is the most effective and preferred treatment for CTX in patients with HIV/AIDS [8, 29]. In our study, all nineteen patients were treated with three-drug anti-Toxoplasma regimens during hospitalization. Some studies have shown that TMP-SMX could be as effective as pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine in curative treatment. Moreover, TMP-SMX prophylaxis is recommended for Patients with HIV/AIDS with a CD4+ count of less than 200 cells/µL. Thus, in low- and middle-income counties, where pyrimethamine is unavailable or expensive, TMP-SMX is a good choice for induction and maintenance treatment. It has been shown that TMP-SMX has fewer toxic or adverse reaction, less cost, and is better tolerated by patients compared to pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine [6, 7, 30,31,32]. In our study, TMP/SMX was added to the treatment of nine patients who had CD4+ counts less than 100 cells/µL. Clindamycin plus pyrimethamine is a reasonable alternative for sulfadiazine in patients with an allergy to sulfadiazine [8]. Additionally, TMP/SMX and clindamycin were replaced with sulfadiazine in one patient due to a new onset drug allergy to sulfadiazine and in another patient due to the temporary unavailability of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Discontinuing maintenance therapy could be considered based on the clinical improvements and in patients with CD4+ above 200 cells/µL who received cART for at least 6 months on maintenance treatment [6].

    We showed an in-hospital mortality rate of 21.05% in patients with CTX. A prospective study of 55 HIV+/AIDS patients with CTX in Brazil, showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, 42% and 46% of patients had complete and partial response to therapy, respectively, while 13% died [18]. Two other similar studies in Taiwan and Mali also reported 16.7% (3 out of 18) and 15.4% (4 out of 26) mortality rates, respectively [33, 34]. It should be noted that various factors affect the prognosis and mortality rates of CTX, and thus they may explain the observed differences between studies. First, the number of included patients with CTX in studies is usually few and the calculated mortality rates might not represent the actual population. Second, in our study, all four dead patients were brought to the hospital with decreased LOC, indicating the severity and progression of the disease. In addition, the age, comorbid conditions, and timing of treatment initiation are not the same among the studies. Three of our deceased patients suffered from other comorbid infections, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and one had concomitant pulmonary TB. Finally, all of these four patients did not receive cART within the first two weeks of CTX diagnosis. According to our findings, six patients who had CD4+ counts below 100 cells/µL received cART. It has been shown that early initiation of cART within two weeks of anti-Toxoplasma therapy could significantly reduce the mortality of CTX and improve its prognosis [8, 18, 20]. For example, a study in Brazil showed a significant reduction in mortality rates from over 90% in the pre-cART era to less than 30% in recent years with cART [19].

    It is important to note that our study has several limitations. The findings could be influenced by various confounding factors, including limited access to detailed clinical and paraclinical data due to the study’s retrospective design. Improving medical record management during admission and archiving would enhance the accuracy and completeness of future data analysis and research. Despite the ten-year duration of our study, the relatively low prevalence of CTX may have affected the statistical analyses, potentially limiting the generalizability of the results and reducing the statistical power to detect significant associations. Finally, the patients were recruited from two referral hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, which may not fully represent the outpatient population. Thus, a potential selection bias from including patients from tertiary referral hospitals may have impacted the results, as these institutions typically manage more severe or complex cases. Future studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse clinical settings could help address these limitations and provide more robust conclusions.

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  • An Unexpected Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease in a Three-Month-Old Infant: A Diagnostic Trap

    An Unexpected Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease in a Three-Month-Old Infant: A Diagnostic Trap


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  • MHRA to investigate links between genetics, GLP-1 drugs and pancreatitis : Clyde & Co

    MHRA to investigate links between genetics, GLP-1 drugs and pancreatitis : Clyde & Co

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched an investigation into whether an individual’s genes may increase their risk of developing acute pancreatitis when taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and Type 2 diabetes.

    The investigation follows reports submitted to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme purportedly linking GLP-1 drugs to numerous deaths, and adverse reactions, the bulk of which were comprised of gastrointestinal disorders. The reports break down as follows:

    • Semaglutides (with brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy): 18,046 adverse reactions, 1,765 serious reports and 16 fatal outcomes.

    • Tirzepatides (with brand names including Mounjaro): 20,882 adverse reactions, 3,116 serious reports and 21 fatal outcomes.

    • Liraglutide (with brand names including Saxenda and Victoza): 2,905 adverse reactions, 688 serious reports and 18 fatal outcomes.

    Extracted from Yellow Card website, 27 June 2025 – What is being reported | Making medicines and medical devices safer

    Whilst it should be stressed that these reports are unverified, reflecting suspected or potential links between GLP-1 drugs and adverse outcomes, the reports raise necessary questions in the context of the risk/benefit of GLP-1 drugs and broader risk landscape, which includes:

    • A huge increase in the use of GLP-1 drugs, with estimates suggesting that 1.5M people in the UK may be taking privately funded weight loss injections, with a further 220,000 expected to receive Mounjaro, after it recently became available via the NHS.

    • The suggestion of a causative relationship between GLP-1 drugs and pancreatitis, including:

      • A research paper published in the BMJ linking GLP-1 drugs to an increased risk of gastrointestinal events, including pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction.

      • The US Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) receiving 908 reports of Ozempic users developing pancreatitis.

    • The developing litigation in the US, which is centred around a large multi-district litigation against Eli Lilly (the manufacturer of Trulicity and Mounjaro) and Novo Nordisk (the manufacturer of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) in relation to alleged personal injuries. Whilst the alleged injuries include pancreas damage, the litigation is more strongly focused on other injuries, chiefly, gastroparesis, bowel blockage and vision problems. The claims comprise various causes of action, including failure to warn, negligence, misrepresentation and breaches of consumer protection legislation/unfair trade practices.

    • The extent to which, if at all, the MHRA’s investigation might impact clinical trials, including an ongoing NHS trial, which seeks to measure the “real-world” public health impact of weight loss drugs, including their impacts on prospects of employment and number of sick days taken. The trial involves around 3,000 people in the Greater Manchester area, and is set to take place over a 5 year period.

    Pending further clarification of the role (if any) that an individual’s genetics may play in the development of pancreatitis, there would be no obvious need for any or any immediate change in underwriters’ approach to GLP-1 drugs. The Market will, no doubt, be monitoring the position with interest.

    Further detail on the MHRA’s investigation is available here: If you take a GLP-1 medicine and have been hospitalised by acute pancreatitis, the Yellow Card Biobank wants to hear from you  – GOV.UK

    View all our ‘weight loss drugs’ content here

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  • 3D-Printed Smart Pen Helps Diagnose Parkinson’s

    3D-Printed Smart Pen Helps Diagnose Parkinson’s


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    Every year, tens of thousands of people with signs of Parkinson’s disease go unnoticed until the incurable neurodegenerative condition has already progressed.

    Motor symptoms, such as tremors or rigidity, often emerge only after significant neurological damage has occurred. By the time patients are diagnosed, more than half of their dopamine-producing neurons may already be lost. This kind of diagnostic delay can limit treatment options and slow progress on early-stage interventions. While there are existing tests to detect biomarkers of Parkinson’s, including cell loss in the brain and inflammatory markers in blood, they typically require access to specialists and costly equipment at major medical centers, which may be out of reach for many.

    Led by Jun Chen, an associate professor of bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, researchers have developed a seemingly simple yet effective tool: a smart, self-powered magnetoelastic pen that could help detect early signs of Parkinson’s by analyzing a person’s handwriting.

    The highly sensitive diagnostic pen, described in a UCLA-led study and published as a cover story in the June issue of Natural Chemical Engineering, features a soft, silicon magnetoelastic tip and ferrofluid ink — a special liquid containing tiny magnetic particles. When the pen’s tip is pressed against a surface or moved in the air, the pen converts both on-surface and in-air writing motions into high-fidelity, quantifiable signals through a coil of conductive yarn wrapped around the pen’s barrel. Although not intended for writing, the pen is self-powered leveraging changes in the magnetic properties of its tip and the dynamic flow of the ferrofluid ink to generate data.

    To test the pen’s diagnostic potential, the team conducted a pilot study with 16 participants, three of whom had Parkinson’s disease. The pen recorded detailed handwriting signals, which were then analyzed by a neural network trained to detect motor patterns associated with the disease. The model was able to distinguish participants with Parkinson’s from healthy individuals with an average accuracy of 96.22%.

    “Detection of subtle motor symptoms unnoticeable to the naked eye is critical for early intervention in Parkinson’s disease,” said Chen, who is the study’s corresponding author. “Our diagnostic pen presents an affordable, reliable and accessible tool that is sensitive enough to pick up subtle movements and can be used across large populations and in resource-limited areas.”

    The researchers anticipate that this pen could transform early detection of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions. Rather than waiting for symptoms to become disruptive, primary care physicians or geriatric specialists could administer a quick handwriting test during routine visits and use the data to inform earlier referrals or treatment.

    Reference: Chen G, Tat T, Zhou Y, et al. Neural network-assisted personalized handwriting analysis for Parkinson’s disease diagnostics. Nat Chem Eng. 2025;2(6):358-368. doi: 10.1038/s44286-025-00219-5

    This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

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  • Mental health treatment and its impact on survival outcomes in patients with comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases: a retrospective cohort study | BMC Psychiatry

    Mental health treatment and its impact on survival outcomes in patients with comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases: a retrospective cohort study | BMC Psychiatry

    Study setting

    This study was conducted at four major healthcare facilities in Northwest Ethiopia including Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tibebe Gihon Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, and Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

    Study period and design

    The study was conducted, from January 1, 2023, to May 31, 2023. A retrospective cohort design was employed to assess existing medical records, using a one year dataset.

    Source and study population

    The study population consisted of patients diagnosed with comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases who received care at the participating hospitals. Patients were identified through hospital admission and discharge records, outpatient clinic logs, and electronic health records.

    Eligibility criteria

    The inclusion criteria for participants were:

    • A confirmed diagnosis of comorbid mental health and cardiovascular disease in medical records.

    • Age 18 years or older at the time of diagnosis.

    • Available medical records for the duration of the study period.

    The exclusion criteria for participants were:

    • Patients with incomplete medical records,

    • Those who had prior cardiovascular surgeries.

    • Individuals with terminal illnesses unrelated to comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases.

    Study variables

    The dependent variables are hospital readmission and emergency department visits. The independent variables included mental health treatment, age, sex, and residence.

    Sample size determination

    This study included all patients who met the eligibility criteria during the study period. As the study design was based on medical record review, no a priori sample size or power calculation was performed. Instead, the full population of eligible patients included to maximize statistical power and ensure generalizability.

    A total of 319 patients with comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases between January 2018 and December 2022 were identified from four healthcare institutions in Northwest Ethiopia. These institutions were selected in simple random approaching method.

    Sampling technique

    To ensure the sample was representative of the eligible population across the participating hospitals, a proportional simple random sampling technique was employed. The total number of eligible patients at each hospital during the study period was first identified through a manual review of patient records. Proportional allocation was then used to determine the number of patients to include from each hospital based on its share of the total eligible patient population.

    The formula used for proportional allocation was: ni = (Ni / N) × n.

    Where:

    • ni = sample size from hospital i.

    • Ni = number of eligible patients in hospital i.

    • N = total number of eligible patients across all hospitals.

    • n = total sample size (319).

    Based on estimated eligible patient numbers from hospital records (N = 1,100), the sample was allocated as follows:

    • Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: n1 = (360 / 1100) × 319 ≈ 104 patients.

    • University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: n2 = (300 / 1100) × 319 ≈ 87 patients.

    • Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: n3 = (240 / 1100) × 319 ≈ 70 patients.

    • Tibebe Gihon Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: n4 = (200 / 1100) × 319 ≈ 58 patients.

    After determining the number of participants per hospital, simple random sampling was applied within each hospital. Eligible patient lists were prepared, and random numbers were generated using a computer-based random number generator to select participants independently.

    Data collection procedure

    This study employed a structured questionnaire, developed after an extensive review of relevant literature. The data collection instrument designed to capture sociodemographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and medication-related variables, with all data extracted from patient medical records. Comorbid conditions including diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and other chronic physical conditions were identified based on clinician-documented diagnoses in the medical charts. Comorbidity was considered present if it was recorded in the patient’s medical history, diagnostic summary, or treatment plan during admission or follow-up visits. These conditions were categorized as binary variables (present or absent), and no additional thresholds related to disease severity, duration, or laboratory values were applied due to variability in documentation across sites.

    Multiple methodologies were employed to assess the receipt of mental health treatment. Pharmacy refill records were used to determine whether patients actively received prescribed mental health medications during the study period. The duration of these prescriptions was also assessed as a measure of adherence to treatment regimens. Patient charts were systematically examined for indications of mental health treatment, including therapist notes, treatment plans, and mental health evaluations. Specific diagnosis codes associated with mental health conditions were identified to establish a clear connection between diagnosis and treatment. In addition to assessing the receipt of treatment, clinical outcomes related to mental health treatment were analyzed. Indicators such as psychiatric symptoms, changes in diagnoses, and hospitalization rates for mental health crises were assessed. To examine emergency department visits, patient medical records were reviewed throughout the study period. Details such as the reason for each visit, clinical diagnoses, and related mental health assessments were recorded. Visits were categorized based on their connection to comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases, mental health crises, or other health complications. For hospital readmissions, a similar review of patient medical records was conducted to track subsequent admissions within a specified follow-up period after discharge. Diagnosis dates were extracted from electronic health records, inpatient and outpatient medical charts, and physician notes. Diagnosis dates were extracted from electronic health records, inpatient and outpatient medical charts, and physician notes. For psychiatric disorders, clinical evaluations, mental health treatment initiation records, and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes were reviewed, with specific codes. For cardiovascular conditions, diagnostic imaging reports, laboratory results, and physician-confirmed diagnoses, along with corresponding ICD-10 codes, were examined. When exact diagnosis dates were unavailable, the earliest documented evidence of the condition, based on clinical evaluations or treatment initiation was recorded. Given the study’s focus on comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases, special attention was given to cases where the timing of psychiatric and cardiovascular diagnoses differed. For patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders, the timing of the CVD diagnosis was recorded as the key event indicating the onset of a comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases. Conversely, for patients with pre-existing CVD, the timing of the psychiatric disorder diagnosis was recorded as the key event. In instances where both conditions were diagnosed simultaneously (e.g., during a single hospital admission), this date was recorded as the timing for both conditions. For patients with multiple episodes of the same condition, such as recurrent depressive episodes or repeated cardiovascular events, the first documented diagnosis within the study period was used.

    Operational definitions

    • Comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases are health conditions that involve both cardiovascular disorders and psychiatric disorders.

    • Mental health treatment refers to interventions aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving the well-being of patients with diagnosed mental health conditions.

    • Hospital readmission is defined as any unplanned admission to the hospital. In this study, readmissions included those which are related to comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases.

    • Emergency department visit is any encounter in the emergency department requiring immediate medical attention. In this study, emergency department visits included those related to comorbid mental health and cardiovascular diseases.

    • Event Occurred: refers patients who experienced the outcome of interest during the study period, including those who had a hospital readmission or an emergency department visit.

    • Censored: refers patients who did not experience the outcome of interest (hospital readmission or emergency department visit) during the follow-up period. These individuals remained under observation but did not have the event occur before the study’s conclusion or were lost to follow-up.

    • Survival time (time to event): This is the duration from the start to the event.

    Data quality assurance

    To ensure the integrity and reliability of the data collected in this study, several quality assurance measures were implemented throughout the data collection process. A structured questionnaire was initially developed based on a comprehensive review of relevant literature, to facilitate standardized data capture across all participating institutions. The questionnaire was pre-tested on a small sample of medical records to identify ambiguities, improve clarity, and refine variable definitions prior to full-scale implementation.

    Trained research assistants, all of whom were clinical pharmacists, conducted the data extraction. These data collectors underwent rigorous training on the study protocol, ethical considerations, operational definitions, and standard procedures for interpreting medical records. To assess and enhance inter-rater reliability, a pilot exercise was conducted in which 10% of patient charts were independently reviewed by two data collectors. Discrepancies were discussed and resolved through consensus, leading to adjustments in the protocol where necessary. Throughout the data collection period, Periodic supervisory audits were performed. The principal investigator and hospital-based site coordinators randomly reviewed approximately 10% of extracted data to verify accuracy and adherence to protocol. Any inconsistencies were addressed through targeted feedback and retraining sessions with the data collectors. Throughout the study period to ensure compliance with data collection protocols and to address any potential issues promptly. To minimize information bias, diagnoses were confirmed using multiple sources of documentation. Psychiatric disorders were validated by cross-referencing ICD-10 codes with therapist notes, treatment plans, and prescription records. Cardiovascular diagnoses were corroborated using physician-confirmed diagnoses, laboratory and imaging reports, and treatment documentation. In cases where exact diagnosis dates were missing, the earliest documented clinical evidence such as first mention of symptoms or treatment initiation was used as a proxy. To reduce the impact of missing data, records lacking essential variables (e.g., confirmed diagnoses or outcome data) were excluded from analysis. For less critical variables, a complete-case analysis was performed. Given the low frequency of missing data in those variables, imputation methods were not necessary. When feasible, missing details were recovered through triangulation across multiple record sources. To mitigate selection bias, a total population sampling strategy was used. All eligible patients with coexisting psychiatric and cardiovascular conditions who met the inclusion criteria and received care at any of the four participating hospitals were included. Additionally, all medical records and documentation were verified against the entries in the database to confirm accuracy and completeness.

    Data processing and analysis

    Data processing and analysis for this study were conducted using statistical software to ensure accurate interpretation of the findings. Following data collection, all questionnaires and medical record entries were reviewed for completeness and consistency. The data were then coded and entered into a secure electronic database to facilitate analysis. Descriptive statistics were generated to summarize the demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population. Categorical variables were described using frequency distributions and percentages, while continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations.

    To identify factors influencing survival outcomes, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed. The primary outcomes were the time to hospital readmission and the time to the first emergency department visit, both measured in days from the date of discharge or study entry. The follow-up period spanned one year from the date of the first diagnosis or discharge, with censoring applied at the end of the study period or upon loss to follow-up. The assumptions of the Cox proportional hazards model were evaluated using the Schoenfeld residual test. To examine the relationship between baseline variables and patient survival, a two-step approach was employed. Initially, each baseline variable that satisfied the assumptions of the Cox proportional hazards model was analyzed individually using separate Cox regression models. Subsequently, variables with a P-value of less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. However, final inclusion was not based solely on statistical criteria. We also incorporated variables based on their clinical relevance, biological plausibility, and established evidence from prior studies on mental health and cardiovascular outcomes. The Cox regression model was utilized to identify factors associated with the time to hospital readmission and emergency department visit. The results were reported as crude hazard ratios (CHR) and adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance was determined at a P-value threshold of < 0.05. Additionally, multicollinearity among the independent variables was assessed using the variance inflation factor to detect and eliminate redundant variables that could bias the estimates. The overall mean VIF was calculated to be 1.21, which falls within the acceptable range of 1 to 5. Survival analysis was further conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival curves to illustrate survival functions, and the log-rank test was applied to compare survival distributions between patients who received mental health treatment and those who did not.

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