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  • ‘I felt phenomenal shame about being sexually abused’

    ‘I felt phenomenal shame about being sexually abused’

    Getty Images A man with short grey-brown hair, wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie, sat with a face of concentration in the stands at Wimbledon.Getty Images

    From a “tough” childhood, to jokes shared with famous faces, Sir Chris Bryant MP details the ups and downs of his early life in his new biography

    Sir Chris Bryant has been representing his constituents in Westminster for nearly 25 years, but his life before politics was a rollercoaster ride of light and shade.

    From growing up in Spain under the reign of General Franco, to living with his alcoholic mother, to being ordained as a Church of England priest, the Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore – now in his 60s – has lived a varied life.

    He is openly gay, but says he was figuring out his sexuality at a time when homosexuality was “looked on with terrible shame and disgust by the vast majority of society”.

    Earlier this month, he revealed he was sexually abused as a teenager, by the late former head of the National Youth Theatre, Michael Croft.

    He details the many “shenanigans” of his early life, the good and the bad, in his biography set to be released next week.

    “It was fascinating for me, because the book stops in 2001 when I was first elected, so it’s about my early life,” he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

    “It’s about the tough stuff when I was a kid, growing up with my parents. My mum was an alcoholic and the pain and the horror… and the challenges that poses for you as an individual.

    “The rows, the guilt, the anger, the lies and recriminations, and then eventually mum’s death.

    “All of that is part of the story, but also some very funny stories.”

    Speaking about his choice to share details of being the victim of abuse, by Michael Croft but also in separate incidents later in his life, Sir Chris says it was “a really important part” of authentically documenting his life story.

    “It’s one of the stories that I hadn’t even really told any of my family until very recently, because I suppose I felt phenomenal shame about it. I remember when I did first tell family members, I was in tears for ages,” he said.

    “This may seem bizarre, for many young people in particular these days, but it’s a story of a young person growing up in an age where homosexuality was completely illegal. It was completely illegal when I was born, partially decriminalised in 1967, but still looked on with terrible shame and disgust by the vast majority of society through most of my formative years.

    “Telling that whole story as honestly as I possibly can was important… It’s not the complete story of Chris Bryant without that story in it, to be honest.

    “I suppose part of what my book is there to do is to try and explain an age that I hope has gone, and has gone forever.”

    Leaving his role as a Church of England priest and moving to London as “a young gay man, discovering the freedom of the great city”, working for the Labour Party, Sir Chris recounts many a humorous encounter with famous faces.

    He met Peter Mandelson, now British Ambassador to the United States, in the changing room at the YMCA gym and they became friends.

    “I was in Peter’s flat… he had two phone lines and one phone rang and it was Gordon Brown, so he spoke to Gordon and then the other phone rang, I answered it and it was Tony Blair,” he recalled.

    “Peter switched – he went to speak to Tony Blair while I talked to Gordon Brown – and I think that was the moment when Peter made his decision about who he was backing for the leadership.”

    On another occasion, while Sir Chris was dating a Spanish architect living in Madrid, Mandelson decided to stay with him and attend the final rally in socialist leader Felipe Gonzalez re-election campaign.

    “At the end, I thought we were going to be introduced to my political hero, Felipe Gonzalez, but instead Peter said ‘No, I want to meet him over there’ – so we went and chatted to Antonio Banderas for half an hour instead,” he said with a laugh.

    “Who, it has to be said, was a very handsome young man.”

    Getty Images A man with short grey-brown hair wearing a navy suit, white shirt and red tie. he is holding a small red box with a gold medal inside and is smiling at the camera.Getty Images

    Sir Chris Bryant was appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2023

    In the book, Sir Chris says he doesn’t think Tony Blair “ever really trusted or rated me”.

    Pressed on why he’d made this claim, he says that for several years, people would predict his appointment to a minister role in Blair’s cabinet reshuffle, only for him not to be offered any such position.

    “One year, Tony called me in afterwards to his office in parliament and said ‘really sorry Chris, you’re one of our best people, definitely next time’.

    “A year goes by, another reshuffle, I’m not appointed to anything and Tony calls me again and does the same routine.

    “He said ‘definitely next time, you’re in your 20s, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, but you don’t look happy’ and I said ‘no, because you told me all this last year and, secondly Tony, I’m not in my 20s, I’m 43’.

    “So I always had a great time for him, I thought he was a great prime minister, but I disagreed with him about some significant matters.”

    In an interview with BBC veteran broadcaster Patrick Hannan when he was first elected as an MP in 2001, Sir Chris was described as an “exotic” choice – something he’s never forgotten.

    “I think they meant too gay,” he says.

    But no label has deterred him from striving for authenticity, he says, adding his attitude is summed up by a Spanish word with Arabic roots that he “absolutely adores” – ojalá [I wish].

    “Some of it stems from the powerlessness I felt through my mum’s alcoholism, some of it is learnt because of what I saw under Mrs Thatcher and my early days in the Labour party, some of it is the passionate belief in things when I was a priest in the Church of England.

    “That sense of fairness and that belief that we really could make a better world if we all actually worked on it, I suppose that’s the thing that burns in me.”

    If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the BBC Action Line for details of organisations who can offer support.

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  • Infinix HOT 60 Series launched in the Philippines

    Infinix HOT 60 Series launched in the Philippines

    Infinix continues to maintain a strong presence in the Philippines, officially making the Infinix HOT 60 Series available locally. The affordable smartphone series was announced globally just late last month.

    Available in the HOT 60 Pro and HOT 60 Pro+ variants, the latest handsets can be purchased online via Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop.

    The HOT 60 Pro+ is priced at just Php 7,799 (from PhP 8,999) during its first sale promo. It also comes bundled with a 12-month Viu Premium subscription.

    There are four color options to choose from: Titanium Silver, Sleek Black, Coral Tides, and Misty Violet.

    Meanwhile, the HOT 60 Pro retails for an introductory price of PhP 5,999 (SRP: PhP 6,999).

    Slimmest budget phone?

    The series’ headliner, the HOT 60 Pro+ features the world’s slimmest profile for a 3D-Curved Screen phone at just 5.95mm.

    The 6.78-inch 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, plus the phone has an IP65 rating.

    Meanwhile, the entire body is further strengthened by an Aerospace-Grade Aluminum mid-frame with reinforced structural corners.

    Infinix’s proprietary ultra-slim engineering overcomes conventional structural and battery limitations, enabling the device to house a higher-capacity fast-charging battery while being slightly lighter than the previous generation.

    The battery cover also features one of the industry’s first ultra-thin Fiberglass Black Panel. This is enhanced by Infinix’s pioneering OMR process, reducing thickness by 20% compared to conventional 0.45mm solutions.

    Paper-thin, budget-friendly power

    Elsewhere, the phone also features comprehensive upgrades in performance, thermal efficiency, and durability.

    The Infinix 60 Pro+ is powered by a MediaTek Helio G200 processor. It comes with 8GB+8GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

    It also houses a 5,160mAh battery with support for 45W FastCharge and Hyper Mode charging.

    Moreover, the phone has a 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor for its main camera for up to 2X lossless zoom and AI RAW image processing. In front is a 13MP selfie camera.

    The Infinix HOT 60 Pro+ also comes with XOS 15, the brand’s own AI assistant, Folax, and more.

    Not to be outdone, the HOT 60 Pro, on the other hand, also features a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display, the same Helio G200 chipset, and a 6.6mm thinness.

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  • Dollar slips as data keep September rate cut on table; eyes on Trump-Putin meeting – Reuters

    1. Dollar slips as data keep September rate cut on table; eyes on Trump-Putin meeting  Reuters
    2. Forex Signals Brief Aug 15: Trump-Putin Meeting and DJT Q2 Close the Wek  FXLeaders
    3. Global FX Market Summary: US-Russia Summit, Market Reaction to Economic Data, Fed Rate Cut Bets 15 August 2025  FinanceFeeds
    4. Dollar slips before U.S. data, eyes on Trump-Putin meeting  CNBC
    5. FX Daily: For the dollar, inflation matters more than Alaska  ING Think

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  • New Drug Shows Promise in Treating a Common Cause of Hypertension

    New Drug Shows Promise in Treating a Common Cause of Hypertension

    Wenyu Huang, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, was a co-author of the study.

    A novel drug may significantly improve outcomes for a subset of patients with high blood pressure, according to findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

    Primary aldosteronism — a condition in which the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone — is a common yet often underdiagnosed cause of endocrine hypertension. Excessive aldosterone can lead to salt and fluid retention, elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular events.

    “Primary aldosteronism is the most common cause of hypertension caused by an endocrine disorder,” said Wenyu Huang, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, who was a co-author of the study. “Up to one out of seven patients with hypertension may have this condition.”

    For decades, treatment options for primary aldosteronism have remained largely unchanged, with spironolactone being the only approved medication for this condition. However, spironolactone may not be fully effective for many patients due to underdosing and can cause undesirable side effects, Huang said.

    “Men treated with spironolactone for this condition can develop gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction among other side effects. Until this study, we had no other potential options for treatment,” he said.

    In the study, investigators treated 15 patients with primary aldosteronism with baxdrostat, a new drug designed to block the overproduction of aldosterone with high specificity.

    After 12 weeks, investigators found that the average systolic blood pressure dropped by nearly 25 mm Hg, a reduction rarely seen in hypertension trials, and 73 percent of patients reached the target blood pressure of under 140/90 mm Hg. There was also a 97 percent median reduction in the aldosterone levels, surpassing even the effects of adrenal gland surgery.

    While some patients experienced reversible kidney function decline during the extended 72-week follow-up, the drug’s benefits on blood pressure and hormone levels were sustained, according to the findings.

    Although more research is needed to confirm the drug’s effects, the magnitude of the blood pressure and hormonal improvements suggests baxdrostat could represent a major advance in treating primary aldosteronism, Huang said.

    “This is a paradigm shift in the treatment of primary aldosteronism,” Huang said. “Additionally, this is a condition that is oftentimes overlooked and underdiagnosed. Previously, diagnosing this condition has been relatively difficult for someone who’s not specialized in the field because there are so many steps involved in making the diagnosis. The new Endocrine Society guideline on primary aldosteronism, which was just published in July 2025, has make it easier for clinicians to screen, diagnose and treat this condition.”

    Now, Huang and his collaborators are launching a Phase III clinical trial to test the drug’s effectiveness in a larger patient cohort with primary aldosteronism.

    “With better diagnostic techniques and treatment options, I’m hopeful that more patients can be effectively diagnosed and treated for this condition in the future,” Huang said.

    The study was funded by CinCor Pharma and AstraZeneca.

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  • Lily Collins Trades a Suitcase for a Gargantuan Balenciaga City Bag

    Lily Collins Trades a Suitcase for a Gargantuan Balenciaga City Bag

    Collins added some feminine accessories to her unisex outfit, zhuzhing it up with a pair of sepia toned cat-eye sunglasses and gold hoop earrings. In one hand, she carried a brown raffia bucket hat—which she recently wore to Wimbledon—and in the crook of her elbow, Collins toted a black Balenciaga City bag with black hardware to boot. The actor opted for the purse’s largest size, clocking in at nearly a foot tall and just over a foot-and-a-half wide. Capacious? Certainly. Ludicrously so? We think not.

    Her look was a far cry from Emily Cooper’s maximalist wardrobe, filled with brightly colored power suiting, loud prints, and clashing galore. But surely Lily Collins and her character could both agree that a massive City bag makes for a very fashionable travel tote.

    Lily Collins on the set of Emily in Paris season 5 in Rome.

    BACKGRID USA

    EXCLUSIVE Lily Collins on the set of the Netflix series Emily in Paris season 5 in Paris France on August 4 2025. Photo...

    AbacaPress / SplashNews.com

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  • China’s Yangtze River Delta posts 5.4 pct foreign trade growth in first 7 months-Xinhua

    China’s Yangtze River Delta posts 5.4 pct foreign trade growth in first 7 months-Xinhua

    An aerial drone photo shows a view of the container terminal of Zhoushan Port in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Jan. 4, 2025. (Photo by Zou Xunyong/Xinhua)

    SHANGHAI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) — The total foreign trade value of the Yangtze River Delta in east China reached 9.59 trillion yuan (about 1.34 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of 2025, up 5.4 percent year on year, official data showed.

    During the period, the economic powerhouse region’s trade value accounted for 37.3 percent of the country’s total, according to Shanghai Customs.

    The region’s trade growth was 1.9 percentage points higher than the national average of 3.5 percent during the period.

    The region’s exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 3.64 trillion yuan in the first seven months, up 9.4 percent year on year. The export values of electric vehicles, high-end equipment and integrated circuits increased 43.9 percent, 10.2 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively.

    On the import side, the value of imported medical instruments and equipment rose 10.1 percent.

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the Yangtze River Delta’s largest trading partner during the period, with trade volume increasing 17.5 percent year on year to 1.51 trillion yuan.

    The region’s foreign trade value stemming from trade with Belt and Road partner countries reached 4.77 trillion yuan, up 10.3 percent.

    Private enterprises continued to serve as a key engine of the region’s foreign trade growth, with their trade volume climbing 9.5 percent to 5.35 trillion yuan, accounting for 55.8 percent of the region’s total.  ■

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  • NIH Grant Funds Effort to Target the Root of HIV Persistence | Newsroom

    A multi-institutional team led by Weill Cornell Medicine has received a five-year, $14.9 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to find ways to remove latent HIV from the cells of individuals with HIV. The team aims to use a personalized medicine approach to transform the management of HIV into effective cures.

    Over 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV, according to the World Health Organization. People with HIV can manage their condition using antiretroviral drugs, which keep bloodstream levels of the virus near zero. But HIV persists in a latent form in some cells, and generally will reactivate, making the virus transmissible and ultimately causing AIDS, if antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped. HIV research now focuses to a great extent on the challenge posed by this latent viral reservoir.

    The research program, called Innovative Strategies for Personalized Immunotherapies and Reservoir Eradication (INSPIRE), will be led by Dr. Brad Jones, associate professor of microbiology and immunology in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine.

    The award is one of several large HIV-research grants for Weill Cornell Medicine in recent years—a team led by Dr. Jones received a $28.5 million NIH grant in 2021 for a broader, more basic research program on the principles of HIV latency.

    “This new award validates our ongoing work and confirms that Weill Cornell Medicine has become a major global hub for HIV cure research,” Dr. Jones said.

    HIV can insert its DNA into the genomes of the cells it infects, principally immune cells called CD4+ T cells. In some of these infected cells, HIV DNA is relatively silent, with little or no expression of viral proteins. These reservoir cells are rare, which further complicates the task of detecting them. The composition and activity levels of the viral reservoir also change over time and are apt to differ from one person to the next.

    A key research aim for the INSPIRE project is to characterize these virus-harboring cells, essentially to determine the different types of HIV reservoir and their specific vulnerabilities to immune recognition and attack. This will be accomplished in part by studying a collection of reservoir cells that Dr. Jones and others on his team have already isolated from people with HIV.

    Informed by improved knowledge about the HIV reservoir, the researchers will begin to investigate specific treatment strategies. One set of strategies, drawing upon the research team’s experience with cancer immunotherapies, will use tailored versions of a persons’ own T cells or related natural killer (NK) cells to target reservoir cells.

    “Because the reservoir and immune responses vary among individuals, effective cures will likely require personalized approaches, much like cancer therapies,” said co-principal investigator Dr. Marina Caskey, professor of clinical investigation at The Rockefeller University and adjunct professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Working with collaborators at Weill Cornell, George Washington University, and the NIH, we aim to develop tailored immunotherapies—building on our experience with broadly neutralizing antibodies—to achieve durable, ART-free HIV remission.”

    The team will experiment with engineering and reinfusing a persons’ B cells—which make antibodies—to create a sustained supply of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV, much as a vaccine would. Such antibodies can bind and neutralize a broad set of HIV strains, and are viewed as a promising weapon against HIV, although traditional vaccine approaches have not been successful in eliciting sufficient numbers of them.

    “Having broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV in the bloodstream long-term should effectively suppress the HIV reservoir, preventing rebound without the need for continued antiviral drug therapy,” Dr. Jones said. “It might even reduce the reservoir over time.”

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  • COVID-19’s Impact on Immunocompromised Patients With Cancer

    COVID-19’s Impact on Immunocompromised Patients With Cancer

    Introduction

    The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the unique vulnerabilities of immunocompromised individuals. Although the general population has benefited significantly from widespread vaccination and natural immunity, immunocompromised individuals remain at disproportionate risk for severe outcomes. Their reduced ability to mount effective immune responses to vaccines is emphasized in current literature, but this point alone does not sufficiently address the broader scope of these individuals’ continued susceptibility.1

    This disparity highlights a crucial public health issue: the need for ongoing, adaptive strategies to protect high-risk populations even as society resumes normal activities. Dorry L. Segev, MD, PhD, a professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, New York, and vice chair of the Department of Surgery and surgical scientific director at the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research, emphasized that public health initiatives must address the unique vulnerabilities of patients with cancer by implementing tailored preventive measures and policies.2 This includes promoting vaccine research to improve efficacy in immunocompromised populations, maintaining rigorous hygiene practices in health care settings, and ensuring accessible preventive care. Addressing these needs will help bridge the gap between immunocompromised individuals and the general population with COVID-19 protection, ultimately reducing health care disparities and enhancing overall public health resilience.

    Persistent Susceptibility in Patients Who Are Immunocompromised

    Segev highlighted the urgent need for targeted public health measures to protect immunocompromised populations.2 He emphasized that despite widespread vaccination efforts, patients who are immunocompromised face significant challenges in achieving adequate immune responses.

    Vaccine Efficacy and Immune Response Variability

    It is well-documented that patients who are immunocompromised, particularly those with hematologic malignancies, solid organ transplants, or autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive therapy, demonstrate suboptimal seroconversion rates following COVID-19 vaccination. For instance, a recent meta-analysis found that only 40% to 50% of transplant recipients developed detectable antibodies after the standard 2-dose mRNA vaccine regimen compared with more than 90% in the general population.3 This disparity highlights the need for tailored vaccine strategies.

    Emerging evidence suggests that certain subgroups respond differently to booster doses. For example, studies have shown that a third or even fourth vaccine dose can significantly enhance antibody titer in transplant recipients and patients undergoing active cancer treatment.4 However, the magnitude of protection remains lower than in healthy individuals, highlighting the need for additional interventions beyond vaccination (Table).1

    TABLE. Seroconversion Rates for Different Study Groups After Receiving 2 COVID-19 Vaccine Doses1

    Increased Risk of Severe Outcomes

    Patients who are immunocompromised not only experience lower vaccine efficacy but also face prolonged viral shedding and higher rates of severe disease. A study by Kemp et al revealed that patients who are immunocompromised could harbor replicating SARS-CoV-2 for weeks, potentially serving as reservoirs for new variants.5 This prolonged infectious period increases the risk of nosocomial transmission and necessitates enhanced infection control measures in health care settings.

    Emerging Therapeutic Strategies

    Monoclonal Antibodies and Antiviral Therapies

    Monoclonal antibody therapies have emerged as a cornerstone for mitigating severe outcomes in patients who are immunocompromised. Prophylactic treatments, such as tixagevimab/cilgavimab, a combination of 2 monoclonal antibodies used for preexposure prophylaxis, have demonstrated efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in patients who did not respond to vaccines.4 Additionally, oral antivirals such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir have shown promise in reducing hospitalization rates in high-risk populations, although their efficacy may be limited in those with advanced immunosuppression, Segev noted.2

    Personalized Vaccine Approaches

    The development of personalized vaccine strategies, including high-dose or adjuvanted vaccines, is gaining traction. For example, adjuvants designed to enhance dendritic cell activation could improve T-cell responses in patients who are immunocompromised. Early-phase clinical trials of modified mRNA vaccines tailored to this population are underway, with preliminary results showing enhanced immunogenicity.6,7

    T-Cell–Based Immunotherapies

    T-cell–based therapies represent a promising frontier for patients who are immunocompromised with deficient humoral responses. These therapies, including engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies, aim to provide immediate and durable protection by directly targeting SARS-CoV-2–infected cells. Ongoing trials are evaluating their safety and efficacy in patients with hematologic malignancies and other severe immunosuppressive conditions.8

    Broader Implications and Unaddressed Challenges

    The Role of Hybrid Immunity

    Hybrid immunity, arising from vaccination combined with prior infection, has been shown to confer superior protection compared with vaccination alone. However, patients who are immunocompromised often fail to generate robust immunity even after infection. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this discrepancy is critical for developing effective therapies.9

    The Potential for Viral Evolution

    Patients who are immunocompromised have prolonged viral shedding, which increases the likelihood of within-host viral evolution. Researchers have identified mutations in spike proteins from such patients that confer resistance to monoclonal antibodies.5 This highlights the urgent need for surveillance and tailored therapeutic approaches to mitigate the emergence of treatment-resistant variants.10

    A Call for Policy and Health Care Interventions

    Segev’s presentation highlighted the necessity of tailored systemic interventions supported by evidence-based policies to address the unique vulnerabilities of oncological immunocompromised patients. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in protecting these individuals, underscoring the need for inclusive public health measures and proactive research efforts. Additionally, it prompted a reassessment of advanced oncology treatments, particularly their efficacy, toxicity, and overall survival benefits. Studies’ results suggest that some of these treatments provide only minimal survival gains while imposing significant toxicity burdens, which raises ethical and clinical questions about their continued use. These concerns emphasize the need for more judicious treatment strategies and a reevaluation of clinical research priorities. Ensuring the well-being of immunocompromised populations requires a concerted effort to adapt public health strategies, refine treatment approaches, and prioritize their needs amid evolving health care challenges.11,12

    Enhanced Surveillance

    Targeted genomic surveillance in immunocompromised populations is essential for the early detection of new variants. Programs integrating patient-specific sequencing data with clinical outcomes could provide real-time insights into the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.2

    Tailored Public Health Measures

    Public health measures must prioritize immunocompromised individuals through ongoing mask mandates in high-risk settings, access to early antiviral treatment, and dedicated vaccination programs. Additionally, education campaigns can raise awareness among health care providers and caregivers about the specific needs of this population.13

    Integration of Lifestyle Interventions

    Although pharmacologic interventions remain central, lifestyle modifications such as optimized nutrition and exercise may play a supportive role in enhancing immune function. Although limited evidence exists, results of early studies suggest that targeted lifestyle interventions can reduce the risk of secondary infections in immunocompromised patients.14

    Conclusion

    The persistent vulnerability to COVID-19 of patients who are immunocompromised underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that extend beyond conventional vaccine approaches.14 A critical review of recent advancements reveals promising therapeutic options, including monoclonal antibodies, personalized vaccines, and T-cell therapies. Still, significant gaps remain in addressing the unique challenges faced by this population. By integrating emerging scientific insights with tailored public health interventions, we can better safeguard the health and well-being of immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, addressing these challenges effectively requires a synergistic effort among policy makers, health care providers, and researchers to ensure equitable access to advanced therapeutics and preventive measures. The lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic must guide future strategies to protect vulnerable populations in a more inclusive and resilient health care system.

    Author Contributions

    Conceptualization, VC and MB; methodology, VC and MB; formal analysis, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; investigation, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; resources, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; data curation, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; writing—original draft preparation, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; writing—review and editing, VC and MB; visualization, VC, MB, JG, DM, KI, CHP, and YL; supervision, VC and MB; project administration, VC, MB, CHP, and YL. All authors jointly agree to the accuracy of this work and are in favor of submitting it for publication. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

    Acknowledgments

    We thank Dorry L. Segev, MD, PhD, for the opportunity to learn
    from a global leader in medicine. We are grateful to be part of MedNews Week, a virtual platform that focuses on disseminating high quality medical information.

    References

    1. Pagani I, Ghezzi S, Alberti S, Poli G, Vicenzi E. Origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Eur Phys J Plus. 2023;138(2):157. doi:10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03719-6
    2. Segev D. COVID and the immunocompromised: a frightening new normal. MedNews Week. June 27, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/3ck9wb7k
    3. Lang K. What do we know about COVID-19 in immunocompromised people? BMJ. 2023;383:p1612. doi:10.1136/bmj.p1612
    4. Chavarot N, Morel A, Leruez-Ville M, et al. Weak antibody response to three doses of mRNA vaccine in kidney transplant recipients treated with belatacept. Am J Transplant. 2021;21(12):4043-4051. doi:10.1111/ajt.16814
    5. Kemp SA, Collier DA, Datir RP, et al; CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration, COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium. SARS-CoV-2 evolution during treatment of chronic infection. Nature. 2021;592(7853):277-282. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03291-y
    6. Jackson LA, Anderson EJ, Rouphael NG, et al; mRNA-1273 Study Group. An mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 – preliminary report. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(20):1920-1931. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2022483
    7. Boyarsky BJ, Werbel WA, Avery RK, et al. Immunogenicity of a single dose of SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. JAMA. 2021;325(17):1784-1786. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.4385
    8. Strangfeld A, Schäfer M, Gianfrancesco MA, et al; COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance. Factors associated with COVID-19-related death in people with rheumatic diseases: results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021;80(7):930-942. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219498
    9. Schmidt T, Klemis V, Schub D, et al. Cellular immunity predominates over humoral immunity after homologous and heterologous mRNA and vector-based COVID-19 vaccine regimens in solid organ transplant recipients. Am J Transplant. 2021;21(12):3990-4002. doi:10.1111/ajt.16818
    10. Zabidi NZ, Liew HL, Farouk IA, et al. Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants: implications on immune escape, vaccination, therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Viruses. 2023;15(4):944. doi:10.3390/v15040944
    11. Bonanni P, Ceddia F, Dawson R. A call to action: current challenges and considerations for COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised populations. J Infect Dis. 2023;228(suppl 1):S70-S76. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiad150
    12. Codacci-Pisanelli G, Giuliani J, Bonetti A. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on daily oncology clinical practice. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2021;167:103272. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103272
    13. Shao T, Verma HK, Pande B, et al. Physical activity and nutritional influence on immune function: an important strategy to improve immunity and health status. Front Physiol. 2021;12:751374. doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.751374
    14. Kamar N, Abravanel F, Marion O, Couat C, Izopet J, Del Bello A. Three doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in solid-organ transplant recipients. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(7):661-662. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2108861

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  • Rivalries that have shaped the World Championships: women’s track | News | Tokyo 25

    Rivalries that have shaped the World Championships: women’s track | News | Tokyo 25

    With the countdown to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 in full swing, we continue to shine a spotlight on the rivalries that have left a lasting mark on the sport’s grandest stage.

    This is part two of a four-feature series as we revisit some of the most thrilling head-to-head battles that have defined women’s track events through the years.
     

    Women’s 200m: Felix vs Campbell-Brown

    The women’s 200m rivalry between Allyson Felix and Veronica Campbell-Brown was one of track and field’s most compelling battles. The women’s 200m final at the 2004 Olympic Games set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. Felix had been tipped as the favourite in Athens and she set a world U20 record in the final, but it was Campbell-Brown who claimed Olympic gold.

    Felix turned the tables in Helsinki to become the youngest 200m world champion, at the age of 19. She led a USA 1-2 in 22.16, with Rachelle Boone-Smith taking silver in 22.31 and Campbell-Brown settling for fourth.

    Veronica Campbell, Allyson Felix and Christine Arron in the 200m in Helsinki (© Getty Images)

    Two years later in Osaka, their first 200m clash came in the semifinals, where Felix again took the win ahead of her Jamaican rival. The final played out similarly: Felix caught Campbell-Brown on the bend and powered home to a world-leading 21.81 – her first sub-22 clocking. Campbell-Brown, fresh from winning the 100m title in Osaka, took silver in 22.34.

    But at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Jamaican struck back, retaining her Olympic crown. Their next 200m clash came in 2009 in Berlin, where Felix made history with a third straight world title in 22.02, leaving Campbell-Brown with another silver.

    In 2011, Campbell-Brown entered the Daegu World Championships in blistering form, winning both sprints at the Jamaican Trials. After silver in the 100m, she powered to 200m gold in 22.22, finally securing the world title. Felix, who had claimed 400m silver earlier in the championships, had to settle for bronze. The following year in London, the US sprinter achieved her own milestone – Olympic gold in the 200m in a race in which Campbell-Brown finished fourth.

    Women’s 5000m/10,000m: Dibaba vs Defar vs Cheruiyot

    The women’s long-distance rivalry of the 2000s and early 2010s was shaped by Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, with Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot later joining the mix.

    After winning the women’s 5000m at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, Dibaba made an emphatic statement in 2005. In Helsinki, Dibaba first led an Ethiopian sweep in the 10,000m before returning a week later to headline the first-ever women’s 1-2-3-4 in World Championships history over 5000m.

    Sitting patiently with the leaders for much of the 5000m final, she unleashed her kick at the bell with teammate Defar giving chase. The pair battled to the line, but Dibaba prevailed in a championship record of 14:38.59, ahead of Defar (14:39.54) and Ejegayehu Dibaba (14:42.47). She became the first woman to win the 5000m and 10,000m double at a single World Championships.

    Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar lead the 5000m in Helsinki

    Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar lead the 5000m in Helsinki (© Getty Images)

    Two years later in Osaka, Tirunesh Dibaba successfully defended her 10,000m crown despite a fall. Defar, in world-record form, captured the 5000m title, while Cheruiyot took the bronze medal.

    Injury kept Dibaba out of the 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu World Championships, where Cheruiyot seized control of the distance events. Cheruiyot beat Defar to 5000m gold in Berlin as Defar settled for bronze, then completed the 5000m and 10,000m double in Daegu, again with Defar third in the 5000m.

    The London 2012 Olympics reshuffled the order again: Defar claimed 5000m gold ahead of Cheruiyot and Dibaba, while Dibaba retained her 10,000m title with Cheruiyot third.

    At the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, with Cheruiyot absent, Dibaba won her fifth world title in the 10,000m, and Defar took 5000m gold, keeping their rivalry alive in one of the sport’s most competitive eras.

    Women’s 400m hurdles: McLaughlin-Levrone vs Muhammad vs Bol

    Over the past decade the women’s 400m hurdles has been shaped by three stars – Dalilah Muhammad, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol.

    Muhammad bridged two eras, taking silver medals at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships before winning Olympic gold in Rio in 2016. That year, a teenage McLaughlin-Levrone made her Olympic debut but exited in the semifinals.

    Their rivalry ignited in 2019 when Muhammad twice broke the world record – first with 52.20 at the US Championships, then lowering it to 52.16 to win at the Doha World Championships ahead of McLaughlin-Levrone (52.23).

    What a finish! Dalilah Muhammad edges Sydney McLaughlin in the 400m hurdles at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019

    Dalilah Muhammad edges Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Doha (© Getty Images)

    In 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone claimed the world record for herself at the US Trials (51.90) before defeating Muhammad in a Tokyo Olympic final for the ages, running 51.46 to Muhammad’s 51.58, with Bol taking bronze in a personal best of 52.03.

    At the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, McLaughlin-Levrone obliterated her own world record with a stunning 50.68, with Bol taking silver (52.27) while Muhammad settled for bronze.

    The 2023 season saw Bol in the form of her life and she maintained an unbeaten streak all season. The icing on the cake was her superlative performance at the London Diamond League where she raced to a Diamond League record, lifetime best, world lead and the third-fastest time in history (51.45).

    At the World Championships in Budapest, McLaughlin-Levrone was absent, while Muhammad missed the final having finished third in her semifinal. Bol stormed to her first world title ahead of Shamier Little and Rushell Clayton.

    Now, with McLaughlin-Levrone focusing on the flat 400m in Tokyo in 2025, Bol and Muhammad will duel once more – at Muhammad’s farewell World Championships – as the veteran aims to close her career with a final golden chapter.

    Yemi Galadima for World Athletics

     

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  • Orange Crocodiles, New Human Species, And Death By Meteorite

    Orange Crocodiles, New Human Species, And Death By Meteorite

    This week on Break It Down: The discovery of some fossilized human teeth reveals the oldest known members of our genus weren’t alone; their neighbors were a species we’ve never found before. A world-first study reveals that sex reversal is surprisingly common in wild Australian birds. A law of abbreviation that mysteriously fits all human languages also applies to bird song from several species. Orange crocodiles lurking deep within caves in Central Africa have the potential to become a new dwarf species. The lack of a standardized definition is holding back long COVID research. And has anybody ever died by getting hit by a meteorite? The records show: just one. Available on all your favorite podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Amazon Music, and more.

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    So, sit back, relax, and let’s Break It Down…

    Links

    New human species

    HUMAN with Ella Al-Shamahi

    Tunnel of bones

    Sex reversal in wild birds

    Zipf’s law applies to birds

    Orange crocodiles

    Defining long COVID

    Death by meteorite

    Why do we feel pain? Interview with Chris Hemsworth and Dr BJ Miller

    The Big Questions – Will We Ever Get A Universal Flu Vaccine?

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