FIR against Gynaecologist for Allegedly Leaving Cotton Swab Inside Abdomen After C-Section

Meerut: In an alleged case of medical negligence, the police have registered a case against a female gynaecologist in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut for leaving a bundle of cotton inside a woman’s abdomen following a C-section delivery in 2018.

An FIR has been lodged against a female doctor here for alleged medical negligence after she left a bundle of cotton inside a woman’s abdomen following a C-section delivery, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place on June 30, 2018, when the woman gave birth to a daughter at Sirohi Nursing Home. Following the delivery, she began experiencing persistent stomach pain.

The case was registered at TP Nagar police station on Friday following a court order by Assistant Chief Magistrate Prachi Aggarwal on a complaint by Rajni Sharma, they said.

According to the PTI report, Sharma alleged that she gave birth to a daughter at Sirohi Nursing Home on June 30, 2018, where the surgery was performed by Dr Shikha Jain, a police officer said, citing the complaint.

She later experienced persistent stomach pain, but despite multiple consultations, the doctor diagnosed her with stomach ulcers, he said.

Also Read:2 Thane Hospital doctors booked for patient’s death

As her condition worsened, she underwent surgery at a medical college, where two operations were performed, the officer added.

Sharma further alleged that the pain was due to a cotton bundle left inside her abdomen due to Dr. Jain’s negligence, Station House Officer (SHO) Subodh Kumar Saxena said.

The complainant claimed that after receiving no response from authorities, including the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), she moved the court, the SHO said.

He said, “The case was registered on Friday following a court order of Assistant Chief Judicial Magistrate Prachi Aggarwal on the complaint by Rajni Sharma.” Meanwhile, Jain has denied all allegations, saying, “There is nothing like that. This is just a way to take money from the doctor.” When questioned about the alleged monetary demands from the woman, she told PTI that she was not aware of the specifics.

Meerut Chief Medical Officer Dr Ashok Kataria said that he was unaware of any complaint filed by Sharma at his office.

Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

Also Read:Gynaecologist booked as woman dies after childbirth

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Lupin Launches Ajaduo M Forte, a Triple Fixed-Dose Combination of Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, and Metformin Extended Release (ER)

Global pharmaceutical company Lupin Limited has announced the launch
of Ajaduo M Forte, a novel triple
fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy for the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in India.

Ajaduo M Forte combines three well-established
agents- Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, and
Metformin Extended Release (ER)- into a single daily tablet, simplifying
treatment regimens for patients struggling with diabetes and its associated
complications.

The product will be available in two
strengths:

  • Ajaduo M Forte 25: Empagliflozin 25 mg +
    Linagliptin 5 mg + Metformin ER 1000 mg at 21 Rs/ Tab
  • Ajaduo M Forte 10: Empagliflozin 10 mg +
    Linagliptin 5 mg + Metformin ER 1000 mg at 19 Rs/Tab

Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, promotes urinary glucose excretion and offers
cardiovascular and renal benefits. Linagliptin,
a DPP-4 inhibitor, enhances incretin levels to improve insulin secretion and
reduce glucagon release. Metformin ER
improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses hepatic glucose production.

With its focused Fixed dose combinations,
Ajaduo M Forte specifically targets multiple pathophysiological defects
described in the Ominous Octet model,
addressing key contributors such as insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction,
and increased renal glucose reabsorption. It is the only USFDA-approved
fixed-dose triple combination of Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, and Metformin,
providing a comprehensive approach to glycemic control. The formulation aligns
with globally recognized guidelines, including those issued by the ADA/EASD and RSSDI, reinforcing its clinical relevance and utility in modern
diabetes management.

Commenting on the
launch, Mr Gagan Arora, Vice President Sales and Marketing, “Ajaduo M Forte reflects our commitment to
delivering innovative, patient-centric solutions. This triple combination
simplifies therapy while offering robust efficacy aligned with international
recommendations, enabling better long-term outcomes for diabetes patients in
India.”

With Empagliflozin going off-patent, Lupin has
strategically expanded its diabetes portfolio by launching Ajaduo, a fixed-dose
combination (FDC) of Empagliflozin and Linagliptin, available in Ajaduo 10/5
and Ajaduo 25/5. Additionally, the company has introduced Ajaduo M Forte, a
triple FDC of Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, and Metformin Extended Release,
available in Ajaduo M Forte 25 and Ajaduo M Forte 10.

You can
read about it at the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/md-brand-connect/lupin-launches-empagliflozin-linagliptin-fdc-ajaduo-at-affordable-prices-144755

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Study explores whether osteoporosis drug denosumab regenerate beta cells?

City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a top research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, is leading a phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating an osteoporosis medication as a way to improve beta cell health in people with early type 1 diabetes.

The study, which is now open, will explore whether denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody that is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone tumors, can protect and regenerate beta cells, which produce insulin to regulate blood sugar, in type 1 diabetes patients.

Type 1 diabetes arises when a person’s immune system destroys beta cells, and they no longer make the needed amount of insulin to stay healthy. However, in the early stages of type 1 diabetes, some beta cells are still alive and functioning.

The phase 1/2, randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of denosumab for improving beta cell function and blood sugar control among patients with early type 1 diabetes, who continue to make some insulin.

“This is an exciting new application of a known medication that, in addition to potentially protecting and/or expanding the beta cells that remain in early type 1 diabetes patients, might also be able to help other patients with diabetes to increase beta cell number and/or function,” said Fouad R. Kandeel, M.D., Ph.D., the Arthur D. Riggs Distinguished Chair in Diabetes & Metabolism Research at City of Hope and the trial’s co-principal investigator. “We are actively working to enroll qualified patients and look forward to seeing where this trial leads us.”

In the bone, denosumab works by inhibiting a protein called RANKL (Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kapp-B Ligand), blocking its interaction with the receptor RANK, thereby reducing bone damage.

“We have found that the same RANKL/RANK pathway can destroy beta cells,” said Rupangi Vasavada, Ph.D., City of Hope associate professor in the Department of Translational Research & Cellular Therapeutics and the trial’s co-principal investigator. “Previous studies in our lab by Nagesha Guthalu Kondegowda, Ph.D. have shown that denosumab can inhibit this detrimental pathway and improve beta cell health by protecting, increasing the number and/or improving the function of beta cells.”

By protecting and preserving beta cell function, the medication could slow down the progression of type 1 diabetes and improve blood sugar control.

Primary funding for this clinical trial comes from Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. The trial is also funded by and part of The Wanek Family Project for Type 1 Diabetes at City of Hope, which seeks to find cures for the disease.

Patients are being recruited at City of Hope in the Los Angeles area and at two other locations: University of Alabama at Birmingham (led by Anath Shalev, M.D.) and Indiana University (led by Carmella Evans-Molina, M.D., Ph.D.). Participants must be adults, ages 18 to 50, with early type 1 diabetes, who are less than five years from initial diagnosis and have residual beta cell function.

Participants will be randomized with a 2:1 treatment to placebo ratio. The treatment group will enroll 30 individuals with the denosumab regimen of 60 milligrams injection given under the skin every three months for a total of four injections. The placebo arm will enroll 15 individuals and be administered with normal saline placebo using the same regimen. The study participants will be followed for 12 months for adverse events and tested for changes in beta cell function and blood sugar control parameters.

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Asundexian Shows Lower Stroke Risk in oral anticoagulant Naive Patients: JAMA

Researchers have found in a new study that oral anticoagulants OAC-naive patients experienced a smaller increase in stroke or systemic embolism with asundexian compared to apixaban. However, this effect was less pronounced in OAC-experienced patients. The underlying mechanism remains unclear and requires further research. The study published in JAMA Cardiology was conducted by John H.A. and fellow researchers.

The trial, a prespecified exploratory analysis of the OCEANIC-AF trial, examined whether the asundexian effect differed between OAC-naive and OAC-experienced patients. The trial enrolled 14,810 participants at 1035 sites in 38 countries, and data were analyzed in June-July 2024. Stroke or systemic embolism was the primary efficacy outcome, and the main safety outcome was major bleeding.

This analysis divided AF patients into two groups according to previous OAC exposure: OAC naive (≤6 weeks of previous OAC use) and OAC experienced (>6 weeks of previous OAC use). Patients were assigned randomly to asundexian, a new factor XIa inhibitor, or apixaban, an established anticoagulant. The study evaluated the rates of stroke or systemic embolism and major bleeding in the two groups to compare differences in anticoagulant efficacy and safety.

Key Findings

  • Out of 14,810 participants, 2493 (17%) were OAC naive (mean age: 72.6 years, 59% male), and 12,317 (83%) were OAC experienced (mean age: 74.2 years, 66% male).

  • Stroke or systemic embolism in the asundexian group occurred in 0.8% (10 of 1238) among OAC-naive patients versus 1.4% (88 of 6177) among OAC-experienced patients.

  • In the apixaban arm, stroke or systemic embolism happened in 0.6% (7 of 1255) of OAC-naive patients versus 0.3% (19 of 6140) in OAC-experienced patients.

  • OAC-naive patients had a lesser increase in stroke or systemic embolism with asundexian compared with apixaban (HR 1.42, 95% CI: 0.54-3.73) than OAC-experienced patients (HR 4.66, 95% CI: 2.84-7.65, p=0.03).

  • Major bleeding rates were reduced in OAC-naive (0.2%, 2 of 1228) and OAC-experienced (0.2%, 15 of 6145) patients receiving asundexian versus apixaban (1.0%, 13 of 1249 for OAC naive; 0.7%, 40 of 6115 for OAC experienced).

In the OCEANIC-AF trial, patients with nonexposure or limited prior OAC exposure had less increase in stroke or systemic embolism with asundexian than apixaban compared to patients with OAC exposure. The lower major bleeding risk with asundexian in both cohorts also underscores its potential as a safer anticoagulation therapy.

Reference:

Alexander JH, Lydon EJ, Piccini JP, et al. Asundexian or Apixaban in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation According to Prior Oral Anticoagulant Use: A Subgroup Analysis of the OCEANIC-AF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. Published online March 26, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.0277

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Journal Club: Vilanterol vs formoterol in obstructive airway diseases: A comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and clinical advantages in light of Global Initiative for Asthma 2024 and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2024 guidelines

This review has been published in the Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences published by Scientific Scholar.
This comprehensive review evaluates the comparative efficacy, safety, and clinical advantages of vilanterol versus formoterol in the management of obstructive airway diseases, with a specific focus on the latest Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2024 and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2024 guideline recommendations.
Vilanterol, a novel long-acting β2-agonist (LABA), 24-hour duration of action, once-daily dosing when compared to formoterol’s twice-daily requirement.
Clinical trials in both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have shown vilanterol-containing combinations to be at least as effective as formoterol-based treatments in improving lung function, symptom control, and quality of life.
However, the GINA 2024 guidelines emphasize formoterol’s role in as-needed and maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) approaches for asthma management.
In COPD, Vilanterol aligns well with GOLD 2024 recommendations, particularly in fixed-dose combinations. Safety analyses indicate a favorable profile for vilanterol, even in high-risk populations. The once-daily dosing of vilanterol offers potential improvements in patient adherence and satisfaction, especially relevant in COPD management.
While direct cost comparisons are limited, improved clinical outcomes suggest potential cost-effectiveness benefits.
This review concludes that while vilanterol presents several advantages, particularly in COPD management and once-daily regimens, the choice between vilanterol and formoterol should be individualized based on patient characteristics, disease features, and current guideline recommendations.

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Antibiotic exposure in infancy may boost Type 1 diabetes risk, reveals research

Exposure to antibiotics during a key developmental window in infancy can stunt the growth of insulin– producing cells in the pancreas and may boost risk of diabetes later in life, new research in mice suggests.

The study, published this month in the journal Science, also pinpoints specific microorganisms that may help those critical cells proliferate in early life.

The findings are the latest to shine a light on the importance of the human infant microbiome-the constellation of bacteria and fungi living on and in us during our first few years. The research could lead to new approaches for addressing a host of metabolic diseases.

“We hope our study provides more awareness for how important the infant microbiome actually is for shaping development,” said first author Jennifer Hill, assistant professor in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU’s BioFrontiers Institute. “This work also provides important new evidence that microbe-based approaches could someday be used to not only prevent but also reverse diabetes.”

Something in the environment

More than 2 million U.S. adults live with Type 1 diabetes, an incurable disease in which the pancreas fails to make insulin (the hormone that turns glucose into energy) and the blood fills with sugar.

The disease typically emerges in childhood, and genetics play a strong role. But scientists have found that, while identical twins share DNA that predisposes them to Type 1 diabetes, only one twin usually gets the disease.

“This tells you that there’s something about their environmental experiences that is changing their susceptibility,” said Hill.

For years, she has looked to microbes for answers.

Previous studies show that children who are breastfed or born vaginally, which can both promote a healthy infant microbiome, are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes than others. Some research also shows that giving babies antibiotics early can inadvertently kill good bugs with bad and boost diabetes risk.

The lingering questions: What microbes are these infants missing out on?

“Our study identifies a critical window in early life when specific microbes are necessary to promote pancreatic cell development,” said Hill.

A key window of opportunity

She explained that human babies are born with a small amount of pancreatic “beta cells,” the only cells in the body that produce insulin.

But some time in a baby’s first year, a once-in-a-lifetime surge in beta cell growth occurs.

“If, for whatever reason, we don’t undergo this event of expansion and proliferation, that can be a cause of diabetes,” Hill said.

She conducted the current study as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah with senior author June Round, a professor of pathology.

They found that when they gave broad-spectrum antibiotics to mice during a specific window (the human equivalent of about 7 to 12 months of life), the mice developed fewer insulin producing cells, higher blood sugar levels, lower insulin levels and generally worse metabolic function in adulthood.

“This, to me, was shocking and a bit scary,” said Round. “It showed how important the microbiota is during this very short early period of development.”

Lessons in baby poop

In other experiments, the scientists gave specific microbes to mice, and found that several they increased their production of beta cells and boosted insulin levels in the blood.

The most powerful was a fungus called Candida dubliniensis.

The team used fecal samples from The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study to make what Hill calls “poop slushies” and fed them to the mice.

When the researchers inoculated newborn mice with poop from healthy infants between 7 to 12 months in age, their beta cells began to grow. Poop from infants of other ages did not do the same.

Notably, Candida dublineinsis was abundant in human babies only during this time period.

“This suggests that humans also have a narrow window of colonization by these beta cell promoting microbes,” said Hill.

When male mice that were genetically predisposed to Type 1 diabetes were colonized with the fungus in infancy, they developed diabetes less than 15% of the time. Males that didn’t receive the fungus got diabetes 90% of the time.

Even more promising, when researchers gave the fungus to adult mice whose insulin-producing cells had been killed off, those cells regenerated.

Too early for treatments

Hill stresses that she is not “anti-antibiotics.”

But she does imagine a day when doctors could give microbe-based drugs or supplements alongside antibiotics to replace the metabolism-supporting bugs they inadvertently kill.

Poop slushies (fecal microbiota transplants) have already been used experimentally to try to improve metabolic profiles of people with Type 2 diabetes, which can also damage pancreatic beta cells.

But such approaches can come with real risk, since many microbes that are beneficial in childhood can cause harm in adults. Instead, she hopes that scientists can someday harness the specific mechanisms the microbes use to develop novel treatments for healing a damaged pancreas—reversing diabetes.

She recently helped establish a state-of-the-art “germ-free” facility for studying the infant microbiome at CU Boulder. There, animals can be bred and raised in sterile “bubbles” entirely without microbes, and by re-introducing them one by one scientists can learn they work.

“Historically we have interpreted germs as something we want to avoid, but we probably have way more beneficial microbes than pathogens,” she said. “By harnessing their power, we can do a lot to benefit human health.”

Reference:

Jennifer Hampton Hill et al. ,Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage-dependent β cell development.Science387,eadn0953(2025).DOI:10.1126/science.adn0953

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Surgery Provide Early Benefits Among Patients with Humeral Shaft Fractures: JAMA

UK: A recent randomized clinical trial compared operative and nonoperative management of humeral shaft fractures, shedding light on their benefits and risks. The findings were published online in JAMA Surgery on March 26, 2025.

The researchers found that surgery provided early functional advantages over bracing for patients with humeral shaft fractures. However, these benefits must be weighed against operative risks, as there was no significant difference in outcomes at 1 year between surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Humeral shaft fractures are commonly treated without surgery, but this approach may lead to higher rates of nonunion and potentially poorer functional outcomes compared to operative fixation. Given these concerns, evaluating the effectiveness of surgical intervention versus nonoperative management using functional bracing becomes crucial. Understanding whether surgery offers significant advantages in terms of healing, mobility, and overall recovery can help guide treatment decisions.

Against the above background, William M. Oliver, Edinburgh Orthopaedics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and colleagues aimed to determine if there is a meaningful difference in outcomes between the two approaches for adults with isolated, closed humeral shaft fractures, providing valuable insights into the most effective management strategy.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a prospective, superiority, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial at a major trauma center in the UK between September 2018 and October 2023. The study included 70 adults with isolated, closed humeral shaft fractures, excluding those with absolute surgical indications, pathological or periprosthetic fractures, multiple traumas, significant frailty, or follow-up constraints. Patients were randomized to open reduction and plate fixation (n=36) or functional bracing (n=34), with seven not receiving the assigned treatment.

The primary outcome was the DASH score at three months, while secondary outcomes included quality of life, pain, joint mobility, and complications.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

  • The study included 70 patients with a mean age of 49, comprising 38 females (54%) and 32 males (46%).
  • At three months, 66 patients (94%) had completed follow-up.
  • The operative group showed a significantly better DASH score at three months (difference: 15.0) and six weeks (difference: 14.7), but not at six months or twelve months.
  • Surgery was associated with higher EQ-5D scores at six weeks (difference: 0.126).
  • At six months, the EQ-VAS score was higher in the operative group (difference: 7).
  • SF-12 MCS scores favored surgery at six weeks (difference: 9.3), three months (difference: 6.9), and six months (difference: 7.1).
  • Brace-related dermatitis was more common in the nonoperative group (18% vs. 3%).
  • Nonunion occurred in 11% of cases, with a higher rate in the nonoperative group (18% vs. 6%).

The study demonstrated that surgical management of isolated closed humeral shaft fractures offered early functional benefits, including enhanced upper-limb function, improved quality of life, pain relief, and better range of motion. However, the researchers observed that these advantages diminished beyond six months, with no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes at one year.

“Given the potential risks of surgery, these short-term gains should be carefully weighed against operative complications. Identifying patients at a higher risk of nonunion and considering early surgical intervention in select cases may offer the most appropriate treatment approach,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Oliver WM, Bell KR, Carter TH, et al. Operative vs Nonoperative Management of Fractures of the Humeral Diaphysis: The Humeral Shaft Fracture Fixation Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. Published online March 26, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2025.0301

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Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire useful Tool for Assessing Malocclusion Impact on OHRQoL: Study

Researchers have found in a new research that malocclusion Impact Questionnaire is useful Tool for Assessing Malocclusion Impact on OHRQoL.The study highlights the effectiveness of the Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) in evaluating the impact of malocclusion on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in orthodontics. The differences in OHRQoL between children with and without severe hypodontia (missing ≥5 teeth) were minimal. Delaying treatment until the patient expresses a subjective need may help prevent unnecessary treatments in children with hypodontia.

A study was done to assess the impact of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and to compare the impact of malocclusion in children with and without hypodontia. Children aged 10-16 years with ≥ 5 missing teeth and without hypodontia completed the Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) to assess the impact of malocclusion on OHRQoL. The Child Perception Questionnaire 11-14 years short form (CPQ11-14-ISF16) was used to verify the validity of the MIQ. Demographic and orthodontic data were collected. Internal consistency and validity of the MIQ were analyzed. MIQ scores were compared using an independent t‑test. Regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of the MIQ score. RESULTS: A total of 92 participants completed the MIQ, and 52 participants the CPQ11-14-ISF16. The MIQ showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α 0.89) and good criterion validity with CPQ11-14-ISF16 (r = 0.58). No significant difference in the impact of malocclusion on OHRQoL between the groups (p = 0.15) was found. Age (p < 0.05), sex (p < 0.001), and general appearance (p < 0.001) significantly predicted OHRQoL scores in the regression analysis. Multilevel analysis showed that the group and age effects were nonsignificant and that sex and general appearance were predictive for the MIQ score. This study suggests that the MIQ is a useful tool to assess the impact of malocclusion on OHRQoL in the orthodontic field. Differences in the impact of malocclusion on OHRQoL between children with and without hypodontia of ≥ 5 teeth were limited. It may be beneficial delaying treatment until the patient expresses a subjective treatment need which may reduce overtreatment of children with hypodontia.

Reference:

Duisterwinkel, Farnaz, et al. “Impact of Malocclusion On Oral Health-related Quality of Life: Insights From Children With and Without Hypodontia.” Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics = Fortschritte Der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official Journal Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Kieferorthopadie, 2025.

Keywords:

Malocclusion, Impact, Questionnaire, useful, Tool, Assessing, Malocclusion, Impact, OHRQoL, Study, Duisterwinkel, Farnaz

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Early signs of heart problems linked to smaller brain volumes, suggests study

People who have early signs of heart problems may also have changes in brain health that can be early signs of dementia, such as loss of brain volume, according to a meta-analysis published on March 26, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The meta-analysis does not prove that early heart problems cause loss of brain cells; it only shows an association.

“This review shows that better heart health is associated with larger brain volumes, suggesting that the preservation of heart function could help maintain brain health and memory and thinking skills during the aging process,” said meta-analysis author Frank J. Wolters, MD, PhD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. “These results add to the importance of early detection and treatment of heart problems.”

The meta-analysis included seven studies from Europe and the United States with a total of 10,889 participants with an average age of 67. The studies measured early signs of heart problems, including systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction is when the left ventricle of the heart can’t contract normally and pump blood efficiently. Diastolic dysfunction is when the left ventricle does not relax properly between heartbeats and fill with blood. The studies also used MRI brain scans to measure brain volumes.

The meta-analysis found that people with moderate to severe systolic dysfunction were more likely to have a smaller total brain volume than people with normal systolic function. People with diastolic function problems also had a smaller total brain volume and smaller volume in the hippocampus area of the brain, which plays a role in memory.

“The meta-analysis shows that even mild diastolic dysfunction is associated with adverse brain health,” Wolters said. “Evaluating people who have heart problems-especially impaired diastolic function-for problems with memory and thinking skills could help us detect any cognitive decline early and start interventions.”

Wolters noted that additional studies are needed to investigate the relationship between heart health and brain health, particularly to link imaging findings to important health outcomes.

A limitation of the meta-analysis was that the majority of participants were white people, so the results cannot be generalized to more diverse populations.

Reference:

Yaqub, A., et al. (2025) Clinical and Imaging Markers of Cardiac Function and Brain Health. A Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Studies. Neurology. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213421.

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Oral contraceptives and smoking impact steroid hormone levels in healthy adults: Study

Steroid hormone levels in healthy adults are influenced by oral contraceptives and smoking, as well as other lifestyle choices and factors such as biological sex and age, according to new research that has just been published in leading international journal Science Advances.

The objective of the research was to expand knowledge and understanding of steroid hormone levels, including corticoids and sex hormones, in healthy women and men over a broad age range. This is the first study to analyse such a large number of hormones in nearly 1,000 healthy people, filling a major gap in the knowledge of molecules that are important for our day-to-day well-being.

The work was conducted by members of the Milieu Interieur consortium and led by Dr Darragh Duffy (Institut Pasteur) and Dr Molly Ingersoll (Institut Pasteur and Institut Cochin (Inserm U1016, CNRS, Université Paris Cité). Dr Jamie Sugrue, a Trinity College Dublin graduate, now a Marie Curie-funded postdoctoral researcher at the Institut Pasteur, is the co-first author. Dr Sugrue also worked with Trinity’s Professor Cliona O’Farrelly to secure a Research Ireland Ulysses grant, which kickstarted the ongoing collaboration between Trinity researchers and the Pasteur and Milieu Interieur consortium teams.

The team involved in this current study found that hormone levels vary according to an individual’s age and sex, but that they are also associated with many other factors, such as genetics and common behaviours.

Notably, many steroid hormone levels, beyond sex hormones, are influenced by oral contraceptive use in women, while in men, smoking was associated with altered levels of nearly every steroid hormone measured.

Additionally, measurement of hormones in the same donors 10 years after the original visit showed that decreases in specific androgens were associated with diverse diseases in aging men, implying that these hormones – which are associated with physical characteristics, and supporting strong bones and red blood cell production – play a role in disease development.

This finding – among others – gives the team numerous avenues to pursue in future research.

Dr Sugrue said: “Even in healthy people, immune responses can vary dramatically. As a first step towards understanding how hormones impact immunity, we worked to understand how hormones themselves vary among people. Our study provides a significant resource for the research community, and generates many new hypotheses for further research. Our next steps will focus on understanding how variation in hormone levels contribute to differences in the immune response between people.”

“My current project is specifically focused on variation in antiviral immune responses in healthy people, and in many ways is a continuation of work that I started during my PhD with Prof. Cliona O’Farrelly at Trinity, where we worked on how antiviral immune system variation can confer resistance to hepatitis C virus infection. By incorporating the hormone measures into my current analysis I hope to uncover exciting new insights.”

Cliona O’Farrelly, Professor of Comparative Immunology in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology, added: “If the COVID pandemic taught us anything it was how different all our immune systems are, and being part of the Milieu Interieur collaboration is giving us Trinity researchers a wonderful opportunity to study the molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for these differences at scale.”

Co-first author, Dr Léa G Deltourbe, Institut Pasteur & Institut Cochin, added: “This study brings much needed data to a subject that is receiving a lot of interest in the mainstream news and on social media platforms, providing a strong basis for investigating the role of steroid hormones in health and disease, including the impact of endocrine disruptors, the link between stress and cortisol, and the role of sex hormones on our well-being.”

As one example, understanding the potential effects of the contraceptive pill on physical and mental health should lead to a better quality of life for women choosing to use this form of medication.

Reference:

Léa G. Deltourbe et al. ,Steroid hormone levels vary with sex, aging, lifestyle, and genetics.Sci. Adv.11,eadu6094(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adu6094

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