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Increased risk of acute kidney injury associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Study

A new study published in the journal of Renal Failure showed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a high risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute kidney disease (AKD).

About 50% of patients in intensive care units and 7%–18% of hospitalized patients suffer from acute kidney damage, which is linked to poorer clinical outcomes and increased mortality. The association between COPD, renal function, and mortality is highlighted by the prognosis of patients with AKI who have COPD. After acute kidney injury (AKI), persistent renal pathophysiological processes are referred to as acute kidney disease. The Kidney Disease: Clinical Practice Recommendations for Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendations from 2012 state that AKI is characterized by a reduction in urine output (<0.5 mL/kg/h) within 7 days or a 1.5-fold rise in serum creatinine (Scr) from baseline.

The patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the mortality rate from COPD based on acute/subacute renal damage are poorly understood in relation to acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute kidney disease. Using online apps for clinical decision-making, this study creates machine learning models to predict AKI, AKD, and mortality in patients with COPD.

This study included 2,829 inpatients from January 2016 to December 2018. 20% of the data was used for testing, while the remaining 80% was used for training. Model performance was assessed using a variety of measures, and 8 machine learning techniques were employed. The decision-making process was shown using SHAP. Web apps for detecting high-risk patients were developed using the top models, as determined by AUROC.

AKI and AKD had incidence rates of 13.71% and 15.11%, respectively and 4.84% was the total mortality rate. With AUROC values of 0.815, 0.827, and 0.934 in AKI, AKD, and mortality, respectively, LightGBM demonstrated the greatest performance. Scr, neutrophil percentage, cystatin c, BUN, and LDH were important predictors of AKI. Age, AKI grade, HDL-C, Scr, and BUN were the main predictors of AKD.

The usage of dopamine and adrenaline medications, cystatin C, albumin, renal function trajectory, and neutrophil percentage were the main predictors of death. The prediction procedure for each patient was shown visually by force charts. Overall, patients with COPD have a notable incidence of AKI and AKD. Trajectories of acute and subacute renal damage are essential for forecasting death in individuals with COPD.

Source:

Jin, M., Ma, L., Li, B., Huang, X., & Chen, M. (2025). Comparative analysis of left atrial volume and strain parameters in hemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis patients using four-dimensional automatic quantification technology. Renal Failure, 47(1), 2485390. https://doi.org/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2485390

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Single-dose psychedelic boosts brain flexibility for weeks, peer-reviewed study finds

In a groundbreaking research study, University of Michigan researchers have discovered that a single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility-the brain’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances-or weeks after administration, potentially revolutionizing treatments for depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The study, published today in the journal Psychedelics, demonstrates that mice treated with a single dose of 25CN-NBOH, a selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist, showed markedly improved performance in reversal learning tasks compared to control groups when tested 2-3 weeks after treatment.

Key Findings

“What makes this discovery particularly significant is the sustained duration of cognitive benefits following just one psychedelic dose,” explains Professor Omar J. Ahmed, the study’s senior, corresponding author from the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychology. “We observed enhanced learning adaptability that persisted for weeks, suggesting these compounds may induce lasting and behaviorally meaningful neuroplasticity changes in the prefrontal cortex.”

Using an innovative automated sequential learning paradigm, researchers measured how effectively mice could adapt to rule reversals-a standard test for cognitive flexibility. The psychedelic-treated mice demonstrated superior adaptability compared to saline controls, with enhanced task efficiency, higher percentages of correct trials, and increased reward acquisition during the reversal phase.

Implications for Brain Science

The results complement existing cellular research showing psychedelic-induced structural remodeling in the prefrontal cortex but uniquely demonstrate sustained cognitive benefits persisting long after the immediate effects of the drug have dissipated.

As interest in psychedelic medicine continues to grow, this research raises intriguing questions about how psychedelics might reshape neural pathways governing flexible thinking. Could these compounds potentially reopen critical periods of brain plasticity? What molecular mechanisms underlie these long-lasting cognitive improvements? How might the timing and frequency of administration affect long-term neuroplasticity?

“The current study focused on the long-term effects of a single psychedelic dose. A key question is what happens with two, three, or even twenty doses taken over several months. Is every additional dose increasingly beneficial for flexible learning or is there a plateau effect or even a negative effect of too many doses? These are important questions to answer next in the quest to make psychedelic medicine more rational and mechanistic,” according to Dr. Ahmed.

Sex Differences and Clinical Potential

Importantly, the study found that both male and female mice showed significant improvements in cognitive flexibility, suggesting the potential broad applicability of psychedelic therapy across biological sexes.

“The most striking aspect of our findings is that these cognitive benefits were measured 15-20 days after a single psychedelic administration,” notes Elizabeth J. Brouns, first author of the study. “This suggests that a single dose of a psychedelic isn’t just temporarily altering perception, but potentially inducing lasting beneficial changes in brain function.”

Methodological Advances

The study’s automated behavioral task represents a significant methodological advance for evaluating flexible learning, enabling researchers to efficiently evaluate cognitive flexibility in future investigations of psychedelic compounds. This high-throughput approach could accelerate the development of targeted psychedelic therapies for specific cognitive deficits.

Reference:

Elizabeth J. Brouns et al, Single-dose psychedelic enhances cognitive flexibility and reversal learning in mice weeks after administration, Psychedelics (2025). DOI: 10.61373/pp025r.0002.

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Minor Drug Law Violations Can Now Be Settled Without Trial: Health Ministry Issues Rules

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified the Drugs and Cosmetics (Compounding of Offences) Rules, 2025, allowing pharmaceutical companies and individuals to settle certain minor offences without facing full criminal trials under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The notification was officially published in the Gazette of India on April 24, 2025.

The move aims to decongest the court system, offer regulatory relief for minor violations, and streamline compliance under India’s evolving drug and cosmetic regulation framework.

The move follows the draft rules published last year, where public feedback was invited. The Central Government has introduced these rules under the powers conferred by Section 32B and Section 33 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, after considering public objections and suggestions to the draft rules published earlier in July 2024.

“Objections and suggestions received from the public on the said draft rules have been considered by the Central Government.”

Who Can Apply for Compounding?

The rules specify that any individual or company involved in the manufacturing, sale, import, or distribution of drugs, medical devices, or cosmetics can apply for compounding, either before or after prosecution begins.

“The applicant may, either before or after institution of prosecution, make an application to the compounding authority under section 32B of the Act in the Form along with such relevant informations and documents, to the compounding authority for compounding of the offence.”

Designation of Compounding Authorities

The Central and State Governments will appoint officers, not below the rank of licensing authorities, to act as compounding authorities for handling such cases.

“The Central Government may, for the purposes of these rules, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint any officer not below the rank of reporting authority under these rules, as compounding authorityy for the purpose of exercising powers and functions of the Central Government under these rules and for taking measures with respect to matters arises from these rules.”

Similarly,

“The State Government may, for the purposes of these rules, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint any officer not below the rank of licensing authority under the Act as compounding authority for the purpose of exercising such powers and functions of the State Government under these rules and for taking measures with respect to matters arisen from these rules.”

Procedure to Compound an Offence

Once an application is filed, the compounding authority will call for a report from the concerned licensing authority or reporting officer, review the matter, and then either allow or reject the application based on findings.

“The compounding authority after taking into account the contents of the said application may, by order, either allow the application indicating the compounding amount and grant him immunity from prosecution in terms of rule 6 or reject such application: Provided that the application shall not be rejected unless an opportunity has been given to the applicant of being heard and the grounds of such rejection are mentioned in such order.”

Payment of Compounding Amount

If the offence is compounded, the applicant is required to pay the compounding amount within 30 days of receiving the order.

“The applicant shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of order under sub-rule (3) allowing the compounding of offences, pay the compounding amount t, as ordered to be paid by the compounding authority and shall furnish the proof of such payment to the compounding authority: Provided that the compounding amount once paid shall not be refunded except in cases where the Court rejects grant of immunity from prosecution.”

Conditions and Withdrawal of Immunity

Immunity from prosecution may be withdrawn if the applicant:

Fails to pay the compounding amount, or

Is found to have concealed material information or given false evidence.

“An immunity granted to a person under rule 6 shall stand withdrawn,if such person fails to pay any sum specified in the order of compounding passed by the Compounding authority, under sub-rule(3) of rule 5 within the time specified in such order or fails to comply with any other conditions subject to which the immunity was granted and thereupon the provisions of the Act shall apply as if no such immunity had been granted.”

Further,

“An immunity granted to a person under sub-rule(1) above may, at anytime, be withdrawn by the Compounding authority, if satisfies that such person had, in the course of the compounding proceedings, concealed any particulars, material or had given false evidence, and thereupon such person may be tried for the offence with respect to which immunity has been granted or for any other offence that appears to have been committed by him in connection with the compounding proceedings and there upon the provisions of the Act, shall apply as if no such immunity had been granted.”

To view the official Gazette, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/262711-284799.pdf

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5 booked for defrauding a man of Rs 15 lakh in MBBS admission scam

In yet another medical admission fraud case, 5 individuals have been booked for duping around Rs 15 lakh from a man on the pretext of securing admission in MBBS in ESIC Medical College, Faridabad.

The victim has been identified as Sharma, a resident of Sector-55, Faridabad. He was duped of about Rs 15 lakh to get his daughter admitted to MBBS in ESIC Medical College. The accused has been identified as Manoj Sharma, his wife Monika, Shubham Tiwari, Priyanka and Krishna.

For more information, click on the link below:

Man Duped of Rs 15 Lakh in ESIC Medical College Faridabad MBBS Seat Promise, 5 Booked

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CDSCO panel rejects USV Pharmaceuticals’ proposal of CT study waiver for fenofibrate tablets in diabetic retinopathy

New Delhi: Noting that the presented safety data was not adequate in terms of long-term safety, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has rejected the clinical trial study waiver proposal presented by USV Pharmaceutical for manufacturing and marketing Fenofibrate 160 mg tablets (additional indication) indicated for the reduction in the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes and existing diabetic retinopathy.

This came after the firm presented their proposal for a grant of permission to manufacture and market fenofibrate 160 mg tablets (additional indication) indicated for the reduction in the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes and existing diabetic retinopathy along with justification for a waiver of the clinical trial study.

The firm did not present the bioequivalence (BE) study protocol during deliberation, which was submitted to CDSCO.

The committee noted that the presented safety data was not adequate in terms of the long-term safety of the applied product in the proposed indication.

Fenofibrate, a cholesterol-lowering medication, has shown promise in slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy in some studies, particularly in those with early or pre-proliferative retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy, a common and sight-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is a leading cause of blindness among working-aged adults.

At the recent SEC meeting for ophthalmology held on 19th March 2025, the expert panel reviewed the proposal for grant of permission to manufacture and market Fenofibrate 160 mg tablets (additional indication) indicated for the reduction in the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes and existing diabetic retinopathy along with justification for waiver of clinical trial study.

After detailed deliberation, the committee did not recommend a clinical trial study waiver.

Also Read:Revise Phase III protocol: CDSCO Panel Tells Mankind Over Roflumilast Cream

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Simple test can predict risk of heart disease better than current standard

For almost 60 years, measuring cholesterol levels in the blood has been the best way to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Global study links consumption of ultraprocessed foods to preventable premature deaths

A study analyzing data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) shows that premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase significantly according to their share in individuals’ total energy intake.

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Increased risk of acute kidney injury associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Study