Medical Diary, Jubail (2025)

05/11/2025

A study from the University of Cambridge suggests that the majority of a child's intelligence is inherited from their mother. The research found that intelligence-related genes are carried on the X chromosome, which is present in two copies in females and only one copy in males. This genetic link suggests that a child's cognitive abilities are more likely to be influenced by their mother's genetic material. Additionally, environmental factors such as nurturing, education, and emotional support also contribute significantly to the development of intelligence.

05/11/2025

A new drug eliminated leukemia in preclinical models.

Scientists in France have achieved a major milestone in cancer research: they’ve completely eliminated leukemia in preclinical models by changing the way cancer cells die.

Led by teams at the Institut Pasteur and Inserm, researchers developed a triple-drug therapy that reprograms malignant B cells to die through a process called necroptosis. Unlike normal cell death (apoptosis), which is silent and often goes unnoticed by the immune system, necroptosis sounds the alarm. It releases signals that activate immune cells, turning the body’s natural defenses against any remaining cancer.

This approach could reshape how we treat blood cancers like leukemia and B-cell lymphomas.

The challenge? Malignant B cells often lack a key protein called MLKL, which makes it hard to trigger necroptosis. But the researchers overcame this by combining three drugs already approved for clinical use. Together, the combination forced the cancer cells into a type of cell death that activated a strong immune response and cleared the cancer completely in lab models.

Using advanced imaging, the scientists were able to watch this process unfold in real time. Cancer cells began dying, immune cells swarmed in, and the tumor disappeared.
The study’s lead investigator, Philippe Bousso, says this strategy turns cancer cells into “triggers” for the immune system – something traditional therapies often fail to do.

It’s early, and the research is still in preclinical stages. But the implications are huge: if these results translate to human trials, this therapy could represent a major leap forward in immunotherapy.

Read the study:
“Reprogramming RIPK3-induced cell death in malignant B cells promotes immune-mediated tumor control.” Science Advances, 15 August 2025.

05/11/2025

Muscle cramps are a nightmare for athletes—sudden, painful contractions that can end a game or ruin a workout. For years, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances were blamed, but many well-hydrated athletes still cramp, and some in hot conditions don’t. New research is pointing to a surprising culprit: the playing surface.

When muscles get fatigued, the nervous system sends mixed signals about when to contract and relax. Muscle spindles become overactive, while Golgi tendon organs fail to provide enough inhibitory feedback, causing motor neurons to fire excessively and muscles to cramp. Studies now show that surfaces with unfamiliar stiffness or elasticity accelerate this neuromuscular fatigue. Runners and athletes performing on different turfs exhibit significant differences in muscle activity, particularly in multi-joint muscles like hamstrings, which are key for sprinting and cutting.

The solution isn’t just hydration—it’s training smart. Gradual exposure to surfaces similar to competition venues allows muscles and nerves to adapt, reducing fatigue and cramp risk. Teams might adjust drills, replicate away court conditions, or use cushioned surfaces in practice to mimic game demands. In the future, wearable sensors and machine learning could track neuromuscular fatigue in real-time, letting coaches anticipate and prevent cramps before they happen. By combining hydration, conditioning, and surface adaptation, cramps may become less inevitable and more manageable.

Research Paper 📄
DOI: 10.1007/s12283-024-00461-9

04/11/2025

A growing body of research suggests that high sugar intake is more strongly linked to heart disease risk than previously thought, even independent of cholesterol levels or body weight. Excessive sugar can increase blood pressure and prompt the liver to release harmful fats, which stress the cardiovascular system. Some studies indicate that getting 25% or more of daily calories from added sugar can more than double the risk of heart-related death.

WHY SUGAR POSES A MAJOR RISK TO THE HEART:

📑Inflammation: A diet high in sugar can lead to chronic inflammation, which damages blood vessel walls and accelerates atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

📑Blood pressure: High sugar intake can contribute to high blood pressure, a known major risk factor for heart disease.

📑Triglycerides: Sugar significantly increases levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood that, at high levels, raises heart disease risk.

📑Insulin resistance and diabetes: High sugar consumption can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, which dramatically increases the risk of heart disease.

While high levels of bad cholesterol to remain a critical risk factor, these studies shifted the scientific consensus by highlighting that excessive sugar intake is an equally, if not more potent and direct contributor to cardiovascular mortality.

04/11/2025

A groundbreaking gene therapy involving a single injection has enabled doctors to restore hearing in children born with complete deafness. This innovative treatment promotes the ear's regeneration of specialized cells responsible for sound detection. For several children, this experience marked their inaugural exposure to voices and music. The outcomes are fostering hope among families and may pave the way for novel treatments addressing hearing loss worldwide. Science has successfully converted silence into sound.

04/11/2025

Doctors used a single injection of gene therapy to restore hearing in children born completely deaf. The treatment helps the ear regrow special cells that detect sound. For some children, this was the first time they heard voices and music. The results are giving hope to families and could lead to new ways to treat hearing loss for millions around the world. Science has turned silence into sound.

04/11/2025

A first-in-human clinical trial has shown that gene editing may help the immune system fight advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Researchers at the University of Minnesota used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to modify tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), a type of immune cell that naturally seeks out tumors. By disabling a gene called CISH, which normally suppresses immune activity, the engineered TILs were able to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.

The treatment was tested in 12 patients with late-stage gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer. Results were encouraging: the therapy was generally safe with no major side effects linked to gene editing. Several patients saw their cancer growth stop, and one patient experienced a complete response, with all metastatic tumors disappearing and remaining absent for more than two years.

More than 10 billion engineered TILs were successfully delivered per patient, showing the feasibility of growing and modifying these cells at clinical scale. While the process is complex and expensive, the trial proves that immune cells can be genetically reprogrammed in a safe and effective way.

Researchers believe refining this method could lead to new, more powerful immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers.

Research Paper 📄
PMID: 40315882

04/11/2025

In a groundbreaking achievement, Dutch researchers at the Hubrecht Institute have successfully created human embryo models without eggs, utilizing synthetic embryo-like structures from human stem cells. This breakthrough eliminates the need for s***m, eggs, and fertilization, and opens up new avenues for studying early pregnancy and fertility. The technique employs induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are adult cells reprogrammed back to an embryonic state. By using precise chemical signals, researchers coax these cells to self-organize into structures resembling natural blastocysts, complete with trophectoderm, epiblast, and hypoblast, as well as proper spatial organization. This achievement is significant, as 70% of natural pregnancies fail within the first two weeks, a phase that is impossible to study ethically. Blastoids provide a window into early miscarriage causes, genetic disorders during implantation, IVF improvement strategies, and birth defect origins. Strict ethical guidelines limit growth to 14 days, prior to nervous system development. While these aren't real embryos and cannot develop into babies, they are accurate enough to revolutionize reproductive medicine. Could synthetic embryo research finally provide a solution to infertility for millions? Source: Hubrecht Institute Netherlands, Nature Cell Biology 2025 🔬

04/11/2025

A game-changing new inhaler is showing a 45% reduction in asthma attacks in children.

It could potentially transform how mild-to-moderate asthma is treated worldwide.

The budesonide-formoterol inhaler, which combines an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a fast-acting bronchodilator, has been proven to be more effective than the standard asthma relief treatment, salbutamol. In a groundbreaking trial involving 360 children in New Zealand, this 2-in-1 inhaler reduced the frequency of asthma attacks compared to the widely used salbutamol, with no significant safety concerns.

For the first time, children aged 5 to 15 who received the combined treatment experienced fewer asthma attacks, and the treatment was confirmed to be safe – with no issues in growth, lung function, or asthma control.

The findings, published in The Lancet, are poised to reshape global asthma guidelines and bring children’s asthma treatments in line with adults, where the 2-in-1 inhaler has been the standard for some time.

Asthma remains a significant public health issue, affecting an estimated 113 million children worldwide, and this new treatment offers hope for more effective and accessible care. The research, conducted by a team from Imperial College London, MRINZ, and other global collaborators, is a crucial step toward improving asthma care and reducing the burden of asthma attacks for millions of children.

This trial’s findings show that with just a small change in the inhaler, asthma care could become safer and more efficient, especially for children who’ve been relying on less effective treatments for years.

Read the study:
"Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial." The Lancet, 2025

04/11/2025

Ai Dog first aide

04/11/2025

Young and middle-aged athletes who experience repeated head impacts may undergo profound changes in their brain structure years prior to a diagnosable condition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Recent research demonstrates that, even in the absence of the characteristic protein clumps associated with CTE, the brains of these athletes exhibit early signs of inflammation, neuronal loss, and altered blood vessel cells. Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, transition from their typical

04/11/2025

The human body possesses a secret reset button, which remains inactive in most individuals. Recent research has revealed that abstaining from food for 2-4 days triggers an incredible response. Contrary to merely pausing, the immune system engages in a comprehensive self-renewal process, leveraging stem cells. This remarkable phenomenon was directly observed by researchers.

Medical Diary

05/11/2025

05/11/2025

05/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share