Public health & disease

Human eye up close

Japanese researchers develop world-first stem-cell treatment that restores vision in humans

| By | -, Good News Links

Kohji Nishida, an ophthalmologist at Osaka University in Japan, and his colleagues used an alternative source of cells — induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells — to make the corneal transplants. They took blood cells from a healthy donor and reprogrammed them into an embryonic-like state, then transformed them into a thin, transparent sheet of cobblestone-shaped corneal epithelial cells. After the transplants, all four recipients showed immediate improvements in their vision, and a reduction in the area of the cornea affected by LSCD. The improvements persisted in all but one recipient, who showed slight reversals during a one-year observation period.

Japanese researchers develop world-first stem-cell treatment that restores vision in humans Read more

A doctor is about to vaccinate a child, close up on the child wearing a surgical mask

Sudan launches first malaria vaccine in landmark child health initiative

| By | -, Good News Links

Malaria remains a leading cause of childhood mortality in Sudan, which has one of the highest malaria rates in the region. The disease claimed an estimated 7,900 lives in Sudan in 2023, though the actual toll may be higher due to ongoing conflict between rival militaries. The launch follows the arrival of the first consignment of 186,000 doses to Sudan in October and the campaign will begin across 15 health facilities in Gedaref and the Blue Nile states, benefitting more than 148,000 children under 12 months-old. In 2025 and 2026, the vaccine will be introduced in a further 129 localities.

Sudan launches first malaria vaccine in landmark child health initiative Read more

Doctor with Red Ribbon for December World Aids Day, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, multiple myeloma Cancer Awareness month and National Red ribbon week. Healthcare and world cancer day concept

Biden administration adds injectable PrEP requirement for insurance providers

| By | -, Good News Links

The Biden-Harris administration has announced a new requirement for insurance providers to cover injectable PrEP in their policies without a co-payment for consumers. The new rule, built on previous guidance for the Affordable Care Act, also applies to increased choice in contraception. The Biden-Harris administration announced Monday a new requirement for insurance providers to cover injectable PrEP in their policies without a co-payment for consumers. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, was first approved by the FDA in 2012 to prevent people exposed to HIV from becoming infected with the virus. Truvada in pill form was the first prescriptive PrEP to hit the market, followed by Descovy. The injectable PrEP Apretude was approved in 2021.

Biden administration adds injectable PrEP requirement for insurance providers Read more

Mosquito

Egypt is certified malaria-free by World Health Organization

| By | -, Good News Links

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Egypt as malaria-free, marking a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants. The achievement follows a nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people to end a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times. Egypt is the third country to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, and the first since 2010. Globally, a total of 44 countries and 1 territory have reached this milestone.

Egypt is certified malaria-free by World Health Organization Read more

Blood cells under microscope

Danish scientists design new form of insulin that automatically switches itself on and off

| By | -, Good News Links

For decades, researchers have been working to develop a system that can automatically adjust insulin activity based on the amount of glucose in a person’s blood. Now, Rita Slaaby, a principal scientist at pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in Bagsværd, Denmark, and her colleagues engineered an insulin molecule with a switch that turns its activity on and off in response to glucose levels in the blood. In animals, this ‘smart’ insulin reduces high blood-sugar concentrations effectively while preventing levels from dropping too low.

Danish scientists design new form of insulin that automatically switches itself on and off Read more

Insulin pens

New treatment eliminates insulin for 86% of patients in early trials

| By | -, Good News Links

New research from Amsterdam University Medical Center introduces a promising new treatment approach for type 2 diabetes (T2D) that has the potential to greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin therapy. This innovative approach, which combines a novel procedure known as ReCET (Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy) with semaglutide, resulted in the elimination of insulin therapy for 86% of the 14 patients participating in initial trials. Globally, T2D affects 422 million people. While insulin therapy is commonly used to manage blood sugar levels in T2D patients, it can result in side effects such as weight gain and further complicate diabetes management.

New treatment eliminates insulin for 86% of patients in early trials Read more

Man clutching his chest from acute pain

New heart attack detector gives results in minutes, not hours

| By | -, Good News Links

Someone presenting to the emergency room with a suspected heart attack will undergo a number of standard blood tests to determine heart muscle damage. The problem is that it can take one or two hours to receive the results. Now, Johns Hopkins University researchers have led the design of a tiny chip that diagnoses heart attack by detecting these important biomarkers in minutes rather than hours, even if they are present at very low concentrations. The researchers foresee an at-home heart attack detector in the future.

New heart attack detector gives results in minutes, not hours Read more

Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Awareness. a Teal Ribbon

New cervical cancer treatment regime ‘cuts risk of dying from disease by 40%’

| By | -, Good News Links

Doctors are hailing a “remarkable” new treatment regime for cervical cancer developed by researchers at University College London that reduces the risk of dying by 40%, in the biggest advance against the disease in 25 years. The new treatment plan was tested in patients recruited over 10 years from the UK, Mexico, India, Italy, and Brazil. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with about 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization.

New cervical cancer treatment regime ‘cuts risk of dying from disease by 40%’ Read more

Indian flag

India eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

| By | -, Good News Links

The World Health Organization has validated the world’s most populous country as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the WHO South-East Asia Region and 19 other countries globally that have previously achieved this feat. Though trachoma is preventable, blindness from trachoma is extremely difficult to reverse. Trachoma continues to be a public health problem in 39 countries and is responsible for the blindness of about 1.9 million people.

India eliminates trachoma as a public health problem Read more

Metal pipes

U.S. announces 10-year deadline to remove all lead pipes nationwide

| By | -, Good News Links

President Biden has announced $2.6 billion in funding to replace all lead pipes in the United States as part of a new EPA rule that will require lead pipes to be identified and replaced within 10 years using the new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. The EPA estimates that nine million homes in the U.S. still have lead pipes. “Studies show … communities of color have been the hardest hit,” Mr. Biden said. “One study showed Black children were at least two times more likely to have elevated levels of lead in their blood than children of other racial groups. We have an obligation to make things right.”

U.S. announces 10-year deadline to remove all lead pipes nationwide Read more

Start typing and press enter to search