Exercise. It’s associated with increased muscle strength, improved heart health, lower blood sugar and just about every other physical improvement you can name. But how does regularly puffing away on a treadmill, biking up a steep hill or going for a brisk lunchtime walk confer such a dizzying array of health benefits?

We’re now closer to finding out, thanks to a vast new study led by Stanford Medicine. Researchers conducted nearly 10,000 measurements in nearly 20 types of tissues to uncover the effect of eight weeks of endurance exercise in laboratory rats trained to run on rodent-sized treadmills.

Their results highlight striking effects of exercise on the immune system, stress response, energy production and metabolism. They uncovered significant links between exercise, molecules and genes already known to be involved in myriad human diseases and tissue recovery.

The study is one of a series of papers published May 1 by members of a multicenter research group meant to lay the groundwork for understanding — on a bodywide, molecular level — exactly how our tissues and cells react when we push them to perform.

“We all know exercise is beneficial for us,” said professor of pathology Stephen Montgomery, PhD. “But we don’t know much about the molecular signals that manifest across the body when people exercise, or how they may change when people train. Our study is the first to take a holistic, bodywide look at molecular changes, from proteins to genes to metabolites to fats and energy production. It’s the broadest profiling yet of the effects of exercise, and it creates an essential map to how it changes the body.”

Montgomery, who is also a professor of genetics and of biomedical data science, is a senior author of the paper, which published on May 1 in Nature. Other senior authors are Michael Snyder, PhD, the Stanford W. Ascherman, MD, FACS Professor in Genetics, and associate professor of medicine Matthew Wheeler, MD. First authors are former genetics PhD student Nicole Gay, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar David Amar, PhD; and Pierre Jean Beltran, PhD, a former postdoctoral scholar at the Broad Institute.

Additional papers by Stanford Medicine researchers include a related published report in Nature Communications investigating the effect of exercise-induced changes in genes and tissues known to be involved in disease risk as well as a paper published on May 2 in Cell Metabolism, which focuses on the effects of exercise on the cellular energy factors called mitochondria in various tissues. Montgomery is the senior author of the Nature Communications paper and postdoctoral scholar Nikolai Vetr, PhD, is its lead author. Instructor of cardiovascular medicine Malene Lindholm, PhD, is the senior author of the Cell Metabolism paper, and Amar is the lead author.

“These papers further highlight the multiple impacts exercise training has on metabolism and health,” Montgomery said.

A coordinated look at exercise

The researchers involved in the study and the other simultaneous publications are part of a national group called the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium, or MoTrPAC, organized by the National Institutes of Health. The effort was launched in 2015 to investigate in detail exactly how physical exercise improves health and prevents disease.

The Stanford Medicine team took on a lot of the heavy lifting, studying the effects of eight weeks of endurance training on gene expression (the transcriptome), proteins (the proteome), fats (the lipidome), metabolites (the metabolome), the pattern of chemical tags placed on DNA (the epigenome), the immune system (the…you get the idea).

Let’s just call it the sweat-ome.

They performed 9,466 analyses on multiple tissues in rats as the animals were trained to run increasing distances and compared the results with those of rats that loafed about in their cages. They paid special attention to the muscles of the leg, the heart, the liver, the kidney and a type of fat called white adipose tissue (the kind of fat that accumulates as pounds pile on); other tissues included the lungs, brain and brown adipose tissue (a more metabolically active type of fat that helps burn calories). The combination of multiple assays — think of all those -omes! — and tissue types pumped out results numbering in the hundreds of thousands for non-epigenetic changes to more than 2 million distinct changes in the epigenome. The results will keep scientists hopping for years.

Although this study served primarily to create a database for future analysis, some interesting nuggets vaulted to the top. First, they noted that the expression of 22 genes changed with exercise in all six of the tissues they focused on. Many of these genes were involved in what are known as heat shock pathways, which stabilize the structure of proteins when cells undergo stress including changes in temperature (feel that burn?), infection or tissue remodeling (hello new muscle fibers!). Others have been implicated in pathways that reduce blood pressure and increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels.

The researchers also noted that the expression of several genes involved in Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and kidney disease was reduced in exercising rats as compared with their sedentary counterparts — a clear link between their studies and human health.

Sex differences

Finally, they identified sex differences in how multiple tissues in male and female rats responded to exercise. Male rats lost about 5% of their body fat after eight weeks of exercise while female rats didn’t lose a significant amount. (They did, however, maintain their starting fat percentage while the sedentary females packed on an additional 4% of body fat during the study period.) But the largest difference was observed in gene expression in the rats’ adrenal glands. After one week, genes associated with the generation of steroid hormones like adrenaline and with energy production increased in male rats but decreased in female rats.

Despite these early, tantalizing associations, the researchers caution that exercise science is nowhere near the finish line. It’s more like the starting gun has just fired. But the future is exciting.

“In the long term, it’s unlikely we will find any one magic intervention that reproduces what exercise can do for a person,” Montgomery said. “But we might get closer to the idea of precision exercise — tailoring recommendations based on a person’s genetics, sex, age or other health conditions to generate beneficial whole-body responses.”

Source: Stanford Medicine

Researchers have developed a new vaccine technology that has been shown in mice to provide protection against a broad range of coronaviruses with potential for future disease outbreaks – including ones we don’t even know about

This is a new approach to vaccine development called ‘proactive vaccinology’, where scientists build a vaccine before the disease-causing pathogen even emerges.

Our focus is to create a vaccine that will protect us against the next coronavirus pandemic, and have it ready before the pandemic has even started.

Rory Hills

The new vaccine works by training the body’s immune system to recognise specific regions of eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic.

Key to its effectiveness is that the specific virus regions the vaccine targets also appear in many related coronaviruses. By training the immune system to attack these regions, it gives protection against other coronaviruses not represented in the vaccine – including ones that haven’t even been identified yet.

For example, the new vaccine does not include the SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus, which caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, yet it still induces an immune response to that virus.

“Our focus is to create a vaccine that will protect us against the next coronavirus pandemic, and have it ready before the pandemic has even started,” said Rory Hills, a graduate researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pharmacology and first author of the report.

He added: “We’ve created a vaccine that provides protection against a broad range of different coronaviruses – including ones we don’t even know about yet.”

The results are published today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

“We don’t have to wait for new coronaviruses to emerge. We know enough about coronaviruses, and different immune responses to them, that we can get going with building protective vaccines against unknown coronaviruses now,” said Professor Mark Howarth in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pharmacology, senior author of the report.

He added: “Scientists did a great job in quickly producing an extremely effective COVID vaccine during the last pandemic, but the world still had a massive crisis with a huge number of deaths. We need to work out how we can do even better than that in the future, and a powerful component of that is starting to build the vaccines in advance.”

The new ‘Quartet Nanocage’ vaccine is based on a structure called a nanoparticle – a ball of proteins held together by incredibly strong interactions. Chains of different viral antigens are attached to this nanoparticle using a novel ‘protein superglue’. Multiple antigens are included in these chains, which trains the immune system to target specific regions shared across a broad range of coronaviruses.

This study demonstrated that the new vaccine raises a broad immune response, even in mice that were pre-immunised with SARS-CoV-2.

The new vaccine is much simpler in design than other broadly protective vaccines currently in development, which the researchers say should accelerate its route into clinical trials.

The underlying technology they have developed also has potential for use in vaccine development to protect against many other health challenges.

The work involved a collaboration between scientists at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Caltech. It improves on previous work, by the Oxford and Caltech groups, to develop a novel all-in-one vaccine against coronavirus threats. The vaccine developed by Oxford and Caltech should enter Phase 1 clinical trials in early 2025, but its complex nature makes it challenging to manufacture which could limit large-scale production.

Conventional vaccines include a single antigen to train the immune system to target a single specific virus. This may not protect against a diverse range of existing coronaviruses, or against pathogens that are newly emerging.

The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Source: University of Cambridge

Dengue fever is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease globally and poses a threat to half of the world’s population. There has been a dramatic rise in cases over recent years, with cases in the Americas reaching more than three million cases in 2023. Since January 2024, Brazil has reported more than 3.5 million cases, marking the largest dengue outbreak on record.

The paper, co-authored by Dr Livia Menezes from the University of Birmingham and Dr Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner from the University of Surrey.

“This paper sets out robust research which shows that being infected with dengue fever, even with a mild case, whilst pregnant can have a significant impact on the health of the child once born.”

Dr Livia Menezes, Birmingham Business School

The study looks at a large data set of dengue fever infections in expectant mothers from Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the resulting birth outcomes. It finds that babies born to women who were infected with dengue fever during their pregnancy had lower birth weights, increasing the risk of newborns being classed as having a very and extremely low birth weight by 67% and 133%, respectively.

Dr Livia Menezes, Assistant Professor in Economics at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study said: “Even though dengue is a very common mosquito-borne disease, there has not been much attention given to the impact it has on birth outcomes and as a result, what can be done to improve them and protect pregnant women and their children.

“This paper sets out robust research which shows that being infected with dengue fever, even with a mild case, whilst pregnant can have a significant impact on the health of the child once born. These birth outcomes can even have longer-term impacts, for example, previous research has shown that low birth weight can negatively affect socio-economic outcomes and health in adulthood.”

The researchers also found that children whose mothers were infected with dengue fever whilst pregnant had a 27% increased risk of being hospitalised from birth to age three. The highest risk of hospitalisation for these children comes in their second year of life, where there is a 76% increase.

Dr Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Surrey said: “These negative birth outcomes are not only limited to the health of individual children and mothers, but they have a much wider impact for communities where dengue fever is common. Hospitalisations and ongoing health issues resulting from maternal infections all have a cost, and one that could be avoided, or at least minimised with increased awareness and improved policy.

“We strongly suggest that dengue fever should be considered alongside the TORCH infections to manage and avoid when pregnant, which currently include Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, HIV, syphilis, chicken pox, Zika, and influenza among others.”

“As the planet heats, we can expect to see dengue fever become even more common in countries that have previously not had high infection rates. This is a problem that needs to be taken seriously, and quickly.”

Dr Livia Menezes, Birmingham Business School

The study also highlights the possible consequences of climate change expanding the reach of dengue fever. While the disease has historically been limited to tropical and subtropical regions, it now has an established presence in over 120 countries. Aedes mosquitoes, which carry and transmit dengue, have found breeding grounds in countries previously unaffected, including Croatia, France, Portugal, and the southern states of the USA.

Dr Menezes concludes: “As the planet heats, we can expect to see dengue fever become even more common in countries that have previously not had high infection rates. This is a problem that needs to be taken seriously, and quickly.

“Policy changes and things like vector control, updated risk communication with key groups and vaccine adoption can all reduce the risk of pregnant women being infected with dengue. Action needs to be taken by governments and health organisations to provide better protection for pregnant women and their children.”

Source: University of Birmingham

Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibres without damaging them.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, combined flexible electronics and soft robotics techniques to develop the devices, which could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain, or the control of prosthetic limbs.

“The ability to make an implant that can change shape through electrical activation opens up a range of future possibilities for highly targeted treatments”

– George Malliaras

Current tools for interfacing with the peripheral nerves – the 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord – are outdated, bulky and carry a high risk of nerve injury. However, the robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ developed by the Cambridge team are sensitive enough to grasp or wrap around delicate nerve fibres without causing any damage.

Tests of the nerve cuffs in rats showed that the devices only require tiny voltages to change shape in a controlled way, forming a self-closing loop around nerves without the need for surgical sutures or glues.

The researchers say the combination of soft electrical actuators with neurotechnology could be an answer to minimally invasive monitoring and treatment for a range of neurological conditions. The results are reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Electric nerve implants can be used to either stimulate or block signals in target nerves. For example, they might help relieve pain by blocking pain signals, or they could be used to restore movement in paralysed limbs by sending electrical signals to the nerves. Nerve monitoring is also standard surgical procedure when operating in areas of the body containing a high concentration of nerve fibres, such as anywhere near the spinal cord.

These implants allow direct access to nerve fibres, but they come with certain risks. “Nerve implants come with a high risk of nerve injury,” said Professor George Malliaras from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, who led the research. “Nerves are small and highly delicate, so anytime you put something large, like an electrode, in contact with them, it represents a danger to the nerves.”

“Nerve cuffs that wrap around nerves are the least invasive implants currently available, but despite this they are still too bulky, stiff and difficult to implant, requiring significant handling and potential trauma to the nerve,” said co-author Dr Damiano Barone from Cambridge’s Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

The researchers designed a new type of nerve cuff made from conducting polymers, normally used in soft robotics. The ultra-thin cuffs are engineered in two separate layers. Applying tiny amounts of electricity – just a few hundred millivolts – causes the devices to swell or shrink.

The cuffs are small enough that they could be rolled up into a needle and injected near the target nerve. When activated electrically, the cuffs will change their shape to wrap around the nerve, allowing nerve activity to be monitored or altered.

“To ensure the safe use of these devices inside the body, we have managed to reduce the voltage required for actuation to very low values,” said Dr Chaoqun Dong, the paper’s first author. “What’s even more significant is that these cuffs can change shape in both directions and be reprogrammed. This means surgeons can adjust how tightly the device fits around a nerve until they get the best results for recording and stimulating the nerve.”

Tests in rats showed that the cuffs could be successfully placed without surgery, and formed a self-closing loop around the target nerve. The researchers are planning further testing of the devices in animal models, and are hoping to begin testing in humans within the next few years.

“Using this approach, we can reach nerves that are difficult to reach through open surgery, such as the nerves that control, pain, vision or hearing, but without the need to implant anything inside the brain,” said Barone. “The ability to place these cuffs so they wrap around the nerves makes this a much easier procedure for surgeons, and it’s less risky for patients.”

“The ability to make an implant that can change shape through electrical activation opens up a range of future possibilities for highly targeted treatments,” said Malliaras. “In future, we might be able to have implants that can move through the body, or even into the brain – it makes you dream how we could use technology to benefit patients in future.”

The research was supported in part by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Cambridge Trust, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Source: University of Cambridge

1. Streamline Appointment Scheduling with Ease:

Say goodbye to the days of wasting your precious time on endless back-and-forth emails or phone calls to schedule appointments. Mental Health Practice Management Software intuitive software allows you to effortlessly manage your calendar, book appointments, and send automated reminders to clients. This streamlined appointment scheduling process not only frees up your time but also reduces the likelihood of no-shows, ensuring a steady flow of appointments and maximizing your practice’s revenue potential. 

2. Secure and Centralize Client Records:

Maintaining accurate and confidential client records is not only a legal requirement but also crucial for providing personalized and effective care. Mental Health Practice Management Software offers a secure and centralized platform to store and access client information, treatment plans, progress notes, and more. With this seamless digital record-keeping solution, you can easily retrieve vital information when you need it, enhance collaboration with your team, and ensure compliance with privacy regulations. 

3. Simplify Billing and Payments:

Managing the financial aspects of your practice shouldn’t be a headache. Mental Health Practice Management Software simplifies billing and payment processes by automating invoice generation, tracking payments, and providing detailed reports. Whether you need to invoice insurance companies or clients directly, this system ensures accuracy, reduces administrative errors, and facilitates timely payments. Spend less time on paperwork and more time helping your clients thrive. 

4. Foster Communication and Engagement:

Effective communication and engagement are the cornerstones of building a strong client-counsellor relationship. Mental Health Practice Management Software offers various tools to enhance communication, including secure messaging, client portals, and online intake forms. These features allow your clients to connect with you conveniently, access relevant resources, and complete necessary forms remotely. By providing seamless and accessible communication channels, you can foster better engagement, facilitate collaboration, and ultimately improve client outcomes. 

5. Optimize Practice Performance with Insights:

To grow your counselling practice, you need insights into its performance. Mental Health Practice Management Software provides you with access to powerful analytics and reports, delivering valuable metrics such as client demographics, appointment history, and revenue trends. Armed with this data, you can make informed business decisions, identify areas for improvement, and maximize your practice’s potential for success. From tracking client satisfaction to optimizing your marketing efforts, the software empowers you with the insights you need to thrive in a competitive marketplace. 

Elevate your private counselling practice with Mental Health Practice Management Software. By streamlining appointment scheduling, securing and centralizing client records, simplifying billing processes, enhancing communication and engagement, and providing actionable insights, Mental Health Practice Management Software empowers you to focus on what truly matters – helping your clients transform their lives. Say goodbye to overwhelm and welcome a new era of efficiency and growth for your practice.

1. Report the Injury

The first thing you’ll want to do is report the injury to your employer. Reporting injuries is required by law under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Make sure to report the injury, no matter how minor, even if you do not need medical treatment. Verbally report the injury to your supervisor or manager immediately. You should also report it in writing via company accident forms or incident reports. Details to include are the date, time, location, how the injury occurred, and any witnesses.

2. Seek Medical Attention

Even if an injury seems minor at first, it’s important to get medical attention right away. Seek first aid or visit your doctor or an urgent care clinic. Having the injury examined and documented provides evidence if you need to pursue any injury claims later. Make sure to inform the doctor this is a workplace injury so it can be properly noted in your medical records. Follow any recommendations such as taking time off work, restrictions, medications, or physical therapy.

3. Notify Your Employer of Medical Absences

Keep your employer informed of any work you miss due to the injury. If you need to take sick leave or medical appointments related to your workplace injury, let your employer know ASAP. Provide doctor’s notes confirming your injury and any certified time off work. You may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay for missed work due to injury.

4. Review Company Policies

Check your employer’s health and safety, absence, and injury reporting policies. Be familiar with your workplace rights and any benefits available such as sick pay or employee assistance programs. Ask about any insurance policies your employer has that could assist with injury claims or compensation. PA Duffy & Co solicitors who are based in a town in Northern Ireland called Dungannon may also be able to provide guidance on your options.

5. Document Everything

Keep detailed records about your injury, medical treatment, missed work, and expenses. Having thorough documentation helps prove your claim and get any compensation you may be entitled to. Keep copies of all accident reports, medical records, work absences, correspondence with employer/doctors, receipts for treatments or prescriptions, and anything else relating to the injury.

6. Consider Making a Claim

Depending on the details of your injury, you may be eligible to make an injury claim against your employer. Claims can help cover lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, or rehabilitation costs. The most common types of workplace injury claims are:

• Employer liability claims – If your employer was negligent and responsible for your injury.
• Personal injury claims – If a third party besides your employer caused the injury.
• Criminal injuries compensation – If you were injured due to a crime or assault at work.

Consult legal experts to discuss whether you have grounds for a claim and what steps to take. There are time limits for making claims, so it is wise to explore your options quickly.

Suffering an injury at work can negatively impact your finances, career, and quality of life. Knowing the proper protocols and procedures ensures you get the care and compensation you need to recover.

Want to get a good night’s sleep every night? Here are 12 simple hacks to get a good night’s rest:

1. Create and Stick to a Sleep Schedule

Create a sleep schedule and stick to it. You, therefore, need to go to bed and wake up at the same time every night, even on the weekends and holidays. You will have to force yourself to go to bed and get out of bed on weekends. Remember, if you change your sleep schedule, you will have difficulty falling asleep and even staying asleep.

2. Regular Exercise

Regular exercise can help you get a good night’s rest. How? Outdoor exercise can help reduce your stress and reset your circadian rhythm. Do not, however, do vigorous exercise 4 hours before your bedtime. If you exercise too close to your bedtime, your body will release endorphins. The endorphins may keep you awake at night.

3. Go to Sleep Early

You need to go to bed at the correct time. If, for example, you sleep during the hours of 10 pm and 2 am, you will get the most rejuvenating sleep. This is because the body releases more sleep hormones during these hours. So, you will be able to sleep deeply and stay asleep longer.

4. Do Not Hit the Snooze Button

The snooze button can disturb your REM sleep. If you are used to hitting the snooze button when your alarm goes off, you probably wake up feeling groggy and tired in the morning. Do not hit the snooze button if you want to see changes in the quality of sleep. In fact, you will always wake up feeling rested and refreshed.

5. Do Not Eat a Heavy Meal Late at Night

You should not go to sleep hungry. However, some people eat heavy meals late at night. If you eat too much before you go to bed, you will not get enough night’s rest. You need to eat foods, such as fruits, dairy products, nuts, nuts, and bananas in the evening. These foods promote sleep. You will sleep better if you eat these foods.

6. Manage Your Screen Time

You and your family probably spend the whole evening in front of your electronic devices, such as televisions and laptops. However, the screens of electronic devices emit blue light. The blue light will disrupt your sleep cycle. That is why you need to manage your screen time. You can stop using your electronic devices two hours before you go to bed.

7. Create a Comfortable Bedroom

It is not advisable to use your bedroom to work, eat, or even store your belongings. Creating a comfortable bedroom can improve your sleep quality. A comfortable bedroom should have good lighting, good bedding, a comfortable bed, a comfortable mattress, and a comfortable temperature. Keep your bedroom clear of unnecessary items.

8. Do Not Smoke

If you smoke, you are more likely to experience sleep problems, including insomnia, sleep apnoea, snoring, and poor-quality sleep. In fact, occasional use of nicotine can disrupt your sleep. If you really want to improve your sleep quality, you should consider quitting smoking. Nicotine can keep you wide awake throughout the night.

9. Drink Milk Before Bedtime

Milk is rich in sleep-promoting components, including tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that promotes sleep. Milk can, therefore, help you fall asleep. You can warm a glass of milk and add honey. If you drink milk before bedtime, you will sleep better. Remember, milk is also good for your health. You could also look into the peptide DSIP which is known to promote better delta sleep in research studies.

10. Keep Your Bedroom Cool

The temperature of your bedroom can affect your sleep quality. For instance, if your bedroom is too hot or cold, it can impact your comfort and sleep quality. If, however, your bedroom is cool, your body will release adequate amounts of melatonin. That is why keeping your bedroom cool can help you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep.

11. Keep Your Bedroom Completely Dark

You need to eliminate sneaky light sources. How? You can buy black curtains. These curtains can keep your bedroom completely dark. If there is light in your bedroom, it can interfere with your sleep. This is because your body will not produce sleep hormones.

If you can maintain optimal melatonin production by keeping your bedroom completely dark, you will get a good night’s rest.

12. Use a Blue-Blocking App

You probably use your phone in the evening. So, if you want to use your smartphone in your bedroom, you should consider installing a blue-blocking app. The app can block the blue light. If you can block the blue light, you may get a good night’s rest. It is, however, much better to switch off your phone 30 minutes before bedtime.

13. Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

Some people drink alcohol to help them fall asleep. Yes, you may fall asleep quickly. However, you will not get a good night’s rest. Alcohol will disrupt your sleep. Reducing your alcohol consumption can help you sleep better. You do not have to take alcohol late in the evening.

14. Do Not Take Coffee Late in the Evening

Last, but not least, you need to stop drinking coffee in the evening. Coffee contains caffeine, and caffeine stays in the body for around 6 hours. Caffeine helps to keep us active throughout the day. So, if you drink coffee in the evening, you will find it difficult to fall asleep.

You can only take your coffee in the morning. In fact, if you can avoid coffee, you will get a good night’s rest.

Conclusion

These are the best hacks to get a good night’s rest. You, therefore, need to create and stick to a sleep routine, do regular exercise, go to sleep early, avoid smoking, avoid eating a heavy meal late in the evening, and drink milk before bedtime. Also, managing your screening or installing a blue-block app can help you sleep better.

A groundbreaking global study exploring how childhood trauma impacts on brain development has given survivors of trauma new hope for healing.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to analyze hundreds of brain scans from people who experienced abuse or profound emotional pain as children.

This research led by University of Essex has discovered how childhood trauma alters brain development, with detrimental impacts such as issues in problem solving and empathy development.

Dr Megan Klabunde of UCLA believes her study could lead to novel treatment solutions designed to reverse any potential negative side-effects of medication used.

According to the UK Trauma Council, one out of every three children and young people will encounter at least one potentially traumatic event prior to turning 18, such as something dangerous or life-threatening which causes extreme fear.

Smaller studies have already highlighted how trauma alters children’s brain structures; however, this latest research used AI to uncover new patterns within data and increase comprehension of its implications.

Dr Klabunde, an internationally-recognized child clinical and health psychologist and psychology lecturer from University of Essex, led this investigation.

She noted: “Our research shows there are significant alterations to two major brain clusters and know this affects problem-solving and self-focus skills, potentially impacting emotional processing, relationships formation and understanding oneself as a body.”

Memory and decision-making were also greatly affected, she pointed out.

Valerie was 16 when she experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). This happened in Nigeria.

She related: “Within seconds I found myself on the ground with someone sitting on my chest while my throat and body were cut open by someone unknown to me. In that instantaneous instant I knew something had gone drastically wrong with me and my throat and chest became disfigured from being cut open so violently by somebody unknown to me.

“That day was the start of an irreparable trauma for me – years of physical and emotional agony as well as humiliation.” Valerie had long wondered why her reactions differed from those of others and found this research “like winning the jackpot; it makes so much sense”.

Kari, who experienced sexual abuse as a child, shared that “there are no words to adequately express how important [this research] is to me”.

“For years I’ve struggled with relationships and often wondered, ‘why me?’.

“Now I understand it wasn’t my fault.” Kari and Valerie are members of Essex Trauma Ambassadors, an organization providing survivors support while shaping healthcare services in Essex County.

Trauma therapies often focus on helping individuals identify triggers and address fearful thoughts, but Dr. Klabunde discovered that survivors who experienced trauma were still affected by it even without manifesting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Current treatments appear to overlook an integral component of this complex issue,” noted Dr Klabunde.

“Psychologists must also explore how trauma impacts one’s physical, psychological and interpersonal wellbeing.”

“This provides hope as appropriate therapies may be able to reverse any brain rewiring effects.”

Experts have developed a new tool, called QR4, that more accurately predicts an individual’s ten-year risk of cardiovascular diseases, like heart disease and stroke, particularly identifying high-risk patients that current prediction tools miss.

The new collaborative research, which is published today in Nature Medicine, is led by experts at the University of Oxford and co-led by Dr Carol Coupland, Professor of Medical Statistics in Primary Care, in the School of Medicine, at the University of Nottingham.

Key findings at a glance:

• QR4, a new cardiovascular risk prediction tool, was developed using health data from more than 16 million UK adults.
• QR4 includes seven new risk factors applicable to all adults: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), learning disabilities, Down syndrome and four cancer types (blood, lung, oral and brain), highlighting how other significant diseases impact on heart health.
• QR4 also identified factors specific to women’s health that were predictive of future heart disease risk, such complication from high blood pressure during pregnancy, and postnatal depression.
• QR4 outperformed the most widely used heart disease risk calculators, including QRISK3 recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK, accurately identifying more high-risk patients.
• Improved cardiovascular risk prediction will mean preventive treatments can be targeted to those most likely to benefit, getting the right treatments to the right people and reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular diseases to people and healthcare systems.

QR4 can be thought of as a type of calculator that lets doctors use an individual’s health data, such as blood pressure, age and medical history, to estimate their likelihood of developing a cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years, allowing them to intervene early to prevent illness.

“We believe that these findings are important to both patients and policy makers,” said Dr Julia Hippisley-Cox, lead author, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and General Practice, at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. “They indicate that more groups of people are at increased risk for heart and circulatory diseases than previously recognised. These people could and should now benefit from treatments and other preventive measures to reduce their risk.”

The researchers identified several unique risk factors common to all genders that were not part of current cardiovascular risk calculators, as well as new factors specific to women’s health such as pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure, and postnatal depression, that were predictive of future heart disease risk.

“While traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and high cholesterol are well-recognised, our latest research identifies less obvious, yet crucial risk indicators,” said Professor Hippisley-Cox. “For instance, conditions like postnatal depression and Down syndrome significantly contribute to cardiovascular risk, underscoring the complex interplay between mental health, genetic factors, and heart health. Similarly, learning disabilities often coincide with barriers to effective health management and access, leading to an increased risk profile.”

By integrating these new predictors into the QR4 model, the researchers have developed a more nuanced and comprehensive tool for predicting cardiovascular disease, ensuring preventative strategies are more personalised, inclusive, and cater to the needs of a broader and more diverse population.

As part of a comprehensive evaluation, the QR4 algorithm was rigorously tested against some of the most well-established cardiovascular risk assessment tools currently used in both the United States and Europe, improving on their predictive accuracy.

“The QR4 model potentially sets a new standard in cardiovascular risk assessment,” said Dr Carol Coupland, senior researcher  at the University of Oxford and Professor of Medical Statistics in Primary Care at the University of Nottingham and co-author of the study.

Our head-to-head comparisons with established models show that QR4 provides a more detailed risk profile for each individual, allowing for earlier and more precise intervention strategies. This is crucial in a field where early detection can save lives and could significantly impact how we approach prevention on a global scale.

Dr Carol Coupland, Professor of Medical Statistics in Primary Care at the University of Nottingham and co-author of the study

This new algorithm builds on almost two decades of work and leadership in the field of risk algorithms, and cardiovascular risk algorithms in particular. The researchers hope that clinicians, advisory bodies, regulators, and health and care policymakers consider the implications of QR4’s advanced predictive capabilities on national health guidelines and support its adoption in clinical settings to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.

Source: University of Nottingham

An academic researcher believes artificial intelligence (AI) could help triage eye patients more efficiently.

Dr Arun Thirunavukarasu of Cambridge University believes AI could assist doctors by making immediate decisions for urgent cases that must be seen by specialists.

Cambridge University academics conducted rigorous trials with ChatGPT 4 to test its knowledge against that of medics at different points in their career journeys.

An AI program scored 69% when tested in an exam consisting of 87 questions.

Over 374 Ophthalmology questions were used to train ChatGPT 4.

Answers provided by this survey were then evaluated against responses provided by five expert ophthalmologists – doctors who specialize in eye conditions – three trainee ophthalmologists, and two unspecialised junior doctors.

ChatGPT 4 outscored other language models, such as ChatGPT 3.5, Llama and Palm2, by scoring 69% overall.

Expert ophthalmologists earned a median score of 76%; trainee ophthalmologists scored 59% while junior doctors received 43% of scores.

Dr Thirunavukarasu led and completed this work during her studies at Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine; now working for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

He noted: “AI could potentially help triage patients with eye issues to identify urgent cases requiring specialist evaluation or general practitioner care; or those which don’t need treatment and can wait.

These models could follow existing algorithms already being employed; ChatGPT 4 outperformed expert clinicians when processing eye symptoms and signs to answer more complex queries. With further development, large language models could assist GPs who struggle to get prompt advice from eye specialists; waiting lists in the UK have grown increasingly longer for eye care provision.”

Researchers noted the technology could be deployed to triage patients and determine who needs specialist attention and who may wait until seeing their GP for care.

Researchers stated that language models like ChatGPT were unlikely to replace eye doctors; instead they can serve as helpful advice and assistance for nonspecialists.

Dr Thirunavukarasu noted his confidence that physicians would continue to lead patient care services.