Health & Medicine - Sci-Tech Bulletin

The Hidden Role of Bed Dust Bacteria in Children’s Respiratory Health

The bacterial microbiome in household bed dust is strongly influenced by environmental factors and may play an important role in childhood asthma. When 90 bed dust samples were analysed using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, significant differences in bacterial community composition between asthmatic and healthy children have been found. Factors such as living environment, housing type, pet ownership, and cleaning practices were found to shape indoor microbial diversity. Fostering a healthy diverse indoor microbiome could support respiratory health and inform future indoor air quality and healthy home strategies.

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Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Antibiotic Use: Trends and Projections Through 2030

Global antibiotic consumption increased steadily between 2016 and 2023, with only a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic before rebounding, particularly in middle-income countries. An analysis of data from 67 countries found a 16.3% increase in antibiotic consumption over the study period. Looking ahead, the researchers project global antibiotic use to rise by 52.3%, from 49.3 billion defined daily doses (DDDs) in 2023 to 75.1 billion DDDs by 2030, if current trends continue. Stronger antimicrobial stewardship, improved sanitation, expanded vaccination, better diagnostics, and effective regulatory policies are essential to curb unnecessary antibiotic use and slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

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Banana smoothies may reduce flavanol benefits of berries

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme abundant in bananas, affects the bioavailability of flavan-3-ols, beneficial plant compounds found in fruits. When banana smoothies (high PPO) are made by mixing berry smoothies (low PPO), and flavan-3-ol capsules, flavan-3-ol absorption is lowered by 84%, while berry smoothies preserved bioavailability. Even when banana and flavan-3-ols were consumed separately, absorption remained lower, suggesting PPO continues acting during digestion. The findings highlight that fruit selection, and preparation methods can significantly influence nutrient absorption, informing dietary recommendations and smoothie formulation.

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A Promising Oral GLP-1 Drug for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Once a-day, daily oral dose of a novel small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, AZD5004, has demonstrated promising potential for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In a Phase I first-in-human study, the drug showed potent GLP-1 receptor activation, enhanced glucose-dependent insulin secretion, and dose-dependent reductions in blood glucose and body weight. Preclinical studies also revealed significant long-term weight-management benefits and a favourable safety profile. Importantly, no serious adverse events were reported in clinical testing, supporting the continued development of AZD5004 as a convenient and effective oral metabolic therapy.

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Berberine and Probiotics create a ‘Gut Lipid Sink’ to improve cholesterol profile & prevent CVD risk

A recent clinical study found that combining berberine (BBR) with probiotics significantly improved postprandial hyperlipidemia in newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes. After 12 weeks, the combination therapy reduced post-meal total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol more effectively than either treatment alone. Multi-omics analyses also revealed notable reductions in lipid metabolites, including free fatty acids and phospholipids. Bifidobacterium breve has been identified as a key contributor, with berberine enhancing bacterial genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. These findings highlight the potential of berberine-probiotic therapy to improve lipid management and reduce cardiovascular risk in T2D patients.

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The Link Between Diet Quality and Cardiovascular Mortality in Treated Hypertension Patients

A 9-year evaluation of hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive therapy, using Cox proportional hazards regression models, found that higher Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, whereas higher Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores were linked to an increased risk. Diet quality was assessed using participants’ 24-hour dietary intake data. Notably, greater adherence to the DASH diet demonstrated protective trends against cardiovascular mortality. These findings highlight the critical role of healthy, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns in improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes among patients undergoing hypertension treatment.

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Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Delivers Lasting Mental Health Benefits for Cancer Patients

A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, combined with structured psychological support, may offer a promising alternative to traditional antidepressants for cancer patients with major depressive disorder. In a 24-month follow-up study, 53.6% of participants maintained significant reductions in depression, while 50% achieved sustained remission. Anxiety symptoms also improved, with 46.4% experiencing long-term relief. Notably, 25% of patients sustained depression improvement without additional antidepressants, psychedelic treatments, or depression-related hospitalizations. These findings highlight the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy as a durable and transformative approach for managing cancer-related depression and anxiety.

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Cucurbitacin D reduces colorectal cancer cell growth through multiple signalling pathways

Cucurbitacin D (CuD), a triterpenoid, commonly found in cucumber, pumpkin, and watermelon have been found to significantly reduce cancer cell viability and induce apoptosis in multiple colorectal cancer cell line. Network analysis and computational study identified four key molecular targets, namely; STAT3, AKT1, CCND1, and CASP3, that strongly interact with CuD and hinders cancer growth and survival. The study also highlighted the involvement of the PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, and ErbB signaling pathways, suggesting CuD as a promising multi-target candidate for future colorectal cancer therapies.

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Genistein and exercise reduce breast cancer progression

Soy Genistein and moderate exercise improve anti-cancer responses in breast cancer models

Genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, when combined with moderate-intensity exercise help prevent breast cancer progression. In vivo studies confirms that exercise in combination with genistein significantly delayed tumor development, reduced tumor size, increased cancer cell apoptosis, and shifted macrophages from tumor-promoting (M2) to tumor-fighting (M1) types. The interventions also reduced inflammation and prevented cancer-related fat loss. These findings suggest that genistein and regular exercise may serve as complementary strategies for breast cancer prevention, management and overall metabolic health support.

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Bundibugyo Ebola virus vaccine shows life-saving potential post-exposure

Filovirus vaccine, Ervebo candidate rVSVΔG/BDBV-GP, has shown to provide therapeutic protection against Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. About 83 % of the cynomolgus macaques infected with virulent strain of the Bundibugyo virus displayed survival benefit from the vaccine as compared to the natural survival rate of 21%. The study found that early immune activation, strong interferon responses, and development of BDBV-specific IgG antibodies were linked to survival, highlighting the vaccine’s potential for emergency outbreak response and post-exposure treatment.

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