APOL1 Variants and Kidney Disease Risk in Caribbean Populations

Understanding Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 20 million deaths each year according to the World Health Organisation. Although often associated with older age, it develops gradually over time and is influenced by a combination of lifestyle factors, genetics, and long-term health conditions. By Vithushan V. #birmingham #astonuniversity #biology #biomedicalscience #studentlife #sciencecommunication #wellbeing #hearthealth #cardiovascularhealth

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲📜: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝. 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫. That was the reality before modern medicine. Chancroid was once one of the most feared sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world. Chancroid is caused by a bacterium called 𝐇𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐢. It usually causes painful sores on the genitals and can make the glands in the groin become swollen, painful, and filled with pus. For hundreds of years, doctors struggled to understand the disease. Because it also caused genital sores, many believed it was simply another form of syphilis. As a result, many people received the wrong diagnosis and the wrong treatment. Everything changed in 1889 when Italian dermatologist Augusto Ducrey carefully studied samples from patients and identified the bacterium responsible. His discovery proved that chancroid was a completely different disease from syphilis. For many years, the bacterium was even called Ducrey's bacillus in his honour. In the early 1900s, chancroid was common in many parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Poor sanitation, limited healthcare, and the lack of effective medicines allowed the infection to spread widely. The introduction of antibiotics in the mid-20th century transformed treatment. A disease that once caused severe pain, scarring, and stigma could now be cured with the right medication. Better sexual health education, easier access to healthcare, and safer sexual practices also helped reduce the number of cases in many countries. Today, chancroid is much less common than it used to be, but it has not disappeared. It still occurs in some regions where access to diagnosis and treatment is limited. History reminds us that diseases don't disappear on their own. Scientific research, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and public health efforts are what save lives. #HealthHistory #Chancroid #STIAwareness #HealthEducation

Highly Cited & Viewed Papers #mdpiMuscles 🌏Mechanisms Underlying Muscle-Related Diseases and Aging: Insights into Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Strategies https://lnkd.in/e-beQkMR #muscleaging #musclestemcells #neuromuscular

PCOS is now PMOS and the change is about much more than a new acronym. 🌿 A global consensus, published in The Lancet and supported by the Endocrine Society, has renamed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The change reflects a growing understanding that this condition extends far beyond ovarian cysts and affects multiple systems throughout the body. For many women, symptoms can involve menstrual health, metabolism, fertility, skin health, emotional wellbeing, and long-term health risks. The previous name was often considered misleading because ovarian cysts are not present in every case and did not capture the broader complexity of the condition. As clinicians, evolving our language matters. Better terminology can lead to greater awareness, more meaningful conversations, and a more comprehensive understanding of women's health. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this shift aligns with the understanding that women's health is deeply interconnected and rarely involves isolated systems alone. 🌿 https://lnkd.in/dspUU7f2 #PMOS #PCOS #WomensHealth #HormonalHealth #TraditionalChineseMedicine #TCM #IntegrativeMedicine #RebalanceTCM

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age worldwide. But despite the name change — from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) to PMOS — many still think of it as a disease of the ovaries. In reality, it is a metabolic disorder that affects nearly every system in the body — from insulin regulation and fertility to cardiovascular health, sleep, mood and mental wellbeing. According to The Lancet, PMOS affects around 1 in 8 women globally. In India, however, the burden is significantly higher, with recent studies suggesting that 1 in 5 women may have the condition. In an attempt to find out the cause behind this higher statistic, I interviewed multiple women with PMOS, as well as gynaecologists and nutrition experts in the field: https://lnkd.in/g8Jeycvz Read, share, and let me know your thoughts :)

Dr. Felipe Vilella is also presenting research from the Carlos Simon Foundation at #ESHRE2026. The poster, “Prospective cohort study of endometrial fluid miRNAs as epigenetic mediators and biomarkers of offspring obesity risk”, explores how endometrial fluid miRNAs may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms linking maternal obesity and offspring metabolic risk. Find it at L26-P-619 and learn more about our research on early molecular signals involved in reproductive health. #ReproductiveMedicine #WomensHealth #Endometrium

A study published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine investigated the effects of non-optimum temperatures (cold and heat) on mortality across different diseases. Researchers analysed 46.1 million deaths from 1,117 locations in 10 countries and territories (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) between 2000 and 2019. Overall, 2.03 million deaths (4.38%) were attributable to non-optimum temperatures, with cold temperatures contributing to a much greater mortality burden than heat. The study found that the effects of temperature varied by disease. The highest temperature-attributable mortality fractions were reported for mental and behavioural disorders (6.53%), nervous system diseases (6.40%), and cardiovascular diseases (5.71%). Cold temperatures were associated with increased deaths from cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, digestive diseases, and cancers, whereas heat had a greater impact on injuries/external causes and infectious diseases. Respiratory diseases were affected by both cold and heat. Age also influenced vulnerability. Adults aged 75 years and older had the highest risk of cold-related mortality, particularly from cardiovascular and nervous system diseases, while younger adults experienced relatively higher heat-related deaths from injuries and external causes. These findings highlight the need for disease-specific and age-targeted public health interventions and climate adaptation strategies to reduce temperature-related mortality.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 Two identical twins with severe #autism had zero detectable Bifidobacteria in their gut microbiome. Under Dr. Sabine Hazan’s team, they addressed harmful microbes and successfully restored #Bifidobacteria levels. The result? Clear improvements in speech for both children. This case highlights what many are discovering: Bifidobacteria are foundational. They help break down food, produce essential vitamins, regulate the immune system, protect the gut lining, modulate inflammation, support neurotransmitter production, and strengthen the gut-brain axis. Low or absent levels have been consistently observed in conditions including: - Severe COVID and long COVID - Autism - Invasive cancer - Lyme disease - Crohn’s disease - Diabetes Dr. Hazan’s work suggests that restoring a healthy #microbiome could open doors to more natural, effective approaches for complex illnesses. Yet, as she has noted, advancing and publishing this research has faced significant challenges. The microbiome may be one of the most promising frontiers in medicine today. Greater investment in this science could transform how we understand and treat disease. Save the #Bif. What are your thoughts on the gut-brain connection and its role in neurodevelopmental and chronic conditions? We’d welcome insights from researchers, clinicians, and health professionals. #Microbiome #GutHealth #AutismResearch #Bifidobacteria #PrecisionMedicine #DrSabineHazan #GutBrainAxis

Did you know that nearly 90% of people diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are women, particularly those between the ages of 15 and 44? Each year, an estimated 400,000 new cases are diagnosed globally, yet for many patients in Sub-Saharan Africa, delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialist care, and systemic healthcare barriers continue to worsen clinical outcomes. This is why research that reflects the realities of Sub-Saharan Africa is so important. I'm delighted to share that our manuscript, "The Lupus Paradox in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review of Diagnostic Delays, Systemic Barriers, and Clinical Outcomes in SLE," has been accepted for publication in the Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation. This review explores the challenges surrounding lupus diagnosis and management in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlights opportunities to improve timely diagnosis, access to care, and patient outcomes. I'm grateful to my co-authors, mentors, and collaborators for their support throughout this journey. I look forward to continuing research that addresses pressing global health challenges and am always open to meaningful collaborations that advance evidence-based solutions and improve health outcomes. #Lupus #SLE #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity #MedicalResearch #PublicHealth #AcademicResearch #SubSaharanAfrica #ResearchImpact