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17/11/2022 ---- 04/12/2022

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04.12.2022
THEME: HEALTH

The FDA approves the first faecal microbiota drug for the treatment of C. difficile infection

Infection by the bacterium C. difficile (CDI) is a severe and potentially deadly disease that impacts people across the globe. CDI causes debilitating symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, nausea and colon inflammation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared CDI a public health threat requiring urgent and immediate action. The infections cause an estimated half a million illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. alone. It is often the start of a vicious recurrence cycle, implying a significant burden for patients and the healthcare system. It has been estimated that up to 35% of CDI cases recur after initial diagnosis, and people who have had a recurrence are at significantly higher risk of further infections. After the first recurrence, it has been estimated that up to 65% of patients may develop a subsequent recurrence. On November 30, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved "Rebyota", commercialized by Ferring pharmaceuticals. What makes this drug exceptional and a first of its kind is its manufacturing and delivery method. The drug is manufactured in Minnesota from stool donations screened for dozens of infections and viruses. Health professionals deliver the therapy via the rectum as a one-time procedure. The studies worth the FDA approval demonstrated that 70% of patients taking Rebyota saw their symptoms resolve after eight weeks, compared with 58% of patients getting a placebo. The new treatment is only for patients who have already taken a course of antibiotics for recurrent infections. The condition is more common in seniors and people with weakened immune systems.

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01.12.2022
THEME: HEALTH

A global analysis demonstrates that nearly half stillbirths are caused by air pollution

A stillbirth occurs every 16 seconds somewhere in the world. It means that every year, about 2 million babies are stillborn – a loss that reaches far beyond the loss of life. It has a long-lasting traumatic impact on women and their families worldwide. Perhaps even more tragically, most of these deaths could have been avoided with high-quality care antenatally and during birth. Over 40 per cent of all stillbirths occurred during labour – a loss that could be prevented with improved monitoring and access to emergency obstetric care when required. This tragic loss of life remains a neglected issue, as worldwide data on stillbirths are mainly absent. A Neglected Tragedy: The Global Burden of Stillbirths, the first-ever stillbirth report by the UN Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (see link below), is a critical milestone in improving the availability of these data globally and driving political and public recognition of the issue. The report finds that despite progress being made since 2000, stillbirths have not declined as rapidly as maternal and newborn mortality. If current trends continue, an additional 19 million stillbirths will occur before 2030. A first global study, published November 29 in Nature Communications, may explain this negative trend as it reveals a link between stillbirths and air pollution. The research used data on stillbirths and air pollution between 1998 and 2016 from 54 low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, India and Nigeria. The researchers estimated the number of stillbirths attributable to PM2.5 exposure. PM2.5 are microscopic particles usually found in smoke, having a diameter of 2.5 micrometres (0.0025 mm) or smaller. The study concludes that in 2015 there were 830'000 stillbirths attributable to exposure to pollution (40% of the total). The proportion of stillbirths attributed to PM2.5 pollution was exceptionally high in Pakistan, India, Nigeria and China. The underlying biological mechanisms are not yet clear. The researchers hypothesize that pollution particles passing through the placenta could cause "irreversible embryonic damage" and harm the placenta itself. Air pollution could also restrict the ability of the mother's body to pass oxygen to the foetus. Overall, independently of the exact causes, the study shows that reducing air pollution levels would reduce the risks of stillbirth.

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30.11.2022
THEME: TECHNOLOGY

Artificial Intelligence is now drawing pictures on request, and they can be as beautiful as human-made ones

Progress in the domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to change the world in a few decades. Such continued progress has been recently demonstrated by applying AI programs to games such as Chess and Go, where computers proved to be able to learn and win against the top human champions. Recently another AI program, DALL-E, demonstrated unprecedented power in creating original images. The program is now available online (see link below), and anyone can use it: it asks the user to enter the content of the desired image and, in a matter of seconds, creates images reflecting the user's requests. DALL-E is one of the most discussed, appreciated and criticized artificial intelligence algorithms, especially since the end of the summer when a trial version of it was made available to everyone. The first version of this artificial intelligence was released in January 2021, but with limited capabilities compared to the current ones, which surprised many observers and instilled concern in illustrators, graphic designers and artists. OpenAI carried out the development of DALL-E. This research laboratory is part of the OpenAI LP company, which is, in turn, controlled by Open AI Inc., a non-profit corporation. Billionaire Elon Musk founded the organization in 2015. For some months now, DALL-E has been the best-known system for producing images with algorithms, but there are others. Several other research groups, developers, companies, and organizations have made AI drawings, such as Midjourney, Imagen and DreamStudio. Each of these systems employs different algorithms but with similar operating principles. The original breakthrough came in 2016 when a team of scientists managed for the first time to ask an AI algorithm for the content of an image through a written request. The initially designed algorithms, however, were quite complex to use and specialized only in a small niche of demands. The most recent developments result in systems such as DALL-E that can practically design anything, with ever higher levels of adherence to requests. The latest generation of these AIs is straightforward to use. Just as researchers in Canada had experienced in 2016, but with much larger and more defined images, it is now possible to write a request in natural language and obtain the corresponding drawing in a few moments. Many aspects of DALL-E functioning are unknown, but its programmers have reported adding elements to ensure that the images produced respond to a specific aesthetic taste. As far as possible, the AI ​​produces images that we should like and, consequently, that we believe are more in line with our requests, amplifying that impression of having what we asked for. For example, asking for a specific desired painting style is possible. Those who deal with graphics and illustrations have begun to show a particular concern, sometimes intolerance, towards the AIs that draw and manage to draw better and better. One day, perhaps not too far away, for some types of illustrations, the work of professionals could be replaced by AI. Even if this did not happen in other sectors, such as writing - where there is massive room for improvement - the advances in drawing with AI have been faster and are, above all, more promising.

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28.11.2022
THEME: WORLD

There is growing socioeconomic pressure in China due to COVID-19 restrictions

China is arguably the developed nation which fought against the COVID-19 pandemic with the most rigid restrictions. While most other countries have now substantially declared the end of the sanitary emergency, in China, the fight is still ongoing. Authorities put entire cities under lockdown, even with just a handful of cases. Those in quarantine report difficulties in having access to food and medicines. The situation also puts stress on many commercial activities and companies. The economic and social costs of such measures have been incredibly high. The lockdowns are the cause of growing socioeconomic pressure. Several civil protests have erupted across the country in the last few days against the draconian anti-pandemic measures. Some of these protests have turned violent with the intervention of the police. At universities and in Shanghai where hundreds chanted, "Step down, Xi Jinping! Step down, Communist Party!". Protests have also broken out in the capital city of Beijing. One student at the prestigious Peking University reported that he arrived at the protest scene at around 1 a.m. Sunday local time, there were approximately 100 students, and security guards were using jackets to cover a protest slogan painted on the wall. Hundreds of people took to the streets of Urumqi on Friday night against the containment measures, which saw many of the city's 4 million residents barred from leaving their homes for as long as 100 days. Chinese media showed footage of people breaking through metal fences and shouting, "End the lockdown!". China is now the only major country in the world still fighting the pandemic through mass testing and lockdowns. Authorities defend President Xi Jinping's zero-COVID policy as life-saving and necessary to prevent overwhelming the health care system. Officials have vowed to continue with it despite the growing public pushback and its mounting toll on the world's second-biggest economy. The explosion of criticism marks a sharp turn in public opinion. Authorities are now designing more gradual measures, but they still claim a zero-Covid policy as the objective.

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25.11.2022
THEME: HEALTH

About WHO's work to identify pathogens that could cause future outbreaks and pandemics

The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a global scientific study to update the list of priority pathogens - those microbes that can cause outbreaks and pandemics - to guide global investment, research and development (especially in vaccines), and development of tests and treatments. Starting with a meeting on Friday, November 18, WHO is convening over 300 scientists who will consider the evidence on more than 25 families of viruses and bacteria, as well as the so-called "Disease X." Disease X is a placeholder name adopted by WHO to represent a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future international epidemic. As an outcome of the process, the experts will recommend a list of priority pathogens that need further research and investment. Both scientific and public health criteria are considered, as well as standards related to socioeconomic impact, access, and equity. The current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Cong haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Nipah and henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever, Zika and Disease X. Targeting priority pathogens and virus families for research and development of countermeasures is essential for a fast and effective epidemic and pandemic response. "Without significant R&D investments before the COVID-19 pandemic, it would not have been possible to develop safe and effective vaccines in record time," said Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme. "This list of priority pathogens has become a reference point for the research community on where to focus energies to manage the next threat," said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist. "It is developed with experts in the field and is the agreed direction for where we - as a global research community - need to invest energy and funds to build tests, treatments and vaccines. The revised list is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2023.

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22.11.2022
THEME: HEALTH

First drug to delay onset of type 1 diabetes is now approved by FDA

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin (pancreatic beta-cells). People with this type of diabetes have increased glucose that requires insulin shots (or wearing an insulin pump) to survive and must check their blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day. Although it can appear at any age, type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. A person is at higher risk for type 1 diabetes if they have a parent, brother or sister with type 1 diabetes, although most patients with type 1 diabetes do not have a family history. On November 17, the US Food and Drug Administration - the FDA - approved Teplizumab to delay the onset of stage 3 diabetes in adults and pediatric patients eight years and older with stage 2 diabetes. Teplizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, which will be marketed under the brand name Tzield from ProventionBio and Sanofi. Teplizumab acts by binding a specific molecule (CD3 marker) on the surface of specific immune cells-CD8 T lymphocytes - responsible for the destructive action on the pancreatic beta cells. The binding blocks the activation of these cells, thus preventing their damaging effect. Tzield evaluated safety and efficacy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 76 patients with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. In the trial, patients randomly received Teplizumab or a placebo once daily via intravenous infusion for 14 days. The trial results showed that over a median follow-up of 51 months, 45% of the 44 patients who received the drug were later diagnosed with stage 3 type 1 diabetes, compared to 72% of the 32 patients who received a placebo. The average time from randomization to stage 3 diabetes diagnosis was 50 months for the patients who received Teplizumab and 25 months for those who received a placebo. These results represent a significant delay in developing stage 3 type 1 diabetes.

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21.11.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

COP27 concludes with a decision to establish a loss and damage fund

The Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) is where the United Nations come together to act towards achieving the world's collective climate goals agreed upon in the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris on December 12 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement was a landmark because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. COP27 took place from 6 to November 18 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Building on the outcomes and momentum of COP26 in Glasgow last year, nations were expected to demonstrate at COP27 that they are in a new era of implementation by turning their commitments into action. COP27 came at a particular historical moment, where the ongoing energy crisis is forcing some nations to increase the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity and heating. Therefore, at COP27, it was impossible to reach a joint statement of severe actions to reduce the use of fossils. This fact was interpreted as alarming in the news worldwide, which depicted the event as inconclusive and marginal. However, in the COP27 final statement, some conclusions may help deal with future climate change. First, it is acknowledged that climate change is a common concern of humankind. Nations should address it promptly while guaranteeing minimal economic impact and human rights, especially indigenous people, children, and the disabled. The importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including the forests and the ocean, is noted. It is recognized that some food production systems are also prone to adverse impacts from climate change and that action against such change would aim to safeguard food security and end hunger. It is noted the importance of protecting and preserve water systems. It is stressed that the challenging geopolitical situation and its impact on the energy, food and economy should not be used as a pretext for backtracking, backsliding or de-prioritizing climate action. The limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise is reiterated, and the efforts once more confirmed to avoid surpassing such a threshold. Despite recognizing the negative impact of the energy crisis and geopolitical situation on the fight against climate change, a decision has yet to be formulated on the topic. It is iterated that, to meet the 1.5 degrees goal, rapid and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per cent by 2030 relative to the 2019 level is needed. The growing gravity and frequency of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change are recognized in all regions. It results in devastating economic and non-economic losses, including forced displacement and impacts on cultural heritage, human mobility, and local communities' lives and livelihoods. At COP27, it was confirmed for the first time the importance of an adequate and effective response to loss and damage through solidarity among nations. Matters relating to responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change led to decisions on funding arrangements, including supporting developing countries in catalyzing technical assistance for the implementation of approaches at the local, national and regional levels. Such agreement is the most important achievement at COP27 since rich countries, which will contribute financially to the mechanism, had long opposed its concept. It is estimated that USD 4 trillion per year needs to be invested in renewable energy up until 2030 to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It is noted with concern that the current investment rate is below one-third of what is needed. Climate change is increasingly a threat impacting our lives as humans, and a race is ongoing to save our planet and its ecosystems. In COP27, the closing words of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres: "Together, let's not relent in the fight for climate justice and climate ambition. We can and must win this battle for our lives."

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19.11.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Proteins responsible for Parkinson's may originate in the gut

Trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, inhabit our bodies. Even though they colonize all of our body surfaces, such as skin, lungs, mouth, genital and urinary tract, the majority of them camp out in our gut. We refer to these microorganisms as gut microbiota. Several pieces of evidence show that the gut microbiota influences various processes of our body inside and outside the intestine. For example, they help digestion, protect against pathogens, make vitamins, influence the function of our immune system and maintain a balance between health and disease. A recent study support changes in the composition of the gut microbiota as a potential contributor to Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain due to a misfolding and clumping of the alpha-synuclein protein. Such toxic aggregates promote damage to specialized neurons, also called dopaminergic neurons, therefore, triggering disease symptoms such as tremors, slow movements, rigid muscles, impaired balance and loss of automatics movements. Studies in mice suggest that alpha-synuclein clumps can form in the neurons located in the gut’s mucosal layer and spread in the brain, causing changes in dopaminergic neurons and eventually causing Parkinson’s. Further studies are needed to understand whether this evidence can be translated into humans. Overall, it is important to say that many factors, including genetics, the use of antibiotics, environment, lifestyle, and diet, can influence the composition of the gut microbiota and, therefore, the susceptibility to diseases. As more and more evidence suggests that gut microbiota is an important regulator for human health, controlling it may be one of the next frontiers in medicine.

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17.11.2022
THEME: WORLD

What was discussed at the 2022 G20 in Bali?

The G20 summit 2022, held in Bali (Indonesia), was the first in-person meeting seeing the leaders of the most important nations reunited after the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been followed in the news mostly with reports of how it was affected by the escalating Ukraine crisis after the intervention of President Volodymyr Zelensky on November 15 and the subsequent attacks by Russia (see November 16). However, the 20 delegations at the meeting discussed many more topics and achieved a mutual understanding that poses common ground for the future of international relations and economy. It happens at a time of unprecedented multidimensional crises: the devastation brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges, including climate change, have caused an economic downturn, increased poverty, slowed global recovery, and hindered the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. On the Ukraine crisis, most G20 members strongly condemn the hostilities. All members agree that the use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. Even more concerning is the global food crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing conflicts, on which there is a mindset for coordinated action to ensure accessibility to food for those in need. On this matter, it is mentioned appreciation for Turkey, which favoured the Istanbul Agreements in July 2022, allowing for grain trade over the Black Sea. The issue of volatile energy pricing is recognized, and the commitment to invest in clean, sustainable energy technology is reiterated. In the context of strengthening international efforts to reach the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, as well as implementing the COP26 commitments, the G20 policy includes a full range of fiscal and regulatory mechanisms. The commitment to tackle global challenges such as climate change and environmental protection, including biodiversity loss, is reiterated. It also recalled and reaffirmed the promise made by developed countries to the goal of mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion in climate finance per year by 2020 and annually through 2025 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions. The G20 also discussed how to support developing countries and which mechanisms should be applied to their contracted debts - the nations concerned are Chad, Zambia, and Ethiopia. It is mentioned that the potential benefits and risks to global financial stability arising from the rapid development of technological innovations in the financial sector - including cyber threats and the potential for regulatory gaps and arbitrage posed by crypto-asset markets - will be monitored addressed.

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