Latest news with #CHUdeLille
Medscape
07-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Allergic to Your Smartwatch? You're Not Alone
While reported cases remain sporadic, an increasing number of publications are highlighting contact allergies associated with connected or wearable devices. Pierre Marcant, MD, dermatologist at Lille University Hospital (CHU de Lille) in Lille, France, addressed the issue at the recent Francophone Congress of Allergology. Unusual and Severe Clinical Presentations Since the early 2020s, contact allergies have been reported in connection with wearable electronics such as headsets, earbuds, and smartwatches. Several publications specifically reference allergic reactions were linked to Apple devices. While not extremely common, these reactions have occurred frequently enough that Apple has published dedicated guidance on its website. According to Marcant, these allergies can present in unusual ways — for example, leukoderma linked to a nickel allergy from a smartwatch. More severe reactions have also been documented. One patient developed acute facial eczema with an angioedema-like appearance after wearing headphones. This led to an emergency department visit, where the patient was mistakenly treated with icatibant under the assumption of bradykinin-induced angioedema. Common Offending Agents From an allergology perspective, the main allergens include nickel, thiurams, and especially acrylates— commonly found in smartwatch components. Although Apple notes that the Apple Watch and its bands are designed so that acrylate- and methacrylate-containing components do not directly contact the skin, reactions have still been reported. Additional cases involve Apple AirPods, with other unexpected allergens such as gold also implicated. In some instances, chemical analysis is required to confirm the presence of substances like octylisothiazolinone, as documented in recent headphone-related reactions. Healthcare Professionals Also Affected Contact allergies to connected devices are not limited to end users. A number of occupational cases have been reported, including among retail workers in Spain who handled adhesives while selling smartphone screen protectors. In those instances, the culprit was identified as 4-acryloylmorpholine. Such devices are also widespread in healthcare environments, where patients may experience allergic reactions — most often due to acrylates. For example, skin reactions to electrodes used in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy are well-documented. 'These findings suggest that legislation should mandate labeling of noncosmetic consumer products to enhance user safety and transparency,' Marcant concluded. This story was translated from Medscape's French edition.
Medscape
02-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Can Blocking AMH Reverse PCOS? New Study Says Yes
Researchers from the French National Institute of Health & Medical Research (Inserm), University of Lille in Lille, France, and the university's teaching hospital CHU de Lille have identified a promising new therapeutic strategy for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In preclinical models, the use of antibodies that block the activity of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) helped prevent the onset of PCOS-like symptoms — and even reversed them in adults who were already affected. Paolo Giacobini, PhD, neuroendocrinologist and group leader at Inserm's Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center (Centre de recherche Lille Neuroscience et Cognition), shared the findings with Medscape's French edition . Reduced Quality of Life PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility among women of reproductive age, affecting approximately 1 in 10 women — or more than two million individuals in France alone. Currently, treatment options are limited to symptom management. 'This condition has a significant impact on women's quality of life,' said Giacobini. 'It presents with a broad spectrum of symptoms that vary between patients, including polycystic ovaries, elevated androgen levels leading to menstrual irregularities, acne, hair loss, excessive body hair, high levels of AMH, and, in some cases, metabolic syndrome. At least half of women with PCOS have associated comorbidities such as overweight or obesity, elevated insulin levels that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.' A Multifactorial Condition Diagnosis of PCOS is typically based on the presence of at least two of the following three criteria: irregular menstrual cycles, clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology as observed via ultrasound. The exact cause of PCOS remains unclear. 'We've done extensive laboratory research using preclinical models to better understand the heritability of the syndrome,' Giacobini said. 'Genetics are a factor, but they do not fully explain the high prevalence. We've also identified epigenetic changes and environmental influences, such as hormonal exposures during fetal development or after birth. It is highly likely that PCOS has a multifactorial origin.' In a recent study, Giacobini's team focused on the role of AMH. In PCOS, the ovaries produce excess AMH, which impairs the maturation of follicles and contributes to androgen overproduction. 'In previous preclinical studies, we found that prenatal exposure to AMH could induce PCOS-like symptoms in offspring, and these symptoms were transmitted across generations,' Giacobini explained. 'We then examined critical periods of vulnerability in humans and observed that children of women with PCOS — both daughters and sons — had elevated AMH levels, even before puberty. We also found that mice exhibited high AMH levels during 'mini-puberty,' a transient hormonal phase in early infancy.' Blocking AMH Receptors The research team next investigated whether blocking AMH could help prevent PCOS. To do this, they developed a novel antibody, Ha13, designed to block AMH receptors located both in the ovaries and on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-producing neurons, which regulate reproductive function. 'By administering this antibody to young mice during the mini-puberty phase, we were able to prevent the development of PCOS in adulthood,' said Giacobini. 'And when we treated adult mice already exhibiting PCOS symptoms, we reversed all reproductive abnormalities — normalizing menstrual cycles, ovulation, and androgen levels.' Giacobini views this study as 'a gateway to further research on the pharmacokinetics of this antibody, which could eventually pave the way for human trials.' Although the molecule has been patented, several steps remain before it can be considered for clinical use. 'The effects in animals are very promising, but we still need to evaluate long-term outcomes and establish optimal dosing,' he emphasized. An Advanced Alternative Another therapeutic avenue targeting the GnRH receptor is already further along in development. 'We published our preclinical research on GnRH antagonists in 2018, and, thanks to European funding, we were able to initiate clinical trials. The pilot-phase results have been encouraging,' Giacobini said. 'One advantage is that this molecule is already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for other indications. We're already familiar with its pharmacological profile and side effects, which significantly accelerates development,' he concluded.
