Latest news with #EuropeanSociety
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AI gives birth to fresh hope against male infertility
Artificial intelligence could make all the difference for would-be parents undergoing IVF and who are struggling with the most severe forms of male infertility. The first Australian study of new technology has led to one live birth and five pregnancies in 12 months among 35 couples who would previously be considered infertile. "These are the most difficult cases that we see at an IVF clinic, so it's very motivating to be able to help people that in a normal world, naturally would never ever be able to have their own children," IVF Australia embryologist Dale Goss told AAP. "It's great to see translation from a science project, essentially a few years ago, and a proof of concept into something that's delivered in the clinic and actually see a healthy baby boy born." The NeoGenix Biosciences employee presented the findings from the first AI SpermSearch clinical study to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Paris overnight. The system works by searching for the best sperm in semen samples taken from biopsies, offering embryologists another tool to select the most appropriate sperm to be used in IVF. Mr Goss said embryologists could often spend up to six hours looking for enough of the right tiny swimmers but the technology was shown to reduce search times by 75 per cent. "We found that our reducing the time to search, we were able to get through more samples, find more sperm and give these patients a better chance at having their own biological children," he said. The technology was given early access approval for research purposes at Sydney-based Virtus Health but Mr Goss hopes it could be approved for wider use across Australia by the end of the year. About 16 per cent of couples struggle with fertility, according to Family Planning NSW, while 1 in 18 babies in Australia are born through IVF each year. NSW couple Marcela and Rowan Moon experienced infertility until tests confirmed Mr Moon's semen had no sperm because of a genetic condition. "When they told us that Rowan was infertile, I thought 'oh my God I can't have a child with Rowan being the father biologically' and then they said 'no, it's not like that, we can still do it'," Ms Moon said. Mr Moon had a biopsy as a day procedure and doctors took a sample, which was then used to create embryos. The first transfer was hailed a success and the couple later welcomed son Leo. "We were so lucky to get Leo first off the bat ... I don't think we really realised the rollercoaster that it was going to be," Mr Moon said.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Plastic in your privates: New microplastics discovery sparking fertility concerns
It's time to talk about the birds, the bees and the PTFEs. They're already in our lungs, livers, kidneys, blood and even our brains. New research out Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction reveals that microplastics are coming for our baby-makers, too. In a disturbing discovery, scientists have detected these tiny particles lurking in semen and ovaries — sparking concern about their impact on fertility and reproductive health. Researchers analyzed the follicular and seminal fluid of 29 women and 22 men and found microplastics in 55% of male samples and 69% of female ones. 'Previous studies had already shown that microplastics can be found in various human organs,' lead researcher Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez said in a statement as the research was presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's annual meeting. 'As a result, we weren't entirely surprised to find microplastics in fluids of the human reproductive system, but we were struck by how common they were.' The worst offenders in semen were PTFEs — the chemical name of Teflon — which were identified in 41% of the samples. Trailing behind were polystyrene, which is like styrofoam (14%); polyethylene terephthalate, in the polyester family (9%); polyamide or nylon (5%) and polyurethane, in coatings and foams (5%). The impact these microplastics — defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters in size — have on reproductive health is unclear, but it's unlikely to be anything good. 'What we know from animal studies is that in the tissues where microplastics accumulate, they can induce inflammation, free radical formation, DNA damage, cellular senescence and endocrine disruptions,' Gomez-Sanchez said. 'It's possible they could impair egg or sperm quality in humans, but we don't yet have enough evidence to confirm that.' While he cautions against going into a full-blown panic, the findings are concerning — especially as the US grapples with a fertility crisis. 'There's no need for alarm at this point. Microplastics are just one of many elements that may play a role in fertility,' Gomez-Sanchez said. 'However, it is sensible to consider ways of reducing our exposure to them. Simple steps, such as using glass containers to store and heat food or limiting the amount of water we consume from plastic bottles, can help minimize our intake.' A separate team in Italy recently found microplastics in the ovarian follicular fluid of 14 out of 18 women they studied. Lead author Luigi Montano said the findings were 'very alarming,' noting that his previous research suggested that microplastics lower sperm count and quality. These tiny particles also seem to be present in the uterus and placenta, as well as human testicles, in shockingly high amounts. There are two main ways human bodies get contaminated with microplastics: by breathing them in the air or by eating them in food. Unfortunately, they are ubiquitous, with estimates that 10 million to 40 million metric tons are let loose into the environment every year. Researchers have found that people consume about 5 grams a week, or enough to fill a soup spoon. In a year, that's about 250 grams — described as a 'heaped dinner plate's worth.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Agenus says expanded MSS mCRC cohort data to be presented at ESMO GI
Agenus (AGEN) announced new data from its ongoing Phase 1 trial evaluating botensilimab and balstilimab in patients with microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer will be presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Barcelona, Spain. A poster presentation will feature updated findings from an expanded cohort of 123 patients, incorporating additional participants and extended follow-up to further assess clinical activity of the combination, including durability of response and overall survival, the company noted. Quickly and easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks straight to you inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on AGEN: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Biotech Alert: Searches spiking for these stocks today Agenus price target raised to $4 from $3 at Baird Agenus's Regulatory and Clinical Developments Prompt Neutral Stance Amid Uncertain FDA Pathway Agenus Inc. Reports Q1 2025 Progress and Financials Agenus Inc. Earnings Call: Optimism Amid Challenges Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
New Breakthrough Antibiotic Can Treat Drug-Resistant 'Super Gonorrhoea'
For the first time in 30 years, researchers have discovered a promising new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea, a potentially important milestone in the fight against growing antibiotic resistance. Gonorrhoea is one of several sexually transmitted infections which is fast-gaining resistance to existing antibiotic treatments, making it hard to effectively treat patients with drug-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for the infection. The infection was listed as a 'high' priority in the World Health Organization's Bacterial Priority Pathogens List, 2024. Between 600,000-700,000 cases of gonorrhoea are diagnosed in the U.S. each year according to the CDC. 'Gonorrhoea has developed resistance to nearly all the antibiotics used for its treatment,' according to the CDC website. 'We are currently down to one last recommended and effective class of antibiotics, cephalosporins, to treat this common infection. This is an urgent public health threat because gonorrhoea control in the United States largely relies on our ability to successfully treat the infection.' The newly developed treatment, called gepotidacin, may offer a much-needed alternative to standard gonorrhoea therapies, particularly in light of rising global resistance to existing drugs. Just a few weeks ago, gepotidacin was approved by the FDA for the treatment of urinary tract infections in women and children, following positive trial results. The findings, published in The Lancet and also presented at the 2025 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) conference in Vienna earlier this week, come from a phase 3 clinical trial involving over 600 patients across six countries including the U.K. and the U.S. Gepotidacin works by stopping bacterial DNA replication, essentially stopping the division and multiplication of bacteria. Researchers compared gepotidacin, taken orally, to the current standard treatment combination: an injection of ceftriaxone combined with an oral dose of azithromycin. The study concluded that gepotidacin was as effective as the existing treatment combination and importantly, worked against strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae known to be resistant to the currently recommended treatment. The treatment was found to be safe with no significant side-effects and the authors of the study also note that gepotidacin is only taken orally and could remove the need for an injection, making the treatment more accessible for patients.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Having This Common Respiratory Condition Triples The Risk of Dying, Scientists Warn
In recent winters, doctors have warned of a potential 'tripledemic'—a surge of three major respiratory illnesses at once. One of them is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in healthy adults. While RSV is most often associated with infants—it's the leading cause of hospitalization in babies under six months—it also poses a serious risk to older adults. In fact, RSV can lead to severe complications like pneumonia and chronic respiratory disease in adults over 60, resulting in an estimated 100,000 and 150,000 hospitalizations annually. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 However, doctors may have actually underestimated just how dangerous RSV can be for older adults. New research presented at the 2025 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global conference shows adults with RSV are 2.7 times more likely to die within a year than people without an RSV infection. Related: Signs of RSV in Older Adults According to Immunologists Between 2011 and 2022, researchers examined medical data from 5,289 adults diagnosed with RSV. After comparing their health outcomes to 15,867 people of similar age and stature who were not infected with RSV after one year, they concluded the following. The most significant difference between the two groups was a much higher risk of death. Based on the findings, adults of any age older than 18 faced a 2.7 higher risk of dying within one year of infection compared to the general population. People with RSV infection had to deal with more severe health problems over all, with hospitalization rates being more than double those without RSV infection (58% vs 28%). They also demonstrated four times higher admission to the intensive care unit (5.3% vs 1.4%). The repeated RSV-related hospital visits and complications also resulted in hefty medical bills. Over the year, people with RSV infections spent nearly $23,000 in healthcare costs compared to the estimated $10,000 adults without RSV spent. Related: Who Actually Needs To Worry About RSV in the Coming Weeks In one year, people with RSV infection were 3.1 times more likely to experience complications from COPD, and 4.6 times more likely to have complications from asthma. 'Exacerbations of COPD and asthma were the most common adverse clinical outcomes. These pre-existing conditions are already challenging in themselves, and RSV-ARI exacerbates their severity," said Maria João Fonseca, Ph.D., an associate director of Global Real World Evidence and Health Outcomes, Vaccines for the pharmaceutical company GSK and the study's lead author. "Because of this, it's crucial that we pay closer attention to patients with these underlying conditions to prevent further, potentially life-threatening complications.' 'One of the most striking findings from this study was the prolonged and significant impact of RSV-ARI,' Fonseca explains. 'Even after the acute phase, patients continued to experience worse outcomes compared to the general population. This underscores just how serious and enduring the effects of RSV-ARI can be.' Related: As for how to protect yourself from RSV? Experts recommend getting vaccinated. (There are currently three FDA-approved RSV vaccines, including GSK's AREXY vaccine.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends the RSV vaccine for anyone 75 and older. That said, anyone 60 or older who is considered high risk for complications is advised to get immunized as well. If you're unsure where you fall in terms of risk factors, ask your doctor or general practitioner. 'Vaccination has proven highly effective in preventing severe outcomes from RSV," said Stanislava Bratković, a medical advisor for Vaccines at GSK and one of the study's authors. "Given the significant burden of RSV-ARI highlighted by our study, prioritizing vaccination for vulnerable populations is essential to reduce both health complications and associated costs.' Up Next:About RSV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV in Older Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical and economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults with acute respiratory infections – a Danish nationwide cohort study. European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global 2025. Maria João Fonseca, Ph.D., is an associate director of Global Real World Evidence and Health Outcomes, Vaccines for the pharmaceutical company GSK. Stanislava Bratković is a medical advisor for Vaccines at GSK.
