Latest news with #KeckSchoolofMedicine
Boston Globe
14 hours ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
Three out of five liver cancer cases are preventable, study finds
Advertisement The findings align with what liver specialists have seen in their clinics for years. 'Liver cancer is common, it causes immense suffering and death, and the saddest part for me as a physician is that most of the cases are preventable,' said Dr. Brian P. Lee, an associate professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, who was not involved in the study. Improved screening, vaccination and treatment in recent years have helped stem viral hepatitis, especially in the United States. But the threat of liver cancer from heavy alcohol use and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 'has been underrecognized and underestimated,' said Dr. Ahmed Kaseb, a professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was not associated with the study. Advertisement A 'highway' to liver cancer A vast majority of liver cancers arise in people with cirrhosis, said Dr. Hashem El-Serag, the chair of the department of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and one of the authors of the new study. Cirrhosis, or advanced and largely irreversible scarring of the liver, damages healthy tissue and prevents the organ from working normally. The hepatitis B and C viruses cause inflammation that, if left untreated, can scar and damage the liver, potentially leading to cirrhosis. And both alcohol and metabolic dysfunction lead to abnormal deposits of fat in the liver, which can also result in inflammation. Related : Lee said the accumulation of fat and inflammation acted as a 'highway' to liver scarring, which in turn can injure DNA and lead to cancer. 'There could be multiple ramps to get onto that highway,' he said. Why disease may go undetected The new paper found that the share of liver cancers resulting from hepatitis B and hepatitis C is expected to drop to 63% in 2050, from 68% in 2022. But the burden of liver cancers resulting from alcohol and MASLD is expected to grow. An estimated 4 in 10 adults worldwide have MASLD, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Risk factors include obesity and Type 2 diabetes. A subset of patients with MASLD will go on to develop an advanced form called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, which has been described as a silent killer because it can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer without being noticed. Current guidance recommends monitoring for liver cancers in patients who have a history of viral hepatitis or established cirrhosis. Patients with MASH typically don't meet that criteria, Kaseb said, but they could have liver scarring without symptoms, and nobody would know. Related : Advertisement That's why screening for liver disease needs to begin at the primary care level, where cases can easily go undetected, said Dr. Mary Rinella, a hepatologist at University of Chicago Medicine and the lead author of guidelines for the management of MASLD. She recommended that doctors use a metric called the Fib-4, which uses routine blood test results to estimate the amount of liver scarring, to screen high-risk patients. These include people who have Type 2 diabetes or obesity with at least one other metabolic risk factor, such as high cholesterol. MASLD is reversible with lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and increased exercise, and weight-loss drugs have recently been shown to be effective at reversing scarring as well. 'If you stop the reason or the impetus for scarring and injury in the liver, then you're going to have less impetus for the development of cancer,' Rinella said. Alcohol compounds the problem Alcohol-related liver disease is also on the rise. In research published this month, Lee and his colleagues showed that the risk of alcohol-related liver disease among heavy drinkers (at least 10 drinks per week for women and 15 for men) in the United States more than doubled between 1999 and 2020, despite similar alcohol use over that period. That suggests that heavy drinkers today may be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol on the liver than those in the past, Lee said. This may be because the population of heavy drinkers is changing. The researchers found that women, who are more prone than men to develop fat and damage in the liver from alcohol, now make up a greater share of heavy drinkers than they did 20 years ago. So do people with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic disorders that together raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke — and compound the damage done by alcohol to the liver. Related : Advertisement Drinking heavily and having a metabolic condition such as obesity can independently damage the liver, but patients who fall in both categories are at an especially high risk. These trends are likely to continue. 'Alcohol use is increasing,' Rinella said. 'Obesity and diabetes are increasing.' 'I expect that we're going to continue to see a high burden of liver disease,' she added. This article originally appeared in .
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why some men trying for a family are ditching their hair loss treatments
Stone had known there was a small possibility of reduced libido and erectile dysfunction (between 1 per cent and 2 per cent), but he didn't know that the drug might be linked to his fertility struggles. Finasteride is prescribed at higher doses to treat enlarged prostates and has been known to mildly affect sperm counts. But Dr James Kashanian, a urologist and the director of male sexual health at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the drug has also 'significantly affected' some patients' sperm quality, even at 1 milligram, the dose typically prescribed for hair loss. Unlike with other side effects of the drug, it's not clear how common reduced sperm counts are, and much of the data is anecdotal. While some doctors say that it can be a significant problem, especially among men already struggling with fertility issues, others say it plays a relatively small role. Still, many young men are not aware of any potential risks, said Dr Mary Samplaski, a urologist and the former director of male infertility at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Will Stone had been prescribed finasteride for hair loss through the US telehealth company Hims & Hers. A senior vice president at the company said it provides information about finasteride when patients are prescribed it and includes a warning on its website about infertility and poor sperm quality. In most cases, fertility issues seem to reverse within a few months of going off the medication and there is no evidence it causes birth defects. In Stone's case, he stopped taking it the day his urologist told him to. When he tested again 10 weeks later, his sperm count had jumped to 250 million per millilitre, a 125-fold increase. A 'Male Contraceptive'? In 1999, the first peer-reviewed study to look at finasteride and sperm quantity found no effects. But a small 2013 study, led by Samplaski, focused specifically on 27 men dealing with infertility issues while taking finasteride. Researchers asked them to go off the drug for three months, the amount of time it typically takes for a new population of sperm to form. When the men were retested after going off finasteride, they registered an 11-fold increase in sperm counts on average. Researchers suspect that the reason for the decline in sperm count is that the medication can shift the balance of hormones in the body, said Dr Scott Lundy, the program director of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. It does this by suppressing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which has been found to lead to baldness. Loading For some people, disrupting hormonal ratios can create fertility issues. 'A lot of people don't know that testosterone is a male contraceptive,' said Dr Kirk Lo, a urologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto who worked on the study with Samplaski. However, there are very few high-quality studies looking at finasteride and sperm counts, and not every doctor considers it an important factor in fertility. Dr Kian Asanad, the director of the USC Fertility and Men's Sexual Health Centre, says he couldn't recall a case when taking a patient off finasteride solved their fertility issues independently. 'I keep it in the back of my mind as a possible factor, but I would say it's a less common thing.' In the US, Kashanian says he has had more conversations about finasteride in recent years as more men have come in seeking treatment for infertility. Dr Marc Goldstein, the surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, agreed and says that after he lays out the risks of taking finasteride while trying to conceive, some patients will choose to stay on the medication. 'Vanity reigns supreme,' he says. But others, like Stone, are happy to go off the hair treatment. After his sperm count rebounded, last year he and his wife had a healthy baby boy. He has no plans to go back on finasteride any time soon. 'I'd have gladly lost every hair on my head to have the kid we have now,' he says.
The Age
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
Why some men trying for a family are ditching their hair loss treatments
Stone had known there was a small possibility of reduced libido and erectile dysfunction (between 1 per cent and 2 per cent), but he didn't know that the drug might be linked to his fertility struggles. Finasteride is prescribed at higher doses to treat enlarged prostates and has been known to mildly affect sperm counts. But Dr James Kashanian, a urologist and the director of male sexual health at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the drug has also 'significantly affected' some patients' sperm quality, even at 1 milligram, the dose typically prescribed for hair loss. Unlike with other side effects of the drug, it's not clear how common reduced sperm counts are, and much of the data is anecdotal. While some doctors say that it can be a significant problem, especially among men already struggling with fertility issues, others say it plays a relatively small role. Still, many young men are not aware of any potential risks, said Dr Mary Samplaski, a urologist and the former director of male infertility at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Will Stone had been prescribed finasteride for hair loss through the US telehealth company Hims & Hers. A senior vice president at the company said it provides information about finasteride when patients are prescribed it and includes a warning on its website about infertility and poor sperm quality. In most cases, fertility issues seem to reverse within a few months of going off the medication and there is no evidence it causes birth defects. In Stone's case, he stopped taking it the day his urologist told him to. When he tested again 10 weeks later, his sperm count had jumped to 250 million per millilitre, a 125-fold increase. A 'Male Contraceptive'? In 1999, the first peer-reviewed study to look at finasteride and sperm quantity found no effects. But a small 2013 study, led by Samplaski, focused specifically on 27 men dealing with infertility issues while taking finasteride. Researchers asked them to go off the drug for three months, the amount of time it typically takes for a new population of sperm to form. When the men were retested after going off finasteride, they registered an 11-fold increase in sperm counts on average. Researchers suspect that the reason for the decline in sperm count is that the medication can shift the balance of hormones in the body, said Dr Scott Lundy, the program director of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. It does this by suppressing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which has been found to lead to baldness. Loading For some people, disrupting hormonal ratios can create fertility issues. 'A lot of people don't know that testosterone is a male contraceptive,' said Dr Kirk Lo, a urologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto who worked on the study with Samplaski. However, there are very few high-quality studies looking at finasteride and sperm counts, and not every doctor considers it an important factor in fertility. Dr Kian Asanad, the director of the USC Fertility and Men's Sexual Health Centre, says he couldn't recall a case when taking a patient off finasteride solved their fertility issues independently. 'I keep it in the back of my mind as a possible factor, but I would say it's a less common thing.' In the US, Kashanian says he has had more conversations about finasteride in recent years as more men have come in seeking treatment for infertility. Dr Marc Goldstein, the surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, agreed and says that after he lays out the risks of taking finasteride while trying to conceive, some patients will choose to stay on the medication. 'Vanity reigns supreme,' he says. But others, like Stone, are happy to go off the hair treatment. After his sperm count rebounded, last year he and his wife had a healthy baby boy. He has no plans to go back on finasteride any time soon. 'I'd have gladly lost every hair on my head to have the kid we have now,' he says.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Shocking! Loneliness can be linked to Diabetes; here's how
A recent study presented at ENDO 2025 reveals a significant link between social isolation and increased risk of diabetes and poor blood sugar control in older adults. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers found that isolated individuals were significantly more likely to develop diabetes and struggle with blood sugar management. Loneliness may not only affect your mental health, but may also affect your physical health. It might not just hurt your feelings, but may harm your health, and even lead to diabetes. Yes, that's right. A recent study has found that socially isolated individuals have an increased risk of developing certain diseases. A recent study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, California, found that people who are isolated have an increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood sugar. Isolation and diseases The researchers looked at how social isolation is a growing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is emerging as a major health risk, especially for older adults. They found that isolation could even be linked to diabetes and high blood sugar in older adults. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it does produce. This could lead to high blood sugar levels, which can cause serious health complications if not managed properly, including heart disease, kidney damage, and vision problems. High blood pressure, on the other hand, is a 'silent killer', and goes undetected for years. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, worldwide. 'Social isolation and loneliness have been increasingly recognized as important health risk factors after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings underscore the importance for clinicians to recognize social isolation as a critical social determinant of health when caring for older patients,' lead researcher Samiya Khan, M.D., of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said. 'These findings are especially relevant given the rapidly growing aging population in the United States and globally, alongside the widespread prevalence of social isolation and loneliness among older adults,' Khan added. BELLY FAT BLUES: The Waistline Warning Sign of Diabetes The researchers also added that though previous studies have looked at the connection between social isolation and diabetes, this recent study is among the first to examine its link to poor glycemic control using a nationally representative sample of data that reflects the broader US population. The study The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2008. NHANES is a survey program to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the US. Analysing that, the researchers looked at the data of 3,833 adults aged 60 to 84. This represents about 38 million older people in the US. They found that socially isolated older adults were 34% more likely to have diabetes and 75% more likely to have poor blood sugar control than those who were not isolated. This study has pointed out that isolation could be a vital factor, which is often overlooked when it comes to diabetes and poor blood sugar management in older adults. 'These findings underscore the importance of social connections for the well-being of older adults. Physicians should recognize social isolation as a potential risk factor among elderly patients for both diabetes and high blood sugar,' Khan added.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Drinking diet soda? Here's how it sabotages weight loss
A recent study from USC's Keck School of Medicine reveals that diet sodas, particularly those with sucralose, may increase food cravings and appetite, especially in women and obese individuals. Researchers found that artificial sweeteners can trigger brain activity linked to cravings and reduce hormones that signal fullness. People nowadays are obsessed with diet soda, due to its promise of zero sugar and zero calories. It almost looks like a guilt-free beverage, especially for those trying to lose weight. But diet drinks might not be the sweet spot. Switching to diet soda may leave more than just a synthetic aftertaste. A new study found that drinking diet soda may sabotage your weight loss journey. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that diet sodas may increase food cravings and appetite, especially in women and people who are obese. The study is published in JAMA Network Open . The culprit in diet soda The researchers found that drinks that contain the artificial sweetener sucralose are linked to increased food cravings. This was one of the largest studies to examine the effects of an artificial sweetener, also called a nonnutritive sweetener (NNS), on brain activity and appetite responses in different segments of the population. Over 40 percent of adults in the US currently use NNSs to satisfy their sweet tooth. Many consider it a calorie-free way to accomplish weight loss goals. 'There is controversy surrounding the use of artificial sweeteners because a lot of people are using them for weight loss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo While some studies suggest they may be helpful, others show they may be contributing to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. Our study looked at different population groups to tease out some of the reasons behind those conflicting results,' Kathleen Page, MD, corresponding author and an associate professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, said in a statement. The study To understand the effects of artificial sweeteners on health, the researchers studied 74 participants. The participants were divided based on gender and categorized as healthy weight, overweight or obese, over three separate sessions. During each visit, the participants consumed 300 milliliters of either a drink sweetened with table sugar (sucrose), a sucralose-sweetened drink, or water. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure three things: activation of regions of the brain responsible for appetite and food cravings in response to pictures of high-calorie foods such as a burger and donut, and glucose (blood sugar), insulin, and other metabolic hormones in the blood. Artificial sweeteners were linked to more cravings The researchers found increased activity in regions of the brain responsible for food cravings and appetite in both women and obese people after they consumed sucralose-containing drinks, when compared to those who drank real sugar drinks. The levels found that after drinking the zero-calorie artificially sweetened drinks, the participants had lower levels of hormones that signal fullness, compared to when they drank the sugar-sweetened drink. This suggests that diet drinks may not really help curb hunger. They also found that female participants who drank artificial sweetener drinks snacked more, whereas snack food intake did not differ for male participants. Shreyas Iyer and Ibrahim Ali Khan's Nutritionist Nicole Kedia Breaks Down Their Diet SECRETS 'Our study starts to provide context for the mixed results from previous studies when it comes to the neural and behavioral effects of artificial sweeteners. By studying different groups, we were able to show that females and people with obesity may be more sensitive to artificial sweeteners. For these groups, drinking artificially sweetened drinks may trick the brain into feeling hungry, which may in turn result in more calories being consumed,' Page said. So, if you enjoy drinking diet sodas, thinking it may help you with weight loss, think again.
