Latest news with #UmeåUniversity
Euronews
05-07-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Hot European summers raise health risks from mosquito-borne diseases
Europe is in for a long, hot summer – and with it, a swarm of mosquitoes. The insects are more than just pesky. Some mosquito species carry illnesses such as Zika, West Nile virus, dengue, and chikungunya – and outbreaks of these diseases, typically found in tropical and subtropical climates, are becoming more common in Europe as a result of increased travel and warmer weather driven by climate change. Last year, there were 1,436 cases of West Nile virus and 304 dengue infections acquired in Europe, up from 201 the previous two years combined, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Italy made up 238 of those dengue cases, the largest outbreak the bloc has ever seen. This may be another record-breaking year. France already has seven active outbreaks of chikungunya this summer, which the ECDC said indicates the mosquito season started earlier than usual. 'It's an exponential curve,' Jan Semenza, an environmental epidemiologist at Umeå University in Sweden, told Euronews Health. Dengue can spread easily because most infected people have no or mild symptoms, but it can cause severe illness and death. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Chikungunya is rarely fatal, but it can cause similar symptoms to dengue as well as debilitating joint pain that can last months or even years. Semenza and other scientists believe these diseases could soon become endemic in Europe. One recent study found that if a new mosquito species arrived in a European country in the 1990s, it would take about 25 years for a major outbreak to occur. Now, it's under five years. 'That time span has collapsed dramatically,' Semenza said. Outbreaks in Europe are still small compared to the rest of the globe. So far in 2025, there have been more than three million dengue cases and 220,000 chikungunya cases worldwide. More than 1,400 people have died from dengue and there have been 80 chikungunya deaths worldwide. But other vector-borne diseases could soon emerge as public health threats, as well. The mosquito species that spreads yellow fever, once eliminated in Europe, has reappeared in Cyprus. 'We are very concerned that Europe could potentially be invaded by this aggressive mosquito,' Semenza said. What can be done to combat mosquito-borne diseases? Semenza said that while it's impossible to eliminate mosquitoes altogether, governments can do more to prevent them from spreading disease. They could, for example, boost surveillance in hotter southern European countries during the summer, particularly around airports and other transit hubs where people might unknowingly bring viruses in. 'We want to make sure that if a passenger arrives from a dengue-active area, that if that person has the virus in [their] blood, we would like to isolate that individual as quickly as possible to make sure that he or she doesn't get bitten by a mosquito, because then you have these larger outbreaks,' Semenza said. Spain is taking some steps to minimise the risks. People can submit photos of mosquitoes to an app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the species and issue an alert if it hasn't been detected in that area before. Regional health authorities can then take steps to prevent infections. This 'citizen science' programme has helped officials identify invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, in 156 municipalities since 2023, according to the Spanish health ministry. Meanwhile, the ECDC said people can take steps to minimise their own risks from mosquitoes , including using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and trousers at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Travellers returning from countries where these viruses are endemic – most parts of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean – should maintain these precautions for at least three weeks after their return to Europe to prevent mosquitoes from biting them and spreading any viruses locally, the agency said. Other climate scientists say European countries grappling with the reemergence of mosquito-borne diseases should take lessons from regions where they have long been endemic, such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas. 'In Europe, it's definitely a seasonal disease,' Semenza said. 'But we see the season expanding, and we'll see more and more cases'.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make game-changing breakthrough that could change how we heat our homes: 'Has great potential'
While photovoltaics convert the sun's rays into electricity, solar thermal collectors absorb its heat energy for home and industrial purposes. A researcher at Umeå University in Sweden recently developed new sustainable coatings for these collectors that can improve their efficiency and durability, according to a report from the school. "Solar thermal has great potential to contribute to the green transition, especially as a source of industrial process heat. But the technology needs to become even more competitive to gain broader traction," said Erik Zäll, a doctoral student in experimental physics at Umeå University. By leveraging more sustainable methods of heat or electricity generation, companies can reduce their carbon footprints, decrease their operating costs, and even pass on those savings to consumers. Zäll explained in his doctoral thesis how optical coatings could be tailored for two key components of solar thermal collectors: the cover glass, where light enters the system, and the receiver that absorbs the light and converts it into heat. An anti-reflective silica coating with small, hexagonally ordered pores helped improve light transmission through the cover glass while boosting the coating's resistance to environmental factors such as scratches, dirt, and moisture. For the receiver, two solutions were presented that helped absorb most of the sunlight while emitting little thermal radiation. Both can be manufactured using low-cost, environmentally friendly methods that can be scaled up for production. One option uses an electroplated cobalt-chromium coating that absorbs light and is more environmentally friendly than other types of chromium previously used. The second is a composite film made up of carbon nanotubes and silica, which the report said can be spray-coated onto annealed stainless steel using ultrasonic technology. The thermal treatment of the steel helps create a thin oxide layer that boosts optical properties and heat resistance. According to the World Economic Forum, heat accounts for half the world's energy consumption, from home space heaters to industrial applications. The processes used in creating this heat contribute more than 40% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Solar energy systems can use the sun's rays to heat water or air in buildings, with flat-plate collectors being the most common type for applications where temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit are sufficient. Some industrial-scale solar thermal power plants use vast arrays of concentrating collectors that focus the sun's rays on a smaller absorber for heat generation. Zäll's research was done in collaboration with Absolicon Solar Collector and is specifically adapted to the Swedish solar energy company's designs, which have led to two patent applications for more efficient solar collectors. Absolicon's website details how its sustainable heat collector systems can work alongside solar photovoltaics to lighten the load on the electricity grid and boiler systems that use dirty fuels. Those systems include thermal energy storage in the form of heat batteries, which allow them to operate around the clock, even when the sun isn't shining, increasing the sustainability factor for the technology. "Our work shows that it's possible to combine sustainability, cost-effectiveness and high performance in optical coatings – a key to making solar heat a viable alternative to fossil fuels on a larger scale," Zäll concluded. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Medscape
11-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Minor Increase in Stroke Risk After Anti-VEGF Eye Injections
Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF were associated with a small but significant increase in the risk for stroke among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The risk was higher with aflibercept and bevacizumab than with ranibizumab and declined 60 days after the last injection. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from two Swedish national registries from 2007 to 2019 to investigate whether intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (ranibizumab, aflibercept, and bevacizumab) for age-related macular degeneration were associated with an increased risk for stroke. They identified patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who developed stroke or transient ischemic attack within 90 days of receiving an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection and matched them with individuals who experienced stroke but did not receive such treatment. The number of days between the last injection and the occurrence of stroke was categorized into three intervals: 0-30 days, 31-60 days, and 61-90 days. TAKEAWAY: Among 33,585 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving anti-VEGF injections, 936 (approximately 2.8%) experienced a stroke within 90 days of the last injection. Patients who received anti-VEGF injections were at a 27% higher risk for stroke within 90 days of the last injection than those who did not receive the treatment (risk ratio [RR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.22-1.33). The risk for stroke was elevated in the first 0-30 days (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.15-1.66) and 31-60 days (RR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.09-1.79) after the last injection but declined thereafter. Aflibercept showed the highest risk (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.23-1.52), followed by bevacizumab (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.46), whereas ranibizumab demonstrated the lowest risk profile. IN PRACTICE: 'For patients with nAMD [neovascular age-related macular degeneration] in need of anti-VEGF treatment who have a history of cerebrovascular events, have atrial fibrillation or hypertension, and who are smokers, it seems prudent to try to reduce stroke risk factors,' the researchers reported. SOURCE: Inger Westborg, of the Department of Clinical Sciences/Ophthalmology at Umeå University in Umeå, Sweden, was the corresponding author of this study, which was published online on June 7, 2025, in Acta Ophthalmologica . LIMITATIONS: The variations in the risk for stroke between anti-VEGF agents should be interpreted with caution, as the data could not determine whether differences were caused by confounding by indication or actual differences in risk. Information on smoking status was only available for the patients who experienced stroke. DISCLOSURES: This study received support through a grant from Region Stockholm, Sweden. One author disclosed serving as an advisory board member for various pharmaceutical companies.
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Researchers make ‘significant discovery' in treating prostate cancer — what it means for patients
Looks like Ozempic isn't the only diabetes drug that wound up having a secret side hustle. A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for Type 2 diabetes shows immense promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay. A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for type 2 diabetes shows promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay. Peakstock – Advertisement The research — which was published in the journal Molecular Cancer — was based on studies on mice, as well as a retrospective study of 69 prostate cancer patients with type 2 diabetes, all of whom experienced a lack of cancer recurrence while using the drug. 'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner, a visiting professor at Sweden's Umeå University, said in a press release. Advertisement 'For the first time, we have clinical observations showing that prostate cancer patients with diabetes who received drugs targeting the protein [PPARy] remained relapse-free during the period we followed them.' Pioglitazone — a common anti-diabetic drug — not only slowed down the growth of cancer cells but also hampered their ability to grow back. 'The findings are very promising, but further clinical studies are needed to both confirm the results and to investigate whether the treatment can also be used in patients with prostate cancer who do not have diabetes,' Kenner said. It's the latest in a series of advances targeting prostate cancer — the second most common cancer among men in the US, after skin cancer. Advertisement 'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner said. jarun011 – A UCLA study found that an AI tool identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% by physicians, highlighting the potential of AI in improving diagnostic precision. A new at-home saliva test analyzes DNA for genetic markers associated with prostate cancer, offering a more accurate alternative to traditional blood tests and aiding in earlier detection. Advertisement And — following the shocking news that former President Joe Biden has an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer — one Manhattan doctor is offering free PSA blood tests at his Midtown East office through the end of June. While the overall five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is as high as 97%, studies have shown that men who avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are 45% more likely to die from the disease.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two weeks of prostate cancer radiotherapy still saves lives, study finds
Prostate cancer radiotherapy can be reduced to two weeks and still save lives, a study has shown. Currently, men with prostate cancer who opt for radiotherapy are given between four and eight weeks of treatment which can comprise around 40 sessions. But a 10-year trial by Swedish researchers has found the same benefits can be achieved from over two weeks of treatment of higher-dose radiation. Even though the individual dose is higher, it works out at around half the amount of radiation over time, so brings no more side effects. Prostate cancer charities said the results were 'fantastic' for men. 'Delivering fewer, higher doses over a shorter period works just as well as the standard approach, not just in theory, but in real-world clinical practice,' said Prof Per Nilsson, senior radiation physicist, at Skåne University Hospital and Lund University. 'For patients, this means less disruption to daily life and potentially lower healthcare costs – without compromising outcomes and safety.' One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with 50,000 given the bad news every year. Prostate cancer is the second-biggest cancer killer of men in the UK, causing 12,000 deaths a year. There are around 510,000 men who are living with the disease or who have survived. For many patients, radiotherapy is a standard treatment option that offers outcomes comparable to surgery, particularly for localised disease but schedules typically span several weeks, which can be burdensome for patients and put pressure on healthcare systems. For the new trial, 1,200 men with localised cancer were given either a short course of seven sessions over two and a half weeks, or a standard course of 39 sessions over eight weeks. Results showed that 72 per cent of men having the shorter treatment did not see their cancer return and did not need more treatment within the next 10 years, compared to 65 per cent of men in the standard group. Overall survival for the two-week group was 81 per cent compared with 79 per cent for traditional treatment. For both groups four per cent of men died from their cancer in the 10-year follow up. The shorter treatment group needed a total radiation of 42.7 gy (the unit for absorbed dose) compared to 72 gy for the eight-week group. Side effects were similar in both groups and were mostly mild to moderate. 'These findings confirm that the shorter course does not increase long-term side effects and provides equally durable cancer control', added Dr Camilla Thellenberg-Karlsson, of Umeå University. The findings were welcomed by charities. Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'We welcome these results. It's fantastic news for men that this has shown the long-term benefits of a shorter course of radiotherapy, meaning that they could still receive the best possible treatment with fewer visits to the hospital. 'We've previously seen similar results from the UK-based PACE B trial, which has shown that using stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy – a form of radiotherapy which delivers high doses of radiation directly to tumours, reducing exposure to healthy tissue around the cancer – can cut down the number of treatment sessions to just five over a two-week period. 'These studies show us that shorter courses of radiotherapy can be just as effective for men compared to the more extensive radiotherapy regimes more commonly used.' The research was presented at ESTRO 2025, the annual congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Prof Matthias Guckenberger, president of ESTRO, added: 'Shorter treatment schedules mean patients can return to their normal lives more quickly. 'Reducing treatment time to just two and a half week is a major win for both patients and health systems.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
