Health headlines: a look behind stories that hit news feeds in June
Here we look at the health stories that patients might have caught in the national news. We provide the supporting evidence behind the headlines, so you can be ready to answer any questions that might arise. Cahal McQuillan and Sarina Salamon report. First in-human trials for AI-designed ‘universal vaccine’ In a world first, a universal […]
Here we look at the health stories that patients might have caught in the national news. We provide the supporting evidence behind the headlines, so you can be ready to answer any questions that might arise. Cahal McQuillan and Sarina Salamon report. First in-human trials for AI-designed ‘universal vaccine’In a world first, a universal vaccine that was designed entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) has been tested in humans and deemed to be safe. The story, reported on by theBBCandSky Newson 5 June, was based on a study that was published in theJournal of Infectionand led by a team from the University of Cambridge. The phase 1 trial, which included 39 participants, was designed to assess the safety of a pan-Sarbecovirus vaccine that broadly targets all coronaviruses and many other bat-related viruses,including those in the Ebola group. This pan-Sarbecovirus vaccine has now progressed to phase 2 trials, where it will be tested in 200 individuals. Beyond supporting the safety of AI-designed vaccines, this study also contributes to solutions aimed at viruses with future pandemic potential. The trial’s chief investigator, Professor Saul Faust, said: ‘This new class of universal vaccines are future proofed. They not only protect against many variants simultaneously, but potentially against related viruses that haven’t yet emerged and spilt over to humans. ’TheUK Health Security Agency recently assessed that respiratory infections, including influenza and novel coronavirus, represent the greatest risks to UK health security over the next five years. Poor sleep increasing cancer risk among under-50sPoor sleep may be fuelling the rise in cancer cases among people younger than 50, reported several outlets, includingThe TelegraphandThe Guardian, on 30 May. The story came from two studies that analysed the health data of more than 18 million US adults aged between 18 and 50, which were presented at theAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meetingin Chicago earlier that week. The studies demonstrated a link between poor sleep patterns and an increased likelihood of developing early-onset bowel, breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers. In some cases, data showed that under-50s with insomnia were up to three times more likely to develop cancer within five years. Importantly, experts caution that these studies have identified an association rather than proof that sleep disruption has increased cancer risk in this age group. NHS to offer ‘life-extending’ ovarian cancer drugA new, life-extending drug for individuals with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer will now be offered through the NHS in England,The Guardianreported on 4 June. The treatment, known as mirvetuximab soravtansine and branded elahere, is the first new drug for chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer to be approved by the NHS for 20 years. Following theNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s(NICE’s) recommendation, thetreatment will be now available for patientswith chemotherapy-resistant epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer whose tumours contain the FRα protein that the drug targets. More from The PharmacistA major clinical trial, which was published inThe New England Journal of Medicineand included 453 patients across eight NHS hospitals, helped to inform NICE’s decision. That trial found that treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival, with patients living 16. 5 months on average compared to 12. 8 months with chemotherapy. Around 270 people are expected to be eligible in the first year, rising to approximately 420 by year three as access to the diagnostic test needed to confirm eligibility becomes more widely availableAntidepressants as alternatives to opioidsSome medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, could serve as alternative pain relief options to opioids, according to a US study reported on byThe Guardianon 14 June. While opioids are effective painkillers, their known addictive properties – combined with poor prescribing practices – have fuelled a global opioid crisis, underscoring the need for suitable alternatives for treating acute pain. Thestudy, conducted at an emergency department in San Francisco, used five commonly presenting types of pain – abdominal pain, back pain, chest pain, fracture pain and headache – and analysed current literature on their associated treatments to recommend non-opioid pharmaceuticals. The study found paracetamol and ibuprofen were recommended for all five painful conditions. For back pain, anti-depressants and muscle relaxants were advised and benzodiazepines and anti-psychotics were indicated for abdominal pain. Triptans, anti-psychotics, and anti-emetics were suggested for headaches. The results aim to help reduce unnecessary opioid exposure in emergency departments and serve as a resource to support alternative-to-opioid programmes. Most Australian children still using social media despite banMost adolescents are still using social media in Australia, despite a world-first ban for under 16s being implemented late last year, new research, reported on byThe IndependentandSky News, has found. The study, which included an early analysis of survey data and was published inthe BMJ, showed that the blanket ban has had limited impact, with a minimal reduction in daily social media usage for young people. The researchers found that more than 85% of participants aged under 16 werestill using social media– 66% of whom reported being asked to verify their age by platforms. Prior to the ban, there were concerns that young people would use VPNs to circumvent restrictions. However, the study found VPN use was rare and most young people had bypassed the ban by either continuing to use their own account, using another person’s account, or using a new account with a fake age. The UK is set toimplement a social media banfor under 16s in the spring of 2027 based on the Australian model. This could include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X but not messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal. A version of this article was first published on our sister title,Nursing in Practice.