https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abo2856
I had no idea this would even be remotely possible o_O.
I had no idea this would even be remotely possible o_O.
Newsworthy Science
- Thread starter Birdjaguar
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Grendeldef
Trancerelic & coffeeholic
This is a part that I particularly like. Casually grabbing some light reading and almost immeadiately on page 1403 things start to happen. It might still be a bit too far from the cover for the tiktok generation.
Last edited:
Narz
keeping it real
https://fortune.com/2022/03/24/tiny-microplastics-particles-human-blood/
Your blood may have plastic in it. Gross.
Your blood may have plastic in it. Gross.
Diabetes drug may cause birth defects in male babies of fathers taking the drug
Of 1 116 779 offspring included, 3.3% had 1 or more major birth defects (reference). Insulin-exposed offspring (n = 5298) had the reference birth defect frequency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.98 [95% CI, 0.85 to 1.14]). Metformin-exposed offspring (n = 1451) had an elevated birth defect frequency (aOR, 1.40 [CI, 1.08 to 1.82]). For sulfonylurea-exposed offspring (n = 647), the aOR was 1.34 (CI, 0.94 to 1.92). Offspring whose fathers filled a metformin prescription in the year before (n = 1751) or after (n = 2484) sperm development had reference birth defect frequencies (aORs, 0.88 [CI, 0.59 to 1.31] and 0.92 [CI, 0.68 to 1.26], respectively), as did unexposed siblings of exposed offspring (3.2%; exposed vs. unexposed OR, 1.54 [CI, 0.94 to 2.53]). Among metformin-exposed offspring, genital birth defects, all in boys, were more common (aOR, 3.39 [CI, 1.82 to 6.30]), while the proportion of male offspring was lower (49.4% vs. 51.4%, P = 0.073).
So it is also causing sex selective abortions (possibly, it does not quite quite reach the 5% p value threashold). In the south will people get a murder rap for taking drugs the doctor prescribes?
Metformin, a first-line diabetes drug used for decades, may boost the risk of birth defects in the offspring of men who took it during sperm development, according to a large Danish study. Sons born to those men were more than three times as likely to have a genital birth defect as unexposed babies, according to the paper, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine today.
The genital defects, such as hypospadias, when the urethra does not exit from the tip of the penis, were relatively rare, occurring in 0.9% of all babies whose biological fathers took metformin in the 3 months before conception. But epidemiologists say the findings are important because tens of millions of people worldwide take metformin, chiefly for type 2 diabetes.
The numbers were small—13 metformin-exposed boys were born with genital defects. But after the researchers adjusted for factors including parental ages and maternal smoking status, they found a 3.39-fold rise in the odds of a genital defect. “The rate per se was surprisingly high,” Wensink says.
However, Buck Louis and every other scientist interviewed for this article stressed that the paper’s findings are preliminary and observational and need to be corroborated; they add that factors besides metformin may have influenced the findings. The scientists cautioned men with diabetes against abruptly stopping metformin before trying to conceive.
Use of metformin, a synthetic compound that lowers blood sugar by boosting insulin sensitivity, has skyrocketed with the obesity epidemic and attendant diagnoses of type 2 diabetes. In the United States in 2004, 41 million prescriptions for the drug were written; by 2019 that number was 86 million. [Seriously, what does this mean in reality. What percentage of the population is taking this drug at any one time?]
Reassuringly, the researchers saw no effect in offspring of men who took the drug earlier in life or in the year before or after the 90-day window of sperm production. “It really has to do with taking it in that window when the sperm … is being developed,” says senior author Michael Eisenberg, a urologist at Stanford Medicine.
Results in detail:The genital defects, such as hypospadias, when the urethra does not exit from the tip of the penis, were relatively rare, occurring in 0.9% of all babies whose biological fathers took metformin in the 3 months before conception. But epidemiologists say the findings are important because tens of millions of people worldwide take metformin, chiefly for type 2 diabetes.
The numbers were small—13 metformin-exposed boys were born with genital defects. But after the researchers adjusted for factors including parental ages and maternal smoking status, they found a 3.39-fold rise in the odds of a genital defect. “The rate per se was surprisingly high,” Wensink says.
However, Buck Louis and every other scientist interviewed for this article stressed that the paper’s findings are preliminary and observational and need to be corroborated; they add that factors besides metformin may have influenced the findings. The scientists cautioned men with diabetes against abruptly stopping metformin before trying to conceive.
Use of metformin, a synthetic compound that lowers blood sugar by boosting insulin sensitivity, has skyrocketed with the obesity epidemic and attendant diagnoses of type 2 diabetes. In the United States in 2004, 41 million prescriptions for the drug were written; by 2019 that number was 86 million. [Seriously, what does this mean in reality. What percentage of the population is taking this drug at any one time?]
Reassuringly, the researchers saw no effect in offspring of men who took the drug earlier in life or in the year before or after the 90-day window of sperm production. “It really has to do with taking it in that window when the sperm … is being developed,” says senior author Michael Eisenberg, a urologist at Stanford Medicine.
Of 1 116 779 offspring included, 3.3% had 1 or more major birth defects (reference). Insulin-exposed offspring (n = 5298) had the reference birth defect frequency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.98 [95% CI, 0.85 to 1.14]). Metformin-exposed offspring (n = 1451) had an elevated birth defect frequency (aOR, 1.40 [CI, 1.08 to 1.82]). For sulfonylurea-exposed offspring (n = 647), the aOR was 1.34 (CI, 0.94 to 1.92). Offspring whose fathers filled a metformin prescription in the year before (n = 1751) or after (n = 2484) sperm development had reference birth defect frequencies (aORs, 0.88 [CI, 0.59 to 1.31] and 0.92 [CI, 0.68 to 1.26], respectively), as did unexposed siblings of exposed offspring (3.2%; exposed vs. unexposed OR, 1.54 [CI, 0.94 to 2.53]). Among metformin-exposed offspring, genital birth defects, all in boys, were more common (aOR, 3.39 [CI, 1.82 to 6.30]), while the proportion of male offspring was lower (49.4% vs. 51.4%, P = 0.073).
Writeup Paper (paywalled) Editorial (paywalled)
That is very interesting, although I wouldn't be able to see any good explanation for it. I mean if it was the mothers, that would make more sense. Unless you get the metformin within the sperm cells.
At least making mouse tests for this should be rather easy. Although you might need a lot.
At least making mouse tests for this should be rather easy. Although you might need a lot.
The idea is that it is causing genetic changes in the sperm during development:
no effect in offspring of men who took the drug earlier in life or in the year before or after the 90-day window of sperm production
That would be easy to test, you need just enough test subjects, metformin, and "sampling" would be the easiest thing in the world. Not much ethics considerations either, since there doesn't seem to be a lasting effect.
BUT if it was a genetic change, why would it be ONLY in the genital development? I'd expect broader effects for a mutagenic drug. Also within the test subjects themself.
An effect on the gene activity, where metformin would be suppressing/activating certain genes during the development would make more sense.
BUT if it was a genetic change, why would it be ONLY in the genital development? I'd expect broader effects for a mutagenic drug. Also within the test subjects themself.
An effect on the gene activity, where metformin would be suppressing/activating certain genes during the development would make more sense.
Ferocitus
Deity
Cells Blaze Their Own Trails to Navigate Through the Body
Even when it’s not apparent, cells in our tissues and organs are constantly on the move. In fact,
the ability of cells to get where they need to go is essential to our health and survival. Skin
cells migrate to heal wounds. Immune system cells migrate to fight infections.
...
Now researchers have discovered another crucial part of the answer, one that helps explain how
cells are directed to their destinations in the neural crest migration and probably other movements
as well. The new work shows that in addition to using chemical cues, neural crest cells “feel” their
way through the body, creating patterns of physical tension in the surrounding tissue that point
them the right way. In effect, the cells create the signals that they use to steer themselves.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/cells-blaze-their-own-trails-to-navigate-through-the-body-20220328/
Even when it’s not apparent, cells in our tissues and organs are constantly on the move. In fact,
the ability of cells to get where they need to go is essential to our health and survival. Skin
cells migrate to heal wounds. Immune system cells migrate to fight infections.
...
Now researchers have discovered another crucial part of the answer, one that helps explain how
cells are directed to their destinations in the neural crest migration and probably other movements
as well. The new work shows that in addition to using chemical cues, neural crest cells “feel” their
way through the body, creating patterns of physical tension in the surrounding tissue that point
them the right way. In effect, the cells create the signals that they use to steer themselves.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/cells-blaze-their-own-trails-to-navigate-through-the-body-20220328/
Narz
keeping it real
https://scitechdaily.com/long-term-...use-destroys-neural-connections-in-the-brain/
Great... I've been on all three (klonapin the longest, only for about two years tho)
Great... I've been on all three
(klonapin the longest, only for about two years tho)Gene therapy in a skin cream
A skin sample from someone with epidermolysis bullosa. Two layers of the skin, the epidermis and the dermis, have become separated because there is no collagen between them. This picture is quite pretty, there are some in the paper that really are not.
Paper
First ever gene therapy gel corrects rare genetic skin condition
People with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic condition that causes widespread skin blistering, have been successfully treated by inserting new collagen genes into their skin
“It is very painful,” says Vincenzo Mascoli, 22, who travelled from Italy to the US to have the gene therapy. He had open wounds all over his body, including one covering his entire back that had been there since he was 2 years old. “Sometimes I also get blisters in my eyes and have to keep my eyes closed, and sometimes I get blisters in my throat that make it difficult to eat – I can only have liquid food then,” he says.
The gene therapy was then incorporated into a gel so it could be applied to the skin. It was tested in a late-stage clinical trial in the US involving 31 children and adults with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, including Mascoli.
For each participant, the gene therapy gel was applied to one of their wounds and an inactive gel applied to another to compare the difference. The treatment was repeated weekly until the wounds closed.
After three months, 71 per cent of the wounds treated with the gene therapy had completely healed, compared with 20 per cent of those treated with the inactive gel, and there were no serious side effects.
Mascoli’s large back wound was treated with the gene therapy and it is now 95 per cent closed. “The gene therapy was very good for my back. Now, I can have a bath without it burning my skin,” he says. “I hope I will be able to use it on the rest of my body.”
People with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a genetic condition that causes widespread skin blistering, have been successfully treated by inserting new collagen genes into their skin
“It is very painful,” says Vincenzo Mascoli, 22, who travelled from Italy to the US to have the gene therapy. He had open wounds all over his body, including one covering his entire back that had been there since he was 2 years old. “Sometimes I also get blisters in my eyes and have to keep my eyes closed, and sometimes I get blisters in my throat that make it difficult to eat – I can only have liquid food then,” he says.
The gene therapy was then incorporated into a gel so it could be applied to the skin. It was tested in a late-stage clinical trial in the US involving 31 children and adults with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, including Mascoli.
For each participant, the gene therapy gel was applied to one of their wounds and an inactive gel applied to another to compare the difference. The treatment was repeated weekly until the wounds closed.
After three months, 71 per cent of the wounds treated with the gene therapy had completely healed, compared with 20 per cent of those treated with the inactive gel, and there were no serious side effects.
Mascoli’s large back wound was treated with the gene therapy and it is now 95 per cent closed. “The gene therapy was very good for my back. Now, I can have a bath without it burning my skin,” he says. “I hope I will be able to use it on the rest of my body.”
A skin sample from someone with epidermolysis bullosa. Two layers of the skin, the epidermis and the dermis, have become separated because there is no collagen between them. This picture is quite pretty, there are some in the paper that really are not.
Paper
EnglishEdward
Deity
It is difficult to make sense of this without knowing what the control reference population was.
Was it:
(a) Men not taking Metformin
(b) Men with diabetes taking other Diabetes drugs
(c) Men with diabetes not taking any drugs.
https://fortune.com/2022/03/24/tiny-microplastics-particles-human-blood/
Your blood may have plastic in it. Gross.
Well, that's terrifying.
I'll probably cut back on bottled water.
From the article, A:
The researchers analyzed records from more than 1.1 million babies born in Denmark between 1997 and 2016, using the country’s comprehensive medical registries to connect data on births, paternal metformin prescriptions, and birth defects. In the 1451 offspring of men who filled metformin prescriptions during the 90 days before conception, the period when sperm are being made, the team found a 5.2% rate of birth defects, compared with 3.3% among unexposed babies. That translated to 1.4 times higher odds of at least one major birth defect, including genital, digestive, urinary, and heart defects, after adjustments for paternal age and other factors.
For genital defects alone, the increased risk—only seen in male infants—was much larger. Among exposed babies, 0.9% had genital defects, compared with 0.24% in unexposed babies.
The numbers were small—13 metformin-exposed boys were born with genital defects. But after the researchers adjusted for factors including parental ages and maternal smoking status, they found a 3.39-fold rise in the odds of a genital defect. “The rate per se was surprisingly high,” Wensink says.
For genital defects alone, the increased risk—only seen in male infants—was much larger. Among exposed babies, 0.9% had genital defects, compared with 0.24% in unexposed babies.
The numbers were small—13 metformin-exposed boys were born with genital defects. But after the researchers adjusted for factors including parental ages and maternal smoking status, they found a 3.39-fold rise in the odds of a genital defect. “The rate per se was surprisingly high,” Wensink says.
Ferocitus
Deity
You might want to stop breathing too if no plastic is your goal.
Industrial laundries pump tonnes of the stuff into the air in every major city.
The filters they use don't catch the smallest particles, which are the ones that end up in your lungs and blood.
Ferocitus
Deity
Sort of. But it's ultimately your reproductive organs that are the filter.
Scientists just like to call it "Great" because most are men.
Estebonrober
Deity
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Sort of. But it's ultimately your reproductive organs that are the filter.
Scientists just like to call it "Great" because most are men.
pretty sure he meant the Greatest Filter...
The Great Filter: A possible solution to the Fermi Paradox | Astronomy.com
Ferocitus
Deity
I thought the Fermi one was just "Great". Maybe it's been upgraded recently. Shrug.
Estebonrober
Deity
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
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I thought the Fermi one was just "Great". Maybe it's been upgraded recently. Shrug.
It was, I was going Trumpian on it for him to relate...
Ferocitus
Deity
If you wrote "Bigliest" I would have known, but if you use normal words how isIt was, I was going Trumpian on it for him to relate...
anyone supposed to know it's Trumpian?
