science
New research on in utero treatment for spinal muscular atrophy
Adobe
Researchers have taken preliminary steps toward treating a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder, spinal muscular atrophy, with a genetic therapy delivered in the womb, before the worst damage to motor neurons can occur.
How it works: Scientists injected an antisense oligonucleotide into the amniotic fluid of pregnant mice. From there, it traveled into the brains and spinal cords of the mouse fetuses and substantially improved the motor function of the resulting pups. More work needs to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, of course, but "there's clear evidence this disease begins in utero," said Charlotte Sumner of Johns Hopkins who co-led the new study. Read more from Megan on the science.
public health
Food insecurity in childhood tied to cardiovascular risk in early adulthood
Children who don't have access to high-quality, nutritious food early in life, especially if their families don't participate in SNAP, are more likely to have a higher BMI and be less physically active as young adults, a new JAMA Cardiology study concludes. Those two outcomes by age 21 put them at higher risk for signs of poor cardiovascular health, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. In turn, other research has found, food insecurity in early adulthood can foreshadow higher heart disease risk later.
The new study followed just over 1,000 children in 20 cities for 22 years, many from low-income families: 39% had food insecurity and 44% were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. That benefit has drawn scrutiny from both budget cutters and from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his campaign against sugar-sweetened drinks.
The connection the researchers found between SNAP and better health stands in contrast to previous research saying SNAP doesn't ensure that people eat more healthful food. Still, the authors recommend SNAP as a potential game-changer. "Policymakers, community organizations, and pediatricians should promote SNAP participation to reduce food insecurity during childhood, which may mitigate subsequent health complications," they wrote. — Elizabeth Cooney
training
Medical resident suicide rate remains high
In 2017, research from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education found that cancerous tumors were the leading cause of death for all residents and fellows between 2000 and 2014. Suicide was the second leading cause of death — and first among males. A new study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open found that in the seven years afterward, there was a statistically significant decrease in cancer deaths among trainees, but all other categories remained the same. That meant out of 161 residents who died between 2015 and 2021, suicide was the leading cause with 47 deaths.
Since 2000, trainees have died at lower rates than their peers of the same ages and genders, including by suicide. Still, many people have concerns about how medical training may contribute to someone's poor health or well-being. Nine of those 47 people who died by suicide did so during the first academic quarter of their first year of residency, signaling that the transition poses a particular risk. But the study authors cautioned against any interpretation of the results that point to a simple, single explanation for suicides among trainees. More research is needed.
A separate study, published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that 48% of almost 1,000 surveyed physicians worked with an incompletely staffed team more than a quarter of the time. The same percentage also met criteria for burnout.
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