Concerns have been raised that the Pfizer vaccine given to pregnant women could increase the risk of babies being born prematurely.
Experts have called for more rigorous screening of the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which could be approved in the US and UK later this year.
It comes as GlaxoSmithKline halted its Phase 3 trial of its RSV vaccine for mothers in February after discovering an increased risk of premature births in vaccinated mothers.
Pfizer did not raise safety concerns in its Phase 3 trial, which is considered the last hurdle before approval by health authorities.
However, experts today told the BMJ, which first reported the concerns, that it was important to reassess and analyze the findings using more sensitive measures.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild cold-like symptoms, usually in the winter. It is part of the same family as the mumps and measles viruses.
Pfizer's RSV maternal vaccine aims to protect infants from severe illness caused by the virus. Although it has not yet been approved, it would be offered to women whose fetuses are between six and nine months old, if approved.
In 2019, an estimated 3.6% of all deaths worldwide were among children aged 1 to 6 months due to respiratory syncytial virus, with 97% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
The vaccine has not yet been approved for use, but a decision from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected by August.
The European Medicines Agency is also due to make an approval decision later this year.
In the results of an interim analysis of its Phase 3 trial last month, Pfizer said the vaccine was effective against severe RSV in children.
However, experts suggested that the data should be analyzed further while the FDA should also conduct post-approval monitoring, if approved.
Professor Klaus Oberla, director of the Institute of Virology at the University Hospital Erlangen and a member of the RSV working group of the Standing Committee on Vaccination, told the BMJ: "My interpretation of all this data is that there may be a safety signal for premature births that should be pursued.
Meanwhile, Professor Cody Meissner, a pediatrician at Dartmouth Geisel College of Medicine and a consultant on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) RSV Working Group for Mothers, predicted that potential adverse effects such as premature births would be "closely monitored" in the programs. Evaluation by the FDA and CDC.
Another NIH scientist, who was not authorized to speak to the media, recommended that Pfizer's data should be analyzed using more sensitive measures, such as mean birth weight and subgroup analyzes, to detect potential signals.
Work on the RSV vaccine has faced decades of hurdles after multiple clinical trial failures.
This includes one study in the 1960s, in which children who received an experimental vaccine experienced worse disease than those given a placebo.
Later research found that this was because the vaccine targeted a copy of the protein on the virus that forms after it integrates into a cell, which means it did not stimulate protection against the disease and may have already hindered the immune response.
Daily Mail, After 10 months the Health Organization declares the end of the public emergency of monkeypox
The World Health Organization has declared the end of a 10-month global health emergency over monkeypox, a viral disease that has led to confirmed cases in more than 100 countries.
The World Health Organization said it has ended a 10-month global health emergency over monkeypox, a viral disease that has led to confirmed cases in more than 100 countries.
In July 2022, the organization declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency of international concern, and confirmed its position in November and February.
And the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced the end of the state of emergency for the disease, based on the recommendation of the organization's emergency committee, which met on Wednesday.
The step indicates that the crisis caused by the disease, which is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and causes flu-like symptoms as well as rashes, is under control.
There is a need to move to a strategy to manage the long-term public health risks of monkeypox rather than relying on emergency measures, said Nicola Lu, deputy chair of the WHO's Emergency Committee on Monkeypox.
The director of the World Health Organization said that the number of reported cases during the past three months is about 90% less than the number in the previous three months.
The latest WHO report showed that more than 87,000 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed worldwide from the beginning of 2022 to May 8 of this year.
The WHO said it was particularly concerned about African countries that were dealing with monkeypox long before the global outbreak began, and may continue to deal with it for some time.
The organization also recently declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
"While the emergencies of monkeypox and COVID-19 have ended, the risk of new waves of both remains. The two viruses continue to spread and claim lives," Tedros said.
Study published in the journal Neurology, identifies common sleep disorders that increase risk of Alzheimer's and stroke
Researchers report that people who snore may have worse brain health and be more likely to develop Alzheimer's and strokes.
And those with sleep apnea, which causes loud snoring, were more likely to have vital signs associated with these health conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Every 10% decrease in the amount of deep sleep changes people's brains and increases white matter as if they were 2.3 years older.
There is growing evidence that a lack of deep sleep increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, due to the buildup of toxins that would otherwise be removed.
These signs included white matter abnormalities, which put pressure on nerve cells in the brain and increase their energy needs.
Neurons unable to meet the demands will die, causing the brain to shrink.
The study involved 140 participants with obstructive sleep apnea, with an average age of 73, who each underwent a brain scan and stayed overnight in a sleep lab.
None of the participants had cognitive problems at the start of the study or dementia by the end of the study.
A total of 34% had mild sleep apnea, 32% had moderate sleep apnea, and 34% had severe sleep apnea.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include stopping breathing, gasping, choking and moving around at night, which means patients sleep less deeply, which is necessary for the brain to get rid of potentially harmful waste.
One sign is small lesions that show up on brain scans, known as white matter hyperintensities, which become more common with age or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
“These biomarkers are sensitive markers of early cerebral vascular disease,” said Dr. Diego Carvalho, MD, of the Mayo Clinic. “The finding that severe sleep apnea and reduced slow-wave sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep) are associated with these biomarkers is important because it does not "There is a cure for these changes in the brain, so we need to find ways to prevent them from happening or getting worse. More research is needed to determine whether sleep issues affect brain biomarkers or vice versa."
"We also need to look at whether strategies to improve sleep quality or treat sleep apnea can influence the course of these biomarkers."
The sleep study examined how long people spent in deep sleep, which is believed to be one of the best markers of sleep quality.
7 foods that can help lower cholesterol in the body and makes you feel energized
From oily fish to nuts, certain food choices may lower cholesterol levels by "significant" amounts.
High cholesterol needs to calm down before it can develop into serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.
And while food can lay the foundation for high levels of the fatty substance, it can also be beneficial.
"It's the cure, not your enemy," said Ben Cuthbert, owner of Be You Health Studios.
The expert recommended the following food options to keep your cholesterol levels in check:
Oily fish such as mackerel and salmon.
- Oatmeal.
- Beans.
- Nuts.
- Apples, grapes, strawberries and oranges.
- avocado.
Dark green leafy vegetables.
"All of these foods can activate an enzyme that allows the extra cholesterol in the body to be converted into bile salts, which helps convert fat into energy," Cuthbert said.
This process helps lower cholesterol in the body and makes you feel energized.
Heart UK explains that soluble fiber can form a gel that binds to cholesterol-rich bile acids in the gut.
This helps reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed from your intestines into your bloodstream.
"Your liver then has to take more cholesterol from your blood to make more bile, which lowers your cholesterol," says the charity.
Oats are a great source of this powerful soluble fiber and can be enjoyed as breakfasts, snacks, or as an addition to recipes.
Aside from their effect on cholesterol, all of these foods offer a great mix of vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can complement other aspects of your health.
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