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“Inverse Vaccine” Shows Potential to Treat Autoimmune Diseases

University of Chicago | Vaccination

“Inverse Vaccine” Shows Potential to Treat Autoimmune Diseases

“A new type of vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has shown in the lab setting that it can completely reverse autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes — all without shutting down the rest of the immune system.”

From University of Chicago.

The Jerusalem Post | Health & Medical Care

Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in the Congenitally Deaf

“A gene therapy study published recently in the journal Nature Medicine showed promising results in restoring hearing in patients of all ages with genetic hearing loss and congenital deafness. The study involved ten patients aged 1 to 24, all of whom had a genetic form of deafness caused by mutations in the OTOF gene, with hearing improvement observed in all participants…

The therapy was administered via a single injection through the round window membrane, accessed through the trans-mastoid facial recess. This method allowed the gene therapy to target the affected cells precisely without the need for more invasive procedures.

On average, participants experienced an improvement in auditory threshold from 106 decibels—a level indicating profound deafness—to 52 decibels, approaching the level of normal conversation.”

From The Jerusalem Post.

Axios | Nutrition

Fast Food Consumption Decreased, CDC Data Shows

“Kids ages 2 through 19 consumed an average of 11.4% of their daily calories from fast food on a given day between August 2021 and August 2023, according to data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

  • That’s down from an average of nearly 14% in 2013 and 2014, per CDC data.
  • For adults age 20 and up, average calories from fast food fell from about 14% in 2013 and 2014 to 11.7% during mid-2021 to mid-2023.
  • Food reported as “restaurant fast food/pizza” on survey responses was considered fast food for these analyses, CDC’s data brief said.

Zoom out: About 30% of youth ages 2 through 19 ate fast food on any given day between August 2021 and 2023. That figure exceeded 36% between 2015 and 2018, CDC found.”

From Axios.

Cardiovascular Business | Health & Medical Care

Surgeons Do First Fully Robotic Heart Transplant in US History

“A team of surgeons with Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston has made history, performing what is believed to be the first fully robotic heart transplant in the United States. 

The procedure occurred in March 2025. Kenneth K. Liao, MD, PhD, chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and circulatory support at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and colleagues completed the transplant using an advanced Da Vinci surgical system. 

The patient’s chest did not need to be opened all for the procedure—everything was done through small incisions.”

From Cardiovascular Business.

Gavi | Vaccination

Immunization Effort to Avert over 605,000 Cervical Cancer Deaths

“By 2023, Gavi had worked with over 40 countries to provide the HPV vaccine to 23.7 million girls. This massive immunisation effort is projected to avert over 605,000 future deaths from cervical cancer, a testament to the vaccine’s life-saving potential.

In 2023 alone, Gavi-supported countries vaccinated more than 14 million girls – more than the total number vaccinated in the previous decade combined. Thanks to an unprecedented scale-up of vaccine introductions, dedicated investment and expanded access since 2023, Gavi is on track to reach its ambitious goal of protecting 86 million girls with the HPV vaccine by 2025, a milestone that is expected to prevent more than 1.4 million future cervical cancer deaths.”

From Gavi.