Surgery & AI

A phase 1 clinical trial published in Nature Medicine tested a novel therapy using placenta-derived stem cells to treat myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida. The study involved ten pregnant participants whose fetuses had the spinal defect. During standard prenatal surgery to repair the spine, doctors injected placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells directly into the site. Early results show the treatment is safe and holds promise for improving neurological and physical development, which are typically severely impaired by this congenital condition.

A study by University of Cambridge researchers warns of the unintended risks of standard weight-loss diets for older adults who have sarcopenic obesity, which is a combination of high body fat and low muscle mass. The researchers conducted a trial with 250 adults aged 65 and older, comparing a standard calorie-restriction diet against a program that combined dieting with resistance exercise. They discovered that simple calorie cutting can worsen muscle loss and harm physical function. The findings suggest that weight-loss plans for seniors must be carefully designed to protect muscle strength.