Fitness & Nutrition News

Mucosal vaccines delivered intranasally or by inhalation, can elicit localized immunity that protects mucosal tissues at the site of infection and may reduce transmission of respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Many mucosal vaccine candidates incorporate adjuvants to enhance and broaden immune response, underscoring the need for safe and effective formulations targeting the respiratory mucosa. Here, we employed differentiated human nasal and bronchial epithelial cells (hNEC and hBEC) cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI) to evaluate the soybean oil-in-water intranasal NE01 adjuvant, recently assessed clinically. Kinetic and dose-response studies showed that hBECs were more sensitive than hNEC to the cytopathic effect of NE01 as evidenced by loss of barrier integrity, reduced viability, and Interleukin-8 production. Spiking Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a component of NE01, into a squalene oil-in-water adjuvant identified CPC as a potential contributor to the observed cytotoxicity in hBEC. Lower NE01 concentrations did not compromise hBEC viability or barrier function, indicating concentration-dependent effects and establishing thresholds for epithelial perturbation. The data provide proof-of-concept supporting the ALI system for assessing the effects of mucosal adjuvants on Upper and Lower respiratory tract epithelia during the early stages of development. This approach may help prioritize candidates while reducing reliance on animal use in preclinical evaluation.

A higher diversity of the gut bacteria could be associated with a greater hormonal and stress reactivity, a study has found.

Ten-year audit finds low level of complications and significant improvements in quality of life post-surgery

A rapidly spreading measles outbreak, following a surge in recent months across Sudan's Darfur and Kordofan regions, has prompted emergency vaccination campaigns as health systems struggle with rising infections, child deaths, and severe shortages of medical supplies.

Every year, Endometriosis Awareness Month shines a light on a condition that affects millions of women worldwide, yet remains widely misunderstood. Endometriosis is more than just ‘bad period pain’; it is a chronic and often debilitating illness that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas within the pelvis.

Prediabetes may leave a lasting molecular "footprint" on adipose (fat) tissue which appears to make maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery more difficult, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May).

Today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 46th Annual meeting and Scientific Sessions, transplant specialists Brian Keller, MD, PhD, and Thomas Egan, MD debated an ethically fraught question: How old is too old for a lung transplant?

Nicola Lathey, founder of The Owl Centre, suggests some of these traits can make everyday situations "more stressful and complex" for autistic children and those around them.

From painting to learning Polish to letting go of guilt - what to do, and what not to do when you stop work

Heat-related deaths are increasing as temperatures rise, while drought forces fresh food prices up, making healthy diets out of reach to vulnerable people.