The United States could safely drop tetanus and diphtheria booster shots for adults and save an estimated $1 billion a year, according to a new review led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.
The safety and savings depend on maintaining strong childhood vaccination rates, researchers emphasized.
“By maintaining high childhood vaccination coverage, we not only protect kids, but we may actually be able to reduce adult booster vaccinations,” said lead author Mark Slifka, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine and the Oregon National Primate Research Center. “That would save $1 billion a year in the U.S. while maintaining the safety and protection of the general population.”
Slifka noted that dropping the 10-year schedule for adult boosters would more closely match guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.
The review bolsters previous OHSU research in 2016 and in 2020 that concluded the combined vaccine produced at least 30 years of immunity, well beyond the current recommendation of every 10 years for adults from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine is usually given as a combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine, known as DTaP.
In the U.S., childhood vaccinations are recommended six times, from infancy through age 12.
The new review suggests doing away with adult boosters altogether, as long as childhood vaccination rates remain high and the vaccine remains available on a case-by-case basis. For example, it may be necessary for someone injured in a workplace accident or car crash to receive a tetanus booster.

A natural experiment in the U.K. and France
Published recently in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews, the review highlights a comparison between two industrialized countries just 21 miles across the English Channel: France and the United Kingdom. Both countries have excellent childhood vaccination coverage, similar to the U.S.
“This represents sort of an experiment of nature,” Slifka said. “We have one country with over 60 million people that for decades has continued to vaccinate adults throughout their lifetime and another nearby country that also has over 60 million people, but over the past 50 years, they have never recommended adult booster vaccinations.
“The question we asked is, ‘What happens if we don’t vaccinate the adults? Are there more cases of disease or are these people protected after completing their childhood vaccination series?'”
Similar to the United States, France has a recommended booster vaccination schedule for adults. In contrast, except during pregnancy or for wound management, the United Kingdom hasn’t recommended boosters for tetanus and diphtheria beyond age 14 since the 1950s.
Yet, despite decades of adult booster vaccination, the review found that France had virtually no advantage over the U.K. in the rates of tetanus or diphtheria. In fact, the review found that the UK had a slightly lower rate overall.

In addition, “herd immunity” held strong even in 2022 when the U.K. reported an outbreak of 73 imported diphtheria cases among immigrants seeking asylum. This spike in cases was almost equal to the total number of diphtheria cases reported in the entire country over the previous 20 years combined.
“Remarkably, despite this proportionally large influx of imported diphtheria cases, there was no evidence of transmission reported among other asylum seekers who arrived by other routes or among staff or health care workers,” the authors write.
The U.K. Health Security Agency concluded that the country’s current childhood-focused vaccination program is sufficient for preventing the spread of diphtheria and that the risk to the general UK population remains low.
Strong rates of childhood vaccination are critical
The findings highlight the remarkable durability of protection following childhood vaccination against a pair of diseases that were once all but a death sentence.
In 1948, the U.S. mortality rate for tetanus was 91%. Before the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, the mortality rate for diphtheria was roughly 50%. To this day, diphtheria kills roughly one out of 10 people who aren’t vaccinated against it.
Today, the public health threat is diminished thanks to childhood vaccinations as well as booster shots recommended in pregnancy.
“Thanks to childhood vaccinations, these diseases are incredibly rare,” Slifka said. “In fact, you’re 10 to 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be diagnosed with tetanus and diphtheria in the United States.”
In addition to Slifka, co-authors include Archana Thomas and Lina Gao, Ph.D., of OHSU; Ian J. Amanna, Ph.D., of Najít Technologies, and Walter A. Orenstein, M.D., of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, award number P51OD011092. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

14 minutes agoShareSavePhilippa RoxbyHealth ReporterShareSaveGetty ImagesSome patients taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro have told BBC News they are struggling to obtain the medicine, and are worried about the impact on their health.There is rising demand for the drug, after the US manufacturer Eli Lilly announced a major price increase from 1 September.The drug giant has warned against “inappropriate stockpiling of medicines” and has now asked UK distributors to stop taking orders from pharmacies from the end of today.Pharmacies say they are prioritising patients already taking the drug, rather than those just starting it, and predict supplies will return to normal in early September.Lynne Massey-Davis, 65, from East Yorkshire, says trying to find Mounjaro stock has been”stressful”, after her last prescription order with an online provider wasn’t delivered.”I’m in a holding queue,” she says. “It’s a very uncertain time. I’ve spent a lot of time on the phone.”She’s been told there will be a two-week delay on delivery. In the meantime, she paid £349 to another provider who then said they too had run out, which she describes as “unethical”.Fifteen months ago when Lynne started taking the weight-loss drug, she had a BMI of 32. Now it’s down to 26 and she “feels 10 years younger”, regularly doing park runs, going swimming and walking her dogs.”I’m worried about my health but I will stay safe. There may be many others who will not.”Lynne is planning to share a friend’s doses until her order arrives.The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents 60% of community pharmacies in the UK (around 6,500), said there had been “an increase in demand” for Mounjaro ahead of the planned September price hike.Eli Lilly has announced the drug’s price will rise by up to 170%, meaning a month’s supply of the highest dose will go up from £122 to £330.The company said the drug had been sold in the UK at a price that was “significantly below” that charged in other European countries. US President Donald Trump had previously complained about the high cost of drugs in the US.”This increase in the cost of Mounjaro has caused understandable concern to patients and pharmacies alike and has resulted in short term pressures on supply,” said NPA chief executive Henry Gregg.He urged patients to avoid bulk ordering Mounjaro because “it can have a significant impact on supply and pose a potential risk to patient safety”.”We’d also urge patients to avoid unlicensed sellers, who may be selling fake medication or medication that does not meet UK safety standards,” he added.Instead, he encouraged patients to speak to their pharmacies for advice.One provider, Chemist4U, said supplies of Mounjaro were “a bit restricted” and they were holding back stocks for existing patients who were preparing to up their dose.”We envisage supplies to return back to normal once Eli Lilly release new stock after 1 September,” said CEO James O’Loan.Sehar Shahid, who runs 24hrpharmacy.co.uk in Paisley, said her advice to people was not to panic and start bulk buying “because that makes it worse for everyone”.She also said switching to other, alternative weight-loss drugs like Wegovy should only be done under medical supervision, and after a wash-out period because the drugs don’t work in exactly the same way.Her advice is to speak to your provider, find out all your options, keep up healthy habits like exercising and healthy eating – but warns not to turn to influencers on social media for advice.”These drugs are not for people who want to lose a few pounds before their holiday,” she adds.Marie Cook, 49, from east London, who is prescribed Mounjaro on the NHS to treat her type 2 diabetes contacted Your Voice, Your BBC News to say she was also running out of the drug.”I’ve been taking if for a year, come off insulin and lost 3.5 stones but have just got one week’s injections left.”Her local chemist returned her prescription and she’s tried six others, but none have the drug in stock.”It’s frustrating. We have true medical problems, we should come first,” Marie says.She’s hoping a visit to her diabetic nurse on Monday will help.Eli Lilly told BBC News it has allocations in place for pharmacies and providers that order stock from them.”There are legal protections in place, enforced by the MHRA [UK drugs regulator], to prevent inappropriate stockpiling of medicines by providers. ”We encourage patients to only order based on their current treatment plan, to reduce the risk of localised disruption.”

Some patients who have been red flagged for breast cancer assessments are waiting up to seven weeks to be seen in Northern Ireland.The target set by Northern Ireland’s devolved Department of Health – which oversees five health and social care trusts – is 14 days.BBC News NI understands that several breast cancer consultants are concerned that waiting times have spiralled since a new regional system for handling referrals was introduced.The system was criticised for creating a postcode lottery network as, depending on a patient’s address, some were being seen more quickly than others.Before its introduction, health trusts managed their own red flag referrals.In May, all red flag referrals in the Western Trust were seen within 14 days, making it one of the better performing trusts at meeting its target.However, within weeks of the regional system starting, some patients were waiting up to seven weeks, with the latest data showing 250 patients waited more than 14 days for a red flag breast clinic appointment.More than 1,100 people across Northern Ireland are on a red flag list.One health trust source told BBC News NI that the regional system was proving too complex to manage, with projections of waiting lists rising to 11 weeks by the end of September.The new red flag initiative was announced in May by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in response to the “unacceptable” waiting times for breast cancer services in Northern Ireland.The aim was to enable people from across all the health trusts to access the earliest appointment available to them, no matter where they live.For instance, patients living in the South Eastern Health Trust have been offered referrals and screening appointments in the Western Health Trust including at the weekend.Not all patients, however, are able to make that journey or a weekend appointment.Nesbitt said that it wasn’t acceptable for women in one trust area to have to wait significantly longer to be assessed than women in another trust area “so this will help address the disparities between the trusts”.As the system has been operating for about three months, others have said it needs time to bed in and that summer leave among medics has also been an issue.Sources have told the BBC that some of the health trusts feel they are in a better position to manage the lists, but as some breast units are better staffed than others, this does not produce an equitable appointment system.BBC News NI has contacted each of the health trusts and the Department of Health for comment.

A research team at Kyoto University has discovered STAG3-cohesin, a new mitotic cohesin complex that helps establish the unique DNA architecture of spermaotogonial stem cells (SSCs), the stem cells that give rise to sperm. This “DNA organizer” is crucial for sperm production in mice: without STAG3, SSCs cannot differentiate properly, leading to a fertility problem. In humans, the researchers found that STAG3 is highly expressed in immune B cells and in B-cell lymphomas (a type of blood cancer), and blocking it slowed the growth of these cells. This discovery might open the door to new strategies for treating infertility and certain cancers.
This research is led by Prof. Mitinori Saitou, Director/Principal Investigator at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University (also Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine), Dr. Masahiro Nagano (then Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, currently Research Fellow at ASHBi and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Dr. Bo Hu (then Ph.D. student, currently Research Fellow at ASHBi). The results of this study will be published online in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology at 10:00 am GMT (6:00 pm Japan Standard Time) on August 25, 2025.
Background
Our bodies contain many different types of cells, yet they all contain the same DNA. What makes each cell type unique is how this DNA is modified, packaged, folded, and organized. Think of DNA as a very long piece of string. Inside every nucleus, about two meters of this DNA string must be folded and stored in a space smaller than the width of a human hair. This folding is highly organized, with special boundaries called insulation that separate different regions of DNA and control which genes are turned on or off. Ring-shaped protein complexes called cohesins serve as the key players that create these boundaries. Cohesin complexes were previously thought to exist in two main forms: mitotic cohesins (contain STAG1 or STAG2 together with RAD21) and meiotic cohesins (contain STAG3 together with REC8 or RAD21L).
Germ cells are unique because they pass DNA to the next generation, and they undergo major changes in DNA folding during development. These cells undergo massive reorganization of their DNA packaging during development. Notably, SSCs have a unique way of organizing their DNA with unusually weak boundaries, but scientists do not yet understand how this happens.
Key findings
Because cohesin complexes contribute to DNA boundaries, and SSCs are mitotically dividing cells before entering meiosis, the research team decided to map where different cohesin proteins were located in SSCs cultured in vitro, and which proteins were present at each site. They found that RAD21, which normally partners with STAG1 or STAG2 in dividing cells, was instead partnering with STAG3. This protein was previously thought to function only during meiosis. Using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (a technique that identifies which proteins stick together), they confirmed that RAD21 and STAG3 form a complex, revealing a new type of cohesin, which they referred to as STAG3-cohesin.

To find out what this new complex does, the researchers created two types of genetically modified SSCs in vitro: one set completely lacked STAG3, while the other contained only STAG3 (without STAG1 or STAG2). They discovered that STAG3-cohesin is responsible for the unusually weak DNA boundaries in SSCs. Most importantly, in mice missing STAG3, the SSCs could not progress from their stem-cell state to the next stage of sperm development in an efficient manner. This led to a fertility problem, showing that STAG3-cohesin does more than organize DNA and is critical for proper germ cell development.
As STAG3 functions in mitotically dividing cells, the team then investigated whether it might also function in other human cell types. By analyzing large datasets of all human cell types, they found that STAG3 is highly expressed in immune B cells and in B-cell lymphomas, a type of blood cancer. Interestingly, blocking STAG3 caused these lymphoma cells to grow much more slowly in laboratory studies, suggesting that STAG3 could be explored as a possible target for future cancer research.
Outlook
This study has revealed STAG3-cohesin as a new type of DNA-organizing protein complex that works very differently from previously known complexes. Because of its unique properties, further research on this complex is expected to advance our understanding of how gene activity is controlled through DNA organization. One of the most striking discoveries was that simply changing STAG3 levels could alter the proportion of stem cells in the testis. This suggests a novel mechanism that regulates the SSC state at the boundary between normal cell division and the start of meiosis.
Beyond germ cells, the discovery that blocking STAG3 slows the growth of B-cell cancers points to a possible role for STAG3 in future cancer research. Although more research is needed to uncover the precise mechanisms, these findings offer new insights that could advance stem cell biology, reproductive medicine, and cancer treatment.
Glossary Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs): The stem cells in the testis that self-renew and also differentiate to give rise to sperm. Mitosis: The process by which a cell produces identical copies of itself, resulting in daughter cells with the same genetic information. Meiosis: A specialized form of division unique to germ cells, through which sperm or eggs are generated. Insulation: The “boundaries” within the 3D structure of DNA. They prevent enhancers (DNA elements that help turn genes on) from influencing genes across the boundary, effectively dividing the genome into separate functional regions. B cells: Immune cells that play a central role in antibody production within the immune system. Cohesin complex: A ring-shaped protein complex that holds chromatids together and helps organize DNA into loops essential for gene regulation and mitosis.

A doctor has been struck off for assaulting a woman, making racist or derogatory comments and uploading an image of a patient’s brain on his dating profile.Dr Sayed Talibi, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was sanctioned by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) after it found his fitness to practise was impaired.Other examples of his misconduct included threatening a woman with waterboarding, posing for pictures with weapons and stealing milk powder worth £23.50 from Asda.The tribunal decided to erase Dr Talibi’s name from the General Medical Council’s register, effective immediately.The chairman of the panel, Andrew Lewis, said Dr Talibi’s conduct was “fundamentally incompatible with his continued registration”.”It [the tribunal] concluded that erasure was the only sanction that it could impose given the seriousness of the misconduct, the lack of insight and remediation shown, and the risk of repetition that remained,” he wrote in the report.He said allowing him to return to “unrestricted practice” would be inconsistent with the findings due to the “seriousness” of Dr Talibi’s misconduct.The report said Dr Talibi had 28 days to lodge an appeal against the tribunal’s decision.

For the first time, a research team at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities demonstrated a groundbreaking process that combines 3D printing, stem cell biology, and lab-grown tissues for spinal cord injury recovery.
The study was recently published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, more than 300,000 people in the United States suffer from spinal cord injuries, yet there is no way to completely reverse the damage and paralysis from the injury. A major challenge is the death of nerve cells and the inability for nerve fibers to regrow across the injury site. This new research tackles this problem head-on.
The method involves creating a unique 3D-printed framework for lab-grown organs, called an organoid scaffold, with microscopic channels. These channels are then populated with regionally specific spinal neural progenitor cells (sNPCs), which are cells derived from human adult stem cells that have the capacity to divide and differentiate into specific types of mature cells.
“We use the 3D printed channels of the scaffold to direct the growth of the stem cells, which ensures the new nerve fibers grow in the desired way,” said Guebum Han, a former University of Minnesota mechanical engineering postdoctoral researcher and first author on the paper who currently works at Intel Corporation. “This method creates a relay system that when placed in the spinal cord bypasses the damaged area.”
In their study, the researchers transplanted these scaffolds into rats with spinal cords that were completely severed. The cells successfully differentiated into neurons and extended their nerve fibers in both directions — rostral (toward the head) and caudal (toward the tail) — to form new connections with the host’s existing nerve circuits.
The new nerve cells integrated seamlessly into the host spinal cord tissue over time, leading to significant functional recovery in the rats.

“Regenerative medicine has brought about a new era in spinal cord injury research,” said Ann Parr, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. “Our laboratory is excited to explore the future potential of our ‘mini spinal cords’ for clinical translation.”
While the research is in its beginning stages, it offers a new avenue of hope for those with spinal cord injuries. The team hopes to scale up production and continue developing this combination of technologies for future clinical applications.
In addition to Han and Parr, the team included Hyunjun Kim and Michael McAlpine from the University of Minnesota Department of Mechanical Engineering; Nicolas S. Lavoie, Nandadevi Patil and Olivia G. Korenfeld from the University of Minnesota Department of Neurosurgery; Manuel Esguerra from the University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience; and Daeha Joung from the Department of Physics at Virginia Commonwealth University.
This work was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the State of Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program and the Spinal Cord Society.
Read the full paper entitled, “3D-Printed Scaffolds Promote Enhanced Spinal Organoid Formation for Use in Spinal Cord Injury” on the Advanced Healthcare Materials website.

Indole, a molecule made up of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered ring containing nitrogen, forms the core structure of many biologically active compounds. Derivatives of indole, where hydrogen atoms are replaced by various chemical groups, are naturally produced by plants, fungi, and even the human body.
Due to their properties, indoles have gained attention as a backbone for synthesizing a wide variety of drugs. Since 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 14 indole drugs to treat conditions, such as migraines, infections, and hypertension. Chemists have developed many strategies to attach different chemical groups to indoles. Some approaches introduce new groups directly onto the ring, while others involve temporary structural changes through intermediates. However, modifying specific positions on the indole ring, such as the C5 carbon, remains a challenge due to its low reactivity.
In a recent study, researchers at Chiba University, Japan, reported a method for selectively attaching an alkyl group to the C5 position of indole using a relatively inexpensive copper-based catalyst, which produced the desired product in yields of up to 91%. This method offers a more affordable and scalable approach for modifying indoles, which could be especially valuable in drug development.
The study, led by Associate Professor Shingo Harada, included Mr. Tomohiro Isono, B.Pharm., Ms. Mai Yanagawa, M.Pharm., and Professor Tetsuhiro Nemoto from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba University, and was published online in the journal Chemical Science.
“We developed a direct, regioselective C5-H functionalization reaction of indoles under copper catalysis. The resulting compounds contain structural features commonly found in natural indole alkaloids and drug molecules, highlighting the usefulness of this approach for making biologically important compounds,” says Dr. Harada.
The reaction uses carbenes, highly reactive carbon species that can form new carbon-carbon bonds. In an earlier study, the team used rhodium-based carbenes to attach groups at the C4 position of indole, guided by unsaturated enone groups placed at the 3-position. In this study, they used a similar strategy but altered the reaction conditions to target the C5 position instead.
They tested the reaction using a model compound, N-benzyl indole with an enone group, together with dimethyl α-diazomalonates as the carbene source and different combinations of rhodium, copper, and silver salts as catalysts. Initially, the desired C5-functionalized product formed only in small amounts, with yields up to 18%. However, when they used a combination of copper and silver salts (Cu(OAc)2·H2O and AgSbF6), the yield rose to 62%. Upon carrying out further optimizations, such as adjusting the solvent volume and increasing the concentration, they improved the yield to 77%.

The reaction proved to be highly versatile, working with a wide range of indoles. When the enone group was replaced at the 3-position with a benzoyl group, the yield increased to 91%. Successful reactions were also observed with indoles bearing other substituents, such as methoxybenzyl, allyl, and phenyl groups, opening the door to the synthesis of structurally diverse molecules.
To uncover the reaction mechanism, the team carried out quantum chemical calculations, which suggested that the carbene does not react directly at C5. Instead, it first forms a bond at the C4 position, creating a strained three-membered ring. This intermediate then rearranges, shifting the new bond to the C5 position. The copper catalyst plays a critical role in making this pathway possible by stabilizing the intermediate and lowering the energy barrier for the rearrangement.
This copper-catalyzed strategy offers a reliable and cost-effective approach for modifying indoles at the C5 position, producing compounds that closely resemble biologically active indole-based agents. Dr. Harada highlights the method’s potential for drug discovery by stating, “While it may not cause a significant shift right away, it could foster steady progress in drug discovery, leading to a small yet beneficial long-term impact.”
The team is continuing its research, exploring other metal-carbene reactions to develop more selective and efficient strategies for constructing indole-based molecules that might one day contribute to the treatment of specific diseases.

Routine x-rays aren’t recommended to diagnose the condition. Instead, GPs can make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history.
Yet nearly half of new patients with knee osteoarthritis who visit a GP in Australia are referred for imaging. Osteoarthritis imaging costs the health system A$104.7 million each year.
Our new study shows using x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis can affect how a person thinks about their knee pain – and can prompt them to consider potentially unnecessary knee replacement surgery.
What happens when you get osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis arises from joint changes and the joint working extra hard to repair itself. It affects the entire joint, including the bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.
It is most common in older adults, people with a high body weight and those with a history of knee injury.

Many people with knee osteoarthritis experience persistent pain and have difficulties with everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs.
How is it treated?
In 2021–22, more than 53,000 Australians had knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis.
Hospital services for osteoarthritis, primarily driven by joint replacement surgery, cost $3.7 billion in 2020–21.
While joint replacement surgery is often viewed as inevitable for osteoarthritis, it should only be considered for those with severe symptoms who have already tried appropriate non-surgical treatments. Surgery carries the risk of serious adverse events, such as blood clot or infection, and not everyone makes a full recovery.
Most people with knee osteoarthritis can manage it effectively with: education and self-management exercise and physical activity weight management (if necessary) medicines for pain relief (such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).Debunking a common misconception

A common misconception is that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear and tear”.
However, research shows the extent of structural changes seen in a joint on an x-ray does not reflect the level of pain or disability a person experiences, nor does it predict how symptoms will change.
Some people with minimal joint changes have very bad symptoms, while others with more joint changes have only mild symptoms. This is why routine x-rays aren’t recommended for diagnosing knee osteoarthritis or guiding treatment decisions.
Instead, guidelines recommend a “clinical diagnosis” based on a person’s age (being 45 years or over) and symptoms: experiencing joint pain with activity and, in the morning, having no joint-stiffness or stiffness that lasts less than 30 minutes.
Despite this, many health professionals in Australia continue to use x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis. And many people with osteoarthritis still expect or want them.
What did our study investigate?
Our study aimed to find out if using x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis affects a person’s beliefs about osteoarthritis management, compared to a getting a clinical diagnosis without x-rays.
We recruited 617 people from across Australia and randomly assigned them to watch one of three videos. Each video showed a hypothetical consultation with a general practitioner about knee pain.
One group received a clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis based on age and symptoms, without being sent for an x-ray.
The other two groups had x-rays to determine their diagnosis (the doctor showed one group their x-ray images and not the other).
After watching their assigned video, participants completed a survey about their beliefs about osteoarthritis management.
What did we find?
People who received an x-ray-based diagnosis and were shown their x-ray images had a 36% higher perceived need for knee replacement surgery than those who received a clinical diagnosis (without x-ray).
They also believed exercise and physical activity could be more harmful to their joint, were more worried about their condition worsening, and were more fearful of movement.
Interestingly, people were slightly more satisfied with an x-ray-based diagnosis than a clinical diagnosis.
This may reflect the common misconception that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear and tear” and an assumption that the “damage” inside the joint needs to be seen to guide treatment.
What does this mean for people with osteoarthritis?
Our findings show why it’s important to avoid unnecessary x-rays when diagnosing knee osteoarthritis.
While changing clinical practice can be challenging, reducing unnecessary x-rays could help ease patient anxiety, prevent unnecessary concern about joint damage, and reduce demand for costly and potentially unnecessary joint replacement surgery.
It could also help reduce exposure to medical radiation and lower health-care costs.
Previous research in osteoarthritis, as well as back and shoulder pain, similarly shows that when health professionals focus on joint “wear and tear” it can make patients more anxious about their condition and concerned about damaging their joints.
If you have knee osteoarthritis, know that routine x-rays aren’t needed for diagnosis or to determine the best treatment for you. Getting an x-ray can make you more concerned and more open to surgery. But there are a range of non-surgical options that could reduce pain, improve mobility and are less invasive.
Written by: Belinda LawfordSenior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne Kim BennellProfessor of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne Rana HinmanProfessor in Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne Travis HaberPostdoctoral Research Fellow in Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne 

Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.

A new study led by researchers at National Jewish Health has found that recent infection with the common cold — often caused by rhinoviruses — may offer temporary protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The research provides fresh insight into why children are less likely than adults to develop symptoms and could point toward new ways to reduce the severity of respiratory illnesses.
Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases earlier this month, the study analyzed data from the nationwide Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) study, which tracked more than 4,100 people in 1,394 households from May 2020 to February 2021.
Researchers found that people, particularly children who had a recent rhinovirus infection, were significantly less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the following weeks. This effect is thought to be linked to the body’s antiviral defenses. Rhinoviruses trigger a strong interferon response in the airways, which can temporarily prime the immune system to fight off other viruses.
“Our findings suggest that the immune boost from a recent cold may give the body an early advantage in fighting SARS-CoV-2 before it has a chance to take hold,” said senior author of the study Max Seibold, PhD, a researcher and Director of the Regenerative Medicine and Genome Editing Program (REGEN) at National Jewish Health. “This may help explain why children, who tend to get more colds than adults, generally experience fewer and less severe COVID cases.”
Using thousands of self-collected nasal swabs, the team tested for both SARS-CoV-2 and other common respiratory viruses, including rhinovirus, in participants of all ages. They also analyzed airway gene expression to see how recent viral infections influenced the body’s antiviral defenses. Children were found to have higher baseline expression of interferon-related genes — proteins that act as the immune system’s first line of defense against viruses — compared to adults.
While this phenomenon, known as heterologous viral interference, has been observed with other respiratory viruses, this is the first prospective study to show it may also occur with SARS-CoV-2.
“This doesn’t mean people should intentionally try to catch a cold,” said Camille Moore, PhD and lead author of the study at National Jewish Health. “But understanding how one virus can affect the body’s response to another could help us develop new prevention strategies, especially for vulnerable populations.”
The research builds on earlier findings from the HEROS study showing that children are six times less likely than adults to develop symptomatic COVID. The new data highlights the role that both age-related immune differences and recent viral exposures may play in that protection.
National Jewish Health researchers conducted the study in collaboration with partners from 12 cities across the United States.