Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both maternal and child health. A new research collaboration – ‘Mother’s Micronutrient Supplement for Pregnancy and Lactation’ (MoMS) – between researchers in Kenya, Norway and Denmark aims to develop and test a new, improved dietary supplement to reduce incidences of low birth weight, improve maternal and child health, and enhance growth and cognitive development in children. MoMS is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation with a total of DKK 68 million ($ 9.87 million / € 9.5 million).

Cancer is a major public health problem and represents substantial disparities worldwide. This study reported estimates for 36 cancers across 185 countries by incidence, mortality, 5-year prevalence, mortality-to-prevalence ratio (MPR), and mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) to examine its association with human development index (HDI) and gross national income (GNI). Data were collected from the GLOBOCAN 2020. MPR and MIR were calculated by sex, age group, country, and cancer type and then summarized into totals. Segi’s population and global cancer spectrum were used to calculate age- and type-standardized ratios. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess associations. Results showed that breast cancer was the most diagnosed cancer globally. Low- and middle-income countries had high MPR and MIR. Cancers of esophagus, pancreas, and liver had the highest ratios. Males and the older population had the highest ratios. HDI and GNI were positively correlated with incidence and mortality but negatively correlated with MPR/MIR. Substantial disparities in cancer burden were observed among 36 cancer types across 185 countries. Socioeconomic development may contribute to narrowing these disparities, and tailored strategies are crucial for regional- and country-specific cancer control.

A new study, co-led by a researcher from the Champalimaud Foundation, points the way to potential therapies to prevent the development of basal cell carcinoma.

Cells degrade components that are no longer needed through autophagy. New results show that a weak molecular interaction is essential for this process.

By modifying this interaction, it is possible to artificially trigger autophagy, which could then enable the degradation of deposits in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, or support cancer therapies.

The study was published in the journal Nature Cell Biology and was led by Prof. Dr. Claudine Kraft, a member of the CIBSS Cluster of Excellence at the University of Freiburg, and Dr. Florian Wilfling from the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt.