Researchers at the University of Osaka found that Bofutsushosan, a Kampo medicine used for obesity, reduced fibrosis-related changes in fat tissue and the liver of aged male mice. Cell experiments suggested that Bofutsushosan also had a direct effect on fibrosis-related signals, partly through the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway. Four ingredients showed particularly strong anti-fibrotic activity, while some mineral ingredients showed the opposite effect under cell-culture conditions. Adjusting the formula strengthened the suppression of some fibrosis-related markers in cultured cells. However, the modified formulas have not been tested in animals or people, and further research is required before the findings can guide treatment.

A joint research team led by Professor Daesik Kim (Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University), along with Professor Yong-Sub Kim (University of Ulsan College of Medicine) and Professor Jae-Hyun Park (Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine), has announced the development of 'OpenABE' (Open Adenine Base Editor). By precisely engineering AI-derived next-generation base editors using structure-guided protein engineering, the team elevated gene editing efficiency by up to 36 times compared to conventional models. 

Associate Professor and Director of Veterinary Public Health at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Chika C. Okafor, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM (Epidemiology), has been named president-elect of the Epidemiology Specialty of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM). The ACVPM certifies veterinarians globally who are dedicated to improving the health of animals, humans and the environment. His election reflects the college’s continued contributions to Veterinary public health, epidemiology and One Health.

 

Okafor was drawn to epidemiology because of its ability to answer important questions about disease patterns, risk factors and prevention strategies. “As a veterinarian, I became increasingly interested in understanding disease not only at the individual animal level but also at the population level,” Okafor said. He appreciates the field’s interdisciplinary nature and its role in advancing One Health initiatives. “Epidemiology provides the tools needed to generate evidence that informs decision-making and improves animal health, public health and disease prevention.”