RICK SLAYMAN PASSES TWO MONTHS AFTER PIG TRANSPLANT.
Richard “Rick” Slayman, aged 62, the first person to receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig, has passed away around two months post-operation. Massachusetts General Hospital reported that his death did not appear related to the transplant. Mr. Slayman, who was battling end-stage kidney disease—a condition affecting over 800,000 in the U.S. and disproportionately impacting Black individuals—had previously received a human kidney transplant in 2018. After its failure and the onset of congestive heart failure in 2023, he underwent the pioneering four-hour surgery involving a pig kidney modified by eGenesis. This biotech firm had altered the pig’s genes to enhance compatibility with human recipients and deactivated harmful retroviruses. Discharged with a clean bill of health two weeks post-surgery, Mr. Slayman’s pioneering procedure offered hope to thousands awaiting transplants and highlighted the potential of xenotransplantation amid organ shortages. His family remembered him as kind, humorous, and dedicated, drawing comfort from the impact of his story. (New York Times)
SUPERBUGS KILL 1.2M ANNUALLY, NEW DRUG EMBLAVEO APPROVED.
The medical community recognizes the challenges in combating superbugs that cause over 1.2 million deaths globally each year. The inherent problem lies in biological dynamics—widespread use of antibiotics inadvertently prompts some microorganisms to develop resistance, fueling an ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance. Strategies to mitigate this issue include preventing infections through vaccines and tailored use of antibiotics to slow resistance. This approach aims to extend the efficacy of current treatments until new ones are developed, offering temporary victories in the enduring struggle against superbacteria. On April 22, the European Commission approved a new antibiotic, Emblaveo, to tackle resistant infections like complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections, and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Developed by Pfizer and Abbvie in cooperation with the European Union and the United States, Emblaveo combines aztreonam and avibactam, enhancing its effectiveness against resistant Gram-negative bacteria. This development is part of broader efforts to rejuvenate interest in antibiotic research, supported by economic and non-economic incentives from public sectors to overcome the pharmaceutical industry’s declining engagement due to unfavorable market conditions. (El Pais)
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RESEARCHERS CRITICIZE COSTLY US DATA ACCESS PLAN FOR MEDICARE.
Health researchers are raising concerns over a U.S. government proposal requiring them to use an in-house system and pay higher fees to access data on 140 million people covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suggests shifting from providing data via encrypted thumb drives to a Virtual Research Data Center (VRDC), citing data security concerns. This change would require a significant increase in costs: a $15,000 initial project fee, annual fees starting from $10,000, and per-user fees of at least $20,000 in the first year. Critics argue this will hinder independent research critical for informing health policy and potentially degrade health outcomes. This policy could especially impact young researchers with limited funding. The data has previously enabled significant studies, including on opioid prescriptions and hospital rehospitalizations. The backlash has prompted CMS to extend the commentary period and delay implementing these changes until at least 2025. (Science)
NYC STUDIES CLIMATE RISKS, FOCUS ON VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
New York City is assessing the vulnerability of neighborhoods to climate change by considering not just environmental impacts like extreme heat and flooding, but also socio-economic factors such as poverty, chronic health conditions, and language barriers. Data-gathering efforts reveal that the most at-risk areas, like the South Bronx and Red Hook, face multiple challenges including high poverty rates, poor health outcomes, industrial pollution, and inadequate green spaces. These neighborhoods are also significantly affected by poor infrastructure decisions, such as the construction of the Cross-Bronx Expressway, which has led to high pollution levels and health issues like asthma. Initiatives to mitigate these effects include proposals to cover parts of the expressway with parks. Additionally, the Red Hook community has faced severe damage from Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed local trees that are vital for mitigating flooding and heat. Efforts to replenish and protect green spaces are ongoing, demonstrating the community’s resilience and proactive stance against climate adversities. (New York Times)
MASSIVE GAS OUTFLOW IN GALAXY NGC 4383 STUDIED.
Galaxy NGC 4383 exhibits a massive gas outflow, spanning 20,000 light-years and surpassing the mass of 50 million Suns, challenging to detect due to its size and the need for high-resolution observation tools. This phenomenon is critical for understanding star formation cycles within galaxies, as these outflows can significantly influence such processes. The MAUVE program, focusing on the Virgo cluster, aims to study these outflows’ effects on star formation, with NGC 4383’s substantial outflow providing key insights. Stellar feedback, including radiation and particles from star formation and supernovae, drives these outflows, dispersing elements like iron across space, which may end up contributing to star formation in other galaxies. However, the outflow from NGC 4383 also potentially reduces star formation within the galaxy by ejecting gas needed for star formation. While some regions of NGC 4383 still experience starbursts, the overall impact of the outflows includes a complex interplay of star formation suppression and facilitation, revealing the dynamic processes governing galaxy evolution. (Ars Technica)
ASTROFORGE PIONEERS ASTEROID MINING AMID TECHNICAL CHALLENGES.
In April 2023, AstroForge, a space company, embarked on a mission to pioneer asteroid mining, targeting the extraction of valuable metals like platinum and cobalt, essential for electronics and electric vehicles. Although their initial mission encountered technical difficulties, such as deployment issues with solar panels and communication problems due to satellite wobble, the company remains undeterred. AstroForge and other firms, including TransAstra and Karman+, have garnered significant venture capital investment to advance their technological capabilities for mining asteroids. This new wave of space enterprises is inspired by the decreasing costs of rocket launches and a more favorable regulatory environment, with several countries establishing laws to support space mining. While the environmental impacts of such extraterrestrial activities are debated, with suggestions to limit space mining to protect cosmic wilderness, public opinion seems generally supportive of asteroid mining, viewing it as a less contentious alternative to Earth-based mining practices. (Undark)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
IMAGE CREDIT: Michelle Rose/Massachusetts General Hospital.