Daily ReCAP April 26, 2017

Chronic: Soy Protein May Reduce Severity of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Consuming soy protein may reduce the severity of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a new study published in theJournal of Nutritional Biochemistrysuggests. The investigators substituted soy protein concentrate into the diet of mice and removed corresponding amounts of other protein sources to equal approximately 12%. The 12% dose level of soy protein concentrate ameliorated body weight loss and spleen swelling in mice with induced IBD. The results of the study showed soy protein concentrate mitigates markers of colonic inflammation and loss of gut barrier function in mice with IBD. The findings indicated that the concentrate could exert antioxidant and cytoprotectivve effects in cultured human bowel cells and could moderate inflammation severity in mice with ulcerative colitis. For follow-up studies, the investigators will focus on whether the results of their study with mice are readily translatable to humans.

Acute: Hypertension Drug Receives FDA Approval to Market in the United States

Zydus Cadila received FDA approval to market its anti-hypertension drug olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar) in the US market, according toThe Hindu Business Line. Olmesartan medoxomil is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to reduce and control hypertension. The approval will allow the company to sell the tablets in strengths of 5 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. Adverse events may include dizziness, lightheadedness, bronchitis, back pain, joint or muscle pain, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, itching or skin rash, weakness, headache, flu-like symptoms, blood in the urine, and sinus infections.

Preventive: Early Blood Test Signatures Predict Vaccine Immunogenicity, Reactogenicity

Within 7 days after a vaccination, a blood test can predict whether it had the desired effect based on living, modified viruses. In a study published inScience Translational Medicine, investigators focused on early cytokine signatures that help predict the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the Ebola vaccine. “Normally one has to wait for several months or years before knowing for sure if the vaccination has led to the immunological memory necessary for immune protection,” said investigator Ali Harandi. “With this approach, if validated for other vaccines, we only need to wait for a week.” Included in the study were 190 healthy individuals from Africa and Europe. Using longitudinal analysis blood samples obtained from individuals who received the Ebola vaccine, the investigators demonstrated that a group of cytokines measured in plasma within 7 days of the vaccine injection correlated with antibody responses developed 6 months later. Furthermore, the cytokine signature correlated with vaccine reactogenicity observed in some volunteers. This approach could potentially be used to predict vaccine immunogenicity and reactogenicity in individuals early after vaccination.