therapy

Pancreatic cancer was almost invincible. A new targeted therapy just doubled survival

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Pancreatic cancer has been, for decades, one of the biggest challenges of modern oncology. Its diagnosis usually arrives late and therapeutic options in advanced stages have historically been limited, accompanying a mortality very high. But a new experimental drug has hit the table by promising to double survival in patients who have the most severe forms of the disease. The protagonist of this revolution is called daraxonrasib and has come to light together with the data recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology congress that has shaken the medical community, confirming that we are facing a possible paradigm shift for a disease that had not received good news for too long. More months. To understand the magnitude of the advance, you have to look at the results of the phase 3 trial, called RASolute 302. This study has focused on patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who had already received previous treatments without success. Until now, the standard therapy, which is the well-known chemotherapy, in this second line of treatment offered a median overall survival of just 6.7 months. But it has been seen that, when administering daraxonrasibthe median overall survival shot up to 13.2 months. That is, practically double. And there is more. The trial, considered the first large phase three study of a drug of this type in this context, not only demonstrated an improvement in lifespan, but also in disease progression-free survival and in the objective response rate of tumors. The endorsement Although it may seem very promising and fanciful, we are seeing that this therapy is based on a scientific basis that had already been audited and published at the highest level. By this we refer to the published results of the previous phases of this trial that were public in The New England analyzing 168 previously treated patients, and a powerful antitumor activity was seen. But it is not without problems, since the NEJM article detailed that about a third of patients experienced significant adverse effects. However, in the context of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the risk-benefit balance is considered extraordinarily promising. An invincible enemy. The real technical triumph of daraxonrasib is its mechanism of action, since pancreatic cancer is known to be largely driven by mutations in the RAS gene family, and especially KRAS. And for more than 30 years, the scientific community considered that proteins mutated by KRAS were impossible to medicate. But now daraxonrasib is a multi-RAS inhibitor that acts on the mutations of this very specific protein that were the gateway to pancreatic cancer. This makes it the first pancreatic targeted therapy capable of offering sustained responses over time. The Spanish accent. The arrival at phase 3 does not mean that the research ends here, but rather that the scientific community is already looking for a way to enhance this drug with other drugs to prevent the tumor from ‘learning’ to endure it. In this field of preclinical biology, the work of Spanish researchers stands out. The group of the prestigious scientist Mariano Barbacid has already documented work in animal models using a triple combination that includes daraxonrasib along with other drugs that have been on many people’s lips recently. Images | MedinePlus CDC In Xataka | The Chinese company Alibaba has an AI to detect pancreatic cancer. It is so good that the US has accelerated its approval

How your city parks have become the best therapy for modern anxiety

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A morning walk through almost any urban park reveals an increasingly common scene: calisthenics bars, wooden benches and grass esplanades have ceased to be simple elements of the landscape and have become the new fashionable gym. Accustomed to the monotony of traditional indoor gyms, with their relentless fluorescent lights and repetitive music on loop, going out to exercise in the park offers a radical and revitalizing change of scenery. As Nikki Fraser explains to the The New York Timesexercise physiologist, we tend to take training in our adulthood too seriously, seeing it as a strict “obligation” (something we have to do) rather than an “opportunity”, but by looking at a park, we regain the wonderful possibility of “playing”. The rise of the street as a training area. What has happened is that strength routines have left the basements and pavilions to conquer the streets. To perform a full-body workout, it is no longer essential to have complex machinery; All you need is a park bench and a piece of grass to perform routines that include climbing steps (step-ups) and push-ups, to lunges, squats and triceps dips. In addition, nature itself provides an extra physical challenge: unlike the repetitive monotony of a treadmill, the outdoor environment forces our muscles to constantly adapt to uneven terrain, which promotes balance, improves agility and burns calories dynamically. “The great moderation.” Behind this movement towards asphalt and grass is a profound generational and economic change. Young people are changing the classic bars for sports when it comes to socializing, a phenomenon that economists, as Joe Wadfordthey have already baptized as “the great moderation.” Instead of allocating a large portion of their monthly budget to going out at night and having to deal with an inevitable hangover the next day, many young people They prefer to invest their money and time in ways that are more rewarding for your health. In fact, as we already analyzed When explaining why the gym is the new bar to combat the loneliness epidemic, the data supports than 39% more young people Generation Z, compared to Generation fitness to meet new people who share your same interests. And there is science behind this. A systematic review long-term clinical trials that compared outdoor exercise versus indoor exercise revealed a revealing fact: of the 99 comparisons analyzed, the 25 that showed statistically significant results favored, in all cases, outdoor exercise. This natural environment encourages higher levels of positive emotions, tranquility and motivation. If that were not enough, simple exposure to sunlight provides a natural boost of vitamin D and works as a powerful antidote to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Beyond the muscle. The true impact of this trend transcends body aesthetics and economic savings; It has a profoundly transformative and therapeutic power on a social level. The BBC reported the case of Raymond Goodfield, a 53-year-old man who, due to depression and his dependence on alcohol, had ended up living on the streets. After joining free weekly outdoor gym sessions in his local park, his life took a radical turn: he stopped drinking, lost his shyness and found a supportive community. To make these urban spaces truly inclusive and not just a haven for elite athletes, researchers at Loughborough University have worked closely with the community in the design of new park equipment. This machinery is designed to improve balance and postural control, which makes it suitable for a very wide range of users, including those who are undergoing physical rehabilitation processes. A paradigm shift. All this establishes a strong contrast with the wellness trends that prevail in exclusive areas of cities. In the era of “cuqui fitness”where sport has disguised itself as therapy to charge you more money, we have seen how the industry commodifies calm. People pay large sums for low-impact disciplines or “somatic” classes, which consist of making tiny movements to try to relax the exhausted nervous system, turning well-being into a luxury item. The park, however, offers the rebellion of simplicity: an alternative where reconnecting with nature and forming a community act as that same escape valve against modern pressure, but completely free of charge. The triumph of simplicity. In short, using calisthenics bars, grass and benches as training tools is much more than a clever trick to avoid paying a sports club fee. It is the reflection of a society that seeks to heal. Going out to exercise outdoors represents an instinctive response to an excessively digitalized and isolated world. At the end of the day, the park gym reminds us that the goal is no longer just to sculpt the body, but to build real bonds, nourish ourselves with vitamin D and claim our most basic right: to go out and play again. Image | Magnificent Xataka | The big lie of “cuqui fitness”: sport has been disguised as therapy to charge you more money

Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. A new experimental therapy has managed to “intercept” it before it attacks

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Pancreatic cancer is classically known as one of the most lethal and feared that exist because of how difficult it can be to treat in some cases and the high mortality rates. But this high mortality rate is not due to its aggressiveness from minute 0, but to its stealthy nature, making it when he shows his face With the first symptoms, the disease is already in a very advanced phase that makes treatment very difficult. It’s where to act. In this way, the objective of the researchers is precisely to try to advance the diagnosis as much as possible, since treatment in the initial phases of the disease can give great results. And this is exactly what a new study that focuses on the ‘cancer interception’ strategy suggests. This is something that researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have focused on, who have achieved a vitally important advance in mouse models. And the fact is that, instead of focusing on attacking the already formed pancreatic tumor of considerable size, they have directed their artillery against the microscopic precursor lesions, known as PanIN. Its foundation. This is something that can be reduced to literally putting out the fire when it is still just a small spark. And as the specialized media report, by removing these microscopic lesions precancerous diseases, researchers manage to stop the advance towards the dreaded pancreatic adenocarcinoma in mice, proposing a total paradigm shift in how we could face this disease. Genetics is key. Something that has been known for a long time is that there are people who have a genetic predisposition to suffer from this disease. Specifically, in more than 90% of cases, the mutation responsible for triggering the disease is found in a gene called KRAS. A gene that for decades was considered “unapproachable” by classical pharmacology and that acted as a great shield against the disease. However, medicine is advancing in leaps and bounds, and this study uses selective inhibitors for this gene with the aim of silencing it precisely in PanIN lesions. In this way, by neutralizing the growth signals that the KRAS gene gives to tumor cells, they cannot take the step to begin to spread throughout the body, which causes the most serious symptoms. Mice today, hope for tomorrow. Logically, we must put our feet on the ground, since we are dealing with a preclinical study. That is, the therapy has proven to be a resounding success in animal models, but there is still a long way to go until this therapy can be used in a human in a hospital, since it must be seen that the effect is similar in our organisms. However, this research fits perfectly with the new medical philosophy against pancreatic cancer. As highlighted by the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) in his recent communicationsthe future undoubtedly involves knowing the personalized risk and ensuring that those people who are more likely to suffer from pancreatic cancer due to their genetics receive exhaustive screening to detect the disease in time and increase the probability of survival. Images | Bioscience Image Library In Xataka | A Spanish milestone against pancreatic cancer: we are one step closer to eradicating it but there is still a long way to go

sport has been disguised as therapy to charge you more money

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There was a time when gyms smelled of liniment and rusty iron. Success was measured in guttural screams and soaked T-shirts under the military motto of the no pain, no gain. That era is dead. If you walk into a fashion studio today, you will smell like incense and see pastel colors. The industry has understood that to capture the masses it had to stop selling exhaustion and start selling “connection.” As explained by trend magazinesWe have entered the era of strong Elegance. This new concept, far from being a brand, is defined as a natural evolution of training “better, not more.” The goal is no longer to destroy muscle, but to “connect with your body” through softness and technique. It is the birth of Cozy Fitness or gentle training. However, behind this facade of Zen calm, the economic projections are dizzying. It is estimated that the global market for Pilates and Yoga studios will reach 520.61 billion dollars by 2035driven by a population that values ​​mental health over gross physical appearance. Redefining effort The paradigm shift is not accidental; responds to a post-pandemic demand for mental health. According to a report by Les Mills99% of respondents say they feel “happier” after training, and 42% prioritize exercise specifically to improve their mental well-being. This has caused low-impact disciplines, such as Pilates, to be the most booked class for the second year in a row. But let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that “soft” means “easy.” Specialized media They warn that disciplines like sweep (a fusion of ballet, pilates and yoga) generate a real metabolic and mechanical overload. By working with isometry and bringing the muscle to fatigue without heavy weights, strength and postural improvement are achieved. This is where the narrative turns perverse. Under the promise of “liberation” and “self-care,” the industry has commodified the management of the self. An in-depth academic analysis on the philosophical dimensions of medical sciences suggests that modern fitness It is a byproduct of neoliberal ideology. We are instilled with the notion of the “entrepreneurial self”: health and aesthetics become an individual responsibility for success or failure. Wellbeing is sold as a commodity, and the individual is forced into constant “self-optimization.” If you are not healthy and radiant, it is because you are not managing your body “company” well. This pressure manifests itself in new obsessions such as Protein Chic. We have gone from eating out of necessity to consuming protein-enriched products (even popcorn or water) as a status symbol. The protein shake has become in a religious ritual, a tool to feel that we have “fulfilled” the mandate of physical productivity. Furthermore, sport has become a class filter. Fashion competitions like Hyroxwhich combine running and functional exercises, have become at an exhibition of lifestyle where you pay a high registration fee (about 70 euros) to show that you can afford to suffer in a way cool and gamified. The drivers of change: loneliness, identity and fashion To understand how we got to this point, you have to look at who is filling the rooms. Generation Z has turned the gym into its new bar, desperately seeking a tribe instead of cold machines. A report from 2025 reveals that 36% of young people regularly go to these centers, not only for the physical, but to combat loneliness and find community. Their priority is belonging, which explains the mass exodus toward group classes versus solitary training. The large chains have read this emotional need perfectly and have changed their business model: they no longer sell an hour of exercise, they sell identity. The success of brands like Brooklyn Fitboxing, which expects to invoice 50 million eurosis based on gamifying that community. In the same way, Pilates Club has skyrocketed his income 60% in Spain by focusing on “operational quality” and selling the feeling of belonging to a select and exclusive club. This aesthetic obsession has permeated everything, even technology, which has abandoned crude plastic to disguise itself as high jewelry or become invisible. “Technological minimalism” is the new norm: bracelets like the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 They are now launched with ceramic straps to be worn as fashion necklaces, while devices such as smart rings or heart rate sensors Whoop they bet on “silent monitoring”. It is the triumph of constant but discreet data: the obsession with measuring the body 24/7 without looking like a cyborg. Where are we going: From aesthetics to biology The immediate future of the industry delves into this sophistication. Trends for 2026 point to ‘Body Literacy’: according to elleusers no longer want generic recipes, but rather understand their own biology, hormones and stress response. We move from aggressive “bio-hacking” to personalized and clinical understanding. In Spain, the market is entering a consolidation phase. According to reports from consulting firms such as BDOlarge operators will stop opening centers indiscriminately to focus on increasing the average income per customer (upselling) and offer comprehensive family services. The gym wants to be the center of the social life of the entire family. However, there are cracks in this perfect pastel world. While the sector premium talks about connecting the soul, the segment low cost go on being a battle of prices and efficiency, reminding us that “spiritual well-being” remains, in large part, an affordable luxury. Even technology is showing signs of exhaustion. Technology analysts They point out which devices like him Apple Watch They seem to have reached their ceiling in sports. They have become excellent “entertainers” of well-being (Wellness), but they lack the technical depth of a real coach, remaining on the surface of motivation with synthetic voices that congratulate you for closing rings. As Ale Llosa, founder of one of these new success methods, summarizes, in Vogue: “Soft is fashionable, but without strength there is no resilience.” The question we have left, as we close the locker room locker, is whether this new era of fitness is really making us freer and stronger, or if it has simply built us a prettier, … Read more

After saying goodbye to 9,000 people, an Xbox manager has a suggestion for the rest of its workers: AI as therapy

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Microsoft has been news again after announcing the Dismissal of 9,000 employees worldwide, a decision that has shaken both the company’s central departments and Xbox and their associated studies. The reason for this restructuring is not economic problems, but a Microsoft strategy to be more agile in the race for the development and implementation of AI. In this context, Matt Turnbull, executive producer of Xbox Game Studios Publishing, published a message in his LinkedIn profile aimed at those who had lost their job. In his statement, Turnbull encouraged his former partners, to use AI to how to cope with the impact emotional and mental dismissal. The message was not well received. Dismissed. Unlike the massive dismissals that occurred decades ago, the layoffs that are currently taking place in large technological ones They are not due to economic problemsbut to business strategies to flatten the structures of the companies to be more agile in the crazy technological career that the AI ​​is starring. That makes thousands of employees lose their job not because they will be replaced by an AI, but as collateral damage to their development. The news of the layoffs has coincided with Microsoft’s promise to invest 80,000 million dollars in AIwhich has generated even more debate on the priorities of the company and the impact of the Employment automation. Those affected, including Xbox Game Studios and other key departments, now face a technological scenario marked by labor cuts. An AI to cry. Amid This restructuringTurnbull published a series of recommendations for supporting their former employees and colleagues from Your LinkedIn profile: “These are really difficult times, and if you are going through a dismissal or even preparing silently for one, you are not alone and you don’t have to do it alone.” The manager was not referring to the fact that Microsoft will offer support to its employees. Invited them to rely on chatgpt to overcome the trauma of dismissal. Matt Turnbull’s original message capture “I have been experimenting with ways to use AI tools to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that entails the loss of employment,” explained the manager in his publication. Turnbull’s recommendation soon generated controversy, since many considered ironic that a high position of Microsoft, a company that is reducing workforce to adapt to the AI ​​era, suggest to the dismissed use precisely those technologies as emotional support. Microsoft more “Severance”. The reactions in social networks to the publication of the Xbox manager did not wait. The controversy intensified on platforms like x and Redditwhere Some users They compared the situation with the labor dystopia of the “Severance” series when the “separations” of the company occur, while others criticized the lack of empathy of the manager for inviting those affected to face the frustration of a dismissal using a chatbot as a therapist. Touch the image to go to the original message The comments on networks indicated that Turnbull’s proposal reflected a disconnection with the emotional reality of those who lose their jobs. “It is not a tool for the one that can replace your voice or your experience lived,” recalled Turnbull himself in his message, although for many, the suggestion of resorting to AI in a moment of vulnerability lacked the empathy that requires the situation and the They qualified as insensitive And little successful. Following the wave of criticism for the lack of empathy, Turnbull finally eliminated his LinkedIn comment. A therapist without empathy. In its publication, the Turnbull invited Microsoft’s newly fired employees to seek emotional support in AI. Although more and more people turn to AI models designed to Offer psychological supportthese technologies They cannot empathize With the nuances of human suffering and its use can have negative consequences. They have Documented cases in which the use of chatbots such as Chatgpt has led people to anguish situations or worsen its emotional state, which calls into question the suitability of these tools As emotional support In critical moments. The AI ​​can help you find a job. Beyond the debate generated, Turnbull shared a series of suggestions to use AI as a personal assistant to find a new job, proposing Prompts Specific that could help with career planning, the update of the curriculum, the writing of messages to contact former partners. Points where AI can be of great help. There is the circumstance that personnel selection processes are increasingly conditioned to the algorithmic selection of profilesso a solution to overcome that barrier is to use more AI for Optimize the curriculum and generate presentation letters. In Xataka | Some employees sued their company for cutting the salary. The supreme has responded that being unpunctual is not a job Image | Pexels (Angel Bena)

We are one step closer to converting pancreatic islet transplants into a functional therapy against type 1 diabetes

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The incidence of Type 1 diabetes It is less than that of its “sister”, but the World Health Organization esteem that more than 64 million people suffer only in Europe. In Spain, the number of cases exceeds 166,000 according to estimates of the National Health System. A new path. A study led by researchers from the University of Leiden has presented a new production method of endocrine cell groupings for transplantation. This tool could help us advance in this type of treatments against type 1 diabetes. Pancreatic islets. The work focuses on the pancreatic islet transplant. These islets are “groupings” of endocrine cells, hormone producing cells. Type 1 diabetes is triggered when our own immune system attacks pancreatic beta cells, insulin producing cells. The problem of transplanting these islets is to obtain them. An option is to obtain them from deceased donors, but this limits their availability. Another option is to “cultivate them” in laboratory from induced pluripotent stem cells. Easier to say than to do. However, there is a problem to solve, and these stem cells can differentiate themselves in the endocrine cells we are looking for, but they can also differentiate in other cells. “This is a problem because if you want to generate a reliable and safe product we need to be very pure, and that it does not vary in composition or purity from one lot to another,” explained to Sinc Adrián Villalba, an immunologist who works precisely in the development of this type of islets. A new method. In the new work, the team raises a new mechanism that facilitates the process of purifying unwanted cells without harming the integrity of the islets to be transplanted. The mechanism is based on density gradient centrifugation, used to enrich endocrine cell clusters and reduce the number of unwanted cells. The team tested their method successfully in mice. They observed that the transplanted islets remained viable for a period of six months. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Translational Medicine Science. A future still distant. Animals in animals are a key step, but it remains to be determined to what extent we can replicate the success of these first experiments in human cells. The success achieved so much in alive as In vitrothey point to optimism for now, but there is still time until we can see this progress turned into therapy. The team stands out in your work that this is a “fast” and “scalable method to large volumes of cells.” A method that can also be applied to cellular “manufacturing.” They also indicate the possibility of applying this method to contribute to the creation of new and improved cells based on cells in regenerative medicine, “beyond the field of islets (stem cells).” In Xataka | The 42,000 punctures of Elizabeth Hughes and the miraculous discovery of insulin Image | ISENS USA / Jakob Suckale

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