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Bladder control is about to go high tech. When a man loses his ability to control his urine flow, technically called incontinence, which is often a complication of prostate cancer surgery, a variety of strategies come into play. One of these is a mechanical valve has been used for years to help him prevent embarrassing accidents. Manufactured by the Boston Scientific Company and named the AMS 800, the device uses an implanted squeeze ball pump to control an air-powered valve.

Just reported to the American Urological Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting are the very promising results of pilot study using a wirelessly controlled artificial urinary valve called the UroActive. Manufactured by the UroMems company, the implantable control device is activated by a patient remote button. The electronically activated valve around the ureter then controls urine flow.

The UroActive can also bring relief to women suffering from significant stress incontinence problems. Work is also ongoing to permit device control from your smartphone. It well be soon possible to say, “Siri…help me relieve myself or even Siri….I need to pee.”

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/digital-innovation-coming-soon-incontinence-care-2025a10009w2?ecd=a2a

#incontinence #prostate #stress #uroactive #uromems #ams800

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The new vaccine goal: trigger a special type of antibody called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that capably target the lipid membrane surrounding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In so doing, they are able to bind to a hidden part of the virus called MPER, which stands for Membrane-Proximal External Region. This zone plays a critical role by permitting the virus to attach, fuse, and inject its genetic material into human cells.

Computational biologists at San Diego’s La Jolla Scripps Research Institute now publish their vaccine blueprint in the journal eLife. Using computer modeling, they demonstrate that certain structural features in the antibodies help them safely recognize viral lipids without endangering normal cells. Their models also predict that maturation of this type of antibody over time leads to better viral binding without creating autoimmunity.

This research data is slated to help design vaccines to harness human immunity for effective and continuing production of these broadly neutralizing antibodies. This vaccine approach appears successful and will be preventing dreaded HIV infections….someday soon.

https://elifesciences.org/articles/90139

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-antibodies-lipids-path-hiv-vaccines.html

#HIV #vaccines #bNAbs #MPER #aids

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The FDA has just approved a new nasal powder spray called Atzumi that delivers the drug dihydroergotamine, or DHE via a novel nasal spray technology developed by Satsuma Pharmaceuticals. It’s the first and only product to use SMART, which stands for. Simple MucoAdhesive Release Technology. The drug is delivered in a powder with a unique ability to adhere on tissue linings thereby enhancing absorption. The DHE causes cerebral blood vessels to contract, blocks pain transmission, and inhibits inflammatory neurotransmitters all leading to migraine resolution.

The Atzumi migraine nasal spray was tested in the 12 month safety and tolerability ASCEND study involving 344 participants. Those using the spray after acute onset of migraine were surveyed at 2, 4, and 24 hours following symptom onset to assess its short and longer-term effects. At 2 hours, 37% were pain-free, 54% denied bothersome symptoms, and two-thirds had headache relief. These stats increased to 86%, 91%, and 94% by 24 hours.

Atzumi is FDA-approved for migraine treatment rather than migraine prevention. These preliminary results suggest that this nasal spray may be a powerful tool that can quickly and effectively eradicate migraines. It will also prove to be a welcome alternative for migraine sufferers who cannot tolerate other oral or injection therapies.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39373843/

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fda-okays-dihydroergotamine-nasal-spray-acute-migraine-2025a1000auy

#migraine #nasal #powder #mucoadhesive #atzumi