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Hidden virus inside gut bacteria linked to doubled colorectal cancer risk, study finds

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Hidden virus inside gut bacteria linked to doubled colorectal cancer risk, study finds

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A newly discovered virus hiding inside common gut bacteria may be linked to colorectal cancer, according to new research.

Scientists in Denmark found that colorectal cancer patients were about twice as likely to carry a previously unidentified virus within Bacteroides fragilis, a bacterium that normally lives in the human gut, according to the study published in Communications Medicine earlier this month.

Researchers say the discovery could help scientists better understand the role of the gut microbiome in cancer development.

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“These findings highlight the importance of the microorganisms in the gut and their relation to our health,” Dr. Flemming Damgaard, PhD, of the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Odense University Hospital and the University of Southern Denmark, told Fox News Digital. “If we want to understand the full picture, we need to look deep into their genetic material.”

A new study suggests a virus living inside common gut bacteria may be linked to colorectal cancer. (iStock)

Doctors have known for years that Bacteroides fragilis shows up more often in people with colorectal cancer, which includes cancers of the colon and rectum, but since most healthy people also carry the bacteria, it wasn’t clear why it would be harmful in some cases and not others.

So researchers looked at subtle genetic differences within the bacteria and uncovered something unexpected.

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“We were very surprised to find a whole virus inside the bacteria from the colorectal cancer patients,” Damgaard said. “That was not something we expected when we started our study.”

Scientists say the findings add to growing evidence that the gut microbiome may play a role in cancer development. (iStock)

The virus, known as a bacteriophage, infects bacteria rather than human cells. According to the researchers, the viral type they identified had not previously been documented.

When the team analyzed stool samples from 877 individuals across Europe, the United States and Asia, they found that colorectal cancer patients were approximately twice as likely to carry traces of the virus compared to people without cancer.

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The findings show a strong statistical association, but researchers stress that the study does not prove the virus causes colorectal cancer, and it is too early to draw immediate conclusions.

Researchers are continuing studies to explore whether the virus influences cancer growth. (iStock)

“The major limitation is that we still don’t know why the virus is linked to colorectal cancer,” said co-author Ulrik Stenz Justesen. “But we are already continuing our research.”

The team is now conducting laboratory experiments and animal studies to determine whether the virus alters the bacterium’s behavior in a way that could influence cancer development.

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Studies have found that the human body contains roughly as many microbial cells as human cells, underscoring how deeply microbes are intertwined with human health.

“Our understanding of [microbial cells] is still in its infancy,” Damgaard said. “There are many health-related discoveries to be made in the human microbiota.”

The discovery could one day help improve colorectal cancer screening. (iStock)

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Several high-profile celebrity deaths, including James Van Der Beek, Catherine O’Hara, Kirstie Alley, Pelé and Chadwick Boseman, have drawn attention to colorectal cancer’s impact across age groups in recent years.

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While much of colorectal cancer risk is tied to diet and lifestyle, researchers think the bacteria in our gut may also play an important role.

Currently, colorectal cancer screening includes stool tests that check for blood that isn’t visible to the naked eye, as well as colonoscopies. Researchers say that in the future, it may be possible to test stool samples for viral markers like those identified in the study.

Actor James Van Der Beek died at age 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. (Ray Tamarra/GC Images)

Researchers pointed to cervical cancer as an example of how identifying a viral cause can help prevention efforts. After HPV was linked to cervical cancer, vaccines helped drive down new cases. 

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While it’s too early to make that comparison, they said colorectal cancer could one day follow a similar path if a clear viral role is confirmed.

“It is too early to act,” Damgaard said. “We have a lot of hope, and that is what we want people to have at this point.”

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.

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Weekly weightlifting sweet spot may be linked to longer life, study finds

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Weekly weightlifting sweet spot may be linked to longer life, study finds

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Sticking to a resistance or strength training routine for a certain amount of time may extend your life, according to a new study.

Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed whether workouts involving weightlifting and weight machines are linked to a lower risk of death over time.

The study followed more than 147,000 U.S. adults who participated in three large health studies spanning up to 30 years. More than 35,000 died during the study period.

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Participants reported their exercise habits, including the number of minutes per week spent on resistance training and on aerobic activity, like walking, biking or swimming.

Resistance training levels were then compared with later death from any cause, as well as from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and neurological disease, according to a press release.

Doing a moderate amount of resistance training was linked with a lower risk of death in a recent study. (iStock)

Doing a moderate amount of resistance training was linked with a lower risk of death, according to study results. This outcome persisted even after researchers adjusted for other factors like age, smoking, diet quality, alcohol intake, family history and aerobic activity.

The clearest benefit was seen at around 90 to 119 minutes per week of resistance training.

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People who stuck to this interval of training per week had a 13% lower risk of all-cause death, 19% lower risk of death from heart disease and 27% lower risk of death from neurological disease.

More than 120 minutes of resistance training per week did not appear to add extra benefit to the overall death risk, according to the findings.

The clearest benefit was seen at around 90 to 119 minutes per week of resistance training. (iStock)

A lower risk of cancer death was seen at even small amounts of resistance training — 30 to 59 minutes per week was associated with a 12% decreased risk.

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The lowest overall death risk was found in people who did both higher aerobic activity and moderate to high resistance training.

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The study shows only an association between resistance training and lower death risk, not a direct cause, the researchers noted.

Other limitations were that participants reported their own exercise habits, which may not have been completely accurate, and the study did not measure how intensely they exercised.

30 to 59 minutes per week of strength training was associated with a 12% decreased risk of cancer death.

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The authors reflected in the study that engaging in “sufficient aerobic or resistance training alone is linked to lower mortality, with a stronger effect from aerobic activity.”

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The lowest risk was seen among people who did high levels of both aerobic exercise and resistance training. However, for people already doing a very high amount of aerobic exercise (roughly five to six hours of jogging or 11 hours of brisk walking per week), adding resistance training did not appear to lower the risk any further, they noted.

The lowest overall death risk was found in people who did both higher aerobic activity and moderate to high resistance training. (iStock)

In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Kenny Santucci, fitness trainer, gym owner and host of the “Strong New York” podcast, shared the importance of pairing general movement with a focus on muscle building.

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For a better fitness outcome, Santucci encourages gym-goers to add more strength training to their routines and to lift “a little bit heavier.”

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“Strength training should be the basis of what you do,” he said. “I don’t have anything against cycling … but if you’re telling me that’s the basis of your training, and your goal is aesthetics, then you are not really helping yourself get to that point any easier.”

“Hard doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better workout.”

Santucci recommends working at about 60% to 80% of capacity, pushing to a point of fatigue with moderate intensity.

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“There’s a science behind muscle growth, and if there’s no external force pushing against the muscle tissue, and you’re not fueling yourself with protein, then you’re probably not going to build muscle,” he said.

“Hard doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better workout … If you’re training at levels of intensity, then you’re reproducing good outcomes.”

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AI-designed ‘universal vaccine’ passes first human clinical trial, could prevent future pandemics

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AI-designed ‘universal vaccine’ passes first human clinical trial, could prevent future pandemics

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A vaccine created using artificial intelligence that could potentially provide broader protection against multiple coronaviruses and help prepare for future outbreaks has passed its first human clinical trial.

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Southampton developed a “universal vaccine” designed to protect against multiple Sarbeco coronaviruses, which the university explained in a news release is “the large group of viruses that occur in nature, including SARS-CoV-2, which caused the COVID pandemic.”

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Traditional vaccines must constantly be updated as viruses mutate, and the process is “like a dog chasing its tail,” said University of Southampton professor Saul Faust, the trial’s chief investigator.

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“Viruses like Influenza, coronaviruses and the Ebola group are evolving continuously, and by the time vaccines are rolled out, they may be poorly matched — the current ‘reactive’ vaccine system struggles to keep pace,” Faust said.

Researchers have developed a vaccine using AI that has proven to be promising in “future-proofing” people against mutating infections. (iStock)

An antigen is the active ingredient in a vaccine meant to trigger an immune-system response and fight off infection. According to the release, the university scientists logged all the available genetic sequence data for Sarbeco coronaviruses and used AI used to design a “super-antigen” that contains the antigen features “common to this whole group of viruses – including ones that haven’t emerged yet.”

The trial of the vaccine proved safe and triggered an immune response in 39 healthy volunteers, marking “the first time that a vaccine whose active component was designed entirely by computer simulations has been tested in humans,” the release said.

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The trial vaccine was administered through a micro-fluid jet that delivers the immunization through the skin using a tiny, high-pressure stream of liquid and does not require a needle. The researchers said this method could make it “faster and easier to carry out in large numbers of people.”

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“This new class of universal vaccines are future-proofed,” Faust said. “They not only protect against many variants simultaneously, but potentially against related viruses that haven’t yet emerged and spilt over to humans. If we can develop and clinically advance this new class of vaccines before a virus outbreak begins, millions of lives could be saved, lockdowns avoided and the economy preserved.”

A new vaccine has been proven safe and capable of triggering immune responses against coronavirus in a limited human trial. (iStock)

Some experts have raised broad concerns about using AI in medicine, primarily when it comes to making clinical decisions, not developing vaccines. Certain groups of people may be underrepresented in the data AI relies on, resulting in biased outcomes, some said.

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AI also sometimes produces erroneous information, called “hallucinations,” and determining who is liable for medical failings in such situations is a complex matter.

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Others have expressed concern over patient privacy, as well as the need for human judgment that takes into account the scope of a patient’s health history, rather than a single dataset.

While traditional vaccines are reactive, a new AI-designed vaccine aims to protect against future coronavirus threats. (iStock)

The universal-vaccine researchers said that a larger trial involving “a wider and more diverse population” is needed. They published their findings in Journal of Infection.

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Former wrestler, actor reveals breast cancer diagnosis: ‘One in 750 men’

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Former wrestler, actor reveals breast cancer diagnosis: ‘One in 750 men’

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Former professional wrestler and actor Tyler Mane announced he has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Known for his roles in “X-Men” and “Halloween,” Mane shared the news publicly to help raise awareness about a condition that is frequently overlooked in men.

“I have some bad news. I start chemo today,” Mane stated in a video posted to his social media channels. “One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them.”

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Because breast cancer is predominantly associated with women, many men are unaware that they are also at risk. However, according to Mayo Clinic, everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue.

While women go on to develop more of this tissue during puberty, the biological foundation for the disease exists in everyone.

Known for his roles in X-Men and Halloween, Mane shared the news publicly to help raise awareness about a condition that is frequently overlooked in men. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

The most common symptom of male breast cancer is a hard, painless lump located directly behind or near the nipple, according to experts. Other signs can include skin dimpling, nipple retraction or discharge.

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Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases globally. Because routine screenings like mammograms are not standard practice for men, the disease is often caught much later than it is in women.

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Mane highlighted this issue as a primary motivation for speaking out. “Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually found at later stages and has worse outcomes,” he said. “I want to change that.”

Experts say the most common symptom of male breast cancer is a hard, painless lump located directly behind or near the nipple. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Medical data supports Mane’s concerns regarding late-stage detection. While male breast cancer can occur at any age, it is most frequently diagnosed in older men, according to Mayo Clinic.

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Men’s treatment plans generally mirror those for women, typically involving surgery to remove the breast tissue, followed by chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy depending on how far the cancer has progressed.

Treatment plans generally mirror those for women, typically involving surgery to remove the breast tissue, followed by chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy depending on how far the cancer has progressed. (Rune Hellestad/Corbis via Getty Images)

Mane said he is utilizing his platform to normalize conversations about male health and encourage early detection. He concluded his video by asking his followers to spread the word and help educate others.

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“Follow, like and share, and come along for my journey to kick this thing in the ass,” Mane said. “Send this to 10 of your friends and have them follow me, because people need to hear this.”

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