Taking nicotinamide, which is vitamin PP, is statistically associated with a reduced probability of developing open-angle glaucoma in individuals with elevated intraocular pressure. This conclusion was reached by American researchers after analyzing data from electronic health records collected from nearly three thousand patients.
Furthermore, the vitamin helps decrease the likelihood of needing local treatment aimed at lowering intraocular pressure, and it also reduces the need for laser trabeculoplasty. The results of this study were published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Open-angle glaucoma is characterized by impaired outflow of intraocular fluid, leading to increased intraocular pressure and subsequent damage to the optic nerve and other eye structures. Ophthalmologists usually prescribe therapy to control pressure, but a significant portion of patients develop optic neuropathy.
Recent scientific investigations indicate that a disruption in the metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide—one of the key coenzymes in the redox processes of all living cells—may be the cause of this disease. This coenzyme participates in processes such as glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid beta-oxidation. For example, a deficiency of this substance in retinal ganglion cells can cause a failure in energy metabolism and metabolism.
To test the potential preventive effect of influencing this part of the pathogenesis, a research group led by Iqbal Ayka Ahmed from the University of Utah conducted a cohort study using electronic health records of 2920 patients with elevated intraocular pressure. The researchers studied the effect of systemic nicotinamide intake (vitamin PP, vitamin B3), traditionally used to combat pellagra, on the risk of developing glaucoma. Initially, participant characteristics were carefully balanced across all variables after matching procedures.
During the average observation period of 3.7 years, nicotinamide use correlated with a reduction in the incidence of open-angle glaucoma. Diagnosis was made in 51 patients (3.5 percent) in the treatment group compared to 132 patients (9 percent) in the control group (risk ratio was 0.34; p < 0.001), demonstrating an absolute risk reduction of 5.5 percent. It was also found that fewer patients in the nicotinamide group required local therapy to lower intraocular pressure (risk ratio 0.57; p < 0.001).
The frequency of laser trabeculoplasty, a method to improve the outflow of intraocular fluid through the trabecular meshwork, was also lower in the systemic nicotinamide intervention group (risk ratio 0.38; p = 0.003). Furthermore, refraction indices and the frequency of ophthalmologist visits showed no differences between the studied groups. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the previously identified associations.
The study authors believe that taking nicotinamide may serve as an accessible additional strategy for preventing the development of open-angle glaucoma in people with high intraocular pressure. However, practical implementation of this method requires prospective clinical trials to confirm its safety and efficacy.
It is also worth noting the work of Yuanyuan Du from Chongqing Medical University and her colleagues from China, Singapore, and the UK. They analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) collaboration for the period from 1990 to 2023. Their findings showed a continuous increase in the prevalence of infertility among women aged 35–49, with a projection of nearly a one-and-a-half-fold increase by 2036. The study utilized the GBD 2023 dataset, covering 204 countries and territories, and a forecast up to 2036 was made using multilevel trend analysis and Bayesian modeling. These results were published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health.
Spain has activated a heightened alert status in Andalusia after the detection of the West Nile virus in two traps set in two municipalities. One of these traps was part of the monitoring system of Seville province, the regional capital, whose government announced the introduction of a state of alert.
In the same region bordering Portugal, the circulation of the virus had already been confirmed this year in settlements such as Pulpi, Torredonjimeno, Palomares del Río, and Constantine, where an alert status had also been declared.
In June, the 'la Caixa' Foundation, which supported research by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona (Spain), reported that the resurgence of mosquito-borne infections poses a growing threat to public health. This is particularly relevant because diseases such as Dengue fever and West Nile virus, traditionally confined to tropical and subtropical zones, are expanding their geographical reach.
Experts attribute this expansion to factors such as climate change or globalization. Furthermore, in April, the Countdown Europe 2026 report, published in Portugal, analyzed the impact of climate change on the ecological suitability for vector-borne diseases. This document, released in the specialized journal The Lancet, noted that the Greater Lisbon area is experiencing the greatest increase in the risk of Eastern Nile virus outbreaks, moving from near-zero levels to levels requiring active surveillance by health authorities.
Uzbekistan and Moscow reached an agreement to expand cooperation in the field of healthcare following meetings of the Uzbek delegation with Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.
During the meeting, the Russian side presented unified standards for managing Moscow's healthcare system. These standards include the digitalization of medical services and the implementation of a continuous patient referral system.
At City Polyclinic No. 220, which operates under the 'My Polyclinic' standard, the Uzbek delegation familiarized itself with the organization of primary medical and sanitary care, patient flow management, digital registration, and preventive care.
At the S.P. Botkin Scientific and Clinical Multidisciplinary Center, the delegation was shown approaches to managing multidisciplinary hospitals, organizing diagnostic and surgical services, patient referral systems, and the introduction of modern medical technologies.
Visiting a children's clinical hospital, participants observed a model of specialized pediatric care that combines diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and subsequent medical supervision. To study the palliative system, the delegation also visited the 'House with a Beacon' children's hospice and the Moscow Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Center, where mechanisms for supporting patients and families were presented.
Specialists at the Scientific and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies demonstrated the application of artificial intelligence and remote interaction capabilities between radiologists. The delegation also visited the Interdisciplinary Training Center for Innovative Surgical Technologies, where they studied the system of practical surgeon training using simulation equipment and anatomical materials.
At the Moscow Laboratory Research Center, the delegation was shown robotic laboratory diagnostics, a three-tier laboratory network model, and a digital system for managing research data and test results. At the conclusion of the negotiations, the parties agreed to prepare a roadmap for further cooperation, including the implementation of joint pilot projects involving relevant experts.
