A group of researchers from American, Belgian, German, French, and Swiss institutions studied 14 cases of pregnancy in 13 women who were undergoing treatment for autoimmune diseases using T-lymphocytes modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T therapy).
In all recorded cases, pregnancies proceeded without complications, and there were no disease relapses or any issues related to the therapy itself. These data were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Pregnancy in patients with autoimmune disorders is traditionally associated with increased risks for both the mother and the fetus. Although CAR-T lymphocytes often lead to long-term remission without the need for constant medication, which may positively affect the pregnancy outcome, the safety of gestation after such treatment remains unclear. Potential risks include disease flare-ups upon discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy and negative effects on the fetus due to reduced levels of maternal B-lymphocytes.
Georg Shett from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and his colleagues described 14 pregnancy cases among 13 women aged 17 to 35 who received CAR-T lymphocytes for the treatment of autoimmune conditions. Among these patients, eight had systemic lupus erythematosus, two had systemic sclerosis, and one woman suffered from a combination of idiopathic inflammatory myositis, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and antiphospholipid syndrome.
All pregnancies occurred naturally, without the use of assisted reproductive technologies. Eight healthy infants were born between 2025 and 2026. Five women were in the process of preparing this article, and one terminated her pregnancy for personal reasons unrelated to the illness.
Before starting therapy, the patients received cyclophosphamide in an average cumulative volume of 1470 milligrams and fludarabine at a dose of 133 milligrams, which was significantly below the threshold affecting fertility. None of the women experienced a relapse of the autoimmune disease during pregnancy. Most patients either did not take medication or used hydroxychloroquine for prophylactic purposes. One woman developed signs of preeclampsia, including proteinuria and slowed kidney function; after childbirth, she was prescribed tacrolimus despite the absence of active lupus nephritis signs based on biopsy results.
All deliveries occurred on time, averaging at 37 weeks. Newborn metrics were within the normal range: average body weight was 2995 grams, body length was 49.75 centimeters, and head circumference was 33.25 centimeters. The average Apgar score reached 10 points. All mothers chose breastfeeding. Analyses showed that newborns did not contain CAR-T lymphocytes, and B-lymphocyte levels (averaging 2.52 million per liter) and immunoglobulin G levels (averaging 6.92 grams per liter) were within the normal range, with no signs of infection detected.
The data obtained indicate that pregnancies following CAR-T therapy for autoimmune diseases proceed without complications or relapses, ensuring a favorable outcome for both mother and child, and the immune system of newborns functions according to physiological norms. The study authors believe that if this treatment is approved and widely implemented in clinical practice, a special registry of pregnancies should be created to assess long-term safety.
Initially, CAR-T therapy was developed and used to treat oncological diseases, primarily hematological in profile. Currently, in pilot trials, CAR-T therapy for reducing B-lymphocyte counts is successfully being applied not only in systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and idiopathic inflammatory myositis but also in autoimmune polyneuropathies, anemia, and complex autoimmune conditions.
The intense flow and congestion of vehicles are recurring themes in discussions about urban mobility, but the impact of traffic noise on health is a less addressed aspect. Recent scientific research demonstrates that the continuous sound generated by cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks should not be seen merely as an annoyance, but rather as a significant risk factor for physical and mental health.
Various studies, published in journals such as Environmental Research and JAMA Neurology, indicate that traffic noise acts as a persistent biological stressor, capable of profoundly deregulating the body. An investigation conducted by the University of Oulu, Finland, monitored 114,353 young people in the Helsinki metropolitan area for up to ten years, mapping the effects of exposure to road and rail noise.
This study confirmed that exceeding the safety limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is 53 decibels (dB), considerably increases the chance of young people developing depression and anxiety. Noise above this level ceases to be a simple discomfort and begins to exert direct psychological pressure on youth. It was observed that the risk of anxiety is lower when noise levels are between 45 and 50 dB in the quieter part of the residence, but rises drastically when exceeding the range of 53 to 55 dB. Furthermore, the link between noise and anxiety was stronger in men and in individuals whose parents had no history of mental health problems.
The effects of noise go beyond psychology, directly affecting cardiovascular and metabolic health. Another study from the University of Oulu, also published in Environmental Research, analyzed data from over 200,000 adults in the UK, Netherlands, and Finland, focusing on noise during the night, a period when sleep is most vulnerable to interruptions. By evaluating 155 blood biomarkers, the research concluded that nighttime noise pollution from vehicles on roads or highways can lead to higher levels of cholesterol and fat-related metabolites in adults, both known risk factors for type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension.
Prolonged exposure to nighttime noise exceeding 50 dB was associated with increased total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol), elevated blood fat metabolites, and greater susceptibility to cardiometabolic diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The WHO recommends that nighttime noise not exceed 45 dB, emphasizing that nighttime noise subtly but constantly alters the body's biological markers.
In the neurological field, a comprehensive study conducted in Denmark, tracking over 3 million adults for almost two decades and published in JAMA Neurology, identified a correlation between prolonged exposure to traffic noise and an elevated risk of Parkinson's diagnosis. Participants exposed to higher noise levels showed a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of developing the condition.
The Danish findings highlighted that a gradual increase of about 11 dB on the facade most exposed to traffic was linked to a 3% increase in Parkinson's risk. Conversely, residences that had at least one side considerably quieter (with a difference of 10 dB or more compared to the noisy facade) demonstrated a protective effect for residents. However, the authors warn that the study is purely observational, indicating only a statistical association and not being able to state that noise is the cause of the disease.
Despite different methodologies, science points to common biological mechanisms: sleep deprivation and fragmentation caused by nighttime noise; chronic stress, where the brain interprets constant sound as an alert, activating cortisol production; and inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from the prolonged biological response to stress, which affects cellular metabolism and the central nervous system.
To mitigate these public health damages, specialists suggest preventive actions by urban managers and planners, such as expanding green areas to absorb sound, implementing architectural designs that direct bedrooms to internal or quiet areas, and reducing speed limits in residential zones, encouraging the use of quieter tires.
As part of the preparations for introducing a dengue vaccine in India, the first nationwide mapping of virus strains was conducted. The study revealed that all four serotypes of the virus are circulating simultaneously in eight states and union territories. Experts note that this discovery may influence vaccination strategy, as infections with multiple strains are associated with a more severe course of the disease.
According to the study results, all four dengue serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4) were identified simultaneously in regions such as Andhra, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Additionally, fifteen other states and union territories reported the circulation of three serotypes, while two regions reported the presence of two serotypes.
