Xiangya Hospital Central South University

A changing climate may be linked to growing death and disability from stroke in regions around the world, according to a new study. Researchers found over three decades that non-optimal temperatures, those above or below temperatures associated with the lowest death rates, were increasingly linked to death and disability due to stroke. The study does not prove that climate change causes stroke. It only shows an association. The study also did not examine other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. A changing climate may be linked to growing death and disability from stroke in regions around the world, according to a study published in the April 10, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found over three decades that non-optimal temperatures, those above or below temperatures associated with the lowest death rates, were increasingly linked to death and disability due to stroke. The study does not prove that climate change causes stroke. It only shows an association. The study also did not examine other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Researchers found that the majority of these strokes were due to lower than optimal temperatures, however they also found an increase in strokes tied to higher than optimal temperatures. With lower temperatures, a person's blood vessels can constrict, increasing blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke. Higher temperatures may cause dehydration, affecting cholesterol levels and resulting in slower blood flow, factors that can also lead to stroke. "Dramatic temperature changes in recent years have affected human health and caused widespread concern," said study author Quan Cheng, PhD, of Xiangya Hospital Central South University in Changsha, China. "Our study found that these changing temperatures may increase the burden of stroke worldwide, especially in older populations and areas with more health care disparities. For the study, researchers looked at 30 years of health records for more than 200 countries and territories. They examined the number of stroke deaths and burden of stroke-related disability due to non-optimal temperatures. They then divided the data to look at different regions, countries and territories. They also looked at age groups and genders. In 2019, there were 521,031 stroke deaths linked to non-optimal temperatures. There were also 9.4 million disability-adjusted life years due to stroke linked to non-optimal temperatures. Disability-adjusted life years are the number of years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with illness. When looking at low temperatures compared to high temperatures, they found that 474,002 of the total deaths were linked to low temperatures. Researchers found that the rate of death from stroke from temperature changes for male participants was 7.7 per 100,000 compared to 5.9 per 100,000 for female participants. When looking at regions, central Asia had the highest death rate for stroke linked to non-optimal temperatures with 18 per 100,000. At the national level, North Macedonia had the highest death rate with 33 per 100,000. "More research is needed to determine the impact of temperature change on stroke and to target solutions to address health inequalities," Cheng said. "Future research should aim to reduce this threat by finding effective health policies that address potential causes of climate change, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial processes." The study was supported by Hunan Youth Science and Technology Talent Project.

SHANGHAI, China, Feb. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (“Junshi Biosciences”, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, today announced the successful completion of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase III clinical studies (Study nos.: JS002-003 and JS002-006) evaluating the company’s product ongericimab (a recombinant humanized anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, product code: JS002) for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, and both studies have met their primary endpoints. According to the Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2021), in recent years, both the blood lipid levels and the prevalence of dyslipidemia of the Chinese population have been on the rise, and dyslipidemia affects up to 40.4% of adults. Dyslipidemia, specifically the increase of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (“LDL-C”), is the most important independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (“ASCVDs”). The growing prevalence of dyslipidemia underscores the urgent need for effective treatments to lower LDL-C levels, which can significantly lower the incidence of ASCVDs and the risk of death. At present, the awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia in adults in China are all relatively low. The current lipid-lowering treatment and compliance rates among individuals at high or extremely high risk of ASCVDs are concerning, and there remains a relatively significant unmet clinical demand for lipid-lowering treatments. As a new lipid-lowering drug that effectively reduces LDL-C levels, PCSK9 inhibitors have been recommended in both Chinese and overseas dyslipidemia management guidelines, and are widely recognized by clinicians. Unfortunately, there are only two imported ant-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies currently approved for marketing in China, and no domestic anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody has been approved for marketing. Ongericimab is a recombinant humanized anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody independently developed by Junshi Biosciences. Two major pivotal registered clinical studies (Study nos.: JS002-003 and JS002-006) of ongericimab have been successfully completed and met their primary endpoints. The JS002-003 study assessed the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous injection of ongericimab for the treatment of patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia, while the JS002-006 study assessed the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous injection using two drug delivery systems (pre-filled syringes and pre-filled automatic syringes) of ongericimab for the same indications. Ongericimab exhibited significant lipid-lowering efficacy in both studies with good safety. “The emergence of PCSK9 inhibitors has provided better treatment options for dyslipidemia patients, particularly those at high or extremely risk of ASCVD,” said Academician Yaling HAN from the General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command. “The positive results of ongericimab’s phase III clinical trials are very encouraging and show comparable efficacy and safety to similar PCSK9 inhibitors from overseas. We look forward to the launch of ongericimab to address unmet medical needs, and we hope the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease could decrease in China.” “I’m pleased to see a Chinese-developed anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody delivering such outstanding lipid-lowering outcomes,” said Professor Shuiping ZHAO from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. “This will equip our clinicians with more lipid-lowering treatment options and benefit countless patients in China. The management of the Chinese population’s blood lipid levels requires continuous improvement, and we expect ongericimab to contribute greatly to this process.” “I’m excited to witness the simultaneous success of two phase III studies examining ongericimab,” said Dr. Jianjun ZOU, the President of Global Research and Development at Junshi Biosciences. “These achievements were only possible through the joint efforts and dedication of researchers, patients, and R&D teams. With China entering an aging society, we hope that ongericimab can provide additional treatment options for hyperlipidemia patients and address unmet medical needs.” About Ongericimab (JS002) Ongericimab is a recombinant humanized anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody independently developed by Junshi Biosciences for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia. Junshi Biosciences is the first company in China to obtain clinical trial approval for the target drug. The company has completed Phase III clinical studies in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, and Phase II clinical studies in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The enrollment of patients for Phase III clinical studies of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia has been completed. About Junshi BiosciencesFounded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody for the treatment of various cancers was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and has since entered Phase Ib/II trials in both China and the US. Its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In the face of the pandemic, Junshi Biosciences’ response was strong and immediate, joining forces with Chinese and international scientific research institutions and enterprises to develop an arsenal of drug candidates to combat COVID-19, taking the initiative to shoulder the social responsibility of Chinese pharmaceutical companies by prioritizing and accelerating COVID-19 R&D. In 2021, JS016 (etesevimab), China’s first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 administered with bamlanivimab, was granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in over 15 countries and regions worldwide. Meanwhile, VV116 (deuremidevir hydrobromide), a novel oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug designed to hinder virus replication, has been approved for marketing in China and Uzbekistan. The JS016 and VV116 programs are a part of the company’s continuous efforts towards innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has more than 3,100 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com. Junshi Biosciences Contact InformationIR Team:Junshi Biosciencesinfo@junshipharma.com+ 86 021-6105 8800 PR Team:Junshi BiosciencesZhi Lizhi_li@junshipharma.com+ 86 021-6105 8800

Frequent or usual daytime napping in adults was associated with a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure and a 24% high risk of having a stroke compared to never napping. Experts say napping, though not unhealthy, may be a sign of poor sleep quality. A higher percentage of frequent nappers were men, had lower education and income levels, and reported cigarette smoking, daily drinking, insomnia, snoring and being an evening person compared to people who reported napping sometimes or never. The Mendelian randomization result shows that if napping frequency increased by one category (from never to sometimes or sometimes to usually) high blood pressure risk increased 40%. Napping on a regular basis is associated with higher risks for high blood pressure and stroke, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. Researchers in China examined whether frequent naps could be a potential causal risk factor for high blood pressure and/or stroke. This is the first study to use both observational analysis of participants over a long period of time and Mendelian randomization -- a genetic risk validation to investigate whether frequent napping was associated with high blood pressure and ischemic stroke. "These results are especially interesting since millions of people might enjoy a regular, or even daily nap," says E Wang, Ph.D., M.D., a professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Xiangya Hospital Central South University, and the study's corresponding author. Researchers used information from UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource containing anonymized genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. UK Biobank recruited more than 500,000 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 who lived in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010. They regularly provided blood, urine and saliva samples, as well as detailed information about their lifestyle. The daytime napping frequency survey occurred 4 times from 2006 -- 2019 in a small proportion of UK Biobank participants. Wang's group excluded records of people who had already had a stroke or had high blood pressure before the start of the study. This left about 360,000 participants to analyze the association between napping and first-time reports of stroke or high blood pressure, with an average follow-up of about 11 years. Participants were divided into groups based on self-reported napping frequency: "never/rarely," "sometimes," or "usually." The study found: "This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night. Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that," said Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., MTR, a sleep expert and co-author of the American Heart Association's new Life's Essential 8 cardiovascular health score, which added sleep duration in June 2022 as the 8th metric for measuring optimal heart and brain health. "This study echoes other findings that generally show that taking more naps seems to reflect increased risk for problems with heart health and other issues." Grander is director of the Sleep Health Research Program and the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The authors recommend further examination of the associations between a healthy sleep pattern, including daytime napping, and heart health. The study has several important limitations to consider. Researchers only collected daytime napping frequency, not duration, so there is no information how or whether the length of nap affects blood pressure or stroke risks. Additionally, nap frequency was self-reported without any objective measurements, making estimates nonquantifiable. The study's participants were mostly middle-aged and elderly with European ancestry, so the results may not be generalizable. Finally, researchers have not yet discovered the biological mechanism for the effect of daytime napping on blood pressure regulation or stroke. Co-authors are Min-jing Yang, M.D.; Zhong Zhang, Ph.D., M.D.; Yi-jing Wang; M.D.; Jin-chen Li, Ph.D.; Qu-lian Guo, Ph.D., M.D.; Xiang Chen, Ph.D., M.D. The National Key Research and Development Program of China financially support this research.