Recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day - Shared Health

Technology has transformed. Roles have evolved. Hospitals and health care have changed in countless ways. But for the employees who have spent 45 years at Hamilton Health Sciences, some things have remained remarkably constant: a commitment to patients, pride in their work and the relationships built with colleagues along the way. As HHS celebrates this year’s long-service milestone, we congratulate everyone who has reached 25 years or more with the organization. Among them are several remarkable employees who are celebrating an incredible 45 years of service. From caring for patients to mentoring colleagues, their stories reflect the dedication, compassion and teamwork that have helped shape HHS over generations. They have had a positive impact on countless patients and families, supporting health in Hamilton and our region.

A common liver disease affecting nearly 30% of adults worldwide is far more complex than previously understood. Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified five biologically distinct forms of the condition, each associated with different risks of serious health complications, including heart disease, liver failure, cancer, and the need for a liver transplant. The findings, published in Nature Communications, come from a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Virginia Tech. Scientists discovered that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, can develop through several different biological pathways. Some are closely connected to obesity and diabetes, while others appear to be driven by inherited genetic differences.

IntroductionHypertension is a major global health concern and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality [1]. It is estimated that more than 19 million annual deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide [2]. In Japan, high blood pressure (BP) has been consistently identified as a strong risk factor for the national burden of CVD, in terms of notable incidence, mortality, direct/indirect healthcare costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with this condition [3, 4]. Although age-specific mean BP declined in Japan over recent decades [5], hypertension remains a critical public health issue, particularly because of the rapid aging population. The proportion of individuals aged ≥65 years is projected to reach approximately 35% by 2040 in Japan [6], highlighting a potentially higher future burden of hypertension in this country. While the prevalence of hypertension increases with age, population aging may offset the benefits of declining BP levels in each age group. As a result, the future burden of hypertension in Japan remains uncertain.

It also established a $2.5m professorship to support its cardiothoracic surgery leadership. The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) has launched a centre to develop cardiovascular disease models using heart cells derived from Asian patients. The Centre for Integrative Human Cell Research and Translation (CIPHER), launched on 16 October, uses blood samples from Asian patients to grow heart muscle cells for disease research and drug testing. It is the first centre in Singapore dedicated to cardiovascular research using this approach. NHCS also announced the establishment of the Tong Ming Chuan Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery, the first professorship in the field under the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC). CIPHER aims to address gaps in cardiovascular research, as some heart conditions develop earlier and present differently in Asian populations than in Western populations. Many treatments have historically been developed using models that do not fully reflect Asian biology. The centre uses blood samples to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, which are developed into heart muscle cells carrying features of each patient’s disease.