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Monday, 31 July 2017

Green tea may prevent brain impairment


Green tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that are good for overall health. The phytochemicals in green tea prevents neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease by promoting the production of dopamine.

It can improve cognitive function and may be useful in treating patients who have  brain impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

 Regular drinking of green tea extract increased brain activity in the areas of the brain that are responsible for memory function.

Tannins in green tea leaves prevents brain damage that might occur after brain injuries or strokes. Drinking of green tea may combat obesity, insulin resistance and memory impairment.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Three-dimensional organization of DNA


The three-dimensional organization of DNA in the nucleus influences our biology, from how our genome organized our cellular activity to how genes are passed from parents to children.

 X-rays and microscopy showed that the primary level of chromatin organization involves 147 bases of DNA spooling around proteins to form particles approximately 11 nanometers (nm) in diameter called nucleosomes.

These nucleosome "beads on a string" are then thought to fold into discrete fibers of increasing diameter (30, 120, 320 nm etc.), until they form chromosomes.

Researchers used ChromEMT to image and measure chromatin in resting human cells and during cell division (mitosis) when DNA is compacted into its most dense form -the 23 pairs of mitotic chromosomes that are the iconic image of the human genome.

Chromatin that has been extracted from the nucleus and subjected to processing in vitro - in test tubes - may not look like chromatin in an intact cell, so it is tremendously important to be able to see it in vivo.

Chromatin's packing density, and not some higher-order structure, that determines which areas of the genome are active and which are suppressed.

Controlling access to chromatin could be a useful approach to preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer.

Chromatin does not need to form discrete higher-order structures to fit in the nucleus, It's the packing density that could change and limit the accessibility of chromatin, providing a local and global structural basis through which different combinations of DNA sequences, nucleosome variations and modifications could be integrated in the nucleus to exquisitely fine-tune the functional activity and accessibility of our genomes.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Sunday, 30 July 2017

Cell segregation prevents cancer spread


Proper development of organs leads to cells segregation. In many tissues, ephrins are present in one cell population and Eph receptors in the other.

When these cells come into contact, ephrins bind to their receptors, triggering signalling inside both cells that stops them from mixing.

 When cells of different types contacted each other, they rebounded in opposite directions, this repulsion is the main force separating the cell types to form different borders.

In a normal condition, N-cadherin suppresses repulsion between 'like' cells. This suppression is vital for 'like' cells to stick together, and to prevent them from invading 'non-like' cells enabling a sharp border to form between different cell.

Ephrins and their receptors work to keep cells in the right places, and the critical role of N-cadherin to keep like-cells together. But cancer cells cross borders and spread through the body.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Depression damages the heart


Depressed heart disease patients may die suddenly because post-coronary artery disease depression can leads to untimely death. This shows that their is
a link between depression, heart disease, and increased risks of death.

Coronary artery disease patients don't live as long as expected. But the life expectancy can be increased with better therapies, surgeries and treatment.

Depression is the strongest risk factor for dying, compared to any other risk factors like age, heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Hormonal changes and electrofunctioning changes which affect the heart's functioning during depression can cause sudden death.

Depressed people are prone to over eating, smoking and drinking. This can increase the risk of heart attack and sudden death. They have reduced levels of serotonin released in their brain which may affect their heart.

There are normal emotional reactions to having a heart attack, emotions like
anxiety, sadness and anger. These are normal for some people, but long-term anxiety and sadness can leads to depression.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Saturday, 29 July 2017

Cancer cells suppress the immune system


Human immune systems prevents different diseases including cancer, for cancer to spread and multiply, they must find a way to avoid the body's immune system.

Degenerated cells in the body cause an inflammatory reaction and influence other blood cells to the extent that the immune system is suppressed.

Tumor cells influence their environment in order to avoid an immune response and to facilitate their growth. Solid tumors manipulate macrophages of the immune system.

The relationship between leukemia cells and monocytes becomes a catalyst for cancer development. Programmed death-ligand 1PD-L1 also known as cluster receptor occurs more frequently on the surface of these nourishing cells, and suppresses the immune response for cancer to grow.

The immune response is suppressed so much that the cancer cells can multiply without any hindrance. The monocytes send out semiochemicals, which belong to the inflammation response of the immune system and support the growth and multiplication of the cancer cells.

Scientists treated monocytes and macrophages of humans and mice with suspect exosomes, as well as purified Y RNA from those exosomes, in a culture dish. In both cases, the cells changed similarly to how they would in chronic lymphatic leukemia CLL patients.

They carry more PD-L1 receptors to their surface and emit semiochemicals that accelerate the immune response and create favorable growth conditions for leukemia cells.

Adding Toll-like receptors TLR inhibitors such as Chloroquin, a medication used for malaria and rheumatic inflammation can inhibit YRNA.

CLL cells was able to suppress the reproduction of cancer cells markedly.
This makes Chloroquin a good substance for a combination therapy along with other agents for cancer treatment.
         haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Watercress boosts sperm counts


Watercress is a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, manganese, and carotenes. It is also a good source of calcium, fiber, iron and copper.

Watercress reduces stress, prevents pressure, tension and maintains the sperm count in men. Poor diet and obesity contribute to the drop in sperm levels, eating watercress regularly can destroy the effects of stress on sperm counts.

It is a good source of age-defying antioxidants that may prevent or slow the oxidative stress induced by free radical damage.

Regular intake of watercress increases counts and quality of sperm. It also prevents DNA damage that can lead to testicular cancer.

Apart from watercress these foods can also boost sperm counts - Banana, Walnut, Egg, Spinach, Dark chocolate, Asparagus, Broccoli, Pomegranate, Oyster, Garlic and Beans.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com



Smoking causes anxiety and phobia


Smoking may make smokers more vulnerable to suffering from phobias and other types of chronic fear like post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

Scientists have discovered that smoking tobacco can impair the brain's ability to repress fear-related memories, making smokers unable to deal with fear and anxiety after a traumatic experience.

Dangerous chemicals in tobacco may interfere with neurotransmitter and neurons in the brain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for controlling fear.

Smoking is a common habit among people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. The more people smoke, the less they were able to inhibit fear response.

Smoking impairs the repression of fear related memories, when there is no danger. Long-term smoking leads to higher deficit in inhibiting fear responses.

Smoking changes neurotransmitter balances in the brain, which are necessary for successful safety learning.
Enhancing dopamine in the brain and putting an end to tobacco smoking can put an end to fear associated with smoking.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Walnut increases good gut bacteria


Eating handful of walnuts a day can reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. Walnut improves digestive health by nourishing and increasing good bacteria in the gut.

Walnuts are rich in fatty acid, alpha-linoleic acid, fiber and they contain one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants in omega-3 fatty acids, phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Daily handful consumption of walnuts has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. It promotes the growth of good bacteria which have anti-inflammatory properties.

The health of the gut is related to overall health. We need prebiotics every day and regular diet for healthy bifido bacteria to become active. Eating foods containing prebiotics or taking prebiotic supplements is very important to remain healthy.

Walnuts act as a prebiotic, it promotes the growth of good bacteria that keeps the digestive system healthy. This will stimulate the good bacteria in the gut, maintain it and boost immune system.

High bacterial diversity is associated with sound health while low diversity has been linked to obesity and inflammatory bowel disease.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Friday, 28 July 2017

Light from digital devices reduces sleep quality


Blue light increases alertness and regulates our internal body clock. This artificial light activates photoreceptors known as intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells ipRGCs, which suppresses melatonin.

The blue light emitted from digital devices could contribute to the high prevalence of sleep dysfunction, it contributes to decrease in sleep quality.

Study participants wore short wavelength-blocking glasses three hours before bedtime for two weeks, while still performing their nightly digital routine.

Results showed that some of the participants melatonin levels increase. Melatonin is a chemical that gives body signals to sleep.

Wearing activity and sleep monitors 24 hours a day increases sleep duration.
The largest source of blue light is sunlight, it's also found in most LED-based devices like computers, mobile phones and television.

Limiting screen time, applying screen filters, wearing computer glasses that block blue light, or using anti-reflective lenses to reduce the effects of artificial light at nighttime can prevent the effects of blue light.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Poor sleep pattern linked with overweight


Poor sleep patterns are linked with overweight, obesity and poor metabolic health. Sleeping less than seven hours recommended for an adults increases the risk of overweight.

Insufficient sleep could contribute to the development of metabolic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and thyroid function.

Obesity contributes to the development of many diseases like type 2 diabetes. Shorter sleep was also linked to reduced levels of high density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol.

 HDL cholesterol is 'good' cholesterol that helps remove 'bad' fat from the circulation. High HDL cholesterol levels protect the heart from diseases.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com.

How to break sugar addiction


Insomnia, regular breakouts, craving for sweet and exhausted taste buds may be an indicator that you are suffering from a sugar addiction.

 Sugar addiction can leads to overweight and obesity. Excessive sugar consumption in different forms destroys body systems generally.

Acne is an indication that there is too much sugar in the diet, damage to the skin proteins, collagen and elastin, leading to premature wrinkles and aging.

Change in taste bud; taste buds are addicted to sweet foods and may not want any food that is not sweet.

Diet high in sugar can increase cancer growth; tumors used sugar as energy to mutate and spread across the body.

Bacteria in the mouth feeds on sugars which creates harmful acids causing tooth decay, destroy tooth enamel and form hole in the tooth.

The pancreas releases insulin to transfer glucose to the cell's after consuming sugar, the higher the sugar peak, the more extreme the sugar dip that will follow.

Sugar interrupts the supply of important neurotransmitter precursors through the blood-brain barrier - and particularly ones that help produce serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood.

Excess sugar consumption decrease the amount of good cholesterol in the bloodstream and increase the amount of bad cholesterol in the body, leading to heart disease.

The liver struggles to process excessive amounts of sugar. The unprocessed sugars are converted to fat calls, which are distributed throughout the body. It can leads to obesity.

Too much sugar in the body can cause bacteria to move from the colon to the small intestine, proliferate on the foods digesting in the small intestine and cause bloating, acid reflux, gas and abdominal cramping.

Sugar can be remove from the body by replacing process foods with whole foods and by replacing all processed drinks with water.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Thursday, 27 July 2017

The 16 genetic markers associated with short lifespan


How long we will live is encoded in our genome. Researchers have identified 16 genetic markers associated with a short lifespan. This reveals computational framework to uncover the genetics of our time of death and disease. It explained why some people live longer than others. 

 About 30 percent of the variation in human lifespan comes down to our genome. Changes in particular locations in our DNA sequence, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), could be responsible for some of the reasons for our longevity.

Changes in the DNA is linked to age-related diseases. About 1 in 10 people carry some configurations of these markers that shorten their life by over a year compared with the population average. Those who inherited a lifespan-shortening version of one of these SNPs may die earlier than their mate. 

The researchers explore how the DNA changes affected lifespan in a holistic way. They discovered that most SNPs had an effect on lifespan by impacting more than a single disease or risk factor, for example through being more addicted to smoking as well as through being predisposed to schizophrenia.

The discovered SNPs and gene expression data, allowed the researchers to identify that lower brain expression of three genes neighbouring the SNPs- RBM6, SULT1A1 and CHRNA5, involved in nicotine dependence was linked to increased lifespan. These three genes could therefore act as biomarkers for surviving beyond 100 years. 
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com 

Kidney transplant increases risk of melanoma


Kidney transplant patients are at greater risk of developing melanoma than the general population and risk factors are being older, male and white.

Lifelong immunosuppressive therapy is among the complex lifestyle changes faced by renal transplant patients. The type, intensity and duration of immunosuppressive therapy contribute to the risk of developing skin cancer, such as melanoma

Immunosuppressant drugs used to suppress and reduce the strength of the body's immune system and to make the body accept the transplanted organ.

Most of the patients with melanoma were men. Almost all of the patients with melanoma were white and they were more likely to be taking the common immunosuppressants cyclosporine or sirolimus than those without melanoma.

The group of patients who developed melanoma also had a greater proportion of living donors.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Brain cells control aging


Scientists have discovered that stem cells in the brain's hypothalamus control how fast aging occurs in the body. This discovery could lead to new method of preventing diseases and increasing lifespan.

The hypothalamus regulates growth, development, reproduction, metabolism and aging. The number of hypothalamic neural stem cells naturally declines and this accelerates aging.
Replenishing stem cells can slow down the process of aging but the loss are not irreversible.

Researchers disrupted the hypothalamic stem cells in middle-aged mice and discovered that disruption accelerated aging. They injected hypothalamic stem cells into the brains of middle-aged mice whose stem cells had been destroyed as well as into the brains of normal old mice.

The treatment showed different measures of aging in both groups. Hypothalamic stem cells exert their anti-aging effects by releasing microRNAs (miRNAs).

The researchers extracted miRNA-containing exosomes from hypothalamic stem cells and injected them into the cerebrospinal fluid of middle-aged mice whose hypothalamic stem cells had been destroyed and normal middle-aged mice.

This treatment slowed aging in both groups of animals as measured by tissue analysis and behavioral testing that involved assessing changes in the animals' muscle endurance, coordination, social behavior and cognitive ability.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Causes and prevention of colon cancer


Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine or in the rectum, it develops slowly. An abnormal growth known as a polyp develops on the inner lining of the large intestine or rectum before the cancer growth.

Familial adenomatous polyposis, a devastating inherited disease that causes pre-cancerous polyps to grow in the intestine at a young age, often leading to the removal of portions of the colon to prevent cancer.

 CtBP drives the actions of what are known ascancer stem cells, which are keys to cancer metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. CtBP is not mutated in colon cancer; instead, it is overexpressed to the point where the cancer depends on it for growth.

CtBP works to reprogram cells by repressing the expression of genes that typically prevent cancer through a form of cell suicide known as apoptosis while simultaneously promoting the expression of other genes that lead to cancer growth and metastasis.

The researchers found that CtBP can cause normal human cells to become cancerous when inserted into the cell's DNA. In mouse models of familial adenomatous, treatment with HIPP significantly reduced intestinal polyps and increased survival while mice bred without the CtBP gene lived twice as long as those with it.

HIPP acted as a chemical to prevent polyp formation, thereby reducing the risk of colon cancer. Anti-CtBP therapies such as HIPP may be able to complement current therapies to counter drug resistance and decrease metastasis to control and cure colon cancer.
           haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Early signs of cancer


Scientists have discovered how damage to the cell's genetic material can trigger inflammation. Cancerous cells are similar to other cells at early stage, so that they can be removed as part of the body's natural surveillance systems before tumours form.

A key molecule called cGAS is known to bind DNA, triggering inflammation.
When damage occurs, fragments of DNA can get separated from the nucleus and form structures micronuclei.

 cGAS can penetrate these micronuclei and bind to DNA, creating mechanisms that lead to inflammation. DNA damage is one of the early steps in the development of cancer.

Detection of micronuclei by cGAS could be an important early signal to the human body to detect and remove potentially cancerous cells.

Autoinflammatory diseases- when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues can also be an early sign of cancer, this could trigger an inflammatory diseases.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Bacteria under the foreskin increases the risk of HIV in men


Some bacteria underneath the foreskin increases the risk of contracting HIV.
These bacteria cause specific immune cells to accumulate at the penis give HIV easy access  to enter the body.

An imbalance in genital bacteria can increase HIV risk. Circumcision reduces the risk of bacteria, since these anaerobic bacteria can not flourish outside of the moist oxygen-starved foreskin.

Researchers analyzed penile swabs from different uncircumcised men, and
examined the 10 bacteria species that are most commonly reduced after male circumcision.

The men who contracted HIV had higher amounts of certain bacterial strains under their foreskin. A 10-fold increase in the species Prevotella, Dialister, Mobiluncus and Murdochiella roughly equated to a 10 percent increase in the risk of contracting HIV.

The researchers discovered that some species of bacteria increase a man's HIV susceptibility by causing specific immune cells to accumulate under the foreskin and act as a direct entry into the body.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Tuesday, 25 July 2017

Molecules in zebrafish may heal spinal cord injury


Researchers have discovered mechanism in the damaged spines of zebrafish that helps nerve connections to regrow. Zebrafish have the remarkable ability to regain full movement within four weeks of injury to their spinal cord.

Damage to human spinal cord leads to paralysis. After injury to the spinal cord in zebrafish, wound-healing cells called 'fibroblasts' move into the site of damage.

The fibroblasts produce a molecule called collagen 12, which changes the structure of the support matrix that surrounds nerve fibres.

This enables the damaged fibres to grow back across the wound site and restore the lost connections.
Scientists found that fibroblasts are instructed to make collagen 12 by a chemical signal called 'wnt'.

Understanding these signals could hold clues for therapies to heal the spinal cord after injury. This connections between the brain and muscles of the body lost after spinal cord injury in humans can be used to provide better treatment
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com





Reasons for deadly resistance in lung cancer and melanoma


Researchers have discovered why some lung cancer and melanoma develop deadly resistance to targeted therapies.
 Intricate DNA sequencing tests was performed on single cells using genetic models of lung cancer and melanoma.

Lung cancer and melanoma are amongst the hardest to treat of all the cancers because of their capacity to change their genetics and developing resistance to targeted therapies.

 Researchers used animal models from tumours derived from patients and single-cell genomics to develop a hypothetical model of resistance, known as "fitness threshold model," that shows why and how resistance to therapy occurs in lung and melanoma cancer.

Tumours like melanoma and lung cancers can grow back shortly after therapy, but when they do they are made of genetically diverse sub-groups of malignant cell that are resistant to treatment.

The genetic diversity of the lung cancer  and melanoma tumour allow them to adapt to the treatment and resist it. The effect of a given drug with the selection of resistance-causing alterations in DNA, resulting in significant implications for the treatment of cancer patients.

The way the drugs are administered during therapy can have a critical impact on the outcome of the response to treatment; intermittent administration enables simultaneous delivery of multiple targeted therapies while maintaining lower toxicity.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Brain stimulation may help people suffering from schizophrenia


Brain stimulation therapies involve activating or inhibiting the brain directly with electricity. It could be used to treat cognitive deficits frequently associated with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder characterised by abnormal social behavior. This can make it difficult for affected people to plan, focus, pay attention and remember information.

Problems in short-term memory and decision making, which are often severely impaired in people with schizophrenia can be corrected by brain stimulation.

Researchers used neuromodulation - transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) - to check if they could correct some of these cognitive deficit in people with schizophrenia.

The researchers applied tDCS with tasks which specifically tapped into 'working memory' and ' executive functioning ': the principle was that 'training' the brain in regions that are typically poorly performing in schizophrenia would be enhanced by the brain stimulation technique.

An improvement in cognitive performance was discovered in those who had tDCS brain stimulation after 24 hours. This shows that changes in the
brain cells induced by neuromodulation may take some time to occur.

The researchers also ran brain imaging analyses to determine what was happening in the brain as these changes occurred. They discovered that tDCS was linked with changes in brain activity in regions associated with working memory and cerebellum.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Anti-cancer chemotherapyic agents prevents glioblastoma growth


Glioblastoma GBM is the most aggressive tumor that can form in the brain. The tumor can repeat formation even after treatment with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Researchers discovered that a different molecular target, NEK2, evolved after OTS167 treatment for glioblastoma, and they used computer-based drug design to target NEK2.

 The resulting NEK2 inhibitor, called CMP3a, was able to inhibit growth in pre-clinical models of glioblastoma, both in culture and in mouse brains. When combined with radiation, CMP3a has a synergistic effect to attenuate growth of glioblastoma cells in culture.

NEK2 is a poorly characterized kinase enzyme. The researchers found that NEK2 is differentially expressed in glioma stem cells, and it is required for growth of glioma clones in culture, as well as for growth and radiation resistance of a human glioblastoma tumor in the mouse model.

NEK2 protein binds to EZH2, an oncogenic histone H3 methyltranferase, and this binding protects EZH2 from protein degradation in the glioma stem cells. EZH2 was already known to regulate the self-renewal and survival of glioma stem cells.

Stabilizing EZH2, NEK2 promotes tumor propagation. Disrupting the NEK2-EZH2 interaction in cancer cells has the potential to target their cancer stem cell compartment.

Elevated EZH2 expression occurs in various human cancers, including prostate cancer, breast cancer and glioblastoma, and the studies have shown that elevated EZH2 is associated with tumor malignancy

Clinical study shows that glioblastoma brain tissues was closely associated with EZH2 expression. NEK2 expression also correlated with poor prognosis for the patients, and NEK2 was substantially elevated in recurrent tumors after therapeutic failure.

NEK2 play a key role in maintaining glioma stem cells by stabilizing the EZH2 protein, and the small molecule inhibitor CMP3a is a potential novel therapeutic agent for glioblastoma.

They found that EZH2 was protected post-translationally. They also found that NEK2 was the most up-regulated kinase gene in glioma spheres and that NEK2 expression showed a strong association with EZH2 expression in protein profiles for human cancers in the Human Protein Atlas.

The researchers found that NEK2 formed a protein complex with EZH2 to phosphorylate and protect EZH2 from proteasome-dependent degradation in glioma stem cells. They also showed that NEK2 promoted radiation resistance in glioma stem cells.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Indoor pollution can destroy lungs


Indoor pollution from central heating, gas cookers, cleaning products, chemicals, and mold can damage lungs, trigger asthma and cause respiratory diseases.

Poor ventilation, the use of open central heating and regular use of air conditioner prevents fresh and natural air from getting to our lungs, since we spend more time indoor. Our lungs is prone to damage because of regular exposure to indoor pollution.

 Airtight contain a great number of pollutants and chemicals, many of which can have serious health effects on our health. Warmth, moisture and lack of ventilation also make it easier for bacteria and viruses to breed easily and spread indoor.

Central heating, pets, open fires, chemicals found in household cleaning agents like soap and detergents, the fumes generated by cooking, perfumes and dust. All these contributed to indoor pollution.

Moisture in airtight home encourages the proliferation of irritant mold and fungal spores as well as house-dust mites that trigger asthma attacks and breathing difficulties associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Good ventilation will create way for gaseous exchange and improve indoor air quality and prevents respiratory allergies. Getting rid of airborne allergens and improving indoor air can prevent respiratory allergies.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Monday, 24 July 2017

When allergies are out of control


Allergens are foreign substances that cause an allergic reaction in the body, allergy symptoms occur when immune system overreacts to something that is harmless but triggers a reaction in the blood.

Food, skin, dust, insect, pet, pollen and drug are the common types of allergies.
In allergic individuals, the body recognizes the foreign substance, and the allergic part of the immune system generates a response.

Avoiding exposure to things you are allergic to is the best way to control the symptoms. Immunotherapy may be an option for people with severe and persistent allergies who are unable to control their symptoms.

The treatment involves being given occasional small doses of the allergen; either as an injection, or as drops or tablets. The treatment will strengthen the body to get used to the allergen so it doesn't react to it so severely again.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com



New way of generating human antibody


Antibodies are blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.

They are produced by the body's B cells to fight infections like bacteria, viruses, and other invasive pathogens. When B cell recognizes a specific pathogen-derived "antigen" molecule, it can proliferate and develop into plasma cells that secrete large amounts of antibody capable of binding to the antigen and fending off the infection.

B cells need a second signal to start proliferating and developing into plasma cells. This second signal can be provided by short DNA fragments called CpG oligonucleotides, which activate a protein inside B cells called TLR9.

But treating patient-derived B cells with CpG oligonucleotides stimulates every B cell in the sample, not just the tiny fraction capable of producing a particular antibody.
Treating patient-derived B cells with tiny nanoparticles coated with both CpG oligonucleotides and the appropriate antigen. using this method, CpG oligonucleotides are only internalized into B cells that recognize the specific antigen, and these cells are therefore the only ones in which TLR9 is activated to induce their proliferation and development into antibody-secreting plasma cells.

 Some of the anti-influenza antibodies produced by the method recognized multiple strains of the virus and were able to neutralize its ability to infect cells.

The method does not depend on the donors having been previously exposed to any of these antigens through vaccination or infection; the researchers were able to generate anti-HIV antibodies from B cells isolated from HIV-positive patients.
Researchers generate therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Cancer treatment can leads to HIV cure


Cancerous cells and HIV virus multiply in a similar way, both express the same molecules.Certain cancer therapies, like checkpoint inhibitors, could successfully treat HIV.

HIV and cancer patients need strong immune systems to fight diseases; strong immune system can reduce spread of tumours in cancer patients and subdued deadly virus in HIV patients.

Cancer treatment could clear HIV virus, by activating HIV that lies dormant in the patients' cells, because the present HIV drug is unable to detect and kill hidden virus.

Checkpoint inhibitors support the immune system in its fight against cancer, this kind of drug may also activate HIV that lies dormant in cells, and strengthen the immune system to kill the virus.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com



Neuroticism may postpone death


Having higher levels of trait of the neuroticism may reduce the risk of death for those that hav poor health. An aspect of neuroticism related to worry and feelings of vulnerability was associated with lower mortality, irrespective of state of health.

Being high in neuroticism may sometimes have a protective effect, perhaps by making people more vigilant about their health. People with high levels of neuroticism may experience negative emotions like irritability, frustration, nervousness, worry, and guilt compared with those who have lower levels of neuroticism.

 The link between neuroticism and risk of death may depend on how people rate their health. The protective effect was present in people who rated their health very low or does not really care about what will happen to their health.

Behaviors like smoking, exercise, diet and alcohol consumption did not have any link with vulnerability and mortality risk. Worry and vulnerability to sicknesses and diseases might encourage people to behave in a healthier way and hence lower their risk of sudden death.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

ARV injection as effective as ART pills


Monthly AIDS injection may be as effective as daily pill for controlling the AIDS virus. Presently, there is no cure for AIDS, HIV patients must take daily doses of anti-retroviral therapy ART that keeps the HIV virus under control.

Failure to take ART daily may leads to the virus developing resistance to drugs which is very dangerous for the patient and increase the chance of spreading the deadly virus.

HIV patients always start their treatment with an initial course of daily pills to bring the virus under control when they discovered that they have the virus.

After that, some continued with the oral treatment as maintenance to subdued the virus while the rest are shifted onto the prototype, injectable ARV, every four weeks.

Viruses can become resistant to drugs when people take incorrect doses of their prescribed medication at the wrong time or forget to take the drug.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Sunday, 23 July 2017

How to prevent type 2 diabetes


Type 2 diabetes occurs when pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body does not react properly to insulin.

Changing from sedentary lifestyle to active lifestyle and changing from over processed foods to eating plant based diet can prevent type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes prevention is eating more healthy foods, becoming more physically active and losing excess weight.

 Nerve, kidney and heart damage are complications developed from suffering from diabetes, these can be prevented by adopting these preventive measures.

Be involved in regular physical activity - regular physical activities can prevents many diseases including diabetes promotes weight loss.

Daily fibre consumption - Foods rich in fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts. These foods will digest slowly and prevent blood sugar spike.

Eat whole grains - Whole grains will reduce the risk of diabetes and maintain blood sugar levels.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Regular physical exercise prevents dementia


Regular physical exercise prevents cognitive impairment, boosts brain metabolism and dementia in old age. Physical exercise enhances general body fitness and also has a positive impact on brain metabolism and memory.

Researchers examined older people that engaged in regular physical activities with magnetic resonance tomography MRT and magnetic resonance spectroscopy MRS.

They discovered that physical activity had improved their brain metabolism by preventing an increase in choline, it enhanced stable cerebral choline concentrations.

Regular physical exercise prevents an increase in choline- a macronutrient that is important for liver function, normal brain development, nerve function, muscle movement, supporting energy levels and maintaining a healthy metabolism.

High concentration of this metabolite often rises as a result of the increased loss of nerve cells, which typically occurs in the case of Alzheimer’s disease.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Saturday, 22 July 2017

Dangers of high fat diet in pregnancy


High-fat diet during pregnancy affects the development of the brain and endocrine system of fetus. Unhealthy diet during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health disorders like anxiety and depression in children.

 Fetuses exposed to a high-fat diet will have greater cases of anxiety, high fat exposure impaired the development of neurons containing serotonin, a neurotransmitter that's critical in developing brains.

High fat diet in pregnancy contributes to neuropsychiatric disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD spectrum disorders, bipolar
disorder, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression in children.
           haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Dementia risk factors


Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Older people suffering from Alzheimer's disease are prone to dementia disease because of irregular blood supply to the brain.

Drinking of alcohol regularly increases the risk of dementia. Alcohol can damage the brain directly as a neurotoxin and by reducing nutrients that get to the brain.

The accumulation of fats and cholesterol in the lining of arteries can prevents blood flow to the brain.

Poor management of diabetes can leads to too much sugar in the blood which can damage brain and different organs in the body.

Genetics- Having more than one family member that have the disease increases the risk of developing it.

High blood pressure affects the white matter regions of the brain, and this can leads to dementia.

Depression has been associated with mild mental impairment and cognitive function decline.

Smoking exposes brain to toxins and hinders blood flow, smokers are prone to diseases that reduce blood flow to the brain.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com




Friday, 21 July 2017

Depression changes the structure of the brain


Depression is a mood disorder that causes a regular feeling of sadness, rejection, sorrow and loss of interest. It affects feelings, thinking and behavior.

The recent scanning study shows how depression changes the structure of brain by causing alterations on white matter that contains fibre tracts that enable brain cells to communicate with one another by electrical signals.

White matter is a key component of the brain's wiring and its disruption has been linked to problems with emotion processing and thinking skills.

Scientists used a cutting-edge technique to map the structure of white matter and discovered that white matter integrity was reduced in people who are depressed but normal in the group of people that are not depressed.

 Symptoms of depression are low mood,  feelings of emptiness, forgetfulness, fatigue, restlessness, anxiety, worthlessness, helplessness, insomnia, loss of interest in activities and thoughts of suicide.
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Facts about glioblastoma


Glioblastoma GBM is the most aggressive tumor that can form in the brain. Glioblastomas are tumors that developed from astrocytes- supportive tissue of the brain.

Glioblastomas are found in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, but can be found anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. It can cause brain bleeding, which may have been related to the clot.

These tumors are cancerous because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.

There two types of glioblastoma
Primary - The tumors are common and very aggressive.
Secondary - These tumors have slower growth rate and very aggressive.

Common symptoms are - headache, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Depending on the location of the tumor, patients can develop different symptoms like weakness on one side of the body, memory and speech difficulties, and visual changes.

The exact cause of glioblastoma is not known. It can be difficult to treat because the tumors contain so many different types of cells. Some cells may respond very well to certain therapies, while others may not be improve.

However, because of the way it spreads, it is impossible to remove every microscopic growth from the brain. Therefore, it will continue to grow.

Radiation and chemotherapy may be used to slow the growth of tumors that cannot be removed with surgery.
Patients have a ten percent chance of surviving five years after their diagnosis.
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Thursday, 20 July 2017

Links between diabetes and erectile dysfunction


According to latest research, erectile dysfunction affects more than half of diabetes patients, some of the affected men could not maintain an erection.

Diabetes increases a man's risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction.
It can damage the nerves and blood vessels needed to become aroused leading to erectile dysfunction.

Diabetes patients can struggle to maintain an erection even if they produce the necessary hormones or are sufficiently sexually stimulated.

Regular medical examination can reduce the risk of diabetes complications like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and kidney disease.

Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney problems, it increases the risk of untimely death.
            haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Avoid antibiotics during pregnancy


Taking common antibiotics during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth or low birth weight.

Anttibiotics like Clindamycin, doxycycline, quinolones, macrolides, and phenoxymethylpenicillin were all linked to organ-specific malformations.

Infections like urinary tract infection UTI and pulmonary infection are common during pregnancy. Amoxicillin, cephalosporins, and nitrofurantoin may be considered.

Drugs used to control infections can interfere with a fetus' immune systems and affects good bacteria that are very important for fetus development.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com 

Healthy heart leads to healthy brain


Healthy lifestyle at 20 protects the brain at 40 and prevents brain shrinkage.
Neuroscientists monitored some participants for more than two decades and discovered that those that follow healthy lifestyle had less brain shrinkage.

Healthy lifestyle of a low-cholesterol diet, regular exercise, no smoking and eating less sugar at 20 prevents brain shrinkage at 40.

The American Heart Association created seven simple steps to improve heart health, these are- maintaining a healthy blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, reducing blood sugar, being active, eating healthy foods, losing weight and no smoking.

There is a link between smoking and smaller brain volume. Smoking can leads to thinning of the brain cortex, the outer part of the brain that is crucial for cognition.

Smoking increases the blood pressure and put the brain at the risk of stroke. A stroke occurs when high blood pressure causes the tiny vessels of the brain to break, causing bleeding.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Vosevi drug for hepatitis treatment


Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause inflammation and serious damage to the liver. The virus is spread through human contact with infected blood.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vosevi (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg/voxilaprevir 100 mg) tablets, a single-tablet regimen for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Vosevi is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who have:
genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infection and have previously been treated with an HCV regimen containing an NS5A inhibitor.

Do not combine Vosevi with any medicines that contain rifampin (Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane, Rifadin).
Before taking Vosevi

The drug can cause serious side effects, like: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, slow heart rate, fainting,
dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pains, confusion, memory problems, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, and nausea.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com



Links between menopause and type 2 diabetes


The sex hormones- estrogen and progesterone control how cells respond to insulin. Hormonal changes during menopause can trigger fluctuations of insulin levels in the blood and leads to type 2 diabetes.

Estrogen hormone lowers blood glucose levels while progesterone is responsible for increasing blood glucose levels. This hormonal reactions produce spikes and drops of the blood glucose levels.

According to the latest research, women who undergo the menopause before age 40 are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Menopause occurs between age 50 - 55  when the body stops producing oestrogen and other sex hormones.

Researchers examined many postmenopausal women and discovered that those that experienced early menopause have type 2 diabetes. Late menopause protects women from heart disease and diabetes because of regular natural supply of estrogen.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Foods for healthy heart


Lutein is a xantrophyll-  yellow pigments from the carotenoid family, it is present in brightly coloured vegetables and fruit like yellow and red peppers, kale, carrots, broccoli and spinach. It can reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

Poor diet increases inflammatory processes in the body. Inflammation is a major factor in many types of coronary artery disease, such as myocardial infarction, lutein has ability to protect tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation.

Regular intake of healthy diet can reduce risk of developing cardiovascular heart disease. High blood concentrations of lutein can reduce coronary heart disease, stroke, and metabolic syndrome.

Lutein is absorbed and stored by the cells of the immune system in the blood.
The higher the level of lutein in the blood, the lower the level of inflammation in the body. Lutein treatment lowers the inflammatory activity of the cells.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


How to manage asthma


Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing.

Treatment of asthma starts with the
controlling the symptoms, normalizing the lungs function and adjusting medication in response to changes.

Bronchodilator is used for treatment of chronic asthma. Acute exacerbations in people with mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent asthma.

A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs.

Inhaler is recommended for all asthma patients, patients with more constant asthma should use asthma maintenance medications.

Effective treatment for asthma must involve a physical and breathing examination, spirometry testing should be repeated every year if the patient did not get better.

Chest imaging is recommended if the patient has a smoking history, chemical exposure, lungs disease and lungs cancer.

Asthma control medication
For mild intermittent asthma- Cromolyn sodium, nedocromil, low-dose inhaled corticosteroid and leukotriene modifier are used.

Moderate persistent asthma medium dose inhaled corticosteroid alone with cromolyn sodium or nedocromil, leukotriene modifier and long-acting bronchodilator.

Severe persistent asthma - High-dose inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids; high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus leukotriene modifier, plus long-acting bronchodilator, plus leukotriene modifier, plus long-acting bronchodilator.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Causes of type 2 diabetes


Type 2 diabetes is a disorder of metabolism, the condition occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced does not work properly.

Insulin resistance means that the cells of the body do not fully respond to insulin that is released. This makes glucose to remains in the blood instead of being moved into the cells.

Common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are: extreme thirst, frequent urination fatigue, blurred vision, sudden weight loss and increased appetite.

It can reduce life expectancy if it is not managed properly and cause different health complications. These factors increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Age increases the risk of diabetes, diabetes is common among adults, aging and insulin resistance are closely connected because old people gain weight and become inactive.

Another risk factor is being overweight
especially if you are large around the middle because it increases pressure on body’s ability to use insulin properly to control blood sugar levels.

The pressure of blood flowing through the arteries varies at different times in the heartbeat cycle and the systolic pressure measures the pressure when heart contracts and blood is forced through the arteries. High blood pressure can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Genetics can contribute to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Parents can transfer it to their children. Mutations in any gene involved in controlling glucose levels can increase risk of type 2 diabetes. These include genes that control: production of glucose, production and regulation of insulin and how glucose levels are measured in the body

High blood glucose levels during pregnancy may leads to the development of type 2 diabetes in future.

Healthy eating, an active lifestyle and regular medical examination can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com






Tuesday, 18 July 2017

Exposing children to germs strengthen their immune systems


All germs are not bad, some germs stimulate immune system and strength them to fight diseases. Exposing children to clean environment only can leads to severely hyper sensitised immune system making the children vulnerable to allergies and neurodevelopmental problems.

Early exposure to germs strengthen immune system and teaches it how to control its reaction to daily germs present in the atmosphere. Scientists believe that without exposure to dirt and germs early in life, the immune system will not be able control its reaction to everyday invaders like dust.

According to researchers, pre- and postnatal pet exposure enriched the amount of two types of bacteria- Ruminococcus and Oscillospira that reduce allergies and obesity in children.

Giving children fermented foods like miso and natto also exposed them to bacteria, microflora in fermented foods produce a protective lining in their intestines and strengthen it against salmonella and E.coli.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com



Nerlynx drug for early breast cancer treatment


Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. The cancers can start from different parts of the breast. It can start from the ducts that carry milk to the nipple or in the glands that make breast milk.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved Nerlynx a once-daily oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer.

Nerlynx is a prescription medicine used to treat adults who have early-stage breast cancer, which is HER2-positive and has previously been treated with the medicine trastuzumab.

Nerlynx may cause serious side effects like diarrhea, liver problems, fatigue,
vomiting, fever, rash, right upper abdominal pain, weight loss and urinary tract infection UTI.

Pregnant women, nursing mother and women planning to get pregnant can not use Nerlynx.
            haleplushearty.blogspot.com
         

Tremfya drug for treating plaque psoriasis


Plaque psoriasis is an inherited systemic inflammatory disease of immune dysfunction that causes plaques of elevated, scaling and inflamed skin.

The plaques are common on the scalp, elbows, and knees. Genetic and environmental factors are the most causes of the disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDAhas approved Tremfya (guselkumab), an interleukin-23 blocker for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

 Tremfya is a medicine that may lower the ability of immune system to fight infections and may increase risk of infections.

Tremfya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills.

Common side effects of this drug are:
upper respiratory infections, joint pain,
fungal skin infections, headache and diarrhea.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Monday, 17 July 2017

Prone radiation for breast cancer treatment


Lying face down called prone radiation, to receive radiation therapy to the breast area reduces the amount of radiation that reaches the heart and lungs and protects them from damage.

When patients receive radiotherapy from X-ray radiation which destroys cancer cells, the radiation may destroy lungs and the heart if the patient lie on her back, lying on face protects and exempts the heart and lungs from the radiation.

Treatments that prevent or reduce the heart and lungs from radiation are very important to prevents heart and lungs damage. Prone radiotherapy makes it easy to treat large breast without heart and lungs damage.

Arthritis patients or those suffering from back pain may not be able to benefit from this method, women who are not comfortable lying on their stomach for a long period of time may not use prone radiation.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com


Artificial sweeteners cause different health problems



Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes, these are food additives that taste like sugar. Common artificial sweeteners are stevia, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin and advantame.

 It has negative effects on metabolism, gut bacteria and appetite. Consumption of artificial sweeteners is associated with weight gain, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney damage and heart disease. It increases the risk of metabolic disorder and cancer.

Artificial sweeteners are used to prepare these : toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, alcoholic beverages, liquid medicine, salad dressing, frozen desserts, frozen yogurt, candies and processed snacks.

Artificial sweeteners can be replaced with healthy natural foods like raw honey, dates, coconut sugar, maple syrup, banana puree and natural fruits jam.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Sunday, 16 July 2017

How to detoxify lungs


Tobacco smoking is the major cause of lung disease, other causes are air pollution, dusts and lower respiratory infections.

Lungs are constantly exposed to killer pollutants and microbes that get deposited from the air inhaled from the atmosphere.

Smoking changes pink lungs into black, regular detoxification of lungs can reverse the colour and keeps the lungs healthy. Lungs can be detoxify by:

Putting end to smoking and exposure to smoke, nicotine and tobacco smoke can compromise lungs function and increase the risk of lung cancer.

Engaging in breathing exercises that promote deep breathing can detoxify the lungs. The exercise increases blood flow to the lungs.

Drinking enough water, ginger juice carrot juice and lemon juice supply blood to the lungs, this prevents bacteria infections.
        haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Eating raw spinach can cause kidney stones


Spinach is a good source of dietary fiber, raw spinach has oxalic acid, it can react with minerals in our intestines to form calcium oxalate precipitation which can cause kidney stones.

Other foods that have high oxalic acid are swiss chard, beetroot, almonds, cashew nut, buckwheat, tea, coffee, chocolate and parsley.

Eating raw spinach can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Excess consumption of raw spinach can make it difficult for your body to absorb required amount of iron from ingested foods.

People who are genetically predisposed to kidney stone formation must be very careful when consuming raw spinach,
cooking or steaming of spinach can destroy oxalic acid in it.
           haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Saturday, 15 July 2017

Caffeine improves lungs of premature babies


Caffeine acts as a respiratory stimulant that improves short-term breathing rates and the lungs' ability to stretch and expand.

Giving premature babies caffeine improves their lung function in later life, it also aids exhaling during a forced breath.

Researchers discovered that the children who were treated with caffeine performed significantly better in tests that measured their ability to breathe out.

Caffeine belongs to a group of methylxanthines drugs, it reduces apnea of prematurity, a condition that makes baby stops breathing for seconds.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com