Thanoshi Balasuriya
May 18, 2014
Link: http://www.hngn.com/articles/31583/20140518/sleeping-pills-increases-cardiovascular-risk-heart-failure-patients-study.htm
Author: Vishakha Sonawane
Published: May 18, 2014
Summary: In Japan, scientists did a study on heart failure patients. The patients were tracked after being discharged from the hospital. The endpoint for their tracking was if and when they had a cardiovascular event or were taken back to the hospital for a heart failure. Since not being able to sleep is common with heart failure patients, many had sleeping pills prescribed for them. However, these pills were shown to be worse for the patients with the data collected by the scientists. It seems that the sleeping pills cause cardiovascular events to take place. Many of the patients that were prescribed sleeping pills were readmitted to the hospital within the 180 days of tracking, whereas most other patients without the pills were found not to have any attacks within those 180 days. Obviously, this is a serious problem for patients with heart failure, especially because it is extremely common to want to sleeping pills with the condition of heart failure, which causes sleeping problems. The scientists plan to do a larger study, so that they can figure out the exact processes going on with the sleeping pills
Connection: In class, we have been studying the circulatory system. The heart is a major organ in the body, and plays a key role in the circulatory system. Also, we recently watched the presentation on the circulatory system, where all of the diseases were heart diseases. Heart failure is a common form of heart disease as well. With this study, scientists can possibly figure out how heart failure works, the exact causes and problems caused, etc. Also, if sleeping pills can cause more problems with the heart, there may be other medicines that might have fatal side effects as well. The chemical composition of these medicines may affect the heart drastically, affecting the whole circulatory system and body, ultimately causing homeostatic imbalance.
Showing posts with label homeostatic imbalance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeostatic imbalance. Show all posts
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Effective Treatment for Mitochondrial Disease
Jessica Lim
Author: not given (info provided by the University of Helsinki)
Published: April 7, 2014
Summary:
The mitochondria within cells create fuel or energy that power all functions of the body, also known as ATP. Mitochondrial disorders are caused by the malfunction of the mitochondria, and therefore mitochondrial myopathy, a form of mitochondrial disorders, results in muscle weakness, cramps, and pain. These diseases are inherited, and they are the most common form of a mitochondrial disorder found in adults. There is currently no cure for these diseases.
Recently, researchers from the University of Helsinki and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne announced that Vitamin B3 is a possible therapy that could be used for treating adults with mitochondrial myopathies because researchers were able to conclude, by testing Vitamin B3 on mice that had the disease, that the vitamin can slow down the progress of mitochondrial myopathies. "These results clearly showed the potential of this vitamin B form, a natural constituent of milk, to activate dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism" (sciencedaily.com).
Connection:
This article connects to what we learned about the muscular system and homeostatic imbalance because mitochondrial myopathies cause muscle weakness, cramps, and pain which affect the muscular system. Within the muscular system, there are muscles that carry out the daily activities that we perform everyday, and if these diseases cause muscle weakness, it will affect the way you move and it will cause you to feel tired easily which prevents you from performing your normal activities. This results in homeostatic imbalance, and it creates an unsteady environment within your body because your body can no longer function properly due to the loss of strength in your muscle and pain.
Stem cell therapy regenerates heart muscle damaged from heart attacks in primates
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Stem cell therapy regenerates heart muscle damaged from heart attacks in primates
Ronak Shah
No specific author given, but is from University of Washington
Published April 30, 2014
Summary:
Dr. Charles Murray at University of Washington led a research team to conduct an experiment: Can human embryonic stem cells from muscle cells regenerate non-human primate hearts? To perform the experiments they preformed controlled myocardial infarctions in a type of old world monkey called a Macaque. The researchers blocked the coronary artery for 90 minutes to simulate the heart attack, because in humans, heart attacks most often occur from a block in the coronary artery. 2 weeks after the myocardial infarctions, researchers injected human embryonic heart cells into the infarcted (all monkeys were put on immunosuppressives to stop the rejection of the cells). The researchers found over the next weeks, the stem cells infiltrated the damaged tissue, then matured into muscle fibers, and then began to work in the monkey hearts. After three months, they were fully integrated. The cells regenerated 40% of the damaged heart tissue. Researchers say they now the scale and procedure for possibly trying this on humans, and may be able to come up with a new procedure. The most common complications were arrhythmias, a few weeks after the transplant, but these subsided after the electric signal became more stable and the arryhthimias subsided so researchers are very optimistic.
Connection:
This clearly connects to our studies in the circulatory system, stem cells, and the complications that can arrise in the two. We studied something called homeostasis, which is the bodies ability to maintain a stable inner environment. Myocardial infarction's impair this ability by killing the heart tissue, making the part of the heart not pump so some of the crucial tasks of the circulatory system, such as delivering oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, and fighting infection are impaired. This article provides a possibility for actually treating the damaged heart tissue, rather than just unblocking the artery, using stem cells. We studied stem cells earlier in the year when we talked about how they could specialized as they mature and turn into different kinds of cells depending on the environment. The heart stem cells will provide a way to return homeostasis to first the heart, then the circulatory system, and then finally the entire body.
Experimental Technique Coaxes Muscles Destroyed By War To Regrow
Julia Friend
Author: Rob Stein
Published: April 30th, 2014
Link (NPR)
Summary:
A medical team has discovered a way to encourage the regeneration of muscle tissue after its destruction in some sort of trauma. The experiment subjects were five men disabled from war - one, for instance, stepped on a land mine. The scientists found a way to stimulate muscle growth using extracellular matrix, a substance surrounding cells. It is similar to glue in that it keeps all of the cells together; in addition, the matrix has signals that can instruct the cells in certain ways. By transferring new, unaffected matrix from pig bladders to the damaged leg muscles of the men, scientists were successful in promoting new muscle growth. The matrix signaled to dormant, immature muscle cells to grow, thus regenerating the muscles. The men subjected to the experiment all saw improvements on various levels: some could now walk without their canes, and some could even complete harder tasks such as jumping jacks or hiking - men who originally had trouble even getting out of a chair independently. This method is being developed further as a replacement for ineffective options, such as muscle replacements and physical therapy.
Connections:
The muscles affected in these men were voluntarily controlled, and were thus skeletal muscles (as opposed to the involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles). The damage to these muscles came from an acute form of trauma: a single particular action destroyed those muscles, such as stepping on a land mine. This trauma is a form of homeostatic imbalance, where the muscles cannot function as they are supposed to. The leg muscles of these men could not support their body or aid in physical movement. The regeneration of their muscles restored, or partially restored, homeostasis so that those men could take part in the activities they once did before their injuries. The article as a whole relates to the muscular system, its parts, and its functions - all of which we discussed as a class with the powerpoint and book notes.
Author: Rob Stein
Published: April 30th, 2014
Link (NPR)
Summary:
A medical team has discovered a way to encourage the regeneration of muscle tissue after its destruction in some sort of trauma. The experiment subjects were five men disabled from war - one, for instance, stepped on a land mine. The scientists found a way to stimulate muscle growth using extracellular matrix, a substance surrounding cells. It is similar to glue in that it keeps all of the cells together; in addition, the matrix has signals that can instruct the cells in certain ways. By transferring new, unaffected matrix from pig bladders to the damaged leg muscles of the men, scientists were successful in promoting new muscle growth. The matrix signaled to dormant, immature muscle cells to grow, thus regenerating the muscles. The men subjected to the experiment all saw improvements on various levels: some could now walk without their canes, and some could even complete harder tasks such as jumping jacks or hiking - men who originally had trouble even getting out of a chair independently. This method is being developed further as a replacement for ineffective options, such as muscle replacements and physical therapy.
Connections:
The muscles affected in these men were voluntarily controlled, and were thus skeletal muscles (as opposed to the involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles). The damage to these muscles came from an acute form of trauma: a single particular action destroyed those muscles, such as stepping on a land mine. This trauma is a form of homeostatic imbalance, where the muscles cannot function as they are supposed to. The leg muscles of these men could not support their body or aid in physical movement. The regeneration of their muscles restored, or partially restored, homeostasis so that those men could take part in the activities they once did before their injuries. The article as a whole relates to the muscular system, its parts, and its functions - all of which we discussed as a class with the powerpoint and book notes.
New Molecule Found to Treat Asthma
Marisa Patel
Author: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140512154856.htm
Summary:
A new study at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Max Planck Institute, Free University of Berlin, UC San Diego, and Shinshu University has recently found a new molecule that prevents Asthma that is caused by Allergies. This new synthetic molecule (sulfate monosaccharide) inhibits the signals sent by T-cells that are sent to the lungs to trigger an asthma attack. It is also able to lessen the symptoms that are followed by asthma such as inflammation, mucus production, and airway constiction. A study showed that the sulfate monosaccharide blocks the interaction between CCL20 and heparin sulfate which stalls the recruiting of the T-cells that trigger inflammation. This new molecule can be used by injection intravenously or by inhalation. Although billions of dollars are spent trying to find a cure for asthma, it is still on the rise for being the most common chronic disease in children. There is no cure for asthma, but many treatments are used to reduce the risk for asthma being deadly, like this new molecule. The pulmonary inhalation of this molecule is used to surpress chemokine (CCL20) initiated inflammatory responses which helps to reduce the symptoms.
Connection:
This connects to the Respiratory System, specifically Asthma. This disease helps to increase the easy flow of oxygen into the cells and Carbon dioxide out of the body. In this chapter, the respiratory has many homeostatic imbalances such as the lack of oxygen to the cells and one of the main reasons for that is inflammation in the bronchi and this helps to decrease that inflammation therefore creating a balance. This also connects to the molecules and cells chapters because it explains the use of monosaccharides which is a term we learned as one protein molecule where as polysaccharide is a chain of proteins.
Author: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140512154856.htm
Summary:
A new study at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Max Planck Institute, Free University of Berlin, UC San Diego, and Shinshu University has recently found a new molecule that prevents Asthma that is caused by Allergies. This new synthetic molecule (sulfate monosaccharide) inhibits the signals sent by T-cells that are sent to the lungs to trigger an asthma attack. It is also able to lessen the symptoms that are followed by asthma such as inflammation, mucus production, and airway constiction. A study showed that the sulfate monosaccharide blocks the interaction between CCL20 and heparin sulfate which stalls the recruiting of the T-cells that trigger inflammation. This new molecule can be used by injection intravenously or by inhalation. Although billions of dollars are spent trying to find a cure for asthma, it is still on the rise for being the most common chronic disease in children. There is no cure for asthma, but many treatments are used to reduce the risk for asthma being deadly, like this new molecule. The pulmonary inhalation of this molecule is used to surpress chemokine (CCL20) initiated inflammatory responses which helps to reduce the symptoms.
Connection:
This connects to the Respiratory System, specifically Asthma. This disease helps to increase the easy flow of oxygen into the cells and Carbon dioxide out of the body. In this chapter, the respiratory has many homeostatic imbalances such as the lack of oxygen to the cells and one of the main reasons for that is inflammation in the bronchi and this helps to decrease that inflammation therefore creating a balance. This also connects to the molecules and cells chapters because it explains the use of monosaccharides which is a term we learned as one protein molecule where as polysaccharide is a chain of proteins.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Immune Protein Could Stop Diabetes in it's Tracks
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From Science Daily
Published May 20th 2013
Summary:
A protein has been discovered that can stop the destruction of insulin producing cells before they have been destroyed. Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's Molecular Medicine have identified the CD52 protein as responsible for protecting against autoimmune diseases. The interesting thing is that the CD52 protein also has the possibility to be used to protect against other autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis. The research also suggests that T-cells carry this protein as a way of preventing a uncontrolled immune response. The goal of the research is to eventually find a way to prevent and cure type 1 diabetes.
Connections:
This article relates to our discussion of the immune system. The protein is a regulator of T-cells which are a crucial part of the immune system, as they attack damaged cells. Autoimmune diseases are very dangerous and a cure to them would help many people. Perhaps this research will come up with one.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Black women may have highest multiple sclerosis rates
Nathan Seppa
May 8 2013
Summary: It has been long assumed that Hispanics and Africans have a lower rate of MS than Caucasians. However a new study refutes this statement. The study brings forth the notion that a vitamin D deficiency may cause MS. This is common in dark skinned people. Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease which removes the protective coating of central nervous system neurons and causes muscle degeneration and eye problems among other things. It afflicts an estimated 2.1 million people worldwide.The researches scanned a 3.5 million people pool for subjects for patients of MS between 2008-2010. Of these 496 people, by far the highest percentage was black women with 10.4 cases out of 100,000. In terms of african american populations, women are three times more likely to contract ms.The low vitamin d is thought to be because of low vitamin d intake during the winter among darker skinned individuals in northern areas.Many other factors may contribute to MS but this is an important study to say the least.
Connection to Class:
We studied the nervous system in class and how an impulse travels from the brain.I studied ALS for my pathological disease project which is another neuro-degenerative disease which affects motor neurons. Both are similar in the fact that the cause is unknown. Also we talked about homeostatic imbalances and this is hereditary and environmental influence.These diseases are crippling, and any research that may help find a cure is of utmost importance.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
New Approach to Treatments for MS
Published May 17, 2013 by Science Daily
Summary
New
research done by scientists at UC Davis have found a new possible
approach in improving drugs to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating
diseases. MS is a disease in which the myelin sheath of neurons is
damaged, slowing the transmission of nerve signals. The scientists
identified a protein that could be targeted in designing drugs to treat
the disease. The protein is known as mitochondrial translocator protein
(TSPO) and is located on the outer surface of mitochondria. It was
previously known but not linked to MS. Scientists identified the protein
as a possible therapeutic target when mice with symptoms of MS were
treated with the anti-anxiety drug etifoxine, which interacts with TSPO.
The results of their study showed that mice given the drug before
clinical signs of the disease then had less severe disease symptoms than
those that were not treated. At the peak of the severity of MS, mice
who were given the drug improved. The discovery of etifoxine’s
beneficial effects in treating MS suggests that drugs that
bind to TSPO may be able to help repair the myelin sheath, which is important
because current FDA-approved treatments do not do so.
Connection
This
connects to our study of the nervous system, since the disease affects
the myelin sheaths of neurons in the central nervous system. It also
relates to our study of homeostasis and the relationship between
structure and function; in MS, when the myelin sheath is damaged,
function is consequently disrupted because the transmission of nerve
signals is impaired.
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