Category Archives: A&P II

Aug
12
2013

Enzyme Inhibition Halts Asthma

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According to the CDC, 8.5% of Americans suffer with asthma.  It causes over 3,000 deaths and costs over $56 billion annually.  Treatments are mostly steroids which have harmful side effects and are not very effective.  CaMKII enzyme was discovered about 10 years ago and when oxidized hardens heart muscle cells, resulting in heart disease and heart attack.  Inhibition of this enzyme may not only help heart patients, but asthmatics as well.

Researchers with the Carver College of Medicine studied mice that they inhibited CaMKII in the airway muscle cells and epithelial lining cells separately.   The inhibition had no effect in the muscle cells as it did in the heart.  However the lining cells had little oxidation of CaMKII and showed none of the symptoms of asthma.   The mice were also exposed to allergens known to trigger asthma reactions and showed little reaction.  Findings resulted that CaMKII inhibition would be effective in allergy-induced asthma patients.

With such research in enzyme inhibition the possibilities of future treatments could pivot towards a new and interesting medical break-through that patients with asthma could be encouraged about.  Steroidal treatment is harsh on the body and while the asthma is treated, so many other health issues arise over long-term use.  Patients would no longer have to look forward to arising adversities health-wise but a true quality of life treatment.

Works Cited:

http://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130724195950.htm

“Inhibiting CaMKII Enzyme Activity Could Lead to New Therapies for Heart Disease” 2012/ 10.  http://medicalxpress.com/news.htm

Aug
12
2013

“Catalyst for a Cure” furthers Open Angle Glaucoma research development

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There are 2.2 million Americans suffering with glaucoma and only half of them are aware of it.  The World Health Organization estimates 60 million people across the world are suffering from glaucoma.  Open Angle glaucoma is a chronic condition that results in blindness due to an increase of intraocular pressure.  The Glaucoma Research Foundation has been very dedicated to and active in researching the physiology of glaucoma development.

“Catalyst for a Cure” is a research study program that has used a combination of disciplines ranging in genetics, basal cell development, neurology, and retina to further a collaborative research program to understand development of glaucoma and how to diagnose and treat it earlier in order that blindness may be prevented.  Since deterioration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC’s) is what causes loss of vision in glaucoma patients, there must be development of tests and instruments to observe the deterioration.  Through advancements of the group, researchers found subtypes of RGC’s that change shape before others during the early stages of glaucoma.  To further their studies, they developed a new ophthalmic adaptive optics instrument that will observe optic fibers and retinal blood vessels.  Through their studies they have now found ways to detect the biomarkers of the shape-changing RGC’s that indicate glaucoma onset.  With this instrument and collaborative developments to observe inner retinal metabolism and RGC axon transport, and hemodynamic changes in intrinsic light scattering new advances seem promising for a not-so-blinded future.

Many millions of dollars have been dedicated to glaucoma research and advancement of detection and treatment since the late 1970’s.  I recently had my pressure checked in my eyes and had very little if any discomfort during my tests.  This was certainly less anxiety for me as I don’t particularly like the old “air tests”.   Various prescription drugs (not strictly governed by the FDA), optic drops, and laser surgery are the most common treatments and are not necessarily the “ideal treatments”; gingko biloba and alcohol are found not to be effective; marijuana use is only found to reduce intraocular pressure for short periods of time, and many people are losing their sight due to unknown causes of this condition.  Now “Catalyst for a Cure” has applied innovative technology and collaborative knowledge to bring us to heights of sight and seeing a brighter future.

“Glaucoma”, National Institute of Health.  http://www.nlh.nih.gov/medicineplus/encyclopedia/glaucoma

The Biomarker Initiative: 2013 Update, Glaucoma Research Foundation.  http://www.glaucoma.org/research/the-biomarker-initiative

 

 

Aug
12
2013

Life Without a Pulse

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Arial Donnell

Thanks to Dr. Pirk, former Czech firefighter, Jakub Halik, has been alive for about nine months with the absence of a heart and pulse. After doctors detected a tumor growing on the inside of his heart, Mr. Halik was forced to make a critical decision: Whether or not he would undergo a fairly new procedure, in which the first subject did not make it out. Ultimately, his decision panned out to be the correct choice, since he is still alive and well today.

In an eight-hour operation, Halik’s heart was removed and replaced by two, modified pumps that contain propellers to produce 10,000 rotations a minute mimicking the beating of the heart. The pumps are powered by batteries worn externally that connect to the device via a controller and flexible cable beneath the skin. Each pump performs the tasks of the right and left side of the heart. One pumps bloods to the lungs while the other pumps blood throughout the body.

This is an important procedure because it is alternative for people on the waiting list to receive a heart, as in Jakub’s case. The pumps will hopefully serve the purpose until an actual heart is available.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Bates, Claire. “Former Fire-fighter First Man to Live without a Pulse for SIX MONTHS Thanks to Revolutionary Artificial Heart.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 2 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 July 2013.

“Left Heart.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 May 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.

Aug
06
2013

Aortic Valve Replacement

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The Aortic Valve is located in between the heart and aorta (Tortora. Gerard ). The Aorta is main artery from the heart that distributes a rich oxygen supply of blood throughout the body. But, what happens when the aorta has problems with its valve? Thanks to advances in the medical field, patients have not only one option but actually several options to extend the patient lives.

According to the University of Southern California, the aortic valve can have stenosis, regurgitation, a birth defect (which is known as Bicuspid aortic valve), or damage that  can be acquired with age (which is known as Aortic Valve Replacement).  People with a malfunctioning valve can chose the best option for them after speaking with their doctor.  The most common replacement is bioprosthesis valves which is a replacement that can be made from tissues and include artificial parts to help with support (Cleveland Clinic).  The others choices can be Biological valves which can be made from pig tissue (porcine), cow tissue pericardial (bovine), or pericardial tissue from other species, by a donor, or a mechanical made from man-made materials (Cleveland Clinic).

Even though the valve replacement surgery helps improve the quality of life, there are risks in and after surgery. People have the risk of clotting around the sight especially if the mechanical valve is chosen, tearing the stitches or dislodging the piece with being to active right after surgery (Cleveland Clinic).  People must go on a anticoagulants (blood thinning medicine) for the rest of their lives and also must watch their vitamin A intake because this also makes the blood viscosity.  Thanks to modern medicine, people are able to live longer.

 

Citations :

 

Aortic Valve Replacement. University of Southern California. Http://www.cts.usc.edu./aorticvalvereplacement.html.07-2013.

Aortic Valve Surgery. Cleveland Clinic. http://wwwMy.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/valve/aorticvalvereplacement. 07-          2013.

Tortora. Gerard J., Derrickson, Bryan. Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. 13th John Wiley &sons, INC. 2011. 757-784.

Aug
06
2013

Melatonin and Circadian Rhythm

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                Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the pineal gland. When the retina in the eye doesn’t since light, it sends a messenger to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the Hypothalamus in the brain to secrete more melatonin from the pineal gland to help with the circadian rhythm for sleep ( Tortora. Gerard ). When it’s dark our bodies have higher levels of melatonin and when theirs light lower levels are secreted. So, during  lunar phases, when the full moon is in the position that is aligned with the earth, sun, and moon so that the sun light part of the moon is facing earth causing it to be brighter at night have an effect on melatonin?

In one study by Rhaman, the rabbit fish were measured for melatonin during different phases of the moon. During natural light that he defined saying 12 hours of light and 12 non- light, the fish had a steady pattern. In the constant light the levels were lower, and in constant dark fish’s levels were high. When the fish were studied under the moon phases, the new moon had the higher levels of melatonin then the full moon (Rahman, Saydur). In this article, there is a relationship between moon phases and melatonin, just not with the effect of the brightness of the full moon.

No correlation was found in the study The Lunar Cycle: Effects on Human and Animal Behavior and Physiology (Zimeck, M). It studied the myth of increases of reproductions, birth rates, hospital visits, suicides, and car wrecks during a full moon. The full moon doesn’t have effects on human behavior or the increased or decreased melatonin secretions in the body. A shift workers study was conducted on night shift workers and found that given melatonin four hours before a eight hour sleep cycle was effective in promoting adaptation to night work (Sharkey, Eastman). It has been shown that melatonin does phase advance our circadian rhythms four hours before our normal sleeping time (Sharkey, Eastman). To conclude, the extra light at night does not cause human behaviors, but taking melatonin during the day can increase adaptation to sleeping during the day.

 

Citations:

 

Rahman, Saydur. Effects of Moonlight Exposure on Plasma Melatonin Rhythums in the Seagrass

Rabbit Fish, Siganus Canaliculatus. Journal of Biological Rhythums. Vol 19.4. 325-334.

2004

Sharkey, Katherine., Eastman, Charmane., Melatonin Phase Shifts Human Circadian Rhythms in             a Placebo- Controlled Stimulated Night-Work Study. American Journal of Physiology.             2001. July 2013.

Aug
06
2013

Ulcerative Colitis

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Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition of inflammation that affects the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum.  Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain, bloody stool, and diarrhea that is unresponsive to OTC medications. (1) UC is a progressive disease that has no known cure.  Treatment for UC involves a variety of medications that include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, antibiotics, and anti diarrheal medication.  If drug therapy and life style changes do not relieve the symptoms of UC surgery of the colon and rectum is a potential means of treatment. (1) However, doctors are testing a drug named Tofactitnib that affects the number of proteins in the immune system that causes UC. (2)  It is the newest approach to treating the proteins that make up and suppress the immune response associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

The tested group was 194 patients from around the world that were required to be at least at the age of 18 and diagnosed with UC.  Candidates were required to have undergone previous treatment for their disease. The trial lasted for 8 weeks, and consisted of patients receiving a placebo or 3 mg, 10mg, or 15 mg dose of Tofactitnib twice a day orally.  The results showed that the most effective dose of Tofactinib that increased the remission rate was 15 mg.  Due to the success of this study it has been moved to study the long term effect and maintenance associated with treating UC in phase III trials.  (2)

Tofactinib was originally tested to help relieve the symptoms associated with another inflammatory disease called rheumatoid arthritis.  However, due to efficiency in treating the proteins associated with immune system response it has shown to be a diverse treatment.  Ongoing medical research and differing approaches to treating chronic diseases that have no known cures help relieve the painful symptoms associated with chronic inflammation whether it be in the GI tract or joints.

 

 

  1. Ulcerative Colitis. Mayo Clinic Staff. Oct 20, 2012. Ulcerative Colitis: Definition, Symptoms, & Treatments. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ulcerative-colitis/DS0059 .  July 30,2013.
  2. Rex, Douglas K M.D. August 15, 2012. Tofacitinib Effective for Ulcerative Colitis. New England Journal of Medicine 2012 August. Retrieved from http://www.jwatch.org/jg201208150000001/2012/08/15/tofacitinib-effective-ulcerative-colitis. July 30, 2013
Aug
06
2013

Natural Health Remedy for Asthma

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Asthma is a respiratory system disease that causes swelling and narrowing of the lungs’ airways which leads to coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Asthma is a type of obstructive lung disease. Asthma affects 3-5% of United States population. Children are more susceptible to asthma. Airways obstruction may be due to smooth muscle spasms in the wall of small bronchi and bronchioles, edema of the mucosa of the airways, increased mucus secretion, and/or damage to the epithelium of the airways. Asthma is treated with variety of medication like inhalers, pills and nebulizers. But latest research shows that natural health remedies are also helpful in treatment of asthma. Such natural health remedies can be use instead of medicines to relieve the symptoms of asthma.

Recent research shows that ginger compounds are helpful in relieving inflamed airways much in same way that modern medicines do. Researchers used human airway smooth muscle tissue to test ginger compounds. They produced bronchoconstriction in airway smooth muscle tissue similar to that occurs in asthmatic attack. They gained bronchoconsrtiction by exposing tissue to a CNS neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Ginger was broken down into three different elements – 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 6-shogaol. Then these components were mixed with isoproterenol, a beta agonist medicine use for asthma. Then constricted tissues were treated with isoproterenol alone or with any of three combinations of ginger components.

Results shows that tissues which received the mixture of ginger elements and isoproterenol were more relaxed than those which received isoproterenol alone. Among three components of ginger, 6-shogaol showed the most relaxation of tissue. In further studys, researchers found that all three components of ginger decrease the effect of enzyme phosphodiesterase4D. This enzyme slows down feedback that accelerates relaxation of airway smooth muscle. This finding enables asthma patients to rely less on medications. Patients can treat asthma with ginger elements without any latent side effects of medicines. Ginger can also alleviate nausea, reduce cholesterol and reduce inflammation.

Aug
05
2013

Have Asthma? You Likely Have an Allergy as Well

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Epidemics in the United States are typically thought to be something very detrimental such as flues and viruses, but have you thought about asthma as being an epidemic? The number of patients that are diagnosed with asthma is on the rise every year. Researchers say that there is a correlation between having asthma and allergies. Currently in America, it is estimated that there are 26 million cases of asthma and 50 million cases of allergies. They are both serious diseases that can occur at any age in life.

The link between the people with asthma and allergies is being studied. Currently, the results show that 75% of asthmatic individuals between 20-40 years of age and 65% of individuals over the age of 55 have been diagnosed with asthma and have at least one allergy.

In the study there were 2,573 adults who were tested against a panel of 19 allergens that were popular to determine an allergy in an asthmatic individual. The number of children with asthma is higher than that of adults because the adult cases usually are undiagnosed. Normally the adult’s condition is a result of something else that typically occurs with elderly people, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.

Further research suggested that poor hygiene increases the chance of infections, climate such as the change in temperature and promoting the growth of various weeds and plants that releases pollen, and under education of the severity and symptoms of asthma can be factors leading to the new epidemic—asthma.

References:

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well.” ScienceDaily, 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 30 Jul. 2013.

“Asthma and Allergies.” Allergies Health Center. 30 Jul. 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/asthma-allergies>.

Aug
05
2013

Listening to Blood Cells

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Given today’s excelling technology and the never-ending advances, it is no surprise that medical findings and research have come up with new ways to detect diseases that are related to blood.

Researchers and studies have shown that simple blood conditions can be detected by sound waves. These waves are produced within the body when they are struck by laser lights. With this advancement there is now a way to find out the shapes and also the sizes of blood cells. This new finding could be carried out by healthcare professionals to diagnosis patients with conditions in the blood because this new way takes only seconds for feedback.

Researchers in the article stated that their plan is to produce instruments that will allow these detections and make fast diagnosis and therefore provide faster treatment. Studies and results shown in the article concluded that shapes other than that bi-concave shape has a list of reasons why the abnormal shape occurs.

Researchers that carried out the study used the instrument called a photoacoustic microscope to detect sound. They carried out this experiment using a minimal amount of blood cells of about 20. This was just enough to give back readings that they were expecting—different sounds!

In closing, they leave with saying that their next big technological advancement is to eventually use a microfluidic device. They will continue to use the current ways of lasers, but will now incorporate the use of probes. With this simple incorporation, healthcare providers can test thousands instead of testing just blood samples. Their hope is to eventually get this method working effectively and then broaden this and check individual’s white blood cells.

Cell Press. “Listening to blood cells: Simple test could use sound waves for diagnosing blood-related diseases.” ScienceDaily, 2 Jul. 2013. Web. 18 Jul. 2013.

“Listening to Blood Cells.” Photonics. 18 Jul. 2013. <http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=54334>.

Aug
01
2013

Hyperthyroidism Linked to Heart Failure

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Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid is overactive—producing too much of the hormone thyroxine, causing normal body functions, such as metabolism to speed up. Recent research suggests that hyperthyroidism may have a tremendous affect on the most important organs in your body, your heart. In recent studies, researchers have found a correlation between hyperthyroidism and atrial fibrillation. They put together that atrial fibrillation is a common outcome of hyperthyroidism. Atrial fibrillation, commonly called “A fib” is characterized by uncoordinated contractions of the atria in the heart and can result in a fast and irregular heart rhythm. Hypothyroidism and the affect on the heart is still to be researched further.

Previous research has shown that hyperthyroidism is more prevalent in the female population than the male population, and age is not a risk factor. More recently, a team of researchers carried out a study in Denmark where they collected thyroid function blood tests from 586,460 patients with hyperthyroidism that consulted their practitioners. They followed these patients for a span of 10 years. After five years, the data suggested that, out of 586,460 participants, over half of the women in the study had developed A fib.

Researchers suggested that there should be a higher watch on this topic to make this situation more publicized so people can become more aware of hyperthyroidism and the underlying threat of developing A fib. People can take better control over major health conditions by regular physician check-ups, eating and maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, and most importantly avoid smoking and alcohol. These simple tasks will keep you, your heart and body healthy longer, for a better you!

References:

BMJ-British Medical Journal. “Thyroid problems linked to irregular heart rhythm.” ScienceDaily, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 Jul. 2013.

“Could it be my thyroid?.” Harvard Health Publications. 24 Jul. 2012. 10 Jul. 2013. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/could-it-be-my-thyroid>.

“atrial fibrillation.” Merriam-Webster. 2013. 10 Jul. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/atrial%20fibrillation>.