‘Biological signal’ of suicide risk found in blood

Researchers have discovered a series of biomarkers (RNA type) in human blood that could be used to develop a test that would predict the suicidal risk of each individual.

An article published in the journal�Molecular Psychiatry, reveals the results of a three year medical trial, realised on a large group of male patients from four cohort study groups. All patients that took part at the study were previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Suicide rate for white men in the USA

The clinical study was conducted by the psychiatrist and researchers from the School of Medicine, Indiana University, which interviewed the patients involved in the focus group. The primary evaluation had been followed by up to three testing visits, when blood samples were taken from the patients, each three and six months. The testing visits consisted in psychiatric evaluation of each patient, followed of grading them using the “Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17”, a scale that includes a rating of suicidal ideation, used to measure the level of suicidal feeling or predisposition. The blood samples were analysed and the results varied between no su icidal thoughts at all, to strong suicidal ideation. The results of the trial revealed high genes differences between the patients with no, or low suicidal thoughts and the ones with high states of suicidal feelings.

SAT1, the suicide biomarker

The SAT1 marker was found as a strong differential biological signal� associated with suicidal thoughts. To support their findings, the researchers analysed blood samples from the suicide victims, which revealed that the same biomarker was found at very high concentrations. Analysing simultaneously two other groups of patients, it had been demonstrated that the same specific biomarkers were linked to future hospitalisation related to suicide, or other suicidal attempt that took place after before the trial. Dr. Alexander Niculescu, associate professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience at the Indiana University, talks more about the SD1 clinical trial and the global concerns about the consequences of suicide in this UI School of Medicine YouTube film.

‘Further research needed’ on females

Because the subjects of the study were only men, the researchers want to expand the same clinical trial on female patients, to spot the gender differences. Also, it is predicted that they will soon conduct extensive studies, on the global population. Due to different compartmental types, the scientists want to enlarge the range of the studies on groups characterized by more impulsive type of patients or the ones that have more pronounced suicidal feelings.

Suicide rate for white women in the USA

Tests of the future

Suicide is a preventable cause of death. However, worldwide, over a million lives a year are lost to suicide. The psychiatrist involved in monitoring the study, are very confident that these suicide biomarkers will soon be used in the blood tests of the future, to determine the suicide risk of each patient. The researchers hope that future blood test will involve checking these biomarkers, which along with neuropsychological tests and socio-demographic checklists, will help identify the patients with elevated risk of suicide and lead to prevention of this phenomenon and life savings.

Piles symptoms

What are the piles?

Haemorrhoids are masses, clumps or cushions of tissue in the anal canal, which help with stool control. Although a haemorrhoid is an unpleasant term, we all have them in our body. When the haemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed), problems may occur. Piles are the swollen, problem causing, painful haemorrhoids.

Males and females are equally susceptible to developing troublesome piles.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA), symptomatic haemorrhoids affect at least half the US population at some time in their lives, and approximately 5% of all adults have piles at any given time. National Health Service (NHS, UK) declares that piles affect between 4% and 25% of the UK adult population. They are more common among adults aged between 45 and 65 years, as well as pregnant mothers.

How do we recognize and classify the piles?

Piles or Haemorrhoids types

Piles or Haemorrhoids types

Most cases of piles are mild and the symptoms often disappear naturally, after a few days. Tough it is a pathological infection, some of the affected persons may not even realise they have haemorrhoids as they do not experience any severe, unpleasant piles symptoms.

Piles�can be of various shapes and sizes, and according to their position, they may be external or internal. Usually they appear as a combination of the two types of piles.

What are the piles symptoms related to?

Where piles may occur, they include the following characteristics:

• bleeding after passing a stool (the blood will be from bright to dark red)
• a pile may move down, outside of the anus (prolapse) after passing a stool
• a mucus discharge after passing a stool
• itchiness, soreness and inflammation around your anus
• feeling like your bowels are still full and need to be�emptied

Due to their position, piles symptoms may occur on the following model:

• External piles may produce few piles symptoms. If thrombosed, they can cause�significant pain and swelling in the area of the�anus. The haemorrhoids associated with external blood clots beneath the skin are known as perianal haematoma. A�thrombosed external haemorrhoid�is a hard lump made up of blood clots which develops around the anus. Both perianal haematomas and thrombosed external piles are very painful. Nevertheless, this pain typically resolves in 2 � 3�days, but the swelling may take a few weeks to disappear, leading to a skin tag that will remain after healing.
• Internal piles are the ones that are easily identified with painless�rectal bleeding, during, or following a bowel movement. The blood typically covers the stool, is on the toilet paper, or drips into the toilet bowl. The stool itself is usually normally coloured. Other symptoms may include mucous discharge, a perianal mass if they prolapse through the anus,�itchiness and�faecal incontinence. Internal haemorrhoids are usually a little painful if they become thrombosed or�necrotic.

Why do piles occur?

The exact cause of symptomatic piles is unknown, but it might be related to the blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum will stretch under pressure and may swell or bulge. Inflamed veins (haemorrhoids) can develop when pressure increases in the lower rectum.

The tendency to develop haemorrhoids may also be inherited. The risk of developing piles symptoms also grows with age.

When to seek for medical advice?

You should see your doctor if your haemorrhoid symptoms are persistent and severe. A qualified doctor can usually diagnose piles fairly rapidly after carrying out a physical examination. The patient’s anus will be examined for swollen veins.

What are the treatment options for piles?

In the majority of cases, piles resolve on their own, without the need for any treatment. Treatments can help significantly reduce the discomfort and itching that many patients experience. The therapy for the piles symptoms may involve lifestyle changes, increasing the fluids and fiber intake or applying haemorrhoidal cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone to the affected area.

Are you anaemic?

What is anaemia?

Anaemia (or anemia) is the most common disorder of the blood.

According to World Health Organisation, anaemia�is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiologic needs, which vary by age, sex, altitude, smoking, and pregnancy status.�

Iron deficiency is thought to be the most common cause of anaemia globally, although other conditions, such as folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin A deficiencies, chronic inflammation, parasitic infections, and inherited disorders can all cause anaemia.

In undeveloped or developing countries, iron deficiency anaemia is considered to be worsening, combined with HIV, worm infections, tuberculosis and malaria.

Pregnant women with anemia worldwide statistics

Anaemia is considered to be responsible for low pregnancy rate and psychical and intellectual underdevelopment in infants. Anaemia is affecting every second pregnant woman, contributing to 20% of all maternal deaths. Anaemia consequences include high risk morbidity in children. Almost 40% of pre-school children are considered anaemic. In adulthood, severe anaemia can lead to reduced work productivity.

So, literally, what happens when you are anaemic?

The most common symptom of anaemia is spotted while you examine your level of fatigue. Therefore, if your answer is positive to the following questions, you might be anaemic:

• Do you feel tired when you wake up and also the rest of the day?
• Do you have trouble concentrating, because you feel tired?
• Do you lack the energy to accomplish several basic tasks during the day, or they seem to wipe you out?

If your answer is yes� to the previous questions, you need to determine if you rather feel weak, or dizzy.� Weakness and dizziness are the key-clues regarding anaemia.

Severe anaemia can lead to severe symptoms, like:

• Cold feet
• Pale skin
• Headaches
• Palpitations and/ or chest pain
• Irregular or shortness of breath

If you gather some of the symptoms listed above, you should visit your doctor.

A simple blood test can correctly determine if you are anaemic or not, but it can't determine the cause of your anaemia.

Understanding the different types of anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common cause of anaemia in the world. Symptoms of this condition are usually linked to pregnancy or child growth cycles.

The amount of iron that you ingest may not be enough to fulfil your organism needs during heavy menstrual periods.

Poor iron absorption can be caused by intestinal diseases, that can also cause intestinal bleedings and iron loss.

You should also note that, you should not eat a poor, restricted diet, or you may not get enough amount of iron in your body.

The challenge: Improve your condition

Treatments for anaemia are dependent of its severity and cause, but they are not individualised.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Increase the intake of iron in your body, by digesting oral iron. Taking oral iron supplements, along with vitamin C, can help the body to absorb more iron.� If this is proven to be ineffective, you have the option of parenteral iron
• Blood transfusion, for the stable, but anaemic patient, have been the subject of many controversies and clinical trials, according to British Medical Journal of Anaesthesia
• �Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for anaemic patients, as an alternative treatment, strongly recommended by the �Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
• Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, recommended when the parenteral iron remedy doesn't give the expected results.

Why should we stop immunodeficiency anaemia?

Anemic children worldwide statistics

Proper treatment can restore personal health and can lead to a raise of productivity in all affected countries, up to 20%. Not stopping it, it can get in the way of your life quality and proper development.

The good news is that, for most people, anaemia can be easily treated and in a few weeks they can get their health restored and their energy levels back on track.

We have both the means, and the potential for improvement, so why not start now?