The Human Brain Hides New Type Of Stem Cells

According to a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers from Lund University in Sweden, report to have identified new stem cells in the brain. The discovery may provide new therapeutic targets for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Stem cells are undifferentiated cells making them able to develop into different cell types in the body. There are two types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from embryos of 5 days (which is called a blastocyst at this stage) and are called pluripotent stem cells because they have the ability to develop other stem cells and further into specific cells of the body. It seems that they have a great regenerative potential.

Stem Cells

Adult stem cells found in the umbilical cord of newborns or in adults in various organs such as bone marrow, brain are called somatic stem cells. Initially it was thought that somatic stem cells can develop only into specicific types. In other words, if the cells came from bone marrow, it was thought that they can develop only into hematopoietic cells. But recently it has discovered that they can develop into another line. Furthermore, researchers were able to turn adult stem cells into embryonic cells by a method that is called reprogramming.

Researchers from Lund University  made the discovery while examining nervous tissue samples from biopsies. They found these stem cells near blood vessels in the brain. Although not they have not determined precisely their function, it appears that these cells have amazing plastic properties. Therapeutic potential is enormous, and the researchers hope to take advantage of this discovery. Gesine Paul, Visse, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Lund University and the study’s primary author, said: “Our findings that shows the cell capacity is much larger than we originally thought, and that is very versatile tissue cells. ” The fact that these cells can form new neurons may be key to treating diseases so far incurable, such as spinal muscular atrophy. Although it was long thought that neurons can not regenerate, it appears to be a process of neurogenesis. However, most neurons that form the neocortex are formed before birth and they persist without replacement.

The discovery made by researchers at Lund University in Sweden joins other discoveries that laid the foundation for regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine refers to replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with new ones from stem cells. Stem cells have been used since 1960 when they performed the first bone marrow transplant. Now stem cells are under study for several diseases such as recovery of damaged myocardium after myocardial infarction or recovery after spinal cord injury.

Prenatal Diagnosis

Prenatal screening is performed during pregnancy by specific investigations.

Indications for prenatal diagnosis:

• Maternal age over 35 years;
• A child with chromosomal abnormality in history;
• One parent carrier of genetic structural abnormalities;
• Mother carrying a recessive X-linked disease;
• Monogenic diseases in history;
• Parents are carriers of recessive genes, which can be detected by prenatal diagnosis;
• Family history of neural tube defect;
• Screening tests at risk;
• Abnormal fetal ultrasound;
• After in vitro fertilization procedures or intracytoplasmic injection of spermatozoon in egg, which can predispose to chromosomal abnormalities.

The purpose of prenatal diagnosis is to detect birth defects with chromosomal, monogenic, genomic and multifactorial etilogy.

In practice, prenatal screening is used to determine biochemical markers, ultrasound measurements and signs which can highlight genetic abnormalities.

Methods Of Prenatal Diagnosis

• Non-invasive: ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, biochemical screening, analysis of fetal cells from maternal blood.
• Invasive: chorionic villi biopsy, amniocentesis, cordocentesis.

Biochemical Screening

A method of prenatal screening is represented by the triple test, which is performed in weeks 14-16 of pregnancy. For this test are determined from maternal serum:

• alpha-fetoprotein (AFP);
• beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG);
• unconjugated estriol.

Biochemical Screening

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein synthesized by the fetus is detectable in maternal serum from week 6 of pregnancy,with a peak in week 34 of gestation (4 mg / ml), its value decreasing in 8-12 months after birth. Measurement of alpha-fetoprotein can be done from amniotic fluid or from maternal blood.

Elevated values of alpha-fetoprotein are found in:

• Multiple pregnancies;
• Skin diseases;
• Organ failure;
• Congenital nephropathy;
• Cystic higroma;
• Hepatic necrosis;
• Neural tube defects (spina bifida, anencephaly);
• Abdominal wall defects.

Low values of alfa-fetoprotein are recorded in cases of:

• Chromosomal abnormalities;
• Defects of the placenta;
• Fetal hydrops;
• Trophoblastic disease;
• Diabetic mothers.

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) is a hormone secreted by sincitotrofoblast and is present in maternal serum after blastocyst implantation. Its level, in maternal serum, increase until week 10 of gestation and then begins to decrease until week 18, after which the level remains constant.

Unconjugated estriol is secreted by sincitiotrofoblast.

For trisomies are suggestive low levels of AFP and unconjugated estriol and increased levels of beat-hCG. In Turner syndrome, a monosomy, AFP and unconjugated estrolul are slightly low and beta-hCG is elevated, making this syndrome to be detected when a trisomy is suspected.

Beta HCG Analysis

Ultrasound Screening

Fetal ultrasound examination is used to assess fetal age and evolution of pregnancy, placenta location, presence of twin pregnancies, the presence of birth defects (neural tube defects, cardiac anomalies, limb anomalies).

Fetal ultrasound examination has the advantage of being non-invasive and all harmless both for fetus and for mother. Is performed starting from week 8 of gestation, with periodic reassessment of fetal and placental parameters in weeks 16-18 of gestation.

First-trimester ultrasound examination is performed in the first 12 weeks of amenorrhea, for:

• Accurate determination of gestational age (in some cases there may be a discordance between the presumed age of pregnancy and appropriate age assessed by ultrasound measurements);
• Determining the number of fetuses;
• Pointing out morphological abnormalities;

Second-trimester ultrasound examination is performed through week 22 of pregnancy:

• Evaluates the fetus (cephalic diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length);
• Abnormality detection.

Third-trimester ultrasound examination is performed until 32 weeks for:

• Assessment of fetal development;
• Study fetal morphology because some abnormalities can be pointed out later in fetal development.

Antenatal Diagnosis

Ultrasound age is expressed on weeks of amenorrhea, from the first day of the last period. Better knowledge of development age is important to detect developmental abnormalities.

Ultrasound Screening For Down Syndrome Detection

Include measuring of cranio-caudal length, biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal circumference, nuchal translucency, highlighting the ethmoid bone. Femur and humerus length in Down syndrome is low.

Nuchal translucency of 3 mm between 11-13 weeks of gestation is associated with a three times higher risk of having a newborn with trisomy 21 than the corresponding risk of maternal age. Absence of etmiod bone increases the risk of Down syndrome.

Biparietal diameter / femur length ratio and nuchal translucency measurement between 11-13 weeks of gestation and maternal age are used to determine the risk of Down syndrome.

Other ultrasound markers are:

• Echogenicity of the heart;
• Tricuspid regurgitation;
• Cystic higroma;
• Duodenal atresia;
• Omphalocele;
• Polihidroamnios;
• Cysts of the choroid leave;
• Dilated renal pelvis;
• Echogenicity of the bladder;
• Sandal gap.

Fetal Ultrasound Examination

Ultrasound Screening for Turner Syndrome Detection

• Massive edema;
• Ascites;
• Polihidroamnios;
• Cystic higroma;
• Fetal hydrops;
• Encephalocele / meningocele;
• Intrauterine growth retardation, short femur;
• Cardiac anomalies (coarctation of the aorta);
• Renal abnormalities;
• Hypoplastic placenta

Ewing’s Sarcoma

According to a study by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, resistant Ewing sarcoma may be treated with a combination therapy. Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of cancer affecting the bone or the soft tissue.  The most common locations are the femur, humerus, ribs, clavicle and pelvis.

According to The Bone Cancer Research Trust, the most characteristic symptom is localized pain, which is usually a severe bone pain. Ewing sarcoma usually affects teenagers and young adults. Prognosis depends on the presence of metastases. 5-year survival rate in patients without metastases and treated with chemotherapy is 70-80%. Instead, for those with metastases  the long-term survival rate is less than 10%. Treatment  usually consists of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In some cases the affected limb needs amputation.

Ewing’s Sarcoma

According to researchers, 5 of 17 patients responded to combination therapy cixutumumab-temsirolimus. Moreover, two of them reached complete remission. Both drugs inhibit tumor cell growth and proliferation and vascular growth. The first is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the insulin growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R), and the second inhibits mTOR, or “mammalian target of rapamycin”. Lead researcher Aung Naing, MD, assistant professor in MD Anderson’s Department of Investigation Cancer Therapeutics, said that after a cycle of 4 weeks of combination therapy, the tumors of 7 of the 20 patients had stoped growing and 5 presented a tumor reduction of more than 20%. The study was a Phase 1 clinical trial and the duration of response to treatment was 8 to 27 luni.It is important to remember that of the 20 patients, 17 were patients with Ewing sarcoma and 3 with desmoplastic small round cell- tumors (DSRCT). Also, patients enrolled in the study were previously treated with other therapies but without success.

Problems that occur frequently when treating these cancers are resistance to treatment and relapse. Therefore, the findings are promising and represent a new hope for patients with treatment resistant tumors. Used separately, the two drugs had different results. So researchers have thought that a good way to avoid the appearance of resistance to treatment and relapse would be to combine them.

Another important issue is the ability to control chemotherapy side effects. Dr. Naing said the medical team managed to control the toxicity of treatment. The common side effects were bone marrow suppression (thrombocytopenia, neutropenia), hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia and mucositis. Reactions such as fatigue, rash, elevated creatinine and urea, weight loss, anorexia, vomiting were also present. Dr Naing underlined that it is extremely important to maintain the health of the patient as close to normal in order to be able to undergo chemotherapy.

Study Finds Incidence Of HPV-Related Cancers Rising

Lately, there has been an increase in the incidence of head and neck cancer associated with HPV infection. Also, studies show that this type of cancer is more common in men and middle-aged whites and that habits such as alcohol and smoking, influence the response to treatment.
The  research were led by Lauren Cole, a public health graduate student, and Dr. Edward Peters, Associate Professor of Public Health and Director of the Epidemiology Program at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and provide useful information on the epidemiology of cancer associated with HPV.

HPV Virus

Most people infected with HPV, Human papillomavirus, are practically asymptomatic. There are still marking lesions with HPV infection, such as warts or condillomas, that is skin lesions. In some severe cases, HPV determine cell dysplasia and finally cancer. Localizations of cancers associated with HPV are predominantly external genitalia, such as cervix, vulva, vagina, penis but also the oropharynx or anus. Important to remember that HPV is spread by  sexual contact and as soon as the virion infects the cell and  infection is triggered, the person becomes a carrier and can pass on infection. However, it may happen that the infection will remain latent for months or even years before the actual occurrence of HPV cause squamous intraepithelial lesions. There is always the possibility that the person is infected but the infection is not clinically apparent. It is also important to remember that there are many strains of HPV and that particularly serotypes 16 and 18 are involved in cancers of the oropharynx.

Along with HPV infection, alcohol and smoking are also important risk factors in oropharyngeal cancer, researchers said. It is known that alcohol inhibits the production of protein p53, tumor suppressor gene, also called genome guardian. Carcinogens in cigarettes cause damage to the DNA, so cancer precursor lesions. Therefore, the combination of these three factors, HPV, alcohol and smoking, increase the occurrence of  oropharyngeal cancer. In addition, studies show that this cancer is more common among white men of middle age. In contrast, men of black race (nonhispanic) are less likely to develop  this type of cancer.

Lauren Cole, PhD Epidemiology student at year LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, points out that during 1995-2005 there was an increased incidence of this cancer among HPV-related localizations. According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer represents 3% of all cancers in the U.S., and are more common among men than women.

The prognosis is usually reserved for oropharyngeal cancer. However, Dr. Edward Peters, Associate Professor and Director of the Epidemiology Program at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, believes that with the introduction of HPV vaccine the  incidence of this type of cancer will decrease.

New Molecular Imaging Method To Be Used In Future Studies

Alan Jasanoff is an associate professor of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His biggest quest now is to try to find new methods that would help the further investigation in the neuroscience domain. He believes that  with proper technology, questions concerning the mechanism involved in perception and the brain function that influences decision-making could be answered.

Professor Jasanoff is currently specialized in the development of new brain-imaging agents. These new agents are capable of revealing more details than older brain-imaging methods, such as PET (Positron emission tomography), fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging) or traditional methods such as microscopy. He can finally explore the depths of neuroscience with the agents he has developed.

Neurotransmitters

fMRI is usually used by neuroscientists to measure the brain’s blood flow. Professor Jasanoff created a set on sensors that when used together with fMRI have a more powerful, detailed effect. This new method measures the levels of neurotransmitters and calcium, thus making brain activity more visible.

With the use of these new sensors, professor Jasanoff managed to study the effect of positive reinforcement on animal behavior and decision-making. These new techniques will also be applicable to other medical domains, because, as professor Jasanoff says, “calcium molecules are really ubiquitous ” not just in neuronal signaling but signaling throughout the body, during development, immune-cell activity and so on”.

Alan Jasanoff was always interested in science, partly because of his parents, both of them being social scientists. During his childhood he moved from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Ithaca, New York, because his parents received jobs at different universities, such as Harvard and Cornell. Professor Jasanoff also has a sister which is a professor at Harvard University. ” I'm the black sheep”, Jasanoff jokes. He started out in science through a part-time job at a laboratory at Cornell University. He would occasionally spend time learning about science from the local students and  postdoctoral fellows.

Jasanoff was interested in structural biology whilst a Harvard undergraduate. He studied molecules by using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and X-Ray Crystallography.

After getting his PhD in biophysics, Jasanoff moved to the Whitehead Institute from MIT, where he started independent research. His interest in neuroscience grew because of the unanswerable questions that this complex domain has to offer. At the Whitehead Institute he started work on new neuroimaging techniques.

Neuroimaging methods such as fMRI or optical imaging only provide a limited view on the brain activity. The fMRI can provide the imaging of a large brain region, whilst only being able to show an average activity. Optical imaging provide a more precise observation of neuronal activity but only in smaller regions, considered to be an invasive maneuver if done over larger brain areas.

Professor Jasanoff tried to integrate the best of both techniques, cellular precision imaging of large brain areas, whilst using a method that would be non-invasive. After several years of failed testing he understood that in order to succeed in his research he needed to create a new component. His newly developed sensors are used along with fMRI in order to monitor serotonin, dopamine, calcium and even other molecules with a role in signaling. The sensors are made of a section that allows them to bind with the targeted molecule and another section that acts like a magnet, thus making them visible on the MRI.

A major interest to researchers is dopamine, the molecule that has an important role in addiction and Parkinson’s disease. Professor Jasanoff believes that important progress will be made in the near future, thanks to the development of these new sensors. He also adds that future studies will include sensors capable of interacting with other molecular targets as well.

Phase Two Gene Therapy Clinical Study For Cystic Fibrosis Begins

This study that will hopefully prove that gene therapy developed by the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium can improve the health of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis has begun. Phase two clinical study begins this month, led by researchers from Oxford University, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. It will be based on the observation of 130 patients that will breathe through an inhaler the working copy of the cystic fibrosis gene once a month for a year.

Fibrosis

Dr. Deborah Gill of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Oxford University said: “It's a worldwide first in terms of the length of the study, the number of patients involved and the number of doses of gene therapy. By giving the therapy over a whole year, we will have the best chance yet of seeing an improvement in patients.”

Around 9,500 people in the UK are affected by cystic fibrosis, a disease caused by a faulty gene. Until now the conventional treatment for this disease focused only on the symptoms. By alleviating the symptoms, the  treatment extended the life expectancy of the patients which is now around the age of 35 years. This disease affects mucus glands in the lungs and digestive systems, leading to thick, sticky mucus.

This new therapy should be more effective as it focuses on the basic defect, declared Professor Eric Alton, the coordinator for the consortium from Imperial College London. He adds: “This trial will assess if giving gene therapy repeatedly for a year will lead to the patients’ lungs getting better. Eventually we hope gene therapy will push cystic fibrosis patients towards a normal life expectancy and improve their quality of life significantly.”

The treatment implies that patients inhale a gene through a nebulizer. This method was proved efficient in a previous clinical trial which showed that the working copy of the cystic fibrosis gene enters the lung cells and that it continues to work for a period of weeks and months. This new clinical trial tries to answer the question whether the gene therapy reduce the amount of mucus, inflammation and infection and therefore improve the lung function.

Additional laboratory studies will be made to develop a more efficient delivery method for the gene therapy involving modifies viruses that are able to carry the working cystic fibrosis gene directly into the cells: “The new virus delivery approach has never been tried before but it could be more efficient. It is specifically designed to deliver the gene therapy to the lungs, but it will take several more years of development before it gets to the point of human trials,” said Dr. Gill.

The research will take place with the £3 million funding from Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) after facing uncertain future due to lack of funding after being supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for over a decade.

Professor Eric Alton of Imperial College London said: “With funding for this key part of the consortium’s program secure, we will begin preparations for the trial immediately.”

The results of the trial will be published in 2014, but until then readers can find regular progress on the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium’s website.

Dietary Cadmium Raises Breast Cancer Risk, According To Study

According to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, cadmium intake is correlated with breast cancer. Researchers believe that exposure to cadmium increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Cadmium, a metal found in the environment, can have toxic effects when the intake exceed certain concentrations in humans. In its organic form, cadmium is found in food, water and air. Normal intake of cadmium is of 20-200 micrograms per day. Toxic effects of cadmium depends on the route of exposure. Cadmium that reaches the body through inhalation may lead in a first phase,  to fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, nasopharyngeal irritation, and  then cough, dyspnea, chemical pneumonitis and acute pulmonary edema if the exposure is massive. A chronic exposure to inhaled particles of cadmium can cause emphysema.

In principle, chronic exposure to inhaled or ingested cadmium can cause kidney damage, that is the appearance of tubular proteinuria and impaired ability to concentrate urine. Also, another effect of chronic exposure to cadmium is impaired bone metabolism with osteomalacia  and spontaneous fractures.

Carcinogenic effect of cadmium is much discussed. Recent research reveals that this metal may increase the risk of breast cancer. Researchers associated this metal with the risk of cancer, especially because cadmium accumulates in cereals, potatoes and other vegetables. Agneta Ã…kesson, Ph.D., associate professor at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, points out that the sources of cadmium intake are bread, potatoes, cereals, shellfish and root vegetables. In recent years, the concentration of cadmium increased significantly due to increased use of this metal in fertilizers.It is important to underline  that once accumulated in the body, cadmium is difficult to eliminate.

Cadmium

The study had a sample of 55,987 women followed for more than 12 years. Exposure to cadmium was evaluated using a questionnaire completed by patients. During the follow-up period, researchers found 2,112 cases of breast cancer of which 1626 were estrogen-positive cancers, so hormone-dependent, and 290 estrogen-negative breast cancer cases.

The researchers divided the patients into three groups: those with high exposure to cadmium, medium exposure and minimum exposure. It was found that in patients with high exposure, the risk of breast cancer was higher by 21%. Regarding cases of estrogen positive and estrogen negative, the risk was the same, that is 23%. Researchers also found that women who consumed whole grains had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr Ã…kesson said it is possible that a healthy diet to counteract the harmful effects of cadmium, but this should be confirmed by other studies.

Study Promises Better Treatment For Chemotherapy Resistant Breast Cancer

According to new study conducted at the University of Kentucky and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists are at one  step away from discovering new agents that may treat triple-negative forms of breast cancer, which are also know as basal-like carcinoma. Triple-negative breast cancer is a tumoral subtype which is not expressing on its surface estrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptors and is associated with early metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. This subtype of breast cancer occurs with increased frequency in women of young age.

Cancerous cells in their migration are using a program of cellular signaling called epithelial-mesenchymal transition which promotes cell migration and inhibit adhesion between cells, thus helping tumor cells to spread to other organs and to produce metastasis. This  epithelial-mesenchymal transition program is very active during the process of tissue remodeling, in wound healing and during embryonic development.

Cells to form a histological structure express an adhesion molecule named E-cadherin which has the role to keep cells closely bind in a certain architectural structure specific to each tissue. In the case of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in order for the cells to detach from each other and to spread to other body structures, expression of E-cadherin must be inhibited. This inhibition action is performed by an other protein called Snail which posses the capacity to suppress E-cadherin expression and to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in body cells. The way in which Snail proteins suppress the expression of E-cadherin is unclear, but scientists said that by understanding the molecular mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition which is responsible for breast cancer metastasis will helpful to develop in the future drugs which are capable to disrupt this cellular program.

Breast Cancer Cells

Researchers also observed that to be active Snail proteins must interact with a chromatin modifying enzyme called G9a. This chromatin modifying enzyme posses the capacity to modify the structure of genes that express E-cadherin, thus down-regulating the expression of E-cadherin. This findings about Snail proteins and G9a interaction are very important for triple-negative breast cancer because this interaction represents a determinant factor in metastases occurrence.

“This finding has significant clinical ramification, because chemical compounds or agents that can disrupt the interaction of Snail with G9a will have a great therapeutic potential of treating triple-negative breast cancer. Investigators at the Markey Cancer Center are currently exploring this idea and are keen to develop drugs that can treat triple-negative breast cancer.”, scientists said.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a molecular subtype of breast cancer which is not expressing estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors on its surface. This tumoral subtype is associated with poor prognosis because produces early metastasis, cancer cells are unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy and affects manly young women.

“An understanding of the mechanism underlying the biology of metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer will provide novel therapeutic approaches to combat this life-threatening disease,” researchers added.

Study Sheds Light On Metastasis Signaling Pathway

A study by Adriano Marchese, Ph.D., and colleagues, published in the March 16 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, reveals new findings on how a tumor spreads to different regions of the body. The process of metastasis is one of the characteristics of malignant tumors. If a tumor  metastasized quickly, prognosis is even worse. Patient survives less due to the complications caused by metastases. Lung cancer, for example, particularly small cell cancer, quickly spreads to the nervous system. Often the first symptoms are caused by these metastases of cancer, such as headache, dizziness, vision problems and others.   So far, no definitive therapies to block metastasis have been developed. There is, in turn, the possibility to decrease the metastatic tumors with chemotherapy. Therefore trying to find new ways to prevent this complication (metastasis)  may increase patient survival.

Cancer Metastasis

Researchers have studied the signaling pathway involved in the process of tumor metastasis. Signaling requires the presence of two molecules: the first molecule, CXRR4, which is released into circulation, find  the receiver, namely CXCL12, and binds to it, activating it. The two molecules form what is called ligand-receptor complex. The study author, Adriano Marchese, Ph.D., notes that the objective study was to better understand the purpose of the signaling pathways. “What do we have now is trying to understand the molecular details,” Marchese said.
CXCR4, that is chemokine receptor type 4, is a surface molecule that appears in several cancers such as thyroid, pancreas, breast, lung. This molecule is also known as fusin or CD184 (cluster of differentiation 184). This molecule is implied not only in metastasis, but also in mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells into the bloodstream.

Researchers have used a HeLa cell culture,  also called immortal cells, because they can be divided  an indefinite number of times in the laboratory, as long as conditions are kept for survival (ie nutrients, pH, temperature, moisture, vitamins and other ). Originally, this cell line derived from cervical cancer, and  they were taken from a patient who died of this type of cancer. Using this cell line, scientists have discovered the molecule that plays a key role in metastasis. Researchers hope to develop targeted therapies on this molecule in the future in order to prevent or stop the process of metastasis.

Although studies are promising, research in this direction is just beginning. Scientists must seek drugs that block the target molecules in order to  block the route of metastasis.

Types And Causes Of Back Pain In The Morning

Back pain in the morning is a very common problem in people with chronic lower back problems. Many people go to bed without presenting any back pain symptoms, and in the morning wake up with back pain. Pain can be felt only in a specific area or may involve back neck, back, sides, arms or legs. There are many reasons that can lead to the emergence of such pain, depending on the type of disease diagnosed in the back the patient is suffering from.

Back pain from the neck down

There are several types of back pain that may occur during the morning, depending on the body region where they occur. If waking up also involves  a stiff neck, try to check, and if necessary, to change the pillow you sleep on. There are many types of pillows, including chiropractic and massage pillows, made generally of high quality materials. If you sleep on your stomach, you need a softer pillow, which can shape according to your body in order to support the neck. If you tend to sleep on your back, then you need a pillow with shoulder space, while keeping your neck aligned with the body.

Some common signs that tell you it is better to change your sleeping pillow are numb hands or fingers, hands, neck stiffness, headaches (those occurring in the morning on awakening can be signs of blood pressure problems). Once you change your pillow, you can expect a few nights of discomfort, during which your body will get used to this change.

 For The Complete, Step-by-step Self-assessment/self-treatment System For Neck And Back Pain Sufferers – Click Here!

Pain located in the upper back

Those who sleep on their stomach or on their side, are more likely to experience in the morning, upon waking, pain in the shoulders or upper back pain than those who usually sleep on your back. When a person sleeps on his stomach, the shoulders and the upper back are in a position of slight extension, which can become quite uncomfortable after several hours. Those who sleep with their arms above the head, put additional pressure on the neck, and these muscles can become inflamed from the top to the shoulder. A too big pillow can cause upper back pain when you wake up. For those who sleep on the side or back, we recommend the use of therapeutic pillows that do wonders for your spine.

Pain located in the lower back

Such pain is often a sign that transmits that your sleeping mattress does not provide the support you need. The mattress firmness does not necessarily support, there are many soft mattresses, which give the body a good support. If you sleep on your side and wake up with back pain, it could be too much pressure on the sacro-iliac joints. A pillow placed between your legs can help get rid of the pressure. If you feel that the mattress you sleep on is not good enough to provide optimal conditions for sleep, and buying a new mattress is not an option, place a piece of plywood particle board above the mattress support for a better sleep experience.