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Talk Therapy—Not Medication—Best For Social Anxiety Disorder, Study Finds

Oct 7, 2014

3086

Social anxiety disorder – a psychiatric condition characterized by severe fear of social situations such that the person affected by it, lives in constant fear of meeting people and avoids social situations altogether. This disorder affects 13% of Americans and Europeans. Most people pass it as shyness and never receive treatment for it and those who do get medications because that is the most accessible treatment. There is a shortage of trained psychotherapists who could help people suffering from social anxiety disorder.

Antidepressants is the most commonly treatment prescribed for social anxiety disorder, however a new study reveal that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective in the long run. Unlike medication whose effects wanes once one stops taking them, CBT can have long lasting effects even after the treatment has been stopped.

The study took into account and analysed data from 101 clinical trials and compared multiple types of medication and talk therapies. The results of the same are published online in The Lancet Psychiatry dated September 26^th.

Evan Mayo-Wilson, DPhil, a research scientist in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the study leader remarked that social anxiety disorder is more than just shyness. People suffering from this disorder experiences severe impairment � like they shun friendships, turn down promotions at work which requires increased social interaction, etc. The good news however is that social anxiety is treatable. It is now known what works best for this condition; therefore the need of the hour is to improve access to psychotherapy for those who are suffering.

The research was conducted in collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Oxford University and University College in London.

For the research, Mayo-Wilson and his colleagues accumulated data from 13,164 participants in 101 clinical trials and analysed them. All the participants had severe and longstanding social anxiety. About 9,000 had received medication or a placebo pill, and more than 4,000 were prescribed psychological intervention. For few of the trials, medication was combined with talk therapy. But, there was no substantial evidence that combined therapy worked better than talk therapy alone. For this study several different types of talk therapy were compared and it was found that individual CBT was the most effective. Mayo-Wilson explains that CBT is a form of treatment that focuses on the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It is aimed to help people challenge irrational fears and overcome their avoidance of social situations.

People who do not have access to CBT or those who do not want to avail of it are commonly prescribed antidepressants. Researchers say that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective but they can also have serious adverse events. For some that it doesn’t work at all while among others the improvement symptoms do not last long. The researchers are of the opinion that medication is important; however it should be used as a second-line therapy for people who do not respond to or do not want psychological therapy. Mayo-Wilson also remarked that more investment in psychological therapies would improve quality of life, increase workplace productivity, and will reduce healthcare costs.

Typically, social anxiety disorder begins in adolescence or early adulthood, which is a critical phase in a person's life. It can adversely impair a person’s daily functioning by hindering the formation of relationships, by negatively affecting performance at work or school, etc. In a nutshell, it reduces the overall quality of life. If not treated in due time, it can have long lasting adverse consequences.

The group’s research and study has already led to new treatment guidelines guidance in the U.K. Mayo-Wilson is of the opinion that it could have a significant impact on policymaking and the organization of care in the U.S as well.

References

https://socialexpression.net/dsa�

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140925205629.htm

https://www.healthed.com.au/talk-therapy-not-medication-best-for-social-anxiety-disorder-large-study-finds/

How Physical Exercise Protects the Brain from Stress Induced Depression

Oct 7, 2014

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A recent study published in the prestigious journal Cell � Jorge Ruas and Maria Lindskog dwells on how physical exercise protects the brain from stress induce depression mice.

We have always known that physical exercise has many beneficial effects on the human health which includes protection of the brain from stress induced depression. However, what were not known till now are the mechanisms that mediate this protective effect. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show that exercise training induces changes in the skeletal muscles that cleans the blood of a substance that gets accumulated during stress and has harmful effects on the brain.

Depression is a commonly prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide. According to The World Health Organization (WHO) more than 350 million people suffer from depression.

Mia Lindskog, researcher at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet said that they are still now aware what depression is in neuro biological terms. The study actually represents another piece in the puzzle as the recent study provides an explanation for the protective biochemical changes that occur in the body as a result of exercise. This prevents the brain from getting hampered during stress.

A protein named PGC-1?1 (pronounced PGC-1alpha1) is known to increase the skeletal muscle when one exercises and it paves way for beneficial muscle conditioning in connection with physical activity. For this study, the researchers used a genetically modified mouse that has high levels of PGC-1?1 in skeletal muscle and showed many characteristics of well-trained muscles, even without exercising.

Normal mice and genetically modified mice both were subjected to stressful environment like loud noises, reversed circadian rhythm and flashing lights at irregular intervals. After five weeks of being subjected to stressful environment, the normal mice developed depressive behavior. However the genetically modified mice – those having with well-trained muscle characteristics, showed no depressive symptoms.

Jorge Ruas, principal investigator at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet said that their initial hypothesis was that well trained muscles produce a substance that has beneficial effect on the brain. However, the study revealed that well trained muscles produce an enzyme that removes harmful substances from the body. It can be said that the muscle function is like that of kidney or liver.

On further study, researchers found that mice with higher levels of PGC-1?1 in muscle also have higher level of enzymes called KAT. Kats is responsible for converting kyurenine – a substance produced during stress into kynurenic acid � a substance that doesn't pass from the blood to the brain. While the exact function of kynurenine is not known, it is seen that high levels of kynurenine is found in patients with mental illness. Researchers also experimented by giving the normal mice doses of kynurenine and they found that these mice showed depressive behavior. However, the genetically modified mice with increased levels of PGC-1?1 in muscle showed no such symptoms. It was observed that the mice with elevated levels of PGC-1?1 never showed increased levels of kynurenine in their blood. That was because the KAT enzymes in their well-trained muscles quickly convert it to kynurenic acid, resulting in a protective mechanism.

Jorge Ruas says that this study is important as it opens up a new pharmacological principle in the treatment of depression, in which attempts could be made to influence skeletal muscle function instead of targeting the brain directly. Skeletal muscle seems to have a detoxification like effect which when activated shows the ability to protect the brain from insults and related mental illness.

References

https://crescentcitystrength.wordpress.com/2014/09/27/how-physical-exercise-protects-the-brain-from-stress-induced-depression/

https://www.universityherald.com/articles/11576/20140925/physical-exercise-helps-combat-stress-induced-depression.htm

Positive Thinking

Life Style

Oct 5, 2014

2785

You are the creator and destroyer of your own destiny�, the often used quote tends to be true with everyone's life. It depends on human tendency, to either take good or bad decisions for their life. A single wrong step can lead you thousands miles away from the destination one dreams of. So, it's our thinking�process or the attitude that leads us to many situations. Positive Thinking is not just a good to hear, creamy term, but it possesses in itself very broader consequences and experiences. Each minute, the human brain undergoes several thought processes. But, focusing on the brighter and better side of those thoughts leads to positive thinking, which in realistic world always has greater positive results.

Positive Thinking works and helps person in his daily life chores. It comes up with a feeling of happiness, joy, love, contentment, pleasure and gratification. Taking an example of a student life, where positive thinking is the prior cause of failure and success. Supposedly, two students of same grade are appearing for the exam. One student, who doesn't thinks positively, has all those negativity before exam that the other students would definitely perform better than him. So, with such thoughts, he is unable to study for the exam. Secondly, in anxiety or some depressing situation, he wakes up late on the exam day, so rushes for exam. In such hassle, he didn't even have his breakfast. During the exam time, again surrounded by negative and pessimistic thoughts, he couldn't attempt his exam well.
Second student, preparing for the same exam approached and reacted to the situation in different way. He was sure that he would pass his exam with good marks. So, he prepared it well and visualized himself achieving his goals. On the exam day he wakes up on time and had his breakfast. In exam hall, he attempted the whole exam with a positive energy.

Finally, the first student failed but the latter scored a high rank in same exam. So, the success and failure of the person depends on his attitude towards the situation in that particular time. Positive thinking is not a miracle which would always make you get the best thing of this world, but definitely it's the only thing which won't lead you to compromise with the persisting situations. With positive thinking, you explore and effort to make things better and beautiful for yourself.

Positive thinking is an art and way of life. Instead of worrying over things, it compels you to change the situation in favorable ways. It helps you to bring a broader smile on your face, with an attitude where you believe in yourself and compels you to give a try even in situations which seem to be awkward or strange. With a positive attitude, a person gains a quality to cope with problems and hazards of life, more easily and calmly. Instead of starting to panic in such situations, they become quite resilient, and attain great ability to cope with adverse situations. Next, positive thinking definitely does good to your health and state of mind, increases the immunity because less stress and more smiles often increase the person's lifespan. The effects and impacts of positive thinking are not just limited to the good feeling of the moment you think you are optimistic, but it helps to develop skills which one possesses for lifetime.

So, positive thinking helps you see the wider possibilities in life, bringing joy and happiness. But, the excess of everything is worse, the over confidence often leads to disappointments. Stop worrying and just be happy, bring the beautiful smile on your face in every situation and believe in yourself. Rest is the work of brain, or you might say luck or destiny!

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-tips-to-overcome-negative-thoughts-positive-thinking-made-easy/

How to Improve Self Esteem

Life Style

Oct 5, 2014

3092

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.� � Eleanor Roosevelt.

This quote essential captures the essence of self-esteem. Put simply, self-esteem implies self-worth. It is about, who we are and how we value ourselves. It is about knowing one's strength and weaknesses and accepting it.There are many reasons why people experience low self-esteem � fear of failure, certain life experiences, stressful and demanding job, etc., can be some of the reasons. But, the good news is that there are some great practical ways to improve self-esteem. Here are a few of our top tips can help one in improving their self-esteem.

– Don't compare yourself with others: Comparing yourself with others is the worst thing that you can do for your self-esteem. However well to do you may be, there will always be someone who are better than you. Trying to exceed other's achievements is losing game as you will likely have to outdone too many people. So, instead focus on being the best you can be.

– Feel good about yourself: If you can't feel good about yourself, no one else will. If you do a job well or meet a target you set for yourself, compliment yourself for it. When we feel good about the things we do and achieve our self-esteem improves.

– Stop criticizing self: There is a difference between self-introspection and self-criticism. If you have only negative things to say about yourself, you are working towards depreciating your own image. Be it about your relationships, appearances, financial situations, career, etc., always emphasize about the positives.

– Associate with positive people: When you have positive people around you, their positivity rubs off on you. Positive people are encouraging and supporting and they help in boosting your self-esteem.

– Exercise regularly to keep fit: Being healthy and fit can do wonders for improving your self-esteem. So, make it a habit to exercise at least 30 minutes every day. By improving your physical strength, you will sense a feeling of empowerment which will definitely boost your self-esteem.

– Focus on Your Positive Qualities: People often make the mistake of dwelling on their inadequacies which in turn make them feel low about themselves. You should instead work on making a list of the positive qualities about yourself. Are you generous, kind, honest, courteous, etc.? Just make a list and refer to this list whenever you need motivation.

– Smile Often: There is a saying � smile goes a mile. When one smiles chemical changes occur in the body. Blood flows into the brain and it can make you feel happier and relieve you of any stress and anxiety. Endorphins � the feel good hormones are released that boosts your moos and enhances your self-esteem.

– Do what you love to do: It is important for one to engage themselves in work they enjoy � be it a hobby, a part time side job or social work activity. One cannot feel good about themselves when they feel that they are stuck in a job they don't love. For your self-esteem to soar indulge yourself in activities and work that make your feel good and valuable.

– Treat Yourself: Rewarding yourself with small treats every day is a great way to feel good about self. It doesn't need to be a big thing � small and simple things like reading a book, talking a walk in the park or a good head massage in a massage parlor, etc., are good enough.

People who have high self-esteem appreciate their own worth and they feel good about themselves, and about their achievements and abilities. Having high self-esteem doesn't mean that one is more able or is devoid of faults, it simply means that they accept who they are and are happy with it.

References

https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/10/30/6-tips-to-improve-your-self-esteem/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374

Simple Blood Test Could Be Used As Tool for Early Cancer Diagnosis

Oct 3, 2014

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One of the most common metabolic disorders associated with cancer that occurs in around 10 to 20 per cent people is Hypercalcaemia � a condition that is characterized with elevated levels of calcium. Scientists have known the connection between it and cancer, but it was always thought to be a late effect of cancer. However, a new study has for the first time explored the possibility that Hypercalcaemia could predate the diagnosis of cancer. The study has found that it is quite possible that people who develop cancer later have Hypercalcaemia before the onset of cancer. This discovery can lead to an early diagnosis of cancer and can help in successfully treating it.

The good news is that a simple blood test is sufficient to find out if a person has Hypercalcaemia. This has prompted doctors to explore the connection between cancer and Hypercalcaemia further. The research about the same was published in the British Journal of Cancer. The research analysed the electronic records of 54000 patients whose blood reports showed an elevated level of calcium. They looked further to find out how many of them went on to receive a cancer diagnosis.

All previous studies on Hypercalcaemia and cancer that have been carried out focussed on patients who had already been diagnosed with cancer. It was the understanding that Hypercalcaemia was a late effect of the cancer remarked Dr. Fergus Hamilton. He had led the research from the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol. He further said that they wanted to look at the issue from a different perspective and find out if high calcium levels in blood could be used as an early indicator of cancer and therefore in the diagnosis of cancer.

The results that were found after the analysis of data from 54,000 patients were eye-opening. It was seen that in men, even mild hypercalcaemia (2.6�2.8?mmol?l?1) signified a risk of cancer in one year of 11.5 per cent. If the calcium levels were above 2.8?mmol?l?1, the risk increased to 28 per cent. Interestingly in women, the risks were much less, with the corresponding figures being 4.1 per cent and 8.7 per cent. It was also noted that in men, 81 per cent of the cancer associated with hypercalcaemia was caused by lung, prostate, myeloma, colorectal and other hematological cancers. But, in women, cancer was very less prevalent.

The variation in the occurrence of cancer was surprising remarked Dr. Hamilton. He said that we thought about a number of possible explanations. We concluded that it might be because women are much more likely to have hyperparathyroidism, another cause of hypercalcaemia. This condition is rare in men, so their hypercalcaemia is more likely to be due to cancer.

The successful completion of this research programme can transform the diagnosis of cancer and prevent hundreds of unnecessary deaths each year. The main objective of the research programme objectives is to design and test new service pathways that can lead to early diagnosis of cancer. These service pathways should be based on sound medical evidence and must make efficient use of resources to take full account of patient views.

This research is part of the Discovery Programme which aims to transform the diagnosis of cancer and hence prevent hundreds of unnecessary deaths each year. It is being carried out in partnership with NHS trusts and six Universities, a group of the UK’s leading researchers into primary care cancer diagnostics are working together in a five year programme.

References

https://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2014/september/hypercalcaemia-cancer.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/2hf8ey/simple_blood_test_could_be_used_as_tool_for_early/

Agonizing Rabies Deaths Can Be Stopped Worldwide

Oct 2, 2014

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Rabies is responsible for the death of an estimated 69,000 people worldwide every year, which comes to 189 a day. The disease gets spread through the saliva of infected dogs. �The chances that a person who has developed the dreaded symptoms of rabies, will succumb to death after contracting the virus is almost 100%. As high as 40 % of the deaths occurring due to rabies includes children mostly in Africa and Asia.� That is quite a big number and the irony is that it happens due to a disease that is completely preventable. A rabies vaccine has been in existence since 1885; it was developed by Pasteur.

The symptoms of rabies are quite similar to that of flu. These symptoms include general weakness or discomfort, headache or fever. There can be a discomfort or itching sensation at the site of bite. If not treated in time, the symptoms can progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia. If the clinical symptoms of rabies appear, the disease almost always results in death.

A team of researchers led by the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health at Washington State University have concluded in a recent research that the deadly virus responsible for rabies can be eliminated among humans by stopping them right at its origins, i.e., in the dogs. Getting rid of rabies is not all that difficult � in fact, the process is cost-effective and achievable through mass dog vaccination programs. Scientists have reported the same in a research paper that was published in September 26^th issue of Science magazine. They further wrote that since, the infection occurs as a result of interaction between animals and people; a “One Health” approach is of prime importance. In such an approach, veterinary, medical and public health professionals collaborate to eliminate the disease worldwide.

Coincidentally, the publication of this article – “Implementing Pasteur’s vision for rabies elimination”, the 119th anniversary of French scientist’s Louis Pasteur’s death and a global campaign to wrench an ancient disease in the shadows to the forefront are all happening hand in hand. Veterinary infectious disease expert Guy Palmer, who directs WSU’s Allen School and is co-author of the paper, said that since rabies is a 100% preventable disease, people should not be dying at all. The reason why this disease persists is due to various reasons which include political complacency and lack of international commitment. These reasons have also been cited by the researchers in the article. They concluded that eliminating the disease meets all the criteria for a global health priority. Getting rid of this fatal disease is not only epidemiologically and logistically feasible but also is cost-effective and socially equitable.

The successful implementation of mass dog vaccination program in the Eastern African Country of Tanzania is a proof that if mass vaccinations in dogs are carried out, the deaths happening due to rabies can be prevented. Members of the Allen School and the Serengeti Health Initiative worked in 180 villages as a part of this initiative and vaccinated as many as 1,000 dogs in a single day. According to Allen School researcher Felix Lankester, based in East Africa, who is the paper’s lead author the number of people killed by rabies has dropped from an average of 50 each year to almost zero since the program began in 2003. �The vaccination of 70-percent of the dogs in the region disrupted the route of transmission from dogs to humans.

Human rabies is rare in developed nations where mass dog vaccination programs are carried out. Since, the disease is preventable, it should be viewed as a global public health problem that can be solved, opines Lankester, Palmer and co-authors from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, the University of Glasgow in Scotland and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

References

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140925141228.htm

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/wsu-ard092314.php

Strategic or Random? In The Face Of Uncertainty, the Brain Chooses Randomness as the Best Strategy

Oct 2, 2014

3599

Most of the times we like to make informed decisions � we take into account our knowledge and the experience we have had in the past. But, in some situations it is better to explore a new situation that is unfettered by the past. A new study by the scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus reveals that our brain can temporarily disconnect information about past experiences from decision making circuits which can trigger random behavior.

The research led by Janelia lab head Alla Karpova and postdoctoral fellow Gowan Tervo, was published in the September 25, 2012, issue of the journal Cell. In the study, it was observed that rats playing a game for a food reward usually acted strategically. However, when faced with an unpredictable and hard to beat competitor, they switched to random behavior. The animals sometimes got stuck in a random behavior mode; however they found that by manipulating the activity in a certain region of the brain, normal behavior could be restored in them. The random behavior is similar to the behavior shown by patients suffering from a psychological condition known as learned helplessness. The findings of this study may help explain that condition and suggest strategies for treating it.

Our brains integrate information from the past to guide decision making in new situations. However, under certain circumstances like if an animal wants to avoid a predator � he can move unpredictable which increases its chances of survival, is more preferable. Karpova remarked that scientists have long speculated that the brain may a way of switching off the influence of past experiences so that behavior can proceed randomly. However, other disagrees as they think that it is inefficient, and it would be a hindrance to a person's ability to utilize his past experience to optimize behavioral choices.

Karpova and her colleagues experimented to find out if animals could be forced to switch into this random mode of behavior. They did this by placing rats in a very competitive setting in which a computer-simulated competitor determined which of two holes in a wall would provide a sugary reward. The virtual competitor, whose sophistication was controlled by the experimenters, analyzed the rats’ behavior to predict their future choices. �The researchers found that when the normal animals realized that they could not outcompete them, they behaved randomly. The experiment gave them the evidence that the brain could generate both strategic and random behavior, Karpova and her colleagues experimented further to know how it switched between modes. The scientists speculated that it might involve region of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, where that internal model is likely encoded. It was finally observed that the animals could be manipulated to switch between random and strategic behavior by changing the level of a stress hormone called norepinephrine in the anterior cingulate cortex. When norepinephrine in the region was increased, random behavior was activated and when the same was suppressed, the strategic mode was enabled.

The team of researchers also observed that when subjected to competitive environment for a long while, the animal often continues to behave randomly even though such a behavior is no longer advantageous. The researcher drew parallels between this behavior and the condition of learned helplessness, in which strategic decision-making is hindered following an experience in which a person is unable to control the environment.

The scientists found that they could release the animals from this stuck state by lowering the release of norepinephrine in the anterior cingulate cortex. So, just manipulating a single neuromodulatory input into one brain area, the strategic mode could be dramatically enhanced. Karpova said that this discovery might shed light on what goes wrong in conditions such as learned helplessness and how it can be alleviated.

References

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/cp-itf091814.php

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-strategic-random-brain.html

Modified Vitamin D Shows Promise as Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Oct 2, 2014

4043

Pancreatic cancer is amongst one of the deadliest forms of cancer; it has taken the lives of some of the most well-known figures of recent years like Steve Jobs and Patrick Swayze. As per the National Institutes of Health, every year 46,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer and about 40,000 people succumb to this disease. A new research by the Salk Institute has brought a new ray of hope in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The researchers at the Institute have found a synthetic derivative of Vitamin D that seems to collapse the barrier of cells that shields pancreatic tumors. As a result of this therapeutic drugs can be much more effectively used to treat the cancer.

Ronald Evans, director of Salk’s Gene Expression Laboratory and senior author of the new paper said, “While the success of this drug in humans with pancreatic cancer is still unclear, the findings in animal studies were strong, raising hope that ongoing clinical trials will give people with this terrible disease hope for a truly new type of therapy.�

If successful this new therapy could also prove instrumental in treating other tough-to-treat tumors like lung, liver and kidney cancer. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is the lowest in the last five years. Evans, holder of Salk’s March of Dimes Chair and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator said that part of the problem is that the science of pancreatic cancer and its renowned resistance to therapy has not been understood. That is why the work that is being carried out in that regard is so important.”

Pancreatic tumor has the ability to communicate with nearby cells, also known as the tumor microenvironment and it is one of the key factors for its growth.� When the tumor cells send out signals, the microenvironment gets inflamed and dense which helps the cancer grow. Not only that, it also blocks the access of immune cells and chemotherapeutic drugs which makes the cancer particularly hard to treat. It was theoretically known that the activation of the microenvironment was reversible, but it was not known what was responsible for the activation in first place, making it hard to turn off, observed postdoctoral research fellow Mara Sherman, first author of the new paper.

The researchers focussed on one component of this shield around the tumor – the pancreatic stellate cells. These cells usually respond to small injuries by switching to an activated state for a brief time and spurs new cell growth. In the state of cancer, the stellate cells near a tumor are constantly turned on. This constant activation of the stellate cells provides the tumor cells with extra growth factors and therefore helps them proliferate. They also form a wall-like barrier because of which chemotherapeutics and other cancer-fighting drugs cannot do its work and treat the cancer cells.

Evans’ group in 2013 discovered that the stellate cells in the liver could be inactivated by a chemically modified form of vitamin D. �They speculated if it could work the same way in pancreas, although it was thought that vitamin D receptor was not typically present in pancreatic tissue. When the activated and inactive stellate cells in the pancreas were examined, the group of researchers found that the activated stellate cells near a tumor had high levels of the vitamin D receptor. When modified vitamin D was added to the activated stellate cells, the cells quickly reverted back to a healthy, inactivated state. They also noticed that the cells stopped the production of signals that spur growth and inflammation.

In previous experiments when normal vitamin D was added in activated stellate cells, it was rapidly broken down. However, the modified version of vitamin D didn't break down and was more stable, resilient and effective in vitro. The effectiveness of the new vitamin D-like compound have been tested in mice and it is found that combining the drug with existing chemotherapeutics can give a 50 percent increase in lifespan compared to chemotherapy alone. The vitamin D doesn't attack the cancer cells; instead it changes the environment for the chemotherapy drugs to work.”

Evans group has teamed up with clinicians at the University of Pennsylvania to launch a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of using the modified vitamin D-like drug in cancer patients before pancreatic surgery.

References

https://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelease_details.php?press_id=2051

https://www.sciencenewsline.com/summary/2014092517310044.html

‘Tickling’ Your Ear Could Be Good For Your Heart

Oct 1, 2014

3880

Researchers have discovered that stimulating the nerves in your ears could improve heart health and reduce the risks of heart diseases. A team at the University of Leeds used a standard TENS machine to stimulate the ears to generate electrical pulses. The TENS machine is similar to those designed to relieve labor pains. These electrical pulses are applied to the tragus, which is the small raised, bud-like outgrowth at the front of the ears immediately before the ear canal. The stimulation caused by the

machine changed the effect of the nervous system that it has on the heart by reducing the nervous signals.

Jim Deuchars, professor of Systems Neuroscience in the University of Leeds and a Faculty member of Biological Sciences, says, You feel a bit of a tickling sensation in your ear when the TENS machine is on, but it is painless. It is early days�so far we have been testing this on healthy subjects�but we think it does have potential to improve the health

of the heart and might even become part of the treatment for heart failure.�

34 healthy subjects took part in this research and they had to apply electrodes to their ears and the TENS machine was switched on. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machines took 15-minute sessions and each subject was closely monitored. The key aspects to be monitored were the variability in the heartbeats of the subjects

and the activity responsible in the nervous system that drives the heart. Monitoring had to be continued for 15 minutes after the TENS machine was turned off.

Dr Jennifer Clancy, the lead researcher of the University of Leeds' School of Biomedical Sciences, says, The first positive effect we observed was increased variability in subjects' heartbeats. A healthy heart does not beat like a metronome. It is continually interacting with its environment�getting a little bit faster or a bit slower depending on the demands on it. An unhealthy heart is more like a machine constantly banging out the same beat. We found that when you stimulate this nerve you get about a 20% increase in heart rate variability.�

The second positive effect of stimulating the ears was in suppressing the sympathetic nervous system, which drives heart functioning using adrenaline.

We measured the nerve activity directly and found that it reduced by about 50% when we stimulated the ear. This is important because if you have heart disease or heart failure, you tend to have increased sympathetic activity. This drives your heart to work hard, constricts your arteries and causes damage. A lot of treatments for heart failure �try to stop that sympathetic activity�beta-blockers, for instance, block the action of the hormones that implement these signals. Using the TENS, we saw a reduction of the nervous activity itself,� said Clancy.

The researchers found that there were significant residual effects of this therapy even 15 minutes after the TENS machine was turned off. Neither the heart rate variability nor the sympathetic nerve activity came back to its normal state for about 15 minutes of the procedure completion.

This procedure works by stimulating a major nerve called the vagus, which plays an important role in regulating the heart and other vital organs. A sensory branch of the vagus found in the outer ear serves as the route to sending electrical down through the nerves and into the brain. Researchers could thus influence outflows from the brain that govern the heart.

Stimulation of vagal nerves has previously been used by doctors to treat conditions such as epilepsy.

We now need to understand how big and how lasting the residual effect on the heart is and whether this can help patients with heart problems, probably alongside their usual treatments. The next stage will be to conduct a pre-clinical study in heart failure patients,� says Deuchars.

This research is published in the journal “Brain Stimulation” and was funded by the University of Leeds.

References

https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3572/tickling_your_ear_could_be_good_for_your_heart

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2730160/Listen-heart-Tiny-electric-shocks-EAR-boost-cardiac-health-treat-heart-failure.html

Stem cell therapies hold promise, but obstacles remain

Sep 30, 2014

3618

The journal Science has an article by a group of researchers, including a neurologist Steve Goldman, M.D., Ph.D. from University of Rochester reviewing the potential and challenges the scientific community faces, as therapies involving stem cells start becoming reality.

This review article talks about pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which are the stem cells that can produce all cell types. These include embryonic stem cells, and the cells derived from mature cells.

The process of “reprogramming” or “inducing” means using a patient’s own skin cells to make sure that so that the stem cells possesses similar characteristics as the patient.

These cells are then differentiated to turn into virtually any and all cell types found in the body. It takes careful manipulation of the chemical and genetic signaling of the cell. While this process is relatively new when put in scientific terms � it was first demonstrated in 2007, that the skin cells could be successfully reprogrammed.

This is one of the reasons that these cells promise of serving the purpose and are most favored by the scientific community as they are derived from the patient’s own tissue.

Consequently, stem cells presents the doctors with the most ideal choice for transplant as they are a perfect genetic match and are much less likely to be rejected.

Thus it mitigates the need to use any immune system suppressing medication or drugs.

There are a number of diseases that might be treated successfully by the use of PSCs, including diabetes, liver diseases and heart problems. This article addresses the current efforts that are being diverted to apply PSCs to eradicate these diseases completely. The current state of therapies for neurological diseases is being reviewed by a distinguished professor and co-director of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Goldman.

The authors say that despite significant progress in this field, over the last several years, there are still concrete challenges that remain ahead. In order to treat any of the mentioned diseases, scientists need to obtain the precise cell populations that will be enough to treat them. Also that once these cells are transplanted, they need to ensure that these cells get to the location where they are needed the most

and get integrated into the existing tissue. These cells also have to be first checked for purity and then screened for unwanted cells and other particles that may cause tumors.

Goldman alongwith his co-authors claim that “the brain is arguably the most difficult of the organs in which to employ stem cell-based therapeutics.” The central ervous system has a rather complex network of connections and interdependency. The neurons and other support cells are very well connected and a precise and matching reconstruction of the damaged parts of the human brain is practically impossible.

They also pointed out that many degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease that involve more than one type of brain cells, makes for a difficult target for stem cell therapy. Thus it is argued by Goldman that neurological diseases that affect only a single cell type are without a doubt more promising targets for PSC-based therapies.

These diseases are Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. They occur when the brain looses dopamine-producing neurons and medium spiny neurons, respectively. In particular, diseases that involved support cells found in the

brain known as glia � such as multiple sclerosis, white matter stroke, cerebral palsy, and pediatric leukodystrophies � are especially strong candidates for stem cell therapies.

Diseases that cause loss of a glial cell type are called the oligodendrocyte. In multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system is responsible for the loss of these cells as it attacks and destroys them.

Oligodendrocytes are produced by another cell called the oligodendrocyte progenitor cell, or OPC.

Scientists speculate that a successful transplant into the diseased or injured brain might help OPCs to produce new oligodendrocytes.

References

https://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/9/52/

https://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v10/n7s/full/nm1064.html

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