Vitamins and a Cancer Drug showing Promising Results in Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

The exact cause of Alzheimer's Disease is not known; it proposed that the disease may be due to progressive atherosclerosis of blood vessels resulting in shrinkage of brain matter, stroke related, decreased neurotransmitter like acetylcholine and deposit of amyloid-β protein in the brain cells.

It is loosely called as dementia, but is a type of dementia with failure of intelligence and  memory; as well as loss of implementation functions.

These changes are due to the progressive dysfunction and death of nerve cells that are responsible for the storage and processing of information.

In brain scans of various types, it has been seen that the region of brain such as temporo-parietal lobe, frontal cortex, brain stem and hippocampus; those are responsible for memory processing and appropriate action are shrunk in Alzheimer's Disease.

Till now, no effective treatment has come up. Some stress is given on brain exercise, physical exercise, change of lifestyle, smoking cessation, control of blood sugar in diabetics and balanced diet etc..

Among the upcoming researches;

• increase in level of homocysteine, an intermediate metabolite of protein methionine is blamed as cause of the disease. It has a direct deleterious effect on brain cells, causes atherosclerosis of blood vessels, promotes amyloid B protein deposit in cells and increases degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by up-regulating the activity of acetylcholinesterase especially, Butyrylcholinesterase.

1. Higher intake of Folic acid and Vitamin B6 & B12 has been shown to be effective in arresting progression and preventing Alzheimer's disease by decreasing the level of homocysteine.

In the research, they have used 20 mg. of Vitamin B6, whereas the recommended daily dose is 1.4mg. in male and 1.2mg. in female; 500mcg. of vitamin B12, whereas the recommended daily dose is 1.5mcg.; and 800mcg of folic acid whereas the recommended daily dose is 200mcg.

There is fear that such high dose may also have deleterious effect on human health. This needs to be addressed in further researches that are in the process.

Therefore, now only recommendation is to take nutritious diet to get good amount of B group of vitamins because it may not be safe to supplement vitamin in the range (Higher than the daily recommended dose) that can effectively work for Alzheimer's.

2. Vitamin E, vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids and Ginkgo may also help through their antioxidant property. Vitamin E is also not to be consumed for longer period without opinion of the physician.

• Second interesting research is on a cancer drug that dissolves the deposited bad protein (Amyloid Beta) in the brain cells or neurons. It has been seen in mice to be effective. The research was on mouse model carried out in University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

The molecule is bexarotene that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Bexarotene is a compound chemically related to vitamin A.
Still, it has not been tried in human and some other researchers have given opinion to contrary. However, more trials are coming up with this drug that may clear the position.

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Compounds in Ginger and Sunshine Vitamin may help to Treat Patients of Asthma otherwise Difficult to Treat

Ginger has a great presence in Indian kitchens. Its role in relieving sore throat as a household remedy is also well recognised. Now, it has made its presence felt in treatment of asthma.

Researchers from Columbia University have shown that that adding compounds derived from ginger synergistically act with the drugs used for bronchodilatation, viz. long acting B2 agonists and corticosteroids.

English: Ginger (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to a report of Indian Council of Medical Research recently, 13 million people aged 15 years and above suffer from asthma in India; and this is a huge burden.
The active compounds like [6]-gingerol, [8]-gigenrol and [6]-shogaol found in ginger induce relaxation of airway smooth muscles (ASM), thereby causing bronchodilatation.
Data show that ginger and its isolated active components, [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol relax ASM, and [8]-gingerol attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness, in part by altering [Ca(2+)] regulation.
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has a critical role in several physiological functions of body. A large number of studies have elucidated the fundamental role of cAMP in the cellular response to many hormones and neurotransmitters.

Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) was the first identified second messenger for several effects to take place.
The level of intracellular cAMP is regulated by the balance between the activity of two types of enzyme: adenylyl cyclase (AC) and the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). 

Both enzymes are encoded by a large number of genes, which differ in their expression patterns and mechanisms of regulation.

PDE is elevated in the cell in response to inflammation. Elevated PDE level causes break down of cAMP. As cAMP is required for relaxation of respiratory smooth muscles that is less or no longer available, there occurs a problem in relaxation of muscles.

PDE inhibitors increase levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) through inhibition of its metabolism and ease the relaxation of the smooth muscles; and help asthmatics in breathing comfortably.

Current management of COPD requires an incremental approach in which patients are first treated with bronchodilators (beta-adrenergic receptor agonists or anticholinergic agents), which can be followed by anti-inflammatory treatment (inhaled or oral corticosteroids) if needed.

It has been seen that that patients with asthma had much higher levels of (Inter-leukine 17A) IL-17A than those without asthma and patients with steroid resistant asthma expressed the highest levels of IL-17A.

In this situation when steroids were unable to lower the production of IL-17A in cells from patients with asthma, vitamin D significantly cut the production of IL-17A in cells from all patients; seen in another study.
The active compounds in ginger and Vitamin D could potentially provide an effective add-on treatment for all asthma sufferers, reducing the amount of steroid-based medicines prescribed.

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New Easy to Use Malaria Test Kit (LAMP) Detects Low Level of Parasite in Blood

A new, easy to use and highly sensitive test that detects malaria parasite in patients suffering from malaria has been developed in UK. It detects malaria with least number of parasites in the peripheral blood, where the conventional tests may fail.

English: Life cycle of malaria, NIH, http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/bowman/SSmalaria.htm not very many people have lived through Malaria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This was published in the ScienceDaily after original publication in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The new test is called LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) and was tested by researchers in UK and Switzerland in two studies.

This is a simple test that can be performed by a non-specialist health workers. Conventionally, for microscopic study of parasite in a blood smear specialist technicians and pathologists, expert in recognising it are required; also in Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) experts are required to process and read the samples.

Here, a sample of blood processed and placed in a test tube with a reactive powder then heated; if the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites are present, the tube glows green. The whole process takes less than an hour.

According to a study UK treats at least 1,500 cases of imported malaria every year. Despite the very best efforts of the NHS, a handful of malaria related deaths still occur annually in UK hospitals. The new LAMP test for malaria performed very well when tested in the parasite reference laboratory at HTD, and correctly identified every malaria patient out of 705 malaria tests performed.

LAMP was faster than PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which require specialised laboratory equipment, costly reagents and advanced training. It was also more accurate than microscopic examination of blood slides, which require a trained specialist to identify the malaria parasites.

Blood samples from 272 patients with suspected malaria were tested using LAMP using a simple generator to provide electrical current. These results were compared with expert microscopy and PCR performed at central reference laboratories. LAMP detected cases of low-level malaria parasite infection that were missed by expert microscopy, and achieved accuracy similar to that of PCR down to very low levels.

The researchers say these findings have important implications for eliminating malaria, which causes an estimated 660,000 deaths worldwide every year.

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Air Pollution Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Diseases

It has been published in the PLOS MEDICINE that suspended particles in the atmosphere may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases through atherosclerosis.

Before the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, air pollution was not considered a national environmental problem. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Atherosclerosis or hardening of arteries is caused by various factors; main players being increased low density lipid level, endothelial dysfunction of the blood vessels and low grade inflammation.
While many factors contribute to setting and progression of atherosclerosis; key contributors are smoking, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, alcohol ingestion, diabetes and age related hormonal changes.
The study finds association of particulate matter (PM) of diameter less than 2.5 micrometer that is about 30 times less than the diameter of a hair, in a concentration of 2.5 microgram/cubic meter with increased in risk of getting cardiovascular disease.
Particulate matter in the atmosphere is characterized by size/diameter (does not include gaseous air pollutants):
· <10 µm (thoracic particles [PM10]),
· < 2.5 um (fine particles [PM 2.5]) – come primarily from burning of fossil fuels in traffic, by industry and in power generation.
· <0.1 µm (ultra fine particles, UFP),
· 2.0-10 µm (coarse particles [PM 2.5-10])
In metropolitan population that is typically exposed to the high level of air pollution, they studied the Intima (Inner Cellular Layer) Media (Middle Layer) Thickness [IMT] that is an indicator of atherosclerosis.
They measured the IMT of an artery in neck, the carotid over the period of time to register the changes.
Higher long-term residential concentrations of PM_2.5 experience a faster rate of IMT progression as compared to other people within the same metropolitan area.

Stages of endothelial dysfunction in atheroscerosis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Improvements in air quality over the duration of the study were similarly associated with changes in IMT progression, with greater reductions in PM_2.5 showing slower IMT progression.
These findings suggest that higher long-term PM_2.5 exposures may be associated with an acceleration of vascular pathologies over time.
While, there is no clear-cut explanation for association of air pollution with progression of atherosclerosis,it has been proposed that several factors are generated in the tissue of lungs in response to the particulate matter may have key roles to play.
Human alveolar macrophages exposed to PM₁₀ in vitro produce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in a dose-dependent manner, as well as several other cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1-beta, IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor. Bronchial epithelial cells exposed to PM₁₀ produce IL-8 and TNF-alpha.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1-beta are known to up-regulate the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) to endothelial cells and promote the accumulation of monocytes and T lymphocytes in atherosclerotic lesions.
In addition, TNF-alpha activates arterial endothelium to increase l-selectin–dependent monocyte adhesion, which is a key pathogenic event in atherosclerogenesis.
Interleukin-6 activates the hematopoietic system to release leukocytes and platelets into the circulation and stimulates the production of acute-phase proteins, such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein.
The interaction between PMNs and the endothelium causes the release of functionally active MCP-1, which assists in the recruitment of both monocytes and T lymphocytes into atherosclerotic lesions.
It is postulated that the leukocytosis, high levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and induction of acute coronary events can be initiated by cytokines released by alveolar macrophages when they phagocytose atmospheric particulates deposited in the lung.

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How to Proceed where Conventional Investigations fail to Diagnose Cause of Raised Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test frequently ordered for joint pain, fever of long duration, cancer, muscle pain, malaise and in patients with many other symptoms.

Measurement of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Westergren-method (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The ESR is increased by any cause or focus of inflammation. The ESR is increased in pregnancy, inflammation, anemia or rheumatoid arthritis, and decreased in polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, and congestive heart failure. The basal ESR is slightly higher in females.
The ESR is governed by the balance between pro-sedimentation factors, mainly fibrinogen, and those factors resisting sedimentation, namely the negative charge of the erythrocytes (zeta potential).
When an inflammatory process is present, the high proportion of fibrinogen in the blood causes red blood cells to stick to each other. The red cells form stacks called 'rouleaux,' which settle faster. Rouleaux formation can also occur in association with some lymphoproliferative disorders in which one or more immunoglobulins are secreted in high amounts.
Raised ESR is common marker of Inflammatory diseases, collagen disease, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Sometimes, no obvious cause is found by the usual investigations for a raised ESR that poses difficulty in diagnosing the underlying disease.There is also no agreed protocol for how to proceed from here.
Normal ESR is 1-25 mm/1st hour in female and 0-17 mm/1st hour in male. Widely used formula for calculation of normal value of ESR in adults that varies according to age is; in male less than or equal to Age/2; in female (age+10)/2.
In a research article published in the PLOS ONE by Lensen K-JDF et al conclude that 18F-fluorodeoxglucose positron emission tomography (PET/CT) can be very helpful in diagnosing the such a non-obvious disease.
After use of conventional investigations like ultra sonogram, CT, X-Rays, MRIs and routine blood tests, if no diagnosis is forthcoming, they suggest FDG/PET/CT.
In this way, they have established diagnosis of Large vessel vasculitis like Giant Cell Arteritis, malignancy and autoimmune diseases in otherwise undiagnosed cases of raised ESR.

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King of Fruits Mango May Actually Do Good to Diabetics

Generally, diabetics are advised not to take sweets and sweet fruits; so also mango. But, a new research by Edralin Lucas, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University concludes that mango may actually lower the blood sugar and improve body composition in obese individuals; body mass index of 30 or more.

English: Example of Mangoes, shoot in Taipei, Taiwan. Two different species. The right side one being the Gold Mango. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mango is a good source of vitamin A in form of Beta-Carotene, as other red or orange colored fruits like papaya contains. It also contains “E” and “C” vitamins; the later found more in unripe ones.
It contains many minerals like potassium that is good for heart and  selenium that is good as an antioxidant. Mango is high in polyphenolic antioxidants and soluble fiber.
Being high in iron, mango is said to be very good for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anaemia. Mango is believed to be effective in relieving clogged pores of the skin and help to relieve acne.
One serving of fruit should contain 15 grams of carbohydrates. The size of the serving depends on the carbohydrate content of the fruit. The advantage of eating a low-carbohydrate fruit is that one can consume a larger portion. But, whether one eats a low-carb or high-carb fruit, as long as the serving size contains 15 grams of carbohydrates, the effect on your blood sugar is the same.
The following fruit servings contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates:

• 1/2 medium banana
• 1/2 cup (83 grams) cubed mango
• 1 1/4 cup (190 grams) cubed watermelon
• 1 1/4 cup (180 grams) whole strawberries
• 1/3 cup (80 grams) sapodilla (chikoo)
• 3/4 cup (124 grams) cubed pineapple

Though exact mechanism of action in reducing blood sugar is not known, mango thought to exert its effects through polyphenolic compounds and fibre.
Research has shown that several other plants -- soy, green tea and grape seed -- and their polyphenolic compounds have a positive effect on adipose tissue.
Not only mango fruit but also it’s leaf may have a beneficial effect on diabetes and obesity. Before going to bed some 10 or 15 mango leaves can be put in warm water in a container and lid is closed. The next day morning this water can be filtered and taken empty stomach.

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