In Conversation: How to understand chronic pain

In Conversation: How to understand chronic pain

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In recent years, chronic pain has gained recognition as a medical condition in and of itself. This is because chronic pain is a disease process that is so complicated that we are only now beginning to understand what triggers it. However, what is it like to live with chronic pain, and how do the body and brain cope with it?

People often describe their pain as aching, dull, gnawing, burning, sharp, shooting, and piercing. Imagine having to deal with some of this every day until you have no idea what it’s like to go about your day without this constant pain that gradually saps your physical and mental stamina. For many people who suffer from chronic pain, that is their reality.

It could be an internal struggle concealed behind gritted teeth and fake smiles, and some days might be fantastic and some days awful. However, how does chronic pain become, well, chronic? In the most recent episode of our Pain Awareness Month-themed In Conversation podcast, Medical News Today delves into the science of chronic pain with Drs. Tony L. and Hilary Guite. As Joel Nelson, a longtime patient and advocate for psoriatic disease and arthritis, Yaksh, a professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, talks about his experience with pain.

Because chronic pain is not life-threatening, it is frequently disregarded as merely a symptom of a more serious issue or not given the attention it deserves. Chronic pain, however, has a social as well as a personal cost. According to studies (), individuals who experience chronic pain may find it difficult to carry out daily tasks and activities and may also have worse general health. Chronic pain sufferers may also experience unemployment or unstable employment.

Chronic pain was not recognized or diagnosed until 2018 when the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) assigned it a code in the draft version of the new ICD-11 coding system. The two types of chronic pain currently recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) are chronic primary pain and chronic secondary pain.

According to this classification, primary pain is defined as pain that cannot be attributed to or explained by another medical condition. Fibromyalgia and persistent primary low back pain are a couple of examples. A widespread pain disorder that affects at least four to five body parts and lasts for at least three months, but typically longer, fibromyalgia varies from person to person. Since there is no other explanation for the pain, Dr. Dot Guite clarified that it is a form of primary chronic pain.

Conversely, secondary pain results from or is a result of an underlying medical condition. This would include pain from ulcerative colitis, cancer, or arthritis. I began experiencing chronic pain when I was ten years old. And ever since, Joel Nelson told MNT’s In Conversation, “Chronic pain has kind of been an intermittent part of my life right up until the present day. Joel, who is currently 38 years old, has experienced chronic pain for several decades.

I experienced pain for the first time when I had a gravel-like burning sensation in my hip. And the more I used the joint, the worse it got; at one point, he claimed, I was losing some of my mobility. He decided to seek help at that point, just like the majority of people do. Joel asserted that the best way to describe his persistent pain is noise. I have always referred to it as noise because, on the days when the pain is severe, I simply lose the capacity to take in additional information and manage several tasks at once, he said.

In light of my current condition, I believe that the experience’s fluidity is its most significant lesson. In the end, my mobility and limits can vary from anything to the point where I can do more than just walk, and I might be able to run and cycle a little bit like I do now, to possibly needing crutches again the following week. Pain dictates a lot of that. I get a lot of stiffness in the mornings from arthritis, but the pain is what keeps me from doing things. Joel said it’s difficult to predict what will happen next with his chronic pain, likening it to a series of chapters. Researchers have discovered that a gateway receptor known as Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) may be a governing factor behind the development of chronic pain from acute pain.

We are aware that signaling that is typically linked to what is known as innate immunity can be activated in response to various types of tissue or nerve damage. And the toll-like receptor is one of the mediators of that. It turns out that although those receptors are typically present to detect the presence of foreign bugs, like E. coli, those insects contain a substance known as lipopolysaccharide, or LPS, in their cell membrane. According to Dr. Dot Yaksh, bacteria are the source of that, which is not typically present in our system.

You don’t need to acquire it; you are born with it. It is constantly present. Over the past few years, we’ve discovered that your body releases a variety of substances that will activate those same toll-like receptors, he continued. The central immune system may be primed for elevated pain states by toll-like receptors. The body begins to release products from inflammatory cells in response to damaging stimuli, stressors, or tissue damage, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract or microbiome.

According to him, when this occurs, the products that are expelled from our bodies can activate toll-like receptors. One such receptor is called TLR4, and it is found on both sensory neurons and inflammatory cells. Dr. According to Yaksh, TLR4 activation makes the nervous system more reactive but doesn’t actually cause as much pain.

In addition to this priming, Dr. Dot Guite noted that if additional stressors are present at the time, such as poor diet or psychological distress, this can trigger a series of events that can accelerate the transition to chronic pain. TLR4 activation initiates a cascade, a series of events that will result in increased expression of numerous receptors and channels capable of enhancing the system’s response. When this occurs, the initial tissue damage is followed by this improved response. It only makes the system more reactive; it doesn’t really cause the pain condition. According to him, Joel’s circumstances are consistent with the idea that people can experience different kinds of pain.

That can be made worse by “psychological” stressors, which can intensify a pain state that may actually have a physiological component that we don’t fully comprehend, he continued. Dr. Yaksh, for instance, proposed that Joel’s condition was likely made worse by the stress (and joy) of becoming a father and all the other factors involved, making it more difficult to manage the pain. He emphasized that this did not lessen the reality of the pain.

I believe that Joel’s situation was likely associated with a very strong, emotional component. He explained that the pain condition and the events related to the psoriatic diagnosis and other aspects may have actually established the transition from one state to another, which we call an acute to chronic or chronification of the pain state. According to current theories, pain occurs where the body and brain meet.

The way you mentioned that pain is in the brain is exactly right; Dr. Dot Yaksh stated that everything’s output function originates from the higher centers. It all comes down to how tissue damage affects how the brain perceives pain. Our bodies use pain as a warning system to notify us when there is damage or illness, which is why it is so important to our survival. Following a disease or injury, the surrounding nerves begin communicating with the brain via the spinal cord, urging us to seek medical attention and prevent additional harm.

Following an injury, the body’s organs and tissues suffer damage, which sets off an acute inflammatory response involving blood vessels, immune cells, and other mediators. But occasionally, the nervous system may continue to be distressed or reactive even after the body has healed from the initial injury phase. The body may become overly sensitive to pain as a result. Peripheral sensitization is the term used to describe this increased sensitivity to touch or heat near the injured area.

Dr. Yaksh explained that if I were to jam my finger or if I were to experience something that causes a local autoinflammation of the joint, as Joel did, then that inflammation actually causes the release of factors that make the innervation of that joint more sensitive. Dr. According to Yaksh, everyone goes through this, even if they don’t have chronic pain. He clarified that an otherwise harmless activity, like wriggling one’s finger, can become extremely unpleasant following an injury.

He defined this as a sensitization brought on by inflammation and injury to the periphery, which is subsequently transmitted to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain is now perceiving what would otherwise be a harmless occurrence, producing a signal that suggests, as we say, that bad news is on the horizon. On the other hand, this prolonged reaction to the initial injury can occasionally result in persistent pain that is not restricted to the injured area. Central sensitization is the term for this ().

Joel’s situation is intriguing because it is evident that he has a peripheral problem, whether it be skin inflammation, joint inflammation, or abnormalities in peripheral nerve function. Therefore, Dr. Yaksh explained, that in addition to changes in joint morphology and other similar things, you also get changes that alter how information enters the spinal cord and then travels to higher centers. Additionally, you’ve activated particular populations of sensory fibers that are typically only activated by severe injury.

The spinal cord, which is currently, in a sense, organizing the input-output function from the periphery to the brain, may become reorganized. This would be similar to turning up the volume on a radio; the signal would remain the same, but the volume would increase. The spinal cord can therefore be thought of as a volume regulator.

Additionally, it states that there is bad news. However, we now know that some of the input that travels through the same pathway actually goes to parts of the brain that are unrelated to the source of the pain just that it is severe,” he said. The brain receives information about the location and severity of the pain from these outputs that ascend the spinal cord. According to Dr. Yaksh, the limbic system, also known as the smell brain, is one region where these are processed. He continued by saying that these are brain regions that are actually linked to emotionality in humans.

In addition to causing muscles to tense or spasm, this stress can also alter how the body perceives pain and raise cortisol levels of the hormone. Over time, this could result in pain and inflammation. Over time, this can worsen the pain by contributing to an already stressed nervous system and causing sleep issues, irritability, exhaustion, and depression. Even though acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids are frequently used to treat acute pain, there are relatively few options for managing chronic pain.

We began by stating that pain originates in the brain. Additionally, your views of the world have a direct impact on you and alter how your brain functions in ways that can be defined experimentally. Therefore, I am not implying that pain is any less real in any manner, shape, or form when I say that it is in the brain. Dr. Yaksh asserted that it is a reality. We now instruct medical students that, you know, a patient may have a condition other than a swollen joint, even if that isn’t the primary diagnosis, he said.

According to Dr. Dot Yaksh, fibromyalgia is frequently treated or managed with mindfulness in therapy. According to him, this does not imply that fibromyalgia lacks a physiological component, and in fact, new research indicates that it is most likely an autoimmune disease, just as real as the presence of antibodies that indicate the existence of an arthritic joint.

Although it’s not something you could become mindful enough to say have surgery done, mindfulness can help the person respond to the type of afferent traffic that’s coming up the spinal cord. However, it may lessen the intensity of some of the factors that are actually causing this heightened reaction. A prime example is fibromyalgia. According to him, mindfulness shows that altering your perspective on your pain condition can help you manage it, but it doesn’t make the pain state any less real.

Joel continued by saying that, from the viewpoint of someone who has chronic pain, it is a journey to see how the body and brain cooperate to maintain pain: Talking about pain and how it resides in the brain is a really delicate conversation, and as someone who has gone through the entire process of being appalled when it was first suggested to undergo pain management, I have also had to understand it to better process it. For me, it completely altered everything.

It’s still unclear what the future of chronic pain treatment will bring. Nonetheless, there is hope that medications will be created to affect receptors like TLR4 in a way that might prevent acute pain from turning into chronic pain and that as time goes on, we will learn more about how psychological processes interact with the neuro-immune interface.

References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/in-conversation-how-to-understand-chronic-pain?utm_source=ReadNext#Mindfulness-and-the-neuroscience-of-pain
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php/therapy,82

Empagliflozin Effects Subside With Discontinuation

Empagliflozin Effects Subside With Discontinuation

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SAN DIEGO The significant kidney and cardiovascular benefits of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) show over 2 years of treatment with empagliflozin begin to subside within about a year after treatment discontinuation, suggesting the need for ongoing treatment.

We know that empagliflozin is safe we know it works and now we know we need to keep people on the treatment to maximize the benefits, said first author William G. Herrington, MD, of the Renal Studies Group, Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, UK, at a press briefing at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2024.

The New England Journal of Medicine published the study at the same time. Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that was discontinued early in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial because of its effectiveness in lowering the risk of kidney disease or its progression in patients with a variety of kidney disease causes and kidney function levels. The study demonstrated that empagliflozin decreased the primary outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death by 28% compared to a placebo, with no significant safety concerns, over a median follow-up of two years.

Herrington and colleagues examined data on 4891 (74 percent) of the 6609 CKD patients who participated in an extra 2-year post-trial observational period to better examine the changing effects of the medication following discontinuation. Adult patients with CKD-EPI estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 or 45 to 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 plus urine albumin-to-creatinine of ≥ 200 mg/g were specifically included in the study. In the post-trial randomization, the average age was 63 years, 34% of the participants were female, and roughly 57% of both groups had never had diabetes before. About 35% of each group had a mean eGFR of less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, while the mean eGFR was 37 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Patients were randomized to receive a matching placebo or 10 mg of empagliflozin once daily. During the post-trial phase, neither placebo nor trial-related empagliflozin was given. However, open-label SGLT2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin, were administered to patients as directed by their physicians. Similarly, during the post-trial phase, open-label SGLT2 inhibitors were utilized by 40% of the placebo group and 43% of the empagliflozin group.

Herrington stated that an evaluation for any carry-over effects is made possible by the absence of a between-group difference in SGLT2 inhibitor use after the trial. The primary outcome, a composite of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death, was observed in 865 out of 3304 patients (26.2 percent) in the empagliflozin group compared to 1001 out of 3305 patients (30.3 percent) in the placebo group when the effects from the active and post-trial periods were combined (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; P < .0001).

The hazard ratio for the primary outcome was still significant during the post-trial period. Still, it was less so at 0.87 (P = .04). Regarding other specific outcomes, the risk of kidney disease progression during the combined periods was 23 percent for the empagliflozin group and 27 percent for the placebo group; the risk of cardiovascular death was 3 point 8 percent and 4 point 9 percent, respectively; and the risk for the composite of death or end-stage kidney disease was 16 point 9 percent with empagliflozin and 19 point 6 percent with placebo. The percentage of deaths from noncardiovascular causes (5.3% in both groups) did not differ between the groups.

According to Herrington, the carry-over effect was only about a year long and reduced the risk for the primary outcome by 13 percent overall, which was less than the 28 percent reduction that occurred while taking empagliflozin during the active trial. According to the authors, the effects of empagliflozin were seen after the follow-up regardless of the degree of albuminuria, diabetes status, kidney function level, and primary kidney diagnosis. According to the study, analyses of the long-term eGFR slope from the active-trial period also revealed that empagliflozin slowed the progression of all albuminuria subgroups.

Finally, they conclude that the results show that the benefit after the trial was less than the benefit during the study treatment and seemed to be transient. Therefore, long-term CKD treatment is necessary to optimize the cardiorenal clinical benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors. Emily Chang, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, commented on the study and agreed that the results offer valuable information about the possible consequences for patients, irrespective of their disease stage, who stop taking empagliflozin.

Chang told Medscape Medical News, “I think it is important to know that these are probably lifelong drugs, although I have already been operating under that premise in my practice at least.”. However, knowing that this is probably the best course of action is comforting. Regarding comparable effects with other SGLT2 inhibitors, Chang speculated that this effect would hold true for all SGLT2 inhibitor classes, though we can’t be certain until more research is conducted. A patient’s ability to take the medication will be limited if they are unable to tolerate it, she continued. Otherwise, I intend to keep these patients taking this medication for the rest of their lives if it is tolerated.

Pietro Canetta, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, added that while there is a wealth of information about the advantages of SGLT2 inhibitors during treatment, this study was noteworthy for demonstrating that a significant portion of the benefits appeared to last for at least a year after the study populations stopped taking the prescribed medication.

Although we cannot definitively determine the mechanism from this trial, the strong effect that persisted even after stopping the drug highlights that there appear to be advantages beyond its immediate effects. For instance, he said, they might be promoting better vascular health or beneficial remodeling.

Important disclaimers were mentioned by Canetta, who told Medscape Medical News that patients with a history of ketoacidosis or recent immunosuppression were not included and that patients had to be taking an adequate dosage of an RAS [renin-angiotensin system] inhibitor. Furthermore, he added, it’s critical to remember that the advantages were different when taken off a drug than when taken on one. Although the group that initially received empagliflozin outperformed the group that initially received a placebo, the difference was more noticeable while both groups were taking the study medication.

This is significant because, according to Canetta, the trial’s message shouldn’t be taken to imply that you can quit after a year and still anticipate the same advantages indefinitely. The main takeaway from this is that there is more proof that these medications are a great addition to our toolbox for slowing the progression of kidney disease and cardiovascular consequences.

References:
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/empagliflozin-effects-subside-discontinuation-2024a1000jm9

Mindfulness may be as effective as an antidepressant for anxiety symptoms

Mindfulness may be as effective as an antidepressant for anxiety symptoms

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For certain individuals, anxiety treatments, which vary from psychological interventions to antidepressants, can be highly successful. Experts also suggest self-care, which includes abstaining from illegal drugs and alcohol, exercising frequently, maintaining regular eating and sleeping schedules, and practicing mindfulness and other relaxation techniques. According to a recent study, mindfulness can reduce anxiety just as well as antidepressants.

The World Health Organization estimates that 301 million people worldwide, or about 4% of the population, suffer from an anxiety disorder. While occasional anxiety is to be expected in life, persistent anxiety or anxiety that seems excessive for the situation it was triggered by could indicate a mental health issue.

General or specific worry, fear, or anxiety; difficulty focusing or making decisions; irritability, tension, or restlessness; nausea or abdominal distress; heart palpitations; sleep issues; and a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom are all common symptoms of anxiety disorders, which can cause significant distress and interfere with a person’s daily life. Treatment options include beta-blockers (to lessen the physical symptoms of anxiety), benzodiazepines (which are typically only prescribed temporarily due to their rapid tendency to cause dependence or addiction), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant.

According to a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques may be just as useful as escitalopram, a popular SSRI used to treat anxiety and depression, in easing the symptoms of a variety of anxiety disorders in patients.

The results were well received by psychologist and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing founder Lee Chambers, who was not involved in the research. She noted that the study had some validity and interest due to its randomized design and sizable sample size. Given that the effectiveness is the same after 8 weeks, mindfulness may be a good substitute with fewer adverse effects and a lower risk of addiction.

Mindfulness vs. medication for anxiety
A total of 276 adults with a diagnosis of agoraphobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social anxiety disorder were gathered by the researchers. Subsequently, they allocated the participants in a 1:1 random order to either an 8-week escitalopram treatment or a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program. The participants self-reported their levels of anxiety and depression at the trial’s midpoint and conclusion.

The researchers previously published the same study group’s clinician-assessed results using the Clinical Global Impression of Severity scale (CGI-S). According to this evaluation, MBSR was just as successful as escitalopram at reducing anxiety symptoms. The MBSR group practiced mindfulness daily after attending weekly group sessions where they learned about the theory and application of various types of mindfulness meditation. The medication group saw a weekly clinical follow-up in addition to taking 10–20 mg of escitalopram daily.

Evaluators evaluated the participants using a variety of patient-reported measures of anxiety and depression, such as the PROMIS depression scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, at the 4-week trial midpoint and the 8-week primary endpoint. The participants’ treatment group remained unknown to the evaluators.

No significant difference after 8 weeks
Escitalopram-treated participants reported a higher decrease in anxiety symptoms at the halfway point of the study, but by eight weeks, there was no discernible difference between the groups. However, there were more adverse effects in the drug group. In contrast to just 21 (15.4 percent) in the MBSR group, 110 individuals (78.6 percent) reported at least one adverse event during the study. The two treatments significantly reduced anxiety levels; for instance, the PROMIS Anxiety Scale, a measure of anxiety, decreased 8–9 points in the drug group and 7–3 points in the mindfulness group. There was no statistically significant difference between these differences.

Mindfulness could be an alternative to medication
MBSR was initially developed in 1990 and incorporates both formal and informal meditation practices along with hatha yoga. It has been demonstrated to help people manage their emotions, which lowers stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Although the medication had a quicker effect, this study found that it was just as effective as escitalopram at reducing symptoms of anxiety over 8 weeks. Even though escitalopram shows noticeable results quickly, the research indicates that more comprehensive treatment approaches for anxiety may be used in the future, and individualized care will always be crucial. Hoge informed MNT that compared to the medication group, participants in the MBSR program might have profited from greater interaction.

The higher level of contact in the mindfulness group which met weekly for 2.5 hours may have had an effect on participants. In contrast, patients on the medication saw a prescriber only once a week for roughly 30 minutes. According to her, the mindfulness group practiced mindfulness meditation at home virtually every day. Despite this drawback, the researchers recommend that MBSR be provided to patients with anxiety disorders in a clinical setting because, according to their research, it appears to be just as effective as escitalopram while having fewer side effects.

In my clinical practice, I see that patients usually have strong opinions about the type of treatment they would like to receive. If they are interested in mindfulness, it’s usually because they are looking for non-pharmacological options. However, some patients would prefer to take the medication rather than put in the effort to develop a meditation practice. Therefore, mindfulness may be a useful substitute for SSRIs for people who would rather not take the chance of experiencing side effects when treating anxiety disorders.

References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mindfulness-may-be-as-effective-as-antidepressant-relieving-anxiety-symptoms#Mindfulness-could-be-an-alternative-to-medication

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Vitamin D supplements may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin

Vitamin D supplements may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin

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A recent meta-analysis found that a daily average of 3,320 IU of supplemental vitamin D is linked to lower levels of hemoglobin A1C, total cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and insulin. The conclusion is based on a recent meta-analysis of 99 international randomized controlled trials that looked into the advantages of vitamin D for cardiometabolic health. The meta-analysis makes an effort to clarify and summarize the results of occasionally contradictory studies on vitamin D.

A fresh perspective on the importance of vitamin D supplementation in preserving cardiometabolic health is extracted from a recent, thorough review of the body of existing, frequently contradictory, research on the subject. A median daily intake of 3,320 International Units (IU) of vitamin D, or about 83 micrograms, was linked to some noteworthy cardiometabolic advantages, according to the meta-study’s authors. Among these advantages were decreases in insulin, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, a sign of type 2 diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol.

Researchers from the United States and China analyzed data from 99 RCTs (randomized, controlled trials) that were released up until March 26, 2024. 17,656 people took part in the trials, which were conducted in a variety of global locations with widely disparate populations. A crucial element of the meta-analysis involved enumerating the variations among the RCTs that could potentially account for the disparities in their findings. The authors of the meta-study were able to reassess and compare the RTCs’ data more fairly and comparably after those differences were recognized.

Conflicts had less of an impact on the final conclusions, and a few unique cases about particular populations surfaced. The groups that benefited most from vitamin D supplementation, according to the researchers, were non-Westerners, those with lower blood levels of the nutrient, those with a BMI under 30, and those 50 years of age and above.

Why previous findings on vitamin D have been inconsistent
Professor of epidemiology, surgery, and medicine at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Simin Liu, MD, ScD, the corresponding author of the meta-study, outlined some of the ways that the RCTs varied from one another and led to differing conclusions. According to him, some primary causes of heterogeneity in past research that produced contradictory results about supplementation and cardiometabolic risk factors included age, body weight, ethnic background, and the circulating 25[OH]D levels of study participants at enrollment.

The amount of vitamin D, specifically in the form of 25[OH]D, present in one’s bloodstream serves as the most dependable measure of the body’s entire vitamin D reserve, encompassing both naturally produced vitamin D from the skin and vitamin D obtained through dietary supplements. (Citing Trusted Source) Dr. Jayne Morgan, a cardiologist and the Executive Director of Health and Community Education at the Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, GA, who was not associated with the meta-study, pointed out another factor contributing to the medical community’s less than complete confidence in vitamin D.

Although numerous studies show a connection between vitamin D supplementation and a decreased risk of heart disease, a clear cause-and-effect relationship is still missing. Furthermore, it is still unknown if low serum vitamin D levels are a cause or contributing factor to heart disease, or if they are a result of heart disease itself. Low serum vitamin D levels are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, the data is leaning in this direction, and as of right now, there is no conclusive information on cardiovascular endpoints. According to Morgan, although the data does not meet the criteria for evidence-based information, it does meet the criteria for evidence-informed information. Benefits include improved muscle function, decreased inflammation, and bone health. She went on to say that it may have beneficial effects on lipids, diabetes, and hypertension.

Some benefit more, some need more vitamin D
According to Liu, non-Westerners are more likely to benefit from vitamin D supplementation because they have comparatively lower circulating vitamin D levels. Similarly, serum vitamin D levels tend to decline with age, which could account for the greater cardiometabolic improving effect of vitamin D supplementation seen in individuals 50 years of age and older, he continued. This also applies to those with BMIs under 30 kg. According to Morgan, all of this suggests that the catch-up might be a crucial component of the puzzle.

Individuals with initial vitamin D levels that were not low, and who only managed to increase these levels, had a lesser impact and moved the scale less than those who significantly elevated their vitamin D levels due to their initially low levels. They demonstrated a more substantial shift, as she put it.

A personalized approach to vitamin D
According to Liu, there is undoubtedly validity to the adage One size does not fit all, even in light of the positive associations found for 3,320 IU of vitamin D per day for many individuals and the ethnographic differences noted in the meta-study. Careful assessment of each person’s ethnocultural background and biological features would be necessary to implement personalized intervention strategies to achieve optimal levels of vitamin D for cardiometabolic health, according to Liu.

He pointed out that those with obesity and low 25 OHD levels would probably require higher doses of vitamin D and longer durations of treatment, based on the findings of the meta-study. According to Liu, we might have to investigate the effects of longer intervention periods and higher vitamin D doses on cardiometabolic health outcomes in different populations. These variables include age, body weight, ethnic background, and the circulating 25 OHD levels of study participants at the time of enrollment.

References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-supplements-may-help-improve-blood-pressure-cholesterol-insulin#A-personalized-approach-to-vitamin-D

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
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Nourishing your health: Diet and nutrition factors for cancer prevention

Nourishing your health: Diet and nutrition factors for cancer prevention

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A balanced diet that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer, according to compelling research. Maintaining a healthy diet and implementing positive lifestyle choices can help lower the risk of cancer.

Drinking alcohol is the third most modifiable lifestyle factor associated with an increased risk of cancer. Less than one drink of any kind of alcohol per day raises the risk of common cancers such as esophageal, head neck, and breast cancers, according to research. Drinking less alcohol reduces your risk of cancer.

Processed and red meat
Studies reveal that eating more than eighteen ounces of red meat per week can raise your risk of developing cancer. Limiting or completely avoiding processed meats such as deli meat and hot dogs is advised. Red meat is a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 when consumed in moderation. A weekly maximum of 12–18 ounces of red meat, split into three or more portions, is the recommended intake. Additionally, charring or cooking meats at high temperatures can produce toxic chemicals that increase the risk of cancer.

Sugars and sweeteners
Eating too much sugar over time can result in obesity, which is a known risk factor for cancer, even though research hasn’t found a direct correlation between eating sugar and cancer risk. Furthermore, studies indicate that increased intake of added sugars may cause elevated levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), as well as insulin resistance. The risk of cancer may be raised by all of these factors.

Diet and nutrition
Make an effort to eat a diet high in whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Functional ingredients found in most foods include polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Superfoods, or functional foods, are foods that reduce oxidative and inflammatory damage. Oxidation is a normal process that damages cells and tissues and may be a factor in certain illnesses.

Research has shown over time how effective a plant-based diet can be in lowering the risk of developing certain cancers. No one food can prevent cancer, as research keeps showing. It’s a combination of general dietary decisions, physical activity, and other lifestyle elements. To get the most out of a diet that prevents cancer, try to eat a range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Your general health improves as you increase the variety and color of your meals.

Strong evidence has been found in numerous studies that fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, specific micronutrients, some fatty acids, and physical activity can prevent certain types of cancer. On the other hand, certain fatty acids, alcohol, obesity, and food preparation techniques can raise the risk. Nutrition research will probably need to go beyond traditional epidemiological and metabolic studies to unravel the myriad of plausible mechanisms for how dietary factors affect cancer risk. The field of nutritional sciences needs to capitalize on recent developments in genetics and molecular biology to shift from being primarily “observational” to “cause and effect.”. Strategies for cancer prevention that include successful dietary interventions for target populations are based on such basic research.

A major factor in the etiology and prevention of cancer is diet. The fundamental claim that dietary factors affect cancer risk is not really up for debate, despite discrepancies in the studies that have looked into the connection between diet and cancer. However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. These include precisely which dietary factors are most strongly associated with the prevention of cancer, the mechanisms by which food ingredients purport to work, the potential interactions between dietary factors and cancer risk, and the preventive measures that can be implemented to lessen the negative effects of factors that seem to increase disease risk. These are complex questions with no easy answers because of the nature of cancer. For instance, 56 distinct regions of the genome with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) were found during a genome-wide search for deleted regions in 75 human primary breast tumors [1]. The intriguing discovery was that each tumor had a unique set of deletions. No matter how carefully studies are planned and carried out, such heterogeneity, reflecting different genetic alterations and pathways to disease, has a significant impact on efforts to establish links between diet and cancer [2]. Similarly, interindividual differences in susceptibility resulting from shared polymorphisms in genes controlling the metabolism of exogenous substances can alter food ingredients’ carcinogenic or noncarcinogenic properties, making the interpretation of st more challenging.

Evidence for a diet and cancer relationship
The development of diet and cancer hypotheses for testing in clinical trials and the provision of insights into the relationships between diet and cancer prevention has been greatly aided by epidemiological studies, which are backed by preclinical data from in vitro and animal experiments as well as by clinical findings. The value of epidemiology in determining associations between diet and cancer is not without limitations, despite being a potent research method; one such limitation is measurement errors in dietary assessment.

Diet and Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials
To address questions regarding the ability of dietary patterns and constituents to prevent cancer (primary prevention) or its recurrence (secondary prevention), randomized, controlled dietary intervention and chemoprevention trials are designed to test hypotheses generated from epidemiological and laboratory investigations on diet and cancer prevention. These trials are relatively new tools in the arsenal of cancer research and offer two ways to prevent the disease.

Emerging evidence: gene–nutrient interaction
Human carcinogenesis is likely to involve many different types of genes, such as those that affect immune function, receptor or neurotransmitter action, DNA repair, chromosome stability, oncogene or tumor suppressor gene activity, cell cycle control, signal transduction, hormones, vitamin metabolism pathways, metabolic activation/detoxification, and cell cycle control [4]. being aware of how certain nutrients and other dietary components can either prevent or accelerate the development of cancer.

Future research directions: a new paradigm
The large body of research on diet and cancer prevention has greatly benefited from data from epidemiological, preclinical, and clinical intervention studies. We have only just started to scratch the surface, though. Very little is currently known about the fundamental causes of diet-cancer relationships. The state of science and technology has advanced to the point where basic research studies should be able to take precedence over those that only quantify the relationship between diet and cancer.

References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623019740
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623019752
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959804901000703
https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/09/18/nourishing-your-health-diet-and-nutrition-factors-for-cancer-prevention/

Gynecologic cancers: 4 affirmations to help you advocate for yourself

Gynecologic cancers: 4 affirmations to help you advocate for yourself

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Gynecologic exams may not be the most exciting things on your schedule, but they are essential for identifying gynecologic cancers early on, when they are most treatable, whether they are performed as part of a wellness visit or in response to a new concern. Endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers are among the gynecologic cancers.

Gynecology appointments ought to offer you a priceless chance to voice concerns, ask questions, and learn about your body from a professional who puts your health and well-being first. However, these visits may cause some anxiety if you’ve had trouble getting the care you need, finding answers, or if your experiences haven’t been great. According to Kristina Butler, M.D., becoming an advocate for your gynecologic health could make you feel more ready for your upcoming visit. a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic. She wants you to be aware of the following:

A vital component of the patient-clinician relationship is trust. It enables you to communicate openly and honestly with your gynecologist and to let them know about important information that could influence your care. According to Dr. Butler, gynecologic cancers are challenging to discuss because they affect body parts that we don’t frequently talk about with others. For example, it can be challenging for a patient to mention that they are experiencing pain in their vulva.

Serious conditions like gynecologic cancers may go unnoticed if you don’t feel confident or at ease discussing these concerns with your gynecologist. Dr. Butler says it’s acceptable to look for someone who better suits your needs if you don’t feel heard. Friends and family recommendations are frequently a great place to start. You may be the first, and frequently the only, to notice changes in your body. By keeping your gynecologist informed of these changes, you enable them to assess your health more accurately and notify them of any changes that may call for further testing.

Dr. Butler emphasizes the significance of being in tune with your body, noting that it can be simple to ignore or write off certain changes as life gets busy. This entails realizing what constitutes your normal. Everyone’s normal is a little bit different, so that can be challenging, she says. Talking about something is crucial if it feels off and is happening repeatedly.

There are symptoms specific to each gynecologic cancer, but some of them are similar. If you’re experiencing any symptoms associated with gynecologic cancer, Dr. Butler says it’s important to talk to a clinician who specializes in gynecologic health, especially if you don’t feel your questions have been answered by your primary care physician. A lot of gynecologic cancers have ill-defined signs. Patients frequently discuss their symptoms with medical professionals who aren’t gynecologists, but she advises them to express their worries to several professionals until they receive the information they require to feel safe.


Any bleeding that happens after menopause or in between periods is considered abnormal vaginal bleeding. Pelvic pain or discomfort is defined as pressure or pain in the region of the body between the hip bones, which are located below the abdomen. Early satiety: Having a small meal and still feeling full. Pain, discomfort, or itching in the vulva: The vulva is made up of all the structures that make up the external genitalia. According to Dr. Butler, numerous healthcare professionals treat the pelvic region. These specialists might include your primary care physician, gynecologist, urologist, or gastroenterologist.

It is your right to have access to health-related information. You can better prepare for appointments and communicate health-related information to your healthcare provider by keeping yourself informed. Dr. Butler says you can do this in various ways. Patients always benefit from having a schedule. I strongly believe in the importance of lists, including those of prescription drugs, surgeries, diagnoses, and family medical history. Keeping a timeline and a list of these items can help keep the visit focused because all of this information is lengthy and easily forgotten or confused, according to Dr. Butler.

To share your medical records with your healthcare team, Dr. Dot Butler advises you to take responsibility for them. You own your medical records, pathology reports, surgical records, radiology imaging, and discs with viewable images. Medical record departments are permitted to give you access to that data. You have the right to do so, and I give patients the freedom to keep those for themselves and bring them with you when you visit.

In your pursuit of expanding your health knowledge, Dr. Butler emphasizes the significance of sourcing trustworthy health details. The internet emerges as an incredibly beneficial tool in this regard, serving as a means of self-education. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to exercise caution when selecting the sources of our health-related data. Misleading or entirely fabricated information on some websites and blogs can potentially induce anxiety and, in certain circumstances, pose a threat to our well-being.

It’s permissible for you to request a further examination from another expert. You hold the power to request a second professional perspective, and according to Dr. Butler, your gynecologist should not discourage you from doing so. I find it disconcerting when a practitioner shows disapproval towards a second opinion as patients have the autonomy to make the most informed decision for themselves, she asserts.

You might wish to seek a second opinion for many reasons, including:
You feel your symptoms have been dismissed.
You are unclear on your diagnosis.
You are unsure of your treatment options.
You don’t feel comfortable with the treatments recommended.
You have unanswered questions.
You don’t feel you can trust your physician.
It’s your decision and part of your right to stand up for yourself, whatever your motivation. Dr. Butler advises patients to seek second opinions as this is the best way to ensure they are making the best choice for themselves.

References:
https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/09/25/gynecologic-cancers-4-affirmations-to-help-you-advocate-for-yourself/

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/disease/cancer

Beyond weight loss: Bariatric surgery may reduce cancer risk…

Beyond weight loss: Bariatric surgery may reduce cancer risk…

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You might not associate obesity with cancer when you think about it. Still, scientists have long surmised a connection between weight and some types of cancer. Among them are postmenopausal breast cancer, ovarian, colon, liver, pancreatic, and endometrial cancer, which combined account for 15 to 20 percent of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.

Cancer risk increases with obesity
Over one-third of American adults. S. are deemed obese if their body mass index (BMI) is thirty or greater. The body mass index (BMI) calculates body fat based on height and weight. The number of people with severe obesity, which is a BMI of 40 or higher, has increased significantly. A person’s chance of developing cancer rises by 10% if their BMI rises by even five points, per a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Obesity increases a person’s risk of cancer by two times compared to optimal weight. For instance, a BMI of greater than 40 is associated with a seven-fold increased risk of endometrial cancer. It seems that an elevated risk of cancer is largely attributed to excess weight, primarily in the form of body fat. Obesity triggers an increase in fat cells within the body. With the rise in the number of these fat cells, the body’s hormone release pattern alters. This shift typically boosts the production of pro-inflammatory hormones and estrogen. Over an extended period, this persistent inflammatory condition can induce harm to cells and their DNA, thereby enhancing the likelihood of specific types of cancers.

Researchers are examining the connection between chronic inflammation and body fat. Furthermore, diabetes and other chronic metabolic diseases can be brought on by hormones like estrogen and insulin resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three adults will have diabetes and related health issues by 2050.

Bariatric surgery and reduction of cancer risk link
More research is needed, but researchers think a decrease in inflammatory fat cells may lower the risk of cancer. Additionally, the amount that nonsurgical, or purposeful, weight loss reduces the risk of cancer is still unknown.
However, maintaining the weight loss for those who have done so through lifestyle modifications can be difficult. The body’s intricate neurohormonal systems prevent starvation, which makes it challenging to keep off weight loss.

Even when weighed against medications and intensive lifestyle therapy, bariatric or metabolic surgery is currently the most effective obesity treatment. Following surgery, patients usually lose 25 to 35 percent of their total body weight or 50 to 70 percent of their excess weight, and these weight losses are frequently maintained for years.

Continuing research
Numerous extensive investigations have been carried out to examine the connection between weight loss achieved through bariatric surgery and the decreased risk of cancer. A 2019 study published in the Annals of Surgery compared 66,000 individuals without bariatric surgery to over 22,000 who underwent the procedure. The study site, BMI, age, and sex of the participants were taken into consideration when matching them. In comparison to individuals who did not undergo bariatric surgery, statistical models were utilized to examine the cancer incidence up to ten years following the procedure.

Individuals who underwent bariatric surgery experienced a reduced risk of developing any form of cancer by 33% over the observation period, contrasting those who did not undergo such surgery. The findings were more substantial when the focus was on cancers linked to obesity.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2022 tracked 30,000 individuals, all of whom had a BMI higher than 35. The subjects were split up into two groups and matched according to age and gender. Approximately 5,000 patients in one group had bariatric surgery, while slightly over 25,000 patients in the other group had no surgery. A follow-up period of roughly six years was the median.

The follow-up data demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of cancers related to obesity and other malignancies following bariatric surgery. Additionally, it showed that patients who had bariatric surgery had a lower rate of cancer-related mortality when compared to those who had not had the procedure.

More research is required to validate these findings as researchers continue to explore the reasons and mechanisms underlying the reduced risk of diabetes and cancer following bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, however, holds promise for patients battling obesity as it may lower the risk of cancer and metabolic diseases like diabetes.

This new data regarding the advantages and efficacy of bariatric surgery may help you decide if you’re thinking about having it done. Talk about it further with your bariatric surgery team or primary care physician. M.D Maria Linnaus. is a bariatric surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

It seems that having excess body weight in the form of fat is what increases the risk of cancer. The body produces more fat cells when an individual is obese. Hormone release by the body varies with the number of these fat cells. Estrogen and pro-inflammatory hormones are generally elevated by these modifications. This persistent inflammatory condition raises the possibility of developing some cancers by damaging cells and their DNA.

More research is required to validate these findings as researchers continue to explore the reasons and mechanisms underlying the reduced risk of diabetes and cancer following bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, however, holds promise for patients battling obesity as it may lower the risk of cancer and metabolic diseases like diabetes. This new data regarding the advantages and efficacy of bariatric surgery may help you decide if you’re thinking about having it done. Talk about it further with your bariatric surgery team or primary care physician.

References:
https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/04/23/beyond-weight-loss-bariatric-surgery-may-reduce-cancer-risk/
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/bariatric-surgery-and-cancer-risk

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/disease/cancer

Three cancers are often referred to as ovarian cancer…

Three cancers are often referred to as ovarian cancer…

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primary peritoneal cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and ovarian epithelial cancer. They share a common ancestor and undergo analogous care. Because of their close anatomical proximity, the ovaries and fallopian tubes can sometimes be confused as the source of cancer, according to S. John Weroha, MdotD. Ph. D, a Mayo Clinic oncologist and head of the Gynecologic Cancer Disease Group at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. When we diagnose patients with primary peritoneal cancer, I explain that although the ovaries are not affected, the cancer appears to be ovarian cancer under a microscope and in the pattern of spread throughout the body.

The tissue lining the abdominal cavity and its organs is called the peritoneum, and this is where primary peritoneal cancer originates. The tissue lining the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus is where fallopian tube cancer develops. Ovarian epithelial carcinomas, also referred to as epithelial ovarian cancers, account for 85-90% of ovarian cancer cases. These cancers originate in the tissue that lines the outside of the ovaries. Dr. According to Weroha, more patients are surviving ovarian cancer of all kinds thanks to new treatments, and clinical trials are being conducted by researchers to examine these therapies and screening techniques. He would like you to know that there is hope if you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This is the reason why.

Advanced targeted treatments are enhancing lifespans. 2. Surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions are no longer the sole methods for managing ovarian cancer; targeted therapies have emerged as alternatives. These innovative treatments employ drugs to pinpoint and eliminate cancerous cells. Among these are monoclonal antibodies and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, or PARP, inhibitors.

Monoclonal antibodies
Lab-engineered molecules known as monoclonal antibodies are designed to recognize and bind to particular proteins linked to cancerous cells. A monoclonal antibody called bevacizumab is used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer recurrence by inhibiting the development of new blood vessels, which is necessary for tumor growth.

To get better results, researchers are mixing bevacizumab with novel medications. One such is mirvetuximab soravtansine, a monoclonal antibody that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved for use in patients experiencing a recurrence of ovarian cancer. This medication targets a protein known as folate receptor alpha and is used when a patient’s cancer has been previously treated with at least one systemic therapy.

Folate receptors are abundant in ovarian cancers. Dr. Weroha says that the majority of normal cells don’t. Chemotherapy is applied to an antibody to create this medication. Imagine it like a guided missile that flies through the body, attaching itself to cells that have folate receptors. Mirvetuximab soravtansine is far more effective than any other treatment at shrinking tumors in patients whose ovarian cancer has returned and whose tumors contain a high number of folate receptors. The response rate is roughly twice as high as with any other form of treatment.

PARP inhibitors
PARP inhibitors are medications that prevent DNA repair, potentially leading to the death of cancer cells. When someone has ovarian cancer and their tumors have mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, one PARP inhibitor that is used to stop the disease from coming back is olaparib. Olaparib has been found to dramatically increase a patient’s chances of survival without recurrence in those with this diagnosis. According to Dr. Weroha, this is a front-line treatment, which means it is a part of the initial course of care that patients receive after receiving a new diagnosis.

One day, ovarian cancer may be combated with a vaccine. Theodore Block, M.D. Ph. D. , a medical oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, and Keith Knutson, Ph. D. , a researcher at the Mayo Clinic, is creating a vaccine to stop the recurrence of ovarian cancer tumors in patients with advanced disease whose tumors have returned despite chemotherapy and surgery. After being drawn from the blood, white blood cells are processed to create dendritic cells, which are immune cells that strengthen the body’s defenses. In order to stimulate the immune system to identify and combat the cancer, these cells are given back to the patient in the form of a vaccine.

Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy medication, will be administered in addition to the vaccine to detect and eradicate any tumors that do not react to the dendritic cells. According to Dr. Weroha, pembrolizumab belongs to a class of medications known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The purpose of this medication is to unblock the immune system and enable it to carry out its innate function of eliminating unwanted substances. It is hoped that the vaccine and immunotherapy medication will significantly reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer. The research is fascinating.

A screening test may be on the horizon.
Ovarian cancer does not currently have a screening test, however Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, MdotD. , a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, wants to alter that. She and her research team found that vaginal fluid collected with a tampon could be used to identify endometrial cancer using methylated DNA markers. This same science may eventually apply to ovarian cancer.

A mechanism that cells use to regulate gene expression is methylation, which turns on a gene in a cell so that it can produce RNA and proteins. A gene is said to be a tumor suppressor when a specific region of its DNA is methylated, which turns the gene off or silences it. Tumor suppressor gene silencing can indicate cancer and is frequently an early stage in the development of cancer.

A panel of methylated DNA markers was created by Dr. Bakkum-Gamez and her associates in order to differentiate vaginal fluid from noncancerous tissue and endometrial cancer. Her goal is to create a low-cost, tampon-based, at-home screening test for high-risk HPV, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers based on her research. According to Dr. Weroha, this is exciting because people living in rural areas can use this kind of screening test. If it is successful, it may make it easier for medical professionals to detect ovarian and other gynecologic cancers in residents of all the communities we serve at an earlier stage, when they are more treatable.

Clinical trials and a gynecologic oncologist can assist you in receiving the best care available. Dr. Weroha advises scheduling a consultation with a gynecologic oncologist if you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. A gynecologic oncologist will be knowledgeable about the most recent guidelines for managing side effects and treatment recommendations. He says, That’s important. But once the strategy is established, any medical oncologist could carry it out.

Additionally, Dr. Weroha advises recently diagnosed patients to enquire with their care teams about their eligibility for clinical trials, mirvetuximab, or PARP inhibitors. Newer medications like mirvetuximab and PARP inhibitors may have an impact on how well your entire course of treatment goes. Always inquire about clinical trials, he says, since there is no treatment so effective that we can give up on finding a better cure when ovarian cancer returns. If your cancer returned, there’s a very real chance we would have something better than what we have now.

Refrences:
https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/05/01/ovarian-cancer-new-treatments-and-research/
https://www.onclive.com/clinical/ovarian-cancer
https://www.nature.com/subjects/ovarian-cancer

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/disease/cancer

Ovarian cancer: New treatments and research

Ovarian cancer: New treatments and research

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The OvarianVax vaccine primes the immune system to identify and combat ovarian cancer in its early stages. Scientists at the University of Oxford are developing it. To eradicate the illness, it is hoped that women could get the vaccination on the NHS as a preventative measure. Experts speculate that it might function similarly to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is poised to eradicate cervical cancer.

Finding cellular targets for the vaccine is what Professor Ahmed and his group at the university’s MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine’s ovarian cancer cell laboratory are attempting to accomplish. They will determine how well the vaccine destroys disease models in a lab setting and which proteins on the surface of early-stage ovarian cancer cells are most recognized by the immune system. Subsequently, it can be tested in human clinical trials on both healthy women and individuals with BRCA gene mutations, which significantly raise the risk of ovarian cancer.

When asked if the new vaccine could eradicate ovarian cancer, Professor Ahmed replied, That would be the aim, absolutely. Though much must be done, this is an incredibly exciting time. I have a lot of optimism myself. As of right now, there is no screening test for ovarian cancer, which is typically detected too late due to hazy symptoms like bloating and appetite loss.

Actress Angelina Jolie is among the high-risk women who are known to have BRCA mutations. By the age of 80, about 45 percent of individuals with a mutated BRCA1 gene and about 20 percent of those with a mutated BRCA2 gene will have ovarian cancer, compared to just 2 percent of the general population.

Women who have BRCA1/2 mutations are currently advised to have their ovaries removed by the time they are 35 years old. This means that these women experience early menopause and are unable to conceive in the future. In the UK, there are approximately 7,500 new cases of ovarian cancer each year, and between 5 and 15 percent of these cases are caused by BRCA mutations.

According to Professor Ahmed, carriers of the BRCA mutation would benefit immensely from the new vaccine since they wouldn’t need to have their ovaries removed. We are talking about preventing the very first few cancer cells that develop, he continued, and not trying to cure, treat, or prevent the tumor from coming back. This gives me hope. Since we will only be focusing on a relatively small number of cells, I’m hoping that we will be successful.

The HPV vaccine has proven to be successful; it is incredibly effective. Even though the vaccine’s official approval process could take many years, its effects might become apparent sooner. In four or five years, Professor Ahmed said, he would like to begin observing the vaccine’s effects on the healthy population through clinical trials.

A tumor or aberrant cell growth that develops in the ovary is known as ovarian cancer. Most ovarian cancers occur in women over 50 and are epithelial in nature. It is strongly advised that women who have a family history of ovarian cancer undergo screening. Oxford University researchers are developing a vaccine called OvarianVax, which they believe will train the immune system to identify and combat ovarian cancer in its early stages.

The university’s ovarian cancer cell laboratory’s director, Prof. Although there is still much work to be done, Ahmed Ahmed expressed optimism. Initially, the vaccine will be developed in a lab to educate the immune system to identify tumor-associated antigens, which are proteins found on the surface of ovarian cancer.

Patients who already have the illness will then be used to test the vaccine. Prof. According to Ahmed, the theory is that if the vaccination is administered, these microscopic tumors should either decrease, drastically shrink, or go away. To determine whether the vaccine is effective in preventing ovarian cancer, the next stage will involve women who have genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing the disease as well as women who do not yet have it.

It’s a difficult task to train the immune system to detect the very early indicators of cancer, according to Ahmed. However, we now possess extremely advanced instruments that provide us with a genuine understanding of how the immune system identifies ovarian cancer. Oxford University reports that there are 7,500 new cases of ovarian cancer in the United Kingdom each year. According to Oxford, it is the sixth most common cancer in females.

According to estimates from the American Cancer Society, 19,680 women in the U.S. in 2024 be given a fresh diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer has no known screening test, and because symptoms like bloating and appetite loss can be ambiguous, the disease is frequently discovered after it is too late. Some women are more susceptible to the disease due to genetic mutations, and it is recommended that women with specific genetic mutations have their ovaries removed by the age of 35.

Scientists are still optimistic about the vaccine, stating that if it proves effective, women may never need to have their ovaries removed. It will take many years before any potential vaccine is suitable for widespread use, according to Dr. David Crosby, head of prevention and early detection research at Cancer Research UK. He stated, “At this point, researchers are using samples from patients with ovarian cancer to test the optimal ingredients to include in the vaccine in the lab.

Reference:

https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/05/01/ovarian-cancer-new-treatments-and-research/
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-10-04-oxford-researchers-secure-funding-worlds-first-ovarian-cancer-prevention-vaccine
https://www.onclive.com/clinical/ovarian-cancer
https://news.sky.com/story/worlds-first-ovarian-cancer-vaccine-being-developed-in-uk-could-wipe-out-the-disease-13227127
https://www.nature.com/subjects/ovarian-cancer

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/disease/cancer

A study reveals that certain newer migraine medications are less effective than older ones.

A study reveals that certain newer migraine medications are less effective than older ones.

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Although migraine attacks can be excruciating, numerous medications can be used to treat them. Certain triptans may be a better migraine treatment than more recently developed drugs, according to a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Recommendations for treating migraines may benefit from the review’s conclusions. Choosing the appropriate medication to treat migraine attacks can significantly improve symptom relief. Experts are looking for and comparing the best options for medications.

The options for treating migraine attacks with oral monotherapy were compared in a systematic review and network meta-analysis published in. The study examined data from 137 randomized controlled trials, involving nearly 90,000 individuals. All things considered, eletriptan was the best at curing pain after two hours and among the best at bringing about long-lasting pain relief. Additionally, the data suggested that some triptan treatments were superior to more modern migraine medications like ubrogepant and lasmiditan.

Most triptans are better for pain relief than newer migraine drugs
Among the many symptoms of a migraine attack are excruciating headaches that can linger for days. One common option for symptom relief is medication. Triptans are one class of drugs used to treat acute migraines; in the end, these medications help to improve migraine symptoms by constricting blood vessels and blocking pain signals.

In this review, researchers aimed to compare migraine treatments that could be administered orally. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were two of the sources they searched for studies. Among them were double-blind, randomized controlled trials that contrasted oral drugs with a placebo or alternative therapy.

Those with a migraine diagnosis and a minimum age of 18 were eligible to participate in the trials. Two hours after taking medication and two to twenty-four hours after taking medication were the focus of the research. They examined the effects of 17 different drugs and included 137 randomized controlled trials. Of the participants, 26,763 were given a placebo and 62,682 received drug-based treatments.

Every drug worked better than a placebo. Researchers compared the drug interventions and discovered that, in terms of participants using rescue medications and achieving pain relief at the 2-hour mark, eletriptan outperformed nearly all other active interventions. The next most effective drugs at two hours were zolmitriptan, sumatriptan, and rizatriptan. Researchers who looked at long-term pain relief discovered that ibuprofen and eletriptan worked best.

The more recently developed migraine treatment drugs, lasmiditan, rimegepant, and ubrogepant, were found to be less effective than eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan. According to our analysis, the best drugs for treating acute migraine attacks are zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and eletriptan. This new understanding indicates that the current guidelines, which treat all oral triptans as equally viable, need to be revised. Our results unmistakably show a preference order for triptan use, a change that calls for revisions to our clinical practice guidelines. On the other hand, it is now demonstrated that almotriptan, frovatriptan, and naratriptan are less effective.

Should more people be using triptans for migraine?
Approximately 10% of the global population experiences migraines. It’s crucial to provide treatment alternatives, and information such as this review might assist in shaping treatment suggestions in the long run. Cipriani pointed out that despite their efficacy, triptans are underutilized, as per European population-based statistics, with only 3.4% to 22.4% of migraine sufferers utilizing triptans. Our findings indicate that certain triptans are the most potent oral medication for alleviating acute migraine attacks, emphasizing the necessity to enhance knowledge among healthcare providers and policymakers to promote improved patient care.

It is my hope that this study will contribute to the awareness of particular migraine treatments. One advantage is that this research may facilitate discussions about particular migraine treatments with primary care physicians. It is important to talk with medical professionals about using the recommended dosage of triptan and switching to a different medication when necessary. Another crucial point is that, given the expense of gepants for some migraine sufferers, particularly in underdeveloped nations, triptans may be more widely available than them.

Triptans are the preferred treatment option for the relief of moderate-to-severe migraine pain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, so it’s important to keep that in mind as well. Additionally, some triptan side effects that physicians should take into account in clinical practice were highlighted in this review. For instance, chest pain was linked to eletriptan. The review authors also mentioned that some people are not always safe to take triptans. They added that more investigation may be needed to reevaluate the vascular contraindications to triptans.

How surprising were these results?
In Fountain Valley, California, at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, Medhat Mikhael, MD, a pain management specialist and medical director of the nonoperative program, who was not involved in the review, stated he did not find the results surprising. I anticipated these outcomes because, as he explained, the triptan family of medications acts by binding to serotonin receptors, which causes the trigeminal artery to vasoconstriction, effectively and swiftly ending an acute migraine attack.

Hormonal fluctuations, genetic predispositions, and various triggers are among the causes of migraine. He explained that a migraine is caused by inflammation and dilation of the trigeminal artery, which results in a throbbing headache and other related symptoms. Nevertheless, it is important to realize that triptans constrict other blood vessels, such as the coronary arteries, in the same way that they constrict the trigeminal artery. For this reason, patients with cardiac disorders or other cardiovascular diseases should not take them. Mikhael warned that they can also result in other unpleasant side effects, such as tightness in the chest.

How strong is the evidence supporting these findings?
One of the review’s limitations is that certain data may have been overlooked or excluded from the analysis due to the inclusion and exclusion criteria that were set. For instance, the researchers only included studies with outpatient participants and only drugs that complied with specific guidelines. The authors admitted that it’s possible they counted some studies twice or overlooked others when doing their analyses.

The results might have been impacted by the data that was used, such as the decision to include both published and unpublished studies. Additionally, participants with missing data were thought to have had unfavorable results and were limited to viewing data on pain relapse on three different medications for a maximum of two days. It is important to exercise caution when examining the results of this review and analysis because they make the assumption that it is possible to draw valid conclusions from this data in an indirect manner.

Furthermore, it’s critical to recognize that each included study has unique limitations that could have had an impact on the final results. For instance, a number of the studies were funded by the pharmaceutical industry, suggesting potential bias. More diverse study cohorts may be needed in the future because the majority of participants were female and the majority of trials originated in America and Europe. Additionally, the researchers did not have data on combination drugs or the administration of medications through alternative routes, nor did they have individual patient data.

Moreover, they did not concentrate on data regarding response consistency between migraine episodes, cost-effectiveness, or the kind of oral formulation. They did not examine certain clinical issues that could direct treatments in the clinical setting, nor were they able to quantify certain outcomes. It’s also important to remember that the researchers’ analysis of the evidence’s degree of certainty revealed that it ranged from high to extremely low. They admonished us that, for the majority of comparisons, our findings could be considered low or very low.

They discovered that a small number of studies had a high risk of bias for some outcomes, that most outcomes showed moderate heterogeneity, and that some outcomes showed inconsistent comparisons. Lastly, the researchers pointed out that one study with a low placebo response may have contributed to the observed efficacy of ibuprofen in achieving sustained pain freedom. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the findings demonstrate how some triptans are still useful and effective treatments for migraines, even in the presence of more recent drugs.

References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/older-migraine-drugs-more-effective-than-some-newer-options-study-finds#How-strong-is-the-evidence-supporting-these-findings?

https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/migraine-headaches