July, 2023 Pharmacy and Health Blog from myGenericPharmacy.com

Are Ketamine injections effective for resistant depression?

July 21, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Participants in clinical trials with treatment-resistant depression got placebo or racemic ketamine injections twice weekly for a month.

With the use of ketamine, about one in five patients had all of their symptoms go, and nearly a third had at least a 50% improvement.

A total of six clinical mood disorder centers from Australia and one from New Zealand collaborated on the study.

More and more academics are investigating the use of psychedelics, a class of drugs that alter consciousness, as a potential depression cure. The drug ketamine, which has been used as an anesthetic for many years, is of particular interest to many.

A recent study comparing the effectiveness of racemic ketamine vs a placebo in easing the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Depression that does not improve after receiving two or more forms of treatment is referred to as treatment-resistant depression.

What variations of ketamine are there?

The commercially produced nasal spray Spravato (ketamine) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 for adults with treatment-resistant depression and for individuals with major depressive disorder who have acute suicidal ideation.

In the US, racemic ketamine is permitted for use as anaesthetic. In addition, doctors prescribe it “off-label”—that is, for a condition other than the one for which the FDA has given its approval—to treat depression.

Additionally less expensive than Spravato is racemic ketamine.

Participants in the current trial, which was directed by academics at the University of New South Wales Sydney (UNSW) and the associated Black Dog Institute, got injections of racemic ketamine or a placebo twice a week.

Largest clinical trial to date

According to Medical News Today, the trial’s principal investigator, Dr. Colleen Loo, a clinical psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at UNSW, started examining ketamine’s effects on depression in 2011. She had previously researched how ketamine was used in anesthesia for electroconvulsive treatment (ECT).

She said that this research experiment, which compares racemic ketamine with placebo for treatment-resistant depression, is the largest of its kind.

Dr. Loo further emphasized that one-fourth of the subjects had previously undergone ECT treatment but had not shown improvement.

“ECT is a highly effective treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depression, so it means that these people had high-end treatment-resistant depression,” she argued.

Because it is extremely difficult to get any treatment to work once someone has received ECT and is still ill, this group is typically left out of the research. According to Dr. Colleen Loo, this study “provides evidence of the efficacy of ketamine, at least the racemic form, in treating depression with a high level of treatment resistance.”

Dr. Loo finds it significant that racemic ketamine injections were used in the trial rather than more costly and time-consuming infusions, demonstrating the efficacy of this less expensive option.

Study on ketamine for adult depression

The Ketamine for Adult Depression (KADS) research was a trial in which 184 patients with treatment-resistant depression participated. Six clinical mood disorder centres in Australia and one in New Zealand participated in the investigation.

Participants must have applied by April 2020, with the application period opening in August 2016.

Dr. Loo told that when the pandemic struck, researchers decided to stop recruiting new subjects for the trial. Originally, they had hoped to enroll more people.

Participants had a serious depressive disorder for at least three months and were 18 years of age or older. Furthermore, patients had to have received an inadequate response with at least two antidepressants.

Before beginning the trial, the participants had to have been taking the same dosage of their current antidepressant for at least four weeks. Additionally, they had to have a Montgomery-Sberg Rating Scale for Depression (MADRS) score of at least 20.

“Good safety profile” for injections of ketamine

Racemic ketamine or midazolam injections were given to participants at random. Midazolam is frequently used to assist patients unwind before surgery.

For four weeks, individuals received injections into their abdomen walls twice each week with at least three days in between each treatment.

According to Dr. Loo, the participants didn’t seem bothered by the abdominal injections.

“The injection used a very small needle to inject ketamine under the skin,” she claimed. “It can be done anywhere — arm, leg, abdomen — but we did it in the abdomen because there is usually more fat there under the skin, so it is more comfortable.”

Participants and researchers who administered the medication were unaware of who received racemic ketamine. Because midazolam also induces sleepiness, like ketamine, it was chosen as the placebo because it helped prevent participants from knowing which medication they would get.

Initially, a fixed dose of either 0.025 milligrammes per kilogramme of midazolam or 0.5 milligrammes per kilogramme of racemic ketamine was administered randomly to 73 subjects.

The authors of the study report that during a routine Data Safety Monitoring Board meeting, “a revisiting of drug dosage was recommended as no participants in the entire masked sample had remitted and the safety profile was good,”

As a result, the dosage was altered, and 108 individuals were randomly assigned to receive flexible doses of either midazolam or ketamine in a second group. Implementation of response-guided dosage. Racemic ketamine dosages were increased to 0.6 milligrammes per kilogramme, 0.75 milligrammes per kilogramme, and 0.9 milligrammes per kilogramme in sessions 2, 4, and 6 if patients had not improved by 50% from baseline scores. Elevated doses of midazolam were given to participants as well.

If they received at least one injection, they were considered for the trial, however, Most” people received all eight dosages.

Monitoring safety closely yields fruitful outcomes.

The majority of individuals in the flexible dosing group increased their racemic ketamine dosage to the maximum level. Dr. Loo claims that this aspect of the study turned out to be significant. “It showed that individual dose adjustment, up to the dose that each person requires for a response, is really important for getting the best outcomes,” the researcher added.

The Ketamine Side Effect Tool (KSET) was utilised by researchers to better understand the short- and long-term side effects of various racemic ketamine therapies.

Participants were checked on again four weeks following the last injection. The open-label therapy phase was open to participants who had relapsed; this means that they would be aware of the treatment they are getting.

“The study used a very detailed and comprehensive approach to safety monitoring, monitoring for cumulative effects between treatments, not just in the two hours after each treatment, or just enquiring at the end of the four weeks,” stated Dr. Loo.

The researchers state in the trial publication that “if ketamine treatment is halted after 4 weeks, the benefits are not sustained for all remitters and that ongoing treatment should be considered.”

According to the researchers, “most” individuals decided to start open-label treatment at the conclusion of the four weeks.

30% of subjects had a 50% improvement in symptoms

After a month of injections, 1 in 5 subjects getting flexible doses of racemic ketamine had completely recovered from their symptoms, compared to 2% of participants receiving placebos.

Compared to 4% of those who received a placebo, nearly 30% of those who received ketamine saw symptom improvements of at least 50%.

A 20% remission rate, which Dr. Loo deemed “quite good” for treatment-resistant depression, did not surprise her.

The outcomes are actually very positive, according to Dr. Loo. “Ketamine was still very effective, with an impressive 10 [times] difference compared to placebo,” according to the study. “Even in people with depression at the high end of treatment resistance excluded from most prior studies.”

The scientists want to develop the KSET further and run bigger, more extensive studies with generic ketamine in the future.

REFERENCES:

For Depression medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=6

Heart failure: An Important link with cognitive impairment.

July 20, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Heart failure affects more than 64 million people globally. One of the most frequent complications in heart failure patients is cognitive impairment.

Heart failure may cause cognitive decline because, according to Columbia University researchers, there is a little calcium leak inside the brain’s neurons.

Additionally, researchers have created an investigational medication that aims to ‘plug’ the calcium leak and halt the course of heart failure.

Heart failure, an incurable cardiovascular disorder where the heart cannot effectively pump blood throughout the body, affects about 64 million people globally.

Complications include shortness of breath, arrhythmia, and kidney problems. Also, fluid retention in the lungs, belly, feet, and legs is more common in those with heart failure.

Additionally, one frequent complication in persons with heart disease is cognitive impairment.

A little calcium leak inside the brain’s neurons, according to Columbia University researchers, may be the reason heart failure can result in cognitive impairment.

In addition, researchers have created an experimental medication to “plug” the calcium leak and perhaps reduce the development of heart failure.

What is cognitive dysfunction?

Cognitive impairment is also known as mild cognitive impairment. It happens when a person struggles to perform routine tasks that call for mental abilities like memory and thought.

Cognitive disability examples include:

forgetfulness
missing events on the calendar
not knowing how to travel to frequented locations
difficulty understanding a talk
decision-making challenges
failure to follow through on commitments or directions

People who have modest cognitive impairment could also go through emotional changes like despair, anxiety, and rage.

Cognitive impairment can be brought on by a variety of conditions, including infections, prescription drugs, and other diseases.

A increased chance of developing other types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, exists in those with mild cognitive impairment.

How does brain dysfunction may affect cognition?

The team decided to investigate a potential link between heart failure and cognitive decline. Based on what they already knew about the ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2)/intracellular Ca2+ (calcium release channel), Dr. Andrew R. Marks, chair of the Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and lead researcher of this study explained.

Both the heart and the brain have the RyR2 channel, thus he said, “I reasoned that since the channel is leaky in the heart due to systemic stress of heart failure it might also be leaky in the brain.”

In heart muscle, there is an encoded protein called RyR2. It contributes to the delivery of that specific mineral to the cardiac muscles as a component of the intracellular calcium channel.

Calcium is essential for both heart and brain function, Dr. Marks noted. “Calcium is required to activate muscle contraction in the heart and for signaling in the brain.”

Testing the theory of the heart-brain relationship

Dr. Marks and his team tested their theory in this study using a mouse model. Researchers discovered that calcium leakage in the brain’s neurons caused cognitive impairment in rats with heart failure.

Scientists also looked at the brains of heart failure victims who had passed away. They looked at those brains and discovered leaky calcium channels, which may have contributed to cognitive impairment in those people.

Since heart failure is progressive, clinicians may want to closely examine their heart failure patients for cognitive impairment and keep track of this, according to Dr. Marks’ research. “The doctors could determine whether their patient’s cognitive impairment is affecting their capacity to comply with medical advice and take their medications.”

Are calcium leaks treatable by doctors?

Dr. Marks and his team discovered throughout the study that an investigational medication called Rycals created by Marks’ group. It could be used to “plug” the calcium leak and possibly delay the onset of heart failure.

“Rycals fix the leak in RyR channels and are in clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic and at the AMC in Amsterdam for an inherited form of exercise-induced sudden death,” stated Dr. Marks. In a year or two, depending on the outcome of this experiment, they might be available.

A broad unifying hypothesis?

About this study, Dr. Richard Wright, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica, California, who was not involved in the study, remarked.

He applauded the researchers for finally developing a comprehensive, all-encompassing theory of various disease states after years of research.

Dr. Wright said, “People with chronic heart failure are weak and have respiratory problems; this has long been known. As this article noted, they frequently exhibit cognitive impairment in comparison to their classmates.”

Here, Dr. Marks’ team is attempting to develop a unified theory to account for all these many changes that take place in heart failure patients, and I believe they have done so. Dr. Richard Wright stated, “I believe this idea that calcium excess is a unifying mechanism to explain not only the heart’s dysfunction but skeletal muscle dysfunction, diaphragm dysfunction, and as the article’s main thesis, brain dysfunction as well.”

The beginning of a new era is upon us.

Dr. Wright remarked that he was thrilled to learn of a substance created in the lab of the study team that has been demonstrated to favourably effect these alterations.

We are at the beginning of a new era, which I would refer to as the period of designer molecules, he remarked. “We’ve seen it in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and amyloidosis already, where you can design molecules that change pathologic changes of proteins.”

They have compounds created in their lab to prevent alterations that help prevent calcium excess in neurons, heart cells, and skeletal muscle cells. This could have a significant impact on the results of our research.

Dr. Wright did point out that additional research is still required because the majority of the results in this article came from a mouse model.

Humans are not mice, he continued, so “sometimes we get misled.” However, they’ve done a great job of avoiding that and gone to the bother of using chunks of autopsied brains to support their claim, which I think is quite real.”

Other study limitations include the tiny number of human brains examined by the researchers and the fact that the study’s control group consisted of participants who were significantly younger than those who had suffered from heart failure and cognitive deterioration.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_99

Dahlias might be the newest diabetes weapon.

July 20, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Three chemicals found in the petals of vibrant dahlias may help people with prediabetes or diabetes maintain their blood sugar levels, according to recent studies. These substances lessen brain inflammation, which enhances insulin performance.

The discovery may help millions of individuals throughout the world who lack access to pricey and frequently unavailable drugs to some degree of blood sugar management.

D. pinnata dahlias are more than just exquisitely symmetrical flowers. Three chemicals that were discovered in the petals of these flowers, according to a recent study, may help persons with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels.

The researchers discovered that an extract containing the three dahlia compounds greatly enhanced the study participants’ control of blood sugar during a randomised, controlled, cross-over clinical trial.

Researchers from the University of Otago in Aotearoa, which is the aboriginal name for New Zealand, found in 2015 that a dietary flavonoid called lutein may be able to lower brain inflammation. Also, it improves blood sugar levels in people who have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels.

The dahlia flower’s petals are identified in the latest study as a source of butein and two additional compounds that increase its effectiveness.

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 37.3 million Americans have diabetes and 96 million Americans have prediabetes. The CDC believes that 8.5 million of them have not yet received a diagnosis. According to the World Health Organisation, diabetes affected 422 million people globally in 2014. Also, it directly contributed to 1.5 million deaths in 2019.

Uncontrolled diabetes can result in lower limb amputation, kidney failure, blindness, strokes, and heart attacks. Continuous blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle adjustments, and often taking insulin or medications that can aid with blood sugar control are required to prevent such results.

Treating diabetes with dahlias

The discovery that dahlias might contain the butein that his team had been looking for, according to study author Dr. Alexander Tups, was fairly accidental. He brought it up to a coworker over coffee. They then inquired, “Did you know that dahlias may contain that molecule?“

International dahlia experts were cultivating dahlias in the extreme south of New Zealand and were willing to offer the flowers. Thus, this was the beginning of a magnificent trip, according to Dr. Tups.

The group created a button-containing extract, which was successfully tested on mice. The other two compounds that might increase the impact of butein were then discovered in cooperation with a group of plant chemistry specialists.

In a preclinical context, the researchers discovered that all three molecules are necessary to maximise the blood sugar-lowering impact.

Additionally, we were able to demonstrate that the compounds’ ability to suppress brain inflammation in mice. Also, their dependence on doing so for the glucose-lowering impact, said Alexander Tups, M.D.

Human trials revealed the extract was efficient and generated no observable negative effects.

The tablet form of Dahlia

Since then, the group has obtained a patent for their discovery, released their research, and launched Dahlia4, an extract for bettering blood sugar regulation. There is a tablet version of Dahlia4. The American Food and Drug Administration has not yet reviewed it.

Although various plant extracts have been identified and studied, Dr. Thomas Lutz, full professor of veterinary physiology at the University of Zurich, who was not involved in the study, observed that “the question is always about the availability, the efficacy, and potential toxicity.”

The discovery made here has a lot of importance in these regards, according to Dr. Lutz. According to Dr. Tups, the dahlia molecules may be capable of more than just regulating blood sugar.

“We are now conducting a clinical trial in people with chronic fatigue syndrome or long COVID syndrome,” he said. “It showed promise in helping to improve brain function.”

Blood sugar regulation and brain inflammation

“We know that ‘brain inflammation’ is associated with many metabolic disorders, e.g., access to high energy/high fat food, obesity, type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Lutz.

“The reduction of brain inflammation has been shown to improve/restore the sensitivity to various hormones involved in the physiological control of metabolism. Particularly in insulin and leptin,” the author added.

“This idea has been around for a while. The issue was how to approach it in a way that benefits the patients concerned“, according to Dr. Lutz.

Why this finding is significant?

Dr. Lutz claims that “potentially, the discovery described here may be of benefit for a very large number of people.”

He clarified that in addition to the newly developed dahlia extract, there were numerous other therapy options that were either recently approved or that were being studied in pre-clinical or clinical settings.

He stated: “Many of these are pharmacological approaches based on agonists of endogenous hormones.” Adding, “Efficacy and safety is very good, [but] cost is high, and availability has been an issue.”

“From a legal standpoint, we are not discussing drugs here; rather, we are discussing food additives. Their broad use may benefit from this,” according to Dr. Lutz.

Dr. Tups stated that there are “literally millions” of people who could gain from promoting normal levels of insulin and blood sugar.

Therefore, the finding is crucial for all patients with metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus, but possibly also with other illnesses where brain inflammation is involved, according to Dr. Thomas Lutz.

REFERENCES:

For Diabetes medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_95

Abuse of alcohol and other substances alters the brain.

July 20, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adjust to changing conditions in order to get the best results.

Researchers are still trying to understand the interactions and alterations that take place when certain medications have an impact on cognitive flexibility.

The relationship between impaired cognitive flexibility and cocaine and alcohol usage was recently investigated.

The information provided a crucial understanding of the underlying neuronal networks underlying these alterations in the brain.

There is still much to learn about how the brain and some addictive chemicals interact. The complexity and distinct affected brain circuits are still a mystery to researchers.

A recent mouse study investigated the effects of cocaine and alcohol on particular brain circuits.

According to the study’s findings, cocaine and alcohol may block specific brain connections, making it harder to adjust to changing conditions.

Abuse of drugs impairs cognitive flexibility

People can change their behavior by adapting their ideas. This is referred to as cognitive flexibility. According to the authors of this study, cognitive flexibility enables individuals to modify their behaviour in response to their settings in order to obtain desirable results.

Ben Spielberg, a neuroscientist and the founder of Bespoke Treatment, elaborated on the significance of cognitive flexibility in his study:

The ability to change one’s mental focus and adjust to new challenges, objectives, and patterns is referred to as cognitive flexibility, a complicated phenomenon. Cognitive flexibility is defined as the capacity to think and act appropriately in response to changes in inputs, settings, and surprises. Our world is changing quickly, and if our thought patterns are rigid and unchanging, we can’t adjust to it. Cognitive flexibility is therefore vital.

The use of specific drugs and alcohol has been associated with a decrease in cognitive flexibility, according to the study’s authors.

The goal of this study, according to Dr. Jun Wang of the Texas A&M University School of Medicine, was to “examine why addictive substance use reduces cognitive flexibility.”

How do drugs and alcohol impact thinking?

In this study, mice and rats were used to examine the effects of cocaine and alcohol on cognitive flexibility and the underlying mechanisms at play.

Reversal learning tasks were employed by researchers to evaluate cognitive flexibility. This entails performing acts and tasks that are the opposite of what they were in the past.

They discovered that cocaine helps to inhibit particular neurons known as striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) by interfering with certain brain connections.

Previous research has shown that direct-pathway medium spiny neurons (MSN) are more active when exposed to addictive drugs over time. They discovered that exposure to cocaine seems to intensify the inhibitory signals that direct-pathway medium spiny neurons (MSN) send to striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs). Their research provides additional evidence that alcohol has a similar effect.

The authors of the study also discovered that cocaine exposure reduced CIN firing to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS), a region of the brain. The ability to think creatively depends on this part of the brain.

The information sheds light on a few possible mechanisms by which addictive chemicals may limit cognitive flexibility. The identification of these mechanisms may aid in the creation of medications for the treatment of substance use disorders.

Dr. Wang provided some details regarding the team’s brain circuits, saying:

“It is unclear what mechanisms underlie the decrease in cognitive flexibility brought on by reinforcement. Through a collateral projection from dMSNs to CINs, this study discovered that dMSN activation by substance use decreases CIN function and flexibility. In other words, dMSN-to-midbrain mediates reinforcement, whereas dMSN-to-CIN lowers cognitive flexibility.”

According to Spielberg, drug abuse “is linked to impulsivity at initial stages (e.g., before physiological dependence kicks in). However, the brain switches to a compulsive pattern once one becomes dependent on the drug.”

The effects on the human brain require additional study.

The primary drawback of this study is that it was conducted on rodents, which means that it cannot be directly used to work with people.

To fully comprehend how alcohol and cocaine affect neural networks in the human brain, more research is required. For instance, it is unknown to what extent consuming alcohol or cocaine affects cognitive flexibility, Dr. Wang explained:

This study identifies an intrinsic circuit that mediates the cognitive flexibility brought on by reward. We haven’t yet looked at what dosages of alcohol or cocaine will make people less flexible cognitively. Alcohol or cocaine use disorder, which is defined as obsessive use of these substances despite negative effects, is widely thought to cause permanent alterations at dMSN-to-CIN.

Obtaining addiction therapy

This study adds to the body of research that shows how addictive chemicals affect people. Numerous alternatives are available to those who need assistance in reducing the possibly negative impacts of addiction.

Long-term management and learning new behaviors that challenge old patterns can both be part of addiction treatment.

Some drugs may be able to ease withdrawal symptoms and aid in the process of acclimating a person to life without a particular substance.

Therapy that enables people to alter their behaviors and way of thinking might be helpful to those seeking addiction treatment.

In his explanation of some facets of addiction treatment, Spielberg said:

“The current standard of care involves a community-based treatment programme such as a Partial Hospitalisation Programme (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Programme (IOP). This is once a person has been medically detoxicated from substances. In addition to having a substance addiction disease, many persons also have other underlying mental health diagnoses that have to be treated. These diagnoses often include bipolar illness, PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD.

REFERENCES:

For Mental disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Scientists made a healthy diet using highly processed foods

July 19, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

The USDA has created a seven-day nutritionally balanced meal plan that is experimental and almost entirely made up of ultra-processed foods. However, a variety of ultra-processed meals have been strongly associated with long-term health problems.

The diet that scientists devised also fell short in terms of providing essential nutrients like vitamins D and E. Unresolved is the question of what constitutes “ultra-processed” food.

American consumption of industrially produced food has increased over the past 20 years, rising from 53.5% of daily calories in 2001 and 2002 to 57% in 2017 and 2018. Many people refer to these items as “ultra-processed foods,” or “UPF.”

These foods may not give enough nutrients because they were created for flavour, affordability, and an extended shelf life, which is connected to chronic diseases.

Nutritional research scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) were interested to find out if a person could adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) solely from UPF. A proof-of-concept seven-day menu has been shown in a study that the researchers have published.

The menu received an overall score of 86 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), with 91% of the diet’s calories coming from UPF. It only fell short on two nutritional fronts: salt content and whole grains.

The average American diet only receives a score of 59 on the HEI, in contrast. The menu is an experiment and a case study of the adaptability of DGA recommendations; it is not a real suggested meal plan.

The researchers modified the MyPyramid menu to create their meal in accordance with present dietary recommendations.

The press statement presenting the findings emphasises that additional research is required because existing dietary recommendations are more concentrated on nutritional content than the level or kind of processing involved.

What foods are ‘ultra-processed’?

Determining what UPF are, according to study lead author Dr. Julie M. Hess, a researcher at the USDA’s Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Centre, is one of the challenges with assessing them.

Our research revealed that several nutrient-rich items, including whole wheat bread, nonfat milk, canned fruit, tofu, fruit juice, and canned fish, might be categorized as ultra-processed.

The researchers worked with outside “graders” who assigned grades to the meals under evaluation based on how processed they were.

“Some of the foods that our graders considered ‘ultra-processed’ that did not end up on our menu were: almond butter, pork loin, smoked oysters, soy milk, cottage cheese, nonfat Greek yogurt, lactose-free milk, and apple juice,” explained Dr. Hess.

Black bean soup, porridge, a baked potato with chilli, tofu stir fry and a steak supper were some of the dishes on the menu. We left out canned mushrooms, canned peas, and applesauce from our menu since our graders thought they were less processed.

A plant-based “meat” burger, pickles, banana chips, sesame sticks, and other things that the researchers thought did not fall into a DNA category were also not taken into account.

Unanticipated foods

“It is also important to note that nutrient-dense foods like beans and legumes, for example, can be considered ultra-processed due to the citric acid or additives added to preserve it,” said Michelle Rothstein, a cardiology nutritionist who was not involved in the study. Even if they are believed to be highly processed, they yet provide health benefits that we must also consider in the overall scheme of things.

“Until the scientific community identifies more precisely what the term ‘ultra-processed’ means, it will not be possible to determine whether ultra-processed foods are healthy or not,” said Dr. Julie M. Hess.

Why a meal plan high in processed foods was developed?

Dr. Hess’ team constructed the experimental menu in accordance with the NOVA system, the most widely utilised system for identifying ultra-processed foods, knowing that the 2025 DGA scientific committee will be talking about UPF.

Dr. Hess said, “My research focuses on discovering and assessing solutions to assist Americans in following recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which means I monitor carefully the activities and conversation linked to the formulation of dietary guidance in the U.S.”

Routhenstein voiced concern that most people lack the nutritional knowledge needed to create the menu.

Rosenstein additionally questioned the realism of some menu selections. As an illustration, strawberry kefir might contain xanthan gum, which is currently regarded as ultra-processed. They are receiving honey-roasted chickpeas with an ingredient that is currently regarded as ultra-processed.

It’s crucial to meet people where they are, she added, and this might be a useful learning tool depending on what’s available.

Routhenstein argued that “This is not an accurate depiction of what is actually available to a person who relies on ultra-processed foods, that would not be available in a low-income neighbourhood.”

Potential risks of highly processed meals

Even if UPFs aren’t well defined, there are plenty of worries about how eating food that has been popularly deemed ultra-processed would affect our health.

In addition to not participating in the study, Dr. Marialaura Bonaccio of the IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed in Italy stated that “the well-documented adverse health effects of UPF are not exclusively related to the poor nutritional content of these foods, but are likely triggered by non-nutritional factors, such as food additives, contaminants from plastics, alteration to the food matrix, etc.”

Dr. Bonaccio cited a study of her own in which these issues are covered. According to Rosenstein’s analysis of Dr. Bonaccio’s research, consuming more UPF in one’s diet was linked to an increase in cardiovascular disease and all-cause death.

According to certain research, “UPF is independently associated with e.g., mortality cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers,” claimed Dr. Bonaccio.

Such health impacts were outside the purview of this study. However, Routhenstein issued a warning: “Ultra-processed foods produce an increase in cystatin c, an inflammatory biomarker that raises risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke, regardless of whether they are following a vegan, vegetarian diet, etc.

Dr. Bonaccio stated, “In light of this, I believe that a work exclusively focused on the nutritional quality of UPF, which of course could also be adequate in some cases, is completely misleading.”

Even though Dr. Hess claimed “There is not a consistent or easy to apply definition of what a ‘ultra-processed’ food is,” Drs. Bonaccio and Routhenstein advised individuals to limit their use of ultra-processed meals until more evidence is available.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=83

Melanoma: Black man at 26% higher risk to die.

July 19, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Significant melanoma discrepancies between racial and ethnic groupings have been discovered by researchers.

Using the National Cancer Database, researchers discovered that Black males had the lowest survival rates for melanoma diagnoses and a 26% higher mortality risk than white men.

Put on sun-protective clothing, use sunscreen, and examine your skin once a month to protect yourself from melanoma.

While there are many studies on both male and female melanoma instances, there is little information on how race affects this skin disease, particularly in men.

A group of experts looked over the National Cancer Database to find out more. They looked at male non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native instances of primary cutaneous invasive melanoma.

Their data showed melanoma incidence differences between racial and ethnic groupings.

The trunk was the most typical site for melanoma in both white people and American Indian/Alaskan Native people. Men of color Black, Asian, and Hispanic had their lower extremities found to have melanoma, though.

The majority of stage 3 or stage 4 melanomas (48.6%) were seen in Black people. White guys (75.1%) and Black males (51.7%) had the highest 5-year overall melanoma survival rates.

According to research, black people with melanoma had a 26% higher mortality rate than white people with the same diagnosis.

Dr. Bianka Bubic, study author and a dermatology research fellow at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, said, “We hope that this study lays the foundation for future research to explore the reasons for why there are different presentations and survival among men of diverse racial groups in melanoma.”

Survival rates for melanoma vary by race

Researchers are currently looking into why Black people have a higher chance of developing severe melanoma. Pigmented lesions that may have variations in size, form, symmetry, or pattern can be early indicators of melanoma.

A board-certified dermatologist at Psoriasis Telehealth in Palo Alto, California, Dr. Faranak Kamangar, told that early detection of skin abnormalities in the Black community may be more challenging, thus postponing diagnosis.

She pointed out that the results emphasise the value of early cancer screening in many racial and ethnic groups.

Dr. Kamanger pointed out that socioeconomic issues such a lack of cheap insurance and medical treatment may disproportionately affect the severity of melanoma in Black communities, which could result in a diagnosis at a late stage.

“The main tendency, that Black men are diagnosed with melanoma at later stages, making it less likely to be treated and probably leading to greater rates of morbidity and mortality for this population, has been known to us for some time. The research also confirms previously reported findings that Black men are more likely to develop acral lentiginous melanoma, a subtype of melanoma that is typically detected at a later stage and may occur in difficult-to-examine body regions. Bob Marley is a well-known illustration. He unfortunately had a late diagnosis of melanoma and passed away from it,” according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Faranak Kamangar.

Acral lentiginous melanoma is the most prevalent melanoma subtype in Black people, but it is also more challenging to identify and diagnose early.

Dr. Wael Harb, a haematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Centre in Fountain Valley, California, said that acral lentiginous melanoma “typically appears on less noticeable or examined areas like the palms, soles, or under the nails.”

Are there genetic factors that influence melanoma risk?

Racial and ethnic inequalities in melanoma risk may also be influenced by genetics.

According to Dr. Kamanger, “Acral lentiginous melanoma has higher rates in this population due to genetic predispositions and, in general, is diagnosed at a later stage.”

We have now discovered genes that predispose to acral lentiginous melanoma, and this is the key factor contributing to greater risk among some groups. Diagnosis may be delayed if the nails and bottom of the feet are involved. Except for the amelanotic subtype, melanoma is often pigmented and brown in colour, according to Dr. Kamanger.

Dr. Harb emphasised that acral lentiginous melanoma frequently manifests in locations that are not as exposed to the sun. This may explain why certain body parts, such as the palms, soles, and areas under the nails, are particularly vulnerable.

Dr. Harb noted that “this type of melanoma frequently develops in areas with less melanin, which provides natural protection against UV damage.”

Dr. Harb contrasted this with the development of superficial spreading melanoma, which frequently appears as a new or changing mole or discoloured area on sun-exposed skin.

The different ways that melanoma manifests in Black and White people emphasizes the significance of thorough skin inspections that include all body parts, not just those that are regularly exposed to the sun.

Research on the prevalence of melanoma in various racial groups is still lacking.

The majority of research papers conducted so far focus on white people’s melanoma cases. Dr. Kamanger noted that as a result, the conclusions that may be drawn are limited by the tiny sample size of Black men.

The primary flaw with this study is that Black men make up less than 0.5% of the population. To obtain useful sub-data, this is a very small quantity, as Dr. Kamanger pointed out.

“The study has some limitations, even if it offers insightful information. It does not take into consideration disease-specific survival, which limits our capacity to distinguish between melanoma mortality and death from other causes,” according to Dr. Harb.

Additionally, certain data were missing, which may have impacted the precision and thoroughness of the findings.

Additionally, compared to white people, there were significantly fewer instances of melanoma among ethnic minority groups. Dr. Harb continued that this can result in bias because the sample might not accurately reflect the entire population.

Taking steps to prevent melanoma

The first step in preventing skin cancer is to shield yourself from the sun. There is no safe level of ultraviolet light exposure, according to Dr. Kamanger, who described ultraviolet light as a real carcinogen.

“UPF clothing, SPF 30 and above sun protection, and seeking shade should be practised.”

Every part of your body, including your feet and nails, should be examined once a month, according to Dr. Kamanger.

When in doubt, schedule a yearly skin cancer test with a board-certified dermatologist, said Dr. Kamanger.

According to Dr. Bubic, “any lesions that may be changing, increasing in size, bleeding, or not healing appropriately should be evaluated.”

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=10

CRISPR gene therapy: Can it cure Alzheimer’s disease?

July 19, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

During the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2023 in Amsterdam, two cutting-edge CRISPR-based therapy strategies for Alzheimer’s disease were disclosed.

One strategy is to lessen the impact of the APOE-e4 gene, a substantial genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The second strategy is to lessen the amount of beta-amyloid, a damaging protein linked to the illness.

These innovations offer hope to people who are impacted by Alzheimer’s and have the potential to advance treatment options.

Scientists modify genes using the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) mechanism. Similar to a pair of tiny molecular scissors, CRISPR makes a precise cut in a particular spot in a DNA sequence.

Once the DNA has been sliced, researchers can eliminate undesirable genes, replace defective genes with healthy ones, or even add new genes entirely.

CRISPR has the potential to advance our understanding of genetic disorders, and aid in the creation of fresh therapies. Also, it hastens the discovery of new therapeutic targets and eventually speed up the drug discovery process.

At the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2023, which was recently held in Amsterdam, researchers announced two new CRISPR-based therapeutic strategies to cure and prevent Alzheimer’s.

Decreased synthesis of amyloid beta after CRISPR

As part of the initial investigation, scientists at the University of California, San Diego, created a CRISPR-based gene-editing method. It selectively targets the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a key component of Alzheimer’s disease.

The APP gene generates a variety of byproducts, some of which are pathological (beta-amyloid, sAPPa), while others are protective (sAPPa).

This strategy seeks to increase neuroprotective effects while reducing beta-amyloid formation. The researchers experimented on mice with Alzheimer’s disease to see how well their plan worked.

They discovered that beta-amyloid plaques decreased with CRISPR therapy, as did brain inflammatory indicators, and neuroprotective APP products increased. Also, behavioral and nervous system performance improved.

Importantly, CRISPR editing did not have any unfavourable impacts in mice that were in good health.

According to study, lead author Dr. Brent Aulston, a postdoctoral researcher at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego, “the idea of our therapeutic is to utilize CRISPR to introduce a change in the patient’s genome that is protective against Alzheimer’s disease.”

“So far, we have tried this strategy in rats that exhibit the same disease symptoms as do human Alzheimer’s patients, and we have discovered that our medication lowers disease markers. Additionally, no unfavorable side effects have been noticed,” he added.

Our CRISPR therapy was developed to treat both familial and sporadic varieties of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the authors. Dr. Brent Aulston stated, “We are currently working on transferring this strategy from the lab to the clinic with the hope that our CRISPR-based gene therapy will someday be a treatment option for the illness”.

The APOE gene’s expression may be reduced via CRISPR.

In a different study, a group of scientists from Duke University created a potential therapeutic strategy utilizing CRISPR to target APOE-e4, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

It is more likely to get Alzheimer’s if you inherit this gene; one copy of APOE-e4 enhances the risk by two to three times, and two copies further magnify the risk by about eight to twelve times.

To reduce the levels of APOE-e4, the researchers used an epigenome treatment platform based on the CRISPR/dCas9-editing technique.

In human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived miniature brains from an Alzheimer’s patient as well as in humanized mice models, their lead candidate showed notable efficacy in lowering APOE-e4 levels.

It’s significant that this strategy had no impact on the levels of other APOE variants thought to have a protective or neutral effect.

The most powerful genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s is APOE.

As a senior co-author of the study and professor at the Duke University Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre and Centre for Genomic and Computational Biology, Dr. Ornit Chiba-Falek stated that they have created this innovative therapeutic platform for Alzheimer’s based on gene editing technology.

“The platform reduces the expression of APOE, the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, by closing the genomic region surrounding the gene making it less accessible for the transcriptional machinery,” explained Dr. Chiba-Falek.

“This study provides proof-of-concept for our therapeutic strategy in both human-based cellular and rodent models, demonstrating the efficacy and beneficial effects related to Alzheimer’s pathology,” the researcher continued.

A newly discovered therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease is APOE. Dr. Ornit Chiba-Falek stated, “The findings of this study pave the way for gene therapy in Alzheimer’s disease and lay the groundwork for the advancement of this APOE-targeted epigenome therapy towards clinical studies and ultimately precision medicine in Alzheimer’s.”

Proof-of-concept, therefore more study is required

The chief medical officer and CEO of INmune Bio, Raymond J. Tesi, MD, told MNT that “this technology is fascinating and promising.” However, Dr. Tesi noted that at this time, Alzheimer’s disease might not be the optimal condition to use CRISPR.

“Using CRISPR to treat [Alzheimer’s patients] and stop the production of new amyloid is a confused approach. According to what I understand, CRISPR therapy will prevent the creation of amyloid but will not eliminate it for people with [Alzheimer’s]. Is not removing amyloid from the brain the goal of amyloid-targeted therapy? Does eliminating amyloid from the brain have the same advantages as preventing its production? I’m not sure,” he replied.

“Is this outcome sufficient to conduct a clinical trial? To think that stopping more amyloid synthesis will have the same therapeutic advantages as eliminating amyloid from the brain strikes me as naive. Dr. Raymond J. Tesi remarked, “I either need more information or more research on this therapeutic approach.”

Dr. Tesi stated that while thinking about the second strategy, “60% of Alzheimer’s patients exhibit ApoE4. Unfortunately, we are unsure of which ApoE4 patients may ultimately get [the condition].

“In addition, we don’t know what ApoE4 does. In other words, does ApoE4 contribute to the pathology that results in [Alzheimer’s] or does ApoE4 itself contribute to cognitive decline? Before we apply it to humans, in my opinion, more research needs to be done to better understand the impact of’silencing’ ApoE4,” he said.

“I think it’s time to broaden our efforts beyond the amyloid-targeting therapy approaches; we know how effective they are,” Dr. Raymond J. Tesi declared that ApoE4 is an intriguing target that merits more investigation.

There are a lot of other targets worth considering. We favour neuroinflammation and have evidence to back up that therapeutic approach, said Dr. Tesi.

Another aspect to take into account is cost.

Dr. Tesi also emphasised the significance of taking into account cost while planning gene therapies. All currently accessible gene therapies cost millions of dollars.

The lecanemab (Leqembi) community considers its $26,500 annual cost to be prohibitive. Anti-amyloid CRISPR therapies are anticipated to cost significantly more than antibody-based therapies.

Patients, payers, and governments are all impacted by this issue in practice because therapies, especially preventative ones, should be less expensive than treatments.

It will be crucial to strike a balance between the attractiveness of new technology and its actual use.

Ultimately, more research is required because many therapeutic approaches are only at the proof-of-concept stage.

In addition to continuing to research potential treatment targets, it is important to take into account the logistical and financial difficulties involved in actually providing these kinds of therapy.

REFERENCES:

For Alzheimer’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=31

Can a daily brief walk could help with depression?

July 18, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Exercise can enhance brain health, lower disease risk, build bones and muscles, and manage weight.

There is mounting evidence that it can also reduce the signs and symptoms of depression, the main disorder connected to mental health. However, opinions on how much exercise is necessary to have a positive impact vary.

Now, a 10-year research in Ireland has discovered that even little quantities of exercise, like a daily 20-minute stroll, can help older persons experience less despair.

Depression, one of the most prevalent mental health illnesses, is characterized by a persistent sense of emptiness, sadness, or an inability to experience a pleasure. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that it affects about 5% of adults globally.

In 2020, there were 21 million individuals in the United States (8.4% of all adults), and women were more likely than males to experience serious depressive episodes.

According to official government figures, one in six adults in the United Kingdom reported having depressed symptoms in 2021–2022.

Depending on the type of depression a person is dealing with, there are several treatments available, such as antidepressants, psychotherapy like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or a combination of therapy and medicine. Many people find them to be helpful, but once treatment is discontinued, depression may recur.

A little exercise can make a big difference.

There is mounting evidence that altering one’s lifestyle helps lessen depression symptoms. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, seafood, and whole grains may be linked to a lower incidence of depression, according to a 2014 analysis of 21 research. Additionally, a 2022 analysis of studies revealed that exercise reduced the symptoms of depression.

How much exercise is necessary to reduce depression, however, has not been the subject of many studies.

Now, a ten-year study has discovered that even little exercise helps lessen depression in older persons, defined as those who are 50 years of age and older.

The Health Research Board (HRB) Ireland-funded study, which is published in JAMA Network Open, discovered that a 20-minute brisk walk five times a week dramatically decreased the incidence of depression.

The University of Limerick in Ireland’s Dr. Eamon Laird, the study’s author, explained why the group conducted the investigation:

“Unfortunately, depression is becoming more common in older adults and is linked to a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease (CVD), cognitive decline, death, and suicide. Previous studies have linked physical activity to a lower risk of depression, but no one has ever looked into the absolute minimum amount of physical activity that might be beneficial.

Exercise in general lessens depression

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a sizable longitudinal study with the goal of enhancing Irish citizens’ ageing experiences, provided the researchers with 4,016 participants. They gathered information between October 2009 and December 2018 at five different intervals.

The researchers used self-completed questionnaires, nurse health assessments, or interviews to gather thorough data on demographic, health, lifestyle, and social aspects at each time point.

The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) short form was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. Using this information, they defined major depression as either having a CES-D score more than or equal to nine and/or experiencing a major depressive episode at any moment throughout the data collection process.

Participants self-reported their physical activity over the previous seven days at each data point. They were to keep track of the days they engaged in vigorous, moderate, and walking activities as well as the duration of those activities.

After estimating each person’s weekly total of MET minutes, the researchers divided them into three groups based on their level of physical activity: low, moderate, and high.

Dr. Laird informed us, “We found that older adults who engaged in as little as 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day (for five days a week) had a 16% lower risk of depressive symptoms and a 43% lower odds of depression than those engaging in no exercise.”

The benefits grew as the researchers’ exercise levels rose in each of the three exercise categories. The most active people had a 20% lower chance of developing depression than the least active people.

Even individuals who exercised infrequently had a 16% lower risk of depression than those who did not exercise at all.

Exercise, chronic illness, and depression

Dr. Laird noted that exercise reduced the probability of both depressive symptoms and major depression in people with chronic diseases, and that the benefit grew with increased activity levels.

The WHO standards threshold of 30 minutes a day [per] 5 days [a] week for depressed symptoms was met by participants, specifically for those with chronic conditions, albeit the biggest decreases came with increasing exercise dose, according to the study.

He continued, “In essence, those with chronic diseases may find more benefits. It might be several pathways, including anti-inflammatory, immunological function, heart-brain communication, enhanced muscle performance, etc.”

The study’s non-participant, Dr. Thomas MacLaren, a consultant psychiatrist at Re: Cognition Health, applauded the results.

Chronic health conditions are known to worsen depression and may possibly increase one’s likelihood of getting depressed. The study’s conclusion that there was a dose-dependent association for this group is really positive and shows that adding more brisk walking to your daily routine will help you feel better, he said.

The benefits of exercise for mental health.

Exercise may lower the chance of getting depression or lessen depressive symptoms for a number of reasons.

Exercise improves blood flow to the brain, lowers stress reactivity, and stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which affects motivation and mood. Endorphins, the body’s natural pain and stress relievers, are also produced in greater quantities.

As Dr. MacLaren noted, the impacts go beyond the physical.

Exercise raises fitness levels and encourages the body to release endorphins. Your mood can be elevated naturally by these advantageous consequences. Additionally, it may indirectly improve your daily routine and increase social contact, both of which are crucial in the fight against depression.

Dr. Laird concurred, pointing out that for maximum effect, exercise should be a component of a healthy lifestyle.

“Try to incorporate [exercise] into a routine with hobbies or activities that you enjoy, and we would recommend doing it with others as social interactions, particularly with activity, can also have additional benefits for your mental health,” he advised.

“Remember that it is one component and that nutrition and a healthy lifestyle will also give additive benefits in addition to the physical activity,” said Dr. Laird.

REFERENCES:

For Depression medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Improve melanoma treatment with fecal transplant?

July 18, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Using immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab or nivolumab in conjunction with fecal transplants demonstrated the procedure’s safety in patients with advanced melanoma, according to a phase 1 clinical trial.

65% of the trial participants experienced a favorable response to immunotherapy. Following the fecal transplant, positive responders’ gut microbiomes revealed a rise in helpful bacteria and a decrease in dangerous bacteria.

Larger phase 2 trials will be carried out, and the use of faecal transplants in difficult-to-treat malignancies like pancreatic cancer will be investigated.

Numerous cancer patients have recently benefited from a type of treatment called immunotherapy, which uses the immune systems of the patients to identify and eliminate cancer cells.

Some immunotherapy medications, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo), function by preventing the mechanism by which cancer cells can conceal themselves from the immune system.

These immune checkpoint inhibitors, also known as anti-programmed death (PD-1) medications, are successful in treating roughly 50% of patients with melanoma, a kind of skin cancer.

Recently, researchers investigated whether patients with metastatic melanoma might respond better if immunotherapy and fecal microbiota transplants were combined.

This combination was not only risk-free but most patients responded well to the therapy, with some obtaining complete remission.

Phase 1 of the trial

Faecal transplants were coupled with the licenced medications pembrolizumab or nivolumab, which are already the standard of care for advanced melanoma, in the phase 1 MIMic trial.

The objective of the clinical experiment was to determine whether it is secure to combine these two medications in melanoma patients. As a supplementary goal, the impact of faecal transplants on the immune system and gut flora was evaluated.

Following a technique that was approved by Health Canada, healthy donors were carefully chosen. Then, capsules were created using the faeces of healthy donors.

Twenty metastatic melanoma patients were enrolled in the trial from Lawson Health Research Institute, the Jewish General Hospital (JGH), and the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM).

Each research subject was given capsules containing 80–100 mg of a fecal transplant from a single healthy volunteer donor. At least a week before receiving treatment with approved immunotherapy medications (either pembrolizumab or nivolumab), the fecal transplants were administered orally as capsules.

Is fecal transplantation plus immunotherapy safe?

The faecal transplantation operation was successfully completed by each of the 20 patients.

No major side effects were noticed prior to beginning immunotherapy, and no infections were spread through faecal transplantation. However, eight patients (40%) did have mild to moderate side effects from faecal transplantation, including diarrhoea, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort.

17 patients (85%) of the group encountered adverse immune-related events, the majority of which (70%) happened within the first three months of immunotherapy. Of these, five study participants (25%) experienced significant immune-related adverse effects, including nephritis (n = 1), arthritis (n = 2), exhaustion (n = 1), pneumonitis (n = 1), and arthritis (n = 2). These side effects forced the study participants to stop receiving their medication.

The researchers found no previously unreported adverse reactions to immunotherapy or faecal transplantation.

Did combined therapy lead to better results?

Four of the 20 participants in the trial (20%) experienced complete remission, making up 65% (13 out of 20) of the patients who responded favorably to the therapy.

All patients had strains of the donor’s bacteria in their gut microbiomes, according to analysis; however, this resemblance only got stronger over time in those patients who had a good response to the therapy. After receiving faecal transplants, respondents had higher levels of helpful bacteria and lower levels of dangerous bacteria.

The good impact of healthy donor faeces in boosting the efficiency of immunotherapy was further demonstrated in studies on mice by the researchers.

Fecal microbial transplantation: what is it?

Fecal transplantation, also known as fecal microbial transplantation (FMT), is a medical treatment in which the recipient’s intestines are filled with a healthy person’s donated poo (or feces).

In order to address medical disorders linked to abnormalities in gut bacteria, this method involves introducing healthy bacteria into the recipient’s intestines.

The effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infections is fecal transplantation. Fecal transplants are frequently administered via colonoscopy, however they can also be given as pills.

Gut and immune system interaction

So why do immune checkpoint inhibitors not work for everyone?

Recent research reveals that the bacteria in the gut may have an impact on how well the medications work. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-responsive individuals have a distinctive and healthy gut microbiome, often known as a “group of microorganisms in their gut.”

One of the study’s authors, Saman Maleki, Ph.D., assistant professor of oncology, pathology and laboratory medicine, and medical biophysics at Western University, as well as a researcher at the London Regional Cancer Programme and Lawson Health Research Institute, reasoned that altering a person’s gut microbiome to make it more diverse and healthy may enhance their response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Faecal microbial transplantation is one technique to modify the gut microbiota.

Will fecal transplants be used in the management of melanoma?

The principal study investigator, Dr. John Lenehan, a medical oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Programme, an associate scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute, and an associate professor of family medicine and oncology at Western University, stated that the most significant finding in the study was that “none of the patients were harmed by the experimental treatment.”

Faecal transplants had been demonstrated to be beneficial by observational and pre-clinical studies, but “what happens in mice does not always translate to patients,” he noted. In fact, according to Dr. Lenehan, “more recent studies using similar therapies have shown harm, with patients having a worse response.”

He clarified that faecal transplantation was carried out differently in these other investigations than it was in the MIMic experiment.

“There are several factors, including bowel preparation, the number of FMTs required, the amount of stool required, and the identity of the donors. We had no idea if our approach would be secure or efficient. Thankfully, it appears that it was both! “, he exclaimed.

The director of the Supportive Oncology Research Group at the University of Adelaide and a research fellow at the Hospital Research Foundation Group, Hannah Wardill, Ph.D., who was not involved in this study, thinks this combination therapy strategy has the potential to be a successful treatment.

“FMT is a reasonably accessible intervention, and this study shows it is safe and likely effective at improving immunotherapy response,” she added.

The combination of faecal transplants and immunotherapy results in an improved response rate in patients who would otherwise be unresponsive to immunotherapy, which indicates that “more people will benefit from immunotherapy,” according to Dr. Wardill.

REFERENCES:

For Cancer disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=10

New biomarkers help in sooner diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

July 17, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

In the United States, ovarian cancer ranks as the sixth most frequent cancer among women. A better possibility of successful treatment results from early diagnosis. However, because the symptoms of ovarian cancer sometimes resemble those of digestive problems, it can be challenging to identify.

Three previously unidentified ovarian cancer proteins that can be found in the blood have recently been discovered by new research. These may make it easier to diagnose ovarian cancer, enabling early treatment to begin when it is most likely to be successful.

Any malignant tumor that begins in the ovaries the female reproductive organs located low in the abdomen is considered to be ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer rates have declined recently, but it still claims more lives than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. This is according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Ovarian cancer symptoms, which typically manifest in older women, can be confused with those of other gynaecological or digestive conditions since they can include:

pelvic pressure or pain
abnormal vaginal bleeding
back or stomach ache
Bloating or the sensation of being full after eating
Changes in bowel or bladder habits, such as constipation and more frequent urination.

Early detection of ovarian cancer usually results in good treatment, with 94% of patients living at least five years after diagnosis. However, only 20% of ovarian malignancies are discovered at an early stage, and there are no reliable screening tools available at this time.

Three previously undiscovered membrane proteins that can be extracted from bodily fluids like blood, urine, and saliva have now been linked to ovarian cancer, according to new research led by Nagoya University in Japan.

These results, according to the study’s authors, could result in an earlier detection of ovarian cancer, according to Science Advances.

Various ovarian cancer tumor types?

Ovarian tumours can be of three primary types:

Epithelial tumors. The cells that make up these tumours come from the ovary’s outer layer. The majority of ovarian tumours are epithelial tumours, according to the American Cancer Society. Typically, women over 50 are diagnosed with these tumours.

Stromal tumours. Cells of structural tissue are where stromal tumours start. In addition, progesterone and oestrogen are produced by these cells.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, stromal tumors account for roughly 7% of cases of ovarian cancer. They are typically found in females over 50.

Germ cell tumors. These tumors develop from cells that make eggs. They account for 2–3% of cases of ovarian cancer. Women in their teens and 20s are more prone to experience this type of cancer.

A study identifies novel ovarian cancer biomarkers.

The most prevalent type of ovarian cancer, high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), was used by the researchers to collect extracellular vesicles (EVs).

To boost cell growth and survival as well as increase invasive and metastatic activities, cancer cells create EVs. Exosomes, a kind of small EV, are crucial to the development of cancer.

The scientists next examined the proteins present in small, medium, and big EVs using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

According to lead author and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Nagoya University Hospital in Japan, Dr. Akira Yokoi, “The validation steps for the identified proteins were tough because we had to try a lot of antibodies before we found a good target.”

It became evident that the small and medium/large EVs are laden with quite diverse molecules as a result. Small EVs are more suited as biomarkers than medium and large ones, according to further research. The tiny EVs connected to HGSC contained the membrane proteins FR-alpha, Claudin-3, and TACSTD2, he continues.

They had to figure out how to extract the EVs from blood samples after they had discovered the proteins in order to see if they might be utilised to identify ovarian cancer.

The team made use of specialised nanowire technology to collect the EVs. In order to separate exosomes from blood samples, they discovered that polyketone chain-coated nanowires (pNWs) were the best option.

On the nanowires, we must have tested three to four different coatings. Despite being a brand-new substance, polyketones were ultimately a great fit for coating this particular sort of nanowire, according to Dr. Akira Yokoi.

Chance of an earlier diagnosis

The most essential thing we can do to increase survival is probably to diagnose cancer sooner, yet for the majority of tumours, clinicians don’t have access to good diagnostic tools. Later stages of ovarian cancer are significantly more difficult to cure, and the disease’s signs are frequently overlooked, according to Dr. Godfrey.

There is now only one biomarker, Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125), that can be used to diagnose ovarian cancer. Although CA125 has been a key component of ovarian cancer management for the past 40 years in terms of screening, treatment, and follow-up. Also, it hasn’t showed much promise in terms of early detection.

A number of tests may be used by the doctor to make the diagnosis of ovarian cancer if a patient exhibits symptoms that point in that direction. These could involve a transvaginal ultrasound test, a CT scan, or a laparoscopy to look for any growths. Laparoscopy involves making a small incision and inserting a camera into the abdomen.

However, a biopsy, which entails removing a portion of the tumor for laboratory investigation, is the only reliable method of an ovarian cancer diagnosis. A straightforward blood test-based diagnosis approach would be a significant advancement.

Experts urge additional study.

Each of the three novel proteins, according to the study’s authors, may serve as valuable indicators for spotting ovarian cancer at an early stage.

According to Dr. Yokoi, “Our results demonstrated that each of the three identified proteins is useful as a biomarker for HGSCs.” According to the study’s findings, these diagnostic biomarkers may serve as indicators of prognosis for particular treatments.

Dr. Godfrey welcomed the study but emphasised that these were preliminary results.

“It’s too soon to say whether the technology could reliably help us spot ovarian cancer early,” he said. “The research only used a small number of clinical samples.”

He continued, that we need to see more study into these kinds of diagnostic tools. However, if they work, they might make significant improvements to how we treat a range of cancer types.

Summary

Those who are at a high risk of developing ovarian cancer may benefit from screening with ovarian cancer tumor markers. However, a diagnosis cannot be made solely on the basis of blood testing.

Tumour markers for ovarian cancer can be used to monitor disease progression and evaluate the efficacy of treatment.

A 2019 research found that the stage of ovarian cancer at the time of diagnosis is advanced in more than 70% of patients. Although research is ongoing, there is currently no accurate screening method for ovarian cancer.

Knowing the warning signals and informing a doctor of them is crucial for this reason. If you think you have a high chance of developing ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about the types of testing that could be best for you.

REFERENCES:

For Cancer disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=10