July, 2023 Pharmacy and Health Blog from myGenericPharmacy.com

Aspartame: Classified as a carcinogen by health experts?

July 13, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

An artificial sweetener called aspartame can be found in diet sodas, chewing gum, and other goods.

Aspartame is anticipated to be identified as a probable carcinogen by WHO officials. However, according to experts, it is unclear how much of the sweetener a person has to ingest to raise their chance of developing cancer.

One of the top health organisations in the world may soon designate a common artificial sweetener, which is included in chewing gum and diet drinks alike, to be potentially carcinogenic.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is anticipated to classify aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time, according to a Reuters report.

According to Reuters, the IARC decision was reached in June during a gathering of the group’s specialists and is meant to determine whether something poses a risk based on published research. How much of a product someone can safely ingest is not taken into account in the choice.

This year, the JECFA (the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization’s Expert Committee on Food Additives) committee on additives is also looking into the usage of aspartame. According to Reuters, it started meeting at the end of June, and authorities will make its conclusions public on Friday along with the IARC’s decision.

The aspartame controversy

The disclosures created a rift with significant food producers who frequently use aspartame, mostly as a sugar substitute. Similar IARC decisions in the past have sparked litigation, alarmed consumers, and forced firms to look for substitute substances.

In accordance with recognised daily limits, aspartame is safe, according to WHO regulators since 1981. According to Reuters, an adult weighing 60 kg (132 pounds) would have to consume 12 to 36 cans of diet Coke each day, depending on the amount of aspartame in the beverage, to be at danger.

Other regulatory authorities, including those in the US and Europe, have expressed the same position.

Carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, potentially carcinogenic, and not classifiable are the four categorization categories used by the IARC. Each level is determined by the quality of the supporting data, not by how hazardous a chemical is in particular.

Products like processed meat, asbestos, and electromagnetic waves from cell phones have all been labelled as potential carcinogens at one point or another depending on use.

Is aspartame a safe artificial sweetener?

Numerous studies on aspartame have been conducted over years. A study conducted on 100,000 persons in France in 2022 found a small increase in cancer risk among those who consumed more artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame.

Aspartame was associated with several tumors in mice and rats, according to a study conducted by the Ramazzini Institute in Italy in the early 2000s.

However, the first study was unable to demonstrate that aspartame was responsible for the elevated cancer risk, and concerns have been raised about the second study’s methodology.

It’s critical to recognize when a product fits into one of the IARC’s four categories, according to Dr. Misagh Karimi, an oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal malignancies at the City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Centre in California.

“While hearing about this news regarding aspartame can be perplexing and upsetting, it is crucial to understand that the IARC does not take into account the magnitude of risk of these carcinogens, and a Class 2B carcinogen does not equate to a certain or even possible cause of cancer,” Karimi added.

He continued, “To put it simply, a Class 2B categorization, which aloe vera and nickel are listed under as well, meaning there are some hypotheses and weak evidence leading researchers to suspect that aspartame could probably cause cancer.

Having a balanced diet

Aspartame is included in almost 6,000 food products, according to Melanie Murphy, a licenced dietician and nutritionist who teaches in the nursing programme at the University of California, Irvine. Aspartame is “leaned on” by many people to control their diabetes and weight.

When it comes to food and wellness, everything has a place, according to Murphy. Aspartame consumption has been authorized by the [Food and Drug Administration] at a rate of 50mg per kg of body weight [per day], which is extremely high. For instance, the FDA estimates that a 130-pound person might take approximately 3,200 mg of aspartame per day, or more than 15 cans of Diet Coke.

According to Murphy, aspartame consumption is substantially lower than average. That still leaves open the question of how much is too much.

Given that the FDA’s approval is significantly more than the typical daily use, she added, “based on the science, it’s unclear as to what a reasonable amount could safely be at this point.”

Aspartame is present in some form in 75% of all diet beverages, sugar-free snacks, and sugar-free candies, according to Hejeebu. The main issue with artificial sweeteners is that when consumers believe the food or beverage they are consuming is ‘diet,’ they overindulge. The results are not conclusive, but diet soda intake has been related to diabetes and obesity getting worse.

Hejeebu continued, “Most of the time we don’t even know an artificial sweetener is in the goods we’re buying. Other naturally occurring sweeteners include stevia, xylitol, and monk fruit extract. These might be marginally superior, but we can’t be certain because further research is required.”

Foods that include aspartame

Aspartame is included in other products besides diet soda, according to Matthew Landry, Ph.D., an assistant professor of community health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine.

Additionally, it can be found in dessert mixes, frozen desserts, yoghurt, and chewing gum. Even vitamins, supplements, and cough medicines may contain it, according to Landry.

He said, “But that doesn’t mean you can’t find alternatives.” “Knowing what to look for in the grocery store comes first. Processed foods will most likely include aspartame. “The product contains aspartame if either the word ‘aspartame’ or ‘phenylalanine’ is present,” Landry stated.

Anything with the labels “diet” or “sugar-free” probably includes aspartame, he said.

When in doubt, choose whole fruits and vegetables because they don’t contain aspartame or artificial sweeteners and offer a variety of other health advantages including fiber. If you do need to sweeten a food or beverage, think about using honey or maple syrup.

According to Dr. Jessica Jones, an oncologist from Memorial Hermann and UTHealth Houston, there is still no conclusive evidence linking aspartame to cancer. She did, however, provide some suggestions for individuals who wish to ensure that their beverage isn’t raising their risk of developing cancer.

Consider switching fully to water or tea instead of soda, she advised.

REFERENCES:

For Overall health medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_328

Is placebo just as good as opioids for lower back?

July 12, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

For the treatment of neck pain and low back pain, researchers examined the effectiveness of opioids with a placebo. After six weeks of therapy, there were no appreciable differences in pain scores between the opioids group and the placebo group. After a year later, the placebo group had somewhat lower pain scores.

The results imply that opioids might not be successful in treating some types of pain.

The greatest cause of disability worldwide is lower back pain. 619 million people worldwide would be impacted by the illness in 2020. This number is projected to rise to 843 million by 2050.

According to estimates of “years lived with disability,” neck discomfort is the fourth most common cause of impairment globally and a major contributor to disability.

When alternative treatments have failed to relieve a person’s lower back or neck pain, clinical guidelines advise turning to opioid medicines. According to studies, many people with the disorders, including two-thirds of those in Australia, may first try opioids.

Despite this, there isn’t much proof that opioids work well for treating neck and lower back pain. It is also well known that using opioids as a treatment raises the chance of unfavourable outcomes like opioid dependence, abuse, and overdose.

Treatment options may be influenced by additional research on the effectiveness of opioids in treating lower back and neck pain.

Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia recently looked into the effectiveness and safety of brief opioid treatment regimens for treating neck and lower back pain.

They discovered that the risk of abuse rose with subsequent opioid treatments and that opioids did not provide better pain relief than a placebo.

There is no discernible difference between opioids and a placebo.

The average age of the 347 people the researchers enrolled in the study was 44,7. Nearly half of the participants were female, and all had experienced lower back pain, neck pain, or both for 12 weeks or less.

The patients were divided into two groups at random and either received the indicated treatment plus the opioid oxycodone-naloxone or the recommended treatment plus a matching placebo for up to six weeks.

Care that was advised by guidelines included assurance and suggestions to be active. Participants could seek additional care if needed after six weeks.

There was no discernible change in pain levels between the opioid and placebo groups, after 6 weeks of treatment. After accounting for the location of the pain and the number of days after the pain started, the results remained unchanged.

After 12 weeks, there was little difference in the pain scores between the placebo and opioid groups, but by week 52, individuals in the placebo group had slightly lower pain scores.

At week 6, the opioids and placebo groups’ average pain scores were 2.78 and 2.25, respectively. At 52 weeks, the opioids group’s pain score was 2.37, compared to 1.81 for the placebo group.

They also discovered that there was no difference in the groups’ physical quality of life. At 6 and 12 weeks, however, the placebo group’s mental health showed a modest but substantial improvement.

The number of participants reporting adverse events was the same in both groups, but the opioid group was more likely to develop opioid misuse.

On the Current Opioid Misuse Measure Scale, 20% of the opioid group and 10% of the placebo group were categorized as “at risk” after 52 weeks.

Why don’t opioids work?

Dr. Wang Lushun is a senior consultant orthopedic surgeon at Arete Ortho in Singapore and a non-participant in the study. He was questioned about the potential ineffectiveness of opioids for treating lower back and neck pain.

Opioids are typically used to treat pain, but recent research suggests that they might not be as beneficial for neck and lower back pain. This is because opioids primarily target pain perceptions rather than the underlying causes of pain, according to Dr. Wang.

“The medications aid in reducing pain perception by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain. However, the main causes of these pains inflammation or physical harm are not actually relieved,” he said.

“The body can get tolerant to opioids over time, necessitating the use of greater doses to provide the same amount of pain relief”. Dr. Wang Lushun warned that this could result in adverse effects and perhaps reliance. One such side effect is a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia, which can make pain worse.

What are the research’s constraints?

Dr. Joel Frank is a licensed psychologist at Duality Psychological Services in California who was not engaged in the study. He responded to our inquiry regarding the study’s shortcomings:

“First off, although 42% of the sample failed to follow the treatment strategy, which was medication-focused. Second, they claimed that the care was “not monitored,” even though their “guideline care” recommended physical activity.

Thirdly, Dr. Frank noted that the BPI, a self-report measure, was used as their main indicator of pain intensity. Self-report assessments are by nature subjective. To obtain a more complete picture of the subjective experienced pain Lee patients, it is recommended to integrate extra measures that assess pain catastrophization when using self-report measures for pain.

Additionally, we had a conversation with Dr. Vernon Williams, a sports neurologist, pain management expert, and founding leader of the Centre for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in California who was not affiliated with the study.

“Your body’s reaction to the anticipation of the active treatment and your body’s reaction to the possible benefit or anticipation of the placebo both have physiological effects. The study revealed that the opioid did not perform better than the placebo, not that it was ineffective. It’s a small but important difference,” he said.

A senior research scholar at the University of Sydney in Australia who was not involved in the study, Dr. Gustavo De Carvalho Machado, was also questioned about its shortcomings. He issued the following advice:

The results do not necessarily apply to emergency rooms and pre-hospital situations, where patients need an ambulance. The outcomes of this research were examined weeks after recruitment, and in emergency settings, prompt analgesia within hours is critical for management and discharge planning. Patients who present to these settings have more severe pain and disability.

Alternatives to traditional medicine for back pain

De Mesa was also asked about possible treatments for neck and lower back problems.

“More efficient solutions for neck and lower back pain deal with the underlying problems. For instance, a doctor can assist in identifying the precise muscles and/or surrounding tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, that are involved. Exercise, better ergonomics, and physical treatment may be advised,” he said.

Since spinal pain frequently has multiple causes, a holistic approach to treatment can aid in the patient’s long-term healing. Acupuncture, diet, cognitive behavioral therapy, and educational programs are all helpful in addition to physical fitness. As required, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken. Depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual, the optimum treatment strategy will change, he said.

De Mesa stated that spine surgeons, pain specialists, and board-certified physiatrists may be suggested for chronic spinal pain.

“Arthritis of the spinal joints or inflammation of the vertebral endplates may be the source of chronic pain. It may be advised to administer injections to locate the source of the pain and treat it,” the doctor said.

“Basivertebral nerve ablation and radiofrequency ablation of the spinal medial branch nerves are two examples of interventional therapies that may lessen pain and enhance quality of life. Surgery is only used as a last resort and is only done when it is judged medically essential,” he added.

REFERENCES:

For Bone disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=63

Short sleep may cancel mental benefits gained from exercise

July 12, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

In 8,958 persons in England who were 50 years of age and older, researchers examined cognitive function over a period of ten years.

According to the study, persons who get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep each night and who exercise more frequently had superior cognitive function.

Even if they engaged in higher levels of physical activity, people who slept for fewer than 6 hours per night exhibited a more rapid deterioration in cognitive function over ten years.

The advantages of higher levels of physical activity on cognitive function appeared to be preserved among participants aged 70 and older regardless of the quantity of sleep.

Physical activity appears to be good for the brain and may help prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases including dementia and Parkinson’s disease, according to existing research. A recent study discovered that sleep deprivation can lessen the advantages of exercising.

According to a 2022 nationally representative survey on the prevalence of cognitive impairment, 22% of Americans aged 65 and older have mild cognitive impairment and about 10% have dementia.

Numerous studies have revealed that exercise may lower the risk of dementia. More research continues to link a lack of sleep to a higher risk of dementia.

“Physical activity and sleep are factors that are thought to independently contribute to cognitive function, but they are also interrelated, where more physical activity is correlated with better quality sleep and physical activity may also regulate circadian rhythms,” said Mikaela Bloomberg, Ph.D.

Few studies that examined the effects of physical activity and sleep on cognitive function have been conducted, according to a team of UCL academics led by Bloomberg. Small and cross-sectional studies, which gather information from participants at a specific point in time, were the type of research they discovered.

Study is based on healthy people’ self-reported data.

Researchers from UCL analyzed longitudinal data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), which included 8,958 cognitively healthy people from England who were 50 years and older. The information was gathered from January 1, 2008, to July 31, 2019.

Every two years, participants provided reports on how much they moved and how long they slept.

Participants were asked how many hours they typically slept on a weeknight by researchers. The UCL researchers then classified sleep as “long” if it lasted longer than eight hours, “optimal” if it lasted between six and eight hours, and “short” if it lasted fewer than six hours.

Participants’ level of exercise was also questioned by researchers. Participants gave information about how often they engaged in light, moderate, and strenuous physical activity as well as whether they worked out more than once a week, once to three times a week, rarely, or never.

Using the immediate and delayed recall tests from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers evaluated the participants’ episodic memory. Participants were given a list of ten words by researchers, and they were asked to recall the terms both right away and a day later. The participants’ verbal fluency was also evaluated by the researchers using a test in which they had to name as many animals as they could in one minute.

Participants who disclosed receiving a dementia diagnosis during the follow-up period as well as those whose test results indicated some degree of cognitive impairment were excluded by the UCL researchers. Researchers also took into account information like whether participants had previously taken the same cognitive test when adjusting their analyses.

How do sleep duration and activity affect cognitive scores?

1,525 participants (50%) of the 3,069 participants who were assigned to the “higher physical activity category” said they exercised lightly, moderately, or vigorously more frequently than once per week. Another 1,161 individuals (37.8%) said they exercised lightly and moderately more frequently than once per week and vigorously once or twice per week.

2,384 (40.5%) of the 5,889 participants in the lower physical activity category said they did no vigorous exercise but did more than weekly mild and moderate exercise. Another 1,511 people (25.7%) said they did no vigorous exercise, just light exercise more than once a week, and only moderate exercise once or less frequently.

Participants who exercised more frequently were more likely to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. In addition, they had higher levels of education and affluence than those in the lower physical activity group, and they were more likely to be male, younger at baseline, married, or living with a partner. In comparison to individuals in the lower physical activity group, those in the greater physical activity group were more likely to not smoke, had lower body mass indices (BMI), fewer diagnoses of all chronic illnesses, and fewer depressive symptoms.

The long-term cognitive benefits of sound sleep

Regardless of how much sleep they had, participants from the higher physical activity group often had the highest baseline cognitive scores.

“However, for ages 50 and 60 years, those with higher physical activity and short sleep declined more rapidly such that after 10 years of follow-up, they had cognitive scores similar to those in the lower physical activity groups,” the UCL researchers wrote in their study report.

“We were surprised to see that the cognitive benefits associated with physical activity were reduced when participants had insufficient sleep duration, but these findings are certainly in line with previous research pointing to an important role of sleep in cognitive and physical recovery,” said Dr Bloomberg.

The cognitive advantages of exercise seemed to persist even in older participants (age 70 and above) who had trouble sleeping.

Dr. Vernon Williams, a sports neurologist, pain management expert, and founding director of the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles’ Centre for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine, told us he was glad to see research showing the value of sleep for long-term advantages in cognitive function.

The idea that sustaining physical health in the absence of optimum sleep health lowers the cognitive benefits of physical activity, along with evidence showing both exercise AND sleep are key elements for maintaining cognitive health, is convincing, according to Dr. Williams.

More study is required to determine how exercise and sleep affect brain function.

Ryan Glatt, a senior brain health coach and the FitBrain Program’s director at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, told CNN that he thought the study was “very interesting” but pointed out its shortcomings.

The accuracy of self-reported physical activity and sleep length may have problems, and Glatt noted that the potential presence of sleep disorders or the effects of specific medications were not taken into account.

Dr. Bloomberg thinks there might be a way to carry out this study without depending on the participants’ honesty.

“An interesting next step would be to use objective measures of sleep and physical activity—for example, using wrist-worn accelerometers—to see whether we observe similar results,” she said.

The UCL researchers hope to see a similar study conducted on a wider range of populations in the future. Dr. Bloomberg further stated that she would like “to extend the results to dementia.”

To increase the likelihood that the impacts of sleep on cognition and not the other way around, Dr. Bloomberg said, “We purposefully excluded those with dementia and those whose cognitive scores suggested cognitive impairment.” Future studies ought to look into how physical activity and sleep patterns affect dementia risk.

REFERENCES:

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

Resistance training reduces Alzheimer’s signs in mice model

July 11, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Exercise is known to help older persons think more clearly and lower their risk of developing dementia.

The underlying process is unclear, and the majority of study focuses on how aerobic exercise, which raises heart and breathing rates, affects the body.

Brazilian researchers have now examined how resistance training, such as lifting weights, affects cognition in male mouse models.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exercise is already known to be associated with better bone and muscular health, a lower risk of disease and obesity, and better mental health.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), physical activity is associated with better cognition in children, adolescents, and adults. There is also evidence that older persons who engage in more physical activity have reduced rates of dementia.

Both clinical trials and evaluations of the existing research have demonstrated that exercise helps older persons’ cognition.

This may be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise. Myokines, which are chemicals released from the muscles as they contract, may be the cause of this in elderly people.

This suggests that in addition to aerobic activity, resistance training could potentially have a positive impact on health.

Strength training may improve cognitive functions

Researchers from the Federal University of Sao Paulo and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil examined the effects of resistance training on male mice to learn more about the connection between cognitive health and exercise.

This study’s findings have been published in Frontiers of Science.

The study’s mouse model had a mutation that led to beta-amyloid plaques accumulating in the brain, thus researchers used that model in their investigation. The emergence of dementia is frequently linked to beta-amyloid plaques.

A third group of mice, which did have the mutation, were instructed to follow an exercise regimen that resembled strength training in humans whereas one group of mice with the mutation and a control group did not exercise.

The workout routine required the mice to climb a ladder over one meter tall that sloped at an inclination of 80 degrees while carrying burdens that were equal to 75%, 90%, and 100% of their body weight on their tails.

The mice were dissected after death to examine the development of beta-amyloid plaques.

The mice that had engaged in resistance training for four weeks not only had fewer amyloid plaques on the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is frequently affected by Alzheimer’s disease but also had more microglial cells, an immune cell type that helps to clear these plaques.

As Nancy Mitchell, a registered nurse with experience in geriatric care who was not involved in the study, explained to us, “According to this study, resistance training may aid in preventing or controlling Alzheimer’s disease by regulating the formation of the protein deposits (or plaques) on the hippocampus the part of the brain which controls memory and some thought processing.”

How do agitation and stress play a role?

Resistance exercise decreased stress, according to the findings. The hormone corticosterone, which in mice is the equivalent of cortisol in humans, was detected in the mice’s blood after four weeks of exercise.

Humans with high cortisol levels have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The levels of this hormone were discovered to be normal in the study mice, even though corticostfactorserone and cortisol can be released in response to exercise.

This was a startling discovery, according to Prof. Henning Ulrich, professor of biochemistry at the University of So Paulo and corresponding author of the study:

“We wanted to see if this kind of exercise would have any stressful effects. To our amazement, we discovered that it not only did not have any stressful effects, but it even lowered stress when compared to the inactive group! More significantly, exercise was also able to lower the amount of beta-amyloid that was present in the hippocampus, and in a different study conducted by our team, the amount of anti-inflammatory cytokines also helped to lower neuroinflammation.”

Before postmortem, mice were measured for movement to see whether they were agitated or restless because agitation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Resistance-trained mice were found to move less in their environment, which may have indicated that they were less disturbed.

Trials on humans have already started.

Although the results show a potential function for resistance training in Alzheimer’s mouse models, it should be highlighted that the study’s mice were all male.

They were adults but not typical of the senior population because they were also 6-7 months old. Prof. Ulrich stated, “We are preparing new experimental groups with female animals and the idea is to compare the results of males and females.”

He added that he and his colleagues also hoped that younger mice may be used in the tests.

When the first signs appeared, Prof. Ulrich said, “We already started an exercise routine with younger animals, to see if we can prevent the quick advance, or reduce the evolution of the disease when commencing physical activity in young individuals. This is comparable to a young person who engages in regular physical activity and does so into their later years.“

Furthermore, he added, some human study had already begun:

Additionally, we’ve started looking into how resistance training affects patients with mild cognitive impairment in collaboration with another UNIFESP study team. The effort is already underway, and we anticipate being able to present encouraging findings soon.

The benefits of exercise for brain health

There is growing evidence that physical activity has a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease, according to an email from geneticist and Parkinson’s disease researcher Dr. Sumeet Kumar.

According to research, those who are active have a lesser probability of contracting this illness than those who are inactive, he continued.

Dr. Kumar cited a review that revealed the bulk of studies in this field focused on the impact of aerobic exercise, such as tai chi and yoga.

The reasons why exercise has this beneficial effect on older adults’ brain health are unclear, but current knowledge points to improved growth and differentiation of brain nerve cells, decreased inflammation, improved blood vessel function, and hormonal regulation as the likely causes.

REFERENCES:

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

Can we manage chronic inflammation with psoriasis?

July 10, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Psoriasis is regarded by medical professionals as an immune-mediated inflammatory illness even though the actual origin is uncertain. This indicates that the underlying cause of the disease is inflammation.

Psoriasis affects up to 3% of people in the US. It can affect other bodily components, such as the joints and eyes, and manifest signs on the skin, such as elevated plaques and discoloration.

According to experts, inflammation may be the common culprit affecting these various locations.

Psoriasis: What is it?

Skin inflammation is brought on by the autoimmune disease psoriasis. Psoriasis symptoms include thick patches of scale-covered, discolored skin. Plaques are the name for these scaly, thick patches.

As a chronic skin disorder with no known cure, psoriasis can flare up at any time.

Psoriasis comes in a variety of forms, including:

Plaque psoriasis: The most prevalent form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis affects between 80% and 90% of those with psoriasis.

Inverse psoriasis: This kind develops in the creases of your skin. It results in tiny, scale-free plaques.
Guttate psoriasis: A streptococcal infection-related sore throat may be followed by the development of guttate psoriasis. It frequently affects children and young adults and appears as tiny, red, drop-shaped scaly patches.
Pustular psoriasis: This form of the condition features tiny, pus-filled lumps on top of plaques.
Erythrodermic psoriasis: This form of psoriasis is severe and affects a significant portion (greater than 90%) of your skin. Skin shedding and extensive skin discolouration are the results.
Sebopsoriasis: This kind often manifests as lumps and plaques with a greasy, yellow scale on your face and scalp. This is a hybrid of seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Psoriasis of the nails: Psoriasis of the nails can change your fingernails and toenails as well as the skin of your hands and feet.

What results in psoriasis inflammation?

Immune system malfunction in psoriasis patients leads to an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. Additionally, the disease accelerates the proliferation of skin cells in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin.

Skin cells typically develop and slough off over the course of a month. In those with psoriasis, this process accelerates to only a few days. Skin cells accumulate on the skin’s surface instead of being shed, causing painful symptoms such elevated plaques, scales, edoema, and redness or discolouration.

Even though psoriasis is a skin disorder, the inflammation it causes affects the entire body. It can raise the risk of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, and others.

Is inflammation curable in any way?

Although immune system dysregulation is the cause of the inflammation in psoriasis, research indicates that patients can lessen this inflammation by making dietary and lifestyle adjustments. This may aid in symptom reduction and quality-of-life enhancement.

Many psoriasis sufferers can sustain remission—a prolonged period without having psoriasis symptoms—using these techniques.

In addition, certain psoriasis treatments work by lowering inflammation. Topical corticosteroids, biologics for injection, and oral drugs are some of these.

Psoriasis affects people differently. Some patients will need longer-term care than others.

Managing inflammation

Although there is presently no cure for psoriasis, the following behaviors may lessen inflammation caused by psoriasis and raise a person’s chances of going into remission.

Consuming a wholesome diet

Diet and systemic inflammation are closely related. According to studies, some inflammatory food habits might worsen psoriasis symptoms and increase the likelihood of developing the condition.

Everybody’s definition of a healthy diet is unique. However, the actions listed below could assist someone in establishing one:

Avoiding pro-inflammatory foods: Some foods and drinks include ingredients that promote inflammation, which exacerbates psoriasis symptoms. Soda and highly processed foods like salty snacks, sweets, and animal items are two examples.

A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods has been shown to reliably reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. For instance, a 2018 study of 35,735 individuals, 3,557 of whom had psoriasis, found that those who consumed a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet had fewer severe cases of psoriasis than those who did not.

Being healthy in terms of weight

A risk factor for the onset of psoriasis is obesity. Overweight or obese psoriasis sufferers may also have more severe symptoms than those who are of moderate weight.

In individuals with excess body weight, weight loss may lower inflammatory indicators and assist in reducing psoriasis symptoms.

In a 2020 study, it was discovered that individuals with psoriasis and obesity or overweight who underwent a 10-week program to lose 12% of their body weight saw a 50–75% reduction in the severity of their psoriasis. An average of 23 pounds were lost by participants.

Introducing additional healthful practises

There are a number of behaviorist that might lessen inflammation and enhance psoriasis symptoms, including:

Avoiding or giving up smoking: Smoking hurts one’s health and aggravates inflammatory conditions like psoriasis.
Limiting alcohol consumption: Drinking too much might aggravate psoriasis symptoms and cause inflammation.
Staying active can assist with psoriasis symptoms by preventing extended periods of inactivity. According to one assessment of the literature, those with psoriasis who lead sedentary lifestyles experience more severe symptoms than those who engage in regular exercise.
Getting enough sleep: A lack of sleep can cause the body to become inflammatory. According to studies, getting little or no sleep might raise blood levels of inflammatory indicators. Adults should sleep for 7-9 hours every night, according to experts, to maintain good health.
Managing stress: Long-term stress causes the immune system to become overactive and promotes inflammation. Up to 88% of psoriasis sufferers cite stress as a symptom cause. Stress-relieving exercises like yoga and meditation may be beneficial.

When should I get medical help?

Anyone who is going through a psoriasis flare and is curious about how to lessen the symptoms and inflammation of the condition might want to think about consulting their healthcare team, which includes their dermatologist.

They can offer suggestions for diet and lifestyle modifications that may help lower inflammation and lessen psoriasis symptoms, as well as treatment options depend on the severity of the symptoms. Additionally, they could advise taking vitamins or supplements.

REFERENCES:

For Inflammatory disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=41

The importance of the stomach in Parkinson’s research.

July 10, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

There is presently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, which affects millions of people worldwide. The specific etiology of this disorder is still unknown. Some academics are now focusing on the gut to comprehend the underlying mechanics. Why, and what might this study show? In this episode of our podcast In Conversation, we talk about how Parkinson’s disease may be influenced by gut health.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that affects mobility, balance, and muscle control in millions of people worldwide. However, it can also cause mood changes, digestive problems, a decline in memory and other cognitive abilities, and other symptoms.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has doubled globally over the past 25 years and that the condition has caused “5.8 million disability-adjusted life years” globally.

Some of the current treatments for Parkinson’s disease include dopaminergic medications, deep brain stimulation, speech, and occupational therapy, but researchers are always looking for new and improved therapies.

Researchers are working to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease to pave the path for more effective treatments.

In the last 12 months, several research have concentrated on one specific element of Parkinson’s disease, particularly gut health. But why, and what insights may it provide into Parkinson’s, can gut health provide?

In the most recent episode of our In Conversation podcast, we welcomed two guests: Dr. Ayse Demirkan and Gary Shaughnessy, to learn more about the most recent research and how the disease can affect particular people.

Why trust your gut?

There has been a growing body of research over the past few years suggesting that the brain and the gut are capable of two-way communication. This is known as the gut-brain axis by researchers.

The gut-brain axis has been linked to a variety of brain-related illnesses, including depression and dementia. And while the relationship between the gut and the brain may be less obvious in other disorders, it is actually more evident in Parkinson’s disease, which is also sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.

The Braak hypothesis is one view on Parkinson’s disease. According to a reliable source, there are typically two ways for an unknown infection to enter the brain, one of which involves the gut.

The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve that connects the brain to, among other organs, the intestines, may be one route by which pathogens enter the body, travel through the gut, and then advance to the brain. Parkinson’s disease may then start to manifest as a result of this.

In our podcast, Dr. Demirkan recognized that it may initially seem strange to think about using your gut to learn more about Parkinson’s disease, but that the Braak hypothesis offers an intriguing lens through which to examine potential underlying mechanisms.

“Through the Braak hypothesis, there comes the idea that the disease actually starts in the intestines, and then through the vagus nerve, it spreads to the other tissues, and towards the brain,” she said.

She claims that for one straightforward reason alone, Parkinson’s disease is the neurological disorder that is most intriguing to examine regarding gut health because its gut microbiome stands out the most.

Parkinson’s disease has a distinct gut microbiota.

Dr. Demirkan and her colleagues recently discovered that people with Parkinson’s disease have unique gut microbiomes that were characterised by dysbiosis, the phenomenon of imbalance between so-called good and bad bacteria.

According to their research, those with Parkinson’s disease have gut flora that is different from those who do not have it by about 30%.

Dr. Demirkan stated in the podcast that “we found one-third of these microbes in the gut of people with Parkinson’s disease to be different.”

“As a result, this strongly suggests dysbiosis. Also different were the bacteria’s modes of operation and the types of genes they possessed. We observed a decrease in the number of short-chain fatty acid manufacturers, such as gut-friendly bacteria. Escherichia coli and other harmful bacteria were identified in greater numbers, and numerous bacterial pathways were disrupted, which may have an impact on the health of the neuronal tissues,” according to Dr. Ayse Demirkan.

In the guts of Parkinson’s disease patients, Dr. Demirkan and her colleagues discovered that levels of bacteria like Bifidobacterium dentium, which can result in infections like brain abscesses, were noticeably raised.

Desulfovibrio bacteria may be related to Parkinson’s disease, according to research from the University of Helsinki that was published in the May 2023 issue of Frontiers. These microorganisms release hydrogen sulfide, which can cause different types of inflammation.

Desulfovibrio was mentioned in another study from The Chinese University of Hong Kong that was published in Nature Communications in May 2023. This study found an “overabundance” of these bacteria in persons with REM sleep behavior disorder and early Parkinson’s disease indicators. The goal of the study was to find a way to diagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier.

What potential mechanisms exist?

The question that arises is: What mechanisms might mediate gut bacteria’s impact on neurological health, assuming that they do in fact contribute to Parkinson’s disease?

Given that some of the bacteria that are overabundant in this condition are pro-inflammatory, which means they can cause inflammation, one theory raised in the studies on the connection between the gut and the brain in Parkinson’s is that systemic inflammation may be one of the processes involved.

Research reveals that immunosuppressant medicine may reduce the chance of Parkinson’s disease, which raises the possibility that a medication of a similar kind may potentially assist manage the disease.

Parkinson’s disease is characterised by chronic brain inflammation, and some studies appear to suggest that systemic inflammation may exacerbate chronic brain inflammation and speed up the course of the disease.

In fact, some inflammatory disorders have been associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s. For instance, a 2018 Danish study found that those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had a 22% higher chance of developing Parkinson’s disease than their non-inflammatory counterparts.

In the podcast, Dr. Demirkan concurred that “bad” bacteria in the stomach may be the source of inflammation associated with Parkinson’s disease. She emphasised that more investigation is required before drawing clear conclusions because this proposed mechanism is not yet established.

Could nutrition help Parkinson’s patients with dysbiosis?

It could be logical to assume that nutrition could aid in the fight against gut dysbiosis and perhaps offer a simple option for symptom treatment if gut bacteria may play a role in Parkinson’s disease.

While there are certain dietary suggestions and nutritional supplements that may help some people with symptom alleviation, it’s still not clear how much food can actually do to change how this condition develops.

According to one study from 2022, diets rich in flavonoids, which are natural pigments present in many fruits, may be associated with a lower risk of mortality from Parkinson’s disease.

Additionally, an earlier study from 2018 suggested that a protein called parvalbumin, which is present in many types of fish, may help prevent Parkinson’s disease by preventing alpha-synuclein from clumping together in the brain, which occurs in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and disrupts signals between brain cells.

Dr. Demirkan did, however, show some scepticism when asked about the ability of food and vitamins to control gut flora in Parkinson’s patients.

She emphasised that it is challenging to provide generic advice that would truly be useful because different persons have various risk factors for Parkinson’s as well as varied forms of the disease.

“I find it very challenging to offer advice to anyone because each of us has a unique gut microbiota. Therefore, I believe that preventing the condition is one thing and that long-term maintenance, along with the various consequences of the disease, is another. I can’t really offer any advice because of this, although research indicates that consuming more sugar is problematic.

Can exercising treat Parkinson’s disease?

Nevertheless, some evidence suggests that exercising can help people with Parkinson’s disease manage their symptoms.

According to a study from 2022 that was published in Neurology, those with early-stage Parkinson’s disease may benefit from regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise since it can delay the disease’s progression.

According to research published in 2017, doing at least 2.5 hours of exercise each week can assist Parkinson’s patients become more mobile while also delaying the onset of the disease.

Dr. Demirkan concurred that using exercise as a management tool for Parkinson’s disease can be beneficial. Exercise by itself is a fantastic technique to mould our brain and body, she claimed.

“There are some significant physiological consequences that we can consider in terms of reversing [Parkinson’s] disease. Your body must endure a lot of stress when you run a marathon, for instance. For instance, you may notice that your body temperature rises steadily and in a feverish manner. One thing is that there is a long-term rise in core heat, and it should unquestionably have a significant impact on the stomach,” she said.

In fact, some study indicates that the heat stress experienced during exercise may decrease intestinal blood flow, which may ultimately have an impact on the gut microbiota by allowing for the expansion of some bacteria while suppressing others.

In terms of the optimum type of exercise for persons with Parkinson’s disease, a Cochrane study that was released in January 2023 came to the conclusion that pretty much all types of exercise can assist those with this illness to live better lives. The authors of the review state that the available evidence “probably has a large beneficial effect” on the quality of life of aqua-based training.

REFERENCES;

For Parkinson’s disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=64

Changes in Cholesterol & triglyceride may affect dementia.

July 8, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

Researchers looked into the impact of varying triglyceride and cholesterol levels on dementia risk.

They discovered that varying amounts of triglycerides and cholesterol raise the incidence of dementia by 19% and 23%, respectively. To comprehend how these results might influence patient treatment, more investigation is required.

Globally, dementia affects around 55 million individuals. This number is anticipated to nearly quadruple to 152 million by 2050 as the world’s population ages.

Strategies for dementia prevention are essential for maintaining health. Finding techniques to mitigate potential risk factors that raise the likelihood of dementia is one way to develop these solutions.

Regular medical care includes tests for triglyceride and cholesterol levels. In order to create hormones and cells, the liver produces a form of fat called cholesterol. A form of fat used for energy is triglycerides.

Clinicians may be able to screen patients for dementia risk and maybe stop or delay the start of the disease by looking at the relationship between blood lipids and dementia risk.

Some evidence suggests a connection between cholesterol fluctuation and dementia. Despite conflicting findings in studies on whether high cholesterol levels increase dementia risk.

Future dementia screening methods and treatments may benefit from a deeper understanding of which lipid components raise dementia risk.

To evaluate whether there is a connection between cholesterol levels and the risk of dementia, researchers recently examined medical records.

“While not necessarily altering practice, this study highlights the need to pay close attention to people with fluctuating cholesterol levels. It will need more research to ascertain if this variance is a real factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or only a side effect of dementia,” said Dr. Dmitriy Nevelev, associate director of cardiology at Staten Island University Hospital and a non-participant in the study.

High risk of dementia associated with fluctuating cholesterol

The average age of the 11, 571 participants the researchers gathered for the study was 71. 54% of the participants were female, and none had ever been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

All of the individuals had their blood lipid levels checked for several factors at least three times in the five years before to the study. These comprised:

cholesterol overall
triglycerides
LDL, short for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Following the participants lasted an average of 12.9 years. 2,473 people experienced the onset of dementia during this time.

Based on how much the individuals’ blood lipid measurements changed, the researchers divided the people into five groups.

In the end, they discovered that those with total cholesterol variability in the highest 20% band had a 19% increased risk of dementia compared to those in the lowest 20%.

Those with triglycerides in the top 20% of the range had a 23% higher risk of dementia than those in the bottom 20%.

The findings persisted after taking into account potential confounding variables like education, initial cholesterol levels, and adherence to lipid-lowering therapies, according to the researchers. They also discovered that changes in HDL and LDL did not correspond to a higher risk of dementia.

Why are changes in lipid levels important?

We discussed how varying triglyceride and cholesterol levels may raise the risk of dementia with Dr. James Giordano, Pellegrino Centre professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Centre who was not involved in the study.

He stated that it is unclear whether or how varying cholesterol levels affect the risk of dementia. Nevertheless, he talked about plausible mechanisms from his own study.

According to Dr. Giordano’s research, “a number of blood-borne factors may cause changes in inflammatory mediators that affect cerebral blood vessels, nerve, and glial cells of the brain cells that remove waste from the brain and deliver nutrients to neurons.”

“This shift to a pro-inflammatory phenotype might interact with existing genetic predispositions in certain individuals. This may increase the risk of several neurodegenerative diseases, including some types of dementia,” he said.

Dr. Nevelev concurred that there is currently no conclusive explanation for why cholesterol fluctuation may raise the risk of dementia.

The functioning of our blood vessel lining is impaired by endothelial dysfunction, which is caused by cholesterol variability. This impairment contributes to irregular blood flow. According to Dr. Nevelev, “Cholesterol variability is also associated with [the] instability of blood vessel plaque, which can likewise obstruct blood flow and harm brain tissue.

He continued, “This study seeks to account for another possibility, which is the effect of sporadic adherence with cholesterol-lowering medicine.

The study did not take into consideration every factor.

We requested an explanation of the study’s main shortcomings from Dr. Howard Pratt, a board-certified psychiatrist and medical director of Community Health of South Florida who was not engaged in the investigation.

“The study’s participants had higher levels of comorbidity than the non-study control group, which did not. Therefore, there can be confounding factors that are harder to identify. Another drawback of the study is that it only included participants from one area, so it’s still not clear whether the conclusions apply to the entire community, the author pointed out.

The apolipoprotein-E (Apo-E) gene, which may have impacted the results of the study, is one genetic risk factor for dementia that was not taken into consideration, according to Dr. Giordano.

Dr. Nevelev was questioned about the study’s constraints as well. He pointed out that it is vital to know whether triglyceride levels were evaluated in samples that were fasting or samples that were not, as triglyceride levels change while a person is fasting.

He continued by saying that variations in body weight are associated with poor health outcomes and that triglyceride and cholesterol levels are related to body weight.

The researcher said, “It is possible that the observation in this study is reversed perhaps those in the early stages of dementia have changes in behaviour or changes in body weight that lead to significant variation in triglyceride levels.”

What effects does this have on preventing dementia?

UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School professor of neurology and director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Centre, Dr. Paul E. Schulz, who was not engaged in the study, said the following to us:

How to apply the findings of this study to the real world is one important question. There are numerous drugs available that lower triglycerides or cholesterol, but I am not aware of any that do the same for fluctuations. Conversely, nutrition has a huge role in managing diabetes. I also wonder if dietary adjustments could also assist lower triglyceride or cholesterol fluctuations, which would lower the risk of dementia.

But given the overwhelming evidence that lower cholesterol is linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, he added, “I would still advise people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease to think about taking their statin if their doctor prescribes it to lower their risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

REFERENCES:

For Cholesterol medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=47

Brain’s unique “pain fingerprint” may help pain management

July 8, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

When nerve cells notice damage, they experience pain and send signals to the brain for interpretation.

Because everyone experiences pain differently, it is difficult for doctors to identify and manage it.

Gamma oscillations and brain waves associated with pain perception have variable timing, frequencies, and locations in various individuals, according to a recent study that used brain scans to gather its data.

This discovery might result in pain management strategies based on these unique “pain fingerprints.”

When nociceptors, which are nerve endings in the skin, notice damage and send messages to the brain, people experience pain. The pain may be chronic, lasting for a considerably longer time and being more difficult to treat, or acute, abrupt onset, typically short-lived, and manageable by addressing the source of the pain.

However, not everyone experiences pain in the same way, making it challenging for medical professionals to gauge how much someone is hurting.

They frequently employ a number scale, with zero denoting no pain at all and ten denoting the most excruciating suffering possible. Other strategies include:

The doctor uses a verbal descriptor scale to specify the type of pain by asking several descriptive questions.
short pain inventory: a written questionnaire that aids medical professionals in determining the impact of a patient’s pain and tracking changes in pain to look for patterns.
Respondents to the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) select three main categories of word descriptors (sensory, affective, and evaluative) to describe their subjective pain experience.
Faces scale: This is mostly used for kids. The doctor displays a range of emotive faces, from sad to pleased, and the kids use them to convey how much pain they are in.

How does the brain register pain?

Senior lecturer at the University of Essex’s Centre for Brain Science and lead author Dr. Elia Valentini said the following to us:

The sense of pain may be mediated by these fast brain oscillations known as gamma, according to previous research. Our research shows that, despite the fact that we all experience pain to a similar degree, some of us will exhibit these gamma oscillations in response to painful stimuli while others won’t.

In essence, he said, “we propose that gamma oscillations are not necessary for pain, but that they constitute a stable and repeatable property of the individual when present.

What reactions does the brain have to pain?

Seventy volunteers underwent pain testing for the researchers. The average age of those who participated in the study was 24, and they were all in good health. Males made up the majority.

They kept track of the outcomes of two independent studies. In the first, there were 22, and there were 48 in the second.

In the first experiment, subjects were repeatedly exposed to touch and pain stimuli on the right hand’s back twice, two weeks apart. A Tm: YAG laser produced the pain stimuli. Participants graded both stimuli on a scale of 0 to 10.

In the second experiment, a Nd: YAG laser used to deliver high- and low-intensity pain stimuli to subjects. Each subject was exposed to 80 stimuli of high and 80 of low intensity. On a scale of zero for no discomfort to one hundred for the most manageable pain, they were asked to rate them.

In all studies, individuals wore an electrode cap while being exposed to the stimuli, which produced electroencephalogram (EEG) data from which the gamma responses were analysed.

How is pain quantified?

Dr. Vernon Williams, a sports neurologist and pain management expert who founded the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute’s Centre for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine who was not engaged in this study, provided the following explanation to us:

“An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience connected to, or similar to, actual or potential tissue injury is referred to as pain. It is a “experience,” not a “sensation.” As a result, it is always unique, subjective, and personal. The fact that gamma oscillations differ greatly from person to person is therefore not surprising.

In addition to the fact that the pattern of gamma oscillations varied between individuals, the researchers also discovered that it did not change for each person who underwent the repeat trial.

“Our work demonstrates that there is a remarkable stability: Participants with high/low gamma activity and high/low pain ratings in the previous recording had high/low gamma activity and high/low pain ratings two weeks later,” said Dr. Valentini.

This could be beneficial for pain management, according to Dr. Williams: “Interestingly, the findings are reproducible within an individual, and that may have future implications regarding objective measures of pain and objective measures to assess pain interventions/treatments, particularly in the short term.”

Dr. Valentini cautioned, nonetheless, that the significance of gamma oscillations for pain processing may be greatly exaggerated. It serves as a timely warning that, even when a large group-level association is replicated by multiple research, we might still be duped into interpreting the results as causative.

Do the results have any clinical application?

Dr. Valentini summarised the findings by saying, “In a nutshell, we suggest that gamma oscillations are not necessary for pain, but when present, they are a stable and repeatable feature of the individual.”

As Dr. Valentini said, “Our work resonates with the idea of personalized medicine whereby clinicians may focus on the specific individual’s biological patterns to achieve faster and better diagnosis or treatment.” Their findings may result in more personalized pain management.

Despite the fact that there are no obvious therapeutic implications of our findings, he explained that they “pave the way to a more precise assessment of neural responses mediating the experience of pain.”

Dr. Williams concurred that there was cause for hope. He explained to us that “reproducible” in the trials indicated that subjects’ results were consistent across tests conducted two weeks apart.

That might not be the case if tests are conducted two months or two years apart, or if social, psychological, or biological circumstances have changed in the interim. Dr. Williams continued, “If changes take place under various circumstances, that might imply that the person’s ‘fingerprint’ can change over time (or if circumstances change).”

“That gives us cause for hope because it implies that their experience—the pain they feel—can be diminished, enhanced, or completely erased with the proper mix of therapies. He said, “Chronic pain does not have to last ‘forever’.

Dr. Valentini intends to conduct additional research because, in his words, “my colleagues and I believe that gamma and other brain oscillations are an important area of investigation for pain neuroscience. Maybe some of us will be able to repeat similar studies in individuals with acute or chronic pain, better addressing the therapeutic applicability of our research.

REFERENCES:

For Pain relief medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=23

Boost skin cancer immunotherapy by targeting proteins.

July 7, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

A protein that aids tumors in evading immune response and supports the growth of melanoma has been discovered by new research.

According to researchers, immunotherapy should be more effective with tailored medicines directed particularly at this protein.

One of the most prevalent malignancies, melanoma is typically brought on by exposure to UV light, while hereditary factors also play a part in its development.

Experts advise staying away from tanning beds and direct sunshine, as well as keeping an eye out for any moles that seem out of the ordinary.

The growth of melanoma has been the subject of recent research, which has also opened up new potential treatment options.

In a study that was published in the journal Science Advances, researchers showed how a protein called NR2F6 aids tumor growth by assisting tumours to elude the immune system.

The scientists discovered that in mice, eliminating the protein made the immune treatment work more effectively.

“This tells us that NR2F6 helps melanoma evade the immune system, and without it, the immune system can more readily suppress tumour growth,” said Dr. Hyungsoo Kim, a research assistant professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys, a research centre in La Jolla, California, and the study’s first author.

Treatments that prevent the protein’s action are thought to be twice as effective since it behaves the same way whether it is in a tumor or the tissues around it.

The scientists are currently searching for fresh medications that can particularly target NR2F6.

learning about melanoma

Melanoma develops when the DNA in skin cells is harmed, according to dermatologist Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry of the United Kingdom, who spoke to us.

According to Chaudhry, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths is frequently to blame for this. “Due to this damage, the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) proliferate out of control and aggregate into a mass of malignant cells. The development of melanoma in the eyes or internal organs does occur occasionally, but it is less frequent.”

While there are some hereditary risk factors that can potentially play a role, sunshine and tanning beds are linked to skin cancer for a reason.

We were informed by Dr. Sudarsan Kollimuttathuillam, a medical oncologist and haematologist at the City of Hope cancer research organization’s Huntington Beach and Irvine Sand Canyon locations, that 7% to 15% of people with melanoma also have a family member who has the condition.

According to him, having characteristics like pale skin, freckles, or blonde or red hair raises one’s overall risk of developing skin cancer. Atypical mole syndrome is another genetic disorder that dramatically raises the lifetime risk of melanoma and is characterized by a high number of moles with odd forms or color.

Risk can be reduced, but genetics cannot be changed. Doctors advise limiting exposure to the sun during peak hours, staying away from tanning beds in general, and wearing sun protection when outdoors to reduce your risk of acquiring skin cancer.

In the words of Kollimuttathuillam, “regular skin examinations by both you and a dermatologist will help detect melanoma at an early stage, when it is more treatable.”

Experiencing melanoma

One of the most prevalent types of cancer are skin malignancies like melanoma.

More than 97,000 Americans are expected to receive melanoma diagnoses in the US in 2023, according to the American Cancer Society.

As previously mentioned, melanoma can be detected early by a number of telling indications, including genetics and moles. The following procedure usually entails removing and then examining the mole if a doctor suspects it may be malignant. Melanoma presence or absence can be assessed by a range of tests.

It’s crucial to get an early diagnosis of melanoma because it spreads quickly.

According to Kollimuttathuillam, melanoma is the type of skin cancer that is most likely to spread to distant organs or bones. Because of this, imaging technologies may be utilized to spot cancer cells that have done so.

After receiving a melanoma diagnosis, a patient has a variety of treatment choices at their disposal, including radiation therapy, surgery, and immunotherapy.

In the earliest stages of melanoma, patients typically do not require imaging tests because, as Kollimuttathuillam noted, “we know that the best way to stop cancer is to prevent it.” “I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is for patients to be advocates for their skin health to avoid advanced stages of this disease,” the doctor said.

Types of Immunotherapy

Medication is used in immunotherapy to boost your immune system. This might aid in its attack on cancer cells.

Severe melanoma is treated with a variety of immunotherapies, including:

Checkpoint blockers. The PD-1 blockers nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as well as the CTL4-blocker ipilimumab (Yervoy) are among these drugs. These medications could aid T cells in your immune system in identifying and eliminating melanoma cancer cells.

Oncolytic virus therapy. In this procedure, melanoma tumors are injected with talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, Imylgic), a modified virus. In addition to killing cancer cells, this virus may also cause your immune system to fight cancer cells.

Cytokine therapy. Immune cells can interact with one another with the aid of a class of proteins called cytokines. Interleukin-2 (aldesleukin, proleukin) therapy may enhance your immune system’s defense against cancer.

Your doctor may recommend a single immunotherapy treatment or a cocktail of immunotherapy medications. They might prescribe Yervoy and Opdivo combined, for instance.

Individuals with stage 4 melanoma now have better survival rates thanks to immunotherapy. However, there is a chance that this treatment will have negative side effects.

Contact your doctor straight away if you suspect any potential side effects.

REFERENCES:

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

Exercise & weight loss can improve obesity and prediabetes.

July 7, 2023 blogadmin Comments 0 Comment

According to new research, people who are overweight and have prediabetes may benefit significantly from regular exercise when accompanied with weight loss via diet.

The goal of the study was to ascertain whether exercise had benefits in addition to those provided by diet-only weight loss.

The study examined two groups, one of which followed a diet plan plus exercise training and the other of which followed a diet plan alone.

According to the findings, the group that combined diet and exercise improved their insulin sensitivity by twice as much as the diet-only group, which is essential for controlling prediabetes.

Researchers from the Centre for Human Nutrition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, examined the results of regular exercise paired with a nutrition programme for people in a recent study.

The individuals’ bodies’ sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, was tested by the researchers.

According to the findings, those who made changes to their eating and exercise routines saw a twofold increase in their insulin sensitivity compared to those who only made dietary changes.

This indicates that their bodies used insulin to regulate blood sugar levels more effectively.

The participants’ muscles were also examined by the researchers, and they discovered that the group that changed their diet and exercise regimens had higher expression (activity) of genes related to the production of new mitochondria, which are cells’ energy factories, energy metabolism, and the development of new blood vessels.

They discovered no discernible differences between the two groups in terms of the amounts of specific amino acids or particular inflammatory blood indicators.

The composition of their gut bacteria also changed similarly in both groups, which can have an impact on general health.

Exercise for managing and treating obesity

We spoke with Dr. Sergio P. Ramoa of Atrius Health, who was not a part of the study, and he stated that “despite the growing focus and treatment of obesity and diabetes, diabetes-related mortality increased in the first 20 years of the 21st century.”

“The approach to treating obesity has altered, with a focus on treating it like a chronic illness like hypertension or asthma. There have been considerable advancements in the treatment of weight reduction and weight maintenance, according to Dr. Sergio P. Ramoa, as a result of changes in social, educational, and therapeutic attitudes.

In his statement, Dr. Romoa said that “This article demonstrates why exercise continues to be a pillar of not only weight management treatment but the overall health of the community.”

“Exercise should always be used in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatment for persistent lifestyle changes,” he advised.

The National Coalition on Healthcare’s (NCHC) Kelsey Costa, a registered dietitian and health research specialist who was not involved in the study, concurred, saying that “the study findings imply that combining exercise training with a calorie-restricted diet can enhance insulin sensitivity and metabolic health beyond the benefits achieved solely through diet-induced weight loss.”

As Costa said, “It is essential to understand how effectively this combination of therapies can improve metabolic health given what we know about the barriers to exercise in people with obesity.”

For managing prediabetes, insulin sensitivity is essential.

Prediabetes is characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose levels that are not yet high enough to progress to type 2 diabetes.

Although it acts as a warning sign for an elevated risk of getting diabetes, it is frequently preventable or deferred with lifestyle adjustments.

Enhancing insulin sensitivity through exercise

According to Dr. Romoa, “GLUT4, the main insulin-driven glucose transporter, exercise improves insulin sensitivity.”

“GLUT4 is present in adipose and muscular tissue. The amount of these transporters varies depending on a person’s diabetes and obesity condition.

While they drop in adipose tissue, they hold steady in muscular tissue. As a result, exercise can keep enhancing glucose regulation. Due to insulin resistance, adipose tissue can no longer adequately regulate blood glucose. Additionally, exercise will increase the body’s GLUT4 levels. Walking can help lower blood sugar levels, according to Dr. Sergio P. Ramoa.

It was said by Costa that this study showed that “exercise enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, likely due to changes in skeletal muscle biology induced by exercise.”

This includes an improvement in mitochondrial content and function as well as an increase of genes related to substrate oxidation and mitochondrial energy metabolism. The diet plus exercise group consequently saw a more significant rise in muscle insulin sensitivity,” Costa said.

Type 2 diabetes treatment through exercise

Exercise is strongly advised as a main treatment for type 2 diabetes, according to prior research.

Combining 150 minutes per week of moderate to strenuous exercise with dietary and behavioural adjustments can stop, delay, or even reverse the condition.

Exercise of all kinds, including resistance and aerobic training, can regulate blood sugar levels. Small bursts of exercise spread out throughout the day and high intensity interval training are both good.

Exercise in the afternoon or right after a meal, for example, may have additional benefits.

Exercise guidelines that are ideal Working with healthcare experts is crucial for personalised diabetes management because individual aspects are continuously being researched.

Costa stressed “the significance of integrating a calorie-restricted diet with exercise training to enhance metabolic health and physical function.”

Exercise caution

Be sure to consult your doctor before beginning a new workout routine. Make sure you drink enough water before, during, and after the activity.

To keep your blood sugar levels within the desired range, be sure to closely monitor them as well.

REFERENCES:

For Diabetes medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=13