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Monday, July 26, 2021
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New Study Sheds Light on Autism: Mice and Missing Protein Genes

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mice autistic behaviorAutism spectrum disorders affect billions of people all over the world and are still under heavy research. Many specialists tried to identify the true causes of autism and find some treatments to alleviate the patients’ suffering, but to this day, nobody could pinpoint the specific triggers, nor provide the world with 100% full proof therapies.

Some of the most debilitating aspects of autism are induced by the cognitive – communication – behavioral triad of impairments. To some degree, all these components are affected at different levels of severity in almost all patients. A new study sheds light on autism and, more to the point, on the repetitive behaviors specific to autistic patients, opening the doors to more advanced genetic research in the future.

A team of neuroscientists at NYU Langone Medical Center reported recently the results of a study they conducted on mice lacking a specific protein gene called Cntnap4. Simply put, missing this gene means missing the protein. Mice not presenting the protein or presenting it in lower levels than normal, also presented abnormal levels of two essential chemicals which are vital to the optimal function of our brains: dopamine (the neural chemical responsible with the pleasure sensations) and GABA (the substance that lowers down our neural activity and regulates muscle tone). The mice that showed imbalances in these substance levels also showed autistic – like behaviors, displayed as following:

[quote]Mice that lacked the gene for this critical brain protein were found to obsessively groom their fellow animals’ fur into mohawk-like styles, suggesting a link between genetics, brain function and autistic behaviors[/quote]

Now as funny as it is to see with your own eyes mohawk – like mice hairdos, the link between the missing gene and the development of repetitive, autistic – like behaviors cannot be neglected. Finding reliable results to support the theory of genetic mutations as the main cause for autism is a hard feat for scientists, but not an-impossible-to-reach goal.

Past research involved other genetic theories and potential treatments. Genome mapping is a science with a mind – blowing potential. However, regarding autism as a spectrum disorder, scientists have been still in the dark so far. Now that this new study sheds light on autism, we are in support of the future studies trying to finally answer so many questions and actually find a cure. According to doctor Gordon Fishell,

There have been many candidate genes implicated in contributing to autism, but animal and human studies to identify their action have so far not led to any therapies.”Our research suggests that reversing the disease’s effects in signaling pathways like GABA and dopamine are potential treatment options

New Study Shows Narrowing of Carotid Arteries Leads to Memory and Thinking Problems

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Narrowing of Carotid ArteriesLast week we saw how an increased BMI leads to poor pregnancy outcomes and this week the results of a new and fascinating study were presented at the American Academy of Neurology, the 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Apparently, the narrowing of carotid arteries (the two major blood vessels which deliver blood to the brain and are found in the neck) can be linked to problems with memory, thinking and even learning and decision-making.

Narrowing of Carotid Arteries

Up until now, the narrowing of carotid arteries meant that the patient would develop or have a high risk of developing stroke or transient ischemic attack, because the arteries would become blocked by plaque or fatty deposits, which would release small piece of debris, thus causing those medical issues. Also, the plaque would also restrict the flow of blood to the brain.

Dr. Drajesh K. Lal, one of the doctors involved in the study revealed that up until recently medical professionals would only be concerned with stroke prevention due to the narrowing of the carotid arteries, but this study shows that actually, this narrowing damages the health of a person much more than it was previously thought.

It was discovered that the status of memory, thinking and decision-making was affected by the narrowing of the carotid arteries.

67 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) were assessed for the study. These patients had a 50% reduction in diameter of their carotid artery. Also, 60 more people were evaluated; people who had a high risk of developing ACS, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, but did not have ACS.

Both groups underwent testing for speed, memory, decision-making, language and learning and the results were impressive. It was found that patients with ACS had memory and thinking problems. They performed significantly worse than the patients with no narrowing of carotid arteries in the memory, thinking and processing speed. The language abilities were not affected by the narrowing of the carotid arteries.

Even though the study is small, the results are encouraging. If the same results are confirmed after larger studies are conducted, then a whole new approach to memory and thinking problems is going to be revealed. For example, surgery could be performed on patients with ACS, not only to prevent stroke, but to also improve their memory.

What are your thoughts on this new study? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below, we love to hear from our readers.

Increased BMI During Pregnancy Leads to Poor Pregnancy Outcomes

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Poor Pregnancy OutcomesMore new discoveries about pregnancy; earlier this week we learned that postpartum depression also affects the father and now a new study shows that poor pregnancy outcomes are linked to increased BMI before pregnancy or in the early stages of pregnancy.

Women who have a high BMI (body mass index) before pregnancy or in the early stages of pregnancy have a higher risk of fetal death, infant death than women with a normal BMI, says a study published in JAMA.

Increased BMI leads to Poor Pregnancy Outcomes

This isn’t the first study to show a link between increased BMI and poor pregnancy outcomes, but it is the first one that aimed and succeeded to establish the ideal pre-pregnancy BMI that will prevent the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, such as neonatal death, fetal death, perinatal death and still birth.

The research team, from the Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, was led by Dagfinn Aune, gathered their information from 38 studies that reported on poor pregnancy outcomes and maternal BMI. The studies included the following: 11,294 neonatal deaths, 10,147 fetal deaths, 4,311 perinatal deaths, 16, 273 stillbirths and 4,983 infant deaths. The women were grouped into five BMI groups: severely obese (BMI between 40 and 45), moderately obese (BMI between 35 and 40), obese (BMI between 30 and 35), overweight (BMI between 25 and 30) and normal weight (18.5 and 25).

After all the data was carefully analyzed, the scientists discovered that even small increases in BMI were connected to poor pregnancy outcomes, such as still birth and infant death and also, the obvious, that severely obese women, with a BMI over 40, have the greater risk of having a poor pregnancy outcome – two or three times greater than that of women with a BMI of 20. These findings all point to the optimal pre-pregnancy BMI, which should be between 18.5 and 25.

Although there is a need for further studies to determine the exact reasons why women with a high BMI experience poor pregnancy outcomes, past studies point at the fact that overweight or obese women have increased risk of developing gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and congenital anomalies. All these conditions have also been connected to a higher risk of infant and fetal death.

What are your thoughts on these findings? Does it shock you that an increased BMI is linked to poor pregnancy outcomes? Share your thoughts on the matter below in the comment section, we would love to hear what you have to say about this study.

E-cigarettes Do Not Reduce Cigarette Consumption New Study Reveals

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E-cigarettes do not reduce cigaretttes consumptionEver since studies have shown that cigarettes are vicious killers that cause all types of cancers, people have try to find a way to get their nicotine fix and give up the nasty habit of smoking. Many new medical discoveries, such as a new drug that targets an aggressive form of lung cancer are bringing hope and joy to people everywhere, and if you’re still a smoker, then you’ve most likely thought about ways to quit or replace the cigarettes. E-cigarettes have been the latest craze in the field of nicotine replacement therapy, but a new study reveals that e-cigarettes do not reduce cigarette consumption, as many people have hope they would.

E-cigarettes Do Not Reduce Cigarette Consumption

A new study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine Journal has revealed that e-cigarettes do not reduce cigarette consumption, as it was predicted and hoped. There are many controversies that surround electronic cigarettes and one of them was just this: would smoking e-cigarettes reduce the number or real cigarettes smoked? The new study says it doesn’t, because e-cigarettes aren’t a smoking cessation tool, but another device that delivers nicotine to the body.

In this new study that has shown that e-cigarettes do not reduce cigarette consumption researchers have surveyed around 1,000 smokers and have asked them questions such as: if and when they intend to quit smoking, how many a day they smoke and whether or not they had used e-cigarettes in the recent past. The conclusion was startling: smokers who used e-cigarettes weren’t more successful than those who smoke tobacco cigarettes in quitting smoking.

Almost 14% of the people who participated in the study did manage to quit smoking, but very few of those who did succeeded thanks to the e-cigarettes.

Are you a smoker? Have you ever tried to quit smoking? Did you succeed? Have you ever used e-cigarettes? What are your thoughts on the fact that e-cigarettes do not reduce cigarette consumption? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.

High Vitamin D Levels Could Increase Breast Cancer Survival

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Breast Cancer SurvivalRecent studies have shown a strong link between animal protein and cancer, reinforcing the idea that protein that comes from animals is harmful to the human body, but a new study reveals something that will completely change the way we treat breast cancer – it appears that high level of vitamin D increase breast cancer survival.

Vitamin D reduces the occurrence of bone fractures, depression and heart disease and a new study performed by the scientists at the University of California and the San Diego School of Medicine reveals that patients with increased levels of vitamin D in their systems are twice more likely to survive breast cancer than patients with low levels of vitamin D.

This new find, published in the Anticancer Research Journal, is absolutely amazing and if further studies reinforce it, it will give the world new hope. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and it helps with the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The main source of vitamin D is the sun but it is also available in small amounts in certain foods, such as fish, eggs and fortified margarine and butter. The best way to get your vitamin D is to lather on some sunscreen (not SPF 50 because you won’t absorb it at all) and sit in the sun. Or if you prefer, you can boost your vitamin D levels through supplements.

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Survival

Past studies have shown an association between low vitamin D levels and occurrence of premenopausal breast cancer, which lead the team of scientist to research the matter further. The study included almost 4,500 patients with breast cancer and it was performed from 1966 until 2010 and all the patients were followed for about 9 years, each.

It appears that the breast cancer survival rate is 50% higher in patients with high vitamin D in their blood. Apparently the vitamin D increases communication between cells by stimulating the production of a protein that stops aggressive cell multiplication.

Further studies need to be performed before vitamin D is given as an adjuvant in breast cancer. What are your thoughts on this?

 

Animal Protein is Linked to Cancer and Diabetes

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Animal Protein is Linked to CancerWhile the title may not seem like the discovery of the century, two new studies do reinforce what we already knew: that animal protein is linked to cancer and diabetes in adults. The studies are not saying that any animal protein could cause cancer and diabetes, but too much protein is a direct cause of cancer and diabetes during middle age. This should put in perspective your diet and  the role of carbs, meat and sugar.

Animal Protein is Linked to Cancer – Too Much Protein As Harmful As Smoking

Two studies that have been published in the Cell Metabolism journal and were conducted by the University of Southern California in the US and the University of Sydney in Australia found that low protein intake may be the key to living a long and healthy life and that we should examine more carefully where our calories are coming from, plants or animals. The studies have concluded that for weight loss, a high-protein diet could only help in the short term and that if continued in the long term it will reduce lifespan and harm health.

One of the doctors who were involved in the study reported that the study provided evidence that a high-protein diet (animal-based proteins in particular) is almost as harmful as smoking for your health and that adults who consumed a high-protein diet had the highest risk of developing cancer and diabetes.

These studies were performed on both humans and mice; almost 7,000 Americans took part in an US national survey that assesses diet and health and revealed that people who consumed moderate amounts of proteins were three times more likely to die of cancer and that these effects were reduced or disappeared in those people whose high-protein diets were plant-based. But what does a high-protein diet means? The scientists concluded that a high-protein diet is one where at least 20% of the calories that are ingested come from protein.

These two new studies simply reinforce what people and doctors already knew: animal protein is linked to cancer and diabetes, so if you would like to live a long and healthy life, then you should stick to plant-based proteins and diets.

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