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Can a nasal spray popularized on TikTok give us a tan?

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On March 26, 2022

In cellular basis of life, endocrine system, integumentary system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03272022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life – proteins are made of amino acid building blocks
  2. integumentary system – layers (strata) of the epidermis
  3. integumentary system chapter – melanocytes make the brown pigment melanin
  4. endocrine system chapter – anterior pituitary makes the melanocyte stimulating hormone

The news item:  Recently a report appeared about TikTok influencers who inhale nasal spray to get a tan:

I inhale dangerous tanning nasal sprays because I’d rather die hot than live ugly

Beauty influencers are taking to TikTok to show themselves snorting sprays that they claim give them a golden tan – but doctors warn the products could be both ineffective and dangerous.

The article states that the influencers claim to get a glowing bronze skin color from the inhaled spray, that the spray has the active ingredient dihydroxy methylchromonyl palmitate which is not approved for inhalation, and that the TikTok posts have hundreds of thousands likes.

So, Why Do I Care??  Social media influencers can act very convincingly, even when they encourage unhealthy actions for their followers. The use of a chemical designed to be used on top of the skin may damage the nasal passages, or it may cause serious illness. This is a great example of how vigilant and skeptical we have to be when seeing something that looks too good to be true.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about the natural process that gives skin a tanned color. In the top region, the epidermis, of the skin there are cells called melanocytes that make a brown-colored pigment called melanin.

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Can we get a deadly infection from an aromatherapy bottle?

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On February 26, 2022

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system, microbiology, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 02272022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. microbiology – Burkholderia bacteria
  2. microbiology – bacterial movement by flagella
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – lysosomes can digest invaders, or self-digest a cell during autophagy cell death
  4. tissue chapter – cells of epithelial tissue line the lumen of respiratory and digestive systems
  5. immune system chapter – neutrophils and other white blood cells phagocytose invaders
  6. blood vessel chapter – septic shock suppresses blood pressure by causing vasodilation

The news item:  Recently the following news report appeared online:

Mysterious fatal infections tied to room spray sold at Walmart

Federal authorities warned Friday that a rare bacterial infection that killed two people has been tied to an aromatherapy spray sold at Walmart. A total of four people in four states were infected earlier this year by the rare tropical disease called melioidosis.

The article stated that four victims of melioidosis were identified in the US, that the disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium, that the bacterium lives in soils in Southeast Asia, and that the pathogens were traced to aroma therapy spray bottles.

So, Why Do I Care??  Infectious pathogens are found in many locations, and they can cause deadly diseases. In addition to the well-know viruses and bacteria, there are exotic pathogens that cause rare, but just as deadly infections. Therefore, it is important to understand how those exotic pathogens act. Melioidosis has a 50% death rate, and even after antibiotic treatment the death rate remains 10%.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about how this bacterium infects our body. The bacteria enter the body through inhaling or ingesting contaminated water. The bacterium then moves into the epithelial cells that line the lumen of the lower respiratory or the epithelial cells that line the lumen of digestive

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How can a new pharmaceutical treat severe sleep disturbance a new way?

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On January 30, 2022

In cellular basis of life, endocrine system, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 01312022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
  3. nervous system chapter – functional roles of hypothalamus
  4. nervous system chapter – sleep and wakefulness
  5. endocrine system – receptor agonists enhance cellular response

The news item:  Recently a news item appeared about a new pharmaceutical to treat severe sleep disturbance disorders:

 

https://sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-treatments/pharmaceuticals/prescription-drugs/fda-approves-hetlioz-sleep-disturbances-smith-magenis-syndrome/

The article states that the pharmaceutical Hetlioz was approved to treat sleep disturbance disorders in adults and children, and also people suffering from Smith-Magenis syndrome.

So, Why Do I Care??  While loosing sleep hours is a common occurrence that comes with minor inconveniences in our daily lives, severe sleep disturbance, however, describes a disorder with significant health consequences. Millions of people suffer from such severe sleep disturbance in the US, and then there are over 15,000 people in the US who suffers from Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Plain English, Please!!! First let’s talk about sleep disturbances, in general. The action of going into sleep is the result of nerve signals from the hypothalamus part of the brain, and that signal decreases

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Can a newly discovered immune cell kill all cancers in our bodies?

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On November 28, 2021

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – mitosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – many types of receptor proteins are located in the cell membrane
  3. immune system chapter – the roles of white blood cells in immune defense

The news item:  Recently the following news report was published:

Immune discovery ‘may treat all cancer’

Research is at an early stage but scientists said it had huge potential for destroying cancers.

 

The article states that researchers found a new type of T cell that has the potential to attack cancer cells from virtually all regions of the body, and that potential is based on a molecule called MR1.

So, Why Do I Care??  Various types of cancers kill over 600,000 people in the USA. Cancer treatments vary according to the type and stage of the cancer. Any discovery that opens up the possibility of a unified cancer treatment is a reason for renewed hope among current and future cancer patients.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what cancer is. Our cells have to divide (undergo mitosis) to make new cells for repair or to replace worn out cells. When cell keep on dividing even after the tissue repair or cell

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Can a new pharmaceutical lower blood cholesterol levels to improve cardiovascular health?

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On October 30, 2021

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, digestive system

TeachableMedicalNews article 10312021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – cholesterol is a steroid type lipid
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – cholesterol is needed to stabilize plasma membranes of our cells
  3. digestive system chapter – liver synthesizes cholesterol
  4. cardiovascular system chapter – coronary artery disease starts with cholesterol buildup in the arteries

The news item:  Recently a report appeared about lowering our blood cholesterol level:

 

FDA approves drug that lowers cholesterol in a new way

Nexletol was approved for people genetically predisposed to have sky-high cholesterol and people who have heart disease and need to further lower their bad cholesterol.

The article stated that high LDL levels are connected with risk of heart attacks, and that this new drug blocks the cholesterol making enzyme in the liver. This new drug, Nexletol, acts differently from the statin drugs that also lower blood cholesterol.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA over 1 million people die yearly from heart attacks and strokes, and those deaths are at least partially caused by high blood cholesterol causing blockage inside the blood vessels. While there are life style modifications and drugs we can use to lower blood cholesterol, new pharmaceuticals may increase the success of lowering blood cholesterol.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s talk about what cholesterol is and how it causes cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is an organic molecule classified as a steroid type lipid. Cholesterol makes cell membranes sturdy, so all cells need it, and cholesterol transporting trucks, called LDL (low density

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How can Zolgensma gene therapy help children with spinal muscular atrophy?

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On September 29, 2021

In cellular basis of life, muscular system, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 09302021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – role of mRNA in protein synthesis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
  3. muscular system chapter – role of nerve impulses in directing muscle contraction
  4. nervous system chapter – functions of dendrites and axons of neurons

The news item:  Recently the following reporting was published by BBC news organization:

‘Gene therapy is a game changer for our son’

A five-month-old becomes the first person in England to get a drug with a list price of £1.79m.

The article describes the symptoms, such as loss of mobility in infants, of the spinal muscular atrophy.  The article also mentions the mutant SMN1 gene, and the Zolgensma treatment that replaces the mutated gene. The article states that the frequency of this disorder is 1 in 10,000 births.

So, Why Do I Care??  Most children whose symptoms begin after age 2 have a near normal life expectancy. However, newborns with the “infant-onset” form (about 400 newborns each year) have a very short life expectancy. That is devastating to parents, too, who are helpless while their child lays motionless, and not developing motor skills for movement or speech. Innovative treatments not only raise the hope for a more normal life for the affected infants, but also points to possible treatments of similar disorders.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).  This disorder originates from damaged neurons in the spinal cord. The consequence of that damage is that skeletal

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Can a virus test replace the traditional test for cervical cancer?

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On August 12, 2021

In cellular basis of life, microbiology, reproductive system, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 08122021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – mitosis, cell cycle controls to limit cell division
  2. reproductive system chapter – anatomy of the female reproductive system
  3. tissues chapter – epithelium that lines the female reproductive system
  4. microbiology – human papilloma viruses

The news item:  Recently the following report about cervical cancer testing appeared:

Are Pap smears ‘obsolete’? There’s a better option for cervical cancer screening, American Cancer Society says

The American Cancer Society released new guidelines on cervical cancer screenings Thursday, recommending that people with a cervix start testing at age 25.

The article describes the debate whether the HPV test could replace the Pap smear test. The article states that despite the Pap smear testing, there are over 13,000 new cervical cancer cases per year, and there are over 4,000 deaths. The article also states that the HPV test is screening for human papilloma virus, and the Pap test is screening for cancerous cells.

So, Why Do I Care??  Cervical cancer is a deadly cancer, as the article stated from a yearly 13,000 new diagnoses there are over 4,000 deaths.  While vaccination has been available against cervical cancer, a better diagnostic method is still needed until everyone is vaccinated.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what cervical cancer is. The narrow, tube-shaped part of the uterus, the cervix, opens into the vagina. The cervix has a thin lining epithelium, and that cell layer is where cancerous

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How do we teach the immune system of a cancer patient to attack cancer?

By

On July 30, 2021

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 07302021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter– artificial DNA can direct the cell to make a new type of protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – receptor proteins are located in the plasma membrane
  3. tissue chapter –the liquid connective tissue nature of blood allows the separation of blood cell types
  4. immune system chapter – role of T cell in immune defense

The news item:  Recently a news report was published about a cancer patient’s fight for her life:

New treatment option for patients battling aggressive form of blood cancer

People battling relapsed or refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, an aggressive blood cancer, experience a challenging treatment journey. But a recently approved CAR T cell therapy gives patients a new option.

 

The article stated that the patient had B cell lymphoma that didn’t respond to chemotherapy, and that she started a new treatment where her T cells were removed from her blood, reprogrammed to attack her cancer, and then returned into her body.  The treatment was described as the CAR T treatment where CAR stood for chimeric antigen receptor.

So, Why Do I Care??   Some leukemia type cancers and lymphoma type cancers do not respond to regular chemotherapy. While the total number of the patients is relatively low (a few thousand), the  new approach (CAR T) to cancer treatment now presents a new option for those patients with cancers resisting regular chemotherapy. Knowing how this type of treatment is created allows us to understand treatment regimens such as Kymriah, Yescarta, and Tecartus. In addition, the CAR T treatment type may inspire more out of the box thinking to defeat cancer.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about why would we want to train our immune system. In our body only the cells of the immune system are the only ones that can find and destroy specific targets

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Can we teach our immune system to attack cancer by reprogramming white blood cells?

By

On June 29, 2021

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 06282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – some proteins are located in the plasma membrane
  2. blood chapter – hematopoiesis (blood cell formation) in red bone marrow
  3. immune system chapter – role of T-cells in immune defense

The news item:  Recently an article reported on the struggles of a patient suffering with acute lymphoblastic leukemia:

 

Richmond woman benefits from game-changing cancer treatment now offered at VCU

If you knew what Rachel Elliot has been through you might call it a miracle that she is alive and well today, but hers was a miracle over a decade in the making.

The article described a new treatment called Kymriah, a Car-T type treatment, and stated that it involves genetic engineering T-cells.

So, Why Do I Care??  Some cancers resist traditional chemotherapy treatments. Patients suffering from those cancers have very limited life expectancy.  While the total number of ALL cases, close to 6,000 each year, are relatively few, children under the age of 5 are affected mostly.  New cancer treatment approaches that think outside the box are the treatments that bring hope, and eventually cures to those patients.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is. This type of leukemia is the cancer of the red bone marrow, and the uncontrolled division of some cells in the bone marrow leads to a large

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Can a genetic mutation of cancer cells be exploited to kill them?

By

On March 28, 2021

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, digestive system, reproductive system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – DNA structure as double helix
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – DNA replication during mitosis
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – DNA mutation of a gene usually diminishes protein function
  4. digestive system – anatomy of pancreatic duct (origin of most pancreatic cancers)
  5. reproductive system – anatomy of ovary (surface epithelium is the origin of most ovarian cancers)

The news item:  Recently this article appeared online about a new pancreatic cancer treatment:

FDA approves drug for treating pancreatic cancer

Health regulators clear AstraZeneca and Merck treatment for disease projected to kill 46,000 Americans this year.

The article states that Lynparza has been approved for the treatment of ovarian cancers with BRCA mutation, and this approval is now extended to pancreatic cancers with the same mutation. The article also states that the BRCA mutation hinders fixing DNA damage, that Lynparza is a PARP inhibitor, and that 46,000 Americans die yearly because of pancreatic cancer.

So, Why Do I Care??  Pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate, because the diagnosis usually happens in the late stage of the cancer. A new drug will likely increase survival rates among those 46,000 patients.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s talk about the BRCA mutation. When cells undergo mitosis (cell division) the DNA is copied (replicated), so the new cell can have as much DNA as the starter cell.

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