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How could gene editing fight cancers?

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On December 8, 2020

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 12082020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – chromosomes contain many genes
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – a gene is a specific stretch of DNA that encodes one protein
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein

malfunction

  1. immune system chapter – function of T lymphocytes (T cells)

The news item: Recently the gene editing approach to cancer fighting was in the news:

Doctors try CRISPR gene editing for cancer, a 1st in the US

The first attempt in the U.S. to use the gene editing tool CRISPR against cancer seems safe, but it’s too soon to know if it will improve survival.

The report described an experimental treatment of one sarcoma patient and two multiple myeloma patients with the Crispr technology. The article states that this approach deletes 3 genes and adds one gene to the T cells of the patients, and the gene-edited T cells are infused back into the body of the patients.

So, Why Do I Care??

The thing to care about is the potential of the technology of gene editing.  While experimental in humans, and the targets of the technology are relatively rare diseases, if proven useful there are many human genetic disorders that may be managed or cured by it. Any disorder that is caused by mutated genes and malfunctioning proteins may be the future target of gene editing.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about multiple myeloma and sarcoma. Myeloma is a cancer that forms in the red bone marrow. Sarcoma is a cancer that starts from connective

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How could a new non-pacing electronic device help chronic heart failure patients?

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On November 25, 2020

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, muscular system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11252020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – protein synthesis in cells can be changed by stimulus
  2. muscle tissue chapter – thick and thin filaments in the sliding filament muscle contraction model
  3. muscle tissue chapter – the role of calcium in muscle contraction model
  4. heart chapter – relationship of stroke volume to cardiac output

The news item:  Recently a new electronic device, Optimizer Smart, was in the news:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/25/fda-approves-new-device-for-patients-with-chronic-heart-failure.html

The article states that this device is not a pacemaker; it sends non-excitatory signals, and this way it improves the squeezing ability of the heart which, in turn, improves the physical abilities of the heart failure patients.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA there are about 5 million people living with congestive heart failure. There are over 500,000 new cases every year, and 280,000 deaths. The people who live with congestive heart failure have a diminished quality of life because their physical activities are limited. Any new approach to help those patients is welcome news.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what heart failure is. Contrary to popular belief “heart failure” doesn’t mean that the heart stops beating. Heart failure means that the cardiac output (the blood volume pumped out each minute)

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Why breast implants can become life threatening?

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On November 7, 2020

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 11072020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – gene mutation leading to malfunctioning protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – mitosis or somatic cell division
  3. integumentary system chapter – scar tissue formation during dermal wound healing
  4. immune system chapter – lymph nodes as location of lymphocytes
  5. immune system chapter – cell division as part of immune response in lymph nodes.

The news item:  Recently a recall of breast implants was in the news:

Breast implants tied to rare form of cancer recalled at FDA request

Allergan Inc. announces a worldwide recall of implants with a textured surface

The report described how one type of breast implant made by Allergan is associated with the development of a rare cancer, called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

So, Why Do I Care??  Altogether close to 600 anaplastic large cell lymphoma cases have been reported in women with breast implants. Even such a relatively slow number of cancers is a concern, because most of those cases occurred in women with one type of implant. Add to this that breast implants have been considered as a cosmetic alteration that presents little danger, but now a specific disorder is associated with them. That is a substantial change in how we view the risks of this procedure

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about how a breast implant affects the body. This cosmetic implant is made of plastic, and it is surgically inserted under the skin. The normal wound

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Why eating Listeria-contaminated food can be life threatening?

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On October 22, 2020

In cellular basis of life, digestive system, lymphatic and immune system, nervous system, reproductive system

TeachableMedicalNews article 10222020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – cytosol
  2. nervous system chapter – location of meninges
  3. immune system chapter – vasodilation during inflammation
  4. immune system chapter – emigration by white blood cells
  5. microbiology – Listeria monocytogenes biology

The news item:  Recently a Listeria outbreak was reported to have started from contaminated mushrooms:

Enoki mushrooms tied to listeria outbreak that killed four people and hospitalized 31, CDC says | CNN

Enoki mushrooms are linked to four deaths and 31 hospitalizations in what the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says was a multistate listeria outbreak that is now presumed to be over.

The article stated that Listeria outbreak is caused by a bacterium, and that the symptoms of infection are stiff neck, loss of balance, miscarriage, confusion and fever.

So, Why Do I Care??

Infection by Listeria bacterium is the third leading cause of food borne illness, and it is the most lethal food borne illness by killing about 15 – 20% of the infected individuals.  In the US each year about 1600 people get infected, and 260 die. The victims are the most vulnerable of society: elderly, pregnant women, and immunosuppressed people.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what Listeria is. Listeria is a type of bacterium that infects human beings when they consume Listeria-contaminated food. The bacterium lives

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How does a new antibiotic called Xenleta fight bacterial infections?

By

On October 9, 2020

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 10092020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – proteins are made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – protein synthesis on ribosome
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli location and function
  4. immune system chapter – events during inflammation
  5. microbiology – bacterial resistance against antibiotics

The news item:  Recently the news of a novel antibiotic was reported:

FDA approves new antibiotic for bacterial pneumonia

A new antibiotic has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It’s called Xenleta and the FDA says it’s another treatment option to fight a common type of pneumonia.

The article states that the new antibiotic, Xenleta, is a pleuromutilin, and it fights community acquired bacterial pneumonia.

So, Why Do I Care??

Pneumonia is the reason for 1 million hospitalizations and 50,000 deaths each year in the US. Most pneumonia cases are caused by bacterial infections. Because this disease can get worse quickly, efficient treatment must include the killing of the bacteria that cause the disease. Any new antibiotic that can treat people whose pneumonia resists the regular antibiotics likely to save thousands of lives each year.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what bacterial pneumonia is. When the deepest portion of our respiratory system, the alveoli (air sacks), are attacked by bacteria, the result is local

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What makes some hand sanitizers dangerously toxic?

By

On August 28, 2020

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, digestive system, metabolism, nervous system, Uncategorized

TeachableMedicalNews article 08282020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
  2. cellular basis of life chapter –sites of detoxification inside the cell
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – mitochondria as site of ATP production
  4. digestive system chapter – absorption through stomach mucosa
  5. metabolism chapter – electron transport chain as most efficient ATP producing process inside mitochondria
  6. special senses chapter – gross anatomy of optic nerve

The news item:  A recent news item described over a hundred hand sanitizer brands are being removed from store shelves because they may be dangerously toxic:

FDA says to avoid these 130 hand sanitizer products that may not work, or are toxic

Regulators say some of the products contain dangerous levels of methanol, which can lead to blindness, hospitalization and even death.

The article mentions that the toxic ingredient is methanol, and that it may cause blindness.

So, Why Do I Care??  Poisoning by methanol, also called wood alcohol, sickens over 20,000 people each year in the US.  These people may become blind in 24 hours, and suffer long-lasting damage to their kidneys and brain. The best prevention is not to consume methanol either by drinking or through contact with skin, such as through hand sanitizers.  So, taking hand sanitizers off the shelf is part of the prevention.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what methanol is. Methanol is chemically similar to ethanol, the alcohol in adult beverages. Methanol gets into hand sanitizers when the ethanol ingredient is contaminated with methanol. When ethanol is made by distilleries, sometimes inadvertently methanol is distilled into the product, so then it becomes part of the hand sanitizer.

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How can an oral drug successfully treat the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis?

By

On August 14, 2020

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, digestive system, respiratory system, Uncategorized

TeachableMedicalNews article 08142020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – protein structure and shape is important for proper function
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – ion channel proteins in plasma membrane
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
  4. cellular basis of life chapter – involvement of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum apparatus in protein processing
  1. tissue chapter –function of ciliated epithelium
  2. respiratory system chapter – anatomy of the conduction zone
  3. respiratory system chapter – the lining of bronchi and bronchioles

The news item:  Recently a new treatment was reported for cystic fibrosis:

Studies Yield ‘Impressive’ Results in Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis (Published 2019)

The findings hold promise for a vast majority of those with cystic fibrosis, according to the director of the National Institutes of Health. “This should be a cause for major celebration,” he wrote.

The article mentions that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder, and it affects the lungs and bowels of the patients.

So, Why Do I Care??  Over 30,000 people in the USA has cystic fibrosis, and 1000 new cases are diagnosed each year.  The mean life expectancy is age 44 for cystic fibrosis patients.  Only symptomatic treatments have been available until now, because gene therapy has been unsuccessful. Any treatment that reverses the root cause of this disorder is a revolutionary achievement that will literally breathe new life into patients.

Plain English, Please!!! First let’s talk about cystic fibrosis. This disorder causes

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Can a self-injected treatment help asthma sufferers?

By

On July 26, 2020

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, respiratory system, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 07262020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – protein structure determines biological activity
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of receptor proteins in cell membranes
  3. tissue chapter – locations of smooth muscle
  4. immune system chapter – cytokines as stimulators of immune functions
  5. cardiovascular system chapter – white blood cell types in circulating blood
  6. respiratory system chapter – dilation and constriction of bronchioles

The news item:  Recently a new form of asthma treatment was in the news:

‘Life-changing’ asthma injection will be offered to patients

Around 100,000 patients in the UK whose symptoms are too bad for traditional inhalers or steroids will be eligible for treatment with benralizumab.

The article mentions the disorder eosinophilic asthma, that it is caused by too many white blood cells in the lungs, and that this asthma limits what sufferers may do in their day to day lives.

So, Why Do I Care??  Asthma is a respiratory disorder that afflicts 2.5 million people in the USA. In the age group of 35-50 year olds the eosinophilic asthma is the most frequent. Inhaled pharmaceuticals, common for asthma treatment, come with undesirable side effects after long-term use.  Attacking asthma from a different angle provide a new way to treat patients, and it may help people where inhaled asthma treatments fail.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about asthma. While asthma may be started by different conditions, like allergies, cold temperature, the root cause of asthma is always the unwanted restriction of airflow into the lungs.  An important part of our respiratory system is made up of tubes that channel air deep into our lungs, to the air sacks. A set of those tubes, the bronchioles, are 1/20 of an inch in diameter, and they have the ability to narrow and restrict airflow, because the bronchioles have smooth muscle in their walls. When those smooth muscles contract, the narrowed bronchiole restricts airflow to the air sacks.

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Could a targeted blockage of cell division become a new way to treat breast cancer ?

By

On July 16, 2020

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 07162020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life – tertiary structure of proteins
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – cell cycle
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – stages of mitosis
  4. reproductive system chapter – structures of the mammary gland

The news item:  Recently a new form of cancer treatment was in the news:

Newer drug extends lives of young breast cancer patients, study finds

The drug Kisqali (ribociclib) is already approved by the FDA, and new research shows it helps some breast cancer patients live longer

The article states that the drug Kisquali extended the survival time of breast cancer patients, and that the drug is a CDK4/6 inhibitor.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA alone there will be over 270,000 breast cancer cases in 2020, and it is expected that more than 47,000 breast cancer deaths will happen.  Any improvement in the survival rate over the treatment by traditional chemotherapy is good news.  In addition, attacking breast cancer from a new direction may improve the treatment of other cancers as well.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about breast cancer. This cancer is not actually the cancer of the entire breast. Within the breast tissue there is a gland called mammary gland that makes milk in mothers after giving birth. The milk is made in deeper segments of the gland, and several tubes called lactiferous ducts bring the milk to the skin surface. It is the cells of those ducts that develop cancer in most breast cancers.

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Why does the antiviral treatment of AIDS patients lead to bone fractures?

By

On June 26, 2020

In cellular basis of life, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article 06262020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – transcription
  2. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts
  3. skeletal system chapter– osteoclast form from monocyte
  4. microbiology – reverse transcriptase of HIV
  5. microbiology – lifecycle of retroviruses like HIV

The news item:  A recent news article reminded us the bone fractures suffered by  AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients as the result of the side effect of their treatment:

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/07/18/gilead-hit-with-more-lawsuits-over-harmful-side-effects-of-aids-drug/

While the report is about lawsuits against the maker of one antiviral drug, the article is a reminder of the substantial bone loss in treated AIDS patients.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA there are over 500,000 AIDS patients who receive antiviral treatment to manage the disease. Most of them are in the 20-40 age range, so their bone health will affect them for decades of their lives. In addition, this surprise side effect may become the motivation for new research into osteoporosis, and that knowledge may improve the living conditions of all patients with osteoporosis.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what is in that antiviral pill. One component stops the reproduction of the virus; this called a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and chemically it is a nucleotide type of chemical.  The other component stops the release of new virus particles; that is called a protease inhibitor, and chemically it is a small organic molecule.  Neither of these components target bones, so bone loss is an unexpected side effect.

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