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Category: endocrine system Page 1 of 2

How can finerenone help patients with both kidney disease and heart disease?

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On March 30, 2025

In cardiovascular system, endocrine system, urinary system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. urinary system chapter – parts of the nephron and their functions
  2. endocrine system chapter – location and action of receptors for lipid-soluble hormones
  3. heart chapter within cardiovascular system – location of myocardium in the heart wall

The news item:  Recently the following article appeared online:

Utilization of Finerenone by Patients With T2D, CKD | Docwire News

Two years after its approval, researchers studied the use of finerenone in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The report states that finerenone – a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist – is approved for several medical conditions (type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, heart failure) where glomerular filtration rate was declining. The author states that utilization rate is still low for this drug.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA alone the combined number of people suffering from type II diabetes, chronic kidney disorder (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and heart failure is over 100 million. Those disorders cause the death of over 500,000 people every year, and force many patients into hospitalizations, and into major changes in the quality of life. Therefore, it is worth finding and using new pharmaceutical treatments that may lower those disease and death numbers.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what is the shared, common, physiological malfunction in CKD, ESRD, and heart failure. In all three disorders damaged cells start inflammation, and the tissue is repaired by formation of scar tissue. In the case of CKD and ESRD the kidney accumulates unusually large amount of connective tissue (develops fibrosis) made by overstimulated fibroblast. In heart failure the myocardium portion of the heart wall accumulates unusually large amount of connective tissue. In the kidneys the filtration by the nephrons is slowed down by fibrosis, while in the heart the contraction of the ventricles is made difficult by the fibrosis.

Second, let’s talk about why fibrosis appears in the kidneys and in the heart. During early stage kidney disease and early-stage heart disease the cells of the nephron in the kidneys, and the cardiac muscle cells

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How can Opzelura reverse skin discoloration in vitiligo?

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On December 25, 2024

In endocrine system, integumentary system, lymphatic and immune system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. integumentary system – layers/strata of epidermis
  2. integumentary system – melanocytes produce melanin for skin pigmentation
  3. immune system chapter – the white blood cells called cytotoxic (CD8) T lymphocytes can kill invaders and infected cells
  4. endocrine system chapter – some hormone receptors in the cell membrane send chemical signals to the inside of the cell

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

More Vitiligo Patients Respond with Longer Use of Opzelura

Longer-term use of Opzelura was well tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse events, according to a poster presented at the annual dermatology meeting.

The article states that vitiligo is a disorder where skin loses color, and that it is likely an autoimmune reaction. The article also states that Opzelura is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, and that JAK signaling is responsible for inflammation in vitiligo.

So, Why Do I Care??  While vitiligo is not a life-threatening condition, the appearance of “bleached” white spots on the face or hands hinders social interactions, and may cause social withdrawal, and associated psychological stress of vitiligo sufferers. The improved coloration of the skin through medical treatment increases quality of life by lowering the psychological stress.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s talk about how normal skin pigmentation is created. The deepest layer of the epidermis is called stratum basale, and in that layer, scattered among keratinocytes, we find the cells called melanocytes that make the brownish pigment called melanin. Melanin is exocytosed, secreted, from melanocytes, and then neighboring keratinocytes of stratum basale and stratum spinosum endocytose, soak up melanin. Inside the keratinocytes melanin protects the DNA from UV light.

Second, let’s talk about how vitiligo changes skin pigmentation.  People with vitiligo has melanocytes that are more sensitive to UV light or chemical stress.  The stressed melanocytes release stress-related

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Can we moderate the intensity of hot flashes by influencing the hypothalamus?

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On September 29, 2024

In endocrine system, nervous system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. endocrine system chapter – concept of hormones interacting with receptors in order to change cell behavior
  2. brain chapter – anatomy and function of hypothalamus
  3. metabolism chapter – role of hypothalamus in thermoregulation

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

FDA approves nonhormonadrug to treat hot flashes and night sweats

The new drug, fezolinetant, could be a “game-changer” for women who don’t want to take hormone replacement therapy or who have been treated for hormone-sensitive cancers.

The article states that a new pharmaceutical called Veozah was approved for use to combat hot flashes in women undergoing menopause. The article states that while estrogen supplementation is the most effective treatment for hot flashes, breast cancer survivors can not take estrogen, and for those women now there is an alternative; Veozah was effective in 48% of the patients. The article also states that Veozah blocks a receptor in the brain.

So, Why Do I Care??  There are 4 million breast cancer survivors who can now take advantage of this treatment. Hot flashes can lower one’s quality of life to the degree that holding down a job, or socializing is difficult.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what are “hot flashes”. Hot flash is a brief feeling of being overheated even when the environment has a normal temperature.  During hot flashes the body creates sweating and vasodilation, the normal responses to true overheating. Because there is no real overheating of the body, hot flashes are considered instances of abnormal temperature regulation. Commonly, hot flashes happen in menopause when estrogen levels decrease in women.

Second, let’s talk about how our bodies normally respond to overheating.  Our core body temperature is maintained at 100 oF by a biological thermostat. Picture the thermostat in our homes: when the house is

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How can infusion of Tzield slow the progression of type I diabetes?

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On July 24, 2024

In endocrine system, lymphatic and immune system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. endocrine system chapter – role of insulin in lowering high blood sugar levels
  2. endocrine system chapter – location of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas
  3. immune system chapter – role of T-lymphocytes in the immune system

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared online:

FDA approves 1st drug to delay onset of Type 1 diabetes

For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a treatment that can delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes.

The article states that the drug was approved to treat stage 2 type I diabetes in order to avoid progression to stage 3. The article states that type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. When diagnosed by the detection of autoimmune antibodies, patients develop insulin-dependence within 5 years. Tzield is administered as an infusion. The article also states that 64,000 people in the US are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year, and currently 1.6 million people are using insulin.

So, Why Do I Care??  Insufficient production in type 1 diabetics happens to many people, as we see from the statistics in the online report. Large number of current and future patients could benefit if a new treatment could delay the starting point of insulin dependence. Then their lifestyle could be preserved, and the need for injected insulin could be delayed, and the cost to society be reduced.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about why type 1 diabetes develops. Our immune system is normally programmed to recognize and then destroy invaders such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, worms, and others. Attack on the body’s own cells is prevented by a set of molecular “hand brakes”. When you apply the hand brake on your car, the car is immobilized, and the same way the CD3 molecules on T-lymphocytes prevent the destruction of the body’s cells. In an autoimmune disorder, such as type I diabetes, the hand brakes are released, and the T-lymphocytes attack and destroy the body’s own cells. In type I diabetes the beta cells of the pancreas are attacked and destroyed. Because the beta cells are the only cells that make the hormone insulin, when they are destroyed, the insulin levels decrease, and lowering a high blood sugar level becomes difficult.

Second, let’s talk about the stages of type 1 diabetes. In stage 1 the immune system is beginning its attack on the beta cells of the pancreas, there are no symptoms yet, but a blood test can discover the signs of an

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Can we attack breast cancer with a vaccine?

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On May 8, 2023

In endocrine system, lymphatic and immune system, reproductive system, tissues

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. tissues chapter – epithelial tissue lines the interior of lactiferous ducts
  2. female reproductive system chapter – location of lactiferous ducts in mammary gland
  3. endocrine system chapter – cells need hormone receptors to react to hormones
  4. immune system – the roles of T and B lymphocytes in immune response

The news item:  The following report appeared recently:

Potential breast cancer vaccine undergoing testing

The key protein for a potential vaccine that would treat breast cancer was found through “a matter of luck and tenacity.”

The article states that a key protein was found to serve in the making of a vaccine against breast cancer. This protein is made by breast cancer cells, but not by normal mammary glands.

So, Why Do I Care??  There is over 350,000 new breast cancer diagnosis each year in the US, and over 43,000 women die yearly from this cancer. There are several types of surgical and chemotherapeutical treatments after the diagnosis, however; preventative measures, such as vaccination, would be a great way to decrease the number of breast cancer diagnoses.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what breast cancer is. Despite the name, breast cancer doesn’t mean that the entire breast turned into a mass of cancer cells. Breast cancer refers to the cancerous changes in the mammary gland. Most frequently cancer cells develop in the epithelial tissues of lobules (where milk is produced) and in the lining of lactiferous ducts.

Second, let’s talk about what is a triple negative breast cancer. The normal growth of the mammary gland during pregnancy is stimulated by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and epidermal

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How could the lead contamination in blueberries harm us?

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On April 5, 2023

In cellular basis of life, endocrine system, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 04052023

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. nervous system chapter – axons and synapses as structures of neurons
  2. nervous system chapter – transmission of a nerve impulse using a chemical synapse
  3. nervous system chapter – formation of myelin sheet along axons
  4. cellular basis of life chapter – zinc-finger proteins in gene regulation
  5. endocrine system chapter – protein kinases are important for cellular actions

The news item:  Recently this report appeared:

Freeze-dried blueberries recalled due to potential lead contamination

The voluntary recall covers packages of organic blueberries sold under the brand name Natierra, with expiration dates of December 2022 and January 2025.

The article states that long term exposure to lead in children may affect the central nervous system causing learning disabilities, developmental defects, and in adults causing damage to the nervous system and internal organs.

So, Why Do I Care??  Long term exposure to lead harms about 500,000 children in the USA alone. The consequences last for decades, and can not be undone. It is good to understand why the metal lead poses such severe consequences.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about how lead (Pb in the periodic table) gets into our bodies. Typically, lead comes into our bodies through eating lead-contaminated food or drinking water, because lead compounds are soluble in water. The heavy metal lead has similar chemical properties to the biologically important metal calcium. Because of that similarity the small intestine readily absorbs lead just as it absorbs calcium.

Second, let’s talk about what biological processes are harmed by lead. Once absorbed into the bloodstream the lead ions take the place of the calcium and zinc ions. Here are a few examples. A. Lead

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Can we really make human proteins for medical treatments in lettuce plants?

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On December 10, 2022

In cellular basis of life, endocrine system, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article TMN12112022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – protein synthesis on ribosomes
  3. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in living bones
  4. skeletal system chapter – osteons and trabeculae provide structural strength to bones
  5. endocrine system chapter – actions of PTH made by parathyroid gland

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared in cyberspace:

Humans on Mars may feast on gene-edited salad to stop bones breaking

Genetically modified salad could be crucial to keeping the bones of humans on Mars healthy.

The article states that a human gene was added to lettuce, and that the human protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH), will fight the osteoporosis that astronauts develop in space. Astronauts lose 1.5% of bone mass from weight-bearing bones, and the expectation is the PTH made by the lettuce will prevent bone loss on a trip to Mars that may last for over a year.

So, Why Do I Care??  Osteoporosis, as stated in the article, weakens bones, but not only in astronauts. Over 10 million people in the US alone has osteoporosis that makes fractures more likely. PTH is currently administered through injections, so, if we could demonstrate that eating PTH-enriched lettuce, then treatment of osteoporosis may become easier.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s summarize what osteoporosis is, and how astronauts taking PTH can fight it (this was explored in detail in TMN article 11272022). The microscopic structural reinforcement structures (osteons and trabeculae) in our bones erode, gets degraded in the disorder called osteoporosis.  Imagine a tall building or a bridge; columns or pillars are the elements of structural reinforcement in them. A corrosion of those pillars and columns weakens the building, and may cause their collapse. Astronauts in space don’t have the force of gravity to stimulate bone building, so bone loss, osteoporosis develops. PTH, when administered in short bursts, stimulates osteoblasts, and increases bone formation, and that could prevent bone loss in astronauts. Although astronauts could inject themselves with PTH, however, for long spaceflights they would have to carry lots of PTH doses. It would be better if they could produce PTH during the flight itself.  Making human PTH inside a food item would create a continuous supply of PTH.

Second, let’s talk about what is entailed with the genetic engineering of the lettuce. In general, we do genetic engineering when we are adding a new gene or inactivating an existing gene in an organism.

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Can astronauts prevent bone loss by eating genetically engineered lettuce?

By

On November 27, 2022

In chemical basis of life, digestive system, endocrine system, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11272022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in living bones
  3. skeletal system chapter – osteons and trabeculae provide structural strength to bones
  4. endocrine system chapter – actions of PTH made by parathyroid gland
  5. digestive system chapter – ingested proteins are degraded by several digestive enzymes

 

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

Humans on Mars may feast on gene-edited salad to stop bones breaking

Genetically modified salad could be crucial to keeping the bones of humans on Mars healthy.

 

 

The article states that a human gene was added to lettuce, and that the human protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH), will fight the osteoporosis that astronauts develop in space. Astronauts lose 1.5% of bone mass from weight-bearing bones, and the expectation is the PTH made by the lettuce will prevent bone loss on a trip to Mars that may last for over a year.

So, Why Do I Care??  Osteoporosis, as stated in the article, weakens bones, but not only in astronauts. Over 10 million people in the US alone has osteoporosis that makes fractures more likely. PTH is currently administered through injections, so, if we could demonstrate that eating PTH-enriched lettuce, then treatment of osteoporosis may become easier.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what osteoporosis is. In our bones we need structural reinforcement to keep bones from fracturing when we walk, run, jump or fall. The microscopic building units called osteons and trabeculae are the structural elements that provide such reinforcement.  Imagine a tall building or a bridge; columns or pillars are the elements of structural reinforcement in them. A corrosion of those pillars and columns weakens the building, and may cause their collapse. In our bones the cells called osteoclasts erode the osteons and trabeculae, but the cells called osteoblasts repair, and, thus, reverse that erosion. In old age, or with hormonal changes, such as menopause, the osteoblasts slow down, and the osteoclasts erode osteons and trabeculae. Osteoporosis is the condition where the erosion weakens the entire bone, and fractures are more likely.

Second, let’s talk about why weightlessness leads to osteoporosis. When we move around in regular gravity, our bone cells are under pressure caused by the weight of the body. That pressure makes

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How can the injectable medication Ozempic get TikTok users excited about weight loss?

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On August 17, 2022

In digestive system, endocrine system, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 08182022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. endocrine system chapter – hormones deliver instructions through receptors
  2. nervous system – brain chapter – location and function of hypothalamus in the diencephalon
  3. digestive system chapter – cells of the small intestine make hormones that control appetite

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

https://www.yahoo.com/now/ozempic-touted-tiktok-weight-loss-185703991.html

 

 

the article stated that Ozempic is a prescription medication for type II diabetes, that Ozempic makes the pancreas to make more insulin, and that the weight loss is caused through the suppression of the appetite.

So, Why Do I Care??  One reason for caring is that it is unusual to see a side effect of a prescription drug that is a desirable side effect. The other reason to be interested is that we see an example of the sensitivity of the brain to hormones made in the small intestine. It becomes even more interesting, because it looks that the fight against the obesity epidemic just gained a new tool. About 50% of the adults and 25% of children in the USA are obese. Lowering the prevalence of obesity by weight loss could lower the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and several cancers.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what is Ozempic. The protein hormone GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide) is the active ingredient in Ozempic. GLP is a natural product of the cells in the human

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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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