TEACHABLE MEDICAL NEWS

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Can our genes influence what we like to eat?

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On October 30, 2023

In digestive system, nervous system, special senses

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. special senses chapter – taste receptors are in taste buds
  4. special senses chapter – role of G-proteins in sweet, bitter and savory taste receptors

The news item:  Recently this news article appeared online:

Bitter or Savory, Taste Genes Could Influence Your Diet

US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

 

The article states that a study was conducted to link previously described gene variations to the five basic taste types: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savory. People with high sensitivity to bitter flavor ate fewer whole grains.  People with high sensitivity to savory flavor ate fewer vegetables. People with high sensitivity to sweet flavor had lower triglyceride levels.

So, Why Do I Care??  Changing ones diet have been part of many non-invasive prevention of diseases, and also part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle after surgery or after the start of new medication. However, changing ones diet is a challenging task, because of the stubborn food preferences we all develop. If those food preferences can be linked to genetic function, then dietary changes could be guided to accommodate those gene-influenced food preferences, and to give patients dietary prescriptions that we find easier to follow.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about the cells that detect tastes. On the surface of your tongue there are hundreds of small bumps called papilla, and inside each of those bumps sit taste receptor cells that detect chemicals around them. When those receptor cells detect taste-related chemicals, the cells then release neurotransmitters to start a nerve impulse in the axons of cranial nerve VII or IX.

Second, let’s talk about how taste receptors detect tastes. The five types of taste receptor cells are sensitive to different taste-causing chemicals (tastants). The “sour” receptor cells are sensitive to hydrogen ions, and the “salty” receptor cells are sensitive to sodium ions. For both of those receptors the

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How can a drug like Descovy prevent infection by the human immunodeficiency virus?

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On September 23, 2023

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

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. immune system chapter – role of CD4 Helper T cells in adaptive immunity
  2. chemical basis of life – structural characteristics of DNA and RNA
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – transcription of DNA into RNA during protein synthesis
  4. microbiology – structure of the viral protein envelope of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared online:

U.S. FDA approves Gilead’s Descovy for HIV prevention

The approval does not include use of the drug by women to prevent HIV infection. Descovy, a combination drug, was approved in 2016 to treat people already infected with HIV. It contains a newer formulation of a drug used in Gilead’s older medication, Truvada, which has been used to treat people infected with HIV since 2004.

 

The article states that Descovy is a pharmaceutical approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis, the  prevention of HIV infection in men. Descovy was found to be less toxic to the kidneys and bones than  previous drugs used to treat HIV infected people.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the US alone there are over 1 million people living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, and each year there are 30,000 – 40,000 new HIV infections. The new infections happen despite the already available preventative measures. Therefore, pharmaceutical prevention of new infections is still important.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about how Descovy is expected to prevent infection by HIV in highly exposed individuals. The clinical definition of HIV infection is that the HIV virus should be detectable in human bodily fluids. For HIV virus to appear in the blood or in other bodily fluids, the infected cells must make a swarm of new HIV viruses to spread through the body and enter into the blood and other bodily fluids. The ingredients of Descovy promise to prevent the cells from making new viruses, so there will be no swarm of new HIV viruses, there will not be enough viruses to spread through the body, so HIV viruses never enter bodily fluids. Therefore, even in people frequently exposed to the HIV virus the blood testing doesn’t find any HIV, and the person remains clinically uninfected, remains HIV-negative. This prevention of infection is called “pre-exposure prophylaxis”. An HIV-negative person cannot spread the virus to other people, so the number of new HIV infections are reduced.

Second, let’s talk about the ingredients of Descovy. Both active ingredients (emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide) are inhibitors of the enzyme called reverse transcriptase of the HIV virus. That enzyme is

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How can the genetic engineering treatment of red bone marrow by Zynteglo help beta-thalassemia patients?

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On August 5, 2023

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life

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. cellular basis of life chapter – mRNA translation is needed for protein synthesis
  4. blood chapter – red blood cells are made in the red bone marrow
  5. blood chapter – the role of globin chains in hemoglobin function

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

https://timesnewscity.com/bluebirds-2-8m-gene-therapy-becomes-most-expensive-drug-after-us-approval/

The article states that about 1,500 patients need blood transfusion every 2-5 weeks, and that Zynteglo is a gene therapy.

So, Why Do I Care??

The most severe type of beta-thalassemia causes serious anemia with the symptoms of continuous lethargy, fatigue, tiredness. To fight this, the patients require regular blood transfusions. Those patients expected to live until about the age of 50. in the US there are about 1500-3000 such patients. New treatment approaches give the hope of longer life to those patients.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what beta-thalassemia is. This disorder is caused by the missing beta-globin protein in hemoglobin. The protein is missing because the beta-globin gene has mutations that prevent the mRNA formation for beta-globin. The outcome is that hemoglobin is abnormal, because it is formed only from the alpha-globin proteins. Such abnormal hemoglobin makes cells of the red bone marrow to burst, reducing the production of oxygen transporter red blood cells. The decreased oxygen transport cause anemia, the starvation of cells for oxygen.

Second, let’s talk about how red blood cells are made. The damage of the beta-thalassemia is done in the red bone marrow, where red blood cells are formed. In the red bone marrow the red blood cells move

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Can we really carry out vision tests with AR goggles and artificial intelligence app?

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On July 17, 2023

In nervous system, special senses

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. special senses chapter – location of retina, the third tunic of the eye
  2. special senses chapter – location and importance of macula lutea
  3. special senses chapter – the retina needs blood supply to bring oxygen and nutrients to the neurons of the retina
  4. special senses chapter – location of liquid-filled spaces inside the eye
  5. special senses chapter – the sensory cells called rods and cones of the retina detect light

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

 

Duncansville Eye Practice Using AR-Type Headset to Diagnose Major Eye Issues

A Duncansville eye practice is using a new augmented-reality device made by Florida-based company Heru to diagnose severe conditions in patients. This AR-like headset can detect serious eye diseases like Glaucoma in minutesand it’s being used right here in Blair County.

The report states that the HERU is a headset with goggles, and the equipment projects flashes of light in the visual field of the eye, and asks the test subject to respond when they see the light. Among other conditions, glaucoma can be diagnosed with the device.

So, Why Do I Care??  Deterioration of vision is a major threat to quality of life in an aging population. The most serious causes of vision loss are glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, affect over 13 million people in the US. Faster and easier to perform diagnostic process can ensure that people can get an early diagnosis, and more effective treatment. In addition to those two eye disorders the HERU device can diagnose 7 additional eye disorders, indicating the versatility of the device.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what glaucoma is. This eye disorder develops because of the increased pressure inside the eye. The pressure is coming from the accumulation of aqueous humor in the front (anterior) cavity inside the eye. The increased pressure is then transferred to the vitreous humor of the posterior cavity.  The vitreous humor compresses the blood vessels on the surface of the retina, and that slows the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the light-sensing cells (rods and cones). Picture a garden hose with water flowing through it. If someone steps on the hose the water flow slows down. The same happens to blood vessels of the retina if they are compressed. Without enough oxygen and nutrients the rods and cones start dying, and they no longer detect light, and that leads to vision loss.

Second, let’s talk about what age-related macular degeneration is. This eye disorder develops when a small patch of the retina, the macula lutea, malfunctions. The cause of macular degeneration is

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How can a pharmaceutical such as Entresto treat heart failure?

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On June 26, 2023

In cardiovascular system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. heart chapter – functional difference in the thickness of myocardium of atria and ventricle wall
  2. heart chapter – conduction system delivers nerve impulses to myocardium
  3. heart chapter — importance of stroke volume
  4. hemodynamics chapter – effects of angiotensin and ANP on blood pressure and volume

The news item:  Recently the following news report appeared:

Advancement in heart failure medication helping patients at MercyOne

There are some medical issues that are an easy fix and then there are some that are more complex, like heart failure. For those with early signs of heart failure, an advancement in medication is making all the difference for patients at MercyOne…

The article discusses the new drug Entresto that moderates symptoms in heart failure patients. The patient interviewed for this article had Guillain-Barre syndrome that caused severe heart arrhythmia.

So, Why Do I Care??  Heart failure indicates a malfunctioning of one of the most important organ in the body. Over 6 million people in the USA have heart failure, and it is listed as cause of 13% of all deaths.  Heart failure results in worsening quality of life because of the inability to hold a job, inability to participate in social activities and in family life.

Plain English, Please!!! First let’s talk about what heart failure is. Most important to understand here is that heart failure doesn’t mean that the heart stops working. Heart failure means that the heart can not pump enough blood to maintain normal functions of all organs. Heart failure may start with moderately decreased  ability and it may then progress to further loss of pumping to the point where life can not be maintained with very low level of pumping. Loss of pumping ability, the heart failure, may be the consequence of malfunctioning heart valves, arrhythmias (abnormal delivery of nerve impulses to the heart muscle), or the damage or thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart wall.

Second, let’s talk about why hypertrophy of the heart wall can lead to heart failure. While it is intuitive to picture why malfunctioning heart valves, or arrhythmias can cause heart failure, it is not that intuitive to see why thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart wall can be damaging. In most cases hypertrophy thickens

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Can we really diagnose concussion from a blood test?

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On May 29, 2023

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 05292023

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – intermediate filaments are part of the cytoskeleton
  2. nervous system chapter – neurons and astrocytes are cells of the nervous system
  3. brain chapter – meninges are protective coverings of the central nervous system
  4. cardiovascular system chapter – reabsorption during capillary exchange brings degraded proteins into blood circulation
  5. brain chapter – cerebrospinal fluid is absorbed into venous sinus

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared online:

https://www.nbc12.com/prnewswire/2023/03/07/abbott-receives-fda-clearance-first-commercially-available-lab-based-blood-test-help-evaluate-concussion/?outputType=amp

The article states that a new blood test is available for patients who are suspected to have suffered concussion because of an impact injury, and that this test may help to find the patients who might need a CT scan for further evaluation. The test works by analyzing two biomarkers.

So, Why Do I Care??  Concussion happens frequently with over 2 million concussions occurring yearly in the USA. Whether it is from a car accident, from a fall, or from a collision at a sporting event, the consequence is impaired brain function. That comes with a price tag of over $40 billion per year medical cost and lost income in the USA.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what concussion is. An injury to the brain from a physical impact is called concussion. The symptoms can be a brief loss of consciousness followed by headache, memory impairment, loss of orientation, loss of cognitive functions, depression. The most dangerous aspects of concussion are the long-lasting effects.

Second, let’s talk about how the brain is injured by mechanical forces. While it is true that the meninges, the membrane-like covering of the brain, provide a moderate level of protection against sudden

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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?

By

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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How does the antiviral drug Paxlovid fight the Sars-CoV-2 corona virus

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On March 16, 2023

In cellular basis of life, microbiology, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03172023

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – proteins can be cut by hydrolysis using proteases
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – transmembrane proteins can serve as receptors
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – RNA is translated into proteins on ribosomes
  4. microbiology – lifecycle of RNA viruses

The news item:  Recently this news appeared online

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jul/23/bidens-health-improving-after-second-day-paxlovid-/

The article states that President Biden received Paxlovid treatment after his diagnosis of COVID infection. The article doesn’t explain anything about Paxlovid itself.

So, Why Do I Care??  At the time of writing this blog post the number of COVID infections numbered 765 million with 6.78 million deaths worldwide.  There is a small number of people (less than 1% of infections) who suffer serious health consequences, and even die because of this virus. Early intervention, such as the use of oral antiviral drugs is a promising way to prevent the development of serious illness.  The way Paxlovid acts may provide a template on how antiviral drugs may treat other virus-borne illnesses.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about why corona viruses can cause so much damage to our bodies. Corona viruses is an organism that can not multiply without a cell hosting it. In order to multiply, corona viruses hijack the RNA making and the protein-making capacities of the host cell.  Viral hijacking means that the host cell can not make RNA and proteins for the host’s own use, and the host cell dies as a consequence of the infection. Therefore, the main direct damage from corona virus infection is the killing of our own cells.

Second, let’s talk about how Sars-CoV-2 hijacks cells. Once a corona virus enters a living host cell, the long RNA of the virus snatches the ribosomes of the host cell, and is transcribed into a long, viral

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Can gene silencing relieve chronic pain?

By

On February 8, 2023

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 02082023

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. cellular basis of life chapter – role of mRNA in protein synthesis
  4. nervous system chapter – pain receptor neurons detect chemicals of tissue damage
  5. blood chapter – the heme is the oxygen-binding part of hemoglobin

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

Gene silencing medicine transforms crippling pain

The NHS is set to fund innovative therapy that patients say has given them their lives back.

The article states that two sisters suffered tremendous pain from acute intermittent porphyria, and even opioid pain killers couldn’t block the pain. The article also states that the sisters received the injected givosiran drug which provided pain relief, and that the drug silences a gene, so buildup of a toxic protein is prevented.

So, Why Do I Care??  Constant, chronic pain prevents people from carrying on with their daily lives. Because traditional pain management approaches may not work on such patients, alternative pain relief methods are being explored. Porphyria is one of those disorders where pain relief may eventually come from the molecular understanding of the causation of pain. If the gene silencing approach is successful, it would be reasonable to explore it’s use for other disorders, and that might benefit many patients.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what porphyria is. The heme part of hemoglobin is an organic chemical shaped as a large ring. That large ring is constructed by linking together small chemicals. That is similar to an assembly line that makes cars.  Each factory worker adds a piece to the half-finished car. The ring called heme is made on a molecular assembly line where the workers are enzymes. If one enzyme is missing (because of genetic mutations) the assembly line behind that worker keeps on humming, and partially completed ring pieces accumulate in the cell.  In the case of the disorder called porphyria the partially made ring is called amino levulinic acid (ALA). The sisters in the article suffer from such a genetic mutation, and ALA has accumulated in their bodies.

Second, let’s talk about why porphyria causes pain. The large amount of ALA spreads throughout the body of porphyria patients, and damages neurons, the liver, and the kidneys. The damaged cells leak

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