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Can astronauts prevent bone loss by eating genetically engineered lettuce?

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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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Can we treat breast cancer by targeting a mutation in the cancer cells?

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On November 12, 2022

In cellular basis of life, reproductive system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11122022

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 – cell division is regulated
  4. female reproductive system chapter – anatomical location of mammary ducts

The news item: Recently the following reporting appeared online:

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The article states that the newly approved breast cancer treatment, Piqray, is for the HR+, HER2 – advanced breast cancer cases. The article also states that this new drug is targeting PIK3CA mutations.

So, Why Do I Care??  There are over 280,000 new breast cancer diagnoses each year in the USA. Deaths from breast cancer is estimated to be over 43,000 each year in the USA. Every new treatment regimen reduces the number of deaths, or increases survival time. In addition, a drug that targets mutated cancer cells also lowers the side effects, because only the mutated cells are attacked.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what breast cancer is. In all cancers the normal cells of a particular portion of the body transformed, so they suddenly gain the ability to divide without control. In the case of breast cancer the epithelial cells of the inner lining of mammary ducts transform into cancer cells. The mammary duct cells divide in controlled fashion to fill gaps where cell died in the duct.

Second, let’s talk about why cancer cells divide without control. Our cells normally divide by going through the steps of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, the process that divides

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Why are we trying to transplant pig hearts into human beings?

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On October 21, 2022

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 10222022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – genetic engineering can remove genes from, or add genes to DNA molecules (the chromosomes)
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – removing a gene removes a protein, while adding a gene adds proteins to the functional toolkit of cells
  3. hear chapter – blood pumping action of left ventricle delivers oxygen, nutrients to all organs
  4. immune system chapter – role of HLA proteins in the recognition of self and non-self antigens

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

Two pig heart transplants succeed in brain-dead recipients

Surgeons at New York University (NYU) have successfully transplanted genetically-engineered pig hearts into two brain-dead people, researchers said on Tuesday, moving a step closer to a long-term goal of using pig parts to address the shortage of human organs for transplant.

The article states that experimental transplantation of pig hearts into brain dead humans was carried out, and the hearts remained functional for the three days of the study.  The article also states that the transplanted hearts came from genetically engineered pigs in which 4 genetic alterations were done to prevent rejection, and 6 genetic modifications were done to prevent incompatibilities between pigs and humans.

So, Why Do I Care??  There are about 600,000 people in the US whose heart is about to give out (end stage heart disease), but there are only about 3800 heart transplant operations. Several people die each day because suitable donor hearts are not available for transplantation. If we could routinely transplant pig hearts into humans that would save thousands of lives.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about why people need a heart transplant. End stage heart disease happens either because of the degeneration of heart muscle from coronary artery disease or from viral infection, or because of heart valve problems.  Once the pumping efficiency of the heart drops

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Why bacterial contamination of baby formula is life threatening for infants?

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On September 29, 2022

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 09292022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – linker proteins in the plasma membrane form tight junctions
  2. tissue chapter – tight junctions of epithelial cells prevent movement of pathogens between the cells
  3. immune system chapter – reliance of white blood cells for immune functions
  4. brain chapter – the brain is covered by meninges inside the cranial cavity
  5. microbiology – the pathogen bacterium Chronobacter sakazakii

The news item:  Recently a news report appeared about contaminated baby formula:

FDA says maker of powdered infant formula didn’t take steps to prevent products from becoming contaminated | CNN

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the company running a plant at the center of a baby formula recall didn’t take steps to prevent products from becoming contaminated during manufacturing, according to a preliminary report filed this month.

The article states that Chronobacter sakazakii bacterium caused death of two infants who used baby formula contaminated with the bacterium.

So, Why Do I Care??  While adults can easily defeat a bacterial infection, the bodies of infants are very vulnerable to such infection.  Because the immune system of infants is naturally weak, powdered infant formulas must be free of bacterial contamination. If bacteria are in the infant formula, then the infants are exposed to life threatening infection.  The number of infections is about 15 infants each year, but one-fourth of the infants die from the infection.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what a Chronobacterium is. This is a very common bacterium in environment, present on many surfaces and in food items. The well-trained immune system of adults can fight off this bacterium, but the not-yet-fully developed immune system of infants has a

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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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What is the anatomy and physiology behind Justin Bieber’s facial paralysis?

By

On July 24, 2022

In microbiology, muscular system, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 07252022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. skeletal muscle chapter –functioning of skeletal muscles depend on neuromuscular junction
  2. brain anatomy chapter – anatomy and function of cranial nerve VII
  3. muscular system chapter – actions of muscles of facial expression
  4. microbiology – viruses need to enter human cells

The news item:  A news report appeared recently:

Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey gives update after Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis: ‘Getting better every day’

Justin Bieber has canceled several tour dates due to his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis. Here’s what we know about his recovery, concert plans.

The article stated that Justin Bieber is suffering from type II Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. This is caused by an activation of the Herpes Zoster virus (causes the disease called shingles) that causes paralysis of the facial muscles, and prevents blinking or smiling on one side of the face.

So, Why Do I Care  While it is true that facial paralysis is not a deadly disorder (and only 0.5% of shingles patients develop it), but understanding how it comes about can be useful.  Because facial paralysis gives unusual changes to one’s facial expressions, the symptom is highly visible.  That highly visible nature makes facial paralysis an early warning sign of strokes or trauma to cranial nerves, disorders that are serious malfunctions of the our nervous system.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what paralysis is. The loss of movement of body part or parts is defined as paralysis. Body parts are moved by muscles, and muscles must receive nerve signals,

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Can we really put an implant inside the eye to deliver drugs to treat eye diseases?

By

On June 15, 2022

In cellular basis of life, special senses

TeachableMedicalNews article 06152022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – diffusion as a means of molecular movement
  2. special senses chapter – the photoreceptors rods and cones are in the retina
  3. special senses chapter – liquid-filled chambers of the eye
  4. special senses chapter – sclera, the white of the eye, is the toughest, outer layer

Can we put an implant inside the eye to deliver drugs to treat eye diseases?

The news item:  Recently a report appeared about a drug, Susvimo, that reverses blindness:

New technology helps Georgetown veteran restore his eyesight

If you’re living with blurry vision, there’s a chance a new device can help you get your eyesight back without frequent visits to the doctor. The newly FDA-approved Susvimo implant helped one Georgetown veteran preserve his vision after being diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration.

The article states that AMD (wet, age-related macular degeneration) is the leading cause of blindness over the age 60, that this disorder is caused by growth and scarring of blood vessels under the retina, and that drug-delivery through an implant has restored vision in 90% of the treated individuals.

So, Why Do I Care??  Eye diseases can rob people of their vision. Many of such diseases are treated by injection of a drug into the eye. It is estimated that there are over 10 million such injections per year in the USA. Because chronic eye disorders require several injections into the same eye, it is worth exploring alternative delivery systems for long-term administration of drugs.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s review the action of Susvimo, the drug we will use as an example to learn about implants inside the eye. In a previous post of Teachable Medical News (TMN 05252022), we described the action of the drug Susvimo. Here is a brief summary:  Normally the light-sensing cell in the

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How does drug injection into the eye save people from blindness?

By

On May 24, 2022

In cardiovascular system, nervous system, special senses

TeachableMedicalNews article 05252022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. special senses chapter – location of macula lutea in the retina of the eye
  2. special senses chapter – the photoreceptors rods and cones are in the retina
  3. hemodynamics chapter – capillaries are the thinnest blood vessels
  4. hemodynamics chapter – endothelial cell location in capillaries

The news item:  Recently a report appeared about a drug that restores eyesight:

New technology helps Georgetown veteran restore his eyesight

If you’re living with blurry vision, there’s a chance a new device can help you get your eyesight back without frequent visits to the doctor. The newly FDA-approved Susvimo implant helped one Georgetown veteran preserve his vision after being diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration.

The article states that AMD (wet, age-related macular degeneration) is the leading cause of blindness over the age 60, that this disorder is caused by growth and scarring of blood vessels under the retina, and that the drug-delivery implant has restored vision in 90% of the treated individuals.

So, Why Do I Care??  Blindness is a condition where a significant part of the eyesight is lost, and such loss has a severe negative impact on people’s lives. In the USA alone there are about a million patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, and without treatment most of them will go blind.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s talk about how the structure called macula plays a role in our vision. When we say we see something, the image of that something has to be turned into a nerve impulse so

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How can the drug Tabrecta slow down oncogene action in lung cancer?

By

On April 28, 2022

In cellular basis of life, respiratory system, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 04282022

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 – mitosis (somatic cell division) is stimulated from outside of the cell
  4. tissue chapter – epithelium types in the respiratory system
  5. respiratory system chapter – epithelial lining of the airways

The news item:  Recently this news item appeared online about a new treatment for lung cancer:

New hope for patients with lung cancer

FDA approves Tabrecta™, a new treatment option, for adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

The report states that lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers, and that there will be about 228,000 new diagnoses in the USA each year.  The article also states that the drug Tabrecta helps patients to fight non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), that the drug works especially well against cancers driven by a Met exon 14 skipping mutation, and that each year about 4,000- 5,000 people in the USA are diagnosed with this subtype of NSCLC.

So, Why Do I Care??  Lung cancer is a deadly disease, so finding new treatment options improves the chance of survival when traditional treatments may not work, and, thus, lengthens the survival time after the diagnosis. Another reason to care is that this drug acts specifically on cancer cells that carry a particular genetic change, so this ability improves targeted attack on cancer cells, and avoid attacking the normal cells of the body.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about just what NSCLC is. The NSCLC name represents a type of relatively slow-growing lung cancers that start in the mucous glands of the airways, or in the simple

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

By

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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