TEACHABLE MEDICAL NEWS

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Can a self-injected treatment help asthma sufferers?

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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 ?

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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?

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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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Could antibodies from plasma of recovered patients defeat the SARS-CoV-2 virus?

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On June 4, 2020

In lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 06042020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cell chapter – endocytosis and phagocytosis as transport through cell membranes
  2. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – macrophages of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – antibody structure
  6. lymphatic and immune system chapter – antibodies are made for specific targets

The news item:  Recently reports appeared where blood plasma taken from recovered patients are given to seriously ill COVID-19 patients:

Blood plasma appears safe for COVID-19 patients in early trial results

Researchers report promising results in early safety trials of convalescent plasma therapy, in which the blood of COVID-19 survivors is used to treat patients.

The article mentions that antibodies in the plasma are the active ingredient, and that 5000 patients were evaluated in this trial to determine the safety of such treatment.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last few months??? The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 disease has so far infected over 6 million people, and caused over 377,000 deaths worldwide (on the date of this article). The virus attacks the respiratory system, specifically the alveoli, and may cause pneumonia and death by respiratory failure.  The antibodies from the recovered patients hold promise as a possible treatment to lower the lethality of the virus.

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How could the antiproliferative drug Jakafi help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On May 7, 2020

In cardiovascular system, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 05072020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  2. blood chapter – hematopoiesis in red bone marrow
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – immune defense cells of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – events of inflammation

How could the anti-proliferative drug Jakafi help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

The news item:  Recent articles reported that the anti-proliferative drug will be evaluated as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients:

Incyte drug could be part of COVID-19 treatment

A global biopharmaceutical company based in Delaware is working to get one of its drugs approved to treat the new coronavirus disease. Officials at Incyte…

The news item mentions that the drug may inhibit cytokine storm in coronavirus infected patients.

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How could the drug Opaganib help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On May 2, 2020

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 05022020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – cell cycle and mitosis
  2. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – immune defense cells of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – events of inflammation

How could the drug Opaganib help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

The news item:  Recent articles reported that the investigational drug Opaganib will be evaluated as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-israeli-covid-19-patients-improve-in-experimental-drug-trial/

The news item mentions that the drug has an anti-inflammatory effect, and that it is a sphingosine kinase inhibitor.

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How could the leukemia fighter drug Calquence help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On April 24, 2020

In cardiovascular system, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 04242020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  2. blood chapter – malfunctioning mechanisms in leukemia
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – immune defense cells of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – events of inflammation

How could the leukemia fighter drug Calquence help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

The news item:  Recent articles reported that the anti-cancer drug will be evaluated as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients:

AstraZeneca to test impact of cancer drug Calquence on coronavirus patients

Calquence (acalabrutinib) belongs to a class of drugs called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors which can suppress autoimmune diseases. The drug, which is currently used to treat certain types of blood cancers, has already been approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the U.S.

The news item mentions cytokine storm in coronavirus infected patients, and that the drug is a BTK inhibitor.

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How could the antiviral drug remdesivir help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On April 19, 2020

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 04182020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – nucleotides that make up RNA
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – RNA production for cellular uses
  3. microbiology – corona viruses are RNA viruses

The news item:  A recent article discussed clinical trial results of the drug remdesivir:

Report: Covid-19 patients recovering quickly after getting experimental drug | CNN

Covid-19 patients who are getting an experimental drug called remdesivir have been recovering quickly, with most going home in days, STAT News reported Thursday after it obtained a video of a conversation about the trial.

The news item mentions promising anecdotal information of the drug, and that it was found effective in animals against other coronavirus-based diseases.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last few

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Can we treat sickle cell anemia by making red blood cells less sticky?

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On April 1, 2020

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life

TeachableMedicalNews article  04012020

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 – adhesion proteins in plasma membrane
  4. blood chapter – red blood cell structure
  5. blood chapter – sickle cell anemia caused by globin gene mutation

The news item:  Recently a new drug, Adakveo, was approved to treat sickle cell anemia patients:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/novartis-wins-medicaid-approval-for-new-sickle-cell-drug-in-key-us-states.html

The article mentions that this disorder afflicts 100,000 people in the USA, that the disorder is caused by sickle shaped red blood cell, that the drug is a biological and injectable drug, and that the drug treats the pain crises of this disorder.

So, Why Do I Care??  There are millions of people living with this disease

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In what possible way could chloroquine defeat the mighty COVID 19 disease?

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On March 21, 2020

In cellular basis of life, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03202020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – receptor mediated endocytosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – fusion of endosome with lysosome
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – enzymes inside the lysosome require low pH
  4. microbiology – coronaviruses receptors on cell membranes
  5. microbiology – coronaviruses and their release into the cytoplasm

The news item:  A possible treatment of COVID 19 patients made the news recently:

Chloroquine, an old malaria drug, may help treat novel coronavirus, doctors say

According to early research, an old malaria drug called chloroquine might also work for the new coronavirus.

The article mentions the drug chloroquine, and that it blocks the attachment of the virus to cultured cells.  This latter point is inaccurate, so read on to find out the truth.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last two

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