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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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Can we get a deadly infection from an aromatherapy bottle?

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On February 26, 2022

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 02272022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. microbiology – Burkholderia bacteria
  2. microbiology – bacterial movement by flagella
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – lysosomes can digest invaders, or self-digest a cell during autophagy cell death
  4. tissue chapter – cells of epithelial tissue line the lumen of respiratory and digestive systems
  5. immune system chapter – neutrophils and other white blood cells phagocytose invaders
  6. blood vessel chapter – septic shock suppresses blood pressure by causing vasodilation

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

Mysterious fatal infections tied to room spray sold at Walmart

Federal authorities warned Friday that a rare bacterial infection that killed two people has been tied to an aromatherapy spray sold at Walmart. A total of four people in four states were infected earlier this year by the rare tropical disease called melioidosis.

The article stated that four victims of melioidosis were identified in the US, that the disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium, that the bacterium lives in soils in Southeast Asia, and that the pathogens were traced to aroma therapy spray bottles.

So, Why Do I Care??  Infectious pathogens are found in many locations, and they can cause deadly diseases. In addition to the well-know viruses and bacteria, there are exotic pathogens that cause rare, but just as deadly infections. Therefore, it is important to understand how those exotic pathogens act. Melioidosis has a 50% death rate, and even after antibiotic treatment the death rate remains 10%.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about how this bacterium infects our body. The bacteria enter the body through inhaling or ingesting contaminated water. The bacterium then moves into the epithelial cells that line the lumen of the lower respiratory or the epithelial cells that line the lumen of digestive

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Can a newly discovered immune cell kill all cancers in our bodies?

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On November 28, 2021

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – mitosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – many types of receptor proteins are located in the cell membrane
  3. immune system chapter – the roles of white blood cells in immune defense

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

Immune discovery ‘may treat all cancer’

Research is at an early stage but scientists said it had huge potential for destroying cancers.

 

The article states that researchers found a new type of T cell that has the potential to attack cancer cells from virtually all regions of the body, and that potential is based on a molecule called MR1.

So, Why Do I Care??  Various types of cancers kill over 600,000 people in the USA. Cancer treatments vary according to the type and stage of the cancer. Any discovery that opens up the possibility of a unified cancer treatment is a reason for renewed hope among current and future cancer patients.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what cancer is. Our cells have to divide (undergo mitosis) to make new cells for repair or to replace worn out cells. When cell keep on dividing even after the tissue repair or cell

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How do we teach the immune system of a cancer patient to attack cancer?

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On July 30, 2021

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 07302021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter– artificial DNA can direct the cell to make a new type of protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – receptor proteins are located in the plasma membrane
  3. tissue chapter –the liquid connective tissue nature of blood allows the separation of blood cell types
  4. immune system chapter – role of T cell in immune defense

The news item:  Recently a news report was published about a cancer patient’s fight for her life:

New treatment option for patients battling aggressive form of blood cancer

People battling relapsed or refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, an aggressive blood cancer, experience a challenging treatment journey. But a recently approved CAR T cell therapy gives patients a new option.

 

The article stated that the patient had B cell lymphoma that didn’t respond to chemotherapy, and that she started a new treatment where her T cells were removed from her blood, reprogrammed to attack her cancer, and then returned into her body.  The treatment was described as the CAR T treatment where CAR stood for chimeric antigen receptor.

So, Why Do I Care??   Some leukemia type cancers and lymphoma type cancers do not respond to regular chemotherapy. While the total number of the patients is relatively low (a few thousand), the  new approach (CAR T) to cancer treatment now presents a new option for those patients with cancers resisting regular chemotherapy. Knowing how this type of treatment is created allows us to understand treatment regimens such as Kymriah, Yescarta, and Tecartus. In addition, the CAR T treatment type may inspire more out of the box thinking to defeat cancer.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about why would we want to train our immune system. In our body only the cells of the immune system are the only ones that can find and destroy specific targets

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Can we teach our immune system to attack cancer by reprogramming white blood cells?

By

On June 29, 2021

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 06282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – some proteins are located in the plasma membrane
  2. blood chapter – hematopoiesis (blood cell formation) in red bone marrow
  3. immune system chapter – role of T-cells in immune defense

The news item:  Recently an article reported on the struggles of a patient suffering with acute lymphoblastic leukemia:

 

Richmond woman benefits from game-changing cancer treatment now offered at VCU

If you knew what Rachel Elliot has been through you might call it a miracle that she is alive and well today, but hers was a miracle over a decade in the making.

The article described a new treatment called Kymriah, a Car-T type treatment, and stated that it involves genetic engineering T-cells.

So, Why Do I Care??  Some cancers resist traditional chemotherapy treatments. Patients suffering from those cancers have very limited life expectancy.  While the total number of ALL cases, close to 6,000 each year, are relatively few, children under the age of 5 are affected mostly.  New cancer treatment approaches that think outside the box are the treatments that bring hope, and eventually cures to those patients.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is. This type of leukemia is the cancer of the red bone marrow, and the uncontrolled division of some cells in the bone marrow leads to a large

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Can we decrease people’s cat allergies just by changing the cat food?

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On May 1, 2021

In lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 04302021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. immune system chapter – IgE antibodies are made in response to allergens
  2. immune system chapter – interactions of antibody with specific targets
  3. immune system chapter – elements of anaphylactic reaction

The news item:  Recently several news outlets reported on a new cat food, Purina’s Pro Plan LiveClear, that reduces people’s allergic reaction to cats:

 

Purina Pro Plan Releasing Cat Food that Can Help Ease Cat Allergies in Humans

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear is designed to safely neutralize Fel d1, the main allergen that causes cat allergies, in your cat’s saliva

The article states that Fel d1 is the major cat allergen, and the new cat food makes cats to carry less of this allergen on their fur.

So, Why Do I Care??

About 10-30% of people are prone to develop allergies to cats. 95% of cat allergies happen because of anaphylactic reaction to the Fel d1 cat allergen. With the popularity of cats in households, any non-invasive method to decrease allergic reactions can have major impact on the quality of life for millions of people in the US alone. In addition, this approach may point the way to similar solution to other allergy problems.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what is an allergy. Some cells in our immune system are programmed to recognize foreign material we breathe in or we swallow. When immune cells make an IgE antibody in response, then that foreign material is now called an allergen. When the allergen enters the body the second time,

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How could gene editing fight cancers?

By

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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Why breast implants can become life threatening?

By

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?

By

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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