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Tag: urinary system

How can a radioactive infusion chase down metastatic prostate cancer cells?

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On October 24, 2025

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system, reproductive system, urinary system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – location of transmembrane proteins
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – endocytosis moves large number of molecules into the cell
  3. urinary system chapter – structures of the male urethra
  4. male reproductive system chapter – structure and function of the prostate
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – anatomy of lymphatic vessels

The news item:  Recently this report appeared online:

A new approach to prostate cancer offers patients more time and energy

John Grim fought prostate cancer for six years. He did radiation. He did hormone therapy. He did chemotherapy. It felt like a losing battle. The West York man lost 50 pounds. He felt weak and exhausted. The cancer spread to his bones, causing a tumor in his spine.

The article states that a prostate cancer patient was given 6 months to live because his cancer metastasized to his bones. Pluvicto treatment extended his life expectancy, allowed him to continue to work, lowered his PSA levels to 22 from 491 and restored his body weight. The article also states that the medication is radioactive, and it seeks out and kills the prostate cancer cells.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the US alone prostate cancer develops in more than 300000 people each year, and, according to the National Cancer Institute, it causes over 35000 deaths. So, developing new approaches to kill prostate cancer cells are always welcome. This is especially the case when it comes to prostate cancer cells that spread over the body.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about what the prostate is. The prostate gland (or prostate) is a cherry sized gland wrapped round the male urethra. The prostate functions as a gland producing a secretion that will be incorporated into the semen. The gland itself is mostly epithelial tissue, and is a site of frequent cancer formation. Both the normal and the cancerous cells of the prostate have in their cell membranes transmembrane proteins; these proteins sticks out of the cell just like the fuzz sticks out from a tennis ball. However, the prostate cancer cells have unique transmembrane protein called the Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen, or PSMA.

Second, let’s talk about what metastasis is. Some cancer cells lose their connection to the mass of growing cancer cells, and those detached cells enter the lymphatic capillaries, and travel throughout the

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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 an anti-wrinkle treatment help patients suffering from an overactive bladder?

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On December 26, 2020

In microbiology, muscular system, nervous system, urinary system

TeachableMedicalNews article 12262020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. muscular tissue chapter – neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction
  2. autonomic nervous system chapter –  parasympathetic division and its neurotransmitters
  3. urinary system chapter – role of detrusor muscle in emptying of the bladder
  4. microbiology – Clostridium botulinum and its toxin

The news item:  Recently an unusual report appeared about the anti-wrinkle treatment, Botox:

https://westnewsmagazine.com/2019/11/13/117802/beyond-wrinkles-botox-offers-effective-treatment-for-common-bladder-condition

The article states that people suffering from an overactive bladder may find help for their symptoms from twice-a-year Botox injection.

So, Why Do I Care??  There are about 50 million people in the US suffering from overactive bladder symptoms. While this affliction is not life threatening, everyday life, ability to hold down a job are disrupted by it. There are several medical interventions to help patients, so Botox is the latest to join the remedies.

Plain English, Please!!!  First, let’s talk about the mechanics of urination. For urination to happen the muscle (called detrusor) inside the wall of the urinary

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Can we relax an overactive bladder by enhancing the actions of the nervous system?

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On February 22, 2020

In nervous system, urinary system

TeachableMedicalNews article 02222020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. Autonomic nervous system chapter —  examples for sympathetic and parasympathetic activities
  2. Autonomic nervous system chapter —  neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine and their receptors
  3. urinary system chapter – layers and tissues of the urinary bladder wall
  4. urinary system chapter – nerve pathways for the micturition reflex

The news item:  A recent news item informs us that a drug to treat overactive bladder is effective in men as well:

Men Get Overactive Bladder, Too

Don’t always blame the prostate.

 

The article mentions the symptoms of overactive bladder, the fact that men get this disorder as much as women, and that one treatment, Myrbetriq, is acting through  beta 3 adrenoceptor agonists.

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Can peeing out blood sugar possibly save us from kidney disease?

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On October 14, 2019

In endocrine system, urinary system

TeachableMedicalNews article 10132019

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. urinary system chapter – glucose reabsorption from filtrate
  2. urinary system chapter – filtration by small blood vessels in glomerulus
  3. endocrine system chapter – insulin and insulin receptor in type 2 diabetes

 

Can peeing out blood sugar possibly save us from kidney failure?

The news item:  Recent news reports wrote about the unexpected health benefit of the type 2 diabetes drug, Invokana.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/study-finds-diabetes-drug-may-prevent-slow-kidney-disease/

The article mentions that deaths from kidney failure, the need for dialysis, the need of kidney transplant were reduced by 30% in treated patients.

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Why E. coli outbreaks can be deadly?

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On July 16, 2019

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

TeachableMedicalNews article 07162019

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – ligand-receptor interaction
  2. urinary system chapter – glomerular filtration through capillaries of glomerulus
  3. immune system chapter – normal immune functions destroy E. coli that enters the body; consequences of immunosuppressed state

 

Why E. coli outbreaks can be deadly?

The news item:  In 2018 this headline informed us that E. coli infections can have deadly outcomes after consuming the contaminated romaine lettuce:

E. coli outbreak linked to romaine turns deadly | CNN

One person has died from the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region. The death, in California, is the first known fatality from this outbreak.

 

The article mentions the symptoms of diarrhea, cramps resulting from infection by some E. coli strains.  The article also mentions the deadly affliction of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

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