Married Heart Attack Patients Show Speedy Recovery than Single Patients
Categories Medical news

Married Heart Attack Patients Show Speedy Recovery than Single Patients

A recent research, putforth at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference, emphasized that married people are 14% less likely to die from heart attack and were discharged from hospital two fewer days prior than single people. Conducted by the ACALM (Algorithm for Comorbidities, Associations, Length of stay and Mortality) Study Unit, the scientists investigated around heart attack 25,000 patients, admitted between January 2000 and March 2013. Annually, about 188,000 hospital admissions occur for heart attack in the UK.

Around 7/10 people survive based on upgraded diagnosis and treatment. Although it is yet to predict the reason behind better survival of married people, scientists believe that physical and emotional support given by the spouse may play an extensive role. Getting early discharge reduces not only hospital stay charges but also risk of hospital acquired infections. It is estimated that the average hospital stay cost/day for a patient comes up to £400 for the NHS, but shorter length of stays may save the NHS to £9.8 million. The study also stresses to consider the psychological effects post heart attack, a risk factor in managing and discharging a patient. Thus the ACALM Study Unit has moved on to investigating the impact of health services such as cardiac rehab on patient’s mental and physical health.

Performing analysis on larger databases over a longer time period helps to gain supplementary psychological benefits of marriage, to guide patient care and to see if marriage can offer more advantages in overcoming other conditions like heart failure. A survey by British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimated that 30% heart attack survivors experience anxiety or depression. According to the BHF, the support offered by a spouse minimizes the impact of heart attack significantly thereby speeding recovery. Additionally enrolling in a cardiac rehab course provides better physical and psychological recovery and is recommended for all (married or single) heart attack patients.

Eating barley can reduce cardiovascular risk
Categories Medical news

Eating barley can reduce cardiovascular risk

A recent research review, conducted by Dr. Vladimir Vuksan at St. Michael’s Hospital, stated that consuming barley or products containing barley products ceases components of “bad cholesterol”–low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels by seven percent. Published in The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the paper also emphasizes that barley is shown to be equally effective as oats in reducing bad cholesterol levels and overall cardiovascular risk.

One of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are surging cholesterol levels and diabetes. Although, drugs form the primary therapy, it is also pertinent to consider dietary and other lifestyle modifications that can make a lot of difference in curbing down the risk factors. The review encompasses 14 clinical trials from seven countries, including Canada and is the first to investigate the effects of barley on LDL, non-HDL and apolipoprotein B (apoB); a lipoprotein carrying total bad cholesterol in the blood.

According to the review, many studies have documented barley’s positive effects not only towards lowering bad cholesterol but also apoB, which is a pivotal element in assessing cardiovascular risk. These findings hold much importance for high risk populations (e.g. Type 2 diabetes) who show normal LDL levels but actually have high non-HDL or apoB levels. Benefits of barley consumption is not limited to just high-risk populations but also people without cholesterol hike since it is fibre-rich; has twice the protein and half the calories of oats. Consumption of barley to cut short cardiovascular risk has already been implemented in the Canadian strategy. Several other authorities have also approved health benefits of barley.

Preeclampsia and CD74 protein linked – Underlying cause revealed
Categories Medical news

Preeclampsia and CD74 protein linked – Underlying cause revealed

A new study, lead by Dr. Florian Herse, has demonstrated that preeclamptic women contain lower levels of placenta’s immune protein CD74 and higher levels of certain inflammatory factors, which is responsible for abnormal placenta formation during pregnancy. The fetus receives nourishment from mother through the placenta. Preeclampsia happens when there is disrupted placental growth and is manifested as high blood pressure, water retention and protein in urine. It can also affect fetal growth and development.

Preeclampsia has been nicknamed “the disease of theories” as its exact cause is yet unclear. Published in the Circulation, the study performed translational research using human subjects, cell cultures and animal models; applied comprehensive methodology to get robust results and provided solid evidence of correlation between CD74 receptor protein of immune cells and preeclampsia. The CD74 receptors are found on active large phagocytic cells (macrophages) in the placenta, which interact with and stimulate other placental cells (trophoblasts). Scientists, in preparatory research, identified fewer than expected CD74 receptors on placental macrophages in preeclamptic women. Researchers then went in depth and restrained CD74 receptor production on placental macrophages in cell cultures and observed that the cells produced pro-inflammatory factors in response.

Further, the structures of placentas in mice without CD74 receptor protein were disrupted and less functional than in control mice. Based on this finding, the study emphasizes that interrupted macrophage-trophoblast interaction is the underlying cause of inflammation and abnormal placental growth and that this interaction should be perfect during pregnancy to avert the occurrence of preeclampsia.

Inheritance of the Risk Gene THADA from the Mother Poses Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in the Child
Categories Medical news

Inheritance of the Risk Gene THADA from the Mother Poses Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in the Child

The causes of type 2 diabetes are a combination of heredity and environment. Lund University in Sweden has exclusively analyzed the reason as to why type 2 diabetes is inherited to a greater extent from an individual’s mother. In the new study, the researchers used data from previous investigations and DNA gathered from 2000 families in which one parent and a child suffer from type 2 diabetes.

The results unveiled that the variations in two previously identified risk genes for type 2 diabetes, KCNQ1 and THADA, cause an increased risk of acquiring the disease in the child if they are inherited from the mother whereas inheritance from the father had less or no effect. The fact that the genes inherited from the mother affect the risk of disease probably depended on the genes from the father being silenced in a process known as imprinting.

Thus the lifestyle of the mother, with factors such as stress, diet, illness etc., probably affects the future risk of disease in the foetus. Prof. Leif Groop, the Lund University, responsible for this new study conveyed that exposure of foetus for a longer time in utero and breast-feeding could explain why heredity from the mother has a greater effect on the child’s genome.

Antimicrobial Agent Triclosan
Categories Medical news

Is the Antimicrobial Agent Triclosan a Double-edged Sword?

Triclosan an antimicrobial and antifungal agent commonly used in most of the consumer products like shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes, etc. can disrupt bacterial communities found in the gut says a new study from Oregon State University. Triclosan continues to be used in medical settings, and can be easily absorbed through the skin. The research was published in PLOS ONE. The study was done in zebrafish, which is believed to be an important animal model to help determine possible human biological and health impacts of triclosan.

The study unveiled that triclosan exposure caused rapid changes in both the diversity and composition of the microbiome in the laboratory animals. Some bacteria (family Enterobacteriaceae) were more susceptible to the impact of triclosan and others were more resilient (genus Pseudomonas). However, implication on animal or human health is unclear. The gut-associated microbiome performs vital functions for human health, prevents colonization with pathogens, stimulates the development of the immune system, and produces micronutrients needed by the host. It is believed that compromising of the bacteria in the intestinal tract may contribute to the development or severity of disease.

According to scientists, part of the strength of the present study is developing improved ways, through rapid screening of zebrafish, to more easily determine which compounds may be acceptable and which are toxic. This study showed triclosan was quickly associated with shifts in the microbial community structure and can alter the abundance of specific taxa.