Other contributors to the work include Lynn M. McGregor and Yolanda Vasquez from Harvard University; Ya Liu, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Yongting Ma, and Olga Kuksenok from the University of Pittsburgh; Valerie Harris, Hanqing Nan, and Maritza Mujica from ...
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Monday, March 23, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
The discovery that stem cells can treat various life-threatening diseases not only proved to be a boon for patients but was also an important turning point in the research.
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A new study has revealed for the first time, that stem cells could reverse Type 2 diabetes too. A new study has revealed for the first time, that stem cells could reverse Type 2 diabetes too.
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High Cholesterol Stops Vitamin E From Reaching Tissues
NDTV Food, Modified: March 20, 2015 12:33 IST
High cholesterol levels have become a common lifestyle problem. In simple terms, cholesterol is found in the fat (lipids) in blood. Increased levels of cholesterol in blood lipid may lead to its accumulation in blood vessels, as a result of which, the blood flow in the body gets sluggish.High cholesterol levels may lead to an obstruction of proper blood flow to the heart as well as other organs. It may lead to stroke, other cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and so on. Though it can run in genes, lifestyle factors and one's diet have much to contribute in triggering the condition. Some of the recent medical studies indicate that high cholesterol may risk of breast cancer in women.
High Cholesterol Levels May Make it Harder to Get Pregnant
According a recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high cholesterol and triglycerides levels can prevent the essential vitamin E from reaching the tissues that need it. People with elevated lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in their blood plasma are facing increased inflammation on tissues. Vitamin E is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, due to high cholesterol, the Vitamin finds it difficult to make its way to these inflamed tissues.
"Almost every tissue in their body is under oxidative attack, and needs more Vitamin E. But the vitamin E needed to protect these tissues is stuck on the freeway, in the circulatory system. It is going round and round instead of getting to the tissues where it is needed," said Maret Traber, lead study author from Oregon State University.
A team of experts at the Oregon State University carried out study on 41 men and women The participants were given vitamin E in form of deuterium-labeled collard greens which facilitated tracking of the nutrient through the body. As the team tacked the passage of the vitamin within the body of the participants, it was concluded that most of Vitamin E was not reaching the tissues.
"In simple terms, we believe that less than one third the amount of vitamin E is actually making it to the tissues where it's most needed," Traber said.
Vitamin E forms an extremely crucial component in our body. It plays an important role in some places such as artery walls, the brain, liver, eyes and skin. It also aids in scavenging free radicals and neurologic function. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant which can assist in combating high cholesterol and can protect against the development of atherosclerosis. Apart from these, the Vitamin is also associated with maintaining good skin, skin, can strengthen immunity as well as may slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
"Some experts have suggested that recommended levels of vitamin E should be lowered. But because of these absorption issues, the recommended level of 15 milligrams per day is about right," said Maret Traber, lead study author from Oregon State University.
Inputs from IANS
Washington: A team of researchers has identified "the long-sought culprit" in the mystery behind a cell-signaling breakdown that triggers heart failure.
Working with lab animals and human heart cells, researchers revealed that an enzyme called PDE-9 interferes with the body's natural "braking" system needed to neutralize stress on the heart and shows that the enzyme wreaks mischief by gobbling up a signaling molecule, cGMP, which normally stimulates the production of a heart-protective protein called PKG, known to shield the heart muscle from the ravages of disease-causing stress, such as long-standing high blood pressure.
Naturally found in the gut, kidneys and brain, PDE-9 is already a prime suspect in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, but the new study shows the enzyme's footprints are also present in heart cells and markedly elevated in patients with heart failure, evidence that PDE-9 is a multitasking "offender" and a key instigator of heart muscle demise, the researchers say.
To understand the enzyme's role, the scientists exploited the knowledge that heart muscle health is safeguarded by two separate mechanisms, or signaling pathways.
Activated by two different chemicals, nitric oxide and natriuretic peptide, each pathway produces cGMP, which in turn stimulates the all-important heart muscle protector PKG. Most cases of heart failure, the researchers say, are fueled by breakdowns in both.
Researcher David Kass said that the existence of two separate pathways with overlapping but distinct functions is nature's insurance policy, a fail-safe redundancy to ensure that should one pathway falter, the other one can compensate and maintain heart muscle function.
Lead author Dong Lee added that like a play with multiple characters, heart muscle function is the result of a complex but perfectly synchronized interaction of several proteins, enzymes and hormones and the findings reveal that, like two subplots that converge in the end of the play, PDE-5 and PDE-9 are independent rogue operators, each leading to heart muscle damage but doing so through different means.
Researchers also note that heart failure treatments blocking the activity of PDE-9 may be right around the corner, with drugs that inhibit PDE-9 already being tested for use in people with Alzheimer's disease. In this study, such PDE-9 blockers not only stopped heart muscle enlargement and scarring in mice with heart failure, but they nearly reversed the effects of the disease.
The study is published in the journal Nature.
First Published: Friday, March 20, 2015 - 11:06
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