A 40 year old with nonspecific symptoms including dizziness
.What do you notice about the ECG?There is a very short QT interval. This is often found in hypercalcemia. See Ken Grauer ' s comments below for detail.Thus, the patient ' s chemistry was done and revealed ionized hypercalcemia of 6.3 mg/dL (normal 4.4 - 5.2)Followup: he was found to have hyperparathyroidism===================================MY Comment, by KEN GRAUER, MD (9/12/2023):===================================Today ' s ECG is remarkable for an uncommon but important finding that we periodically review, because it otherwise is all-too-easy to overlook. For example — Did YO...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - September 12, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs
“The Greatest Scientist of All Time” says Scientific American. Who is it?
BY MIKE MAGEE
When it comes to our earthly survival as a human species, words are often under-powered and off-the-mark. Clearer concepts, definitions and terms are required for clarity. Here are five terms that are useful and worth remembering:
Planetary Boundaries
Earth Systems
Human Perturbations
Planetary Scale Destabilization
Holocene Epoch vs. Anthropogenic Epoch
These terms all tie back to a single source – a child of World War II, only seven when his home in Amsterdam was overrun by Nazis. His father was a waiter, his mother a cook in a local hospital. He’d later recall with a sh...
Source: The Health Care Blog - September 11, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Non-Health Chemistry Mike Magee Ozone Paul Crutzen Scientific American Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, August 28th 2023
In conclusion, we identified 20 genes with significant evolutionary signals unique to long-lived species, which provided new insight into the lifespan extension of mammals and might bring new strategies to extend human lifespan.
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Trials of Xenotransplantation of Pig Organs into Humans Continue
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2023/08/trials-of-xenotransplantation-of-pig-organs-into-humans-continue/
Researchers have genetically engineered pigs to overcome the known barriers to transplantation of pig organs into humans, and have reached the stage of conducting transplants i...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 27, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Red Blood Cell Extracellular Vesicles Assist Macrophages in Atherosclerotic Plaque
In this study, we investigated the uptake of RBCEVs by macrophages. We also monitored the intracellular trafficking of RBCEVs and the fate of haemoglobin, their most abundant protein cargo. We found that RBCEVs were preferentially taken up by macrophages in the liver and spleen. The EVs then released heme into the cytoplasm via the heme transporter HRG1, which promoted the differentiation of the macrophages to a phenotype characterized by upregulated HO-1 expression, and prevented the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) in these cells. This natural therapeutic characteristic of RBCEVs suggests their p...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 24, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Distinct Signatures for Human Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease
This study identified 10 distinct microglia clusters from aged human brain. These included previously described homeostatic, senescent, and inflammatory microglia transcriptional phenotypes as well as additional clusters of transcriptional specification, which may give insight into AD pathogenesis, providing a platform for hypothesis generation. We describe the diversity of microglia clusters with endolysosomal gene signatures, one of which is enriched with nucleic acid recognition and interferon regulation genes. Inferred gene networks predict that individual clusters are driven by distinct transcription factors, lending ...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 22, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore and Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Aging
This open access review paper discusses what is known of the role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in the age-related decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. This measure is a lens through which one can view the growing dysfunction of mitochondria with advancing age. Every cell contains hundreds of mitochondria, producing chemical energy store molecules, ATP, to power cellular processes. Reduced rates of ATP production lead to cell and tissue dysfunction. This is thought to be an important contribution to degenerative aging, though exactly how it arises from causative mechanisms, such as mitochondria...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 22, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, August 7th 2023
In conclusion, here, we demonstrate a novel mechanism for ESC-EVs to protect cells from senescence. However, whether ESC-EVs rejuvenate aged mice via miR-15b-5p and miR-290a-5p remains unknown. Next, we plan to use miR-15b-5p and miR-290a-5p antagonists while treating aged mice with ESC-EVs to further investigate the mechanism by which ESC-EVs resist aging in vivo.
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Fatty Acid Metabolism as a Commonality in Different Approaches to Slowing Aging
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2023/08/fatty-acid-metabolism-as-a-commonality-in-different-approaches-to-slowing-aging/
It seem...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 6, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
When Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company Says Your Prescription is " Out of stock "
My followers may recall that about a year ago (on August 22, 2023), I blogged about (see https://blog.sstrumello.com/2022/08/generic-crestor-pricing-insanity.html for the post) that I had made a conscious decision to simply disintermediate my own insurance pharmacy benefit to buy an inexpensive generic statin drug because my own pharmacy benefit manager was screwing me. Currently, I ' m covered by Aetna which is now owned by CVS Health, which also owns the PBM known as Caremark. Caremark was robbing me on the statin. It was overcharging me. They were trying to charge me $33.85 for a 90-day supply of a cheap...
Source: Scott's Web Log - August 1, 2023 Category: Endocrinology Tags: 2023 cash pharmacy cash-only pharmacy Crestor Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company rosuvastatin calcium Source Type: blogs
Altered Mitochondrial Calcium Metabolism is a Major Factor in Inflammaging
In this study, we report a surprising discovery that mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) uptake capacity in macrophages drops significantly with age. This amplifies cytosolic Ca2+ (cCa2+) signaling and promotes NF-κB activation, rendering the macrophages prone to chronic low-grade inflammatory output at baseline and hyper-inflammatory when stimulated. Although mitochondrial dysfunction has long been a suspected driver of aging, our study pinpoints the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex as a keystone molecular apparatus that links age-related changes in mitochondrial physiology to macrophage-mediated inflammation.
...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 1, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Vasodilators For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion
In summary, vasodilators play a pivotal role in managing cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, which is rapidly becoming a global health concern.
By expanding the body’s blood vessels, these unique medications can improve blood flow and decrease the pressure exerted by the heart, thereby providing relief to numerous patients worldwide.
Their applications are diverse, extending beyond hypertension to conditions like angina, heart failure, and even erectile dysfunction.
However, these medications should be taken carefully and always under the supervision of a doctor due to the potent...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 27, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Central Agonists For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion
In summary, central agonists, a notable class of hypertension medications, offer an alternative modality when other first-line antihypertensive treatments fail to show desired results or cause intolerable side effects.
They operate via a unique neurocentric mechanism that primarily functions centrally in the brain, impacting blood pressure regulation by decreasing systemic arterial pressure and heart rate.
Despite their potential side effects and potential for interactions with other drugs, their therapeutic utility in the context of hypertension management remains undiminished.
Moreover, certain cen...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 27, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Handling Heat On Blood Pressure Medication: Your Summer Health Guide
Conclusion
Summing it up, individuals taking blood pressure medication must be cautious during the hot weather season. Heat exposure can significantly impact blood pressure and may amplify the effects of medication, leading to potentially harmful health conditions.
These risks, however, can be managed with the right precautions such as staying hydrated, dressing appropriately, and planning outdoor activities during cooler times of the day.
Importantly, each person’s response to heat and medication varies. Hence, a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t ideal. Your healthcare provider is an invaluable resourc...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 26, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Calcium-Channel Blockers For High Blood Pressure: Types, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Conclusion
In a nutshell, calcium-channel blockers are a valuable tool in the medical arsenal for treating a range of cardiovascular conditions.
By inhibiting calcium’s entry into the heart and blood vessel cells, these drugs induce blood vessel dilation and relaxation, reducing blood pressure.
Their unique properties and effectiveness make them especially suitable for groups like older adults and people of African descent, and those with conditions like angina, certain arrhythmias, and Raynaud’s disease.
Even with the possibility of side effects and drug interactions, calcium-channel blockers are g...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 24, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Eggs And High Blood Pressure: Decoding The Dietary Dilemma
Conclusion
In navigating the winding road of managing high blood pressure, several key points emerge. Eggs, while a source of ongoing debate, can form part of a balanced diet for most people. It’s essential, though, to consider your entire dietary pattern, emphasizing heart-healthy choices like those found in the DASH and Mediterranean diets.
Avoiding processed meats and sugary breakfast options, while incorporating nutrient-dense foods, can significantly impact your blood pressure management. But remember, it’s not all about diet. A comprehensive approach, involving regular physical activity, stress mana...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 21, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Blood Pressure Meds vs Blood Thinners: What ’ s The Difference?
Conclusion
In conclusion, while blood pressure medicines and blood thinners are both crucial to heart health, their roles and mechanisms of action are notably distinct. Blood pressure medication works primarily on the vascular system, aiding in reducing blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels or altering the heart’s function. On the other hand, blood thinners target the blood itself, working to prevent the formation of potentially dangerous blood clots.
Throughout this article, one thing becomes undeniably clear: the importance of regular consultations with your healthcare provider. When it comes to managing m...
Source: The EMT Spot - July 20, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
