Fight Aging! Newsletter, December 21st 2020
In this study, we have found that administration of a specific Sgk1 inhibitor significantly reduces the dysregulated form of tau protein that is a pathological hallmark of AD, restores prefrontal cortical synaptic function, and mitigates memory deficits in an AD model. These results have identified Sgk1 as a potential key target for therapeutic intervention of AD, which may have specific and precise effects."
Targeting histone K4 trimethylation for treatment of cognitive and synaptic deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease
Epigenetic aberration is implicated in aging and neurodegeneration. Using p...
Source: Fight Aging! - December 20, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
TNF α Blockade Prevents Sarcopenia and Increases Life Span in Mice
Today's open access research reports a sizable effect on sarcopenia in aged mice via blockade of TNFα, an inflammatory signal molecule associated with cellular senescence and generated by senescent cells. Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength that takes place with age, more severely in some individuals than in others, but everyone is affected. The drug used in the study is Etanercept, already widely employed to treat autoimmune conditions. It functions as a decoy receptor, binding circulating TNFα to prevent it from interacting with cell receptors to trigger detrimental changes in cell behavior. ...
Source: Fight Aging! - December 15, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Does lupus or arthritis affect your prognosis if you get COVID-19?
Soon after the coronavirus pandemic began, we learned that older adults and people with certain chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. One condition on that list is an immunocompromised state (a weakened immune system). This can be due to a number of conditions, including having had an organ transplant, having HIV, or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
If you have an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus (also called systemic lupus erythematosus), you may wonder how this affects your risk. It’s thought that these condit...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 9, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Autoimmune diseases Bones and joints Coronavirus and COVID-19 Source Type: blogs
Harvard Health Ad Watch: An arthritis ad in 4 parts
Perhaps you’ve grown as weary as I have of repeated arthritis ads. They appear in frequent rotation on television, online, and in magazines, promoting Enbrel, Humira, Otezla, Xeljanz, and others.
If you’ve actually read or listened to these ads, you might have felt perplexed at certain points. Here’s a quick rundown on what they’re saying — and not saying — in one of those ads.
“The clock is ticking”
Part 1: A teakettle whistles on the stove and a disembodied voice speaks as this ad for Humira opens. “This is your wakeup call. If you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, month after month the cloc...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 29, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Arthritis Bones and joints Health Inflammation Source Type: blogs
Harvard Health AdWatch: An arthritis ad in 4 parts
Perhaps you’ve grown as weary as I have of repeated arthritis ads. They appear in frequent rotation on television, online, and in magazines, promoting Enbrel, Humira, Otezla, Xeljanz, and others.
If you’ve actually read or listened to these ads, you might have felt perplexed at certain points. Here’s a quick rundown on what they’re saying — and not saying — in one of those ads.
“The clock is ticking”
Part 1: A teakettle whistles on the stove and a disembodied voice speaks as this ad for Humira opens. “This is your wakeup call. If you have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, month after month the cloc...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 29, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Arthritis Bones and joints Health Inflammation Source Type: blogs
Do Companies Have a Duty to Pursue Clinical Trials: Enbrel and the Suggestion of Alzheimer ’s
by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.
In 1983, NBC broadcast an alien invasion limited series calledV. In one episode, as the U.S. devolves into a tyranny, the military invades scientific labs and finds—inside the filing cabinets (it was pre-computer days)—cures for cancer and other diseases that were simply never released because companies made more money treating disease than curing it. From that 36 year old television image has come a modern reality—Pfizer may have a drug that improves the chances of preventing Alzheimer’s Disease, but they won’t pay for the clinical testing.… (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - June 7, 2019 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Craig Klugman Tags: Clinical Trials & Studies Featured Posts Human Subjects Research & IRBs Research Ethics Source Type: blogs
Are Grains to Blame for That Rash Too?
Grains can play havoc with your skin. The prolamin proteins, such as gliadin, trigger autoimmune skin reactions and turn antibodies against the skin enzymes, their lectins fan the fires of inflammation, their proteins provoke allergies, and their amylopectins send blood sugar and insulin sky-high and provoke the skin-disrupting hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF). The whole grain package adds up to an impressive collection of skin conditions that can take a variety of forms, from simple red, itchy rashes to scaly, oily raised patches to large vesicles to gangrene. Because hair and nails are also considere...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - February 20, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates Source Type: blogs
Could that rash be from wheat?
Grains can play havoc with your skin. The prolamin proteins, such as gliadin, trigger autoimmune skin reactions and turn antibodies against the skin enzymes, their lectins fan the fires of inflammation, their proteins provoke allergies, and their amylopectins send blood sugar and insulin sky-high and provoke the skin-disrupting hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF). The whole grain package adds up to an impressive collection of skin conditions that can take a variety of forms, from simple red, itchy rashes to scaly, oily raised patches to large vesicles to gangrene. Because hair and nails are also considere...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - February 20, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates Source Type: blogs
Wheat Belly and Autoimmune Diseases
The Wheat Belly lifestyle begins with elimination of the worst and most dominant of all grains in the diet, semi-dwarf wheat products, followed by elimination of its closely-related brethren in other grains. This alone is a powerful start in reversing the 200-some diseases of autoimmunity.
We now know that the gliadin protein of wheat and related proteins in other grains trigger increased intestinal permeability that initiates the process, as highly inflammatory compounds, such as lipopolysaccharide from bacterial cell walls, are permitted entry into the body. We also know that gliadin itself gains entry into the bloodstr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - January 11, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates autoimmune Gliadin gluten-free grain-free grains Inflammation wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Increased Payer and Provider Support May Drive Billions of Dollars in Savings from Biosimilars
By SHEILA FRAME
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has said biosimilars are “key to promoting access and reducing health care costs. And it’s a key to advancing public health.” While the Administration works to reduce barriers to bringing biosimilars to market, payers and providers can help increase adoption of biosimilars in clinical practice and ensure cost savings.
Organizations such as the American College of Rheumatology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology have issued educational documents to help guide providers in incorporating biosimilars into treatment plans, where appropriate. Yet, many doctors re...
Source: The Health Care Blog - December 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Pharmaceuticals biologics biosimilars Sheila Frame Source Type: blogs
Live the Wheat Belly lifestyle, get off prescription medications
Take a look at the list of medications people have been able to stop by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle.
These represent medications prescribed by doctors to, in effect, “treat” the consequences of consuming wheat and grains. They prescribe drugs to treat inflammation, swelling, skin rashes, gastrointestinal irritation, high blood sugars, airway allergy, joint pain, high blood pressure, leg edema and other abnormal effects caused by wheat and grains.
The list includes anti-inflammatory and pain medication, acid reflux drugs, injectable and oral drugs for diabetes, numerous anti-hypertensive agents, asthma i...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - October 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates autoimmune blood sugar bowel flora cholesterol Gliadin gluten-free grain-free grains Inflammation undoctored Weight Loss wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Malchemy: Converting health to sickness
Alchemy is an ancient pursuit dating back some 40 centuries, an effort to explore immortality, panaceas that cure any and all human diseases, and the conversion of, say, lead to gold to generate endless riches. It was also a collection of efforts that helped divine scientific exploration and explore early chemistry.
So what is “malchemy”?
Malchemy (mal = bad) is my term for the magical conversion of healthy, slender, well-adapted humans with healthy skin, bones, teeth, and gastrointestinal tracts to that of obese, fatigued, bloated, red-faced, disease-plagued humans, a startling and dramatic transformation. Whi...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - August 30, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates blood sugar grain-free grains Inflammation undoctored wheat belly Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 58-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 58-year-old man is evaluated in follow-up for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which was diagnosed 2 years ago. He has cough and shortness of breath and now requires supplemental oxygen at rest. Previous evaluations have not identified any cause for his symptoms other than progressive IPF. He has participated in pulmonary rehabilitation and continues in a maintenance program. He is a lifelong nonsmoker. His medical history is otherwise unremarkable, and he takes no medications.
On physical examination, the...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 16, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Pulmonology Source Type: blogs
UnitedHealthcare Will Share Rebates with Patients
On March 6, 2018, UnitedHealthcare announced that beginning in 2019, the company will expand its pharmacy discounts to the seven million enrollees who are in fully insured commercial group plans at the point of sale for drugs, if a rebate is offered by the manufacturer.
The savings will apply to plan participants who are filling a prescription for a drug where the manufacturer provides a rebate. The savings from the rebates will be applied upfront, at the time of the sale, to ensure that patients are paying the lowest amount possible under their insurance plan. UHC notes that currently, rebates are used to keep premiums l...
Source: Policy and Medicine - March 16, 2018 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan - Policy & Medicine Writing Staff Source Type: blogs
Screening Recommendations Based on Doctor Personal Experiences
Recently in JAMA," ...a research letter... explores howsocial interactions with friends, family and colleagues who have been diagnosed with breast cancer may affect a physician ’s recommendations to patients. "What it found was that a doctor ' s personal experiences impact what they recommend for their patients. They did not necessarily follow the current guidelines. " Physicians familiar with someone with a poor prognosis who was not diagnosed via screening were much more likely to recommend routine checks for women between 40 and 44 years old and those over 75. "“Describing a woman whose breast cancer was not di...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - December 19, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: arthritis treatment cancer history cancer screening medical history Source Type: blogs
