mRNA Vaccines: From Tackling Pandemic To Treating Cancer
The story of the multi-decade uphill battle Katalin Karikó and her fellow researchers fought to prove messenger RNA can viably be used in medicine is widely known today. In just as little as two years, the world has learned about mRNA technology and how fast it can react when the need arises holding almost unlimited promises in future applications. As always is the case with “instant hits” in science, the ride was actually very long and bumpy, but more on that later.  What is mRNA? In very simple terms: messenger ribonucleic acids (or mRNAs in short) are the body’s natural way to transport messages from o...
Source: The Medical Futurist - July 12, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Forecast Biotechnology Future of Medicine Nanotechnology cancer cancer research covid19 vaccine research HIV mRNA messenger RNA cancer vaccine malaria malaria vaccine HIV vaccine pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer va Source Type: blogs

mRNA Vaccines: From Tackling A Pandemic To Treating Cancer
The story of the multi-decade uphill battle Katalin Karikó and her fellow researchers fought to prove messenger RNA can viably be used in medicine is widely known today. In just as little as two years, the world has learned about mRNA technology and how fast it can react when the need arises holding almost unlimited promises in future applications. As always is the case with “instant hits” in science, the ride was actually very long and bumpy, but more on that later.  What is mRNA? In very simple terms: messenger ribonucleic acids (or mRNAs in short) are the body’s natural way to transport messages from o...
Source: The Medical Futurist - July 12, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Forecast Biotechnology Future of Medicine Nanotechnology cancer cancer research covid19 vaccine research HIV mRNA messenger RNA cancer vaccine malaria malaria vaccine HIV vaccine pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer va Source Type: blogs

These Vitamins Help Fight COVID-19
These vitamins could reduce respiratory conditions and COVID-19 infections. (Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog)
Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog - July 10, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Mina Dean Tags: COVID19 Source Type: blogs

That Time ADHD Helped Me Win a Couple of Auctions
The problem with chronic illness is that it's boring. I don't mean for the person stricken in bed and suffering. Who cares about them, right ⸮ I am referring to everybody else who finds the subject duller than a twenty-four hour CSPAN marathon. When the chronically sick try to tell others about their struggles, they are likely to receive no small degree of exasperation from people who can't hide their dismay, as if to say"What? This again?"Of course, not everybody is so callous, and even if they are, they aren't likely to be so open about it. They'll smile at you, nod their head sympathetica...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - July 8, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Goodreads Journaling Source Type: blogs

Fight Aging! Newsletter, July 4th 2022
This study showed that centenarians had very specific changes in CD4+ T cell populations, which were manifested by an elevated Th17/Treg ratio in vivo, as well as a changed secretory phenotype. Although the T cells of centenarians cannot resist the aging-related expression of proinflammatory genes, their secretory phenotype was altered, explaining the relatively low level of inflammation in centenarians. These results suggested the presence of a mechanism to ameliorate inflammaging in centenarians. This may be achieved by reversing the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Longevit...
Source: Fight Aging! - July 3, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs

Aging is Complex and Shifts Dramatically Over Late Life as it Accelerates
My attention was drawn recently to an open access paper from earlier in the year that illustrates the magnitude of the difference between aging in early old age versus later old age. The causes of aging are comparatively simple forms of damage and disarray that emerge from the normal operation of metabolism, but because a living being is an immensely complicated system, even simple damage quickly spirals into complex consequences. Simple changes in a complex system produce complex outcomes. Aging greatly changes pace and character in its early stages versus its late stages, as chains of cause and consequence pile up, and d...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 27, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs

Fight Aging! Newsletter, June 27th 2022
In conclusion, this study confirms that innate immune training can be induced in aging healthy individuals as well as critically ill sepsis patients. We found that innate immune training can be induced regardless of age and there was no substantive difference in the immune trained phenotype as a function of age. We employed β-glucan as our immune training stimulus. The ability of glucan to induce the trained phenotype suggests that it may be possible to pharmacologically induce the immune trained phenotype in aging human immunocytes. Sitting Time Correlates with Mortality Risk https://www.fightaging.org/archi...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 26, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs

Voting Republican is bad for your health
 Literally. A study byWarraich HJ, Kumar P, Nasir K, Joynt Maddox KE, and Wadhera RK in BMJfinds this:  There has actually been lots of previous research on this general question. As the authors note, " Previous studies have shown that counties that elect Republican candidates tend to experience worse health outcomes, such as fewer gains in life expectancy and increased rates of opioid prescription.56789, " so this is just further confirmation. As they summarize their fndings, " the mortality gap between white residents in Democratic versus Republican counties increased fourfold. Rural  Republican count...
Source: Stayin' Alive - June 24, 2022 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Trained Immunity Improves Function in Aged Innate Immune Cells
In conclusion, this study confirms that innate immune training can be induced in aging healthy individuals as well as critically ill sepsis patients. We found that innate immune training can be induced regardless of age and there was no substantive difference in the immune trained phenotype as a function of age. We employed β-glucan as our immune training stimulus. The ability of glucan to induce the trained phenotype suggests that it may be possible to pharmacologically induce the immune trained phenotype in aging human immunocytes. (Source: Fight Aging!)
Source: Fight Aging! - June 22, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs

Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitoring: Interview with Jiang Li, CEO at Vivalink
Blood pressure is a crucial factor in cardiovascular health, but measuring it using conventional pressurized cuff systems in a doctor’s clinic is prone to unreliable results. A one-off measurement merely offers a clinician with one snapshot in time, potentially missing an intermittent issue. However, patients can also be prone to “white coat syndrome,” where anxiety during such measurements can lead to significantly misleading results. Continuous measurements are preferable, but pressure cuff-based systems are cumbersome and inconvenient to wear on the move. This has inspired cuffless monitors, but some of these, ...
Source: Medgadget - June 13, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Cardiology Exclusive cuffless bp Vivalink Source Type: blogs

Public Alerted to Omicron in New Mexico Through Quick Detection
Genetic material inside a virus. Credit: iStock. Over the past 2 years, you’ve probably heard a lot about the spread of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—and the emergence of variants. The discovery and tracking of these variants is possible thanks to genomic surveillance, a technique that involves sequencing and analyzing the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles from many COVID-19 patients. Genomic surveillance has not only shed light on how SARS-CoV-2 has evolved and spread, but it has also helped public health officials decide when to introduce measures to help protect people. In December 2021, the N...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - June 1, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Genes Injury and Illness COVID-19 Genomics Infectious Diseases Viruses Source Type: blogs

Smart Pacifier Monitors Electrolyte Levels
At Washington State University a team developed a smart pacifier that can provide continuous monitoring of electrolyte levels in saliva. The measurements could help to avoid twice daily blood draws for premature infants. Blood draws are currently routine practice to monitor for signs of dehydration, which can be dangerous for infants born prematurely. The new pacifier uses microfluidic channels to draw saliva inside, and then sensors within the device measure sodium and potassium ion concentrations and transmit the data wirelessly to a caregiver through Bluetooth. Premature infants are incredibly delicate and require a ...
Source: Medgadget - May 26, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Pediatrics WSU Source Type: blogs

Does a Single Troponin below the 99th percentile URL Rule out Acute MI if the Chest pain is very prolonged?
A 66 y.o. male who presented for chest pain that started this AM when he woke up, and has  persisted throughout the day prompting him to call 911. He says the pain is dull in nature and located across the chest, does not radiate, that it isworse with exhalation. He denies worsening with activity or positioning.  He endorses SOB and requested to sit up. He says this has not happened to him before. He endorses cough productive of yellow sputum.  He denies any edema. Denies history of venous thromboembolism.  He endorses a 50 pack year history of smoking. He denies recent illness or recent s...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - May 26, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs

Case of the Week 683
Answer to Case 683:Cryptosporidiumsp. oocystsThe following OUTSTANDING discussion is from our guest author, Hadel Go, a third year medical student with a strong interest in clinical parasitology._________________________________________We received some excellent feedback! Thank you all for leaving comments on the blog, on Twitter, and on LinkedIn.Yes, these areCryptosporidium oocysts. These protozoans can be identified by their size and consistent red color on modified acid-fast staining of stool samples. They can also be diagnosed from H&E stained tissue biopsies (see images here:Cryptosporidium, parasitewonders.com),...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - May 22, 2022 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs

Are You a Warm Demander? | TAPP 115
We once again revisitdeadline extensions, we discusswarm demanders and how they avoidtoxic rigor, we discoverwhich arm is best for a vaccine booster, we find out if we cangrow new auditory hair cells, we get tips on how tospeak more effectively while wearing a mask, and learn about a new discovery aboutoxygen absorption in the intestines.  Can we breathe through our anus? Listen to find out!00:00 | Introduction01:02 | Growing New Auditory Hair Cells06:19 | Mask Talk: Loud, Slow,& Clear11:17 | Sponsored by AAA12:21 | Which Arm for That Booster?15:32 | Intestinal Breathing19:40 | Sponsored by HAPI21:03 | Deadlines, ...
Source: The A and P Professor - May 17, 2022 Category: Physiology Authors: Kevin Patton Source Type: blogs