How do Muscles Feel Pain

Health Basics, Lifestyle

Your body needs to sense how long your muscles are to understand their position to help them function more efficiently. They have tiny sensory organs called muscle spindles. These are the sensory nerves that tell how long are short the muscle is worth it is quickly stretched.

Muscles have pain receptors in the membranes that surround them as well as where blood vessels course in the muscle. Research published in 2010 sheds new light onto how pain is felt in relation to these muscle spindles. When the muscle is injured such as an overload or a sprain strain these pain receptors are activated. Damage to these filaments can contribute to chronic muscle pain.

Journal: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0011131

Lipid turnover rates and aging insight may help with regenerative medicine

, Body Contouring, Health Basics, Lifestyle, Regenerative Medicine

A better understanding of lipids cellular metabolism may have clinical applications with regenerative medicine in the future. A recent article published in the journal Nature Medicine investigates an interesting question. Why do many older people struggle to keep from gaining excess weight? This longitudinal study took place over a 13-year period and they studied the fat cells of 54 men and 41 women who had gastric bypass type surgery. They found that over time the rate of lipid turnover in these individuals slowed up. This decreasing rate of processing fat appeared to be an independent variable on a cellular level. It also suggested that one way to increase lipid metabolism is regular exercise.

Regenerative Medicine and Human Neural Networks

Lifestyle, Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine has reached another milestone. Scientist from the University of California San Diego have demonstrated neural network activity which mimics early human brain activity. Using pluripotent stem cells the researchers were able to place them in an environment which promoted the development of brain tissue. The development progressed far enough to actually begin demonstrating neural network activity. These were observed using EEG technology. While these group of neural cells are only about the size of a pea, this is a huge development in using regenerative medicine to create human brain tissue.

exercise healthy mind

Exercise and well being

Environment, Health Basics, Lifestyle, Motivation

The physical health benefits of exercise are widely understood and agreed upon. The benefits of exercise for a healthy mind is also commonly understood. A new research study from the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine from this year have demonstrated this healthy benefit for the mind through scientific research. Practitioners at inpatient psychiatric facilities acquired baseline reporting for their patients feelings. They measured levels of anger,  anxiety, depression, self-esteem and overall moods. They had roughly 100 patients exercise routinely in a gym for 30 minutes a day and then re-evaluated there in patients experiences. They found a significant reduction in negative feelings and an increase in their feelings of well-being. Overall patients were very pleased with structural exercises and the doctors saw a decrease in the amount of time they needed to be in the hospital and hopefully a reduction in the medications that were needed. Checking with the physician before beginning an exercise program is an important part. Exercise is good for the body and the mind. Self esteem and feeling good about yourself are both very important.

self esteem well being

Identifying higher risk prostate cancer patients

Health Basics, Lifestyle, Regenerative Medicine

A study that was published in the January issue of Mayo Clinic proceedings indicated genetic alterations maybe used as a marker in determining higher risk prostate cancer patients. When a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer and it is felt to be lower risk, treatment decisions have to be made between them and their doctor. The publication indicated that genetic markers may be analyzed in these patients to help determine if they should be more aggressive with their treatment or not. This is good news for men’s health and working with their physician.

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30546-9/fulltext

Elevated levels of a newly discovered molecule responsible for aging bones

Health Basics, Lifestyle, Regenerative Medicine

As we age, our bodies increasingly produce a molecule that suppresses certain functions. As levels of this regulatory molecule rise, key signalling molecules that mediate bone growth decline. Older bodies suppress stem cell production on a molecular level, scientists report.

Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University have uncovered exciting evidence of systemic alterations that occur with age. Their work has revealed how bones weaken and deteriorate in the aging body. One molecule in particular – microRNA-141-3P – appears to accumulate in bone tissue over time. Scientists have found that elevated levels of microRNA-141-3P are associated with osteoporosis and assorted bone pathology. The problematic molecule inhibits the absorption of vitamin C by various bone cells. It prevents the skeleton from effectively utilizing vitamin C – slowly starving bones of a much needed nutrient. This systemic shift in nutrition limits the resources available for normal bone growth. Over time, aging bones weaken and osteoporosis can develop.

Researchers suspected that suppressing microRNA-141-3P could keep bones processing vitamin C and regenerating themselves for far longer than they would under normal aging conditions. Rodent test subjects were treated with a clinical grade inhibitor of microRNA-141-3P; the result was younger, stronger bones. Scientists theorize that a similar inhibiting medication could be used in human subjects to reverse and prevent bone deterioration. The research is compelling and paints an optimistic picture of beneficial anti-aging therapy.

Development and distribution of this drug are likely far in the future. Nevertheless, the research indicates that scientists may be able to keep bones younger, for longer. By regulating a single key component of a complex cellular network, bone aging may be prevented.

  1. Sudharsan Periyasamy-Thandavan, John Burke, Bharati Mendhe, Galina Kondrikova, Ravindra Kolhe, Monte Hunter, Carlos M Isales, Mark W Hamrick, William D Hill, Sadanand Fulzele. MicroRNA-141-3p negatively modulates SDF-1 expression in age dependent pathophysiology of human and murine bone marrow stromal cells. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly186

Gene mutation associated with hair loss and wrinkles

Health Basics, Lifestyle, Regenerative Medicine, Wrinkles

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have been experimenting with mouse mitochondrial DNA. When they introduce a mutation into this gene sequence, mice develop hair loss and wrinkles. When this gene mutation is reversed and turned back on to normal, the mice returned to smooth skin and normal fur again. They also noticed that the mice seemed to have less energy and move more slowly. What is interesting is that these external signs of aging were able to be reversed.

Bhupendra Singh, Trenton R. Schoeb, Prachi Bajpai, Andrzej Slominski, Keshav K. Singh. Reversing wrinkled skin and hair loss in mice by restoring mitochondrial function. Cell Death & Disease, 2018; 9 (7) DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0765-9

Eat Raw for a Mental Boost

Health Basics, Lifestyle

A healthy diet can sometimes be simple to prepare. Researchers at the University of Otago have published a paper indicating that eating raw fruits and vegetables may have a more positive effect on your mental health than cooking them first. They speculate cooking some of these foods may diminish the nutrient content making them unavailable to your body. Some of the foods they suggest are carrots, bananas, apples, dark leafy greens such as spinach, grapefruit, lettuce, citrus fruits, fresh berries, cucumber, and kiwifruit.

 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00487/full

Illinois Medical Society

Lifestyle, Uncategorized
For many years now Dr AJ Cummings has been invited to attend the Illinois State Medical Society House of Delegates Meeting. Here, policy for the state society is developed and voted upon. Important issues are discussed and implemented which can have an impact on health care and access to health care in our state. This year’s convention was held this past weekend in Oak Brook.

Skin problems can affect the quality of life

IPL Photo Facial, Lifestyle

In this study researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine compared two questionnaires to evaluate the impact of sun spots on a patients’ quality of life. Both tools were effective in evaluating the quality of life, which was affected by dark spots. Understanding this can help guide treatment choices.

Mayra B. C. Maymone, Hind H. Neamah, Eric A. Secemsky, Neelam A. Vashi. Correlating the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Skin Discoloration Impact Evaluation Questionnaire tools in disorders of hyperpigmentation. The Journal of Dermatology, 2018; 45 (3): 361 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.14172

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