Health Related Science News
Whilst cruising the net looking for environmental news, I stumbled across some items that I figured would be of interest to at least some. So, without further ado ---
First an article covering some work indicating that a particular cancer drug can help with spinal injuries.
Injured spinal cord: Regeneration possible with epothilone? -- ScienceDaily The gist of it is:
Damage to the spinal cord rarely heals because the injured nerve cells fail to regenerate. The regrowth of their long nerve fibers is hindered by scar tissue and molecular processes inside the nerves. An international team of researchers led by DZNE scientists in Bonn now reports in Science that help might be on the way from an unexpected quarter: in animal studies, the cancer drug epothilone reduced the formation of scar tissue in injuries to the spinal cord and stimulated growth in damaged nerve cells. Both promoted neuronal regeneration and improved the animals' motor skills.
Another item dealing with healing is broader and more general, but also potentially more potent and important
Why do cells rush to heal a wound? Mysteries of wound healing unlocked -- ScienceDaily The basics:
A multidisciplinary research team has discovered how cells know to rush to a wound and heal it -- opening the door to new treatments for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The findings shed light on the mechanisms of cell migration, particularly in the wound-healing process. The results represent a major advancement for regenerative medicine, in which biomedical engineers and other researchers manipulate cells' form and function to create new tissues, and even organs, to repair, restore or replace those damaged by injury or disease.
Living longer, whether gracefully or not, may be aided by a new class of drugs.
New class of drugs dramatically increases healthy lifespan, mouse study suggests -- ScienceDaily Summarily:
Scientists have identified a new class of drugs that in animal models dramatically slows the aging process -- alleviating symptoms of frailty, improving cardiac function and extending a healthy lifespan.
But, that heart function improvement can maybe be obtained without the evils of drugs.
You are when you eat: Limiting flies to specific eating hours protects their hearts against aging, study finds -- ScienceDaily Interested in an ageless heart? Perhaps eating early is the key -
Limiting flies to specific eating hours protected their hearts against aging, a study has demonstrated. Previous research has found that people who tend to eat later in the day and into the night have a higher chance of developing heart disease than people who cut off their food consumption earlier. "So what's happening when people eat late?" asked a biologist whose research focuses on cardiovascular physiology. "They're not changing their diet, just the time."
Comments
Eating late
Only took a quick look, but wasn't sure if the inference was only to late night snacking of Americans or a life style that includes a later dining schedule such as Spain and many parts of the Mediteraanean.
I'd agree about the snacking, but would also argue that the amount of overall excercise you get each day in addition to the amount of time you're awake and digesting food before you go to sleep has more to do with a health y body than just what time you physically put the food in your mouth.
"Never separate the life you live from the words you speak." --Paul Wellstone
My Sweety is on a new regimen
The dietitian, speech pathologist and neurologist all stressed a 2000 calorie per day diet. She was told to embrace gravy, ice cream, cheese and other foods that were metered dosages. Quoting the neurologist, "Calories are medicine".
In the freezer now, Pumpkin Patch, Peppermint Cookie, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Banana Fro-YO, Black Cherry Fro-Yo, Strawberry and Rasberry Cheesecake gelato.
Believe it or not, I am down about 5 lbs.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
How the heck are you losing weight with all
that around? I'd need to have the freezer and cupboards locked with no access to the keys.
IDK
I make it to the gym 2-3 times per week and all household chores are mine, but it is not unusual to partake, then put a scoop on a brownie.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Re Snacking
These researchers, iirc, have something of a focus on circadain rhythms, and would ergo be looking for stuff that disturbs those. In cultures with somewhat tardy dinner times, I wonder if their breakfasts are likewise offset. It is, I think, to some etent a climatic adaptation, isn't it?
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
No doubt about the climate adaptation
It's too f'ing hot to eat, work or go to school, hence siesta.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Statins
I have been seeing more and more questioning their effectiveness and pointing at detrimental effects. I come from high cholesterol DNA and have been taking a statin. I am seriously considering getting off the statin and having the mid 200s cholesterol.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Tim, when Mr M was told that he had borderline high
cholesterol, he refused statins, and went on the prescribed diet. (BTW, he was not overweight, but lost almost 10 pounds in the process.)
Anyhoo, by the time of the 6-month checkup, he was well in the normal range. (Again, he was barely hitting the range, at all. But as is his nature, he 'nipped it in the bud.')
This is one reason he's pretty much become a vegetarian, like me.
I'd try it. Plus, Statins are relatively expensive.
BTW, hope Sweety's new nutritional regimen helps her a lot. If she has a sweet tooth, at all, she surely would like it.
I've paid more attention to diet the past several years.
Just yesterday, an optician thought that I had had 'laser surgery,' because of the difference between my prescription from a decade ago, and now.
Heck, I had no idea that my eyes had improved that much. The optometrist had only remarked once, in an off-hand manner, that my eyes had improved.
Of course, it was a pretty minor matter, but it was a pleasant surprise.
;-D
Mollie
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
SSDI
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
The good things
Not sure what happened with the other comment.
SSDI approval came in the Friday mail. SSDI and Medicare start 5/1. Application was Presidents Day.
Pain management. We followed the protocol and went to the pain management specialist. She started a cursory medical examination and quickly determined that everything was on the up and up. She wrote the prescription for Oxycotin.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Fantastic! And I'm glad to hear that she's not been denied
necessary meds.
And that has to be exceptional processing time of a SSDI claim. I am very happy for you Guys. It has to be a relief, I'm sure.
And for Medicare coverage, too. That is really great, especially if you're still under COBRA, and have a primary and a secondary carrier.
**********
We noticed only last week that several doctor's offices (family physicians) have begun to post signs saying:
This is not a pain management clinic.
in their windows.
I believe that this attests to the tightening up of, and reclassification of numerous pain killers from Schedule 3, to Schedule 2.
**********
When I picked up 'Mister B's' anti-anxiety/ OCD prescriptions at Walgreens the other day--he suffers from severe separation anxiety, and cannot be left alone under any circumstances, since he will injure himself to escape--I saw another sign pertaining to the reclassification.
Apparently, even more drugs (painkillers) were reclassified last October. The sign had probably been there a while, and I just didn't notice it.
Luckily, "pets" can participate in the 'W Club' at Walgreens.
"Mister B' was taking Clomipramine until the cost skyrocketed. (They've had to substitute the generic drug for Elavil.)
For years, we paid only $30 for Clomipramine every 90 days, which he has been on since a vet neurologist prescribed it 7 years ago.
When I went to get it refilled in September 2014--it had risen to between $2300 and $2500 at the three pharmacies above.
Guess we're lucky that his prescription for Desyrel has stayed very inexpensive. I have to wonder, though, if it is only a matter of time.
I suppose we'll see . . .
Mollie
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
The DEA crack down on pills is out of control
I've been in a pain clinic since 2000. I'm lucky that I don't get hassled when I go in for refills.
I want those that are making it harder for pain patients to walk a week in my shoes.
But how in the hell can they rationalize raising his meds from $30 to $2,500?
Greedy bastards!
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Greed and nothing else
The research, development and testing costs are long behind them. Pharmas costs don't go up after a drup is on the market.
"Never separate the life you live from the words you speak." --Paul Wellstone
I agree, SD. And one day I may post a diary on this
topic--the push to reclassify painkillers.
The push began at the same time that the ACA was signed into law. (The initial hearings, etc.)
Hey, SD, I'm glad that you're being spared (denial of painkillers).
I don't recall if I mentioned it in my comment above, but when I inquired in person at all three pharmacies as to "why" there would be such an astronomical price increase, the answer I got was: "Thank the ACA."
(And if you're thinking that they may all be right-wingers, well, they could be. Truthfully, I have no way of knowing their political ideology.)
But I do think that their is likely some connection, just as I'm convinced from the reporting that I've seen and read, that the so-called painkiller crisis was contrived, or overblown, at the very least.
After all, it is likely that out of the cohort of the 'uninsurables' who obtained health insurance coverage under the ACA, a sizable number probably put considerable demands on the system in terms of prescription drugs.
Certainly, insurance companies never take a hit. Any cost increases will be passed on. Same with pharmaceutical companies.
BTW, they added that Clomipramine is not the only 'older' drug that has skyrocketed in price in 2014.
*****
To be clear, 'Mister B's' meds are not painkillers.
They are both an older class of anti-anxiety and anti-depressants. To some extent, 'SA' is a doggie form of OCD.
It's really unfortunate, because Clomipramine is uniquely suited for what ails 'Mister B.'
Unfortunately, Elavil does not have the same proven efficacy, and is not FDA approved for 'SA.'
Of course, it is okay or safe for him to take it, and it is commonly prescribed off-label for dogs who cannot tolerate Clomipramine (or Clomicalm, by Novartis, which also discontinued this drug).
Mollie
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Statins
I refused to take them for about a decade. I have been on them for ~3 years and my cholesterol is in range, but I think they effect cognitive ability.
Diet might be tough. I am a carnivore. Good bread, good meat, good God, let's eat!
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Epothilone
I wonder whether it would help a ALS patient.
Experimental therapy -> Not covered by insurance. If a drug is not FDA approved for a particular ailment, the patient bears the expense. They basically want you to pay to be part of a clinical trial. WTF!
This ->
https://www.nuedexta.com/
was tested as a possible cure. Sweety takes it for a symptom. Just the monthly co-pay is $40.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Exercise versus wear and tear
Don't run on the street or side walk!
Lighter weight, more reps.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Mo Better
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Some mo better
Rufus Thomas........
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Exercise? You jest. WE used to dance to this stuff
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Put some soul in it
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
OK, how do I make the vids narrowier?
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
If you use...
the video uploader, you're at it's mercy. If you want to control the parameters use youtube's embed code and edit to your preference. Both the old object code and iframes work here.
Update: I'm pretty sure I can change the default width. It'll have to wait until I get some time though.
I keep getting blanks -> embed code
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Remove the...
"s" from https.
Tried that
Same embed code as I send for EB or Youtube code, I get the following.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hey, it didn't show in the preview
and now I know what is in the template.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -