Last month, it was announced that European Space Agency’s astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who is living in the International Space Station (ISS), would be testing Danish startup SAGA Space Architects’ Circadian Light Panel, a new lighting system specially designed to improve the astronauts’ sleep patterns.

Using seven types of LED lights to cover a custom light spectrum emitted at different angles and wavelengths, the light panel will adjust the lighting in accordance with Andreas Mogensen’s sleep schedules to induce alertness or drowsiness. Unlike the previous system, this one is fully automatic.

As you may already know, sleeping in space isn’t easy. Due to lack of gravity, ISS inhabitants can’t lay down in beds but sleep in bags that are strapped to the walls of small sleeping quarters. But even if they get used to floating as they sleep, many of them suffer from insomnia because, as they orbit the Earth, they see the sunset and the sunrise every 90 minutes.

This innovative circadian lighting technology was originally developed to help astronauts sleep better while in space. The unique lighting system mimics the natural light patterns on Earth, which play a crucial role in regulating our sleep-wake cycles, also known as our circadian rhythm.

On Earth, many people experience disruptions in their sleep patterns due to a lack of exposure to natural light. Modern lifestyles often involve spending long hours indoors, away from sunlight, which can lead to sleep disorders and other health issues. Circadian lighting has been brought back to Earth to address these issues and improve the overall well-being of individuals.

One article that sheds light on the importance of natural light for our sleep patterns is “Uncovering the Connection: Exploring the Link Between Hearing Voices and Hearing Your Own Voice”. This article discusses the impact of natural light on our mental health and cognitive function. It highlights the role of light in regulating our sleep-wake cycles and how disruptions in these cycles can affect our overall well-being.

Research has shown that exposure to natural light, especially in the morning, helps synchronize our internal body clock and promotes better sleep at night. Natural light contains a specific wavelength of blue light that suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. By being exposed to natural light during the day, our bodies receive the signal to stay awake and alert, while in the evening, the absence of natural light triggers the production of melatonin, signaling our bodies to prepare for sleep.

Integrating the insights from the referenced article, we can understand how circadian lighting technology can play a crucial role in improving sleep patterns on Earth. By replicating the natural light spectrum and adjusting the lighting according to individual sleep schedules, circadian lighting systems can help regulate our circadian rhythm and promote better sleep.

Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of incorporating natural light into our daily routines. Spending time outdoors, especially in the morning, can have a positive impact on our sleep quality and overall well-being. By understanding the connection between natural light and our sleep patterns, we can make conscious efforts to prioritize exposure to natural light and create environments that support healthy sleep habits.

In conclusion, circadian lighting technology, originally developed for astronauts in space, has found its way back to Earth to address sleep disruptions caused by a lack of exposure to natural light. By incorporating the insights from the referenced article, we can further understand the importance of natural light for our sleep patterns and overall well-being. With advancements in circadian lighting systems, we have the opportunity to optimize our sleep environments and improve our sleep quality, leading to better health and productivity.

In 2022, David Bennett, a 57-year-old man from the US, made medical history by becoming the first human to receive a genetically modified pig’s heart. This groundbreaking surgery offered hope for patients with end-stage heart failure who were not eligible for a human heart transplant. However, Bennett’s story took a tragic turn when he passed away just two months after the surgery, not due to rejection of the foreign organ, but because the donor’s heart was already infected by a virus.

The news of Bennett’s death was disheartening, but it did not deter the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) from continuing their research and efforts in the field of xenotransplantation. In fact, just this year, UMSOM performed its second transplant using a genetically modified pig heart on a 58-year-old man on September 20. This marked the second time in the world that a genetically modified pig heart had been transplanted into a living patient.

The field of xenotransplantation, which involves the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another, has long been a topic of interest and research in the medical community. The shortage of human organs for transplantation has led scientists to explore alternative sources, such as animal organs, to meet the growing demand.

One article that sheds light on the potential of xenotransplantation is “A New Lease on Life: How NHS is Saving Children with Gene Therapy for MLD.” This article discusses how gene therapy has revolutionized the treatment of children with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. By modifying the genes of the patients’ own cells, doctors have been able to provide a new lease on life for these children, offering hope where there was once none.

While the article focuses on gene therapy for MLD, it highlights the power of genetic modification in medical advancements. This same principle applies to xenotransplantation, where scientists are modifying the genes of pigs to make their organs more compatible with the human body. By incorporating the referenced article, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the potential of genetic modification in medical treatments and how it extends beyond xenotransplantation.

As researchers continue to push the boundaries of medical science, it is important to acknowledge the risks and challenges associated with these groundbreaking procedures. The case of David Bennett serves as a reminder that there are still many hurdles to overcome in the field of xenotransplantation. However, with each new transplant and research breakthrough, we inch closer to a future where organ shortages are a thing of the past and patients like Bennett can have a second chance at life.

Sources:
1. https://interestingengineering.com/health/pig-heart-transplant-patient-died
2. https://paulwilliamsdds.com/a-new-lease-on-life-how-nhs-is-saving-children-with-gene-therapy-for-mld/

Scientists say they may have made the biggest breakthrough in treating cervical cancer in 20 years, using a course of existing, cheap drugs ahead of usual radiotherapy treatment.

Trial findings, revealed at the ESMO medical conference, show the approach cut the risk of women dying from the disease or the cancer returning by 35%.

Cancer Research UK, which funded the work, called the results “remarkable”.

It hopes clinics will soon start doing the same for patients.

Cervical cancer affects thousands of women each year in the UK, many in their early 30s. Despite improvements in radiotherapy care, cancer returns in up to a third of cases, meaning new approaches are very much needed.

Dr Iain Foulkes, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Timing is everything when you’re treating cancer.

“A growing body of evidence is showing the value of additional rounds of chemotherapy before other treatments like surgery and radiotherapy in several other cancers. Not only can it reduce the chances of cancer coming back, it can be delivered quickly using drugs already available worldwide.

“We’re excited for the improvements this trial could bring to cervical cancer treatment and hope short courses of induction chemotherapy will be rapidly adopted in the clinic.”

In the study, 250 women with cervical cancer received the new treatment – an intensive six-week course of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, followed by the “usual” treatment of radiotherapy plus weekly cisplatin and brachytherapy, known as chemoradiation.

Another 250 women – the control group – received only the usual chemoradiation.

Five years later, 80% of those who had received the new treatment were alive and 73% had not seen their cancer return or spread.

In comparison in the “usual” treatment group, 72% were alive and 64% had not seen their cancer return or spread.

Dr Mary McCormack, lead investigator of the trial from UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH, said: “Our trial shows that this short course of additional chemotherapy delivered immediately before the standard CRT can reduce the risk of the cancer returning or death by 35%.

“This is the biggest improvement in outcome in this disease in over 20 years.”

She told the BBC’s Today programme: “The important thing here is that if patients are alive and well, without the cancer recurring at five years, then they are very likely to be cured, so that’s what makes this very exciting.”

Because the two chemotherapy drugs are cheap, accessible and already approved for use in patients, experts say they could become a new standard of care relatively quickly.

However, they caution that not every woman with cervical cancer might get the same beneficial outcomes from the treatment. Many of the women in the study had cancers that had not yet started to spread elsewhere in the body. It is unclear how well the therapy would work for women with more advanced disease.

The drugs can also cause unwelcome side effects, including sickness or nausea, and hair loss.

References:

• Trial findings
• ESMO medical conference

Yesterday I listened to an interview with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on Modern Wisdom (one of my favorite podcasts). I’ve listened to her on other podcasts before, but found this recent episode especially interesting. Lyon is a functional medicine physician and founded the Institute of Muscle-Centric Medicine. Her perspective is that while we do certainly have an obesity crisis in the United States, what we’re actually dealing with is a severely “under-muscled” population that focuses too much on dieting and losing weight, rather than improving metabolic health and retaining muscle as we age.

Why is the ideal image of a “fit” older person someone who is able to walk or do yoga? What if we replaced that with an 85 year old woman who still squats and deadlifts regularly, and who moves better than many 50 year olds?

“Older adults who participated in weight lifting exercise had significantly lower mortality before and after factoring in aerobic exercise participation, and importantly, those who did both types of exercise had the lowest risk,” says lead author Jessica Gorzelitz, PhD, researcher in the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National Cancer Institute.

Having more skeletal muscle helps keep you alive longer. Unfortunately as we tell people to move more and eat less as they age, we are encouraging them to lose weight (and a large percentage of that is metabolism-boosting muscle).

If older adults were encouraged to focus on improving their body composition, rather than being told they need to lose weight maybe we could reduce the prevalence of metabolic disorders in the United States. An older population that maintains muscle and keeps their metabolism functioning well will be at a lower risk for things like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

And another way this skeletal muscle will keep people alive is preventing them from falling. In older adults, a fall can be a devastating event that leaves them unable to care for themselves and with a far lower quality of life. One way to prevent that is to maintain leg strength into your older years. If you have the strength to catch yourself if you trip, you’ll end up unharmed instead of with a broken hip.

The importance of dietary protein cannot be underestimated in the diets of older adults; inadequate protein intake contributes to a decrease in reserve capacity, increased skin fragility, decreased immune function, poorer healing, and longer recuperation from illness.

Emphasizing adequate intake of protein and other nutrients rather than telling people to lose weight as they age will lead to better health outcomes, increased healthspans, and reduced risk for other age-related issues.

The effects of inadequate protein intake (especially sarcopenia, the loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process) are especially apparent in elderly women. Adding skeletal muscle is often avoided in this population as women are more likely to prioritize being thin over maintaining a healthy body composition and being physically strong.

Learn more about Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on her website.

An artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool has been created by researchers to predict a cancer patient’s odds of long-term survival after a fresh diagnosis.

According to main study author Lauren Janczewski, MD, a clinical scholar with ACS Cancer Programs and a general surgery resident at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center, Chicago, estimated survival rates for cancer patients currently primarily depend on disease stage and do not offer enough details to estimate an accurate survival time.

“There is a multitude of other factors that may influence a patient’s survival beyond just their staging criteria,” Dr. Janczewski said. “We sought to develop this Cancer Survival Calculator to provide a more personalized estimate of what patients can expect regarding their cancer prognosis.”

When it comes to cancer, accurate prognosis is crucial for patients and their families. It helps them make informed decisions about treatment options, plan for the future, and cope with the emotional and physical challenges that lie ahead. Traditionally, survival rates have been based on disease stage, which provides a general idea of a patient’s prognosis. However, this approach fails to take into account the individual characteristics and circumstances that can significantly impact survival.

That’s where the AI-based Cancer Survival Calculator comes in. By analyzing a multitude of factors beyond disease stage, such as age, sex, tumor size, and genetic markers, the tool provides a more personalized estimate of a patient’s long-term survival. This information can help doctors and patients have more meaningful discussions about treatment options and set realistic expectations.

But how accurate is this AI tool? A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) evaluated the performance of the Cancer Survival Calculator and found promising results. The study compared the predictions made by the tool with actual survival outcomes of cancer patients and found that the tool’s estimates were highly accurate.

The referenced article from Paul Williams DDS, titled “A New Lease on Life: How NHS is Saving Children with Gene Therapy for MLD,” provides an interesting perspective on the advancements in cancer treatment. While the article focuses on gene therapy for a specific condition, it highlights the potential of personalized medicine in improving patient outcomes.

Personalized medicine, which tailors treatment plans to an individual’s unique characteristics, is a growing field in cancer research. The Cancer Survival Calculator is a prime example of how AI and personalized medicine can work together to provide better prognostic information and guide treatment decisions.

By incorporating the insights from the referenced article, we can see how gene therapy and other targeted treatments are revolutionizing cancer care. These advancements, combined with tools like the Cancer Survival Calculator, offer hope for improved outcomes and a brighter future for cancer patients.

In conclusion, the development of an AI-based Cancer Survival Calculator is a significant step forward in improving prognostic accuracy for cancer patients. By considering a multitude of factors beyond disease stage, this tool provides a more personalized estimate of long-term survival. The referenced article on gene therapy further emphasizes the potential of personalized medicine in transforming cancer treatment. Together, these advancements offer hope for better outcomes and a more tailored approach to cancer care.

A study on mice has shown that progressive resistance strength training can mitigate the negative metabolic effects of a high-protein diet. The research unveiled that while sedentary mice on a high-protein diet accumulated more fat, those subjected to resistance training showed muscle growth and less fat accumulation. However, their blood sugar control was still adversely affected by the high protein intake. The research underscores the significance of resistance training for those on high-protein diets, especially for sedentary individuals.

Strength training with resistance may counteract the adverse impacts of a high-protein diet, according to new research in mice.

The study, recently published in the journal eLife, presents what the editors describe as a valuable finding on the relationship between a high-protein diet and resistance exercise on fat accumulation and glucose homeostasis, supported by solid evidence. They say the findings will be relevant to dietitians and others trying to understand links between dietary protein, diabetes, and exercise.

Dietary Protein: Benefits and Risks

Dietary protein provides essential nutrients that control a wide variety of processes in the body and can influence health and lifespan. Protein consumption is generally thought of as good, promoting muscle growth and strength, especially when combined with exercise. Yet in people with a sedentary lifestyle, too much protein can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and death.

“We know that low-protein diets and diets with reduced levels of specific amino acids promote healthspan and lifespan in animals and that the short-term restriction of protein improves the health of metabolically unhealthy, adult humans,” explains lead author Michaela Trautman, Research Assistant at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, US. “But this presents a paradox – if high dietary protein is so harmful, many people with high-protein diets or protein supplements would be overweight and at an increased risk of diabetes, whereas athletes with high-protein diets are among the most metabolically healthy.”

Experiment Overview

To examine the possibility that exercise can protect against the detrimental effects of a high-protein diet, the researchers used a progressive resistance-based strength training program in mice. The animals pulled a cart carrying an increasing load of weight down a track three times per week for a three-month period or pulled an identical cart without any load for the same time period.

One group of mice was fed a low-protein diet (7% of calories from protein) and a second group was fed a high-protein diet (36% of calories from protein). The team then compared the body composition, weight, and metabolic measurements, such as blood glucose, of the different groups.

Findings and Implications

The results were as the team expected: the high-protein diet impaired metabolic health in sedentary mice pulling no weight; these mice gained excess fat mass compared to the low-protein diet mice. But in the mice pulling the increasing weight, a high-protein diet led to muscle growth, especially in the forearm, and protected the animals from gaining fat. However, the exercise did not protect the mice from the effects of high protein on blood sugar control.

Additionally, although the high-protein-fed mice gained strength more quickly than the low-protein-fed mice, there was no difference in the maximum weight each set of mice could pull by the end of the study period, even though the mice fed high-protein diets were bigger and had larger muscles.

Although the evidence supporting the claims of the study was considered to be solid, the editors highlighted a couple of limitations. For instance, the use of mice might limit the generalisability of the findings to humans, due to inherent physiological differences. The editors note that the findings would also be strengthened further by the inclusion of a direct investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed results.

“We know that many people deliberately consuming high-protein diets or consuming protein supplements to support their exercise regimen are not metabolically unhealthy, despite the body of evidence showing that high-protein levels can have detrimental metabolic effects,” says senior author Dudley Lamming, Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin. “Our research may explain this conundrum, by showing that resistance exercise protects from high-protein-induced fat gain in mice. This suggests that metabolically unhealthy, sedentary individuals with a high-protein diet or protein supplements might benefit from either reducing their protein intake or more resistance exercise.”

Reference: “Resistance exercise protects mice from protein-induced fat accretion” by Michaela E. Trautman, Leah N. Braucher, Christian Elliehausen, Wenyuan G. Zhu, Esther Zelenovskiy, Madelyn Green, Michelle M. Sonsalla, Chung-Yang Yeh, Troy A. Hornberger, Adam R. Konopka and Dudley W. Lamming, 16 October 2023, eLife.

Related Article: F.D.A. Advisers: Narcan Is Safe to Buy Over the Counter

While the study on mice provides valuable insights into the relationship between a high-protein diet and resistance exercise, it is important to consider the broader implications of protein consumption and its effects on health. One article that sheds light on this topic is “F.D.A. Advisers: Narcan Is Safe to Buy Over the Counter” by Paul Williams DDS.

The article discusses the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan to be sold over the counter. This decision has significant implications for public health and highlights the importance of accessibility to life-saving medications.

When considering the potential risks and benefits of a high-protein diet, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the broader healthcare landscape. The availability of medications like Narcan can help address the potential risks associated with high-protein diets, particularly in cases where individuals may be at a higher risk of heart disease or diabetes.

By incorporating the insights from the article on Narcan, we can better appreciate the multifaceted nature of healthcare and the interconnectedness of various research findings. While the study on mice provides valuable information specific to resistance exercise and high-protein diets, the article on Narcan broadens our perspective and reminds us of the importance of accessible healthcare interventions.

F.D.A. Advisers: Narcan is Safe to Buy Over the Counter!

Drug reversal has been on the rise over the past few years. Recently, experts have suggested that naloxone, commonly sold as Narcan, should be made available over the counter. Narcan is an opioid antagonist that works to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It has been used by emergency rooms and outreach workers for some time, but it is not available for average citizens to purchase.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee recently met to discuss the potential of making Narcan available over the counter. They concluded that it is safe and effective enough to be made available to the public. This decision is a landmark moment in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

The FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee arrived at their decision by considering the safety, effectiveness, and availability of Narcan. All of the experts agreed that Narcan is a safe and effective drug that should be made available over the counter. They noted that it has few side effects and is easy to use. Additionally, they noted that Narcan is already available in some states and with a doctor’s prescription, so it is not difficult to locate. The committee also discussed the fact that Narcan is not a drug of abuse and can be used to help save lives.

The FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee also discussed the potential for making Narcan available as easily as aspirin. They noted that Narcan is a life-saving drug and should be as easily accessible as possible. They also noted that Narcan could be packaged in smaller doses and sold in convenience stores, pharmacies, and other outlets that sell over-the-counter medications. This would make it more accessible and could potentially save lives.

If the FDA approves the sale of Narcan over the counter, it will be a huge step forward in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Narcan has already been used by emergency rooms and outreach workers to help save lives, and now it could potentially be made available to everyone. This could potentially reduce the number of opioid overdoses and could be a major breakthrough in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

Conclusion

The FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee recently concluded that Narcan is safe and effective enough to be made available over the counter. This is a major step forward in the fight against the opioid epidemic and could potentially reduce the number of overdoses. If the FDA approves the sale of Narcan over the counter, it could potentially be made as accessible as aspirin and could save countless lives.

A New Lease on Life: How NHS Is Saving Children With Gene Therapy for MLD

Mucolipidosis type II, or MLD, is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and causes mental retardation, physical disability, and premature death. Treatment for MLD has been limited in the past, with patients having to rely on medications and dietary restrictions to manage their symptoms. However, recent breakthroughs have allowed for a more effective form of treatment: gene therapy.

The National Health Service (NHS), Britain’s publicly-funded health service, is leading the way in gene therapy for MLD in children. NHS has developed a gene therapy called Glybera, which works by replacing the mutated gene responsible for MLD with a healthy gene. The process is carried out via a one-time injection directly into the patient’s liver, and is the first approved gene therapy for a rare disease in the UK. It has shown positive results in treating MLD in children, and is helping to give them a new lease on life.

The effectiveness of Glybera is hard to overstate. Since its introduction in 2011, it has helped countless children with MLD regain function and mobility, and even allowed some to lead relatively normal lives. The results are most evident in the children’s cognitive development, which has seen marked improvements in areas such as memory, language, and social skills. The therapy has also been shown to reduce the symptoms associated with MLD, such as joint stiffness, seizures, and difficulty breathing.

The success of Glybera has led to a renewed focus on gene therapy for MLD in the UK. NHS recently announced plans to expand access to the therapy, allowing more children with MLD to benefit from its effects. This has been welcomed by the families of MLD sufferers, who are now hopeful that their children can lead healthier, fuller lives.

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In addition to providing the therapy to children, NHS is also funding research into gene therapy for MLD. This is an important step towards finding a permanent cure for the disorder, and NHS is committed to supporting the research efforts of scientists and medical professionals. The aim is to find a way to either repair or replace the mutated gene that causes MLD, thus eliminating the need for ongoing treatment.

NHS is also committed to providing patients with the best care possible. This includes providing access to experts in MLD and providing support for families with MLD sufferers. They are also working to increase public awareness about the disorder, and to promote the benefits of gene therapy for MLD.

As NHS continues to work towards finding a cure for MLD, the success of Glybera is a testament to the power of gene therapy. It is helping to give children with MLD a new lease on life, and is offering hope to families who have long been without it. NHS is doing its part to ensure that these children can lead lives filled with promise and opportunity.

Conclusion

NHS is leading the way in providing gene therapy to children suffering from MLD. The Glybera gene therapy has provided a new lease on life to many children, giving them the chance to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. In addition, NHS is committed to providing the best care possible and to supporting research efforts that could lead to a permanent cure for MLD. This is a testament to the power of gene therapy and the dedication of NHS to providing the best care for its patients.