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Author: Sima

Published on Leave a comment on Humans May Be Able To Grow New Teeth In A Few Years
Human teeth Credit: Wikipedia

The idea of regrowing lost teeth is fabulous. A study focusing on a tooth regeneration treatment came out last year, but I just read about the study in Popular Mechanics and Dentistry Today.

The Japanese scientists pointed out that humans already have a third set of teeth available in their mouths as buds, and these have the potential to grow as needed. Some people with hyperdontia can already grow more than one full set of teeth (about 1% of the population). The scientists are now working on how to promote tooth regrowth by using an experimental drug.

Human trials are now ongoing. They hope to have a tooth-growing treatment available for general use by 2030. Stay tuned...

From Popular mechanics: Grow New Teeth Within Just 4 Years

    • While bones can regrow themselves when they break, teeth aren’t so lucky, and that leads to millions of people worldwide suffering from some form of edentulism, a.k.a. toothlessness.
    • Now, Japanese researchers are moving a promising, tooth-regrowing medicine into human trials.
    • If the trial is successful, the researchers hope the drug will become available for all forms of toothlessness sometime around 2030.

...continue reading "Humans May Be Able To Grow New Teeth In A Few Years"

Published on Leave a comment on Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health

Remember when health advice was to limit egg consumption, that they had too much cholesterol, and to only eat egg whites? Well.... studies in the last decade have proven that advice as being 100% wrong for a number of reasons. It turns out that eggs are a great source of a number of nutrients (e.g., choline) needed for brain health and memory function.

A recent study found that frequent egg consumption by persons (mean age 59 years at the start of the study) lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The researchers found that there was a 27% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease among persons who ate at least 5 eggs a week, but even eating fewer eggs was beneficial. The participants were followed for 15 years.

Other studies have also found a decreased risk of AD in persons eating eggs frequently - with one study finding that more than one egg consumed per week reduced the risk of developing AD up to 47%.

Some key nutrients necessary for brain health that are provided by eggs are: choline, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, tryptophan, phospholipids, and an omega-3 fat known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The researchers viewed the nutrients in eggs as being "neuroprotective" (protecting neurological function).

From Medical Xpress: Egg consumption associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

Consumption of eggs is associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease for those 65 years and older, according to researchers at Loma Linda University Health. Eating one egg per day for at least five days a week reduces the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 27%, researchers found. ...continue reading "Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health"

Published on Leave a comment on Large Review Finds Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs Don’t Work

A large review found that the Alzheimer's drugs now available (very expensive!) actually do not slow down the disease. They don't work. In other words, they should never have been approved.

The authors of the study said it appears that the drugs result in little to no difference ("no clinically meaningful effect") in a range of measures, including reducing dementia severity. And their use increases the risk of bleeding and swelling of the brain.

A few years ago journalists uncovered that there was significant fraud involved in the research and drug approvals (not surprising when so much money is involved).

For decades, Alzheimer's research mainly (only) focused on abnormal protein deposits in the brain (amyloid plaques) and misfolded protein tau tangles in the brain. But many researchers are suggesting that other causes of Alzheimer's should be looked at, including viral causes and chronic inflammation.

Excerpts from The Conversation: Alzheimer's Drugs Offer Little Benefit, Major Review Finds - And the Reasons Go Deeper Than the Science

How is it possible to spend tens of billions of dollars developing drugs to treat a serious disease that affects millions of people, and yet end up with something that does not work? This is a mystery that has bedevilled Alzheimer’s research for years. ...continue reading "Large Review Finds Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs Don’t Work"

Published on Leave a comment on Chronic Wasting Disease Now Found In 37 States

Yikes! Another state has detected its first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. It's Delaware!

This is worrisome because not only is this prion disease continuing its march throughout the USA and Canada in deer, moose, and elk, but scientists worry that it may cross species at some point and infect humans. Note that chronic wasting disease is always fatal. 100% of the time.

CWD is a neurologic prion disease similar to "mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease in humans. There is no vaccine, treatment, or cure for the disease.

From CIDRAP: Delaware becomes 37th state to detect CWD within its borders

With Delaware reporting its first detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) yesterday, the fatal neurodegenerative disease has now been found in 37 US states. ...continue reading "Chronic Wasting Disease Now Found In 37 States"

Published on Leave a comment on Common Knee Operation May Be Unnecessary
Human knees Credit: Wikipedia

It is incredibly hard to change routine medical practice, even when new evidence says that it does not help, and may even harm. A new study shows that a commonly done surgery called partial meniscectomy for knee cartilage damage (meniscal tears) actually does not help and may harm long-term.

The research (just published in the New England Journal of Medicine) found that people with knee meniscal tears who underwent surgery had more symptoms, poorer knee function, and worse osteoarthritis after 10 years, when compared to those who did not have the surgery. The study (146 patients followed for 10 years, 5 hospitals participating) was well done - the control group actually had "sham surgery", but did not actually get the procedure.

The actual surgery group did not appear to benefit and scored worse on a range of measures designed to measure knee function, pain, and progression of symptoms.

The results (and other studies having similar results) should result in a medical reversal regarding how frequently the procedure is done. But it is very hard for the medical establishment to change course, and also all that lucrative $$ from doing the procedure.

From Medical Xpress: One of the world's most common knee surgeries does not help and may even be harmful

Partial meniscectomy does not improve patient symptoms or function, reveals a 10-year follow-up of the FIDELITY, a placebo-surgery controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. ...continue reading "Common Knee Operation May Be Unnecessary"

Published on Leave a comment on Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated With Glaucoma
Human eye Credit: Wikipedia

Vision loss is a serious concern for people as they age. Recent research found that any kind hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used by postmenopausal women is associated with a 36% higher risk of developing glaucoma.

The study was conducted with 6576 Finnish women aged 50 years or older. The researchers also found that the longer a women used HRT, especially estrogen only HRT,  the greater the risk for glaucoma. All 3 types of HRT (estrogen only, progestogen only, or combined estrogen-progestogen) were associated with a higher risk for developing glaucoma:

From Medscape: Postmenopausal HRT Tied to Glaucoma Risk in Women

In Finnish women aged 50 years or older, the use of any postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was linked to a higher risk for developing glaucoma, with estrogen-only therapy specifically associated with the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma. ...continue reading "Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated With Glaucoma"

Published on Leave a comment on

Today is Earth Day! But things are looking bleak right now.

Climate change is not being addressed. In the US, the EPA has totally been reduced and basically dismantled. It's protect company profits at all costs, and forget the health of people and the environment. The new mantra seems to be "Drill, baby, drill!"

We only have one planet - Earth is our home. There is no plan B.

Published on Leave a comment on Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Increased Risk of Autism

This past year some officials in the US government have been stating that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of autism in the child. Most researchers disagreed. A recent large Danish study that followed pregnant women adds to the evidence that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen does not increase the risk of autism.

The Danish researchers found that there is no increased risk of autism in children whose mothers took acetaminophen (Tylenoacetamin) during pregnancy. The study looked at more than 1.5 million children who had been exposed to acetaminophen prenatally. The researchers looked at dose-responses to see if there was an increased risk at different doses or if there was an increased risk during different trimesters - nope, there wasn't.

Interestingly, they found that the children not exposed to acetaminophen during prenatally had a slightly higher rate of autism (but not statistically significant): "Of 1.5 million children, 31,098 (2.1%) were exposed to prescription acetaminophen during pregnancy. A total of 554 exposed children (1.8%) were later diagnosed with autism, compared with 44,667 children (3.0%) in the unexposed group."

From Medical Xpress: A major pregnancy scare collapses: Tylenol shows no autism risk in more than 1.5 million children

Acetaminophen, which also goes by names like paracetamol or Tylenol, is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is often prescribed during pregnancy to help with mild to moderate pain. Recently, there has been a lot of discourse about its safety. Claims have been made suggesting that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of autism in children. ...continue reading "Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Increased Risk of Autism"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Popular Anti-Aging Supplement Could Also Fuel Cancer Growth

Many people load up on all sorts of supplements thinking it'll give them better health and perhaps even extend their life span. But researchers found that one popular anti-aging supplement (known as spermidine) thought to extend the life-span could also be fueling the growth of cancer. How can this be?

The researchers found that the effects of polyamines (including spermidine), which are in all living cells, can either promote healthy aging or can fuel cancer growth. The difference was in which protein they influenced, and whether the cells were healthy to start with. In healthy cells they support cellular maintenance and energy production but in cancer cells they help drive rapid growth.

From Science Daily:  Scientists reveal why a popular anti-aging compound may also fuel cancer

Polyamines are naturally produced molecules present in all living cells. They play a vital role in basic biological functions, including cell growth and specialization. In recent years, scientists have focused on these compounds, especially spermidine, for their potential to support healthy aging. Often described as 'geroprotectors,' they have been shown to stimulate autophagy, a cellular recycling process that clears out damaged components. This benefit largely depends on a protein called eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A1).

At the same time, researchers have repeatedly observed high levels of polyamines in many types of cancer, where they are linked to aggressive tumor growth. This contrast has created a scientific puzzle. How can the same molecules that appear to promote longevity also be associated with cancer?
...continue reading "Study Finds Popular Anti-Aging Supplement Could Also Fuel Cancer Growth"

Published on Leave a comment on Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth

Pregnancy is a time when the developing baby is exposed to whatever the mother is exposed to. It turns out that this means pesticides (whether on food or in the yard or home) and "forever chemicals". Recent research found that newborns are born already exposed to many more "forever chemicals" (PFAS or per- and polyfluorinated substances) than previously believed.

In the study, the researchers identified 42 different PFAS in cord blood from 120 babies. So far other research has found some long-term effects from PFAS exposure before birth, such as lower birth weight, preterm birth, altered immune responses to vaccines, and metabolic changes.

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their buildup and persistence in people and the environment. They are of great concern because they are endocrine disruptors, have harmful health effects (e.g., cancer, kidney disease, fertility problems), and unfortunately are found in many products that people use daily.

There are thousands of these chemicals in use today. For example, they are found in any product using Teflon, in nonstick pots and pans, nonstick finishes, anti-stain finishes (e.g., in rugs and fabrics), some make-up (waterproof products), some dental floss, food packaging, fir-fighting foam, etc.

Bottom line: We can't avoid all exposures to environmental toxins, but we can lower our exposures, for example, by avoiding nonstick cookware (use stainless steel cookware or glass instead). [More tips on avoiding harmful chemicals.] This is especially important during pregnancy.

From Medical Xpress: Babies are exposed to more 'forever chemicals' before birth than previously known, new study finds

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed to many more "forever chemicals" before birth than scientists previously understood, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology. ...continue reading "Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth"