Ayurvedic Medicines to cure Coronary Artery Disease

Global Warming Impact on Animals - Part 3

NEW DRUG TO COMBAT SKIN CANCER DEVELOPED

APOBEC- A KEY DEFENSE PROTEIN CAUSES CANCER

APOBEC-2 is a member of the APOBEC family

A recent study conducted by a team of Swiss and Russian scientists led by Sergey Nikolaev at the University of Geneva, Switzerland deciphered that APOBEC, a defense protein that usually functions as protecting agent against viral infection causes cancer in human beings.

APOBEC is a family of intrinsic cellular protein which has the power to modify a single-stranded DNA. Since the viral DNA is being frequently single stranded, the double stranded human DNA cannot be altered.

About 20% of APOBEC mutations arise due to abnormality in the DNA called "double-stranded breaks" where a part of the DNA is in a single-stranded state for a period of time causing multiple mutations. Researchers were able to govern the remaining 80% of APOBEC related mutations. They managed to identify in which direction the replication fork was travelling through the human cells. During the cell division process, the DNA replication starts at a specific location to produce two identical copies from the original DNA. The replication fork is caused by the separation of two original strands and synthesis of the new ones. DNA replication process is a dangerous mutagen when it takes advantage of a weakness during the DNA replication process thereby inducing mutations in our genome.

As a result, new strands are rebuilt as the fork moves along the chromosome. The two strands are replicated in two different mechanisms depending on the direction of the replication fork. Hence the reconstruction of strands is possible only when one of the them are constructed immediately.

Therefore, one strand i.e. the "leading strand" never exists as single stranded DNA whereas the other strand " lagging strand" continues to be single stranded for a period of time. Researchers were able to discover twice as many mutations on the "lagging strand" when compared with "leading strand". Findings suggested that APOBEC takes advantage of the DNA when "lagging strand" remains single and weak.

DNA replication process:

DNA replication process is a process of creating two identical replicas from the original DNA molecule which ensures that the next generation of cells contains the same genetic information.

DNA replication process

Leading strand:

It is one of the two strands which is oriented in 5' to 3' direction travelling towards the replication fork. It is synthesized continuously with no breaks in between.

Lagging strand:

It is a single stranded DNA replicated in 3' to 5' which moves away from the replication fork. It is synthesized discontinuously in fragments known as Okazaki fragments.

Okazaki Fragments:

Okazaki Fragments is a relatively short fragment of DNA which is formed on the lagging template strand during the DNA replication process. In 1968, Reiji Okazaki, a pioneer Japanese molecular biologist along with his wife Tsuneko Okazaki and their colleagues discovered Okazaki fragments while conducting a research on replication of bacteriophage DNA in Escherichia coli.

Some of the encoding members of APOBEC protein family are mentioned below:

• APOBEC3G (A3G): is a single stranded DNA which acts as an effective cellular host defending agent prohibiting the expression of the functional form of the HIV encoded protein Vif. When this wild type of Vif attacks the A3G enzyme, all sorts of host defense advantage provided by A3G gradually diminishes and thereby promoting the emergence of new virulent strains of the HIV virus.A3G acts as a double agent in defense. It can either be an anti-viral factor capable of destroying the virus or it can help diversify viral genomes through gene mutation allowing the virus to be more resistant to drugs.To be more effective, the A3G should be incorporated into the virus.

Protein APOBEC 3G

• APOBEC-1 (A1): It is a cytidine deaminase which is linked with cholesterol control, cancer development and inhibition of viral replication. Levels of A1 is extremely low in the human liver and small intestine but higher in gastrointestinal epithelial cells. A1 is highly expressed in rodents with a wide tissue distribution.
• APOBEC 3A: It is a DNA cytidine deaminase commonly found in human beings, non-human primates and mammals containing antiviral effects. Studies suggests that APOBEC 3A can inhibit activity against parvoviruses, retroviruses, adeno associated virus (AAV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), foreign DNA and mobility of retrotransposons.

• Activation induced cytidine deaminase: AICDA is an enzyme which creates mutations in DNA by converting cytosine into uracil.

APOBEC Cytidine Deaminase and cancer:

DNA Cytidine deaminase APOBEC3B accounts for multiple human cancers. The researchers discovered that mutations induced by APOBEC3B can be found in many tumorous cells throughout the genome. There are presence of APOBEC mutation pattern in bladder, cervical, breast, head and neck, and lung cancers.

ZIKA VIRUS - ALARMING THREAT TO PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW-BORN BABIES

The outbreak of Zika virus in Latin American and Caribbean nations spreads panic among the officials. They have warned women to avoid pregnancy amid concerns over an illness causing severe birth defects. Many countries including Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica recommended delaying of pregnancies until more was known about this malignant disease. The pregnant women may not be aware of the danger from the sting of the mosquito bite followed by fever due to Zika virus until it strikes their unborn child. It is suspected to be the cause of microcephaly or abnormally smaller heads  resulting  in brain damage. US health authorities have issued travel warnings to pregnant women in certain countries like South America, Africa, Oceania and Caribbean. The virus is expected to spread more drastically covering local areas in Barbados, Bolivia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, Venezuela, Cape Verde in Africa and Samoa in the South Pacific.

 Baby Jose Wesley being bathed in a bucket, Poco Fundo, Brazil. His microcephalic condition was diagnosed a couple of days after his birth

What is Zika Virus?

Zika virus which is a member of Flaviviridae virus family is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted to human beings by Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. It is interconnected with similar pathogenic vector borne Flavivirus such as dengue, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis producing a comparatively mild febrile viral illness known as Zika fever in humans. The incubation period ranges between 3 to 12 days.

Aedes albopictus

    Aedes aegypti mosquito

Spotlight on Zika Virus:

The virus was first identified in April 1947 when a rhesus monkey living in the Zika forest of Uganda developed an unknown febrile illness. Scientists isolated a new transmissible agent from the sick monkey and named it Zika virus. The vector of Zika virus was finally confirmed in 1948 when the same virus was discovered in an Aedes africanus mosquito trapped in the same forest. Researchers were unable to trace any evidence of human infection with ZIKV until twenty years later when it was isolated from human patients in Nigeria.

In 2007, an outbreak of illness characterized by skin rashes, conjunctivitis and arthralgia was reported on the Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia, but the outbreak caused only mild illness among 108 confirmed cases.

Since 2015, the current outbreak of Zika virus that began in Brazil has now progressed to other countries in Central and South America and to the Caribbean Islands.

Causes of Outbreak in Brazil:

Local authorities suspected the outbreak was due to a massive influx of foreign visitors attending the 2014 Fifa World Cup combined with large population of Aedes aegypti and A. Albopictus mosquitoes in the region. The virus had previously been existed only in some parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Counter measures to eradicate virus carrying mosquitoes:

With just few months away before the highly anticipated 2016 Summer Olympics going to be hosted in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil's Ministry of health has announced its countermeasures to ensure safety and protection of Olympic athletes as well as spectators from  Zika virus who are expected in the city. Based on their countings that August is relatively a drier month in Brazil, the population of mosquitoes that spreads disease could be much lower than at present. Further steps are put forward by the authorities such as inspecting the facilities four months before the events as well as fumigation. However, the latter will only be implemented in extreme cases to avoid health issues for athletes and audiences. Stadium premises will be swept clean daily.

Risk of local Zika Transmission

Symptoms of Zika Virus:

• Low grade fever
• Skin Rashes and Pruritus (severe itching of the skin)
• Arthralgia (pain in a joint) with possible swollen joints.
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
•  Myalgia (Muscle pain)
• Headache
• Asthenia (a chronic respiratory disease)
• Digestive problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation
• Aphthae (mucous membrane ulcerations- a small ulcer formed in groups in the mouth or on the tongue)

Diagnosis:

Consult a healthcare provider and explain to him in detail how you developed the symptoms and from when and where you contracted the virus? The healthcare provider conducts the necessary blood tests to confirm any virus infection like Zika or other similar viruses like Dengue, chikungunya.

Treatment:

Currently, there is no specific anti-viral treatment or medicine for Zika virus infection available. Patients are advised to take plenty of rest and drink fluids to prevent dehydration.

Travel guidance related to Zika Virus:

Travelers are strongly recommended to protect themselves from mosquito bites by:

• Wear appropriate clothing like long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent tick bites and mosquito bites.
• Walk in the center of hiking trails and stay away from wooded and brushy areas with high grass, brush and leaves where the ticks are more active.
• The tsetse fly which lives in the sub-Saharan Africa can contract African sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis.
• Prevent tsetse fly bites by wearing neutral -colored clothing since they are more attracted to very bright and dark colors, metallic fabric.
• Avoid bushes during the day time. The tsetse fly usually rests in bushes and will bite if disturbed.
• Apply insect repellants containing Deet, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus which are safe for pregnant and nursing women, but not advisable for children under the age of 3.
• Avail permethrin treated clothing and gear such as boots, pants, socks and tents to kill or repel insects such as mosquitoes and ticks.
• The tsetse flies are attracted to moving vehicles, so inspect the vehicle for any flies before entering.
• Sleep in " screened-in or air-conditioned rooms."

Countries confirmed with Zika virus cases

Mother Nature as Healer

Nature cures not the physician said the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. It has been known for centuries that nature has a healing quality. People are drawn to nature in many ways. They instinctively turn to outdoors as a way of relaxing and to enhance their well-being. It is a source of inspiration, comfort, guidance and regeneration. Some die-hard nature lovers are allured to a specific aspect of nature such as meditating on a mountain, laying on a wildflower field, strolling beside a meandering stream or rambling in redwood groves. Studies have revealed the fact that contact with nature can lower blood pressure, sharpen mental states, improve behavior and learning among children.

Wild animals first seek solitude and absolute relaxation while relying on complete remedies of nature. They know unerringly which herbs will cure what ills. The ability of the creatures to pick what they need can be uncanny. For example: a bear grubbing for fern roots; a wild turkey impelling her babies in a cool and rainy spell to eat leaves of the spice bush, an animal bitten by a poisonous snake, confidently masticating snakeroot. An animal with fever quickly spots an airy, shady place near water, there remaining quite, eats nothing but drinks often until its health is fully recovered. An animal afflicted by rheumatism discovers a suitable location to lay under the hot sunlight until misery bakes out.

A series of deadly diseases emerged from medical treatment intended to cure other diseases known as iatrogenic ailments. A drug named cortisone has been hailed as a wonder cure for arthritis. This drug bring skin rashes, ulcers and minimize body's resistance to infection as an after effect. Certain anti-biotic have been found to damage the liver that cause anemia or tumors. A drug formerly was used as a sedative, thalidomide so-called safe sleeping pill was responsible for congenital malformation in new born babies, but later banned in UK in the early 60's.Many people today still believe that naturopathy is the most safest and suitable remedies for curing disease. Naturopaths believe that one should lead a simple life free from stress, anxiety and worry, get plenty of fresh air, regular exercise and a balanced diet. The body needs natural foods uncontaminated by new virulent drug resistant superbugs ,synthetically manufactured food additives, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and pharmaceutical medications.

Hippocrates believed in the life force, a healing power present in the body itself could improve the balance of health. He and his followers implemented some fresh air, a plain diet with use of spices to purge impurities from heart and lungs by means of sneezing, massage, water treatment, wine or barley water as drinks.

Hippocrates, who believed that disease and cure were both natural processes, with Galen, the last of the ancient physicians

Hydrotherapy:

A hot bath is a liquid hypo therapy or Hydrotherapy, which acts as a cleansing agent has a peaceful and soothing effect and makes you feel insulated from your troubles.

History of Hydrotherapy:

Water therapy has been around for centuries. It is one of the oldest form of therapy that have been used for the treatment of disease and injury by many cultures comprising of ancient Rome, China and Japan. The Ancient Greeks took therapeutic baths. The Romans took over the idea of bathing from the Greeks and they built vast public baths or thermae which made available to all Romans for a small charge. Social life encircled around the palatial buildings where ordinary men, women could enjoy hot baths, cold baths, vapor and shower baths. During those times, a special instrument called strigils were used to scrape against their body instead of soap. The early Christians had a misconception that hot baths led to wickedness and the thermae fell into ruins. They raised no objection to cold water. Pagan Europe had many healing wells or springs dedicated to various local deities where pilgrims drank the water and immersed their body in it. During the 14th century, some waters were acclaimed to eliminate curse of barrenness in women.

The Fountain of Youth, a painting by the 16th century German Lucas Cranach depicts how old women become young girls after a dip in the magical waters.

By 1580, a French scholar Montaigne during his visit to the spas of Europe, discovered a new way to dissolve his kidney stone by water. He found hot springs, warm springs and waters that contained elements of liquorice oriron, alum or sulphur. By late 16th century, throughout the entire Europe, cult of water cure escalated. Doctors encouraged their patients to drink them that contained medicinal properties. Even when waters had little therapeutic powers, the chances of recovering health at a spa were often higher.

In 19th century, a peasant farmer Vincenz Preissnitz well-known as Water Demon of Grafenburg is generally considered the founder of modern hydro-therapy. His cold water cures were demanding. In 1816, he was seriously injured when his ribs were crushed by a wagon and doctors declared his case was fatal. But he eventually succeeded by curing himself, keeping a cold wet compress to his chest for a year. He eventually became renowned for applying principles of water therapy to other afflictions and started healing animals and his neighbors by pouring cold water.

Vincenz Priessnitz, Water Demon of Grafenburg, 'father of modern hydrotherapy'

History of Homeopathy

A German physician Samuel Hahnemann who was an erudite, religious man, a linguist and a chemist introduced a new method of treatment called homeopathy which is derived from Greek word, homios meaning like and pathos meaning suffering. In 1790, he tested the powers of quinine on himself when he developed symptoms of fever. He conducted other experiments with other substances and concluded that like cures like. He believed that the proper drug reacted by setting an antagonistic fever which battled against the illness.

Curing scurvy by Lemon juice:

When a disease is detected and a cure is recommended, the treatment could take several years to gain acceptance. One such case materialized in 1593, a fatal and painful disease known as Scurvy caused by lack of Vitamin C, a substance that occurs in several vegetables and fruits, especially in citrus fruits. An English admiral Sir Richard Hawkins son of the Elizabethan pirate and explorer Sir John Hawkins complained of scurvy from which tens of thousands of sailors died. He said that most fruitful for this illness is sour oranges and lemons. James Lind, a British naval surgeon proclaimed that the disease could be cured by adding mustard cress, tamarinds, oranges or lemons in the diet.

Dosing tailors with lime juice as a preventive against scurvy on an Arctic expedition

Senior Citizens and their ageing problems

Old Age:

Old age is a natural process and each individual has to proceed with this process. When an individual grows older and older, he or she might need a helping hand. During this stage, an individual will not be able to sustain his/her mobility and independence. Many elderly people  during this stage have no kin to turn to for assistance. It is very crucial that at this stage he or she requires assistance/backing and support from his family members or relatives in order to perform their daily activities and overcome their ongoing health challenges.

Old age can be defined as when a person becomes old. It can also be defined in another way, the final stage of normal life span in human beings. It is the ultimate stage in the life processes of an individual.

A Senior Citizen confiding and solving problems

Symptoms of Mental Illness /Old age:

Quiet often old age draws us closer mostly with health related problems. Some of the signs of old age are mentioned below:

• When the older adults are encountering /suffering from aches and pains. Notice that there will be a transformation or change in their behavior or mood. They appear to be sulky, bad-tempered or in a depressed mood.
• Memory loss is yet another common and challenging problems  of the geriatric population in the world over. A person fails to remember or recollect the names of the people with whom he/she interacts with or even failing to memorize activities that took place very recently.
• When there is a sudden fall/drop in the way the older adults dress and take care of the home. They show no signs of interest in brushing, bathing and dressing neatly. The main factor for this decline might possible be they have lost confidence to manage on their own.
• Another instance of old age is where a person is unable to make out or distinguish the exact taste or flavor in the food or if he/she has hurt severely and does not feel any burning sensation.
• Loss of hearing.
• Loss of appetite in the older adults is a major concern. They become increasingly picky about the choice of foods. Dental problems could be one of the factor such as dental caries or absence of teeth. Indigestion or inability to procure foods of their liking is another reason for the loss of appetite.
• Lack of mobility is one of the biggest challenge faced by the elderly. They are more vulnerable/liable to falls. With weak bones there are higher chances of risk to fractures and head injuries .
•  Loss of control over urine is another regular/frequent problem with the older adults. It is mainly due to stress incontinence or prostate. Lung Infection like Pneumonia might be another factor responsible for urinary incontinence.

An elderly women using a walking cane

Common Health issues faced by the elderly:  

These are some of the common physical and mental illness found in the elderly:

·         Acute cognitive impairment(Dementia):  Most common mental health issue found among the elderly is acute cognitive impairment which is particularly caused by Alzheimer's Disease. An individual finds trouble in learning and remembering new things, concentrating or making decisions that affect their everyday life.

• Manifest signs of severe depression, anxiety and gloominess
• Heart failure 
• High blood pressure 
• Hypertension         
• Vascular Disease       
• Arthritis
•  Diabetes           
• Breathing problems         
• Sleeping disorders  
• Osteoporosis      
• Parkinson's Disease       
• Hearing Loss        
• Vision problems (cataract, glaucoma, Macular Degeneration)
• 
  
  Overcoming health issues in old aging:

These are some of the successful tips to overcome health issues in old age:

• Follow and maintain healthy habits and positive life styles.
• Quit cigarette smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
•  Maintain the triad of exercise, weight-bearing, aerobic, and balance activities.
• Get regular health exams and test.
• Cultivate intellectual stimulization and socialization.
• Engage in social activities such as dancing.
• Build a healthy family relationship.
• Take part in challenging adult educational activities to revitalize your mind.
•  Make practical and effective use of community support and local senior centers to overcome. physical limitations like difficulty in walking and balancing problems.
•  Be sensible in financial planning such as management of assets and investments.

News report on elderly abuse:

The Press Trust of India reported on 17th of December 2015 that a 59-year-old Indranee Pumbien, an Indian origin home care owner based in UK was sentenced to 18 months in jail for elderly abuse. She was found guilty of imposing an elderly resident failing to pursue immediate assistance for a 99-year old women who was cauterized in a hot bath.

Caregiving for the elderly:  

Family members are the bedrock of a stressed healthcare system: They should accomplish certain tasks  to ensure long-term care of their elder adults in the following manner:

• Observe symptoms and keep track of complex medication regimes.
•  Personal care assistance
•  Carry out housekeeping tasks
• Provide guidance and support
• Handle troublesome behaviors such as wandering, aggression and hallucinations
• Administer financial planning

Elderly Care