408-854-1883 starts at $30 per hr home care

By Angela Chen

The team of Japanese researchers led by Katsuhiko Hayashi first took cells from the tails of 10-week-old female brown mice. (That’s about 30 in human years.) Next, they turned the skin cells into a special type of cell called induced pluripotent stem cells, which can divide and form different cells, according to the study published this week in Nature Research.

The pluripotent stem cells were covered with chemicals that encouraged them to specifically turn into immature egg cells. After adding some tissue from the ovaries of mouse fetuses, they became mature eggs. Finally, the researchers fertilized the eggs and transplanted the embryos into surrogate mice. In total, eight mouse babies were born from 1,348 embryos.

This is an exciting step forward, but there are several big limitations. One is that the process didn’t work most of the time and even when it did, the eggs weren’t very healthy. After all, only eight mouse babies were born from over a thousand embryos. Of those, two were eaten by the mothers, possibly because they were abnormal.

“If we could make human eggs, it could be a very powerful tool for curing infertility, Hayashi told New Scientist about the technique. “From a technical point of view it could work.”

Join 25,000 people in helping redefine health with health concierge and precision medicine.

https://clubalthea.com/2016/10/14/your-complete-dna-sequence-will-help-shape-the-future-of-medicine/

http://www.nature.com/onc/journal/v35/n41/fig_tab/onc201677f9.html#figure-title

Join 25,000 people in helping redefine health with health concierge and precision medicine.

https://clubalthea.com/2016/10/14/your-complete-dna-sequence-will-help-shape-the-future-of-medicine/

The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG axis) refers to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonadal glands as if these individual endocrine glands were a single entity. Because these glands often act in concert, physiologists andendocrinologists find it convenient and descriptive to speak of them as a single system.

The HPG axis plays a critical part in the development and regulation of a number of the body’s systems, such as the reproductive and immune systems. Fluctuations in this axis cause changes in the hormones produced by each gland and have various local and systemic effects on the body.

The axis controls development, reproduction, and aging in animals. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is secreted from the hypothalamus by GnRH-expressing neurons. The anterior portion of the pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and the gonads produce estrogen and testosterone.

In oviparous organisms (e.g. fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds), the HPG axis is commonly referred to as the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis (HPGL-axis) in females. Many egg-yolk and chorionic proteins are synthesized heterologously in the liver, which are necessary for oocyte growth and development. Examples of such necessary liver proteins are vitellogenin and choriogenin.

The HPA, HPG, and HPT axes are three pathways in which the hypothalamus and pituitary direct neuroendocrine function.

Genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities are two sources of HPG axis alteration.^[15] Single mutations usually lead to changes in binding ability of the hormone and receptor leading to inactivation or over activation. These mutations can occur in the genes coding for GnRH, LH, and FSH or their receptors. Depending on which hormone and receptor are unable to bind different effects occur but all alter the HPG axis.

For example, the male mutation of the GnRH coding gene could result in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. A mutation that cause a gain of function for LH receptor can result in a condition known as testotoxicosis, which cause puberty to occur between ages 2–3 years. Loss of function of LH receptors can cause male pseudohermaphroditism. In females mutations would have analogous effects. Hormone replacement can be used to initiate puberty and continue if the gene mutation occurs in the gene coding for the hormone. Chromosomal mutations tend to affect the androgen production rather than the HPG axis.

Suppression

The HPG axis can be suppressed by hormonal birth control administration. Although often described as preventing pregnancy by mimicking the pregnancy state, hormonal birth control is effective because it works on the HPG axis to mimic the luteal phase of a woman’s cycle. The primary active ingredients are synthetic progesterones, which mimic biologically derived progesterone. The synthetic progesterone prevent the hypothalamus from releasing GnRH and the pituitary from releasing LH and FSH; therefore it prevents the ovarian cycle from entering the menstrual phase and prevents follicle development and ovulation. Also as a result, many of the side effects are similar to the symptoms of pregnancy. Alzheimer’s has been shown to have a hormonal component, which could possibly be used as a method to prevent the disease.^[16]

The HPG axis can also be suppressed by GnRH antagonists or continuous administration of GnRH agonist, such as in the following applications

• Ovarian suppression as breast cancer management, to prevent the body’s formation of estrogen which may stimulate breast cancer cells. This is generally done by continuous administration of GnRH agonist.
• Ovulation suppression as part of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in in vitro fertilization, in order to prevent the spontaneous ovulation of ovarian follicles before they can be harvested.

Environment can have large impact on the HPG axis. One example is women with eating disorders suffer from oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. Starvation from anorexia nervosa or bulimia causes the HPG axis to deactivate causing women’s ovarian and uterine cycles to stop. Stress, physical exercise, and weight loss have been correlated with oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.^[17] Similarly environmental factors can also affect men such as stress causing impotence. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can affect the hormones regulating fetal development resulting in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Join 25,000 people in helping redefine health with health concierge and precision medicine.

https://clubalthea.com/2016/10/14/your-complete-dna-sequence-will-help-shape-the-future-of-medicine/

Researchers believe that gene mutations, the environment and even the human microbiome are involved in autoimmune diseases, citing such environmental stimuli as smoking, obesity, sun exposure and infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. These diseases often run in familiesand, while rare, some people can suffer from more than one at the same time, known as polyautoimmunity.

While my sister-in-law’s mother had alopecia, her daughter — my niece — developed a different autoimmune disorder, Hashimoto’s disease, when she was 10.

“Autoimmune diseases appear to be a mismatch between genes and the environment,” says David Hafler, chairman of the department of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine. “It’s not one gene; there are hundreds of common genetic variants which together lead to disease. But all this also raises the question of why we have not found the smoking gun that defines the gender risk.”

Women typically mount a more vigorous immune response than men to infections and vaccinations, producing higher levels of antibodies. In the case of autoimmune disorders, this trait seems to backfire. “Robust immunity in females can be good evolutionarily, but too much immunity can be bad if directed toward self,” says Rhonda Voskuhl, a professor of neurology at UCLA who studies multiple sclerosis.

Scientists believe that sex hormones also may play a role, because many autoimmune disorders occur in women soon after puberty. Some studies, in fact, suggest that the female hormones estrogen andprolactin stimulate the growth of B cell autoantibodies.

Recently, PTPN22 has been associated with multiple autoimmune diseases includingType I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, Addison’s disease, Myasthenia Gravis, vitiligo, systemic sclerosis juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part.^[1] There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases.^[1] Nearly any body part can be involved.^[2]Commons symptoms include low grade fever and feeling tired. Often symptoms come and go.^[1]

The cause is generally unknown.^[2] Some autoimmune diseases run in families such as lupus and certain cases may be triggered by infections or other environmental factors. Some common autoimmune disease includeceliac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1, Graves disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, andsystemic lupus erythematosus. The diagnosis can be difficult to determine.^[1]

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and immunosuppressants are often used.^[1] Intravenous Immunoglobulin may also occasionally be used.^[3]While treatment usually improves symptoms they do not typically cure the disease.^[1]

About 24 million (7%) of people in the United States are affected by an autoimmune disease.^[1][2] Women are more commonly affected than men. Often they start during adulthood.^[1] The first autoimmune diseases were described in the early 1900s.

Join 25,000 people in helping redefine health with health concierge and precision medicine.

https://clubalthea.com/2016/10/14/your-complete-dna-sequence-will-help-shape-the-future-of-medicine/

A combination of several of these signs that you may have an autoimmune disease include:

1. Joint pain, muscle pain or weakness or a tremor

2. Weight loss, insomnia, heat intolerance or rapid heartbeat

3. Recurrent rashes or hives, sun-sensitivity, a butterfly-shaped rash across your nose and cheeks.

4. Difficulty concentrating or focusing

5. Feeling tired or fatigued, weight gain or cold intolerance

6. Hair loss or white patches on your skin or inside your mouth

7. Abdominal pain, blood or mucus in your stool, diarrhea or mouth ulcers

8. Dry eyes, mouth or skin

9. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

10. Multiple miscarriages or blood clots

Antinuclear antibodies and the conditions with which they are associated include the following:

• Anti-centromere antibodies: Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (CREST syndrome), primary biliary cirrhosis, proximal scleroderma
• Anti-dsDNA: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Anti-gp210: Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Anti-histone antibodies: SLE and drug-induced lupus erythematosus (LE)
• Anti-Jo1: Polymyositis, dermatomyositis
• Anti-La/SS-B autoantibodies: Primary Sjögren syndrome
• Anti-p62: Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Anti-PM-Scl: Polymyositis/systemic sclerosis (PM/SSc) overlap syndrome
• Anti-RNP: Mixed connective-tissue disease, SLE
• Anti-Ro/SS-A autoantibodies: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren syndrome, neonatal heart block
• Anti-Sm (Smith): SLE
• Anti-sp100: Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Anti-topoisomerase antibodies: Scleroderma

Other autoantibodies and associated diseases include the following:

• Anti-CCP: Rheumatoid arthritis
• Anti-ganglioside antibodies: Miller-Fisher syndrome, acute motor axonal neuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block
• Anti-mitochondrial antibody: Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Antiphospholipid antibodies: Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Anti-smooth muscle antibody: Chronic autoimmune hepatitis
• Anti-SRP: Polymyositis
• Anti-thyroid autoantibodies: Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease
• Anti-transglutaminase antibodies: Celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis
• c-ANCA: Wegener granulomatosis
• Liver kidney microsomal type 1 antibody: Autoimmune hepatitis
• Lupus anticoagulant: SLE
• p-ANCA: Wegener granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, systemic vasculitides
• Rheumatoid factor: Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Consumers want convenience. To meet patient needs, software solutions must be user-friendly.  Patients want to locate the information they need quickly, and they expect the information to be easy to comprehend.
2. Patients can easily register and fill out forms within a secure platform.  Basic information is stored when they set up an account, and the system “remembers” them the next time they login.
3. Patients appreciate the convenience and flexibility of bill-paying capabilities anytime, anywhere, through multiple channels. Notifications can be included to remind them when bills are due.  Person-centered software also provides accurate cost estimates and clear explanations of account balances.
4. Patients fare better when they receive alerts and reminders about prescription refills and upcoming appointments. Once notified, they can schedule appointments or request refills through the portal.
5. Patients expect to access their account from multiple devices (smartphone, desktop, tablet).
6. Comprehensive software solutions allow patients to communicate with providers at their convenience through emails or text messages.
7. In accordance with meaningful use guidelines, software should allow patients to have real-time access to their health records. They’re more likely to be involved in their care if they can easily retrieve this information.
8. Revenue is optimized and patients are empowered when they’re educated about their health.  Patient-centered technology solutions can supplement the education that begins in the doctor’s office.

Join 25,000 people in helping redefine health with health concierge and precision medicine.

https://clubalthea.com/2016/10/14/your-complete-dna-sequence-will-help-shape-the-future-of-medicine/