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Wrist and Forearm Splints Causes and Recovery Period | Health | Article Point - 0 views

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    Wrist and forearm splints may be suggested for people with weak wrists or for those that have been previously injured, for tendonitis wrist support and even as a preventative for those who awaken in the morning with pain or numbness after sleeping on their hands at night. The best orthopedic wrist braces for carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational stabilization and relief from the pain of wrist strains and sprains. This Right hand wrist and forearm splint from tynor is meant to be used among patients suffering from any injury or sprain in these regions. The splint is meant to provide controlled compression in various orthopaedic conditions. The splint immobilizes the area that helps in a speedier recovery. It has anatomical thumb opening that allows free movement of the thumb. It provides a lot of comfort and is easily breathable. Forearm splint is the term used to describe the forearm pain similarly the pain of lower leg over the shin is known as shin splints. Forearm splint describes the painful disease of elbow or wrist joint. Continuous pain in forearm is often caused by tendonitis, joint injury or hairline fracture of forearm bones (proximal radius or ulna near elbow joint). Overstretching of the elbow joint often causes forearm injury. Symptoms consist of a dull pain in the forearm. Pain is minor initially but increases as activity continues. Often pin-pointed to the dorsal or back of the hand side of the forearm, mid-way between the wrist and elbow. The patient may experience weakness in the wrist extensor muscles and tenderness deep in the forearm. Pain may be reproduced by attempting to bend the wrist backwards against resistance. They provided wrist splints are used in different medical institutions and hospitals for management of hand fractures. Our offered wrist splints are manufactured by skilled professionals using optimum quality basic material and advanced technology as per the set norms of market. As well, these wrist splints can be availed in v
Nathan Goodyear

Multiple Myeloma Tumor Cells are Selectively Killed by Pharmacologically-dosed Ascorbic... - 0 views

  • Recent reports indicate that a certain ROS concentration is required for high-dose vitamin C to induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells.
  • The generation of ascorbyl- and H2O2 radicals by PAA increases ROS stress in cancer cells
  • In this study, we report that PAA is efficacious in killing MM cells in vitro and in vivo models, which generated levels of 20–40 mM ascorbate and 500 nM ascorbyl radicals after intraperitoneal administration of 4 g ascorbate per kilogram of body weight (Chen et al., 2008Chen et al., 2008), in xenograft MM mice
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  • These data suggest that PAA may show a therapeutic advantage to blood cancers vs solid tumors because of the communication between tumor cells and blood plasma
  • These results strongly suggest that the mechanism of PAA killing of MM cells is indeed iron-dependent
  • These results suggest that PAA administration in SMM may be able to prevent progression to symtomatic MM
  • A recent study by Yun and colleagues demonstrated that vitamin C selectively kills KRAS and BRAF mutant colorectal cancer cells by targeting GAPDH, but spares normal cells
  • RAS family genes show the most frequent mutations in MM. KRAS, NRAS and BRAF are mutated in 22%, 20% and 7% of MM samples
  • the disease stage rather than the mutation of RAS and/or BRAF is the major predictive factor for PAA sensitivity in MM treatment
  • Other molecular mechanisms including ATP depletion and ATM-AMPK signaling have been reported to explain PAA-induced cell death
  • our pilot study also suggested that PAA could overcome drug resistance to bortezomib in MM cells
  • Our findings complement reported studies and further address the mechanism of action using clinical samples in which we observed that PAA killed tumor cells with high iron content, suggesting that iron might be the initiator of PAA cytotoxicity
  • combination of PAA with standard therapeutic drugs, such as melphalan, may significantly reduce the dose of melphalan needed
  • Combined treatment of reduced dose melphalan with PAA achieved a significantly longer progression-free survival than the same dose of melphalan alone.
  • These data also suggest that the bone marrow suppression induced by high-dose melphalan can be ameliorated by the combination of PAA with lower dose of melphalan because of the lack of toxicity of PAA on normal cells with low iron content.
  • if creatinine clearance is <30 mL/min, high dose ascorbic acid should be not administrated.
  • In MM preclinical and clinical studies, ascorbate was used as an adjunct drug and showed controversial results (Harvey et al., 2009, Perrone et al., 2009, Held et al., 2013, Sharma et al., 2012, Nakano et al., 2011, Takahashi, 2010, Sharma et al., 2009, Qazilbash et al., 2008). However, none of these tests used pharmacological doses of ascorbate and intravenous administration
  • Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm.
  • Cameron and Pauling reported that high doses of vitamin C increased survival of patients with cancer
  • pharmacologically dosed ascorbic acid (PAA) 50–100 g (Chen et al., 2008, Padayatty et al., 2004, Hoffer et al., 2008, Padayatty et al., 2006, Welsh et al., 2013), administered intravenously, has potent anti-cancer activity and its role as anti-cancer therapy is being studied at the University of Iowa and in other centers
  • In the presence of catalytic metal ions like iron, PAA administered intravenously exerts pro-oxidant effects leading to the formation of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in cell death
  • the labile iron pool (LIP) is significantly elevated in MM cells
  • The survival of CD138+ cells in vitro was significantly decreased following PAA treatment in all 9 MM
  • In contrast, no significant change of cell viability was observed in CD138− BM cells from the same patients
  • The same effect of PAA was also observed in the SMM patients
  • no response to PAA was detected in CD138+ cells from the 2 MGUS patients
  • the combination of melphalan plus PAA showed greater tumor burden reduction than each drug alone, suggesting a synergistic activity between these two drugs
  • Both catalase and NAC protect cells from oxidative damage
  • cells pretreated with NAC and catalase became resistant to PAA even at high doses
  • adding deferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, to OCI-MY5 cells before PAA treatment was also sufficient to prevent PAA-induced cellular death
  • iron is essential for PAA to achieve its anti-cancer activity
  • PAA induced early necrosis (Fig. 3Fig. 3A, 60 min) followed by late apoptosis
  • results further indicated that PAA induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis
  • PAA by reacting with LIP and generating ROS induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in which AIF1 cleavage is important for cell death.
  • ROS and H2O2 are well known factors mediating PAA-induced cancer cell death
  • PAA was sensitive to all 9 MMs and 2 SMMs
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    animal study finds high-dose, pharmacologic vitamin C found to kill multiple myeloma cells via pro-oxidant effect found in similar studies in dealing with different cancers.
Nathan Goodyear

The psychoneuroendocrine-immunotherapy of cancer: Historical evolution and clinical res... - 0 views

  • It is known that immune system-induced destruction of cancer cells is mainly mediated by T cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+) and NK cells (CD16+), respectively, through an antigen-specific and an antigen nonspecific cytotoxicity
  • NK cells are mainly stimulated by IL-2 released by T helper-1 (TH1) lymphocytes (CD4+) while T cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+) are namely under a stimulatory control released by IL-12 produced by the dendritic cells
  • On the other hand, the anticancer immunity is inhibited by the activation of the macrophage system through the production of suppressive cytokines, such as IL-6 and T regulatory (T reg) lymphocytes (CD4+CD25+), which counteract the anticancer immunity by producing immunosuppressive cytokines inhibiting the secretion of both IL-2 and IL-12, including TGF-beta and IL-10, or by a direct cell-cell contact
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    to be read review of melatonin in cancer treatment.
Nathan Goodyear

Availability of evidence of benefits on overall survival and quality of life of cancer ... - 0 views

  • Although the goal of cancer treatment is to improve the quantity and quality of life,123 clinical trials designed to gain regulatory approval for new drugs often evaluate indirect or “surrogate” measures of drug efficacy. These endpoints show that an agent has biological activity, but they are not reliable surrogates for improved survival4567891011 or quality of life46111213
  • two recent systematic reviews suggest that the strength of association between surrogates in cancer clinical trials and life extension is generally low
  • Available data from the US show that only a small proportion of cancer treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unequivocally show benefits on survival or quality of life.30
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  • We sought to systematically evaluate the evidence base for all new drugs and new indications for the treatment of solid tumours and haematological malignancies approved by the EMA in the five year period 2009-13
  • Three investigators (AP, EP, and EG) independently extracted data on and descriptively analysed the following trial features: characteristics of the participant population, study design (randomisation, crossover from experimental to control group, and blinding of investigators and participants), experimental and control groups, enrolment, primary and secondary endpoints, magnitude of benefit on survival and quality of life, and narrative interpretation of the findings
  • Only 18 of the 68 (26%) were supported by a pivotal study powered to evaluate overall survival as the primary outcome
  • From 2009 to 2013, the EMA approved use of 48 oncology drugs
  • Seventeen drugs were approved for treatment of haematological malignancies and 51 for treatment of solid tumours
  • Overall, 72 clinical trials supported the approval of 68 novel drug uses
  • Our scoring was limited to drugs for solid tumours
  • Among 68 cancer drug indications approved by the EMA in the period 2009-13, and with a median of 5.4 years’ follow-up, only 35 (51%) were associated with a significant improvement in survival (26/35) or quality of life (9/35) over existing treatment options, placebo, or as add on treatment
  • Only two of the 26 drugs shown to extend life also showed benefits on quality of life
  • 33 (49%) had not shown any improvement on survival or quality of life
  • This systematic evaluation of oncology drug approvals by the EMA in 2009-13 shows that most of the drugs (39/68, 57%) entered the market without evidence of improved survival or quality of life
  • At a minimum 3.3 years after market entry, there was still no conclusive evidence that 33 of these 39 cancer drugs either extended or improved life
  • What are potential reasons for the paucity of drug approvals with demonstrable survival advantages over existing treatments?
  • Firstly, only 18 (26%) indications for use in our cohort were supported by trials in which extension of life was the primary outcome
  • None of the pivotal studies supporting oncology drug approvals from 2009 to 2013 included quality of life as a primary outcome measure
  • Most new oncology drugs authorised by the EMA in 2009-13 came onto the market without clear evidence that they improved the quality or quantity of patients’ lives
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    New study from European Medicines Agency questions alot of the new cancer drugs brought to the market 2009-2013.  57% of the new drugs (39/68) were brought to the market without evidence of improved survival or quality of life.
Nathan Goodyear

The Role of Vitamin C in Human Immunity and Its Treatment Potential Against COVID-19: A... - 0 views

  • vitamins A, B, C, E, B6, B12, folate, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium
  • White blood cells, including neutrophils and monocytes, accumulate concentrations of vitamin C up to 100 times greater than that of plasma
  • Vitamin C is a crucial component of both the innate (nonspecific) and adaptive (specific) portions of the immune system
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  • play a role during the initial chemotactic response of neutrophils shortly after infection
  • following vitamin C supplementation, a 20% increase in neutrophil chemotactic activity was observed
  • also contributes to the phagocytosis and killing of microbes by neutrophils
  • low levels of vitamin C occurring in high-stress situations
  • maturation, proliferation, and viability of T cells have all been shown to be upregulated by the presence of normal physiologic concentrations of vitamin C
  • Vitamin C has been shown to directly affect the number of Igs released from B cells
  • vitamin C among healthy young adult males showed a significant increase in serum levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM
  • effects of high-dose vitamin C on cytokine levels in cancer patients, finding decreased amounts of the cytokines Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-2, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) after high-dose vitamin C infusion
  • when vitamin C was supplemented with vitamin E in healthy adults, it increased the production of cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha
  • vitamin C acts to modulate the levels of cytokines to prevent them from fluctuating in either direction
  • vitamin C also acts as an important antioxidant to the cells of the immune system.
  • human leukocytes, neutrophils, in particular, possess the ability to transport the oxidized form of vitamin C across its membrane to use as a defense mechanism against ROS produced during an immune response
  • Vitamin C also can recover other endogenous antioxidants in the body such as vitamin E and glutathione, returning them to their active state
  • vitamin C can decrease the activation of NF-kB
  • can reduce harmful nitrogen-based compounds such as N-nitrosamines and nitrosamides, both of which are carcinogenic 
  • subjects taking oral vitamin C supplementation saw a 60% to 90% reduction in oxidative stress compared to a placebo control
  • subjects infused with vitamin C alone had a 516% increase in glutathione levels compared to subjects not provided the 500 mg daily supplementation
  • hydroxylating proline and lysine
  • mature and stabilize the tissue of a healing wound
  • healing
  • oral surgery
  • improved soft tissue regeneration
  • vitamin C increases the mRNA levels of type I and type III collagen in the human dermis
  • Studies have demonstrated that those with low levels of vitamin C are at a significantly higher risk of respiratory infection compared to those with normal levels
  • viral cold duration was reduced by about 8% in adults and 13.5% in children using prophylactic daily doses of 200 mg of oral vitamin C
  • prophylactically supplementing vitamin C decreases the risk of infection with respiratory viruses such as the common cold
  • combined with probiotics, oral vitamin C supplementation showed a 33% decrease in the incidence of respiratory tract infections in preschool-age children [
  • high-dose oral supplementation of vitamin C managed to prevent or reduce symptoms if taken before or just after the onset of cold- or flu-like symptoms
  • improvements in oxygen saturation and decreased IL-6 levels (a marker of inflammation) in the treatment group compared to the control group
  • 8 g doses of oral vitamin C
  • there is a negative correlation between age and serum levels of vitamin C
  • Patients with COVID-19 will likely also experience depletion in serum levels of vitamin C as a direct result of the upregulation of the immune system to combat the infection
  • Colunga et al. suggested that oral vitamin C can be combined with oral Quercetin, an antiviral flavonoid, to improve Quercetin’s ability to block viral membrane fusion of SARS-CoV-2
  • high doses of 1-2 g/day of oral vitamin C could prevent other upper respiratory infections
  • It appears vitamin C supplementation by itself does not provide a striking benefit in preventing COVID-19 infection for those without a deficiency
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      Flawed statement. What is normal? Vitamin D. Many variables effect levels and dose, including the two compartment kinetics and absorption.
  • Hiedra et al. were able to show decreases in inflammatory biomarkers, such as D-dimer and ferritin
  • some evidence to support that prophylactic use of vitamin C helps reduce the severity of respiratory infection symptoms once a subject has already been infected
  • oral vitamin C in combination with zinc provided the largest amount of antibody titers 42 days
  • linear relationship between days of vitamin C therapy and survival duration
  • other studies were unable to find any definitive improvement concerning therapy with vitamin C
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      Either these studies are designed to fail or the authors are lacking some basic understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics with vitamin C.
  • Fowler et al. aimed to see if a high-dose vitamin C infusion would benefit patients affected by ARDS, but they were unable to conclude that vitamin C infusion, compared to a placebo, could decrease vascular inflammation and damage in ARDS
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      At what dose, duration, frequency???
  • in a sample of 67 COVID-19-positive ICU patients, 82% of them displayed plasma vitamin C levels below 0.4 mg/dL
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      They are kind of make the point from my earlier note.
  • continuous vitamin C infusion at a rate of 60 mg/kg/day for four days decreased the need for mechanical ventilation and vasopressor use but had no significant effect on overall mortality
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      Again, designed to fail or ignorance designed the study which failed
  • Carr et al. suggested that high-dose IV vitamin C is most effective when treating sepsis as septic patients receiving the normal daily recommendations through diet still showed decreased vitamin C levels
  • High-dose IV vitamin C treatment has also been shown by Kakodkar et al. to decrease syndecan-1, an endothelial glycocalyx that contributes to mortality in septic patients
  • combined with hydrocortisone and thiamine, septic patients treated with 1.5 g of IV vitamin C every six hours showed a distinct decrease in their SOFA scores and none of the patients treated developed organ failure
  • combined with hydrocortisone and thiamine, septic patients treated with 1.5 g of IV vitamin C every six hours showed a distinct decrease in their SOFA scores and none of the patients treated developed organ failure
  • reduced overall mortality
  • reduced overall mortality
  • propose the use for high-dose vitamin C to aid in the treatment of septic shock-induced hypotension
  • treatment of severe sepsis using a high dose (up to 200 mg/kg/day) of IV vitamin C was explored in phase I, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial by Fowler et al. [75]. Their findings included a reduction in SOFA scores and decreased vascular injury compared to a placebo control group, all while showing minimal adverse side effects
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      High dose here is laughable. Again, duration and frequency also.
  • Maintaining a daily intake of 75 and 100 mg for men and women, respectively, as recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      This recommendation is FRANK IGNORANCE
Nathan Goodyear

Tumor regionalization after surgery: Roles of the tumor microenvironment and neutrophil... - 0 views

  • tumor surgery must be carefully considered because the risk of metastasis could be increased by the surgical procedure.
  • NETosis, which is the process of forming neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)
  • surgery-induced metastasis
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  • surgery per se can promote cancer metastasis through a series of local and systemic events
  • surgery results in a serious wound that disrupts the structural barrier preventing the outspreading of cancer cells, change the properties of the cancer cells and stromal cells remaining in the tumor microenvironment, or impairs the host defense systems against cancers
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      Key point; add to presentation on surgery and metastasis
  • After the primary tumor is surgically removed, the metastases can start to grow vigorously via neoangiogenesis because the circulating inhibitors disappear
  • infection and inflammation during the postoperative period have been reported to increase the risk of cancer recurrence in patients
  • Surgeons have long suspected that surgery, even if it is a necessary step in cancer treatment, facilitates cancer metastasis
  • Surgery-induced cancer metastasis has been well established in animal models
  • tumor cell dissemination, tumor-favoring immune responses, and neoangiogenesis
  • the surgical resection of primary tumors is beneficial is controversial
  • CTCs abruptly increase just after surgery
  • Even externally palpitating tumors for diagnosis could increase the numbers of CTCs in skin cancer and breast cancer
  • excessive glucocorticoids negatively modulate immune functions
  • immune surveillance against tumors is considered to be impaired by surgical stress
  • In addition to glucocorticoids, during stimulation of the HPA axis, the catecholamine hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine are released from the adrenal medulla
  • NK cell suppression may be attributed to increased levels of catecholamines as well as glucocorticoids
  • In mice bearing a primary tumor, it was observed that the removal of the primary tumor facilitated the growth of highly vascularized metastases
  • primary tumors may secrete angiogenic inhibitors as well as angiogenic activators
  • second phase of tumor recurrence and metastasis, which are newly acquired events, rather than just outcomes of incomplete treatment.
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      Another key point
  • double-edged sword
  • HIF-1 in neutrophils plays a critical role in NETosis and bacteria-killing activity
  • neutrophils play various roles in the initiation and progression of cancer
  • NETosis
  • many inflammatory and neoplastic diseases
  • formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are large extracellular complexes composed of chromatin and cytoplasmic/granular proteins1
  • NETosis has been highlighted as an inflammatory event that promotes cancer metastasis
  • Once activated, neutrophils produce intracellular precursors by using DNA, histones, and granular and cytoplasmic proteins and then spread the mature form of NETs out around themselves
  • A series of these events is called NETosis.
  • neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase, cathepsin G, proteinase 3, lactoferrin, gelatinase, lysozyme C, calprotectin, neutrophil defensins, and cathelicidins
  • innate immune response against infection
  • Neutrophils are the most abundant type of granulocytes, comprising 40–70% of all white blood cells
  • two types of NEToses, suicidal (or lytic) NETosis and vital NETosis
  • Suicidal NETosis mainly depends on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
  • Since neutrophils die during this process, it is called suicidal NETosis.
  • vital NETosis
  • vital NETosis occurs independently of ROS production
  • Vital NETosis can be induced by Gram-negative bacteria. LPS
  • NETs are present in a variety of cancers, such as lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and leukemia
  • neutrophils actively undergo NETosis in the tumor microenvironment
  • Hypoxia
  • NETosis plays a pivotal role in noninfectious autoimmune diseases,
  • cytokines
  • tumor-derived proteases
  • tumor exosomes
  • NETosis generally actively progresses in the tumor microenvironment.
  • the proliferative cytokines TGFβ and IL-10 and the angiogenic factor VEGF are representative of neutrophil-derived tissue repair proteins.
  • NETosis is a defense system to protect the body from invading pathogens
  • when neutrophils are excessively stimulated, they produce excess NETs, thereby leading to pathological consequences
  • plasma levels of NETosis markers are elevated after major surgeries
  • local invasion, intravasation into the blood or lymphatic vessels, escape from the immune system, anchoring to capillaries in target organs, extravasation into the organs, transformation from dormant cells to proliferating cells, colonization to micrometastases, and growth to macrometastases
  • NETs promote metastasis at multiple steps
  • NETs loosen the ECM and capillary wall to promote the intravasation of cancer cells
  • NETs and platelets wrap CTCs, which protects them from attack by immune cells and shearing force by blood flow
  • NETs promote the local invasion of cancer cells by degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM)
  • neutrophil elastase, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and cathepsin G
  • NETs also promote the intravasation of cancer cells
  • millions of tumor cells are released into the circulation every day,
  • NETs can wrap up CTCs with platelets
  • β1-integrin plays an important role in the interaction between CTCs and NETs
  • NET-platelet-CTC aggregates.
  • After metastasizing to distant tissues, tumor cells are often found to remain dormant for a period of time and unexpectedly regrow late
  • NETs are believed to participate in the reactivation of dormant cancer cells in metastatic regions
  • NET-associated proteases NE and MMP-9 were found to be responsible for the reactivation of dormant cancer cells
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    Surgery induced metastasis: it is real and steered by NETosis.
Nathan Goodyear

High-Dose Vitamin C for Cancer Therapy - PMC - 0 views

  • diabetes [8], atherosclerosis [9], the common cold [10], cataracts [11], glaucoma [12], macular degeneration [13], stroke [14], heart disease [15], COVID-19 [16], and cancer.
  • 1–5% of the Vit-C inside the human cells
  • interaction between Fe(II) and H2O2 produces OH− through the Fenton reaction
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  • metabolic activity, oxygen transport, and DNA synthesis
  • Iron is found in the human body in the form of haemoglobin in red blood cells and growing erythroid cells.
  • macrophages contain considerable quantities of iron
  • iron is taken up by the majority of cells in the form of a transferrin (Tf)-Fe(III) complex that binds to the cell surface receptor transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)
  • excess iron is retained in the liver cells
  • the endosomal six transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 3 (STEAP3) reduces Fe(III) (ferric ion) to Fe(II) (ferrous ion), which is subsequently transferred across the endosomal membrane by divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1)
  • labile iron pool (LIP)
  • LIP is toxic to the cells owing to the production of massive amounts of ROS.
  • DHA is quickly converted to Vit-C within the cell, by interacting with reduced glutathione (GSH) [45,46,47]. NADPH then recycles the oxidized glutathione (glutathione disulfide (GSSG)) and converts it back into GSH
  • Fe(II) catalyzes the formation of OH• and OH− during the interaction between H2O2 and O2•− (Haber–Weiss reaction)
  • Ascorbate can efficiently reduce free iron, thus recycling the cellular Fe(II)/Fe(III) to produce more OH• from H2O2 than can be generated during the Fenton reaction, which ultimately leads to lipid, protein, and DNA oxidation
  • Vit-C-stimulated iron absorption
  • reduce cellular iron efflux
  • high-dose Vit-C may elevate cellular LIP concentrations
  • ascorbate enhanced cancer cell LIP specifically by generating H2O2
  • Vit-C produces H2O2 extracellularly, which in turn inhibits tumor cells immediately
  • tumor cells have a need for readily available Fe(II) to survive and proliferate.
  • Tf has been recognized to sequester most labile Fe(II) in vivo
  • Asc•− and H2O2 were generated in vivo upon i.v Vit-C administration of around 0.5 g/kg of body weight and that the generation was Vit-C-dose reliant
  • free irons, especially Fe(II), increase Vit-C autoxidation, leading to H2O2 production
  • iron metabolism is altered in malignancies
  • increase in the expression of various iron-intake pathways or the downregulation of iron exporter proteins and storage pathways
  • Fe(II) ion in breast cancer cells is almost double that in normal breast tissues
  • macrophages in the cancer microenvironment have been revealed to increase iron shedding
  • Advanced breast tumor patients had substantially greater Fe(II) levels in their blood than the control groups without the disease
  • increased the amount of LIP inside the cells through transferrin receptor (TfR)
  • Warburg effect, or metabolic reprogramming,
  • Warburg effect is aided by KRAS or BRAF mutations
  • Vit-C is supplied, it oxidizes to DHA, and then is readily transported by GLUT-1 in mutant cells of KRAS or BRAF competing with glucose [46]. DHA is quickly converted into ascorbate inside the cell by NADPH and GSH [46,107]. This decrease reduces the concentration of cytosolic antioxidants and raises the intracellular ROS amounts
  • increased ROS inactivates glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)
  • ROS activates poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which depletes NAD+ (a critical co-factor of GAPDH); thus, further reducing the GAPDH associated with a multifaceted metabolic rewiring
  • Hindering GAPDH can result in an “energy crisis”, due to the decrease in ATP production
  • high-dose Vit-C recruited metabolites and increased the enzymatic activity in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), blocked the tri-carboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and increased oxygen uptake, disrupting the intracellular metabolic balance and resulting in irreversible cell death, due to an energy crisis
  • mega-dose Vit-C influences energy metabolism by producing tremendous amounts of H2O2
  • Due to its great volatility at neutral pH [76], bolus therapy with mega-dose DHA has only transitory effects on tumor cells, both in vitro and in vivo.
pharmacybiz

Pharmacy Covid Vaccinators Saved 20k Lives Up To Autumn 2021 - 0 views

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    Community pharmacies saved nearly 20,000 lives up to autumn 2021 by vaccinating people against the Covid-19, the National Pharmacy Association said based on a National Audit Office (NAO) report released on Friday (February 25). The report, having taken evidence from the NPA, highlighted that community pharmacies and GPs performed far beyond expectations in delivering the Covid-19 vaccine, as 71 per cent of jabs were administered by both healthcare providers till October-end, against an initial assumption of 56 per cent. The report cited UK Health Security Agency figures, which estimated that the programme overall prevented up to 128,000 deaths and 262,000 hospitalisations by September 24 and September 19, respectively. The estimated number is considerably higher, given the pivotal role played by pharmacies in this winter's phase of the vaccination programme, the NPA stated.
wheelchairindia9

Karma Km 2500 Wheelchair - 0 views

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    Karma KM 2500 Small Wheel Wheelchair: Karma KM 2500 Small Wheel Wheelchair Specifications: Width 18" Front/Rear Wheels 6" to 14" Seat Width 47cm Seat Depth 40cm Overall Width 66cm Overall Collapsed Width 36cm Armrest Height 21cm Overall Length 90cm Seat Height 47cm Backrest Height 38cm Overall Height 86cm Weight 9.2 k.g. Karma KM 2500 Small Wheel Wheelchair Seat and Back: AEGIS Microbe Shield Approved by the FDA, EPA, EU, etc., bonded anti-microbial barrier upholstery protects from odor, staining and deterioration from bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms. It is a shield for your health. Karma KM 2500 Small Wheel Wheelchair Extended Armrest: By simulating the natural position of arms, the extended armrest design is ergonomic and creates bigger seating space. An Ultra lightweight wheelchair (9.2 kg) with a compact design for either attendant assisted or self propelling users. The use of aircraft-grade aluminium alloy and double cross brace provide this model with outstanding strength and durability. Karma Healthcare KM-2500 Premium Wheelchair is amazingly light and compact transit wheelchair which is ideal for outings and travelers. It folds down to take up virtually no space in the boot of a car and weighs just over 9.2 kg making it easy for anyone to lift into a vehicle. Backrest folds-down for easy transportation. Maximum user weight: 100 K.g. Aluminium frame. Fixed armrest/fixed footrest. Foldable frame via double cross bars. Comfortable & durable upholstery. Swing-away foot plates. Puncture proof tyres. Attendant cable brake. 14" flat-free rear wheels. Detachable and washable cushion. One Year Warranty. It folds down to take up virtually no space in the boot of a car. This amazingly light and compact transit wheelchair is ideal for outings and travelling. It comes with detachable and washable cushion. The wheel chair has attendant cable brake. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminium alloy fra
Nathan Goodyear

Gender and sex hormones in multiple sclerosis pathology and therapy - 0 views

  • It is now well recognized that the disease manifestation is reduced in pregnant women with relapsing-remitting MS
  • This occurs particularly during the third trimester when levels of estrogens (estradiol and estriol) and progesterone (see Table 2) are elevated up to about 20 times
  • This seems well correlated with a decrease in active white matter lesions detected by MRI
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  • This clinical improvement is however followed by temporary rebound exacerbations at post-partum, when the hormone levels decline
  • a shift from Th1 to Th2 immune response, expansion of suppressive regulatory T lymphocytes and decrease in the number of circulating CD16+ natural killer (NK)-cells
  • Th1 lymphocytes secrete proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-2, IFNgamma, lymphotoxin) while Th2 cells secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4, IL-5, IL-10), which favor humoral-mediated responses
  • Th2 cytokines are associated with down-regulation of Th1 cytokines and this Th2 shift is believed to provide protection from allograft rejection during pregnancy as well as from Th1-mediated autoimmune disease
  • it is worth noting that the levels of other hormones with anti-inflammatory activity (1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, norepinephrine, cortisol) also increase by 2 to 4 times during late pregnancy
  • 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 induces regulatory T-cell function important for development of self-tolerance
  • breast-feeding does not alter the relapse rate in women with MS
  • Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone produced primarily by adipocytes but also by T lymphocytes and neurons
  • Several lines of evidence indicate that leptin contributes to EAE/MS pathogenesis, influencing its onset and clinical severity, by acting as a proinflammatory cytokine which promotes regulatory T cell (Treg) anergy and hyporesponsiveness, resulting in increased Th1 (TNFalpha, INFgamma) and reduced Th2 (IL-4) cytokine production
  • circulating leptin levels are increased in relapsing-remitting MS patients (men and women analyzed together) while the CD4+CD25+Treg population decreases
  • As the leptin plasma concentrations are proportional to the amount of fat tissue, obese/overweight individuals produce higher levels of leptin
  • Nielsen et al found that estradiol and progesterone exert neuroprotection against glutamate neurotoxicity, while MPA antagonizes the neuroprotective effect of estradiol and exacerbated neuron death induced by glutamate excitotoxicity
  •  
    very good review of the differences in MS and hormones between the sexes.
Nathan Goodyear

Nutrition & Metabolism | Full text | Fructose, insulin resistance, and metabolic dyslip... - 0 views

  • For thousands of years humans consumed fructose amounting to 16–20 grams per day
  • daily consumptions amounting to 85–100 grams of fructose per day
  • Of key importance is the ability of fructose to by-pass the main regulatory step of glycolysis, the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, controlled by phosphofructokinase
  • ...29 more annotations...
  • Thus, while glucose metabolism is negatively regulated by phosphofructokinase, fructose can continuously enter the glycolytic pathway. Therefore, fructose can uncontrollably produce glucose, glycogen, lactate, and pyruvate, providing both the glycerol and acyl portions of acyl-glycerol molecules. These particular substrates, and the resultant excess energy flux due to unregulated fructose metabolism, will promote the over-production of TG (reviewed in [53]).
  • Glycemic excursions and insulin responses were reduced by 66% and 65%, respectively, in the fructose-consuming subjects
  • reduction in circulating leptin both in the short and long-term as well as a 30% reduction in ghrelin (an orexigenic gastroenteric hormone) in the fructose group compared to the glucose group.
  • A prolonged elevation of TG was also seen in the high fructose subjects
  • Both fat and fructose consumption usually results in low leptin concentrations which, in turn, leads to overeating in populations consuming energy from these particular macronutrients
  • Chronic fructose consumption reduces adiponectin responses, contributing to insulin resistance
  • A definite relationship has also been found between metabolic syndrome and hyperhomocysteinemia
  • the liver takes up dietary fructose rapidly where it can be converted to glycerol-3-phosphate. This substrate favours esterification of unbound FFA to form the TG
  • Fructose stimulates TG production, but impairs removal, creating the known dyslipidemic profile
  • the effects of fructose in promoting TG synthesis are independent of insulinemia
  • Although fructose does not appear to acutely increase insulin levels, chronic exposure seems to indirectly cause hyperinsulinemia and obesity through other mechanisms. One proposed mechanism involves GLUT5
  • If FFA are not removed from tissues, as occurs in fructose fed insulin resistant models, there is an increased energy and FFA flux that leads to the increased secretion of TG
  • In these scenarios, where there is excess hepatic fatty acid uptake, synthesis and secretion, 'input' of fats in the liver exceed 'outputs', and hepatic steatosis occurs
  • Carbohydrate induced hypertriglycerolemia results from a combination of both TG overproduction, and inadequate TG clearance
  • fructose-induced metabolic dyslipidemia is usually accompanied by whole body insulin resistance [100] and reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity
  • Excess VLDL secretion has been shown to deliver increased fatty acids and TG to muscle and other tissues, further inducing insulin resistance
  • the metabolic effects of fructose occur through rapid utilization in the liver due to the bypassing of the regulatory phosphofructokinase step in glycolysis. This in turn causes activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, and subsequent modifications favoring esterification of fatty acids, again leading to increased VLDL secretion
  • High fructose diets can have a hypertriglyceridemic and pro-oxidant effect
  • Oxidative stress has often been implicated in the pathology of insulin resistance induced by fructose feeding
  • Administration of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) has been shown to prevent these changes, and improve insulin sensitivity
  • LA treatment also prevents several deleterious effects of fructose feeding: the increases in cholesterol, TG, activity of lipogenic enzymes, and VLDL secretion
  • Fructose has also been implicated in reducing PPARα levels
  • PPARα is a ligand activated nuclear hormone receptor that is responsible for inducing mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation
  • decreased PPARα expression can result in reduced oxidation, leading to cellular lipid accumulation
  • fructose diets altered the structure and function of VLDL particles causing and increase in the TG: protein ratio
  • LDL particle size has been found to be inversely related to TG concentration
  • therefore the higher TG results in a smaller, denser, more atherogenic LDL particle, which contributes to the morbidity of the metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance
  • High fructose, which stimulates VLDL secretion, may initiate the cycle that results in metabolic syndrome long before type 2 diabetes and obesity develop
  • A high flux of fructose to the liver, the main organ capable of metabolizing this simple carbohydrate, disturbs normal hepatic carbohydrate metabolism leading to two major consequences (Figure 2): perturbations in glucose metabolism and glucose uptake pathways, and a significantly enhanced rate of de novo lipogenesis and TG synthesis, driven by the high flux of glycerol and acyl portions of TG molecules coming from fructose catabolism
  •  
    Fructose and metabolic syndrome.  Good discussion of the impact of high fructose intake and metabolic dysfunction.  This study also does a great job of highlighting the historical change of fructose intake.
Nathan Goodyear

Testosterone and the Cardiovascular System: A Comprehensive Review of the Clinical Lite... - 0 views

  • Low endogenous bioavailable testosterone levels have been shown to be associated with higher rates of all‐cause and cardiovascular‐related mortality.39,41,46–47 Patients suffering from CAD,13–18 CHF,137 T2DM,25–26 and obesity27–28
  • have all been shown to have lower levels of endogenous testosterone compared with those in healthy controls. In addition, the severity of CAD15,17,29–30 and CHF137 correlates with the degree of testosterone deficiency
  • In patients with CHF, testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to significantly improve exercise tolerance while having no effect on LVEF
  • ...66 more annotations...
  • testosterone therapy causes a shift in the skeletal muscle of CHF patients toward a higher concentration of type I muscle fibers
  • Testosterone replacement therapy has also been shown to improve the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and hemoglobin A1c in diabetics26,68–69 and to lower the BMI in obese patients.
  • Lower levels of endogenous testosterone have been associated with longer duration of the QTc interval
  • testosterone replacement has been shown to shorten the QTc interval
  • negative correlation has been demonstrated between endogenous testosterone levels and IMT of the carotid arteries, abdominal aorta, and thoracic aorta
  • These findings suggest that men with lower levels of endogenous testosterone may be at a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis.
  • Current guidelines from the Endocrine Society make no recommendations on whether patients with heart disease should be screened for hypogonadism and do not recommend supplementing patients with heart disease to improve survival.
  • The Massachusetts Male Aging Study also projects ≈481 000 new cases of hypogonadism annually in US men within the same age group
  • since 1993 prescriptions for testosterone, regardless of the formulation, have increased nearly 500%
  • Testosterone levels are lower in patients with chronic illnesses such as end‐stage renal disease, human immunodeficiency virus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and several genetic conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome
  • A growing body of evidence suggests that men with lower levels of endogenous testosterone are more prone to develop CAD during their lifetimes
  • There are 2 major potential confounding factors that the older studies generally failed to account for. These factors are the subfraction of testosterone used to perform the analysis and the method used to account for subclinical CAD.
  • The biologically inactive form of testosterone is tightly bound to SHBG and is therefore unable to bind to androgen receptors
  • The biologically inactive fraction of testosterone comprises nearly 68% of the total testosterone in human serum
  • The biologically active subfraction of testosterone, also referred to as bioavailable testosterone, is either loosely bound to albumin or circulates freely in the blood, the latter referred to as free testosterone
  • It is estimated that ≈30% of total serum testosterone is bound to albumin, whereas the remaining 1% to 3% circulates as free testosterone
  • it can be argued that using the biologically active form of testosterone to evaluate the association with CAD will produce the most reliable results
  • English et al14 found statistically significant lower levels of bioavailable testosterone, free testosterone, and free androgen index in patients with catheterization‐proven CAD compared with controls with normal coronary arteries
  • patients with catheterization‐proven CAD had statistically significant lower levels of bioavailable testosterone
  • In conclusion, existing evidence suggests that men with CAD have lower levels of endogenous testosterone,13–18 and more specifically lower levels of bioavailable testosterone
  • low testosterone levels are associated with risk factors for CAD such as T2DM25–26 and obesity
  • In a meta‐analysis of these 7 population‐based studies, Araujo et al41 showed a trend toward increased cardiovascular mortality associated with lower levels of total testosterone, but statistical significance was not achieved (RR, 1.25
  • the authors showed that a decrease of 2.1 standard deviations in levels of total testosterone was associated with a 25% increase in the risk of cardiovascular mortality
  • the relative risk of all‐cause mortality in men with lower levels of total testosterone was calculated to be 1.35
  • higher risk of cardiovascular mortality is associated with lower levels of bioavailable testosterone
  • Existing evidence seems to suggest that lower levels of endogenous testosterone are associated with higher rates of all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality
  • studies have shown that lower levels of endogenous bioavailable testosterone are associated with higher rates of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality
  • It may be possible that using bioavailable testosterone to perform mortality analysis will yield more accurate results because it prevents the biologically inactive subfraction of testosterone from playing a potential confounding role in the analysis
  • The earliest published material on this matter dates to the late 1930s
  • the concept that testosterone replacement therapy improves angina has yet to be proven wrong
  • In more recent studies, 3 randomized, placebo‐controlled trials demonstrated that administration of testosterone improves myocardial ischemia in men with CAD
  • The improvement in myocardial ischemia was shown to occur in response to both acute and chronic testosterone therapy and seemed to be independent of whether an intravenous or transdermal formulation of testosterone was used.
  • testosterone had no effect on endothelial nitric oxide activity
  • There is growing evidence from in vivo animal models and in vitro models that testosterone induces coronary vasodilation by modulating the activity of ion channels, such as potassium and calcium channels, on the surface of vascular smooth muscle cells
  • Experimental studies suggest that the most likely mechanism of action for testosterone on vascular smooth muscle cells is via modulation of action of non‐ATP‐sensitive potassium ion channels, calcium‐activated potassium ion channels, voltage‐sensitive potassium ion channels, and finally L‐type calcium ion channels
  • Corona et al confirmed those results by demonstrating that not only total testosterone levels are lower among diabetics, but also the levels of free testosterone and SHBG are lower in diabetic patients
  • Laaksonen et al65 followed 702 Finnish men for 11 years and demonstrated that men in the lowest quartile of total testosterone, free testosterone, and SHBG were more likely to develop T2DM and metabolic syndrome.
  • Vikan et al followed 1454 Swedish men for 11 years and discovered that men in the highest quartile of total testosterone were significantly less likely to develop T2DM
  • authors demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the incidence of T2DM in subjects receiving gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist therapy. In addition, a significant increase in the rate of myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden cardiac death, and development of cardiovascular disease was noted in patients receiving antiandrogen therapy.67
  • Several authors have demonstrated that the administration of testosterone in diabetic men improves the homeostatic model of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting plasma glucose
  • Existing evidence strongly suggests that the levels of total and free testosterone are lower among diabetic patients compared with those in nondiabetics
  • insulin seems to be acting as a stimulant for the hypothalamus to secret gonadotropin‐releasing hormone, which consequently results in increased testosterone production. It can be argued that decreased stimulation of the hypothalamus in diabetics secondary to insulin deficiency could result in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
  • BMI has been shown to be inversely associated with testosterone levels
  • This interaction may be a result of the promotion of lipolysis in abdominal adipose tissue by testosterone, which may in turn cause reduced abdominal adiposity. On the other hand, given that adipose tissue has a higher concentration of the enzyme aromatase, it could be that increased adipose tissue results in more testosterone being converted to estrogen, thereby causing hypogonadism. Third, increased abdominal obesity may cause reduced testosterone secretion by negatively affecting the hypothalamus‐pituitary‐testicular axis. Finally, testosterone may be the key factor in activating the enzyme 11‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in adipose tissue, which transforms glucocorticoids into their inactive form.
  • increasing age may alter the association between testosterone and CRP. Another possible explanation for the association between testosterone level and CRP is central obesity and waist circumference
  • Bai et al have provided convincing evidence that testosterone might be able to shorten the QTc interval by augmenting the activity of slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium channels while simultaneously slowing the activity of L‐type calcium channels
  • consistent evidence that supplemental testosterone shortens the QTc interval.
  • Intima‐media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery is considered a marker for preclinical atherosclerosis
  • Studies have shown that levels of endogenous testosterone are inversely associated with IMT of the carotid artery,126–128,32,129–130 as well as both the thoracic134 and the abdominal aorta
  • 1 study has demonstrated that lower levels of free testosterone are associated with accelerated progression of carotid artery IMT
  • another study has reported that decreased levels of total and bioavailable testosterone are associated with progression of atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta
  • These findings suggest that normal physiologic testosterone levels may help to protect men from the development of atherosclerosis
  • Czesla et al successfully demonstrated that the muscle specimens that were exposed to metenolone had a significant shift in their composition toward type I muscle fibers
  • Type I muscle fibers, also known as slow‐twitch or oxidative fibers, are associated with enhanced strength and physical capability
  • It has been shown that those with advanced CHF have a higher percentage of type II muscle fibers, based on muscle biopsy
  • Studies have shown that men with CHF suffer from reduced levels of total and free testosterone.137 It has also been shown that reduced testosterone levels in men with CHF portends a poor prognosis and is associated with increased CHF mortality.138 Reduced testosterone has also been shown to correlate negatively with exercise capacity in CHF patients.
  • Testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to significantly improve exercise capacity, without affecting LVEF
  • the results of the 3 meta‐analyses seem to indicate that testosterone replacement therapy does not cause an increase in the rate of adverse cardiovascular events
  • Data from 3 meta‐analyses seem to contradict the commonly held belief that testosterone administration may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer
  • One meta‐analysis reported an increase in all prostate‐related adverse events with testosterone administration.146 However, when each prostate‐related event, including prostate cancer and a rise in PSA, was analyzed separately, no differences were observed between the testosterone group and the placebo group
  • the existing data from the 3 meta‐analyses seem to indicate that testosterone replacement therapy does not increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events
  • the authors correctly point out the weaknesses of their study which include retrospective study design and lack of randomization, small sample size at extremes of follow‐up, lack of outcome validation by chart review and poor generalizability of the results given that only male veterans with CAD were included in this study
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      The authors here present Total Testosterone as a "confounding" value
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      This would be HSD-II
  • the studies that failed to find an association between testosterone and CRP used an older population group
  • low testosterone may influence the severity of CAD by adversely affecting the mediators of the inflammatory response such as high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, and tumor necrosis factor–α
  •  
    Good review of Testosterone and CHD.  Low T is associated with increased all cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, CAD, CHF, type II diabetes, obesity, increased IMT,  increased severity of CAD and CHF.  Testosterone replacement in men with low T has been shown to improve exercise tolerance in CHF, improve insulin resistance, improve HgbA1c and lower BMI in the obese.
wheelchairindia9

Reclining Commode Wheelchair - 0 views

  •  
    wheelchair category (standard, transport, power, etc.) could be classified as a reclining wheelchairs, since the product class is built around one key feature: the capability to adjust the backrest and/or footrest into a reclined position. This feature is especially important to users who find it difficult or impossible to sit in a fully upright position, and users who sleep in their chairs frequently. For those that are looking for a more portable chair, however, products from this category may not be a great fit. When compared with a similar, non-reclining chair, a reclining wheelchair tends to weigh more and - unlike other manual models - manual wheelchairs that recline typically aren't foldable. Some people use special wheelchairs to distribute pressure and thus reduce the risk of skin sores. These chairs also increase comfort and sitting tolerance. One type of chair, called "tilt in space," changes a person's orientation while maintaining fixed hip, knee, and ankle angles. The whole seat, in effect, tilts. The other chair option is called a recline system, which basically changes the seat-to-back angle, flattening out the back of the chair and in some cases raising the legs to form a flat surface. Different Types Of Reclining Wheelchairs: Reclining Wheelchair 902 GC Reclining Wheelchair 609 GC Karma Aurora 4 Reclining Wheelchair Karma Reclining Wheelchair KM 5000 Karma VIP 515 Wheelchair Reclining Wheelchair 902 GC: Reclining Wheelchair 902 GC is one of the basic models of a Reclining Wheelchair which helps transfer to bed to wheelchair easily and comes with head and neck support and Calf support for added comfort. Reclining Wheelchair 902 GC Features: The chair boast of movable armrest and elevating footrest. A well padded thigh support helps the user thigh's during reclining. The front and the rear wheels are designed and placed in such a way so as to support the users weight during reclining. The Pneumatic rear wheels help the movement
wheelchairindia9

Hand Driven Tricycle India - 0 views

  •  
    Tricycle is also better and will enable the rider to make sharper turns on roads. Every time a person needs to be seated in a conventional tricycle or disembark from it, the needs help. But attached footrests to help the rider. With a bigger seat and stronger tyres, the vehicle will also help vendors. And every part of the cycle can be dismantled too, which makes it easier to transport. Although tricycles are often associated with toddlers, they are also widely ridden by adults. 'Trikes' are often ridden by older adults or people with disabilities who prefer the extra balance offered by a third wheel. Characteristics of Tricycles: Three wheels. Easily balanced. Brakes. Gears. Often have a storage basket at the rear. Can buy electric powered tricycles. In tricycles distinct types of pedal-driven motion. The tricycle was conceived and produced especially for children from the outset, however bicycles for children were derived by a simple reduction of the scale of the adult counterpart. Standard Single Hand Drive Tricycle: Frame : Made by E.R.W. Tubes 22.22 mm- 18 G. Seat & Back : MS, CRC Sheet Seat Size 18"x 16" Wheel Size : Wheel Diameter 28"x 1 1/2" Tyre and Tube Standard Company. Parts : Standard Quality Color : Black Painted Brake : Front Wheel liver System Drive : Rear Wheel Right Side Tricycle with rear wheel chain-driven transmission and a diamond shaped frame, it quickly entered into widespread use for transportation, work, and leisure purposes. Tricycles are available to accommodate a vast array of special needs. Hand-pedaled recumbent tricycles make it possible for those without the use of their legs. Children, teens and adults with cerebral palsy and similar disorders can select tricycles specially designed to increase strength and coordination. Caregivers to autistic children can ride with their child on tandem special needs tricycles built to accommodate one adult and one child rider.
wheelchairindia9

Tricycle Manufacturers - 0 views

  •  
    Tricycles make cycling accessible to all, whatever personal challenges. There are a wide range of disability cycles that suit people with a variety of learning and physical disabilities, as well as health issues. Tricycles have 3 wheels, which means that the rider does not need to be able to balance. This is particularly useful for people with learning disabilities, such as Dyspraxia, and those recovering from illnesses. Tricycles can be fitted with foot plates to make it easier for riders to rotate the pedals and they come in upright or recumbent (horizontal sitting position). For adults and children with balance issues, stabilisers can also be fitted to standard bikes, which makes them more like tricycles. Tricycles come in a variety of accessible styles for people of all abilities including many persons with spinal cord injury disabilities. Tricycles is a great upper body workout and can provide a great sense of freedom for persons with disabilities. While the high cost prevents many from enjoying Tricycles they are steadily growing in popularity. Tricycle Deluxe Double Hand Drive: Frame : Made by E.R.W. Tubes 38.0 mm-16 G. 25.4 mm & 22.22 mm- 18 G. Seat & Back: M S, C.R.C. Sheet. Seat Size 18"x 16" Wheel Size: Wheel Diameter 24"x 1 1/2" Tyre and Tube Standard Company. Parts: Standard Quality. Color: Black Painted. Brake: Front Wheel liver System Drive: Rear Wheel Right Side. Hand powered cycles work along the same principle as standard cycles. The pedals are replaced with handles that also steer, and riders use their arms to push the handles around to drive the chain and wheels. Most hand cycles have 3 wheels, although some have 4 wheels. 4-wheel cycles may have power assistance instead of the rider turning handles,or they may be built for going down hill, in which case gravity powers the bike. As with tricycles, hand cycles can have upright seats or low down recumbent seats. Specialist 'clip on' cycles are also available that can be attached
wheelchairindia9

Ultra Lightweight Wheelchairs - 0 views

  •  
    Selection of portable travel wheelchairs, utilizing small caster wheel and lightweight materials, can tip the scale at as little as 13 lbs! Like transport chairs, travel chairs are geared towards storability and portability, but they're even more convenient for those on-the-go. These chairs feature four smaller wheels, rather than the large rear-mounted wheels that characterize standard wheelchairs, and their design ensures that they're always foldable and convenient to carry. Whether it's a family vacation, or a good ol' fashioned road trip, these lightweight wheelchairs are best bet. Lightweight travel wheelchairs give the most independence of movement with the least amount of effort. This type of wheelchair is recommended for someone who cannot self-propel in a standard wheelchair. The weight of this type wheelchair ranges from 28-34 pounds. Lightweight wheelchair is for the highly active individual as they are more easily maneuverable and durable. This type wheelchair weighs in as low as 14 pounds. This helps with ease of use and transport. Travel wheelchair assists people to become more mobile and independent. There are many different types of wheelchairs that are used for various reasons. It is important to understand the limitations and safe operation of whatever wheelchair choose or need. The travel chair seat size (width and depth), seat-to-floor height, footrests/leg rests, front caster outriggers, adjustable backrests, controls, and many other features can be customized on, or added to, many basic models, while some users, often those with specialised needs, may have wheelchairs custom-built. A single-arm drive enables the user to turn either left or right while the two-armed drive enables user to move forward or backward on a straight line. Another type of wheelchair commonly used is a lever-drive wheelchair. This type of chair enables the user to move forward by pumping the lever back and forth. Travel Wheelchairs are usually designed fo
Nathan Goodyear

Metabolic endotoxemia: a molecular link between obesity and cardiovascular risk - 0 views

  • Weight gain has been associated with a higher gut permeability
  • a high-fat diet promotes LPS absorption
  • higher concentrations of fatty acids impair intestinal barrier integrity
  • ...37 more annotations...
  • The starting point for innate immunity activation is the recognition of conserved structures of bacteria, viruses, and fungal components through pattern-recognition receptors
  • TLRs are PRRs that recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns
  • TLRs are transmembrane proteins containing extracellular domains rich in leucine repeat sequences and a cytosolic domain homologous to the IL1 receptor intracellular domain
  • The major proinflammatory mediators produced by the TLR4 activation in response to endotoxin (LPS) are TNFα, IL1β and IL6, which are also elevated in obese and insulin-resistant patients
  • Obesity, high-fat diet, diabetes, and NAFLD are associated with higher gut permeability leading to metabolic endotoxemia.
  • Probiotics, prebiotics, and antibiotic treatment can reduce LPS absorption
  • LPS promotes hepatic insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic triglyceride accumulation, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines promoting the progression of fatty liver disease.
  • In the endothelium, LPS induces the expression of pro-inflammatory, chemotactic, and adhesion molecules, which promotes atherosclerosis development and progression.
  • In the adipose tissue, LPS induces adipogenesis, insulin resistance, macrophage infiltration, oxidative stress, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
  • the gut microbiota has been recently proposed to be an environmental factor involved in the control of body weight and energy homeostasis by modulating plasma LPS levels
  • dietary fats alone might not be sufficient to cause overweight and obesity, suggesting that a bacterially related factor might be responsible for high-fat diet-induced obesity.
  • This was accompanied in high-fat-fed mice by a change in gut microbiota composition, with reduction in Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium spp.
  • n humans, it was also shown that meals with high-fat and high-carbohydrate content (fast-food style western diet) were able to decrease bifidobacteria levels and increase intestinal permeability and LPS concentrations
  • it was demonstrated that, more than the fat amount, its composition was a critical modulator of ME (Laugerette et al. 2012). Very recently, Mani et al. (2013) demonstrated that LPS concentration was increased by a meal rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA), while decreased after a meal rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA).
  • this effect seems to be due to the fact that some SFA (e.g., lauric and mystiric acids) are part of the lipid-A component of LPS and also to n-3 PUFA's role on reducing LPS potency when substituting SFA in lipid-A
  • these experimental results suggest a pivotal role of CD14-mediated TLR4 activation in the development of LPS-mediated nutritional changes.
  • This suggests a link between gut microbiota, western diet, and obesity and indicates that gut microbiota manipulation can beneficially affect the host's weight and adiposity.
  • endotoxemia was independently associated with energy intake but not fat intake in a multivariate analysis
  • in vitro that endotoxemia activates pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production via NFκB and MAPK signaling in preadipocytes and decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activity and insulin responsiveness in adipocytes.
  • T2DM patients have mean values of LPS that are 76% higher than healthy controls
  • LPS-induced release of glucagon, GH and cortisol, which inhibit glucose uptake, both peripheral and hepatic
  • LPSs also seem to induce ROS-mediated apoptosis in pancreatic cells
  • Recent evidence has been linking ME with dyslipidemia, increased intrahepatic triglycerides, development, and progression of alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • The hepatocytes, rather than hepatic macrophages, are the cells responsible for its clearance, being ultimately excreted in bile
  • All the subclasses of plasma lipoproteins can bind and neutralize the toxic effects of LPS, both in vitro (Eichbaum et al. 1991) and in vivo (Harris et al. 1990), and this phenomenon seems to be dependent on the number of phospholipids in the lipoprotein surface (Levels et al. 2001). LDL seems to be involved in LPS clearance, but this antiatherogenic effect is outweighed by its proatherogenic features
  • LPS produces hypertriglyceridemia by several mechanisms, depending on LPS concentration. In animal models, low-dose LPS increases hepatic lipoprotein (such as VLDL) synthesis, whereas high-dose LPS decreases lipoprotein catabolism
  • When a dose of LPS similar to that observed in ME was infused in humans, a 2.5-fold increase in endothelial lipase was observed, with consequent reduction in total and HDL. This mechanism may explain low HDL levels in ‘ME’ and other inflammatory conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome
  • It is known that the high-fat diet and the ‘ME’ increase intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation, thus synergistically contributing to the development and progression of alcoholic and NAFLD, from the initial stages characterized by intrahepatic triglyceride accumulation up to chronic inflammation (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), fibrosis, and cirrhosis
  • On the other hand, LPS activates Kupffer cells leading to an increased production of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNFα
  • high-fat diet mice presented with ME, which positively and significantly correlated with plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), IL1, TNFα, STAMP2, NADPHox, MCP-1, and F4/80 (a specific marker of mature macrophages) mRNAs
  • prebiotic administration reduces intestinal permeability to LPS in obese mice and is associated with decreased systemic inflammation when compared with controls
  • Cani et al. also found that high-fat diet mice presented with not only ME but also higher levels of inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and macrophage infiltration markers
  • This suggests that important links between gut microbiota, ME, inflammation, and oxidative stress are implicated in a high-fat diet situation
  • high-fat feeding is associated with adipose tissue macrophage infiltration (F4/80-positive cells) and increased levels of chemokine MCP-1, suggesting a strong link between ME, proinflammatory status, oxidative stress, and, lately, increased CV risk
  • LPS has been shown to promote atherosclerosis
  • markers of systemic inflammation such as circulating bacterial endotoxin were elevated in patients with chronic infections and were strong predictors of increased atherosclerotic risk
  • As a TLR4 ligand, LPS has been suggested to induce atherosclerosis development and progression, via a TLR4-mediated inflammatory state.
  •  
    Very nice updated review on Metabolic endotoxemia
Nathan Goodyear

Testosterone level in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related metabolic... - 0 views

  • defined by consistent symptoms and signs of androgen deficiency, and an unequivocally low serum testosterone level
  • the threshold serum testosterone level below which adverse clinical outcomes occur in the general population is not known
  • most population-based studies use the serum testosterone level corresponding to the lower limit, quoted from 8.7 to 12.7 nmol/L, of the normal range for young Caucasian men as the threshold
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      this equals 251 to 366 in serum Total Testosterone
  • ...57 more annotations...
  • Researchers tried to examine whether serum total or free testosterone would be a better/more reliable choice when studying the effect of testosterone. The results were mixed. Some reported significant associations of both serum total and free testosterone level with clinical parameters25, whereas others reported that only serum free testosterone26 or only serum total testosterone6 showed significant associations.
  • −0.124 nmol/L/year in serum total testosterone
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      this equates to a 4 ng/dl decline annually in total Testosterone.
  • In experimental studies, androgen receptor knockout mice developed significant insulin resistance rapidly
  • In mouse models, testosterone promoted differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to the myogenic lineage
  • testosterone decreased insulin resistance by enhancing catecholamine induced lipolysis in vitro, and reducing lipoprotein lipase activity and triglyceride uptake in human abdominal tissue in vivo
  • by promoting lipolysis and myogenesis, testosterone might lead to improved insulin resistance
  • testosterone regulated skeletal muscle genes involved in glucose metabolism that led to decreased systemic insulin resistance
  • In the liver, hepatic androgen receptor signaling inhibited development of insulin resistance in mice
  • independent and inverse association of testosterone with hepatic steatosis shown in a cross-sectional study carried out in humans
  • In short, androgen improves insulin resistance by changing body composition and reducing body fat.
  • Although a low serum testosterone level could contribute to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes through changes in body composition, obesity might also alter the metabolism of testosterone
  • In obese men, the peripheral conversion from testosterone to estrogen could attenuate the amplitude of luteinizing hormone pulses and centrally inhibit testosterone production
  • leptin, an adipokine, has been shown to be inversely correlated with serum testosterone level in men
  • Leydig cells expressed leptin receptors and leptin has been shown to inhibit testosterone secretion, suggesting a role of obesity and leptin in the pathogenesis of low testosterone
    • Nathan Goodyear
       
      So what is "unequivocal"?
  • Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) cohort made up of 3,565 middle-class, mostly Caucasian men from the USA, the incidence of low serum total testosterone increased from approximately 20% of men aged over 60 years, 30% over 70 years, to 50% over 80 years-of-age
  • 30–44% sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)-bound testosterone and 54–68% albumin-bound testosterone
  • As the binding of testosterone to albumin is non-specific and therefore not tight, the sum of free and albumin-bound testosterone is named bioavailable testosterone, which reflects the hormone available at the cellular level
  • Serum total testosterone is composed of 0.5–3.0% of free testosterone unbound to plasma proteins
  • alterations in SHBG concentration might affect total serum testosterone level without altering free or bioavailable testosterone
  • listed in Table​T
  • A significant, independent and longitudinal effect of age on testosterone has been observed with an average change of −0.124 nmol/L/year in serum total testosterone28. The same trend has been shown in Europe and Australia
  • Asian men residing in HK and Japan, but not those living in the USA, had 20% higher serum total testosterone than in Caucasians living in the USA, as shown in a large multinational observational prospective cohort of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study
  • subjects with chronic diseases consistently had a 10–15% lower level compared with age-matched healthy subjects
  • In Caucasians, the mean serum total testosterone level for men in large epidemiological studies has been reported to range from 15.1 to 16.6 nmol/L
  • Asians, higher values, ranging from 18.1 to 19.1 nmol/L, were seen in Korea and Japan
  • Chinese middle-aged men reported a similar mean serum testosterone level of 17.1 nmol/L in 179 men who had a family history of type 2 diabetes and 17.8 nmol/L in 128 men who had no family history of type 2 diabetes
  • The reduction of total testosterone was 0.4% per year in both groups
  • HK involving a cohort of 1,489 community-dwelling men with a mean age of 72 years, a mean serum total testosterone of 19.0 nmol/L was reported
  • pro-inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α in the testes, could locally inhibit testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells47, and testosterone treatment in men was shown to reduce the level of tumor necrosis factor-α
  • In Asians, a genetic deletion polymorphism of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase UGT2B17 was associated with reduced androgen glucuronidation. This resulted in higher level of active androgen in Asians as compared to Caucasians, as Caucasians' androgen would be glucuronidated into inactive forms faster.
  • Compared with Caucasians, the frequency of this deletion polymorphism of UGT2B17 was 22-fold higher in Asian subjects
  • Other researchers have suggested that environmental, but not genetic, factors influenced serum total testosterone
  • The basal and ligand-induced activity of the AR is inversely associated with the length of the CAG repeat chain
  • In the European Male Aging Study, increased estrogen/androgen ratio in association with longer AR CAG repeat was observed
  • a smaller number of AR CAG repeat had been shown to be associated with benign prostate hypertrophy and faster prostate growth during testosterone treatment
  • In India, men with CAG ≤19 had increased risk of prostate cancer
  • the odds of having a short CAG repeat (≤17) were substantially higher in patients with lymph node-positive prostate cancer than in those with lymph node-negative disease or in the general population
  • assessing the polymorphism at the AR level could be a potential tool towards individualized assessment and treatment of hypogonadism.
  • In elderly men, there was reduced testicular response to gonadotropins with suppressed and altered pulsatility of the hypothalamic pulse generator
  • a significant, independent and longitudinal effect of age on serum total testosterone level had been observed
  • A significant graded inverse association between serum testosterone level and insulin levels independent of age has also been reported in Caucasian men
  • Low testosterone is commonly associated with a high prevalence of MES
  • most studies showed that changes in serum testosterone level led to changes in body composition, insulin resistance and the presence of MES, the reverse might also be possible
  • MES predicted a 2.6-fold increased risk of development of low serum testosterone level independent of age, smoking and other potential confounders
  • Other prospective studies have shown that development of MES accelerated the age-related decline in serum testosterone level
  • In men with type 2 diabetes, changes in serum testosterone level over time correlated inversely with changes in insulin resistance
  • weight loss by either diet control or bariatric surgery led to a substantial increase in total testosterone, especially in morbidly obese men, and the rise in serum testosterone level was proportional to the amount of weight lost
  • To date, published clinical trials are small, of short duration and often used pharmacological, not physiological, doses of testosterone
  • In the population-based Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study cohort from Sweden, men in the highest quartile of serum testosterone level had the lowest risk of cardiovascular events compared with men in the other three quartiles (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70
  • low serum total testosterone was associated with a significant fourfold higher risk of cardiovascular events when comparing men from the lowest testosterone tertile with those in the highest tertile
  • Shores et al. were the first to report that low serum testosterone level, including both serum total and free testosterone, was associated with increased mortality
  • low serum total testosterone predicted increased risk of cardiovascular mortality with a HR of 1.38
  • low serum total testosterone increased all-cause (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.13–1.62, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.25
  • European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2013 suggested there was an inverse relationship between serum testosterone level and acute myocardial infarction
  • Diabetic men in the highest quartile of serum total testosterone had a significantly reduced risk of acute MI when compared with those in the lower quartiles
  • serum total testosterone level in the middle two quartiles at baseline predicted reduced incidence of death compared with having the highest and lowest levels
  •  
    Nice review of Testosterone levels and some of the evidence linking Diabetes with low T.  However, the conclusion by the authors regarding what is causing the low T in men with Diabetes is baffling.  The literature does not point to one cause, it is clearly multifactorial--obesity, inflammation, high aromatase activity...I would suggest the authors continue their readings in the manner.
Nathan Goodyear

The implication of neuroactive steroids in Tourette syndrome pathogenesis: a ... - 0 views

  • The typical onset of TS occurs at 6–7 years of age and is characterized by the appearance of simple, recurrent motor tics, followed by the manifestation of phonic tics after several months [12]. In most children, TS symptoms undergo a progressive exacerbation, which reaches its zenith at the beginning of puberty (11–12 years of age), and is then followed by a gradual remission in the majority of patients
  • 30–40% of TS-affected children retain their symptoms in adulthood
  • Multiple neurotransmitters have been implicated in TS, including dopamine (DA), serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, glutamate and γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA)
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • ample evidence supports the involvement of DAergic dysfunctions in TS
  • male gender is a major risk factor for TS (with a male:female prevalence ratio estimated at ~4:1)
  • the typical age of onset coincides with adrenarche (6–7 years old); symptoms increase in severity until the beginning of puberty (12 years old) and then undergo a spontaneous amelioration, which becomes apparent with the end of puberty (at 18–19 years of age)
  • TS is diagnosed later in females than males
  • female gender may predict greater tic severity in adulthood
  • a number of clinical observations showed that tics in TS patients could be exacerbated by anabolic androgens
  • steroidogenic enzymes and androgen receptors may serve as putative therapeutic targets for this disorder
  • Unlike males, tic severity is typically increased after puberty in females
  • 26% of females were found to experience exacerbation of tics in the estrogenic phase of the menstrual cycle, and this phenomenon was found to be correlated with increased tic severity at menarche
  • biochemical hallmark of adrenarche is the acquisition of 17,20 lyase activity by cytochrome P450 C17 (CYP17A1)
  • increased synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione, which leads to the growth of axillary and pubic hair as well as enhancement in the oiliness of the skin
  •  
    interesting read on hormones and tourette's.. Proposed that 5 alpha reductase activity is involved in worsening of tics.  This makes sense as Testosterone in men with low T is known to increase dopamine and dopaminergic dysfunction is known to play a role in tourette's;  the clinical presentation of girls vs boys is very different.  The authors of this article propose that 5 alpha reductase activity controls a back door method where by progesterone is converted to androgens.
Nathan Goodyear

Hypercalcemia of malignancy and new treatment options - 0 views

  • Hypercalcemia of malignancy occurs as the result of direct bone metastasis and via humoral mechanisms such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D mediated pathways
  • ectopic secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been implicated
  • Hypercalcemia due to osteolytic bone lesions is common in multiple myeloma, leukemia, and breast cancer
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • Humoral hypercalcemia is predominant in squamous cell, renal cell and ovarian cancers, and lymphomas are associated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D mediated hypercalcemia
  • 20% of cases of hypercalcemia of malignancy and is frequently encountered in multiple myeloma, metastatic breast cancer, and to a lesser extent in leukemia and lymphoma
  • Physiologic bone turnover requires the complementary activity of osteoblasts – mesenchymal stem cell-derived bone-forming cells – and bone-resorbing cells of monocyte and macrophage lineage known as osteoclasts
  • In local osteolytic hypercalcemia, the RANKL/RANK interaction results in excessive osteoclast activation leading to enhanced bone resorption and thus hypercalcemia
  • In addition, osteoclast activation is also mediated by malignancy secreted cytokines, including interleukin-1, initially termed “osteoclast stimulating factor”
  • Macrophage inflammation protein 1-alpha (MIP 1-alpha)
  • hypercalcemia is through extra-renal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol) production
  • 1% of cases
  • increased production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D occurs nearly exclusively in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma with case reports of the same in ovarian dysgerminoma
  • 1-α-hydroxylase in the kidney, a process regulated by PTH
  • in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D induced hypercalcemia, malignant cells likely recruit and induce adjacent macrophages to express 1-α-hydroxylase, converting endogenous calcidiol into calcitriol.31 Calcitriol then binds to receptors in the intestine leading to heightened enteric calcium reabsorption with resultant hypercalcemia
  • this mechanism of disease is best conceptualized as an absorptive form of hypercalcemia
  • Ectopic production of PTH by malignant cells has been described in a handful of cases involving cancer of the ovary and lung, as well as neuroendocrine tumors and sarcoma
  • primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy comprising nearly 90% of cases of hypercalcemia
  • an initial panel consisting of PTH, PTHrP, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D should be obtained
  • Lymphoma, a hypercalcemia due to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D mediated pathways, is implied by elevations in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D without concomitant elevations in 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In such cases, PTH is low and PTHrP undetectable
  • Treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy is aimed at lowering the serum calcium concentration by targeting the underlying disease, specifically by inhibiting bone resorption, increasing urinary calcium excretion, and to a lesser extent by decreasing intestinal calcium absorption
  • mildly symptomatic disease
  • marked symptoms
  • hydration with isotonic fluid (if admitted), avoidance of thiazide diuretics, and a low-calcium diet
  • denosumab
  • Denosumab is an RANKL antibody that inhibits osteoclast maturation, activation, and function
  •  
    hypercalcemia in cancer and treatments.
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