Is it Possible to Reduce the Risk of Cancer With Physical Activity?

    A study done by the National Institute of Health and the University of Oxford, found that individuals that exercised daily at a light/moderate intensity are at a lower risk for cancer than those who don't. There were a total of 85,000 participants, with the mean age of individuals being 63, who wore wrist accelerometers to track their daily activity across a span of roughly six years. Once all the data was collected, 2,633 out of the 85,000 participants had been diagnosed with one of thirteen types of cancer. The data showed individuals who had the highest amount of physical activity reportedly have a twenty six percent decreased risk of having cancer the those with the lowest amount of physical activity. It's apparent that researchers had identified correlation between going from being inactive to daily moderate activity, and a reduced risk of cancer. Even with taking into account other factors, such as demographic factors, lifestyle, BMI, and other health conditions, there was no change to the result. 

    When it came to the amount of steps taken by an individual, the more steps they had daily the lower the risk that individual had for developing a cancer. In comparison between an individual who has 5,000 steps a day to an individual who has 7,000 steps a day, the person with 7,000 steps lowered their risk by 11% whereas no difference was noted for the less active individual. Then around 9,000 steps a day and more, the percent plateaus at around 16%. The speed or intensity at which an individual walks does not matter nor does it affect the risk factor. It can be concluded that physical activity can benefit people in all stages of their life, and has many health benefits outside of lowering the risk for cancer. 

Association Between Diabetes and ZRANB3 Gene

The journal Nature Communications published the largest genomic study of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, in which they analyzed nearly 18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya (Nature, 2019). Researchers found that there was a connection between diabetes and genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 gene. They confirmed the ZRANB3 gene, might influence weakness to the T2D in sub-Saharan African populations. They studied its effects on the zebrafish pancreas; "the pancreas is one of the key organs involved in T2D because their β-cells release insulin as a response to rising glucose in the bloodstream" (NIH, 2019).

CRISPR, a gene-editing tool was used to make the ZRANB3 gene nonfunctional in zebrafish. This is called a 'knockout'. They also reduced the expression of the ZRANB3 gene in a different sample of zebrafish. Researchers observed β-cells were reduced numbers in the developing zebrafish embryo (Nature, 2019). They concluded that when the ZRANB3 gene was inactive, pancreatic β-cells were being destroyed. They conducted a similar experiment using mice and found similar results. They proposed an excellent question on this finding: will it help to predict whether the presence of ZRANB3 in an individual with T2D require insulin early in the course of its treatment? This is significant because it could save the destruction of β-cells over time.  They also believed since ZRANB3 in T2D was discovered in African populations, the same gene might have same influence in other populations. I think this experiment was executed brilliantly considering they analyzed so much data before concluding. I think it is amazing that they want to continue the research with different pollutions and hope to find a similar association between T2D and ZRANB3 gene. 

References: 

NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute. (2019, July 19). Largest genomic study on type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan African populations. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 18, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190719080212.htm

ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response. (2019, July 19). Retrieved October 18, 2019, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10967-7#article-info.

NIH Plan to Enroll 1 million for Health Database

The National Institutes of Health is planning to enroll 1 million people for a database of genetics, lifestyles, and environmental conditions relating to health. The agency’s “All of Us” program, which will open for volunteer signup on Sunday (May 6), will provide an important tool in the development of treatment and prevention strategies for various diseases, health officials say. The project has secured $1.45 billion in funding for the next decade, and has already enrolled 25,000 participants as part of a pilot run last year. People will first share electronic health records, blood samples, and information about their lifestyles. Later in the year, researchers will start administering tests for particular genetic variants that may be related to disease risk. While no database is 100 percent secure, the data will be carefully protected, the project’s director, Eric Dishman, explains. The agency has invited hackers to try to breach the database, he adds, as a way to better develop privacy measures. However, lawyer Tiffany Li of Yale Law School expresses skepticism that the data could be shielded from access by law enforcement in all cases. “I would argue that there probably is some way to access the data,”.
I think this is so cool it is really amazing to be alive at a time when genetics is becoming so widespread. This should really have wide reaching implications if done correctly and provide tons of data on both genetics as well as different lifestyle choices and how they affect us. I think the scope of this is just a start to I'm sure more and more people will continue to do this after the one million target has time to be situated. However, the security of this data is beyond important, sadly it is a concern that insurance companies could get their hands on it. Lets just hope for universal health care before thats a concern but thats a topic for a different type of discussion. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nih-seeks-health-data-of-1-million-people-with-genetic-privacy-suddenly-an-issue/2018/05/01/cb38a588-4d4b-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d5ce0f1092a5

https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/52481/title/NIH-Plans-to-Enroll-1-Million-People-for-Health-Database/

Understanding of herpesvirus infection advanced by new research

The herpe virus can last a lifetime. Once a person is infected, the virus can remain in someones system for years before reactivating to cause the disease to show up. National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have identified a set of protein complexes that are recruited to viral genes and stimulate both initial infection and reactivation from latency. Environmental stresses known to regulate these proteins also induce reactivation. The World Health Organization estimates that one-half billion people are infected with HSV-2 while two-thirds of the population are infected with HSV-1. This virus can cause a range from oral cold sores to genital lesions to serious eye conditions that can lead to blindness. In infants, HSV can cause neurological and developmental problems. Scientists found they could reactivate latent HSV in a mouse model using compounds that turn on components of these HCF-1 protein complexes. The scientists are still continuing their work  to investigate the protein complexes involved in promoting HSV gene expression. Once they do more work, it could lead to new therapeutics that can help people that live with this virus. 
Original article here
More information on the gene

Progress Made on Vaccine for River Blindness

Onchocerciasis, most commonly known as river blindness, is an eye and skin infection that is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa. Blackflies live and breed on their river banks and streams, and they typically bite humans to transmit the tiny parasitic worm responsible for river blindness, Onchocerca volvulus. The worms reproduce inside the body, and their offspring migrate to the skin, where they cause intense itching and rashes, and to the eye where they cause ocular symptoms and, ultimately, blindness. A complete cure requires decades of treatment, and it can get complicated if Loa loa, another parasitic worm infection, is also involved. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that river blindness currently affects an approximate 18 million people worldwide. Researchers are concerned that the recent widespread use of the anti-parasitic medication ivermectin may cause the worms to eventually develop resistance to the drug.

The research initiative, The Onchocerciasis Vaccine for Africa (TOVA), was launched as a result of the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, which called for tools to eliminate river blindness from Africa.

In the newly published research, the scientists describe sequencing the complete genome of O. volvulus worms gathered from Ecuador, Uganda and West Africa and reconstructing the genetic makeup of Wolbachia, the symbiotic bacteria that lives within the worms. The researcher identified genes that coded for common proteins and molecular reactions essential to infection. The authors noted the significance of their study towards developing potential new treatments for diseases associated with parasitic worm infections, specifically, river blindness.

The research, published this week in Nature Microbiology, was conducted in part by scientists of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  Their work has revealed insights into the workings of the parasite, and they’re now working towards designing better treatments.  Ideally, they're expecting to develop a preventive vaccine.  So far, they've identified 16 different proteins that could be used towards developing potential new medications to combat the disease.  The researchers state that their findings will support future basic and translational onchocerciasis research.

It's amazing that the genome sequencing of the worm and of its symbiotic bacteria are being utilized as a tool for the development of a vaccine.  A lot can be learned about the biological makeup of a species simply by analyzing their full genome.  This can allow us to see the problem from a fundamental perspective, or even to strategize a different approach.  Optimistically, a successful vaccine will be developed from these studies, and it'd be awesome to see the disease fully eradicated.

Neimann Pick Type C-1 Treatment

Parents Hugging Daughters with Neihmann Pick Disease

The Neimann Pick Type C-1 disease is a lethal and inherited disease against the body's metabolism for lipids and cholesterol. There is a new treatment that come out of the National Institutes of Health. There was a long detailed report of using model organisms of mice and then cars and it showed that the drug made of cyclodexetrins can slow the disease, prolong life, and minimize some of the symptoms of the condition. Now there is a competition between which company will be able to make human trials successful from Vtesse to the NIH and CTD Holdings.

"In mouse models of the disease, cyclodextrin administered peripherally delayed disease onset, reduced brain accumulation of fat, and lengthened life significantly, several published studies have found. In presentations this summer, CTD representatives reported anecdotal cases of neurological improvements- such as motor skills and speech- in children treated intravenously with the company's cyclodextrin on a compassionate use basis, including the Hempels' daughters. The company further notes that the IV delivery method may protect other organs affected by NPC."

The reasons why this disease is related to our class are based on two idea. The idea of using a model organism first is along the ethical ideas of genetics practice and medicinal practice of using a non-human organism first to model the possible human reactions and interactions. Along with this idea comes the idea of inheritance through families and all of the forms of Niemann Pick are autosomal recessive inheritance based.

"This means that both parents are carriers each carry 1 copy of the abnormal gene without having any signs of the disease themselves. When both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance that their child will have the disease and a 50% chance that their child will be a carrier."

I think it is wonderful how medicinal competition and betterment of medicine and technology is pushing for a treatment for this inherited disease, but I am also wondering if there are any pre-zygotic treatments for conception that could prevent a child from being born with this disease. i have always been interested in genetic disease prevention and hopefully technology of current treatment will eventually develop to the pre-conception stage of the disease.

The Next Heart Transplant Could be from a Pig!

Thanks to research that is currently being done, people waiting for organs may soon be able to receive organ donations from pigs.  The current research is housed at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.  Over the last 10 years they have been transplanting pig hearts into baboons to see if they could survive with them.  On a daily basis, about 22 people die waiting for an organ that they need.  The researchers at the NIH have been able to keep a baboon alive for 3 years!! These shocking results do not mean that they can start using pig organs in humans yet, but they are one step closer.  People never believed in transplanting organs from one species to another, which is known as xenotransplantation.

When an organ is moved from one species to another, it may provoke an intense attack from the host’s immune system. The researchers have been working with different drugs to try to stop such an intense immune response.  One they found to work the best was CD40.  This drug blocks the communication that occurs between certain immune cells. It works by binding to a receptor in the surface of the cells.  They were using CD40 along with Heparin, a blood-thinning drug, to see if it would prevent the immune response in the baboons with the implanted pig hearts.  It worked while the baboons were on the drug, but once the researchers took the drug away and it left the system, they started to reject the hearts.   These experiments proved that if humans started to receive pig organs, they might have to be on a drug to support their immune system and prevent infection.

This is one step closer to being able to save more lives.  I knew that they were trying to get pig organs to be able to be transplanted in humans, but I never knew that they were this far into the research. Hopefully someday they will be able to make the pig organ work in humans without an immune response.  They are working diligently to delete the gene that causes the response in the host's body.  

Researchers discovers a link between the x chromosomes and Gigantism

There has been a new finding that a section of the x chromosomes that has been duplicated is responsible for the overgrowth in young children and can even adults. The findings were done from the researchers at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of NICHD for short. With the collaboration of (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) NIH, that provided support by having records of families with gigantism. There research dated back to the mid 90’s of a mother that was treated for gigantism and her two sons, and another family that had a daughter with gigantisms. 

An image of a pituitary gland, so small to the brain but it is what controls the flow of hormones.

They were tested and their findings agree with the researchers findings, since the patients had the same duplication on the their x chromosomes. If they are able to locate which gene it is on the x chromosomes it will benefits the physicians, according to Dr. Stratakis stated, “As pediatricians and endocrinologists, we look at growth as one of the hall hallmark of childhood. Understanding how children grow is extraordinary important, as an indicator of their general health and their future well-being.” To me it make sense why he would feel this way since, we were taught in biology that the their was a small gland close to the forehead that releases hormones that regulate growth, and when in puberty stage this gland goes into overdrive “in a sense.” Gigantism is a result from a defect in the pituitary gland; this could range from an oversized gland or a tumor in the pituitary gland. Although, gigantism can be treated by medication and if need surgery. Researchers believe that they can find new treatment for children with gigantism by finding out more of the gene they believe to be causing gigantism. The gene most likely to cause these problem is called GPR101 and the researcher found that it was up to 1000 time more stronger in children with gigantism then children without gigantism. I believe that the human chromosomes have more hidden factors that influence the human body, but the technology has not gotten that far yet. The GPR101 gene must have a reason to be over acting and researchers are looking into why. I believe that certain conditions have to be met for the gene to overexpress such as the chemical in the air along with the mother blood type. When thinking about all the possibility of why things happen in genetics it is exciting, although they’re still the depressing side as to the genetic defect occurring in the first place.      

Source 1http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-link-chromosome-region-duplication-gene.html

Source 2http://www.hngn.com/articles/51788/20141204/gigantism-gene-revealed-finding-could-lead-to-new-treatments-for-the-condition.htm        

How Bacteria Resist Antibiotics in Hospitals

Scientists have discovered why antibiotic-resistant bacteria thrive in hospitals.  By using advanced DNA sequencing of samples from over 1,000 patients, researchers were able to identify antibiotic-resistant genes.  This was possible as they were able to see the complete genome of bacteria samples.  Circular DNA known as plasmids appear to be the center of the issue.  Plasmids easily enter bacteria and have the ability to move from one bacteria to another.  This study indicates that some plasmids carry a gene responsible for making bacteria drug-resistant.  Plasmids are able to multiply independently and can integrate their DNA with the DNA of bacteria.  Scientists have found that plasmids containing the gene capable of inactivating certain antibiotics can be transferred to bacteria of various classifications.  Dr. Tara Palmore, an infection control specialist for the U.S. National Institute of Health and co-author of this study stated, "The plasmids we are talking about carry an antibiotic-resistant gene to a class of antibiotic called carbapenems."  The carbapenem class of antibiotics are essentially antibiotics of last resort.  Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center stated, "Carbapenems are the best we have. So if you've got carbapenem resistance, there is nowhere else for us to go.  We don't have a secret treatment up our sleeves."  

The image above displays the serious threat that 

antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose to humans.  

According to the study, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are bacterial pathogens that pose an alarming threat to hospitalized patients.  The occurrence of CRE has quadrupled in the United States in the last ten years. Researchers claim that CRE are resistant to most, if not all antibiotics.  A death rate of 40-80% from infection has been reported.  According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, over the past two years, ten patients have been identified as having resistance to carbapenems.  Although patients who contain this bacteria may not be sick themselves, they have the ability to pass the drug-resistant bacteria to others.  Dr. Julie Segre, chief investigator at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute and co-author of this study stated, "We are trying to reinforce the message that these drug-resistant bacteria can't become so prevalent that we can no longer control them."  

Ultimately, drug companies need to manufacture new antibiotics in which doctors need to use more cautiously.  Hospitals also need to do a better job of disinfecting facilities.  The correlation between the use of antibiotics and the increasing level of antibiotic- resistant bacteria is extremely interesting. In particular, this article caught my eye, as I always read how important it is for medical personnel to be careful when prescribing antibiotics.  Antibiotics are often prescribed during unnecessary circumstances in which over usage leads to ineffectiveness.  The article supports that theory due to bacteria forming resistance over time to even the most potent antibiotics available in the world today.


[1] Article: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/09/17/researchers-discover-how-bacteria-resist-antibiotics-in-hospitals
Related articles: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ICAAC/47541
                          http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282357.php

Henrietta's Family Finally Gets a Say in Genetic Destiny

At John Hopkins Hospital in 1951, two thin silvers of tissue were removed from a Hernietta Lacks cervix. These cells were taken from a cancerous cervical tumor termed HeLa, which later multiplied wildly and continuously; which had never been seen before. Henrietta’s cells have become an enormous part for research genes that are the origin and that defeat cancer. Her amazing cells also aided in developing drugs that treat herpes, influenza, hemophilia, and even Parkinson’s disease. Other important medical advances were a polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and vitro fertilization.

After decades of using these cells to produce widespread discoveries on diseases, Henrietta Lacks and her family had no knowledge of what her cells were being used for. This meant that the companies using these cells were capitalizing on the discoveries created by Lacks' HeLa cells; while this proceeded for years, her family had received no compensation. Another huge issue that appeared this year for the Lacks family was that a German scientist mapped out the full HeLa genome and made the results public.  

 

HeLa Cells stained to highlight specific parts of each cell. 

The National Institute of Health and the Lacks' family have come to an agreement where the Lacks family has control of the access to the HeLa genome. This means that researchers who receive NIH funds will have to apply to use the data controlled by the Lacks. A laboratory that is not funded by NIH does not have to follow these rules. The Lacks family hopes that everyone can respect to their privacy. What if it was you or your family’s privacy that was being taken advantage of?

The privacy problem that the Lacks family is facing is not an unfamiliar problem. There are plenty of other cases where doctors and researchers are taking advantage of their patients left over bodily parts. It has been seen when a patients parents learned that an examiner had kept a part of their son’s brain. It also occurs often at hospitals where blood is drawn and tested. A report was issued in 1999 by RAND Corporations that says more than 307 million tissue specimens are stored in the United States and each year it grows.

  I feel that these specimens will help make a difference in our world. These things can find information on certain medical issues; medications can be made, and even cures to diseases through these “stolen” specimens. People do have the right to their privacy, but why stop the progression of science. It’s as though most people are not as worried about the good that is coming from these specimens but the money that they are missing out on. People need to see the bigger picture of what we can do for other people and our future. I respect that people have want their privacy; and feel that it is a good beginning to a privacy act between the agreement with the Lacks family and the NIH. We learn a lot from specimens that are donated or used unknowingly. Hopefully one day we can eliminate this problem and come up with a proper understanding.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/henrietta-lacks-genetic-destiny/index.html?iref=allsearch

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130816-henrietta-lacks-immortal-life-hela-cells-genome-rebecca-skloot-nih/