Your genetic code can drive your desire for coffee

For the first time, a study from researchers at the University of South Australia was conducted to understand the correlation between cardiac health and its influence on coffee consumption. This study included 390,435 people and partnered with SAHMRI. While some of us drink coffee as a normal pick-me-up, or because it tastes good, coffee has significant effects on our cardio health. Another article talks about coffee and its effects on cardiac health. 

This study concluded, people with high blood pressure, aka angina, were more likely to consume less coffee or avoid coffee. This conclusion was drawn entirely from genetics. Interestingly, this is a positive effect since genetics can regulate our coffee consumption based on our health conditions. This is an example of how genetics have protective mechanisms built in, which directly influences behavior as well. Future studies will be interesting to identify different protective mechanisms in our genetics like the one discussed in this study. 

Gene Therapy Restores Hearts After Myocardial Infarction in Pigs

According to the National Institute of Health, gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. This technique includes but is not limited to inserting a gene into another’s cells, inactivating a mutated gene or replacing a mutated gene. At King’s College London, researchers used microRNA-199a to invigorate cardiac repair in pigs. The treated animals demonstrated noticeable improvements such as increased muscle mass and reduced scarring. 

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression. To do so, they bind to a target mRNA in order to prevent protein production. It is speculated that microRNAs regulate about 30% of human protein coding genes. MicroRNAs also aid in the regulation and reprogramming of stem cells.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMONE VAN DEN BERG, DREAMSTIME

However, many pigs did not benefit from the gene therapy. Persistence and uncontrolled amounts of the gene therapy led to a sudden arrhythmic death of the pigs. Although the numbers favor the undesired side of this breakthrough, researchers are hopeful for a better outcome next time with strict control regarding the dosages for this therapy.

In my opinion, this study opens the door for more research regarding the heart. It shows how effective microRNAs can be when used properly. As lead author, Mauro Giacca, said, “It is a very exciting moment for the field. After so many unsuccessful attempts at regenerating the heart using stem cells, which all have failed so far, for the first time we see real cardiac repair in a large animal.” This is mostly exciting because of how closely related a pig’s heart is to a human heart. Does that mean humans are next? 

Subcutaneously Implantable Power Supply

http://newatlas.com/solar-cell-medical-implant-skin/47200/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25744612

An implantable power supply adapted to be implanted subcutaneously within our living tissue, made from a thin photovoltaic cell encased in a case formed of a lamination of a plurality of thin plastic layers, each layer being translucent in the area covering said cell, such that the power supply is sufficiently flexible to conform to body contours. The average age of a cardiac pacemaker battery is seven years, and the average age of the recipient is early seventies. The entire device may require replacement at age seventy-eight, since the battery is sealed inside, and the batteries are permanently sealed inside a laser welded titanium pacemaker cases, thus requiring the entire unit be replaced at great cost. However, at age seventy-eight, the wearer's health has frequently deteriorated to the point where they cannot withstand the trauma of replacement surgery, which results in death in 10%-15% of the cases. Teenagers requiring pacemakers or defibrillators could tolerate replacement surgery up to fifteen times during their lives. 

In today's society cardiac pacemakers account for the most widespread use of internal batteries, typically single cell L-I types. The L-I battery generates a nominal 2.8 volts from a single cell when fresh, and is allowed to drop as little as 0.2 volts before replacement is indicated. However, depending on the construction of the cathode and anode plates, the L-I battery can generate up to 3.7 volts from a single cell. This invention's purpose is to provide an improved subcutaneous device for powering implantable medical devices of all kinds that is lightweight, flexible and has improved internal battery longevity.

I am a big fan of this, I think it is a strong original idea that would benefit a lot of cardiovascular patients in the future. Solar energy is an abundant source so why not utilize it in ways that can better our health.

Think twice next time taking vitamin D

When growing up parents are always told us to take your vitamins to grow big and strong.  Vitamin deficiency is obviously bad for someones health but scientists have found that having high levels of a certain vitamin can be just as harmful.  According to a study conducted by a group of University of Copenhagen scientists, they show that there is a connection between high levels of vitamin D in the blood and cardiovascular death.  The scientists conducted a study of 247,574 people over a period of seven years, taking a blood sample from each patient to measure levels of vitamin D.  After the seven years the scientists looked at the mortality rate of the patients and found that 16,645 of them have died.  They then observed the initial blood sample taken and confirmed that there is a correlation between mortality rate and high levels of vitamin D in the blood.


This was the first time that scientists have been able to reveal that too much vitamin D can be bad for your health.  The optimal levels of vitamin D in the blood is about 70 nanomols per litre, and anything under 50 or over 100 may increase the risk of a stroke or a coronary.  Most people get enough vitamin D through foods they eat, such as fish and diary products, as well as, vitamin D being naturally made in the body when exposed to sunlight.  It is important for people to know that high levels of a certain vitamin can be bad for them because so many people are taking health supplements. 

Greater Height, Better Heart According to Genetics

          Did you know that for every 2.5 inches shorter you are than someone else, you have a 13.5% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease? Yes! Height can impact your risk for developing the disease. Here is a specific example:

          Fred, standing at a whopping 5'5'', is friends with Chris, whose height is 6'6''. Because of Fred's much smaller stature, he has a 70.2% higher risk of developing heart disease than Chris does. Now you're probably thinking, why does height have such a significant impact on risk for the disease?

          The New England Journal of Medicine recently released its study, using data collected from 200,000 individuals, on the linkage between height and risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) throughout a person's life. One of the researchers stated, according to USA Today, that "the more height-increasing genetic variants that you carry, the lower your risk of coronary heart disease". TIME released an article in 2014 announcing the discovery of more genes linked to height determination, and stated that "as much as 80% of the variance in height among people is due to their DNA." As science advances, genetics is beginning to play a much larger role in linkage to health risks.

          However, the Journal's study has received skepticism from scientists around the nation. The majority of the study's participants were male, and so the results can only be confidently applied to male individuals. Because of their genes, it seems that short males are out of luck. USA Today, though, offers hope for shorter males, stating that they are often found to have significantly longer lifespans in general.

          I personally am skeptical of the results from the New England Journal of Medicine's study. Although a large sample size (200,000) was used, the uneven variation in gender of the participants makes me question whether the results were skewed. If the results are accurate, I'd be surprised because, when thinking of CHD, I often think of risk factors like overeating and little exercise, rather than physical height of an individual.

Mutation Can Increase Risk of Aortic Rupture

It has long been known that some people are more susceptible to heartbreak than others are. But research from the Yale School of Medicine and Celera Diagnostics has revealed that a certain gene mutation can make some people more likely to suffer from a literal break in their heart-specifically, ruptures in the wall of the aorta, the main artery of the heart and the largest one found in the human body. Thoracic aortic aneurysms, or bulges in the wall of the aorta, can develop completely undetected and lead to full ruptures. If these ruptures are not treated immediately, death can become imminent.

A protein called FBN-1 is imperative for providing strength to the walls of the aorta. After studying hundreds of patients at the Yale medical center, scientists confirmed that a genetic variation called rs2118181 put patients at a higher risk for thoracic aortic aneurysms and subsequent ruptures. While surgeries for these ruptures can work wonders, identifying people who are at risk early on will be an important step for ensuring that more lives are saved than lost in the future.

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