tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75533459272495463152024-02-24T15:23:54.851-05:00Maeflowers Education, commentaries, and news about health, medicine, and the history and philosophy of scienceAlicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-39567900203343684962024-02-24T15:23:00.001-05:002024-02-24T15:23:04.464-05:00Rare diseases - a shortlist of interesting articles<p><b><i>Interested in learning about rare genetic disorders?</i></b> </p><p>I've written on a few of them over at Medium in the last few months. You can find them in the <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/tagged/rare-disease" target="_blank"><b>Rare Disease</b> section of the Maeflowers pub</a> or click the links below.<br /></p><p>First there was <b><a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/apert-syndrome-acrocephalosyndactyly-7eb78769c3a" target="_blank">acrocephalosyndactyly type 1 - or Apert Syndrome</a></b>. It's premature fusion of the bones caused by an autosomal dominant mutation.</p><p>Then I wrote about monosomy 9p, also known as <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/alfis-syndrome-monosomy-9p-52472d0742c9" target="_blank"><b>Alfi's syndrome</b></a>. And the rather recently recognized <b><a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/loeys-dietz-syndrome-c16bea75ea08" target="_blank">Loeys-Dietz syndrome</a></b>.</p><p>Finally, in recent months, I've also written about the causes of <b><a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/causes-of-aicardi-syndrome-disordered-brain-formation-20a81c036912" target="_blank">Aicardi Syndrome</a></b>, a rare genetic disorder that results in parts of the brain not properly forming.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-Id9y9G3Kek6SgvTWhBbRIl7-zacDsQ7n_YPOcoM88kjwWuJWiK5gdSXnKSenG3jJYA1caeajhXz3KcrIRCZ3OOzQtW81Q06yPDzx0th3BFn0nsDOInxgb5YmsF12jeTNa6NPmIvEQwO7nqPPLBHOlgOcxl91JzYDTlTTcfaruagJtRxy9uHP376/s500/corpuscallosumGrays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-Id9y9G3Kek6SgvTWhBbRIl7-zacDsQ7n_YPOcoM88kjwWuJWiK5gdSXnKSenG3jJYA1caeajhXz3KcrIRCZ3OOzQtW81Q06yPDzx0th3BFn0nsDOInxgb5YmsF12jeTNa6NPmIvEQwO7nqPPLBHOlgOcxl91JzYDTlTTcfaruagJtRxy9uHP376/s320/corpuscallosumGrays.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of the brain. Gray’s Anatomy. Public Domain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-1319651191752833752023-08-18T16:43:00.002-04:002023-08-18T16:43:14.743-04:00A Commentary on Women's Health and Sexual Education for Adolescents<p><i> This was originally published in <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/womens-health-means-adolescents-too-4bf9007078c4" target="_blank">Maeflowers on Medium</a> Aug. 4, 2023</i></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5F9cYi8nc_NGj0IC41j6YEL1XiC8gtOKyx_Y6TRVJdu4hmAalrpgYcrgrJfiCAglh_Vuz1glZg6fT308UUSkjktSSxK23UX_HziBJXR9Vs0uTs0bQcSeO5pcjlDqG2XMPEXZBi17rMEl7nfoUK5XtU3ew9wX_LmWM1S2VZpMo0S1U-5n1bqSRc6N/s1140/maeflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1140" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5F9cYi8nc_NGj0IC41j6YEL1XiC8gtOKyx_Y6TRVJdu4hmAalrpgYcrgrJfiCAglh_Vuz1glZg6fT308UUSkjktSSxK23UX_HziBJXR9Vs0uTs0bQcSeO5pcjlDqG2XMPEXZBi17rMEl7nfoUK5XtU3ew9wX_LmWM1S2VZpMo0S1U-5n1bqSRc6N/s320/maeflowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;">Women's Health Means Adolescents, Too</h1><h3 class="pw-subtitle-paragraph ud fq tn al b ue uf ug uh ui uj uk ul um un uo up uq ur us rw ai" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="37bd" style="text-align: center;">Preventing sexual health education leads to ignorance about bodies</h3><h3 class="pw-subtitle-paragraph ud fq tn al b ue uf ug uh ui uj uk ul um un uo up uq ur us rw ai" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="37bd" style="text-align: left;"></h3><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="f8ed">This
particular topic is one that seems academic but actually hits close to
home. In this politically rife time of book banning and abstinence-only
approaches to education crossing swords with hot-headed discussions
about abortion, maternity care, and birth control, it seems we’ve
completely lost the plot. Let me tell you a story…</p><h4 class="zs zt tn al zu lg zv lh lk ll zw lm lp lq zx lr lu lv zy lw lz ma zz mb me tt bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="14cf" style="text-align: left;">Step back 30 years</h4><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue aba zd ze uh abb zg zh lq abc zj zk lv abd zm zn ma abe zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="d650">Fifth
grade was my first year in public school. I had gone to a small
church-affiliated school up until that point. We had a very small
library of approved books. I had advanced through the curricula for math
and reading so I’d go to the older kids’ classrooms for those subjects.
We had a full hour of “Religion” every morning and Chapel on
Wednesdays. I had never heard of “Health class”. There were 3–5 kids in
my class depending on which year it was. It seemed perfectly normal.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="1cdc">I
transferred to public school and there were five classrooms of 20 kids
each in my grade. We moved between remedial, normal, and gifted
classrooms for different subjects and if you needed to be moved up or
down you missed what you missed. It was chaotic and inefficient compared
to where I had come from. But one day, early in that first semester,
they divided the girls and boys into two different classrooms and gave a
health presentation about our bodies. I learned about menstruation for
the first time — I had my first period just a couple weeks later.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="ca3a">If
it hadn’t been for that health presentation about my body in public
school, I would’ve woken up one morning thinking I had been mauled in my
sleep. As it was I was shocked that it was actually happening. How
traumatic to not know what you’re own body is capable of!</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="30a3">I
was staying at an older cousin’s house — so she had the supplies I
needed and it was all normal to her. I thought I’d have to explain it to
my mom because it had never been spoken of — instead she had a party
waiting for me to welcome me to womanhood. I was mortified and so very
very confused. If it’s such a huge thing, why didn’t I know about it?</p><p></p><h4 class="zs zt tn al zu lg zv lh lk ll zw lm lp lq zx lr lu lv zy lw lz ma zz mb me tt bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="9e4e" style="text-align: left;">The point</h4><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue aba zd ze uh abb zg zh lq abc zj zk lv abd zm zn ma abe zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="f2f8">Too
often we leave young people out of topics that affect them. Under a
misguided attempt to shield some mythical concept of innocence, they are
left vulnerable to fear, misinformation, and unintended consequences.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="401e">Everyone
deserves to know about their body so they can make decisions about
their health. Despite the stigma that sex ed introduces children to sex
(a natural part of life they’re going to see, hear, talk about, and
experience eventually anyway), such programs may be the only information
an adolescent receives about a major event in their physiological (and <a class="az yz" href="https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/wmd/resources/mood-disorders/menstrually-related/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">psychological</a>)
development. Everyone should be armed with factual information about
pain, bloating, mood swings, fertility, and cancer, among others.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="091b">Adolescents
go through major changes, and sometimes they can lead to life-altering
shifts. Menstruation should not be a mystical “welcome to womanhood”
surprise. Pregnancy should not be a mystical “you’ll feel better once
the baby comes” experience. Menopause should not be dismissed as the end
of a woman’s worth or hysteria.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="6dd2">Just this year (2023), Washington, DC became the <a class="az yz" href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/district-announces-new-menstrual-health-education-standards-dc-public-and-charter-schools" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">first education jurisdiction in the United States to have specific menstrual health education standards</a>. The. First. Welcome to the 21st century.</p><h4 class="zs zt tn al zu lg zv lh lk ll zw lm lp lq zx lr lu lv zy lw lz ma zz mb me tt bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="1b5a" style="text-align: left;">Til death are you dismissed</h4><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue aba zd ze uh abb zg zh lq abc zj zk lv abd zm zn ma abe zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="aa93">It’s not just the young who are ignored. Last year, a clinician at the MayoClinic stepped up to start working on <a class="az yz" href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/menopause-awareness-and-education-should-start-earlier-in-life/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">menopause awareness</a>.
Not only should women going through “the change” know what to expect
and what needs a doctor’s keen eye, there are treatments to make the
transition easier and help adjust risk. This is important not just for
comfort, but for health and quality of life as the hormones that cause
menstruation and menopause have varying associations with cancer. Birth
control also plays a role in this risk, with newer versions
(progesterone-based) offering protection against uterine cancer but
potentially increasing breast cancer. Genetics likely plays a role,
which means research is needed. But we’ve traditionally struggled to
have female cohorts in studies, now we want them to focus on female-only
disorders?! Yes, it’s going to be an uphill battle.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="ef5d">The <a class="az yz" href="https://menopause.org/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">North American Menopause Society</a> can be a starting point for anyone looking for a doctor or treatment for their hormonal transition.</p><h4 class="zs zt tn al zu lg zv lh lk ll zw lm lp lq zx lr lu lv zy lw lz ma zz mb me tt bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="05db" style="text-align: left;">Sex ed is necessary</h4><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue aba zd ze uh abb zg zh lq abc zj zk lv abd zm zn ma abe zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="2105">We
need sex ed — the children need it. Right now, schools are the best way
to reach a large swath of the population at the right age to ensure
that puberty and its ramifications don’t surprise anyone. But I’d
suggest classes in communities for adults as well. Maybe at hospitals,
like the classes for expecting parents, only it’s basic anatomy and
hygiene. “Human Body 101”. We all have a body, even as children. We need
to learn how to live with it. Why it’s so shameful to recognize that is
beyond me.</p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="ceee"><em class="abt">If
you’re looking for more information, I highly recommend the books
written by OB/GYN Dr. Jen Gunter, particularly The Vagina Bible and
Menopause Manifesto.</em></p><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph za zb tn mg b ue zc zd ze uh zf zg zh lq zi zj zk lv zl zm zn ma zo zp zq zr in bq" data-selectable-paragraph="" id="ceee"><em class="abt">Also see the statistics on the harm of abstinence-only education at the <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/abstinence-only-programs" target="_blank">Guttmacher Institute</a> and the <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/abstinence-only-education-failure" target="_blank">School of Public Health at Columbia</a> <br /></em></p><div class="n p"><div class="dh bn di dj dk dl"><br /></div></div><p></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-8203619957765455542023-08-14T19:10:00.005-04:002023-08-14T19:10:39.717-04:00The Gross Human Body<p><span style="color: #800180;">Gross: adjective,
1. indecent, obscene, horrifying.
2. the bulk or whole, <i>e.g., </i>gross anatomy</span></p><p>Are you interested in unique, weird, and fascinating facts about the human body? The Gross Human Body is a biweekly newsletter offering everything you didn't want to know.</p><p>On Mondays you have the word of the week (this week's is flatus!). On Thursdays is an informative post about some aspect of the human body - usually some sort of oddity or secretion. Occasionally there will be bonus posts of a news item of interest or factoid.</p><p>You can subscribe via Substack for free at <a href="https://grosshumanbody.substack.com/">grosshumanbody.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxEr4HPAbmTEZgFHge0DcTu1AARAkSg5di2euWq8LpSm4550_3FYwWu7nIB3axCNUgX1yOOgjeOocBbExFyH_TyKCWyeHydrffMLZSVqaBAPTg2WSpSEjQZ2c4AaD7cpKhha3bzmEWc_8Gj23Zxotfkz8lD_g0xKfsDmFP3sTwp-IDQXZbExDT8OC/s1217/Grossbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1217" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxEr4HPAbmTEZgFHge0DcTu1AARAkSg5di2euWq8LpSm4550_3FYwWu7nIB3axCNUgX1yOOgjeOocBbExFyH_TyKCWyeHydrffMLZSVqaBAPTg2WSpSEjQZ2c4AaD7cpKhha3bzmEWc_8Gj23Zxotfkz8lD_g0xKfsDmFP3sTwp-IDQXZbExDT8OC/s320/Grossbanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-79633497213572377922022-08-04T22:24:00.006-04:002022-08-04T22:24:57.945-04:00HIV, genetic disease, and psilocybin E. Coli - Quora roundup<p>There have been some very interesting questions on the <a href="https://maeflowershealthandscience.quora.com/" target="_blank">Maeflowers Quora</a> in the last few weeks - the current trend is concerns about HIV and monkeypox, as well as the normal questions about inheriting diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. The most interesting questions though have been about a breakthrough in the production of psilocybin for mental health research.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> pPsilo16 E. coli</h3><p><a href="https://maeflowershealthandscience.quora.com/What-are-the-effects-of-an-oral-administration-of-the-probiotic-strain-Escherichia-coli-pPsilo16-for-intestinal-coloniza-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What are the effects of oral administration</a>?</p><p><a href="https://maeflowershealthandscience.quora.com/Could-a-human-contract-the-E-Coli-pPsilo16-bacteria-What-would-be-the-effects" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Could a human contract the bacteria</a>?<br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Genetics and Alzheimer's</h3><p><a href="https://maeflowershealthandscience.quora.com/https-www-quora-com-What-can-I-do-to-reduce-my-chance-of-getting-Alzheimer-s-since-I-am-APOE-4-homozygous-answer-Alici" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">APOE4 and reducing the chances of developing Azheimer</a>'s</p><p><a href="https://maeflowershealthandscience.quora.com/https-www-quora-com-Loss-of-smell-is-a-warning-sign-of-Alzheimer-s-but-what-if-you-lose-your-sense-of-smell-due-to-Cov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Loss of sense of smell in Alzheimer's</a>? Isn't that like COVID?</p><p><a href="https://qr.ae/pvuJcf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What kind of diseases do gene therapy treat</a>? <br /></p><p> </p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">HIV testing</h3><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/I-had-exposure-to-HIV-within-12-hours-I-took-PEP-and-completed-30-days-After-69-days-post-PEP-I-took-a-4th-generation-HIV-test-and-the-result-was-negative-Could-it-be-conclusive/answer/Alicia-Prater-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What's the testing protocol after PEP</a>? </p><p><a href="https://qr.ae/pvuJJn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How accurate is testing after PEP</a>?<br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-19872591510746810122022-04-04T20:10:00.001-04:002022-04-04T20:11:07.760-04:00Congenital Anomalies of the Female Reproductive System<p class="MsoNormal">Congenital anomalies occur for a number of reasons. Approximately every 1 in 33 babies is born with some form of birth
defect, ranging from mild and asymptomatic to life-threatening, and they can be
either preventable (i.e. influenced by the mother and her environment) or
heritable (i.e. genetic). The female reproductive system isn't spared from this possible outcome during fetal development, and there are several types of congenital anomalies that are seen in this biological system.<br /></p>
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</p><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Birth defects</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The differences between birth defects in males and females
are most discernible in regards to the external genitalia by which we designate the baby's sex. Female is defined genetically based on the presence of two X
chromosomes (genotype 46XX as opposed to male, 46XY), but the absence of male genitalia is considered an indicator of a female at birth. However, abnormal levels of male sex hormones during
fetal development due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia, maternal treatment
with progesterone, or a maternal hormone-producing tumor can caused
alterations to occur in the external female genitalia (e.g., enlarged
clitoris). Truly ambiguous external genitalia is referred to as pseudohemaphroditism
or virilization. The <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/gender-vs-sex-in-biology-and-society-1fbf61752b82" target="_blank">physical condition is often corrected by surgery after genetic confirmation of sex</a>. </p>
<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Am1JgqL-UAX_AbqJDjv-3i4sz_8tWeyP7h2TkAaPKca3c6E2WQe9yYytT2amY4VjOx25Nnyt3qSHVQN5jrhg7p30tb81FgJo5BnK0rKa4dkq3jUWUh9YNvUSP1cykgK4mXiNFh3CLZe0CuBkJ_pHjwfMjYygA0RvCkFj9yqwzX5MQpLzxpkc1A/s602/Mullerian_duct_development.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="602" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Am1JgqL-UAX_AbqJDjv-3i4sz_8tWeyP7h2TkAaPKca3c6E2WQe9yYytT2amY4VjOx25Nnyt3qSHVQN5jrhg7p30tb81FgJo5BnK0rKa4dkq3jUWUh9YNvUSP1cykgK4mXiNFh3CLZe0CuBkJ_pHjwfMjYygA0RvCkFj9yqwzX5MQpLzxpkc1A/w400-h297/Mullerian_duct_development.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mullerian duct development. CC By-SA 4.0 Devinka98. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullerian_anomalies#/media/File:Mullerian_duct_development.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><h2 class="graf graf--p" name="8e25" style="text-align: left;">Mullerian anomalies</h2><p class="graf graf--p" name="4e88">Defects of the vagina and uterus are called <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="http://www.pennmedicine.org/fertility/patient/conditions/mullerian-anomalies/" href="http://www.pennmedicine.org/fertility/patient/conditions/mullerian-anomalies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mullerian</a> anomalies based on their embryonic development from the Mullerian duct. The defects are usually not detected until puberty, when they cause pelvic pain, irregular menstruation, or other reproductive issues, because the ovaries and external genitalia are not affected. The most common defects are agenesis and hypoplasia, in which the tract or part of the tract (such as the vagina) does not form. Whether fertility is affected depends on the exact type and extent of
the defect. Some can be surgically remedied to alleviate painful
menstruation.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Unicornuate uterus: only half the uterus forms (banana-shaped). The condition is rare and often accompanied by kidney agenesis.</li><li>Uterus didelphys: double uterus, potentially including duplication of the vagina and cervix.</li><li>Bicornuate uterus: misshaped womb.</li><li>Septate uterus: a wall of tissue divides the uterus.</li><li>Diethylstilbestrol (DES)-related uterus: T-shaped uterus in the child due to maternal exposure to the drug DES; also increases risk of vaginal cancer.<br /></li><li>Arcuate uterus: slight variation in the shape of the uterus, considered simply as a variation of the norm.</li></ul><p class="graf graf--p" name="67ba"></p><h2 class="graf graf--p" name="8142" style="text-align: left;">Other female reproductive tract defects</h2><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cloacal abnormalities: The cloaca is the initial tube from which the rectum, urinary tract, and vagina form. Persisting late into development can result in a lack of the appropriate orifices, resulting in severe pain and gastrointestinal disruption, as well as the appearance of male genitalia.</li><li>Imperforate hymen: The vaginal opening is completely blocked, which is discovered when menstruation begins.</li><li>Abnormal ovaries: An extra ovary or extra tissue on the ovaries can occur, as well as ovotestes (presence of both male and female tissues).</li></ul><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Chromosomal abnormalities</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">When a baby is born with only one sex chromosome it is known
as monosomy. X monosomy is referred to
as Turner
syndrome, or gonadal dysgenesis, and occurs in an estimated 1 of every 2000
live births. Sometimes the second X chromosome is only partially missing.
Children born with this condition have swollen hands and feet, and sometimes a wide
webbed neck. Puberty doesn't occur and the adolescent lacks secondary sex characteristics unless treated with estrogen. Children may also have a short
stature unless treated with growth hormone. Menstruation is absent and an adult
with Turner’s is infertile. The condition has a number of complications,
including heart defects, autoimmune disorders (e.g., hashimoto’s thyroiditis
and diabetes), arthritis, and cataracts. </p> <br />Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-42848042595393423202022-03-12T13:31:00.004-05:002022-03-12T13:31:45.088-05:00Heart and Cardiovascular Learning Guides<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBDmV4sHIg32wtqEJ6SxMbdpm1-wFd92uujUw1tFprZTO1Cy0j6dPLi19LDqNIdpF-psMZK_iE0t28ofNsH5g2u5ahhaZ4Z-okeR6Nqz_BNfZJMLqICeumBcvWIqdzDWZQuuJMZXOq-jWjgB_j2WMmrQg_znsM_dlyN9vw9UQxCpJE7fqXfXTwXw=s700" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="451" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBDmV4sHIg32wtqEJ6SxMbdpm1-wFd92uujUw1tFprZTO1Cy0j6dPLi19LDqNIdpF-psMZK_iE0t28ofNsH5g2u5ahhaZ4Z-okeR6Nqz_BNfZJMLqICeumBcvWIqdzDWZQuuJMZXOq-jWjgB_j2WMmrQg_znsM_dlyN9vw9UQxCpJE7fqXfXTwXw=s320" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Human heart. Gray's Anatomy, 1918<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p>Here is an outline and links to the current heart and cardiovascular system-related learning guides currently available at Just Facts-Long-lasting Curriculum. <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/basic-terminology-cardiovascular-system/" target="_blank">Vocabulary lists</a></li><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/congenital-heart-defects/" target="_blank">Congenital heart defects</a></li><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/stroke/" target="_blank">Stroke</a></li><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/heart-disease-primer/" target="_blank">Heart disease</a></li><ul><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/causes-of-secondary-heart-disease/" target="_blank">Secondary heart disease</a></li><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/types-of-primary-myocardial-disease/" target="_blank">Primary heart disease</a> <br /></li></ul><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/endocarditis/" target="_blank">Endocarditis</a></li><li><a href="http://justfactsllc.com/heart-failure/" target="_blank">Heart failure</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>The <a href="https://alicia-prater.blogspot.com/2011/08/circulation.html">basics on the circulatory system are in this other post</a>. <br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-26078546522795879502022-02-26T20:27:00.001-05:002022-02-26T20:27:16.643-05:00Medical Exams You Should Schedule Now<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr-59y9HvBK1MxwNV7FTIlUIOFSIzkJAbXbMUbxm9fV_amNYBiK453NfAe57kvAKvM41P6lmNcBwrDxRlF1R-S6cqx2taL6HoafWt93yNiZedPlTxzw_FXPWXKEggHUia0NK8WF4T96-Ho9biGQInR_lRKhJw63bAVcrF3kDj_t640ZuflJfSCkg=s4720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3146" data-original-width="4720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr-59y9HvBK1MxwNV7FTIlUIOFSIzkJAbXbMUbxm9fV_amNYBiK453NfAe57kvAKvM41P6lmNcBwrDxRlF1R-S6cqx2taL6HoafWt93yNiZedPlTxzw_FXPWXKEggHUia0NK8WF4T96-Ho9biGQInR_lRKhJw63bAVcrF3kDj_t640ZuflJfSCkg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mockupgraphics?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Mockup Graphics</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/medical-care?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span>
</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">There are a number of <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/common-medical-conditions-youll-face-as-you-get-older-d9b51c7d7c20" target="_blank">medical conditions we'll all face as we age</a> - arthritis, malnutrition, heart disease, cancer, cognitive and balance difficulties, depression - so it's important to stay up to date on your condition by visiting a doctor for regular exams. But there are also different tests and screenings you should remember to ask about.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><p>Cholesterol and blood sugar checks</p></li><li><p>Cancer screenings</p></li><li><p>Dental exams</p></li><li><p>Eye exams</p></li><li><p>Prostate and breast exams</p></li><li><p>Gynecological exams </p></li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">Read more about these exams and why they're important on <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/medical-exams-you-shouldnt-skip-49de4e67e90b" target="_blank">Maeflowers at Medium</a>. </p><p style="text-align: left;">You should also occasionally go over your prescription medications with your doctor to ensure they are doing what you need them to do. For example, if you've changed your diet, quit smoking, quit drinking, and lost weight, you may find it possible to decrease or discontinue prescriptions for lipids or hypertension. <i>(Only do this under advisement from your doctor based on exam and blood results.)</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Another question to ask your doctor is whether you're up to date on vaccinations. Most offices follow the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf" target="_blank">CDC schedule</a>. In particular, tetanus is repeated every 10 years, influenza every year, and the hepatitis series is new in the last 10-20 years. In addition, according to the CDC< all adults over a certain age should be <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/HepatitisCTesting.htm" target="_blank">tested for HepC</a> at least once.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Screening allows early treatment, which results in better outcomes!</i></b><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-79482362422482683402021-11-06T16:55:00.004-04:002021-11-06T16:55:52.065-04:00What We Got Wrong with the U.S. COVID Response<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7m1fuYe6JbrZ5iqzIwKz8IYU1DZHO1rjOo9Cy1rq2rFucxwu3weOLYOMsvYs5MiTV2cwBggnt7F4fIGWw6HSORHQGddkK8xj8NruvG7Oh_hdSDTvojP1DsMHjLEBey1EDoHvUf3M8g/s2048/pexels-cdc-coronavirus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7m1fuYe6JbrZ5iqzIwKz8IYU1DZHO1rjOo9Cy1rq2rFucxwu3weOLYOMsvYs5MiTV2cwBggnt7F4fIGWw6HSORHQGddkK8xj8NruvG7Oh_hdSDTvojP1DsMHjLEBey1EDoHvUf3M8g/s320/pexels-cdc-coronavirus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="level__left">
<div class="level__item">
<div class="js-copy-attribute-content photo-page__adp-cta__container__attribution"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <strong><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@cdc-library?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels">CDC</a></strong> from <strong><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/coronavirus-3992933/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels">Pexels</a></strong></span></div>
</div>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have held an unpopular opinion since early in the coronavirus pandemic
— the United States should have locked down completely. I have added
more unpopular opinions on top of that in the past year and a half in
criticism of the health agencies, both American and international.
Though whether it’s unpopular really depends on the audience, as I know a
lot of scientific and medical professionals would agree with me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With bad public messaging, unmitigated viral spread, lack of testing and quarantines, and inherent issues in the health care system, read <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/what-the-us-got-wrong-in-the-covid-19-response-134426ab42c8" target="_blank">my commentary at Medium on what the U.S. got wrong about COVID-19</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> -------------------<br /></p><span></span><p><i>Want to read more Medium articles each month? Use <a href="https://prater-alicia.medium.com/membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my link to subscribe as a Medium member</a> and you'll support me and other writers, as well as have access to member-only articles, newsletters, publications like Maeflowers, and other features.</i><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-15795450005318740822021-09-30T18:54:00.003-04:002021-10-04T12:54:04.074-04:00Hyper-responsibility Syndrome and Anxiety<p class="graf graf--p" name="8d5a"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0036044/full/760%2C/0/default.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="520" height="400" src="https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0036044/full/760%2C/0/default.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A man disturbed from sleep by visions caused by guilt. Etching by Brocas. Credit: <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/works/mumuc5m4" tabindex="-1">Wellcome Collection</a>.
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/pdm/" tabindex="-1">Public Domain Mark</a><br /> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="8d5a">I often feel responsible for others’ actions when I play no role in what they've done. Even if they’re only working off information I provided, my brain latches on to how I played a role and have to take responsibility. But I'm not alone in this. It's a phenomenon called hyper-responsibility syndrome. I wrote about <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/hyper-responsibility-syndrome-toxic-guilt-and-anxiety-9033949a6270" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the psychology and neurology underlying inflated responsibility and guilt elsewhere</a>. In this post, I talk about the personal aspects of this mental health issue.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p class="graf graf--p" name="8d5a"></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="7696">I’m the eldest child. Always felt responsible because I was held responsible. This origin is in agreement with the current working theories in psychology on the origin of the syndrome. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="7696">The result: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I’m hesitant to answer questions or provide my input because then someone goes off and does something ill-advised and I feel like it’s my fault.</li><li>If they do something cringe-worthy or inappropriate, I feel second-hand shame and embarrassment. </li><li>I feel the need to correct people, if only because then it clarifies that I feel they shouldn’t go forward with whatever they planned to do, but it comes across as bossy. </li></ul><p class="graf graf--p" name="8763">As a child my report card often reflected this and I was chastised for not allowing other kids to do kid things. But when I did that at home, let my younger brother do whatever he was going to do, I got into trouble. I look back now and see a connection. At the time I was frustrated by both the impulse to step in and the acts of those around me. As a teenager it would be seen as a sign that I wanted to take on leadership roles. I hate being a leader. I want to be a follower — give me a clear objective and clear expectations and I’m a happy camper.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e9ad">When I have an offhand conversation with someone and then later they complain that they did what I said and it didn’t work and I need to rethink what I said, etc, it makes me panic. I didn’t know I was doling out advice. I didn’t know that conversation cemented its way into their head. I don’t want that responsibility! Why am I not allowed to simply think through things out loud?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d5c1">This is why I often repeat myself in conversations, and I rephrase and explain what I meant to the point of “beating a dead horse”. My mother gets impatient with me in conversations and cuts me off. Other people think I either have a few screws loose or am not very bright.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d5c1">That then feeds back into the anxiety, causing a feedback loop until my brain gets worn out and fixates on something else.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d5c1"><b>So what do I do?</b> I've learned what this cycle looks like for me and I stop myself. I'm going to feel it either way, but I stop from reacting. I have control over my behavior, even if I don't have control over the emotions. I know from experience that it will pass once my brain gets tired, so I just wait it out. It's not easy and it's not comfortable, but it works for me. <br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-43533896988332317972021-09-24T21:09:00.002-04:002021-09-24T21:09:36.506-04:00Morbid about mortality<p>You'll notice a new link over in the sidebar. I now have a publication at Medium that collates my health type articles that aren't in other publications. The most recent stories there have been about death. </p><p>The past almost 2 years have been a very introspective time for me. Partly because in my editing job, I've been knee-deep in depressing data. Another part is my own health and the health of those close to me. It would have been a hard time period even without the pandemic.</p><p>I took part in the Medium Writers' Challenge last month and, though I hadn't originally planned on it, ended up writing on the topic of death. Specifically, that we need to <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/respecting-death-as-a-natural-phenomenon-dc0264955a68" target="_blank">Respect Death as a Natural Phenomenon</a>. Even if we don't like it, the truth of the matter is that it's going to happen. To everyone. </p><p>To get my mind off that morbid topic I delved into a bookcase in my house and pulled out a random book to read. About the plague. Because of course I did. </p><p>Turns out, the <a href="https://medium.com/maeflowers/what-the-plague-foretold-about-covid-3d0d8f3ad80e" target="_blank">Black Death has a lot in common with the COVID-19 pandemic</a>. We haven't learned much from history, probably because we don't actually learn history. We just hear the parts people want to remember.</p><p><span></span><span></span> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkMb5o6qfDb4dMCWzHwPD95D-wHF9S1A29fO8N3QJuhWJaOEWQ2NXosF19xV6O3yNom7nGl96kNIP35RWBrxtLFhPVWRdg5ECYNZScTMhyphenhyphenUXU7QzdVqTVbMpONvbeHz9E6ohczKVcgg/s1140/maeflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1140" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkMb5o6qfDb4dMCWzHwPD95D-wHF9S1A29fO8N3QJuhWJaOEWQ2NXosF19xV6O3yNom7nGl96kNIP35RWBrxtLFhPVWRdg5ECYNZScTMhyphenhyphenUXU7QzdVqTVbMpONvbeHz9E6ohczKVcgg/s320/maeflowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>You don't have to subscribe to Medium to read my stories, unless you've already hit their monthly limit for free views. If you don't want to wait until next month's rollover, it's only $5/month to become a subscriber. If you use <a href="https://prater-alicia.medium.com/membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a>, I get a portion of that. </i></p><p><i>You can also subscribe to a newsletter for all my stories (<a href="https://prater-alicia.medium.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>), or after becoming a member you can follow just the Maeflowers publication.</i><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-55727405694848226912020-11-08T18:45:00.008-05:002020-11-08T18:45:59.231-05:00A little help with fact-checking<p>Now is a good time to direct you to an article I wrote a few months ago - Just in case you're having trouble with deciding which "news" to trust.</p><p><a href="https://medium.com/the-innovation/how-to-tell-truth-from-fiction-dfda88c8f268" target="_blank">How to Tell Truth from Fiction: Fact-checking 101</a><br /></p><p>1. Check your biases</p><p>2. Check for sources</p><p>3. Consider the messenger (i.e., check their biases)</p><p>4. Look for independent confirmation<br /></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6FTHejGlZr0fryvdFXqMtCjeWCzwWeUHJgq9WbpVjzzjUv3KKybfkdlJjvHG3DmHA4deBjaHciWkH-h0JZhK8lDM6RGxMneglbsKAqGF_0ftz9qINoc2oEmqRUI1LWDIJULiQqMA2A/s2048/joanna-kosinska-1_CMoFsPfso-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6FTHejGlZr0fryvdFXqMtCjeWCzwWeUHJgq9WbpVjzzjUv3KKybfkdlJjvHG3DmHA4deBjaHciWkH-h0JZhK8lDM6RGxMneglbsKAqGF_0ftz9qINoc2oEmqRUI1LWDIJULiQqMA2A/s320/joanna-kosinska-1_CMoFsPfso-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@joannakosinska?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Joanna Kosinska</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/writing?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-81648256072728350382020-10-04T21:22:00.004-04:002020-10-04T21:22:52.579-04:00Zinc and treating the common cold<p style="text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFsZlMru0EBiliEHXKj3LdzHJOIXx8ZMNTu2zAKNYoR-5c1QSAVwHLmFhzL56zwhin5ZPHIgLVGk6dnp-x9RVRtiCRQDX6jkIklkvt_K9g80rJrQyaHVB9vtqxxsSxq5e5WR0wFKi5g/s1200/1200px-A_lady_suffering_from_the_Common_Cold.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFsZlMru0EBiliEHXKj3LdzHJOIXx8ZMNTu2zAKNYoR-5c1QSAVwHLmFhzL56zwhin5ZPHIgLVGk6dnp-x9RVRtiCRQDX6jkIklkvt_K9g80rJrQyaHVB9vtqxxsSxq5e5WR0wFKi5g/s320/1200px-A_lady_suffering_from_the_Common_Cold.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_lady_suffering_from_the_Common_Cold.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since 1974, when a
study titled “Zinc ions inhibit replication of rhinoviruses” by Korant, Kauer,
and Butterworth was published in the journal Nature, the idea that zinc can
prevent or cure the common cold has circulated. Many studies have looked at
different zinc ionophores and lozenge formulas and their effect on the course
of cold symptoms, as well as the potential biochemical mechanism at work.
Though the exact mechanism of action is still unknown, there is some consensus
that ionized zinc affects picornaviruses.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zinc Against Cold Viruses</span></span></h3><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;">
</p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rhinoviruses, of the
family Picornaviridae, are only one type of almost 200 viruses that cause the
acute respiratory infection symptoms known as the
common cold. However, rhinoviruses are estimated to cause one-third to half
of all colds, and preventing rhinovirus
infections would severely limit the most common human infection.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the 1970s,
studies have found that zinc ions may inhibit rhinovirus replication. Viral
replication plays an important role in infection; inhibiting replication would
prevent progression of the disease and ease symptoms. In addition, zinc ions
have an affinity for the ICAM-1 receptor, which is bound by rhinovirus when
infecting cells in the respiratory tract. Zinc binding the ICAM-1, or the
rhinovirus-ICAM complex, would prevent infection of the nasal epithelium,
preventing the duration of the common cold.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What Type of Zinc Reduces Cold Symptoms?</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the 1980s and
1990s, zinc gluconate lozenges were shown in some studies to decrease the
duration of cold symptoms if taken within 24 hours of symptom onset, whereas
other studies had no success. Zinc acetate lozenges appeared to have a better
success rate, likely because of their formulation. The problem seems to lie in
the concentration of ionic zinc in commercially available lozenges. The ionic
zinc concentration is not measurable by the label on a package, it is dependent
on what is released as the lozenge dissolves in the mouth over a period of
time.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zinc gluconate gels
and nasal sprays have had experimental success in alleviating rhinovirus
infection. Some formulations were even marketed, such as Zicam. However, these
products were recently warned against due to users losing their sense of smell.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Potential Problems with Zinc Products</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though zinc lozenges
have repeatedly been found to exert no side effects or create any problems,
beyond the chalky taste, zinc nasal sprays have been shown to irreversibly
damage the nasal lining. In particular, Zicam (zinc gluconate nasal spray from
Matrixx Initiatives) was shown in an October 2009 study to have cytotoxic
effects on both mouse and human olfactory sensory neurons, as well as a near
complete loss of the nasal epithelium and submucosa. Sprays not containing zinc
did not have this significant effect, indicating that the zinc was cytotoxic to
the nasal mucosa.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Using Zinc to Stop a Cold</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though it is far
from being a cure, there is evidence to suggest that zinc lozenges may help
reduce cold symptoms, cutting the duration of the illness in half and
alleviating symptoms more fully after the duration of the illness. A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3273967/" target="_blank">2011 Cochrane Review</a> concluded that zinc supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of a cold, though the change in duration is mostly by just 1 day. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the
exact mechanism of action is not known, and the exact dosage will differ by
product. </span></span>The guidance is to start with lozenges or tablets within 24 hours of the onset of a cold. In a 2017 meta-analysis, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5418896/" target="_blank">zinc acetate and zinc gluconate</a> were shown to have similar effectiveness.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More studies are needed to better quantify
zinc’s effect on rhinovirus and other cold viruses in order to reap the full
benefit of this element. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Additional References</span>:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eby. Zinc lozenges
as cure for the common cold: A review and hypothesis. <span style="font-style: italic;">Medical Hypotheses</span>. 2009; doi 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.017</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hulisz. Efficacy of
zinc against common cold viruses: An overview. <span style="font-style: italic;">Journal
of the American Pharmacists Association</span>. 2004; 44(5). Available on the
Medscape website.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lim et al. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007647">Zicam-induced
damage to mouse and human nasal tissue</a>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Public
Library of Science (PLoS) One</span>. 2009; 4(10), e7647.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-41742530086308708392020-09-26T23:53:00.002-04:002020-09-26T23:53:28.452-04:00Proof that counting calories works for weight loss<p>It's pretty clear that energy in-energy out dictates weight loss and gain, with the exception of medication side effects and certain pathological conditions. But I lived in denial for a long time that I was the reason for my inability to lose weight, or to maintain any weight loss I did achieve. </p><p>I wrote about my own struggles with weight and how <a href="https://medium.com/@prater.alicia/counting-calories-is-harder-than-it-sounds-d65c5af1a028">I lost 75 pounds on a calorie restriction diet</a> at Medium. </p><p>It hasn't been easy, and I am still struggling to make the changes permanent. But for those who are struggling, I hope my journey gives you a little hope that it is possible to succeed.</p><p>I did a lot of reading about calorie restriction diets before jumping in a few years ago and the exercise regimen I used was, and is, light - walking and simple yoga stretches. Be sure to discuss any potential heart, joint, or muscle problems with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen, as well as any supplements you may need for whatever diet you choose to adapt.</p><p>Dieting is only temporary, but lifestyle changes in how you approach nutrition can make any gains permanent.<br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-35355646004665432522020-09-23T11:59:00.001-04:002020-09-23T12:01:23.516-04:00Advice for uncertainty<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyEHCukAAI3yJEL2bGl3tBMwBN5CAznbxlAK4xcSLgrzq-rz-QkIQOiUDunobvjnhRtowHWpsHt9fpVpftsuFk9VnIGSNLge-_E-gfaKliJDa_9IKBWMpZKmHDialiLrNnujbVxa-kw/s2048/hannah-grace-j9JoYpaJH3A-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyEHCukAAI3yJEL2bGl3tBMwBN5CAznbxlAK4xcSLgrzq-rz-QkIQOiUDunobvjnhRtowHWpsHt9fpVpftsuFk9VnIGSNLge-_E-gfaKliJDa_9IKBWMpZKmHDialiLrNnujbVxa-kw/s320/hannah-grace-j9JoYpaJH3A-unsplash.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@oddityandgrace?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">hannah grace</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/writing?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p>I have been writing over at various Medium publications about my freelancing career, particularly the scientific editing aspect. </p><p>If you're currently in graduate school or working as a postdoc, you should know that <a href="https://medium.com/the-faculty/skipping-a-postdoc-isnt-wrong-9d01a0aa791c" target="_blank">skipping a postdoc isn't wrong</a>. If you're looking for a way to stay in academics without relying on academia, you can read about how I <a href="https://medium.com/the-innovation/i-freelanced-between-academic-jobs-and-made-it-a-career-856acf2cd5f8" target="_blank">freelanced between jobs and made it a career</a> at The Innovation. I also offer <a href="https://medium.com/the-faculty/the-beginners-guide-to-academic-freelancing-166f149d09a0" target="_blank">The Beginner's Guide to Academic Freelancing</a> at The Faculty to help you decide what may work for you.<br /></p><p>If you've already made a step towards working in scientific, or other, editing, I offer <a href="https://medium.com/swlh/eight-simple-tips-for-being-a-reliable-proofreader-d175e838bfc2" target="_blank">Eight Simple Tips for Being a Reliable Proofreader</a> at The Startup. <br /></p><p>You can stay in science by pursuing a non-traditional career, whether in a supportive capacity (e.g., editor) or forging your own way. Expertise is earned only by trying. Use your strengths to get where you want to be rather than worry about pre-determined routes. </p><p>If 2020 is any indication, there's a new normal. Why stay stuck in the old one? <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-1617575767387835102020-09-19T21:02:00.005-04:002020-09-20T21:22:35.706-04:00The unrealized potential of treating disease at a personal level - the mythos of personalized medicine<p><i></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3LNf_ZD64W1i4PHHmYqblolYRi6nfgO5GfgU5t_2Gfpllsvm67Y0YF5zzQj98MBs5NAFR5uM1KZdqnrxmW9y4acb87bqTHmTbrQl4m7C1_dp5baUa2XLphTSRevmJX8m1wvsozy2Qg/s2048/national-cancer-institute-tV-RX0beDp8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3LNf_ZD64W1i4PHHmYqblolYRi6nfgO5GfgU5t_2Gfpllsvm67Y0YF5zzQj98MBs5NAFR5uM1KZdqnrxmW9y4acb87bqTHmTbrQl4m7C1_dp5baUa2XLphTSRevmJX8m1wvsozy2Qg/s320/national-cancer-institute-tV-RX0beDp8-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nci?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">National Cancer Institute</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/genetics?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i> </i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Originally published at <a href="https://medium.com/@prater.alicia/the-mythos-of-personalized-medicine-581d7768bd8f">Medium</a> in August 2020.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">By Alicia M Prater, PhD (Aliconia Publishing)</span></span></i> </p><p>When I was a graduate student, my advisor would light up when
explaining how our work was going to lead to personalized medicine. We
were working on understanding the genetics underlying hypertension. The
idea was that by knowing which gene polymorphism a person has, the
doctor would know which class of drugs would have an effect on their
blood pressure and correct the derangement.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a> <p></p><section class="section section--body" name="3d08"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="c4ea">The term itself, <i class="markup--em markup--p-em">personalized medicine</i>,
implies the concept of treating each patient’s condition individually.
Specifically, the concept is based on recognizing the specific genetic
contribution the patient’s genome makes to their disease, though some
researchers also aspire to a more <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613206/" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613206/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">holistic approach in which genes are just a part of the equation</a>.
This would presumably lead to earlier treatment with the most
appropriate drugs, preventing unnecessary side effects and complications
and resulting in a better prognosis.</p><p>However,
more than 15 years later and, for most people, hypertension still
requires a trial and error approach in order to find the right
treatment. And it’s not the only disorder stuck in the impersonal and
inefficient past.<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="1b1f"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="d5ab"><span class="graf-dropCap">In</span> 2007, <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/209088" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/209088" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><i class="markup--em markup--p-em">JAMA</i></a> published a commentary lauding the inevitable advances in personalized medicine after the completion of the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project" href="https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Human Genome Project</a>, quoting a researcher who summed up the aspirations behind this approach much more poetically than I:</p><blockquote class="graf graf--blockquote graf--startsWithDoubleQuote" name="f6ce">“[G]enomics-based knowledge and tools promise the ability to approach each patient as the biological individual he or she is, thereby radically changing our paradigms and improving efficacy.”</blockquote><p class="graf graf--p" name="4dd6">The following year, a <i class="markup--em markup--p-em">Nature</i> journal noted that advances in understanding cancer and in treating tumors at the molecular level was <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncponc1253" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncponc1253" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ushering in the era of personalized medicine for cancer treatment</a>. However, in 2017, 15 years out from the completion of the Human Genome Project, a review in <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.drugtargetreview.com/article/23631/biomarkers-personalised-therapy-cancer/" href="https://www.drugtargetreview.com/article/23631/biomarkers-personalised-therapy-cancer/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Drug Target Review</a> announced:</p><blockquote class="graf graf--blockquote graf--startsWithDoubleQuote" name="f434">“[T]he new era of biomarker discovery for precision medicine in cancer begins <b class="markup--strong markup--blockquote-strong">now</b>.”</blockquote><p class="graf graf--p" name="9c9b">Neither one was fully prophetic. Though we currently understand a lot more about the genes involved in tumor development and growth, and have even put some biomarkers into clinical practice, the field is far from achieving personalization for every type of cancer, or even for early detection.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="4f68">Last year, the annual report on the approvals of personalized medicines by the FDA led to a headline that <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2019/08/the-era-of-personalized-medicine-has-arrived" href="https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2019/08/the-era-of-personalized-medicine-has-arrived" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Era of Personalized Medicine Has Arrived</a>. Forty-two percent of new drugs approved by the agency in 2018 require a diagnostic test to determine treatment (their definition of a personalized medicine). Most were for cancer, and some were for genetic diseases that they pair with third-party genetic testing.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="10a0">Where is the polymorphism evaluation for <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.314403" href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.314403" rel="noopener" target="_blank">hypertension</a>? <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128133330000238" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128133330000238" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Depression</a> and other <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(18)30406-6/fulltext" href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X%2818%2930406-6/fulltext" rel="noopener" target="_blank">mental health disorders</a>? <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.13132" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.13132" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Allergies</a>? <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="http://www.bumc.bu.edu/genetics/research/precision-medicine-in-alzheimer-disease-arc/" href="http://www.bumc.bu.edu/genetics/research/precision-medicine-in-alzheimer-disease-arc/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Alzheimer’s</a> and other neurological and cognitive disorders? The biggest challenge cited by the Personalized Medicine Coalition in their 2018 report — money.</p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="3bd4"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="94aa"><span class="graf-dropCap">In</span> addition to the research side of establishing the knowledge base and tools for personalized medicine, there’s another aspect to consider:</p><blockquote class="graf graf--blockquote" name="ad80"><blockquote>Harnessing the potential power of genomics in medicine requires physicians who can effectively use genetic tests and critically evaluate and interpret their results. The paucity of such physicians reflects the lack of sufficient education in genetics and genomics throughout medical training. -<a class="markup--anchor markup--blockquote-anchor" data-href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719811/" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719811/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">PLoS Med, 2009</a></blockquote><a class="markup--anchor markup--blockquote-anchor" data-href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719811/" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719811/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></blockquote><p class="graf graf--p" name="39bb">Recognizing the issue means it can be fixed. But nearly a decade later, the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5751549/" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5751549/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">era was still “coming”</a>. In the last few years, some medical schools have added a certificate in personalized medicine to their MD tracks to address this shortcoming, and the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/precision-medicine" href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/precision-medicine" rel="noopener" target="_blank">AMA offers CME</a> on the topic, but programs focusing on this field are still usually under the umbrella of genomics and genetics specializations.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a244">And now the concept has been around long enough to have already undergone a shift in branding. The new moniker is <i class="markup--em markup--p-em">precision medicine</i>, with the emphasis on precision and excluding the personal. It’s about the genes, not you.</p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="31b1"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="9de7"><span class="graf-dropCap">T</span>he concept of personalized medicine seems to come from a hope that we can be — and do — better. But for all the soothsaying and promises of the last 20 years, we aren’t even close to individualized medical treatment for most common disorders.</p></div></div></section>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-74809843913907950552020-09-18T22:25:00.006-04:002020-09-20T21:20:54.201-04:00Symptoms and treatment of lithium overdose<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6d13uFtljo9GrUWEaqU6yuz2Iy_MA_b0eyXlJYiTS2pd4RL0r8HVi6nd5MET9B-V1m1iSOyv2aj1xYG2DhH6mo5YmDn5H-4M77oFow6V5DIeNlhO3fHuwqvShhHYw1RDAnmYnT23yg/s981/981px-Lithium2017a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="981" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6d13uFtljo9GrUWEaqU6yuz2Iy_MA_b0eyXlJYiTS2pd4RL0r8HVi6nd5MET9B-V1m1iSOyv2aj1xYG2DhH6mo5YmDn5H-4M77oFow6V5DIeNlhO3fHuwqvShhHYw1RDAnmYnT23yg/s320/981px-Lithium2017a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lithium capsules. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lithium2017a.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">James Heilman, MD, CC4.0 license</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<p></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lithium, the third
element of the period table of chemical elements, is a soft metal pharmaceutically altered for use to treat
bipolar disorder since the 1800s. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lithium is used to treat a number of conditions, though it was
banned in the United States for about 30 years prior to 1970 due to severe side
effects and the risk of toxicity. Bipolar patients are considered to be at high
risk of overdose, and lithium overdose is quite common, occurring about 10,000
times in the United States each year. It is sold under a number of various
<a href="https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_lithium_eskalith_lithobid/drugs-condition.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">brand names</a>.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pathophysiology of
lithium toxicity</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lithium is only
available for oral medical use. As such, it is absorbed through the
gastrointestinal tract. The peak dosage absorbed in the body occurs 2 to 4
hours after the drug is taken. However, in the presence of an overdose, the peak may be prolonged. The half-life of
lithium is 12 to more than 24 hours (up to 36 hours in the elderly and chronic
lithium users), and the symptoms of toxicity can require prolonged treatment.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three types
of lithium toxicity are seen – acute, acute-on-chronic, and chronic. In
acute toxicity, the gastrointestinal tract is mostly affected because that is
where the concentration of lithium is targeted. In acute-on-chronic, the
patient has an upped dose that affects both the absorption point and the
target, resulting in both gastrointestinal and neurological problems. In
chronic toxicity, the patient has a high “body burden” of lithium and will
display mostly neurological signs.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Symptoms of lithium
overdose</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The standard
digestive symptoms occur: nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea. In acute
toxicity, neurological symptoms may occur in the form of T-wave flattening on
electrocardiogram or affected muscle movements. In chronic toxicity, renal and
thyroid function may be affected (hypovolemia, hypothyroidism, polyuria).
Common neurological manifestations are lethargy (i.e. tiredness), tremors,
slurred speech, and confusion. If untreated, these can progress to altered
mental status, seizure, and coma, potentially leading to a syndrome of
irreversible lithium-effectuated neurotoxicity (SILENT). In this state the
person exhibits cognitive impairment, cerebellar dysfunction, and peripheral
neuropathy that affects the sensory and motor functions.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other symptoms
include vision problems, lightheadedness progressing to blackouts,
incontinence, and twitches.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><h3 style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Treatment of lithium
overdose</span></span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patients exhibiting
signs of lithium overdose are treated
based on their symptoms. Serum levels of the metal may not aid in diagnosis but
are generally monitored. In an emergency situation, care is taken to stabilize
the patient. In a stable context, the patient’s heart and renal functions are
monitored, waiting for the drug to clear the system. Seizures are controlled
with sedatives.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The type of lithium
drug used is also a consideration. For non-sustained released forms, the MHRA
(Medical and Health products Regulatory Agency) of the UK recommends gastric
lavage. In this process, a tube is put down the throat and a neutralizing
substance pumped into the stomach to bind the lithium (though activated
charcoal is the common agent in gastric lavage, it does not work with lithium).
It is best if performed within an hour of ingestion. Bowel irrigation with
polyethylene glycol is another option, as well as hemodialysis – filtering the
blood through mechanical kidneys outside the body.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, the main
emergency treatment for lithium dose is saline. Via an intravenous line, saline
is used to dilute the lithium concentration in the blood and return the body
from its hypovolemic state, preventing renal problems in the process. This increased
blood volume increases the clearance rate for the drug based on its chemical
properties.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyone who is on
lithium and exhibiting signs of toxicity should seek professional medical help.
Chronic toxicity can occur due to long-term dosage and is not necessarily due
to a mistake by the patient.</span></span></p>
Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-88756302042248651492020-09-15T22:01:00.001-04:002020-09-20T21:21:35.640-04:00Dealing with the Minutiae of Covid<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXtm4MhFdcPt7ZvOpt51kVFbpEcCiCBF7Rs9OLIXh00Du5AwMZRnaS1xPMInqQYwkhBAZI7CMZj7birMwk3BRIXSb07VOg1bIWq_bJojF2Nhcdxr2ykmje3C5Eup69EnvDj5EerPNMg/s2048/annie-spratt-MYa0tyV2DYM-unsplash-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXtm4MhFdcPt7ZvOpt51kVFbpEcCiCBF7Rs9OLIXh00Du5AwMZRnaS1xPMInqQYwkhBAZI7CMZj7birMwk3BRIXSb07VOg1bIWq_bJojF2Nhcdxr2ykmje3C5Eup69EnvDj5EerPNMg/w400-h266/annie-spratt-MYa0tyV2DYM-unsplash-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Annie Spratt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/tired?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <i>Originally published at <a href="https://medium.com/@prater.alicia/overwhelming-times-dealing-with-the-minutiae-of-covid-7d0b0e9fb52e" target="_blank">Medium</a> in July 2020</i><p></p><p><i>By Alicia M Prater, PhD (Aliconia Publishing) <br /></i></p><section class="section section--body" name="3dcc"><div class="section-divider"><span class="graf-dropCap">I</span> can’t escape catching the headlines, and in my field of work this includes the latest scientific findings and the details of current medical concerns. So when a novel coronavirus started to make its way around the world, I noticed. When European countries started shutting down and <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/23/841962976/trump-didnt-see-it-coming-coronavirus-deaths-increased-tenfold-this-month" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/23/841962976/trump-didnt-see-it-coming-coronavirus-deaths-increased-tenfold-this-month" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Americans started dying</a>, I noticed. When the timelines for my social media networks started to be obituary-heavy, I shut down and cried.</div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="4fdb">It was only April.<span class="graf-dropCap"> </span></p><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="4fdb"><span class="graf-dropCap"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span class="graf-dropCap"> </span><p></p><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="4fdb"><span class="graf-dropCap">I</span> don’t work directly with patients, but in a supportive admin capacity, so I trudged forward somewhat selfishly, indulging in my curiosity and attempting to keep my own family healthy. I delved into the research as it was published. What works against the virus, what works with the virus, what counts as a risk factor…the answers change as we learn more and, after awhile, it starts to get overwhelming. There is simply so much we don’t know. The safest course is to just avoid the virus. We all know how that’s going.</p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="2d28"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="0899">I’ve been in self-isolation since mid-March. I started planning for it in late February. I go out for groceries every 10 days or so, wearing my mask, hand sanitizer at the ready, and I don’t interact with anyone if I can help it. Other errands are done only if needed and with the same precautions. I keep up with local infection stats released by the State Health Dept. to judge the risk. Luckily, I live in a relatively unscathed area of the country. I don’t want this virus. I don’t want anyone I know to go through the worst case scenario of this virus. I read, and so I know it’s horrible.<span class="graf-dropCap"> </span></p><p class="graf graf--p graf--hasDropCapModel graf--hasDropCap" name="0899"><span class="graf-dropCap">I</span> used to lecture on infectious diseases to graduate students. I’ve written and lectured on <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140409185043/https://www.positivelyaware.com/2011/11_01/point_of_origin.shtml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140409185043/https://www.positivelyaware.com/2011/11_01/point_of_origin.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HIV/AIDS</a>. I went through a few-year period when I was obsessed with the intricacies of hemorrhagic fevers. Prion diseases have fascinated me since undergrad, when they were still new to the medical establishment. Yet, the reality of facing what is currently at the door has me overwhelmed with its significance. Probably because this isn’t theory — it’s happening in front of me.</p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="6aa8"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="5f15">Anyone who has been taking COVID-19 seriously is likely tired and overwhelmed by now. If we (as an entire populace) had done what was necessary early on, we could have limited the fallout. Now though, we’re stuck in the middle of it, facing the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2020/looking-forward-understanding-long-term-effects-covid-19" href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2020/looking-forward-understanding-long-term-effects-covid-19" rel="noopener" target="_blank">long-term consequences</a> for which we can’t even fathom the right questions to ask. We could be looking at decades of unknown changes to our society. Best case scenario, a lot more people die. It’s simply overwhelming how all-powerful this one tiny little virus is in our lives.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="bfa1">I’ve had to stop reading studies on the details of SARS-CoV-2. Whether it’s mutating, or what proteins it binds, or whether a vaccine candidate induces a T-cell response, or whether it arrived in January or February from Europe or China…none of that matters to me specifically right now. I’ve had to admit that it’s all outside the scope of my ability to process what’s going on. There is just too much information to process while also attempting to utilize it to keep safe.</p><blockquote class="graf graf--pullquote" name="2b0b"><i><b>The minutiae became a mountain that I simply cannot traverse.</b></i></blockquote><p class="graf graf--p" name="de81">So for now, I keep it simple — avoid the virus. No breathing other people’s air, washing my hands after touching outside surfaces, no unnecessary risks, and don’t get caught up in the details. At least not until there’s something I can do about them.</p></div></div></section>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-8290950073666939362020-09-14T00:45:00.001-04:002020-09-14T00:45:28.826-04:00Moving forward<p>This blog has been an off and on endeavor for more than a decade. As has the Maeflowers brand as a whole. As of 2019, this blog became the full-time landing page for Maeflowers.com, and the mission was simplified - to share truthful and factual information with educated and honest commentary.</p><p>In 2020, Maeflowers was brought under the Aliconia Publishing umbrella. The fact sheets and learning resources originally planned for Maeflowers have a home at the Aliconia site as part of the <a href="http://justfactsllc.com">Just the Facts-Long-lasting Curriculum</a> series. </p><p>In the short-term, this blog is being cleaned up and updated, with posts restarting fresh with interesting facts and relevant discussions. The social media accounts remain the same. In the long-term, the commentary will be syndicated to a Medium publication and integrated into other forms, both digital and physical, to accompany the Curriculum series as appropriate.</p><p>This is the perfect opportunity to organize a collective of free information to help students learning from home, regardless of their age. One of Aliconia Publishing's common sentiments on social media is #readmorebooks, and Maeflowers is here to help anyone following that advice discover new avenues of learning.<br /></p>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-69008483482128807512018-02-14T15:35:00.003-05:002020-09-18T22:30:32.453-04:00OTC painkillers - are we taking too many?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyZNBckb33WneYpkE357NM9YCii-2baWDXkc6YpfSnGPHjvYcDPVkLt3tAA2IVn3NeBsa6C2sZo_u-sAOHPd03O31r6mwj_vnjhZgb-lf79WY5UkP7kwk2peY3RfEAlJbkKsRlycSIA/s1200/1200px-200mg_ibuprofen_tablets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyZNBckb33WneYpkE357NM9YCii-2baWDXkc6YpfSnGPHjvYcDPVkLt3tAA2IVn3NeBsa6C2sZo_u-sAOHPd03O31r6mwj_vnjhZgb-lf79WY5UkP7kwk2peY3RfEAlJbkKsRlycSIA/s320/1200px-200mg_ibuprofen_tablets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ibuprofen tablets. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:200mg_ibuprofen_tablets.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ragesoss, CC3.0 license</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A study published in the journal <i><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pds.4391/abstract" target="_blank">Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety</a></i> in January 2018 found that people are taking too much ibuprofen.<br />
<br />
Ibuprofen is part of a group of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Another popular over-the-counter NSAID is naproxen. They are generally used to treat pain, often chronically. Another well known pain killer that is not an NSAID is acetaminophen, more popularly known by its brand name Tylenol (which is manufactured by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNeil_Consumer_Healthcare" target="_blank">company that sponsored this study</a>).<br />
<br />
NSAIDs do have side effects, especially if the daily dose limit is exceeded. The drugs act to reduce inflammation, which has effects on blood pressure, the heart, liver, and kidneys. And it's important to follow dosing guidelines, as they've been established based on toxicity studies.<br />
<br />
However, the study authors were <a href="https://www.indy100.com/article/ibuprofen-painkillers-medication-drugs-study-taking-too-much-health-illness-nurofen-research-science-8205196" target="_blank">quoted in the New York Post</a> as recommending NSAIDs become prescription only, pushing acetaminophen as a safer option (though that drug has liver toxicity and a known history of being pulled from shelves). It's a bit of an extreme conclusion based on a single week of self-reporting and limited findings. For example, less than 10% of subjects recorded exceeding the dose with NSAIDs, and they also exceeded the dosing on other drugs they took in that same time period at near the same levels.<br />
<br />
So maybe the conclusion should be that we need to communicate dosing better, or find better pain killers in general, rather than limit the availability of what currently works for people. And because of the conflicts of interest regarding the sponsorship of the work, this study just comes across as industry shill.</span></span>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-30673290504395025512013-04-09T10:17:00.000-04:002013-04-09T10:18:04.709-04:00TEDTalk on what doctors don't know about pharmaWatch the original talk below and then read Ben Goldacre's followup at the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-goldacre/prescription-drugs_b_3018272.html?ncid=webmail27" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_what_doctors_don_t_know_about_the_drugs_they_prescribe.html" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe>
Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-14548453075638374682013-03-13T18:48:00.000-04:002020-09-18T22:36:20.443-04:00Zithromax warningThe <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm343350.htm" target="_blank">FDA has issued a warning for the use of azithromycin</a>, an antibiotic sold under the brand name Zithromax. The agency warns that the drug may cause an irregular heart rhythm, potentially fatal in nature, in people with pre-existing risk factors, including QT prolongation, low blood potassium or magnesium, a slow heart rate, and arrythmia treated with medication.Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-11202123610358403522012-04-24T15:16:00.001-04:002020-09-16T23:14:11.090-04:00Mad Cow Disease in California - UPDATEDUpdate: USDA's official press release is available <a href="http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/04/0132.xml&navid=NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrievecontent">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Earlier today Reuters and Bloomberg reported that U.S. officials had confirmed a case of Mad Cow Disease in a dairy cow at a rendering plant in California. It appears to be the first confirmed case in North America in a year (the last was Feb 2011 in Canada according to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/bse/">CDC</a>). <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/04/24/us-usda-briefing-idINBRE83N14L20120424?feedType=RSS&feedName=health&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=309303">USDA held a briefing</a> on the matter and according to news outlets the cow did not enter the food supply - milk and beef in the U.S. is considered safe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O4Y_PkurGGd-HTGOkeSAmACNN0iMocCSiPD2GEqRAVkeH5qEC1Jw4gIgnp39xMl0Uj1-MseXA_U9J8wCvayAggCBdFyMQtp-PIkfRbWDgA4zpruYqvu76Lr-whsihTRTqgepajOjrw/s1600/MadCow_USDA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4O4Y_PkurGGd-HTGOkeSAmACNN0iMocCSiPD2GEqRAVkeH5qEC1Jw4gIgnp39xMl0Uj1-MseXA_U9J8wCvayAggCBdFyMQtp-PIkfRbWDgA4zpruYqvu76Lr-whsihTRTqgepajOjrw/s320/MadCow_USDA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-17045362313999361742012-04-05T10:12:00.007-04:002012-04-05T10:12:00.491-04:00Women and the Affordable Care ActAs a woman who is self-employed I've found health insurance to be cost prohibitive. Many American women have run into the same issue, and we've seen in recent months that some of the basic hormonal treatments women use are misconstrued for various purposes (despite being required medication for some women). Women and health care appear to be at odds in the political sphere.<br />
<br />
Though we can't fix all the problems women face with Congressional actions, the Affordable Care Act addressed some of the issues women have with insurance rates by regulating insurance companies in regards to not being able to deny women coverage and not being able to charge them more simply because they have particular anatomical features (i.e. a uterus, ovaries, and breasts). In 2014 these aspects of the law take effect (that is, if the Supreme Court doesn't overturn it).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/08/women.html">Healthcare.gov outlines all of these features on their website</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjpgQCvS4IIqa9L_9QYvyHeupD49Y-Y1WWSXBjdVFyOgDhLtNqkZLzO2ykhYYqYwcfms0wZLr-1qELJrcZdOQkmOHSfV_SukTt-AEZSV49hJ9LrKzYNAgPMmoxOGf7lXED0pIih3k9Q/s1600/Health_insurance_reform_bill_signature_20100323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjpgQCvS4IIqa9L_9QYvyHeupD49Y-Y1WWSXBjdVFyOgDhLtNqkZLzO2ykhYYqYwcfms0wZLr-1qELJrcZdOQkmOHSfV_SukTt-AEZSV49hJ9LrKzYNAgPMmoxOGf7lXED0pIih3k9Q/s320/Health_insurance_reform_bill_signature_20100323.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The signed <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Health_insurance_reform_bill_signature_20100323.jpg">Affordable Care Act</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-14202177178572340502012-04-03T09:21:00.006-04:002020-09-19T19:17:59.101-04:00Citrus fruit and stroke risk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zc119n-EQHTU-w31KbHt8KKkeDfGD-ZWV3D416lzHfVWqqk9J4i8hOzbGe3pQMsVStFETGT0HJ4aIDM3iw7bygWdy_4OaX1hl-BqqE297nhTs-jvJaDEBWeUS00KDQ8rRpS6jecx6Q/s1600/orangesontree.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zc119n-EQHTU-w31KbHt8KKkeDfGD-ZWV3D416lzHfVWqqk9J4i8hOzbGe3pQMsVStFETGT0HJ4aIDM3iw7bygWdy_4OaX1hl-BqqE297nhTs-jvJaDEBWeUS00KDQ8rRpS6jecx6Q/s200/orangesontree.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arancia_di_Ribera_byFigiu.JPG">Figiu, Wikimedia</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/the-incredible-power-of-citrus-fruits-to-reduce-risk-of-stroke/254031/">The Atlantic</a> had an interesting article this month (March 2012) about citrus fruit and stroke risk. The article discusses a study showing that women benefit from flavanones in citrus fruit, protecting them against ischemic stroke, reducing their risk by 19 percent.<br />
<br />
Flavanones are a specific flavonoid found in citrus, such as oranges and grapefruit. Other flavonoids are found in red wine, dark chocolate, vegetables, and other fruits. However the results were specific to the subtype found in citrus. Previous research found that vitamin C is associated with a similar risk reduction.<br />
<br />
Another caveat is that increasing fruit juice intake is not recommended - it's high in sugar. Best to just eat more fruit.<br />
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The data was from the Nurses Health Study. The idea that <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996905000773">flavanones</a> are healthy isn't new as research in 2005 sought to determine the mechanism underlying their antioxidant effect.Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553345927249546315.post-55521818022686182562012-02-29T19:44:00.001-05:002020-09-19T19:11:36.054-04:00Statins get FDA warning label<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/us-fda-statins-idUSTRE81R1O220120228">Statins</a>, popular drugs used to lower cholesterol, will be sporting a new FDA warning label. The drugs have been associated with increased blood sugar levels, which could lead to or exacerbate type 2 diabetes. They are also associated with confusion and memory loss in some patients.These drugs include Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor.<br />
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Statins have had some controversy since their approval due to questionable use in women and men with no history of heart disease. Though studies have shown repeatedly that the drugs lower cholesterol in men with previous heart disease and reduce the chance of a second heart attack, they have not been definitively linked to the same success in women or men with no established heart disease, despite news reports to the contrary. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDisease/statins-effective-women-men-study-finds/story?id=15474004#.T07FH_lSxV0">One meta-analysis</a> in January 2012 combined women's data from various studies (they generally don't enroll enough women to test for an effect in a single study) found a benefit, but this still isn't proof, as pointed out by the authors of that study!Alicia M Prater, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08556315788656810024noreply@blogger.com0