#Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

[oidracremedies]

The healthcare landscape in Telangana, much like the rest of India, is rapidly evolving, driven by a surge in chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These health concerns have become increasingly common, leading to a higher demand for specialized medicines. As a result, the Cardiac Diabetic PCD in Telangana business model offers a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals to enter the pharmaceutical sector. By partnering with established pharmaceutical companies, you can distribute high-demand medications and contribute significantly to healthcare in the state.

PCD (Propaganda Cum Distribution) is an effective business model where pharmaceutical companies allow franchise partners to market and distribute their products. In the specific niche of cardiac and diabetic care, the PCD model is particularly valuable due to the increasing prevalence of these health conditions across Telangana. Franchisees benefit from the strong brand and product support of the parent company while operating independently in their assigned territory.

[willowreader]

Statistics don't lie It just blows my mind that people can't see or understand that COVID is a dangerous virus that can damage your body. Getting infected multiple times will have serious consequences for many.

[bpod-bpod]

Sugar and Sprouts

Love sugar? Too much can damage your blood vessels, increasing your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Love artificial sweeteners? Unfortunately, they too may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers investigated in zebrafish embryos. Fluorescence microscopy revealed exposing embryos to lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners caused excessive blood vessel sprouting (angiogenesis) along the length of the body (pictured) – a process linked to diabetic complications in humans, including cardiovascular disease. Looking closer at embryos exposed to artificial sweeteners, they found cells lining their blood vessels (endothelial cells) developed into cells that promote sprouting. Analysing the RNA of these cells revealed changes in gene activity, notably reduction of one, Foxo1a (highlighted in red in the vessels along the fish embryo), was underlying the increase in sprouting when the embryos were exposed to sugar. Further experiments confirmed activity of this gene played the same role in embryos exposed to artificial sweeteners, uncovering how these sugar alternatives can negatively affect blood vessels.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Image from work by Xiaoning Wang, Jinxiang Zhao and Jiehuan Xu, and colleagues

Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, School of Life Science; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China

Image contributed by the authors under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence

Published in eLife, October 2024

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[themogaidragon]

just curious.... do you know of a general/unspecified chronic illness flag?

Nope so I've made some using those chronic fatigue flags.

Chronic Illness Pride Flag

PT: Chronic Illness Pride Flag /END PT

ID: a flag with six horizontal stripes. The fisrt and last stripes are smaller. Their colors are, from top to bottom, dark bluish green, light salmon pink, soft white, bluish green, light bluish green and dark bluish green. END ID

ID: a flag with a dark bluish green background. Lines, like brushstrokes, which go from top to bottom and from bottom to top, partially cross the flag. The line colors are light salmon pink, soft white, bluish green and light bluish green. END ID

I choose to make the flags main's colour bluish green because light blue is often used to represent chronic illnesses and because green is often used on chronic fatigue/pain flags.

Meanings of flag:

dark bluish green: fighting against ableism

light salmon pink: community and solidarity

soft white: remissions and relapses

bluish green: chronic fatigue and brain fog

light bluish green: all the types of chronic illnesses

[simplenutrition1]

How to Choose Diabetes Friendly Snacks.

Living with diabetes can be challenging, especially when it comes to snacking. Many popular snack options are high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. However, making informed choices and selecting diabetic-friendly snacks is crucial in controlling blood glucose levels throughout the day. With your goal being to keep the blood sugar level under control as…

[thecreativemillennial]

They both passed away at the age of 75

[wolfperson1]

Like 10,000 to 20,000 people died of the flu every year before covid?

Sure, that’s not a lot compared to the 100,000+ we expect to die of covid this winter, but also still not great.

we eliminated an entire strain of flu by masking in 2020. It’s just gone.

imagine if we invested in clean air and just generally masked in higher risk settings.

weirdest side effect of the pandemic is how many people i know who get sick and say 'but my covid tests are negative so i should be fine' like you know other illnesses. exist. right.

[blueoaknx]

The Impact of High Fructose Corn Syrup on Mitochondrial Function

The Impact of High Fructose Corn Syrup on Mitochondrial Function:

Analysis

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a widely used sweetener derived from corn, has become a major component of the modern diet, especially in processed foods and sugary beverages. HFCS is composed of glucose and fructose in varying proportions, with HFCS-55 (55% fructose, 45% glucose) and HFCS-42 (42% fructose, 58% glucose) being the most common formulations. While the impact of HFCS on metabolic health has been widely discussed, recent studies have shown that it can also exert a detrimental effect on mitochondrial function. This technical analysis explores the biochemical mechanisms by which HFCS damages mitochondria, contributing to cellular dysfunction and a range of metabolic diseases.

Mitochondrial Physiology and Biochemical Function

Mitochondria are highly specialized organelles responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell, through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This process occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves the electron transport chain (ETC) and ATP synthase. The mitochondria are also involved in regulating cellular metabolism, maintaining redox balance, calcium homeostasis, and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by impaired ATP production, altered mitochondrial dynamics (fusion/fission), and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, is a key factor in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases, including obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Fructose Metabolism and Its Divergence from Glucose

The metabolism of fructose, particularly in the liver, diverges significantly from that of glucose, and it is this divergence that underpins much of the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with HFCS consumption. Unlike glucose, which is predominantly metabolized via glycolysis and the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle), fructose bypasses the rate-limiting step of glycolysis, catalyzed by phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1), and is instead phosphorylated by fructokinase to form fructose-1-phosphate. This rapid metabolism of fructose in the liver can overwhelm metabolic pathways and lead to the accumulation of intermediate metabolites such as dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde, which can be further converted to fatty acids and triglycerides through de novo lipogenesis (DNL).

Excessive fructose consumption leads to the accumulation of triglycerides, particularly within hepatocytes, which is a hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The lipid accumulation in the liver, in turn, exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, contributing to insulin resistance and a cascade of metabolic disorders.

Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Damage Induced by HFCS

Increased ROS Production

One of the most significant consequences of excess fructose metabolism is the elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are byproducts of cellular respiration, primarily generated at complexes I and III of the electron transport chain. Under normal conditions, mitochondria have a robust antioxidant defense system, including enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, which help neutralize ROS. However, when cells are exposed to an overload of fructose, the liver mitochondria become overwhelmed, leading to excessive ROS generation.

Fructose metabolism increases the NADPH/NADP+ ratio, enhancing the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent oxidases such as NADPH oxidase (NOX), which further amplifies ROS production. These ROS cause oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), lipids in the mitochondrial membranes, and mitochondrial proteins. Such damage impairs mitochondrial function by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, disrupting the electron transport chain, and promoting mitochondrial fragmentation. Furthermore, mtDNA is particularly vulnerable to ROS due to its proximity to the electron transport chain and the lack of histone protection, leading to mutations that impair mitochondrial replication and protein synthesis.

Disruption of Mitochondrial Biogenesis

Mitochondrial biogenesis refers to the process by which new mitochondria are synthesized within a cell to meet the energy demands. This process is tightly regulated by several transcription factors, most notably peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). PGC-1α activates the transcription of nuclear and mitochondrial genes involved in energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, and antioxidant defenses.

Fructose consumption has been shown to inhibit PGC-1α expression in both liver and skeletal muscle cells. Reduced PGC-1α levels lead to impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, which limits the ability of cells to adapt to increased energy demands. This is particularly concerning in tissues with high metabolic demands, such as muscle, heart, and liver, where impaired mitochondrial function can exacerbate energy deficits and lead to insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and other metabolic disorders.

Mitochondrial Permeability Transition and Apoptosis

Chronic exposure to high levels of fructose can lead to mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), a process in which the mitochondrial inner membrane becomes permeable to ions and small molecules, disrupting mitochondrial function. MPT is typically induced by excessive ROS production, calcium overload, or changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) leads to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, and the release of pro-apoptotic factors such as cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. This, in turn, activates the caspase cascade, promoting apoptosis.

In the context of HFCS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, increased ROS and altered metabolic intermediates, such as ceramides, may trigger MPT and apoptotic pathways, leading to cell death and tissue damage. In tissues such as the liver and pancreas, this can exacerbate the pathological progression of fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.

Fatty Acid Accumulation and Impaired Beta-Oxidation

Excessive fructose consumption induces de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in the liver, leading to an increase in the synthesis of fatty acids, which are esterified into triglycerides and stored within hepatocytes. This accumulation of lipids can overwhelm the capacity of mitochondria to oxidize these fatty acids via beta-oxidation, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. The accumulation of lipotoxic intermediates such as ceramides and diacylglycerols further impairs mitochondrial function by inhibiting key enzymes involved in mitochondrial energy production.

Moreover, the excess fatty acids can impair mitochondrial membrane fluidity, reducing the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. The lipid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction leads to further oxidative stress, creating a feedback loop that exacerbates the metabolic disturbances caused by high fructose intake.

Clinical Implications of HFCS-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction

The long-term consumption of HFCS has profound implications for human health, particularly in the context of metabolic diseases:

Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes: HFCS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly in liver and muscle cells, contributes to impaired insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. As mitochondrial function declines, cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): The accumulation of fat in the liver, driven by increased fructose metabolism, leads to mitochondrial damage and dysfunction, which exacerbates the progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more severe form of liver disease.

Cardiovascular Disease: Mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes can impair ATP production, leading to reduced contractile function and the progression of cardiovascular disease. The increased oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators associated with mitochondrial damage also contribute to vascular injury and atherosclerosis.

Neurodegenerative Diseases: Impaired mitochondrial function in neurons, driven by high fructose intake, may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as mitochondria play a critical role in maintaining neuronal health.

Conclusion

High fructose corn syrup exerts a significant impact on mitochondrial function through several interconnected mechanisms. These include the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and the accumulation of toxic lipid intermediates. These disruptions in mitochondrial homeostasis contribute to the development of insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other chronic metabolic diseases. Addressing the widespread consumption of HFCS and reducing dietary fructose intake could be crucial in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction and preventing associated metabolic disease

[neosciencehub]

Navigating Diabetes Prevention Globally

Navigating Diabetes Prevention Globally @neosciencehub #Diabetes #WorldHealthOrganization #NationalDiabetesPreventionProgram #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention #NationalProgramme forPreventionandControlofDiabetesCardiovascularDiseasesandstroke

Diabetes has emerged as a significant global health challenge, with millions affected worldwide and its prevalence continuing to rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the urgent need for effective diabetes prevention strategies, leading to the establishment of various national diabetes programs across different countries. This article provides an overview of global efforts in…

[oidracremedies]

As healthcare needs continue to rise across India, states like Kerala are facing an increasing demand for specialized medications, particularly for chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. With a significant portion of Kerala's population suffering from these lifestyle-related ailments, the need for high-quality medications is critical. For those looking to tap into this booming market, the Cardiac Diabetic PCD in Kerala model offers a lucrative opportunity. Entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals can partner with established pharmaceutical companies to distribute life-saving medications, making a positive impact on public health while building a profitable business.

[happyteethcare]

The Connection Between Oral Health and Systemic Diseases: How Your Mouth Reflects Your Body's Health

When it comes to understanding our health, we often overlook a crucial indicator: our mouth. Oral health is more than just a beautiful smile; it serves as a window to the body’s overall health. Research consistently shows that conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even respiratory issues can manifest first in the mouth, offering critical early warning signs (Sanz et al., 2020).…

[medicomunicare]

Organic and metal pollutants doing their job: aromatics eliciting diabetes, metals harding coronaries

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a critical public health issue, with its prevalence expected to rise sharply worldwide. Recent evidence points to environmental pollution, specifically exposure to hazardous chemicals like styrene (STY) and ethylbenzene (ETB), as a contributing factor. Found in plastics, synthetic rubbers, and resins, these pollutants are pervasive in the environment and pose…

[vaidyaslaboratory]

Prioritize Your Heart Health: Recognizing Early Symptoms and Scheduling Check-Ups

Maintaining heart health is essential for overall well-being. Learn to identify early warning signs of heart issues to ensure timely intervention. This guide emphasizes the importance of staying informed about heart health and scheduling regular check-ups with your healthcare provider. Consider exploring a Heart Health Package to get a comprehensive evaluation and personalized care plan tailored to your needs.

[simplenutrition1]

How to Avoid Complications of Diabetes.

Managing diabetes requires monitoring different aspects including complications, in order to sustain good health. Whether it’s keeping track of blood sugar levels or embracing lifestyle adjustments, taking proactive steps can greatly mitigate the likelihood and severity of diabetes-related issues. Kidney damage Kidney Damage (Diabetic Nephropathy): Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage…

[jcmarchi]

AI in Healthcare Should Think Small

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ai-in-healthcare-should-think-small/

AI in Healthcare Should Think Small

Six minutes into Apollo 13’s mission to the moon In 1970, its oxygen tank exploded. The event prompted NASA to develop a new approach to predicting possible failures in its spacecraft. The approach relied on continuous sensor data, which then fed deep digital simulations, enabling much more rigorous testing of complex spacefaring systems. It was the very first use of “digital twin” technology.

Today, digital twin systems are used across industries to improve operations and accurately simulate any change in a system. Tech companies like Apple and Tesla use digital twins to monitor product performance in the field and determine whether or not specific system components require maintenance.

Digital twins have also been used in healthcare, albeit largely in drug research and development. Its greatest potential, however, is in chronic disease management. By coupling machine learning and Internet of Things technology with digital twin AI, an approach that originated with something as vast as space exploration has the potential to make healthcare truly individualized.

Digitizing traditional care has failed

Modern medicine has made incremental moves toward personalized care over the past decade by giving patients a voice in decision-making, and toward precision medicine through advances in genomic research. Both have helped tailor care to the individual, but for the most part, our healthcare system takes a “large group” approach to care delivery.

It’s evident in the way we manage chronic disease. Every one of the 133 million Americans currently living with one or more chronic diseases is set upon a planned care pathway – a treatment regimen, a fad diet, often a number of medications – and their improvement is measured in batches of thousands of other individuals who share their condition.

This approach hasn’t worked. Notoriously, U.S. spending on diabetes, heart disease, and cancer continues to rise, and technology’s impact on outcomes and costs has been limited. In digital management of diabetes, weight loss, and other conditions, that impact has been a non-factor.

In March, a report published by Peterson Health Technology Institute underlined this lack of sustained results. The report found that all of the evaluated solutions perform poorly on engagement and outcomes over time. As a result, weight loss, A1C reduction, medication elimination, diabetes reversal, and the health, well-being, and economic benefits of these solutions are both limited and unsustainable.

That’s because most solutions just digitize an ineffective template for care. They don’t account for individual differences. Every person brings their own set of cultural, biological, dietary, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence their health at a deeply individual level.

Moving from ‘personalized’ care to individualized care

Digital twin AI promises a departure from the template. Core to the technology is the concept that every individual is an N of one. An individual’s digital twin is informed by a continuous measure of their unique clinical and behavioral variables, and uses that data to shape care guidance toward the best and healthiest version of that individual.

The power of digital twin technology is in its attention to the small things – the things we eat and do – and how they impact our current and future selves. In practice, digital twins can accurately predict the effect a steak dinner will have on a specific person’s metabolic or cardiovascular health. To the extent that impact may be negative, digital twins can offer ways to mitigate the repercussions. It might suggest a 10-minute walk or an alternative dessert. Instead of ice cream, maybe it’s banana nut bread with Greek yogurt and fresh berries or simply a different sequence.

In this way, digital twin AI can show an individual what’s in store for them if they stay on their current trajectory and the big changes that can occur by making small adjustments over time. Keep up your current routine, and you’ll be able to stop taking metformin in three weeks. Fall back into old habits, and you can expect to pick up a refill.

It’s potent technology, and while its impact on healthcare has largely been recognized only in academia, it is beginning to find its role in commercial use cases. In 2014, Dassault Systemes and the FDA launched SIMULIA Living Heart, a project that works with device manufacturers to develop and refine cardiac devices at a faster pace. At the onset of the pandemic, OnScale’s Project BreathEasy developed a digital twin of the lungs of COVID-19 patients to improve and optimize the use of ventilator resources.

Medical researchers are also using digital twin disease models to predict the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions based on complex, extremely individual biological processes. Takeda Pharmaceuticals has embraced the technology to shorten pharmaceutical processes and make realistic input-output predictions for biochemical reactions. More recently, researchers used digital twin technology to simulate therapy outcomes and determine the best treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma based on the individual.

Chronic disease management is the next frontier

A recent paper published in Nature asserts that digital twins are “poised to make substantial contributions” to cancer care, especially in monitoring the progression of the disease and evaluating treatment responses, which infamously vary individual by individual. The same paper analyzes cardiac digital twins fed by imaging, EHR, genetic, and continuous wearable data, and their potential to predict acute cardiac events.

These advancements will give way to life-changing healthcare technologies. Their power lies in a concept core to their purpose: nothing complex is static.

This is especially true of our biological systems. A digital twin requires thousands of data points per day, per individual, to truly understand the interplay between an individual’s biology, culture, lifestyle, preferences, and health. Some of this data is already being captured by wearables and mobile apps, but without a model that puts that data into the context of the individual and their care journey, it is rudderless.

In the world of chronic disease management, the small things can very quickly become big, life-threatening things. And while digital health has raised the hopes of patients with language like “personalization,” the tools and approaches that have been offered to people have not addressed their unique needs and preferences.

Digital twin AI will turn this approach on its head by helping us better understand and improve our health on a deeply personalized level. It’s a technology poised to fulfill the promise of individualized care.