Adaptation abilities of the human body in extreme conditions - where are the limits?

This is a review dedicated to the innovations in the field of thermoregulation, the role of brown adipose tissue and its regulation, and the application of this knowledge in treating some diseases.Under the influence of environmental factors mechanisms, which ensure optimal adaptation of the organism to various circumstances, are created. Thermoregulation is a significant moment in adaptation reactions and includes different processes for preserving and sustaining normal body temperature. In low temperatures thermogenesis is activated. The application of modern scientific methods expands our knowledge of the functioning of brown adipose tissue and its role in thermoregulatory and metaboloregulatory thermogenesis. New data define the role of adrenergic control in the regulation of brown adipose tissue. The purposeful control of thermoregulation responses is a challenge to researchers. The results of experiments with rodents suggest possibilities to apply in clinical practice induced hypothermia in patients with brain or cardiac ischemia, as an antipyretic. It is considered even in the metabolic regulation of humans during prolonged space flights.Interesting are also the results from the application of a healing approach, which includes extreme cold and breathing techniques. The willful activation of the sympathetic nervous system affects in a positive way the inflammatory factors and immune response and can be beneficial for patients with autoimmune diseases.This is a review dedicated to the innovations in the field of thermoregulation, the role of brown adipose tissue and its regulation, and the application of this knowledge in treating some diseases.Under the influence of environmental factors mechanisms, which ensure optimal adaptation of the organism to various circumstances, are created. Thermoregulation is a significant moment in adaptation reactions and includes different processes for preserving and sustaining normal body temperature. In low temperatures thermogenesis is activated. The application of modern scientific methods expands our knowledge of the functioning of brown adipose tissue and its role in thermoregulatory and metaboloregulatory thermogenesis. New data define the role of adrenergic control in the regulation of brown adipose tissue. The purposeful control of thermoregulation responses is a challenge to researchers. The results of experiments with rodents suggest possibilities to apply in clinical practice induced hypothermia in patients with brain or cardiac ischemia, as an antipyretic. It is considered even in the metabolic regulation of humans during prolonged space flights.Interesting are also the results from the application of a healing approach, which includes extreme cold and breathing techniques. The willful activation of the sympathetic nervous system affects in a positive way the inflammatory factors and immune response and can be beneficial for patients with autoimmune diseases

Restoration of Sensation Using High-Tech Prostheses - Overview

Introduction: Rapid development of carbon-fiber technology, 3D printing, neuroscience and biomedical engineering have made possible the creation of more functional, lifelike, strong, durable and consciously controlled prostheses. Whilst impressive, all these developments do not make the prostheses a part of the body but rather an additional tool. However, recent breakthroughs show a promise of giving somatosensation to the limb prostheses.Materials and Methods: The information for this scientific overview was gathered using the search platform of PubMed and using the keywords: limb, prostheses, sensation, cortex, neuroprostheses. The articles used in this review are all written after the year 2013 and have been published in peer-reviewed journals with impact factor.Results: Research in the fields of neuroscience and biomedical engineering has led to the development of prostheses which have somatosensation. All prostheses developed this far are currently on the animal testing stage of clinical research. Acquiring somatosensation is accomplished by using appropriate receptors in the prostheses to gather the needed information which is sent to a neural interface (consisting of microelectrons) implanted in the somatosensory cortex. Using the interface, intracortical microstimulations (ICMS) stimulate the various mapped out areas of the somatosensory cortex and provide the sensation of touch, pressure, etc.Conclusion: Despite the innovative nature of these prostheses they are still not ready to be used by human patients. This is due to the numerous risks that accompany the implantation process and the actual function of the prostheses and the brain interface. These problems, however, may soon be overcome due to the rapid development of neuroscience and biomechanical engineering

Overview of multiple myeloma disease - symptoms, pathology and treatment

Multiple myeloma is an oncological disease of plasma cells which causes bone pain, anemia and kidney failure. The disease itself is monoclonal and is due to mutation of plasmocyte genes leading to dysregulation of antibody formation. Multiple myeloma is the cause of approximately 2.1% of all cancer deaths worldwide and the cause of 1.8% of newly emerged cancer cases worldwide.Symptoms of this disease can be elevated Ca+2 levels due to the activation of osteoclasts, bone fractures, anemia, and kidney failure.The disease itself is monoclonal and it starts when an activated memory B cell’s or plasmoblast’s genes are damaged due to translocation. The translocation damages the heavy chain genes leading to a dysregulation in plasma cell antibody formation. When the damaged cell starts proliferating all the cells from it have the translocation. So far this disease has no cure, however, there is a treatment which prolongs the life expectancy of a patient suffering from it. The treatment is symptomatic but in all cases chemotherapy and thereafter stem cell transplantation are applied. With this treatment the average life expectancy for a patient is 4.5 years and the overall survival rate of 5 years is around 35%

Alzheimer's disease - a glimpse of hope

IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is thought to be caused mainly by Aβ plaques formation and neuro tangles. One in three seniors dies of Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. New studies however show promise for a possible cure. Materials and MethodsInformation in this scientific review was gathered using scientific articles selected by Google Search platform using keywords: “Alzheimer’s disease”; “treatment”; ”cause”, ”studies”. Also information from ‘‘http://www.alz.org’’, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine and Lippincott Illustrated Reviews on Pharmacol-ogy, and “http://www.alzheimers.net/resources/alzheimers-statistics/”ResultsRecent studies show that the presence of Aβ plaques in the patient’s brain can be reduced using ultrasound or Gantenerumab. Both of these methods activate the microglia of the brain which in turn removes the Aβ plaques. The ultrasound method does this by gently opening the blood-brain barrier whilst Gantenerumab encompasses both the N-terminal and the central amino acids of Aβ and then activates the microglial cells.DiscussionUltrasound method in animal studies shows outstanding clearance of plaques. Gantenerumab shows great reduction of plaques in human clinical trials. Both methods whilst looking very promising, are still ongoing their clinical trials. ConclusionAlzheimer’s disease is a commonly found disease in elderly and around 44 million people suffer from it worldwide. Whilst the newly found ways are far from being commercially available to treat Alzheimer’s they do shine a glimpse of hope in the battle with this disease

Overview of incretin-based therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic disorder that is associated with hyperglycemia. The disease affects the β-cells in the pancreas making them smaller in volume and having them secrete less insulin. Тhis causes lower intake of glucose by the cells resulting in hyperglycemia. In diabetic patients, acute and chronic complications in different degrees are observed.Materials and MethodsThe information for this scientific overview was gathered using the Google Search platform using keywords: “diabetes type 2”; “treatment”; “incretin-based therapy”, the following links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809297/ and http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/suppl_2/S223, as well as “Wil-liam’s Textbook of Endocrinology”.DiscussionIncretin-based therapy can target the DPP4 enzyme which causes GLP-1 breakdown or can introduce a GLP-1 mimetic. By targeting the DPP4 enzyme and inhibiting it, the time of the effect of GLP-1 is extended giving it more time to act. Introducing the GLP-1 mimetic gives the same final result as the GLP-1 hormone without inhibiting the DPP4 enzyme.ResultsWhilst there is no cure for type 2 Diabetes mellitus, the incretin-based therapy provides a way to regulate some of the complications that are caused by type 2 Diabetes and other medications for it. ConclusionThere is still no cure for type 2 Diabetes mellitus, however, the combination of incretin-based therapy together with or without other medications including diet and exercise could keep this disease and its complications under control