chronic inflammatory disease Archives - Amazing Health Advances

NEW Study Reveals SURPRISING Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

AHA Publisher — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 08:00:27 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks their central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It can lead to a wide range of signs and symptoms, from numbness and weakness in the limbs to blurry vision to bowel and bladder problems. There are still so many unknowns about MS, which affects about 2.6 to 2.8 million people worldwide. But recent research from Harvard University points to an unexpected potential cause: the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). New Harvard Study Sheds Light on Potential Cause of MS: A Common Herpes Virus Led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a study recently found a “high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis.” Senior author Alberto Ascherio said in an article published by Harvard that the “hypothesis that EBV causes MS has been investigated by our group and others for several years, but this is the first study providing compelling evidence of causality.” The evidence came from an analysis of serum samples taken from 10 million U.S. soldiers over 20 years. Of this cohort, around 1,000 were diagnosed with MS during their period of service. After establishing the soldiers’ EBV status at the time of their first serum sample and tracking their medical histories, the Harvard researchers determined that the risk of MS was 32 times greater after infection with EBV. Interestingly, this increased risk of MS “was not increased after infection with other viruses.” What’s more, the authors found that the serum levels of a biomarker of nerve damage typical in MS patients increased only after EBV infection. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that their data indicate EBV is “the leading cause of MS.” Right now, there is no way to prevent or treat EBV infection, Ascherio says to Harvard, but suggests that specific drugs or vaccines against EBV may help “prevent or cure” MS. Never Heard of the Epstein-Barr Virus Before? Here Are Three Things to Know Epstein-Barr isn’t a virus we hear about very often in the media, even though it is pervasive. To help you understand more about this virus, here are three things you might not know about Epstein-Barr: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes virus family that spreads easily, primarily via bodily fluids such as saliva, semen, and blood. A person can become infected with EBV by sharing food, drinks, utensils, and toothbrushes with someone who already has it. It really is extremely common. According to Science Daily, around 90 percent of all people will be infected with EBV at some point in their lifetime, but usually with no adverse effects. Most people who contract EBV will not go on to develop MS. Other diseases or illnesses already associated with EBV infection include infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) and certain types of cancer, including Hodgkin lymphoma. Signs and symptoms of an acute EBV infection, which usually occurs in childhood, are similar to those seen in other viral infections, including fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen and liver, and a skin rash. But while acute infections are often easy to recognize, chronic, low-grade infections are much more difficult to identify. If you suspect that EBV may be wreaking havoc in your body, seeking out an integrative physician may be your best bet, as they tend to be more familiar with how EBV infections work. They understand that after exposure, EBV lies dormant in your body, even after the initial symptoms subside. As long as your immune system is robust and you are healthy, your body’s specialized immune cells will keep the virus dormant. But when your immune system becomes compromised, EBV can come out of hiding and become reactivated. Keeping your immune function strong is a critical part of tackling EBV infections. So, make your health a top priority. After all, it’s a great foundation for a good life. Sources for this article include: MayoClinic.org Harvard.edu Science.org NationalMSsociety.org CDC.gov Cancerresearchuk.org Cell.com Sciencedaily.com NIH.gov

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Keep Your Arteries Free of Plaque by Eating a Handful of THIS Food Daily

AHA Publisher — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 07:00:11 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, affects an estimated 1 in 58 Americans and is one of the main drivers of morbidity and mortality. Considered a chronic inflammatory disease, it leads to a build-up of plaque inside the arteries, impairs healthy blood flow, and drives the formation of blood clots. Not surprisingly, keeping our arteries pliable and free of plaque can have enormous implications for our longevity and quality of life since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. And new research suggests that sprinkling a handful of this popular nut into your daily diet can have a promising impact. Want Better Cholesterol? New Clinical Trial Suggests a Simple Food Choice Can Help In 2017, the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel concluded that current evidence “unequivocally establishes” that LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, making it a clear modifiable risk factor to focus on in disease prevention. Of course, LDL cholesterol is not the only risk … other factors for atherosclerosis include oxidative stress from toxic exposures, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. Having said that, could something as simple as snacking on walnuts every day really be an effective way to lower LDL cholesterol and, in time, help you avoid the hardening of the arteries? A recently published randomized controlled trial with two years worth of data says yes. The trial, published in the Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, found that eating 1 to 2 servings of walnuts per day (about 1/4 to 1/2 a cup, or 30 to 60 grams), which is roughly equivalent to about 15% of a person’s daily intake, can lead to a mean reduction in LDL cholesterol by 4.3 mg/dL among people with “normal” lipid profiles. An even greater improvement in LDL levels has been observed in people with high total cholesterol. 90% of the 708 trial participants completed the study. The authors add that frequent nut consumption has been associated overall with a 15% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a 23% reduced risk of lower CVD-related deaths. This study does come with one red flag: it was funded by the California Walnut Commission (CWC) and therefore had a potential conflict of interest. That said, walnuts are generally considered a safe and healthy food for anyone without a nut allergy and are an excellent plant-based source of various fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In Addition to Eating More Walnuts, Here Are Other Things You Can Do to Help Your Arteries Stay Healthier as You Age Walnuts and other nuts and seeds are healthy when consumed in moderation – but they do tend to be high in calories, so it’s essential to monitor your intake, especially if you’re trying to keep your arteries healthy. Why? Because being overweight or obese increases your risk of high LDL cholesterol, according to Mayo Clinic. Conversely, getting to a healthy weight can improve cardiovascular health and prevent atherosclerosis. You can also protect your heart and arteries by: Avoiding toxins in your food, water, personal care / household products and immediate air space. Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Managing stress levels and improving sleep habits. Eating lots of chemical-free (organic vegetables and fruit) – rich in antioxidants. Exploring natural supplements that may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, such as alpha-linolenic acid, fish oil, garlic, green tea, oat bran and barley. And, of course, staying well hydrated with clean water. Sources for this article include: AHAjournals.org Omicsonline.org MayoClinic.org CDC.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Researchers Discover Potential New Approach to Treating Psoriatic Joint Inflammation

AHA Publisher — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:00:55 +0000

University of California – Davis Health via EurekAlert – An international team of researchers, led by UC Davis Health, has developed a new therapeutic approach to treating psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints. Using a novel chemical blocker targeting chemokine proteins, the researchers were able to significantly reduce skin and joint inflammation in a mouse model with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis affects up to a third of patients with psoriasis, an auto-immune skin inflammation. It creates mobility and functional changes that make it painful for patients to use their hands or walk. Some of these changes are irreversible. Psoriatic arthritis is tough to treat. “There is a clear need for better treatments using alternative approaches to joint inflammation,” said Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis and senior author of the study. Understanding the Mechanism Behind Joint Inflammation Chemokines are small molecules with a critical role in the body’s response to inflammation and infection. They help guide the migration of immune cells to the site of injury or trauma. Chemokines need receptors to function. One specific chemokine receptor is CCR6. The researchers assessed the role of CCR6 and its binding partner CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) in inflammation linked to psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. They looked at the potential of the CCR6/CCL20 combo as an effective therapeutic target. They measured the CCR6 and the CCL20 levels in the joint fluid and tendon tissues of patients with psoriatic arthritis. CCR6 is a critical agent for the migration of T cells – a type of white blood cells – in skin psoriasis. The new study showed that CCR6 plays a similar role in joint inflammation. The team also found that CCL20 is present at very high levels in inflamed joint fluid. “We observed a significant increase of both CCR6 and CCL20 in the connective tissue of mice with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis,” Hwang noted. “This high presence was also confirmed in inflamed human tendon biopsies.” The presence of CCL20 at the site of the inflammation makes it a very attractive target for arthritis therapy. The connective tissue linking tendons and ligaments with the bones is called the enthesis. It is an important site of inflammation in psoriatic arthritis. The study found that entheses are distinct locations which CCR6+ T cells appear to locate and, therefore, cause inflammation. “It is critical to identify the specific tissues where inflammation in the joints first occurs before it spreads and damages the cartilage and the bone,” Hwang said. Blocking the function of the CCR6 chemokine The researchers tested the ability of a novel engineered protein- known as CCL20 locked dimer (CCL20LD)- in blocking the CCR6 function in a mouse model with psoriatic arthritis. The protein profoundly reduced both skin and joint inflammation by shutting the CCR6’s power to attract T cells. “The success of CCL2OLD in blocking CCR6 function in a mouse model shows potential for treating psoriatic arthritis in humans,” Hwang said. “Definitely, this requires more testing and clinical trials to explore its effectiveness and safety.” To read the original article click here.

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