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Cold Plunges Actually Change Your Cells, uOttawa Study Finds

The AHA! Team — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:20:12 +0000

University of Ottawa via EurekAlert! – Ever wondered what happens to your body when you take those trendy ice baths? Scientists at the University of Ottawa just found out, and it’s pretty fascinating. A new study conducted at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research lab (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa has unveiled significant findings on the effects of cold water acclimation on autophagic (the cells’ recycling system, which promotes cellular health) and apoptotic (the programmed cell death that gets rid of damaged cells) responses in young males. The research highlights the potential for cold exposure to enhance cellular resilience against stress. The study, conducted by Kelli King, postdoctoral fellow, and Glen Kenny, Full Professor at uOttawa’s School of Human Kinetics and Director of HEPRU, involved ten healthy young males who underwent cold-water immersion at 14°C (57.2°F) for one hour across seven consecutive days. Blood samples were collected to analyze the participants’ cellular responses before and after the acclimation period. “Our findings indicate that repeated cold exposure significantly improves autophagic function, a critical cellular protective mechanism,” says Professor Kenny. “This enhancement allows cells to better manage stress and could have important implications for health and longevity.” The research revealed that while autophagy was initially dysfunctional after high-intensity cold stress, consistent exposure over a week led to increased autophagic activity and decreased cellular damage signals. “By the end of the acclimation, we noted a marked improvement in the participants’ cellular cold tolerance,” explains King, the study’s first author. “This suggests that cold acclimation may help the body effectively cope with extreme environmental conditions.” The implications of this study extend beyond athletic performance. Cold water immersion has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, and this research provides some scientific backing for its efficacy. The findings suggest that proper autophagic activity could not only extend cellular longevity but also prevent the onset of various diseases. As the use of cold exposure becomes increasingly mainstream, understanding its effects on cellular mechanisms is vital. Professor Kenny emphasizes, “This work underscores the importance of acclimation protocols in enhancing human health, especially in contexts where individuals are exposed to extreme temperatures.” “We were amazed to see how quickly the body adapted,” notes King. “Cold exposure might help prevent diseases and potentially even slow down aging at a cellular level. It’s like a tune-up for your body’s microscopic machinery.” These results apply to young males and more research is needed to see if it would also apply to other cohorts. The study, titled “The Effect of 7-Day Cold Water Acclimation on Autophagic and Apoptotic Responses in Young Males”, was published in Advanced Biology. Journal Advanced Biology DOI 10.1002/adbi.202400111 To read the original article click here.

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Landmark Discovery May Lead to Safe, Effective Antiviral Drugs Against COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 07:00:03 +0000

Argonne National Laboratory via News-Medical – The COVID-19 vaccines currently rolling out are providing hope that the spread of the disease can be halted. But infection rates are still high, and for those who contract COVID-19, the search for effective treatments remains important. Researchers examining the atomic structure of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have made a landmark discovery that could contribute critical information to the design of safe and effective antiviral drugs in the fight against the virus. “Understanding enzymes goes hand in hand with understanding their atomic structures -; and the higher resolution the better, because subtle differences can affect the interpretation. We wanted the best data possible, so we went to the APS.” (Natalie Strynadka, University of British Columbia) Using a powerful X-ray beam to study SARS-CoV-2 proteins in crystallized form, a team from the University of British Columbia (UBC) has observed -; for the first time ever -; the virus’s main protease, an important enzyme of the virus, performing its function. This widely pursued antiviral target is a central enzyme that allows the virus to cut up large proteins called polyproteins into smaller functional units, a process necessary for the virus to be replicated and infect other human cells. “What we’ve captured at high resolution is one of the important steps in that process that has never been visualized before in any viral protease of this class,” said Natalie Strynadka, the UBC biochemistry professor who led the research team with colleague Mark Paetzel. The research was published in Nature. The breakthrough was made possible by the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility at DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory. The APS produces X-rays that are roughly a billion times brighter than those used by doctors and dentists, allowing researchers to examine the structure of the coronavirus protease in very fine detail at the atomic level. Data was captured at the General Medical Sciences and Cancer Institutes Structural Biology Facility at beamline 23-ID-B at the APS. The newly uncovered information may be of particular interest to scientists worldwide who are racing to develop antiviral treatments for COVID-19. If the main protease is inhibited by a small molecule drug, the polyproteins won’t be clipped into functional pieces, effectively blocking viral replication and subsequent transmission. “We now have a much better blueprint of these mechanistic structures that will inform making the best inhibitor possible,” Strynadka said. ”Better knowing the structure as we now do helps guide drug research, narrowing the field of potential targets instead of having to screen billions of potential molecules.” Michael Becker, a protein crystallographer with Argonne’s X-ray Science Division, said Strynadka’s research stands out because the team was focused on understanding the mechanism of the protease. “This understanding will improve everyone else’s work in designing drugs,” Becker said. ”Because the more deeply you understand how something works, the better the chance you have of controlling or stopping it.” Remote access capabilities at Argonne made it possible for the researchers in British Columbia to collect data in real time and to manipulate the APS beamline located about 2,200 miles away in Illinois. UBC team members Jaeyong Lee and Liam Worrall shipped crystals of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease preserved in liquid nitrogen from Canada to Argonne. Workers at the APS were on hand to answer questions, ensure the working order of the equipment, and load the samples. “The remote interface is fantastic. It’s almost like being there,” Strynadka said. ”We’re very thankful for the use of the APS. Canada does have a national synchrotron facility, but it currently doesn’t have the same capability as the APS, which is a very high-level facility with micro-focused beams. Understanding enzymes goes hand in hand with understanding their atomic structures -; and the higher resolution the better, because subtle differences can affect the interpretation. We wanted the best data possible, so we went to the APS.” To read the original article click here.

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COVID-19 Death Rate “Much Lower” Than Previous Estimates, SHOCKING Admission in New Study

AHA Publisher — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 07:00:23 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Public health officials commonly compare COVID-19 to seasonal influenza, often insisting that the former is far deadlier than the latter. Epidemiologists use figures such as the infection fatality rate in order to make these types of claims. But how truthful are they? Earlier in October, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a bulletin that calls into question just how deadly the SARS-CoV-2 virus really is. Estimates of death from SARS-CoV-2 “much lower” than initially believed, according to Stanford study On October 14, 2020, the WHO released the results of a peer-reviewed study by Stanford University professor and physician, Dr. John Ioannidis. His study estimates the infection fatality rate of COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2. Quick refresher: Infection fatality rate is the proportion of individuals who die of a disease compared to all infected individuals, whether they are diagnosed or not Case fatality rate is the proportion of individuals who die of a disease compared to all individuals with confirmed cases As you might imagine, it can be difficult to determine infection fatality rate – how do you know, after all, how many people have a disease if they haven’t even been diagnosed? But historically, experts use surveillance and other methods to make their best possible estimates. And these estimates matter, according to experts like Ioannidis. Infection fatality rates give officials an idea of “the probability of dying for a person who is infected,” which can help drive prevention measures and treatment. You might also see how a disease could appear far deadlier than it actually is if only looking at the case fatality rate. Why? Because there could be many people with a disease who are never diagnosed and therefore aren’t accounted for when calculating case fatality ratio. So, what did this recent study find? In his study, Ioannidis analyzed the best available data from 61 studies and 8 national preliminary estimates. Here are a few of his main conclusions: The median COVID-19 infection fatality rate was 0.27% In areas of the world with more than 500 deaths per 1 million people, the infection fatality rate was 0.57% In areas of the world with 118–500 COVID-19 deaths/million people, the infection fatality rate was 0.20% The rate was just 0.09% in locations with COVID-19 population mortality rates less than the global average For people younger than 70 years old, infection fatality rates ranged from 0.00% to 0.31% – with a corrected median of just 0.05% (less than the commonly cited infection fatality rate for the seasonal flu of 0.1%) In his conclusion, Ioannidis states the “infection fatality rates tended to be much lower than estimates made earlier in the pandemic.” What numbers should we believe? Confusion rages about COVID-19 as we enter cold and flu season Ioannidis’s data is not alone, and other studies are also investigating how deadly this virus truly is. For example, a September 2020 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people younger than 40 had an infection fatality rate of just 0.01%. The same study – which analyzed community-dwelling individuals from the state of Indiana – also estimated that people older than 60 had an infection fatality rate of a whopping 1.71%, but that the overall rate was 0.26%, nearly the exact same as Ioannidis’s findings. Estimates can vary a lot depending on the location, population age, and other factors, so interpreting this data can be difficult. Many of these studies also have several limitations, including the possibility of response bias, false-positives, and misdiagnoses. So, what’s the bottom line? Estimates are just that – estimates. Nobody knows for sure how deadly COVID-19 truly is right now. But preliminary data indicates it’s certainly not as deadly as initially believed … which calls into question the decision to shut down the global economy during the pandemic. In the meantime, we don’t recommend sitting by and waiting for the statistics to shake out. Take this time to maximize your immune health: Get good sleep Eat an organic diet, as much as possible Minimize your exposure to unwanted (toxic) household and personal care products Reduce indoor air pollution, use a good quality air purifier Stay physically active Take vitamin C, D and zinc And, of course, practice some common-sense preventive measures, like washing your hands and avoiding exposure to sick people. Never forget: the key to a healthy life is a strong immune system. Sources for this article include: WHO.int, WHO.int, CDC.gov, ACPjournals.org This article has been modified. To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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