RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

The human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is probably the second most prevalent cause of lower respiratory distress in young children. It is related to the synctial virus, measles, mumps and para- influenza viruses. It goes without saying what the symptoms are for these illnesses for any practicing physician. How many runny noses, coughs and sore throats do you have to see to recognize a cold?

“The HMPV was first discovered in 2001, but studies have shown that the virus has been circulating in humans for at least 50 years” said Professor Dr. Ron Fouchier from ErasmusMC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.” “HMPV is closely related to Avian metapneumovirus C (AMPV-C), which infects birds. Because of the similarity, scientists have suggested that HMPV emerged from a bird virus that crossed the species barrier to infect humans.”

Markers of kidney dysfunction including proteinuria and /or albuminuria have been reported in the literature to be associated with coronary heart disease risk (CHD), but the strength and consistency of such a relationship remains to be clearly defined.

Classical risk factors are being used to assess coronary heart disease risk, i.e. hypertension, smoking, cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Now, subsequent studies have shown that other predictive information may be valuable such as inflammatory markers, hemostatic factors, left ventricular hypertrophy and now markers of kidney dysfunction are being closely scrutinized.

The aim of this current study was to provide reliable estimates of the strength and nature of the association between proteinuria (urinary excretion of protein in excess of 300 mg/dl), microalbuminuria (30-300 mg/d of urinary albumin excretion), and macroalbuminuria (>300 mg/d) with subsequent risk of CHD in the general population and in predefined subgroups (diabetes, gender, and ethnicity).

We’ve known for some time now that there are different subtypes of HDL cholesterol, commonly known as the “good” cholesterol. Now research is coming forth showing clinical and epidemiological evidence that not all HDLs are heterogeneous in size, density, and, consequently, atheroprotective roles.

A new study published in the December, 2008 issue of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), indicates that having a high level of the so –called “bad” HDLs can have a negative effect on the body’s risk for cardiovascular disease. This bad HDL does not have the antioxidant capabilities of the good HDLs nor does it have the anti-inflammatory properties.

According to ‘Senior Health’, 30 percent of women aged 65 – 85 will fall; over half of women after age 85 will suffer a fall. For men, the proportion who fall increases from 13 percent in the 65-69 age group to a peak of 31 percent in the 80-84 age group. There are also complications after the fall leading to a decrease in ability to do daily activities of daily living and in quality of life.
To find anything that might reduce the incidence of falls would be a boon to geriatric medicine. According to some recent research at the University of Oklahoma, the dietary supplement beta-alanine improves muscle endurance in the elderly, thus indirectly preventing falls by increasing muscular strength and stamina.
Beta-alanine is widely used by athletes to bulk up and increase their muscle mass. Now research, published in the journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition suggests that the same benefit may hold true for the geriatric crowd.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is scar tissue that forms in areas of the kidney that filter certain things out of the body. These areas are called glomeruli and each kidney has thousands of glomeruli.
The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is usually unknown, but recently some evidence was unveiled that leads to scrutinizing a risk factor – low birth weight.

Birth history is often not screened for by kidney specialists who take care of adult patients, so this risk factor is often overlooked. Low birth weight, defined as a weight less than 5.5 lbs., is known to be a risk factor for adult hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and others. However, until recently, its association with the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis has not been reported.

To investigate this potential link, Dr. D’Agati of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, NY, and her colleagues studied six patients who had clinical indications of this condition and who were born prematurely and were low birth weight. The average birth weight was 3.3 lbs. and all were born between 22 and 30 weeks gestation. Normal gestation is considered to be between 37 and 42 weeks.

Studies on tissue samples indicate that nanoparticles, engineered materials about a billionth of a meter in size, could damage DNA and lead to cancer. Nanoparticles are small enough to penetrate cell membranes and their defenses, yet are large enough to wreck havoc with cellular processes.

Nanoparticles are used in face creams, cosmetics, electronics, and chemical manufacturing (including food packaging material). Many new nanoparticles are being developed but there is little regulation on their manufacture, use and disposal.

Nanoparticles have been dubbed the asbestos of the 2000’s by some researchers who believe they are a considerable threat to human health. There are considerable amounts of nanoparticles in emissions.

According to research carried out at the University of Warwick, over 50 percent of people diagnosed with hypertension (140/90) do not know they have it and many who do know they have it do not have it under control.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about 73 million people in the U.S. age 20 and older have high blood pressure; of those people with high blood pressure 71.8 percent were aware of their condition. Of all people with high blood pressure, 61.4 were under treatment, but 64.9 percent did not have it under control while a mere 35.1 did have it controlled.

The largest Alzheimer study ever conducted found four novel genes present in the context of Alzheimer’s disease risk. Four polymorphisms were discovered; however, the connections between the affected genes and Alzheimers disease processes are not immediately obvious.
Three genes were found in previously identified genes. One of the genes is in the gene for apolipoprotein E. One encodes a protein found in nerve synapses of which the function is totally unknown. The other is for the CD33 immune-related protein.
The association with the CD33 is a hint that bacterial infection may play some role in Alzheimers disease, the researcher said.
It is recommended that interested patients be told that a genomic study identified several genetic variations associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, also caution them that research is at an early stage – much too early to suggest potential treatments.

Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is characterized by brain injury, myocardial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation, often complicated by the unresolved pathophysiological process that caused the cardiac arrest.

Together these processes are associated with high mortality rates. A study of cardiac arrest resuscitation conducted in 2006 found that in hospital mortality was 67% among adults and 55% among children, despite all surviving the initial cardiac arrest.