Hiccups And Heart Disease

Doctors and heart patents take note of this, abstract:

Hiccups, which are usually benign and self-limited, occasionally serve as markers of a serious underlying pathology. We present this case report to inform emergency physicians about the potential for hiccups to serve as the only presenting symptom of a myocardial infarction. The patient, a 68-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and current tobacco use, was first seen in the emergency department after 4 days of intractable hiccups with no other complaints or symptoms. After ineffective hiccup treatment on the first visit with 2 mg Ativan and 25 intramuscular (i.m.) thorazine and a normal chest x-ray, he was discharged. Two days later, the patient returned to the emergency department with the same complaint of hiccups without any additional complaints or symptoms. An electrocardiogram displayed several abnormalities including Q waves in II, III, and aVF and T-wave inversions in aVL and V6. Troponin I was highly elevated at 4.302 ng/mL. In the catheterization laboratory, the patient exhibited severe stenosis of the left circumflex artery and obtuse marginal 1. Stents were placed in these sites, and the patient recovered uneventfully. This is the first case in which hiccups were the single presenting symptom of a myocardial infarction in the last 50 years. Although extremely common and usually benign, hiccups can occasionally be a sole symptom of serious underlying pathology, which in this case, was a non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Benefits Of Grunting In Tennis

Enhanced tennis performance with grunting is shown here. Abstract:

Grunting is widely used by professional tennis players, but no research has been done to verify enhanced performance with grunting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if grunting enhanced ball velocity in groundstrokes and secondly, to determine if grunting increased the physiological cost of hitting (VO2, HR, VE/VO2, and RPE). Participants were 10 members of the men's (n = 5) and women's (n = 5) tennis teams at a Division I university who had just completed their indoor competitive season. Two hitting sessions were used as players repetitively hit forehand and backhand shots while either grunting or not grunting. Each hitting session consisted of five 2-minute periods with a 1-minute break in between each period. Ball velocity was measured with a radar gun. During each hitting session, players wore a portable metabolic measuring unit. HR was monitored using a Polar monitor, and RPE was assessed using Borg's 6-20 scale. Grunting increased ball velocity (kph) 3.8% compared with non-grunting condition (p < 0.034) with the mean ± SD being 83.4 ± 0.6.1 and 80.3 ± 0.8.7, respectively. The physiological responses (VO2, HR, VE/VO2, and RPE) for the 2 hitting conditions were not significantly different for any variable. When averaged across both hitting conditions, HR over the 5-time periods was higher in periods 3-5 than period (p < 0.018) 1, whereas VE/VO2 and RPE were greater in periods 2-5 than period 1 (p = 0.001). RPE significantly increased over time with periods 2-5 being greater than period 1 (p = 0.001). It was concluded that grunting increased ball velocity without increasing VO2 or VE/VO2 or RPE in comparison with not grunting. It may be worthwhile for players and coaches in tennis and other sports to experiment with grunting to determine possible improvement in performance.

Benefits Of A Ketone Ester Drink

Utility of a ketone ester drink, along with adequate glucose, in enhancing muscle glycogen synthesis is shown here, abstract:

INTRODUCTION:

Physical endurance can be limited by muscle glycogen stores, in that glycogen depletion markedly reduces external work. During carbohydrate restriction, the liver synthesises the ketone bodies, D-β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate, from fatty acids. In animals and in the presence of glucose, D-β-hydroxybutyrate promotes insulin secretion and increases glycogen synthesis. Here we determined whether a dietary ketone ester, combined with plentiful glucose, can increase post-exercise glycogen synthesis in human skeletal muscle.

METHODS:

Following an interval-based glycogen-depletion exercise protocol, 12 well-trained male athletes completed a randomized, 3-arm, blinded crossover recovery study that consisted of consumption of either a taste-matched, zero-calorie control or a ketone monoester drink, followed by a 10 mM glucose clamp or saline infusion for two hours. The three post-exercise conditions were; control drink then saline infusion, control drink then hyperglycemic clamp or ketone ester drink then hyperglycemic clamp. Skeletal muscle glycogen content was determined in muscle biopsies of vastus lateralis taken before and after the two-hour clamps.

RESULTS:

The ketone ester drink increased blood D-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations to a maximum of 5.3 vs. 0.7 mM for the control drink (p < 0.0001). During the two-hour glucose clamps, insulin levels were two-fold higher (31 vs. 16 mU/l, p < 0.01) and glucose uptake 32% faster (1.66 vs. 1.26 g/kg, p<0.001). The ketone drink increased by 61 g the total glucose infused over 2 h, from 197 g to 258 g, and muscle glycogen was 50% higher (246 vs.164 mmoles glycosyl units/kg dry weight, p < 0.05) than after the control drink.

CONCLUSION:

In the presence of constant high glucose concentrations, a ketone ester drink increased endogenous insulin levels, glucose uptake and muscle glycogen synthesis.

More On Sugar And Obesity

Here is yet another study linking sugar and sweetened beverages to obesity.  The importance of avoiding excess sugar consumption and of avoiding drinking empty calories is underscored here. These sorts of dietary changes can have a large impact on overall health.

Ketogenic Diet And Resistance Training

From several years ago, we read this (abstract):

This study investigated the impact of an isocaloric and isonitrogenous ketogenic diet (KD) versus a traditional western diet (WD) on changes in body composition, performance, blood lipids, and hormonal profiles in resistance-trained athletes.

METHODS:

Twenty-five college aged men were divided into a KD or traditional WD from weeks 1-10, with a reintroduction of carbohydrates from weeks 10-11, while participating in a resistance-training program. Body composition, strength, power, and blood lipid profiles were determined at week 0, 10 and 11. A comprehensive metabolic panel and testosterone levels were also measured at weeks 0 and 11.

RESULTS:

Lean body mass (LBM) increased in both KD and WD groups (2.4% and 4.4%, p<0.01) at week 10. However, only the KD group showed an increase in LBM between weeks 10-11 (4.8%, p<0.0001). Finally, fat mass decreased in both the KD group (-2.2 kg ± 1.2 kg) and WD groups (- 1.5 ± 1.6 kg). Strength and power increased to the same extent in the WD and KD conditions from weeks 1-11. No changes in any serum lipid measures occurred from weeks 1-10, however a rapid reintroduction of carbohydrate from weeks 10-11 raised plasma TG levels in the KD group. Total testosterone increased significantly from Weeks 0-11 in the KD diet (118 ng/dl) as compared to the WD (-36 ng/dl) from pre to post while insulin did not change.

CONCLUSIONS:

The KD can be used in combination with resistance training to cause favorable changes in body composition, performance and hormonal profiles in resistance-trained males.

So, for young men on resistance training a ketogenic diet was as good or better than a traditional Western diet for lean body mass gains and hormonal profiles.

Lithium In Drinking Water

Take a look at the abstract from this paper:

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated the association between lithium level in tap water and mental health problems, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and aggressive and suicidal behaviors, in a general population of adolescents using a large individual-level dataset.

METHODS:

A school-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kochi Prefecture in Japan between 2008 and 2009. Students in 24 public junior high schools were asked to anonymously complete a self-report questionnaire. The main outcome measures were mental health problems, including those on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, interpersonal violence, bullying, destructive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Samples were collected from sources that supplied drinking water to schools, and lithium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The associations of lithium levels with mental health problems were examined using a generalized linear mixed model with schools as the fixed effect. Potential confounding factors were also added into the model.

RESULTS:

A total of 3,040 students among 3,311 students responded to the self-report questionnaire (response rate, 91.8%). The mean lithium concentration in tap water was 0.48 μg/L (SD = 0.52; range, 0.01 to 2.10; skewness = 2.01; kurtosis = 4.04), and it was relatively low compared with previous studies. In multivariable regression analysis, lithium level in tap water had an inverse association with depressive symptoms (P = .02) and interpersonal violence (P = .02) but not with suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation, P = .82; self-harm, P = .46).

CONCLUSIONS:

Lithium level in tap water was inversely associated with depressive symptoms and interpersonal violence among a general population of adolescents and may have antidepressive and antiaggressive effects.

It is unknown whether this will be reproducible and apply to other counties, and we shouldn't say we want lithium added to our water.  The main point I see here is how agents present in our environment that we may be unaware of in our everyday life can influence our behavior and our health.

Maternal Childhood Experience, Mate Choice, And Autism

Here is an interesting paper from several years ago, abstract:

Maternal experience of childhood abuse has been associated with offspring autism. To explore whether familial tendency towards autistic traits-presumably related to genetic predisposition-accounts for this association, we examined whether women who experienced childhood abuse were more likely to select mates with high levels of autistic traits, and whether parental autistic traits accounted for the association of maternal abuse and offspring autism in 209 autism cases and 833 controls. Maternal childhood abuse was strongly associated with high paternal autistic traits (severe abuse, OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.26, 8.31). Maternal and paternal autistic traits accounted for 21% of the association between maternal abuse and offspring autism. These results provide evidence that childhood abuse affects mate selection, with implications for offspring health.

In summary, the link between a history of childhood abuse of woman and rates of offspring autism may in part be due to the fact that such women tend to pick as mates men with higher levels of autistic traits.  This is based on the probability of an association between autistic traits in parents and children. So, the fact that the fathers have more autistic traits is one reason why the children may have such traits.  In other words, 21% of the association between mother's childhood abuse and offspring autism is due to the fact that the mothers pick as mates men who have more autistic traits tat are passed on to the children.

Health Effects Of A Low Sodium Diet

What are the health effects of a low sodium diet? Abstract conclusions:

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:

Sodium reduction from an average high usual sodium intake level (201 mmol/day) to an average level of 66 mmol/day, which is below the recommended upper level of 100 mmol/day (5.8 g salt), resulted in a decrease in SBP/DBP of 1/0 mmHg in white participants with normotension and a decrease in SBP/DBP of 5.5/2.9 mmHg in white participants with hypertension. A few studies showed that these effects in black and Asian populations were greater. The effects on hormones and lipids were similar in people with normotension and hypertension. Renin increased 1.60 ng/mL/hour (55%); aldosterone increased 97.81 pg/mL (127%); adrenalin increased 7.55 pg/mL (14%); noradrenalin increased 63.56 pg/mL: (27%); cholesterol increased 5.59 mg/dL (2.9%); triglyceride increased 7.04 mg/dL (6.3%).

Low sodium helps decrease blood pressure but for some reason cholesterol and triglycerides were increased. More study is required.

Possible Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Approach

From several years ago, this paper suggests that (abstract):

Despite continuous interest in multiple sclerosis (MS) research, there is still a lack of neuroprotective strategies, because the main focus has remained on modulating the immune response. Here we performed in-depth analysis of neurodegeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and in in vitro studies regarding the effect of the well-established L-type calcium channel antagonist nimodipine. Nimodipine treatment attenuated clinical EAE and spinal cord degeneration and promoted remyelination. Surprisingly, we observed calcium channel-independent effects on microglia, resulting in apoptosis. These effects were cell-type specific and irrespective of microglia polarization. Apoptosis was accompanied by decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in cell culture as well as decreased iNOS and reactive oxygen species levels in EAE. In addition, increased numbers of Olig2+APC+ oligodendrocytes were detected. Overall, nimodipine application seems to generate a favorable environment for regenerative processes and therefore could be a treatment option for MS, because it combines features of immunomodulation with beneficial effects on neuroregeneration.

We will be on the lookout out for any further advances in such approaches to report them here.

Resveratrol And VDR

Resveratrol is purported to have a number of health benefits; this paper explains one possible mechanism of action, abstract:

The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) hormone is derived from vitamin D generated in skin or obtained from the diet, and binds to and activates the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in target tissues including kidney, colon/small intestine, and bone/muscle. We tested resveratrol for its ability to modulate VDR signaling, using vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) and mammalian 2-hybrid (M2H) transcriptional system technology. Via VDRE-based assays in kidney, colon and myoblast cells, VDR-mediated transcription was activated by resveratrol, and a cooperative effect on transactivation was observed with resveratrol plus 1,25D. The M2H assay revealed a modest, resveratrol-induced dimerization of VDR with its retinoid X receptor (RXR) heteropartner. Cells treated with both resveratrol and 1,25D displayed synergistic stimulation of VDR-RXR heterodimerization, while resveratrol antagonized rexinoid-mediated RXR-RXR homodimerization. Increased transactivation in response to resveratrol was also observed with a subset of other nuclear receptors and their respective cognate responsive elements. Evaluation of wild-type versus a ligand-binding domain mutant VDR revealed that hormone-responsiveness to 1,25D was severely depressed, while the response to resveratrol was only moderately attenuated. Moreover, radiolabeled 1,25D-displacement assays demonstrated an increase in VDR-bound 1,25D in the presence of resveratrol. Thus, resveratrol may affect VDR and other nuclear receptors indirectly, likely via the ability of resveratrol to: (1) potentiate 1,25D binding to VDR; (2) activate RXR; and/or (3) stimulate SIRT1, an enzyme known to deacetylate nuclear receptors. The results of this study elucidate a possible pathway for crosstalk between two nutritionally derived lipids, vitamin D and resveratrol, both of which converge on VDR signaling.

Vitamin D and vitamin D signaling continuously proves to be extremely important for human health and disease prevention.