Components of The Musculoskeletal System
Two major functions of the musculoskeletal system are structural support and purposeful motion. The activities of the human body depend on the effective interaction between joints and the neuromuscular units that move them.
Following components constitute the musculoskeletal system.
- Muscle
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Cartilage
- Bone.
All of these structure contribute to structure and mobilty
Collagen, elastin and adhesins, and proteoglycans are the building blocks of musculoskeletal system. The different connective tissues differ in their composition of macromolecules.
Gradual Starvation Of Brain Could Trigger Alzheimer’s
A gradual loss of blood flow to the brain over years or decades could be a major trigger for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study. Up till now, the cause for this disease has remained a mystery, even if the mechanism causing the damage is well understood.
The new research shows that an insufficient supply of sugar glucose, transported by blood, sets off a biochemical chain reaction resulting in the accumulation of the neuron-attacking proteins that cause Alzheimer’s.
“This findings is significant because it suggests that improving blood flow to the brain might be an effective therapeutic approach for prevention or treatment of Alzheimer’s,” said Robert Vassar, a professor at North Western University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and lead author of this study.
“Exercising, reducing cholesterol intake and managing hypertension are the measures that could provide added protection”, he said. “For persons who already show symptoms of constricted arteries, taking vasodilators (drugs that boost blood flow) could help deliver nourishing oxygen and glucose to the brain,” he added.
Drawing from experiments with humans and mice, Vassar and colleagues showed that reduced blood flow alters a protein called elF2alpha. In its changed form, elF2alpha increases the output of the enzyme that spurs production of the fiber-like knots of amyloidal beta protein that form outside neurons and disrupt their ability to send messages.
The finding published in the journal Neuron could lead to drugs designed to block the elF2alpha production that begins the formation of the protein clumps, also known as amyloid plaques, Vassar added.
Alzheimer’s disease is incurable and is the most common form of dementia among older people. It affects the regions of the brain involving thought, memory and language.
Source: TOI
Wine Raises Cancer Risk
A large glass of wine a day increases the risk of liver and bowel cancer by a fifth, experts have warned. What’s more, the same goes for a pint of beer or a couple of spirits such as vodka or gin.
Rachel Thompson, science programme manager for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), warned that just two units of alcohol a day increases the risk of bowel cancer by 18 percent and the risk of liver cancer by 20 percent. Read more
Smokers at Higher Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
Offering yet another reason to never start smoking, a new study finds that both current and former smokers run an elevated risk of the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation.
The condition, also known as AF, is the most common heart arrhythmia in the United States, affecting about 2 million people. During an episode of AF, abnormal electrical activity in the heart causes its upper two chambers to beat in a rapid, uncoordinated rhythm; the arrhythmia itself is not life-threatening, but over time AF can contribute to stroke or heart failure in some people.
While smoking is a well-known risk factor for heart disease, it has not been clear whether the habit boosts the risk of AF specially.
The new findings, reported in the American Heart Journal, suggest that it does even after a smoker quits. Read more
How To Prevent The Common Cold
- Wash yours hands often. Frequent washing of hands can destroy viruses that you have acquired from touching surfaces used by other people.
- Avoid touching your face, if you are around someone with a cold.
- Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoke can irrigate the airways and increase susceptibility to colds. Read more
Soon A Living Bandage To Tackle Regular Knee Injury
Scientists have grown a living bandage from a patient’s own stem cells to heal a common sporting knee injury.
Every year about 80,000 men and women in Britain suffer tears to the meniscal cartilage, which acts as a shock absorbing cushion between the bones of the upper and lower leg.
Many are men and women in their twenties and thirties encounter knee injures and the tears are frequently the result of twisting the leg during jogging, football, rugby, horse riding or skiing. Read more
Tips For Improving Bad Posture
Bad posture can lead to multitude of problems, not only in the back but other regions of body also. If you have a habit of maintaining a bad posture, use following tips to improve your posture
- Do not slouch. When sitting, avoid slumping or leaning forward.
- Stretching exercises help to keep you flexible. Yoga helps to improve your flexibility and posture.
- Sleep on a firm mattress that will support your spine while sleeping. Don’t stack to many pillow so that your neck is at an awkward angle. If you sleep on your side, placing a pillow between your knees helps to keeping the spine aligned.
- Walk straight. Make sure your weight is evenly distributed on both feet and your chin is level with the ground. Arms should be relaxed at your sides with your shoulders back. Continue practicing until you’re able to walk with the book balanced on your head.
New Drug That Mimicks HDL Or Good Cholesterol To Cure Cholestrol Troubles and Clean Arteries
Body contains two types of cholestrol HDL i.e. high density lipoproteins and LDL i.e. low density lipoproteins.. While LDL has adverse effect on heart, HDL is considered to be beneficial .
Researchers in United States have developed a synthetic form HDL in an effort to check bad cholesterol.
The compound is manufactured using nanotechnology and contains a tiny core of gold. It is considered to have potential to rid the body of excess bad cholesterol. The study has been published on in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Read more
Nicotine Gum Effective For Smoking Reduction
Smokers who are trying to gradually kick the butt can effectively do so with the help of nicotine gum, says a new study. Nicotine gum has been in use for over 20 years to help smokers quit abruptly.
However, the new study suggests that smokers who wish to quit by slowly reducing their smoking habits can substantially increase their chances to succeed by using nicotine gum to help in cessation.
In a double blind, placebo-controlled study involving more than 3000 smokers,the participants were allowed to choose between 2-mg and 4-mg doses of nicotine gum, with the higher doses generally being selected by heavy smokers.
Within each dose group, participants were then to receive either the active gum or a placebo (a substance which a patient accepts as medicine but has no therapeutic quality), yielding four equal groups. Read more
3 Cup Of Coffee A Day Can Lead To Hallucinations
Coffee consumptioncan lead to halllucintions. It soundsd strange but a new study has found that drinking three cups of the hot drink a day can triple the risk of suffering from hallucinations.
Studies have already documented that too much caffeine can lead to heart palpitations, insomnia and even affect a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant.
Now, a team at Durham University has found a link between coffee and hallucinations.
Caffeine boosts levels of a stress hormone which is known as cortisol.
And, those who have three cups of brewed coffee a day could be at the same risk, the researchers have warned due to the drink’s higher caffeine content.
The study has shown a clear link between hallucinations and a high caffeine intake.
The researchers have based their findings on an analysis of the caffeine intake of 200 students some of whom had experienced seeing things that were not there, hearing voices or sensing the presence of the dead.