Scientists step closer to finding cause of multiple sclerosis

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

As they find out more about the cell biology of multiple sclerosis , scientists are gradually unraveling the mysteries of the disease , although the exact causes are still unclear . Now , a new study continues this progress with a significant discovery about a new cellular mechanism . It suggests that high levels of the protein Rab 32 disrupt key communications involving mitochondria . The disruption causes these "cellular batteries " to misbehave , leading to the toxic effects seen in the brain cells of people with multiple sclerosis

The new study is the work of researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom and the University of Alberta in Canada. They report their findings in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.
Co-author Paul Eggleton, an immunologist and professor at the University of Exeter Medical School, says that multiple sclerosis can have a "devastating impact on people's lives," and yet, unfortunately, the present situation is that "all medicine can offer is treatment and therapy for the symptoms."
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks tissue of the
central nervous system - which comprises the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve.
As the disease progresses, it destroys more and more of the fatty myelin sheath that insulates and protects the nerve fibers that send electrical messages in the central nervous system.
This destruction can lead to brain damage, vision impairment, pain, altered sensation, extreme
fatigue , problems with movement, and other symptoms.
In earlier work, the team behind the new study was the first to provide an explanation for the role of defective mitochondria in MS through clinical and laboratory experiments.
In their new investigation, the researchers study a protein called Rab32, which is known to be involved in certain mitochondrial processes.
They found that levels of Rab32 are much higher in the brains of people with MS and hardly detectable in brains of people without the disease.
They also discovered that the presence of Rab32 coincides with disruption to a communication system that causes mitochondria to malfunction, causing toxic effects in the brain cells of people with MS.
The disruption is caused by a cell compartment called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) being too close to the mitochondria.
The ER produces, processes , and transports many compounds that are used inside and outside the cell.
Study may lead to new MS treatments that target Rab 32
The researchers note that one of the functions of the ER is to store calcium, and if the distance between the ER and mitochondria is too short, it disrupts the communication between the mitochondria and the calcium supply.
Calcium uptake into mitochondria is already known to be critical to cell functioning.

NEW BRAIN PATHWAY THAT CONTROLS HAND MOVEMENT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED 

Source: University of Pittsburgh.

Picking up a slice of pizza or sending a text message:

Scientists long believed that the brain signals for those and

related movements originated from motor areas in the

frontal lobe of brain, which control voluntary movement.

But that may not always be true. A new brain pathway has

been identified by neuroscientists at the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of

Pittsburgh Brain Institute (UPBI) that could underlie our

ability to make the coordinated hand movements needed to

reach out and manipulate objects in our immediate

surroundings. The discovery was made in a non-human

primate model, but researchers believe that a similar

pathway is likely to be present in humans as well.

The results, published this week in the journal Proceedings of

the National Academy of Sciences , show that the neural

pathway originates not from the frontal lobe, but from the

posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a brain region that scientists

previously thought was involved only in associating sensory

inputs and building a representation of extrapersonal space.

“The findings break the hard and fast rule that a furrow in

the brain called the central sulcus–a Mississippi River-like

separation–splits up the areas controlling sensory and motor

function,” said senior author Peter Strick, Ph.D., Thomas

Detre Professor of Neuroscience, Distinguished Professor and

chair of neurobiology, Pitt School of Medicine, and scientific

director of UPBI. “This has implications for how we

understand hand movement and may help us develop better

treatments for patients in whom motor function is affected,

such as those who have had a stroke. Our study also will

have a direct impact on the efforts of researchers studying

neural prosthetics and brain computer interfaces.”

More than three decades ago, renowned neuroscientist

Vernon Mountcastle proposed the presence of a movement

control center in the PPC and termed it a ‘command

apparatus’ for operation of the limbs, hands and eyes within

immediate extrapersonal space.

In the current study, Strick and his team confirm that such a

command apparatus exists and demonstrate a new pathway

that connects the PPC directly to neurons in the spinal cord

that control hand movement.

The research team conducted three separate experiments in

a non-human primate model to make the discovery. They

first showed that electrical stimulation in a region of the PPC

called “lateral area 5” evoked finger and wrist movements in

the animal. When they injected a protein marker into lateral

area 5, they found that the marker made its way to the

spinal cord and ended in the same location where the

neurons controlling hand muscles are known to be present,

suggesting a connection.

“The wiring and the connections from the PPC to the spinal

cord and the hand look extremely similar to those from the

frontal lobe that have been extensively studied. Similar form

suggests similar function in controlling movement,” said

Jean-Alban Rathelot, Ph.D., a research associate in Strick’s

laboratory and the lead author of the new study.

For their final experiment, they used a strain of rabies virus

as a ‘tracker’ since it has the ability to jump across

connected neurons. The team found that when they injected

the virus into a hand muscle, it was indeed transported back

to neurons in the same region of PPC where stimulation

evoked hand movements. This result demonstrated the

existence of a direct pathway from lateral area 5 to spinal

cord regions that control hand muscles.

“We know from previous research that individuals who have

suffered brain injuries in this area have trouble with

dexterous finger movements like finding keys in a bag

containing many other things, which strongly supports our

findings,” said Richard Dum, Ph.D., a research associate

professor in neurobiology and a co-author of the study.

Strick and his team believe that the multiple pathways for

controlling hand movement from the frontal lobe and the

PPC could work together to execute one complex hand task

or could work in parallel to speed up movement, much like

multiple processors in a computer can enhance efficacy.

*HPV AGAIN? 

A senior Doctor (Name Undisclosed) from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has finally declared the causes of the unknown death that strucks so many people in Lagos. Several tests were run on these bodies but nothing was discovered not until after 72hours of their death they discovered some spots on their body which was finally diagnosed to be HPV. Human Papilloma Virus. HPV: The Human Papilloma Virus Infection can cause genital warts, which can lead to cancer of the cervix. The virus is located in warts found in HPV and hands and there have been studies that the disease can spread through a simple handshake. Total death reported from this virus now is 13 in Lagos University Teaching Hospitals alone. But the media didn't want to report this in order not to create fear in the air just like the case of EBOLA. To prevent this HPV pls let's sanitize our palms at least every hours (if possible). Prevention is better than cure, as it won't be discovered on time until after death occurs. Further research is ongoing to identify the symptoms of this Virus. Please go back to your hand sanitizers and sanitize your hands frequently.*

Pls share with all your contacts. Sent as received

New research has found no evidence that breastfeeding
boosts children’s intelligence or other cognitive abilities.

The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics , run contrary to previous studies on breastfeeding that found that it does boost intelligence.
The researchers from University College Dublin (UCD), led by
Dr Lisa-Christine Girard, analysed the effects of
breastfeeding on children’s cognitive abilities, such as
problem-solving and vocabulary, at ages three and five. They
also looked at the effects of hyperactivity in children who
breastfed.
The study involved 7,478 children at ages three and five who
participated in the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study of
children. The paper was published in the journal Pediatrics.
The investigators used a type of statistical analysis called
“propensity score matching” (PSM) that accounted for
certain factors that would make certain mothers more likely
to breastfeed, such as socioeconomic status and level of
education.
The researchers ensured the analysis separated the factors
that influence children’s development and intelligence from
breastfeeding itself.
Previous studies, for example, have shown that children from
families of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to be
breastfed.
By employing the PSM method, the researchers examined
two groups of children, from similar family backgrounds, that
were equally likely to be breastfed.
However, the children were divided into two groups – those
who had breastfed and those who hadn’t.
After accounting for the socioeconomic factors, the
scientists found that there was no statistically significant
evidence that children at ages three and five who were
breastfed as babies had gained more cognitive abilities than
children who were bottle-fed.
It is widely accepted that breastfeeding has many health
benefits for babies, such as protecting them from infection-
related deaths and sudden infant death syndrome.
The analysis found that only three-year-olds who had
breastfed for six months or more scored higher on tests of
problem-solving and lower on tests for hyperactivity.
But after accounting for the other factors, the researchers
found that the benefits for problem-solving between the two
groups were not statistically significant.
They found children who were breastfed for six months or
more had fewer problems with hyperactivity at the age of
three.
However, this positive outcome for three-year-olds
disappeared by the time they had reached the age of five.
No evidence was found that breastfeeding improved or
affected vocabulary at either age three or five.
The analysis also concluded that there were no statistically
significant cognitive benefits at all for children who breastfed
at the age of five.
Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the
world. The Growing Up In Ireland study found that only 56
per cent of Irish mothers breastfed, compared to rates of
around 90 per cent elsewhere in Europe.

The limbic System 

Indian doctors mocked us, refused to treat victims –Nigerian student attacked in India

A Nigerian student at the NOIDA International University,

India, Precious Amalcima, who was among Africans

attacked by Indians, shared his ordeal with TOLUWANI

ENIOLA

Can you tell us your background?

I am a 23-year-old final year student of Political

Science at NOIDA International University, India. I am

from Edo State. My brother, Endurance, who was also

attacked, is studying Economics in the same

institution.

What led to your attack by the Indians on Monday?

Few days ago, five Nigerians were accused of killing a

17-year-old Indian student, Manish Khari, who died of a

suspected drug overdose. The police arrested the

Nigerians and later released them. The five Nigerians

accused of killing the Indian boy are also students of

NOIDA International University.

So, some Indian locals went to the homes of the

accused to harass them, claiming they killed the

Indian boy. The mother of the deceased was trying to

take the case to court. The police released the

Nigerians on Sunday (March 26). I think that enraged

the Indians. On Monday, while the convocation was

going on in our school, we (my brother and I) asked

the police if we could go out. This was due to the

tension then. The police gave us the green light to

step out.

That evening, I was not feeling well. So I told my

younger brother, Endurance, to get me some drugs.

When he came back, we decided to go for shopping at

a certain mall close to our hostel. While we were

inside the mall, we got information that the locals

were attacking blacks. We began to panic as we

considered which route to follow to avoid the

(rampaging) locals.

Why didn’t you hide inside the mall?

No one was trying to help. The Indians at the mall

became hostile and asked us to go out. Suddenly, we

saw Indians, who we think were more than 500,

running towards us. They held sticks and other

weapons. We entered another plaza and asked for help

but nobody was interested in helping us to take cover.

We hid somewhere for about 25 minutes but the crowd

soon caught up with us. They dragged out my brother

from where he was hiding and began to beat him.

They also dragged me out from where I was hiding.

They stabbed me on the shoulder with a knife as I

cried for help. It was our cries that attracted other

students, who called the police. The police came to

our aid and rushed my brother and I to the hospital.

The medical officers at the hospital refused to treat

us. They were even laughing at us.

How come they refused to attend to you when it was

the police who took you to the hospital?

It was not only us who were attacked; other blacks in

the city were also attacked. So, the police had to

leave us at the hospital to rescue others. So, I

dragged my brother out of the hospital. Fortunately,

we saw an Indian, who was a Good Samaritan. The

Indian took us to another hospital where we eventually

received medical assistance. The (Nigerian) embassy

officials later came to commiserate with us. They took

good care of us and even paid the hospital bills. So

after three days, on Wednesday, we were discharged

while the police escorted us home.

Was that the first time you would experience such an

attack?

That was the first time of being attacked in India. But

that was not the first time that blacks, especially

Nigerians, have been attacked in the country. In fact,

Indians attack blacks, especially Nigerians, every year.

Although there are some good Indians in the country,

others have been generally hostile to us. This year,

they attacked blacks in other states. Last year, they

killed many Africans. If you check the records, their

attacks on Africans have become an annual ritual.

Why are they hostile to blacks and Nigerians?

I think Indians don’t really like blacks, especially

Nigerians. They think Nigerians are drug peddlers. In

the state we are studying, almost all Nigerians are

students and we don’t deal in drugs as being claimed.

Why did you and your brother choose to study in India?

We developed an interest to study in India because of

India’s interesting movies which we grew up watching

and adore. We thought all Indians were nice people

but our recent experiences shows that we were naïve.

Did you regret coming to India to study?

If I knew (Indians don’t like Nigerians) I would not

have come to India. With this experience, I will not

even advise any of my siblings to consider India again

because of the insecurity and the undue treatment

meted out to blacks. I definitely regret coming to India

to study. While the mob pounced on us, I thought we

were going to be killed. I did not even remember to

pray. I was only crying and begging them while the

attack lasted. If not for the police intervention, we

would have been dead by now.

Do you think the Indian government and the police have

a hand in the attacks?

The Indian government is capable of stopping the

problem but I don’t think they are serious about it – as

such attacks have been occurring over the years. They

renew their promises of protecting Africans every year

but they have not been able to live up to their

promises.

What is the present situation in NOIDA?

We are living in fear. For now, we (students) have

been advised to stay indoors since Monday. The

embassy has been supplying welfare materials to us.

Many good Indians also came to the hospital to

apologise on behalf of the mob. Some Indians also

donated welfare materials to us. If you don’t have

food, you would request and they would get it for you;

and water too. They have been helping us in that

regard. Some Indian groups have also risen to the

occasion, donating welfare materials. The Nigerian

embassy has been very supportive. They asked for our

bills and I am sure they will offset them. I went back

to the hospital again today (Thursday) for further

check up and to get eye drops. My dad asked us to

come back home but the ambassador pleaded that he

should allow us to stay, promising him that things

would get better.

Do you plan to relocate to Nigeria?

I don’t plan to relocate to Nigeria because it would

mean starting my course all over again.

What do you want the Federal Government to do about

now?

I don’t know exactly what to say because I am

devastated. My brother has been resting since we

were discharged from the hospital. The Federal

Government should talk to the Indian Government to

stop this kind of attack. If they don’t want us to study

in their country, they should tell us. The Federal

Government should withdraw their cooperation by

sanctioning Indian companies in Nigeria. If they cannot

guarantee our safety, I don’t see any reason why

Indians should be making billions of naira in Nigeria

while we are facing undue treatment in their country.

So far, we are impressed by the intervention of

officials of the Nigerian embassy, who warned the

Indian authorities not to allow the attack to happen

again. The Indian police have apologised too. The only

problem is that we have been restricted to stay

indoors. We hope that things will get better in days

ahead.

What do you want the Indian police to do on this

matter?

The Indian Government and the police authorities

should not sweep this matter under the carpet. They

should fish out the attackers and ensure that there is

justice. Ensuring justice on this matter would serve as

a deterrent to others. If they don’t arrest the culprits,

more attacks would still happen. These attackers

should be treated as scapegoats.

Source: PUNCH

Thyroid hormone level may identify people at risk for atherosclerosis
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

The study found a link between thyroid function and clinical and
subclinical signs of atherosclerosis - the main cause of heart attack and
stroke.
For the first time , researchers have linked high levels of thyroid hormone in middle- aged and older people to higher risk for atherosclerosis, a condition in which
arteries become clogged up and which is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes . The new study does not say that raised thyroid hormone leads to atherosclerosis, but it does suggest that it could help to identify people at higher risk for the condition .
Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up on the inside walls of arteries,
causing them to thicken and harden. The plaque consists of fats, waste products from cells, cholesterol, calcium , and a blood-clotting material called fibrin. As the plaque builds up, it can eventually impede blood flow through the artery and give rise to diseases such as angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease , carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease , and chronic kidney disease . Another potential danger is that a piece can break off or a blood clot can form on the plaque. These can block the artery and cause heart attack or stroke.
According to a 2016 statistics report from the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke were responsible for the most deaths worldwide in 2013, while heart disease, stroke, or another cardiovascular disease were responsible for 1 out every 3 deaths in the United States in that year.

Link between thyroid function and atherosclerosis

The new study, which was presented at a recent meeting of the Endocrine Society in Orlando, FL, finds that middle-aged and older people with higher levels of a thyroid hormone called free thyroxine are at higher risk for developing atherosclerosis. Tests for free thyroxine - also known as free T4 (FT4) - are "used to help evaluate thyroid function and diagnose thyroid diseases" such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Lead author Dr. Arjola Bano, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, says that their large study is the first to look at the link between thyroid function and clinical and subclinical signs of atherosclerosis, and she
notes:
"These findings suggest that thyroid hormone measurement can help identify individuals at risk for atherosclerosis and may have future implications for the prevention of atherosclerotic morbidity and mortality."
Dr. Bano and colleagues analyzed data collected over a median follow-up of 8 years on 9,231 people. They were aged 64.7 years on average and were participating in the
Rotterdam Study.

Link is independent of known cardiovascular risk
factors

The researchers looked for links between thyroid function and subclinical atherosclerosis, as well as between thyroid function and atherosclerotic events and deaths. The analysis took account of a range of factors that could affect the results, including age, sex, body mass index ( BMI ), cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, diabetes , alcohol consumption, smoking, and medications for lowering blood pressure and lipids. During the follow-up, there were 1,130 atherosclerotic events and 580 atherosclerotic deaths in the group. The analysis revealed that higher levels of FT4 were linked to higher risk of atherosclerotic events and deaths independently of known cardiovascular risk factors. Analysis also showed that higher FT4 levels were associated with increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis - a condition in which plaque build-up can be detected but it has not led to cardiovascular events.

FG On Meningitis Outbreak:
Death Toll Hits 328
The Federal Ministry of Health has said that 328 deaths
associated with Meningitis have been recorded in the
country since November 2016.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, disclosed this
in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Mrs Boade
Akinola, the Director, Media and Public Relations of the
ministry.
Adewole assured Nigerians that the ministry would curtail
the outbreak of meningitis ravaging some states.
“We have started working with the affected states on
massive awareness and sensitisation, laboratory
investigation and analysis, proper documentation and
disease surveillance techniques.’’
The minister added that ministry through the National
Centre for Disease Control and National Primary Health
Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), had been of
tremendous support to the affected states since the
outbreak.
He said the ministry was in constant discussion with
World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, E-health Africa
and other international health agencies for supplies of
vaccines and injections.
“Through our initiatives, we have secured 500,000 doses
of the meningococcal vaccines from WHO which will be
used in Zamfara and Katsina states with additional
800,000 units from the British government .
“By next Tuesday, there will be a meeting with the
International Review Group of the WHO, where request
for additional vaccines shall be approved, as part of
practical and medically certified efforts to stem this ugly
incidence.’’
Adewole added that government was not relenting on the
progress made, “as we have been assured of millions of
vaccine doses through other notable and international
donor agencies.’’
According to him, Nigeria has always been bedevilled with
the stereotype A of meningitis in years past.
“This new outbreak is from a suspected new strain of the
bacterial disease, Meningitis Stereotype C, of which the
vaccine is not commercially available in required
quantities.
“The vaccine can only be shipped into the country by
WHO only, if laboratory investigation confirms the
existence of the strain type C.
“Government is advocating for prompt diagnosis and
issued directive to all federal medical facilities and PHCs
to treat all cases of meningitis free of charge.’’
The minister urged Nigerians especially residents of
Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara and Jigawa
states to seek early attention when discomforted with
symptoms of Meningitis
He also advised Nigerians to avoid clogging together in
unventilated and over-crowded rooms.

*CONFIRMED CASE OF LASSA FEVER IN KOGI STATE*

This is to inform the General public that there has been a confirmed case of Lassa Fever in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The confirmation was done after a patient (male) who is a resident of Angwan Kura, Lokoja reported at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja, with signs and symptoms suggestive of haemorrhagic fever.

The State Epidemiologists immediately responded by sending the patient's blood sample to the designated Laboratory at Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for analysis, which came back positive for Lasser fever.


 The patient was eventualy transfered to Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for optimal care.


The State Rapid Response Team was summoned by the Hon. commissioner for Health *Dr Saka Haruna Audu* and provisions were made for source/contact tracing and prophylactic treatment for medical personel who had contact with the patient before transfer. All these have been concluded as all those who have had contact with the patient  are currently being closely monitored.

It is important to note that it was discovered that the patient had travelled to Illorin, Kwara State where he had stayed for two weeks. He only developed symptoms of haemorrhagic fever two days after his return. We are therefore uncertain whether he contracted the virus there or here in Lokoja.

All hands are on deck to prevent further spread of the disease as jingles and other means of public enlightenment are currently ongoing.

Any suspected case of Lassa Fever or any one with useful information related to this subject matter should call
*08030607102*

*PLEASE SEE ATTACHED IMAGES AND AUDIO JINGLES FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON LASSA FEVER*


*Audu Haruna*
PA. To Hon. Commissioner for Health