This New Smartphone Can Meddle With Pacemakers

The recent release of the new iPhone 12 rehashed an old question in medicine. The new device has a stronger built-in magnet than previous Apple devices, and cardiologists are alarmed that the device could disrupt the work of pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Are these concerns warranted? And, if so, is the new iPhone the only device that could meddle with these cardiac devices?

Why People With Pacemakers and ICDs Should Use Electronic Devices Carefully

Cardiac devices are sensitive to the magnetic fields produced by smartphones. Magnets are potentially the strongest sources of such magnetic fields, which is why all people with ICDs have been instructed to use electronic devices very carefully.

According to the American Heart Association, strong magnetic fields can disrupt the functioning of ICDs. Therefore, ICD wearers are advised against keeping cellphones (and other devices like iPods and smartwatches) in the front shirt pocket, bra, or a wraparound purse close to the device. Besides, one should avoid holding these devices against the ear on the side the ICD is located (usually, the left side). 

 

In a recent letter to the editor of the journal Heart Rhythm, a group of doctors raised concerns over the new iPhone. They tested the safety of the ICD and discovered that every time the smartphone was close to the left side of the chest, the ICD immediately became suspended and didn’t return to work while the mobile device was in proximity.

What Devices Can Suspend the Functioning of Cardiac Devices?

It isn’t just the new smartphones like the iPhone 12 that could manifest this effect. Any electronic device with a magnet could temporarily disable a pacemaker of an ICD. Earlier research from 2020 suggests that wrist fitness trackers can likewise deactivate an ICD when brought to a distance of 2.4 cm (1 in). 

 

But why are these devices sensitive to magnets, in the first place? Well, that’s just the way they are designed to work. In fact, cardiologists routinely use magnets to adjust cardiac devices, and magnets are intended to stop the work of the pacemaker and ICD during a heart examination. “The effect of a magnet on a pacemaker is usually to temporarily turn on the pacing function and to ignore the signals from the heart. 

 

The effect of a magnet on an ICD is usually to temporarily disable the ICD response to the rapid heart rhythms that is necessary to save the patient’s life,” said s Dr. Bruce L. Wilkoff to Healthline. 

 

While this is perfectly fine in a controlled medical setting, having a cardiac device stop working because you continuously keep it in your left front pocket could pose a serious risk.

How to Use Mobile Devices Safely If You Have a Pacemaker or ICD

Before we go into the specific tips, you must understand that your ICD or pacemakers do not break down when exposed to magnets in a smartphone or a fitness tracker. Removing the mobile device to a distance of 5 in (13 cm) and more will restore the work of the ICD and pacemaker instantly. 

 

So you don’t need to panic if you accidentally put your phone in your front pocket for a minute. Likewise, don't be afraid to use mobile devices or upgrade your old phone if you need to. With that said, you must be cautious with the way you wear your smartwatch, how you talk on the phone, and where you store your devices if you have a pacemaker or ICD device. 

 

Here are a few tips: 

- Keep your phone or music player in a pocket or bag that’s not directly over the pacemaker or ICD.

 - Teach yourself to use the opposite ear for phone calls. 

- Avoid wearing a wraparound bag around your chest. 

- Wear your fitness tracker or smartwatch on the opposite hand to the location of the pacemaker or ICD. - Avoid wearing an earset on the same side as the cardiac device.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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IIT Hyderabad researchers unravel functioning of DNA repair proteins

Researchers are seeking to understand the workings of the DNA damage repair proteins. Certain types of chemicals produced naturally in the body can cause damages in DNA and if not fixed fast, may trigger cell death.

Researchers have unraveled the working of a protein that repairs damaged DNA.

Nature has evolved techniques to not only protect DNA, but also to repair damaged DNA so that catastrophic damage can be averted. In humans, one such repair mechanism involves activation of a special class of proteins called 'DNA' repair proteins.

With increasing awareness of the impact of DNA damage on almost all diseases and maladies, there is a worldwide effort to understand how these repair proteins work, both as an academic exercise and as the foundation for therapeutic interventions.

The results of the study has been published recently.

What makes matter a living being, be it a bacterium or man is the DNA. DNA is the file blueprint of the life-form and encodes the directions that the life-form must take in order to become bacterium, rose, lion or man. It is this essential for the survival of every cell and is usually kept well protected within the nucleus of cells and in some non0nuclear parts like the mitochondria.

Any damage to DNA can result in outcomes that can range from unperceivable mild changes, such as the sudden appearance of a harmless mole, to catastrophic diseases, such as cancer. The retention of DNA integrity is therefore essential for proper function and survival of all organisms. Protection of DNA is daunting because of the possibility of damage by external sources and the intrinsic instability of DNA itself.

" Our laboratory at IIT Hyderabad seeks to understand the working of the DNA damage repair proteins. Certain types of chemicals produced naturally in the body can cause damages in DNA and if not fixed fast, may trigger cell death", explains Dr. Anindya Roy.

Researchers discovered mechanism by which these DNA repair proteins assemble when DNA is under threat. They studies the action of one specific protein called alkB homolog 3 or ALKBH3. It has been known that ALKBH3 repairs alkylated DNA containing 1-methyladenosine and 3.methylcytosine through oxidative demethylation, but the mechanism has hitherto remained unclear.

The researchers unraveled the mechanism by which ALKBH3 brings about demethylation.

We've found that ALKBH3 has a direct protein-protein interaction with another protein called RAD51C and this interaction stimulates ALKHB3-mediated repair of methyl-adduct located within 3'-tailed DNA adds the Dr. on the technical aspects of their discovery.

The team is fascinated by the universality of the mechanism-- it is just as applicable to the bacterium as it is to the humans. " The knowledge gained from our studies might, in the long term, be beneficial from a cancer therapeutic perspective", hopes Dr. Roy, as the team proceeds with work on understanding how DNA repair works.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Nerve transfer surgery helps 13 paralysed youth hold a drink

A novel surgical technique helped 13 young adults with paralysis of both the upper and lower limbs regain the ability to feed themselves, hold a drink, brush their teeth, and write, says a study. 

The novel nerve transfer surgery connects functioning nerves with injured nerves to restore power in paralysed muscles.
During the surgery, Australian surgeons attached functioning nerves above the spinal injury to paralysed nerves below the injury, said the study.

Two years after surgery, and following intensive physical therapy, participants were able to reach their arm out in front of them and open their hand to pick up and manipulate objects.

Restoring elbow extension improved their ability to propel their wheelchair and to transfer into bed or a car.

They can now perform everyday tasks independently such as feeding themselves, brushing teeth and hair, putting on make-up, writing, handling money and credit cards, and using tools and electronic devices.

"For people with tetraplegia (paralysis of both the upper and lower limbs), improvement in hand function is the single most important goal," said a researcher.

"We believe that nerve transfer surgery offers an exciting new option, offering individuals with paralysis the possibility of regaining arm and hand functions to perform everyday tasks, and giving them greater independence and the ability to he added.

The findings suggest that nerve transfers can achieve similar functional improvements to traditional tendon transfers, with the benefit of smaller incisions and shorter immobilisation time after surgery.

While only a small study, the researchers said that nerve transfers are a major advance in the restoration of hand and arm function, and offer another safe, reliable surgical option for people living with tetraplegia.

"What's more, we have shown that nerve transfers can be successfully combined with traditional tendon transfer techniques to maximise benefits," he said. 

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Fatty Liver Disease

• Type II diabetes patients are at a higher risk of contracting liver diseases. 
•  Fatty liver results when too much fat is stored in liver cells, which prevents proper functioning of the organ.

People in a state are seem to be dealing with severe dietary illnesses after data collected by a city-based hospital showed that it had received around 500 cases of liver ailments in the past one year. Moreover, over 50% of these patients were suffering from Type II diabetes.

Type II diabetes patients are at a higher risk of contracting liver cirrhosis, which causes irreversible scarring of the organ, revealed the study.

According to DNA, a study shows that there are higher chances of diabetes patients developing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

As the name suggests, fatty liver basically means too much fat stored in liver cells, which in turn can prevent the organ from functioning properly.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a term used for a range of liver conditions that affect people who drink little or no alcohol.

The disease is linked to overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides in the blood. The disease is trickier as it usually shows no signs and symptoms. However, a patient can sometimes feel pain in the upper right abdomen, fatigue, and enlarged stomach.

Fortunately, the disease can be treated by losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise. 

According to a study published, a low-fat diet or the Mediterranean diet really helps in curing fatty liver disease. Mediterranean diet includes mostly includes consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and almost no meat.

Weight-loss surgery is also an option for those who need to lose a lot of weight.

Around 9-32% of general population in India suffers from NAFLD and the numbers have doubled in the last 20 years, according to a 2017 study published.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

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Science Has Discovered a Pill to Slow Aging

A leading researcher on aging, coined the term 'the longevity dividend' in 2006, which describes the health and economic benefits individuals and societies could enjoy by slowing biological aging and extending people's years of healthy living. While the term was new, the concept had been around for decades. But, it seems that science has finally caught up with the idea.

The researchers have been urging researchers to shift their focus from lifespan to healthspan. This also means compressing what they call 'the red zone', the time period toward the end of life in which a person is frail and sick. Let's take a look at what aging interventions we could see in the near future:
According to him, most of us alive today will likely be taking some sort of intervention, such as a pill. However, he says that we probably won't look at it as a way to slow aging, but rather as a way to reduce our risk of disease, because the result is the same.

Yet, while this seems like a hopeful idea, how exactly would these drugs work? According to him "One of the interventions that researchers are pursuing are substances called senolytics, which are designed to attack something called “zombie cells.” The cells in our bodies divide. After they divide a certain number of times, they eventually die. Except some of them don’t quite die, but dying and remaining in place, and the ones that don’t die interfere with the functioning of the healthy cells. And they accumulate over time." he says.

 

He also adds: "The senolytic compounds are designed to go into the body and clear out the zombie cells. They remove the interference that’s going on with the body’s own functioning. This means that you’ll be more resistant to cancer, you’ll be more resistant to cardiovascular disease, you’ll be more resistant to Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll be more resistant to stroke and arthritis and osteoporosis and the other kinds of things that go wrong with our bodies as we get older. So, imagine an intervention, whether it’s a pill or some other type of intervention, that could reduce your risk of everything at once. It would dwarf in importance a cure for cancer. That’s what we’re pursuing."

The good news is that the government agency has changed its policies on reviewing drugs. Some time ago, the agency only reviewed drugs that attack specific diseases. But according to the researcher, "That changed. My colleagues and I met with representatives of the agency a couple of years ago to discuss this very issue. And the FDA has given us its approval in this effort to identify aging as a target. Previously, the only targets were specific diseases, and the FDA has now approved the idea that aging is a reasonable target to go after. You still measure it in diseases, in terms of your outcome metrics, but you recognize that the fundamental biological process of aging is the target that you are attacking."

Of course, this intervention is not available to us, the general public, yet, so you may be wondering what you should be doing in the meantime. "While we’re waiting for this intervention to come online, of course, what we should be doing is what we all know we should be doing: exercising more and eating less," he says, adding that, "It’s not all that complicated. We know that excess weight is harmful and we know that lack of exercise is harmful. And short of that, Mother Nature takes its own toll, and the genetics of exceptional longevity is something we can’t control at this point. So, control what you can control."

But, you may be wondering, is it sustainable to have people living longer in terms of population growth? He says that "if population growth was an issue, why are we pursuing a cure for cancer? If population growth was an issue, why are we pursuing a cure for cardiovascular disease?". It seems to us he believes that population growth is not something that should prevent us from pursuing healthier, longer lives.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
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So, stay tuned, perhaps, sooner, rather than later, we may all be taking a pill to help slow the aging process.