Medical

Unveiling the Heart's Natural Protective Mechanisms

Why Does the Heart Rarely Get Cancer? Unveiling the Heart's Natural Protective Mechanisms

Have you ever wondered why the heart almost never gets cancer? Compared to other organs, the heart seems to possess some kind of magical protective mechanism. Today, let's unravel this mystery and explore how these mechanisms can provide inspiration for anti-tumor strategies in other organs.

The Heart's "Quiescent" Cells: The Low Division Rate of Cardiomyocytes

Imagine cardiomyocytes as a well-trained and disciplined army. Once adulthood is reached, this "army" basically stops recruiting new soldiers (i.e., cell division) and enters a terminally differentiated state. In contrast, tumors often form in rapidly proliferating tissues, like an ever-expanding enemy camp. Because cardiomyocytes rarely divide, they have very little opportunity to make mistakes or undergo mutations, thus making it difficult for them to become cancerous cells.

Global Progress in the Treatment of Menstrual Migraine

Migraine has a profound impact on the lives of female patients, especially menstrual migraine, which is related to the menstrual cycle. These headaches, due to their close association with hormonal fluctuations, pose unique challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiological status of migraine in Chinese women, existing treatment options and their limitations, the pathogenesis of menstrual migraine, major drug development targets, and the progress of therapies targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Additionally, I will introduce currently ongoing Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials for menstrual migraine treatments, providing the latest information for patients and colleagues.

Epidemiological Status of Migraine in Chinese Women

Migraine is a chronic neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of moderate to severe headache, often unilateral and pulsating, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photophobia/phonophobia. In China, approximately 9.3% of adults aged 18–65 suffer from migraine, with a higher prevalence in women due to hormonal influences. Among women of childbearing age, the prevalence of migraine can be as high as 20%, with 7–10% of these women experiencing menstrual migraine, defined as headaches occurring from 2 days before the onset of menstruation to 3 days after its cessation.

Unraveling the Truth Behind the Diabetes Epidemic

Ten Thousand Years of Evolution Can’t Keep Up with a Thousand Years of Dietary Change!

Imagine if your ancient ancestors time-traveled to today. Their first reaction might be to celebrate wildly—“What paradise is this! Sugar everywhere!”

Sugar is energy, a vital substance for human survival. In the earliest days, large-scale sugarcane plantations in parts of South America and the southern United States emerged to supply sugar to European aristocrats! Eventually, sugar became a cheap commodity, permeating the lives of modern humans.

Let’s rewind tens of thousands of years to our ancestors—those primitive hunters and gatherers whose daily lives probably looked like this:

Breakfast: A string of wild berries (likely sour) + a small piece of raw meat (possibly still dewy).
Lunch: Catch a rabbit if lucky; chew on tree bark if not. Carbohydrate intake? Less than 50 grams per day (about half a bowl of rice).
Dinner: Roast some nuts around a campfire, then hurry to sleep—after all, they’d need to forage again tomorrow.

Their pancreas was like a “lazy delivery worker,” casually releasing a little insulin each day to perfectly handle this minimal carbohydrate load. After hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, their bodies had adapted to a “low-sugar, high-fiber, high-protein” primitive diet.

Comprehensive Healthcare for Postpartum Women

Comprehensive Healthcare for Postpartum Women: Navigating the Journey After Pregnancy

Pregnancy marks a significant chapter in a woman's life, but the story doesn't end with childbirth. The postpartum period, often extending up to a year after birth, brings its own set of health challenges and adjustments. Here's an in-depth look at the healthcare needs of women who have been pregnant, aiming to guide new mothers through their recovery and beyond.

Immediate Postpartum Care

Physical Recovery: After delivery, whether vaginal or cesarean, the body needs time to heal. Immediate care includes monitoring for excessive bleeding, managing pain, and ensuring the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy state. For C-section deliveries, wound care is paramount to prevent infection.
Emotional Well-being: Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety are common, affecting one in seven women. Screening for mental health conditions starts at the hospital but should continue through check-ups. Support from healthcare providers, families, or groups can be invaluable.
Breastfeeding Support: Lactation consultants can assist with any issues related to breastfeeding, from latch problems to milk supply. Even for those choosing formula, understanding nutrition and baby's needs is crucial.

It's like a death

In this narrative medicine essay, a neurosurgeon works through his grief over ending his surgical career due to intractable pain from an elbow injury by appreciating what he can do instead of focusing on what he lost.

Source : JAMA Published online March 16, 2023
Author : Joseph D. Stern, MD

Lying awake in bed, I stretch out my arm mimicking routine movements I make while operating: this elicits sharp pain. Frustrated, I watch as my “normal” life and routines slip away. The other day I tried to pull off my trouser leg with my right hand; the pain made me stop, and I had to switch arms.

“It’s like a death,” my friend Gus declared of my elbow injury. He had just retired as an oncologist. At the top of his game, at a time of his own choosing. A few weeks earlier, he had been feted by his practice and our health system with a retirement party.

I wasn't feeling quite as lucky; a few months ago, I was a neurosurgeon, seemingly at the top of my game, feeling in control of my destiny. Then, I had had to stop doing surgery. I simply could no longer do it. My dominant elbow began screaming in pain. For 3 years, I had felt pain but chose to push through it. I took frequent breaks from work for a week or 2 at a time, and the pain would always go away. This time, it wouldn’t.

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