Scientists developed a 3D model of the brain’s marijuana receptor.

In an attempt to better comprehend how pot affects our body, a team of international researchers has created a 3D atomic-level image of the marijuana receptor in our brain. They also studied how weed’s active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)l is being activated in the brain.

When trying to understand how marijuana affects our bodies when consumed, researchers thought that creating a 3D model of the marijuana receptor would facilitate their work. However, the development process of the model presented several difficulties. Researchers struggled to create a crystal form of the marijuana receptor when it was bound to a stabilizing molecule which can block the functions of the receptor.

After some number of attempts, the scientists successfully recreated the crystal form of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). After analyzing it, they observed that the complex structure of the receptor has an underlying complicated and expansive binding network consisting of many sub-pockets and channels which connect to the various parts of the receptor.

According to the study, CB1 is part of a large class of receptors known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). They fulfill important roles in a high number of physiological functions. When certain external substances are bound to a GPCR, the G protein within the cell becomes active and creates a specialized cellular response. This reaction can be blocked using AM6538, the stabilizing molecule used on CB1. For this reason, scientists think that it can be a possible addiction treatment.

Researching the CB1 receptor might provide key insights on why certain THC molecules can cause complex and even adverse effects. The new 3D model of the marijuana receptor will help future research with the better understanding of the effects and drugs. It may even impact the creation of drugs from pain, obesity, inflammation, and more.

The study was led by several prominent researchers such as Zhi-Jie Liu, Laura Bohn, Raymond C. Stevens, and Alexandros Makryannis alongside other scientists. Their work was published in the journal Cell and attracted funding from several institutions like the GPCR Consortium, National Nature Science Foundation of China, the Shanghai Municipal Government, and more.

With marijuana gradually becoming a mainstream recreational drug, researchers, drug companies, and governments want to have a better understanding of how the drug affects people. For this reason, a high number of studies attempting to unravel its effects have been started.

Having hidden belly fat could worsen heart disease risk factors.

According to a recent study, having hidden belly fat could worsen heart disease risk factors. The findings proved that people who carry excessive abdomen fat also called ‘spare tire’ have a greater disease risk than those who have fat deposits in other parts of the body.

The US National Heart Lung and Blood Institute mentioned that how much fat one person has is as important as the density of the stomach fat, specifically the hidden fat from the belly area. Normally, the lower the fat density, the higher the fat deposits.

The senior researcher of the study, Caroline Fox, and a former analyst at the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute stated that a lower density fat and an increase in the amount of belly fat are linked to a greater disease risk factor.

1,106 adults from the Framingham Heart Study were analyzed using CT scans to examine the location, quality, and quantity of the abdominal fat. Participants were on average 45 years old, and 56 percent of them were men.

Specialists noted that the decreased fat density and increased fat located in the abdominal area were linked to a variation in the heart disease risk. Moreover, every extra pound of fat was associated with an increased hypertension, higher triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome.

Following the next six years of the monitoring period, adult participants gained on average a 45 percent visceral adipose fat also known as the fat inside the belly area and a 22 percent increase in subcutaneous adipose fat, which is fat under the skin.

However, the scientists mentioned that the study only revealed a link between cardiovascular disease and fat accumulated in the abdomen area and it does not mean that belly fat could indeed increase heart disease risk.

Today is the World Heart Day, and the World Heart Federation (WHF) is asking people to take action and transform the one in ten lives that are being taken prematurely because of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

CVD claims more than 17 million lives each year, and this makes it the leading cause of death globally. According to specialists, nearly 80 percent of premature deaths resulting from cardiovascular disease could be avoided.

WHF is asking governments and policymakers to implement reliable monitoring systems for CVD. Moreover, people could monitor their heart health by using the new Heart IQ Test to understand how ‘heart smart’ they are.

Image source: Wikipedia

Cord blood transplants are linked to a greater survival rate in Leukemia than other transplants

Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are known to save the lives of leukemia sufferers but finding an ideal donor could be a difficult task for most of the patients. When this is the case, alternative methods or umbilical cord blood could provide good results.

Recently, Dr. Filippo Milano, the lead author of the new research mentioned that cord-blood transplant should not be viewed as the last resort, as it is now. He states it must not be treated only as an alternative donor source.

Milano which is also the associate member of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center believes that the cord-blood transplant could have significant outcomes.

The current treatment for leukemia replaces through transplant the patient’s bone marrow. The complicated process firstly involves finding a family member who can donate stem cells or bone marrow and whose blood needs to suit the patient’s blood. Unfortunately, the study author says that more than 70 percent of leukemia sufferers do not find a compatible family member donor. The next recommendation from doctors is to find a compatible unrelated donor who will not be entirely compatible according to the physicians.

The study recommends the transplant of cord blood from the umbilical cord or placenta of newborns. Similar to stem cell or bone marrow transplants, a cord-blood transplant can provide stem cells that generate new blood. The best thing about this method is that recipients and cord-blood donors do not have to be entirely compatible.

Specialists analyzed 582 patients suffering from leukemia. Milano highlighted that if the patient did not have a compatible stem cell or bone marrow transplant available, his other choice was either an incompatible transplant from an unrelated donor or a cord blood transplant.

The findings showed that the survival rate after a cord blood transplant was similar to the ones after compatible transplants from unrelated donors. Moreover, patients who underwent a cord-blood transplant were proved to live longer that those who experienced stem cell or bone marrow transplants from unmatched, unrelated donors.

Milano admitted that the prices for the cord blood transplant could be higher because of the amount of blood required. However, he is confident that due to new technology that will decrease the amount of blood needed, the prices will significantly drop.

Although this method seems to surpass the other transplant therapies, researchers believe that more studies are needed to confirm the benefits of cord blood transplants.

Image source: vimeo

Ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy linked to the severity of autism symptoms

New research associates diagnostic ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy with the severity of autism symptoms in the fetus of the ones genetically liable to the condition.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disturbance characterized by weak social interaction, non-verbal and verbal communication, and limited and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice the signs of the disease in the first two years of their child’s development.

These symptoms develop gradually, although some children with autism approach their developmental milestones at a regular pace and then regress. Although autism is extremely heritable, scientists assume that both environmental and genetic factors as determinants.

Early behavioral or speech interventions can encourage children with autism gain self-care, communication, and social skills. In 2013, autism was estimated to affect more than 21.7 million people globally. It is proved to occur four to five times more frequently in boys than girls.

Specialists from the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Research Institute analyzed data from Simon’s Simplex Collection autism genetic repository which comprises samples from 2,644 families who have a kid with ASD and the information reported there could be a connection between exposure to diagnostic ultrasound.

Sara Webb, the lead author of the study from the University of Washington, mentioned that for kids with autism who have known genetic difficulties, ultrasound could be an environmental stressor that drives them to have worst consequences. Moreover, previous investigations revealed ultrasound exposure in-utero determined mice to display autistic-like symptoms.

Sara also stated that there is no proof right now to imply that ultrasound itself is a risk for autism. Nevertheless, it does insinuate that there are pregnancies, where the fetuses are defenseless.

According to instructions from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the diagnostic ultrasound must only be used for a medical requirement.

There has been a visible effort in understanding why there are so many children with autism and what is triggering this disease. Moreover, scientists are trying to figure out why are children suffering from autism so different from each other.

The study’s conclusions are associated to the first trimester of pregnancy; data from studying the impact of ultrasound on the third and second trimester revealed no link.

Image source: Pixabay