heart disease tagged posts

Defensins, anti-microbial molecules essential to maintain healthy gut flora

Extra vitamin D can restore good bacteria in the gut, according to a study in mice, giving hope in the fight against risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. It is well known that a diet high in fat can trigger a metabolic syndrome, a group of symptoms that pose as risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. Scientists have now found vitamin D deficiency is necessary for this syndrome to progress in mice, with disturbances in gut bacteria.

If these findings can be validated in humans, sun bathing and vitamin D supplements may be feasible and affordable approaches to improve or even prevent metabolic syndrome...

Reductions in Atherogenic Lipids and Major Cardiovascular Events A Pooled Analysis of 10 ODYSSEY Trials Comparing Alirocumab With Control Credit: Imperial College London

Although previous studies have suggested lowering cholesterol levels may be associated with a lower risk of heart attack, recent evidence has questioned whether very low levels are beneficial.
In the latest study, led by scientists at Imperial College London, researchers analysed data from over 5,000 people taking part in cholesterol-lowering trials. These studies utilised a new therapy to reduce cholesterol to much lower levels than previously possible.

The scientists found that dropping cholesterol to the lowest level possible – to levels similar to those we were born with – reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke or fa...

Image: Carnitine, Choline, Cancer and Cholesterol: The TMAO Connection and how Resveratrol could be anti-atherosclerotic . NB. The concentration of TMAO in blood increases after consuming foods containing carnitine or lecithin if the bacteria that convert those substances to TMAO are present in the gut. High concentrations of carnitine are found in red meat, some energy drinks, and some dietary supplements; lecithin is found in soy, eggs, as an ingredient in processed food and is sold as a dietary supplement.

Resveratrol, found in red wine etc reduces the risk of heart disease by changing the gut microbiome, according to a new study by researchers from China...

Tom1 Modulates Binding of Tollip to Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate via a Coupled Folding and Binding Mechanism •Tollip TBD is a disordered domain that partially folds when bound to Tom1 GAT •Tom1 GAT also directly binds to the Tollip C2 domain •Binding of Tom1 to Tollip inhibits binding of Tollip to PtdIns(3)P •Tollip TBD plays a major role in Tom1’s inhibitory function

It has important implications for Rx of allergies, heart disease, cancer types. The discovery explains how 2 particular proteins, Tollip and Tom1, work together to contribute to the turnover of cell-surface receptor proteins that trigger inflammation...