National Lipid Day- May 10

National Lipid Day-The purpose of the day is to bring awareness to Dyslipidemia., i.e. an abnormal amount of lipids in the bloodstream. This is often due to diet and lifestyle.  Dyslipidaemia is the major cause of cardiovascular disease.

Prolonged elevation of insulin levels can also lead to dyslipidemia. Likewise, increased levels of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) may cause dyslipidemia.

Dyslipidemia and is the major cause of Cardio Vascular Disease worldwide.  Preventative measures including health education, emphasis on the role of physical activity, diet, and timely visits to a doctor all aid in living a healthy life.

Strategies that can help include: 

• Doing at least 30 to 45 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week (eg a brisk walk)
• Modifying your diet, making sure you have a diet which contains:
• Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as wholegrain cereals
• A variety of protein sources including fish, lean meat and poultry, seafood, legumes, nuts and seeds
• Reduced fat dairy sources such as low-fat milk, cheeses and yoghurts
• Healthy fats such as avocados, olives and nuts.

World Haemophilia Day - April 17

World Hemophilia Day is an international awareness day for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. It is held annually on April 17, date of the birthday of Frank Schnabel, founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.

Hemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain. Bleeding into a joint can result in permanent damage while bleeding in the brain can result in long term headaches, seizures, or a decreased level of consciousness.

There are two types of hemophilia, both with the same symptoms:

Haemophilia A - factor VIII (8) deficiency

Haemophilia B - factor IX (9) deficiency

Common symptoms:

• Bruising easily
• More painful swelling and bruising and bleeding for longer after an injury than you would expect •
• Prolonged bleeding after medical or dental procedures or surgery
• Internal bleeding into muscles, joints, and organs 

How to treat Heart Diseases?

mTOR, a protein receives signals from cell division process through internal sensors that measures nutrients and energy supply and directs the cell to take action. These molecular switch studies were applied on heart disorders like overworked heart (enlarging).  It is also have applications in diabetes, kidney and lung disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.

The protein mTOR, stands for mechanistic target of rapamycin, is so important to normal cells yet also plays major roles in several diseases. It combines with other proteins to form a complex, the major one being known as mTORC1. Superiorly active mTORC1 is known to be bad for the heart and leads to damage and disease, and it is thought that having control over mTORC1 protein could effectively treat heart disease. Overworked hearts with too much active mTORC1 enlarge abnormally similar to body muscle that bulks up after carrying heavy weights.

There is another protein called Protein Kinase G, which protects heart tissue from damage and disease. The surprising discovery of scientists’ that is the protein kinase G blocked mTORC1, figured out the key regulator of mTORC1 called tuberin (dubbed TCS2 by researchers), which acts like an "antenna" for biochemical signals triggering or blocking cell growth, and regulating metabolism. Similar to many other proteins known to alter tuberin, Ranek found protein kinase G altered tuberin by adding phosphates to it, but in a previously unpredicted region that turned out to provide the sought after brake-like effect. Protein kinase G is also the target of drugs like sildenafil which is commonly known as Viagra.