Creating a carrier peptide for the treatment of brain diseases

     Researchers have found many ideal drugs to treat diseases of the central nervous system, but at the end they are being discarded. This is because these drugs are not able to cross the blood brain barrier that protects the brain. As a consequence the concern of creating a molecule able to cross the cellular barrier and transport the molecules to the brain arose. This triggered the creation of a "vehicle" built from amino acids. They are the building blocks of proteins which confer to the cell structure the transportation and storage of nutrients. With this innovation that was created from amino acids, it is expected to facilitate the treatment of brain diseases which they have not yet been able to find the cellular barrier that hinders the introduction of molecules to the brain.

     A team of chemists at IRB Barcelona developed the small peptide with 12 amino acids "vehicle". Along with other researchers, they are looking for a more aggressive treatment for brain cancer in adults (glioblastoma), an inherited neurodegenerative disease (Friedreich's ataxia) and soon they will work for a type of childhood brain cancer. This "vehicle" has the advantage of lasting a period of 12-24 hours in the blood, it does not cause the immune system response and its toxicity is low. The leader of this research, Meritxell Teixidó says that 20% of humanity will need at some point in their lives a treatment directed to the brain. This major project would also lead to many pharmaceutical industries to "fish" efficient molecules to feed into the "vehicle" of amino acids to treat a brain disease.

Amino acids in a primary protein structure. 

     This innovation has been patented by the authors of this "vehicle", to ensure possible future developments with this application ... With this innovation it is clear that every day new doors open for treatment of countless diseases that have failed to be confronted. The support they give each other as institutions is helping the daily advances, as this is an essential part of a job for everyone. 

Credits:

http://www.aminoacido.eu/aminoacidos/que-son-los-aminoacidos.html

http://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/Una-ambulancia-peptidica-supera-la-barrera-que-impide-a-los-farmacos-llegar-al-cerebro

Images:

http://thecapitalpost.com/images/brain-381.jpg

http://biology.drupalgardens.com/media/31/download/amino-acid-structure.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Protein_primary_structure.svg/2000px-Protein_primary_structure.svg.png

Anti-inflammatory properties of compounds of microalgae

Seaweeds

     It is common that our body becomes inflamed due to an infection, this being a reddish stain which causes pain when touched. This inflammation is caused by increased blood in the affected area, which may be caused by internal or external factors. According to Robert Menendez in the article Seaweeds as source of new anti-inflammatory agents, "Inflammation is a necessary process by which the body rejects several harmful stimuli. Unfortunately, in some circumstances inflammation markedly persists without attaining its foremost objective and then inflammatory cells and mediators inundate organ systems. In consequence, inflammation is transformed in a pathological process that damages normal host cells contributing to a development of several diseases. Under these circumstances, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended to ameliorate this injurious process. ". To alleviate the inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and steroides are used, but its harmful effects have opened the doors to other anti-inflammatory methods. Within that, it was found the efficient response of microalgae as an antiinflammatory agent.

Cultivation of Microalgae 

     Microalgae are microscopic photosynthetic organisms (2-200μ). They have a wide application in the energy, food and pharmaceutical industry. An important property is that they are able to reduce or eliminate inflammation. There are several types of algae: red, brown, green, yellow, blue green and brown. The anti-inflammatory properties of seaweed varies with the components of each classification of algae. For example, the marine red algae has components that are able to reduce inflammation in the brain cortex and obstruct the damaging effects of inflammation in the brain. The group has evaluated FARMOLAP compounds isolated from microalgae to confirm the anti-inflammatory responses in tested models. These compounds have demonstrated an ability to prevent diseases like cancer caused by inflammatory processes in the gut or skin. The use of these compounds has been patented by the University of Seville, the ITC and the BTM company. It is expected to rise this patent pharmaceutical development in preventing colon cancer or skin, or to prevent relapse.

Microalgae

     This news shows the progress pharmacology can have if the effect of the components of microalgae in cancer prevention as shown. The prevention and cure of cancer is one of the most expected treatments to be found around the world.

    In this video you will see some species of algae and the cultivation of them. 

Video retrieved from:  CNR National Research Institute and ISE- Institute of Ecosystem Study.

Credits:
http://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/Encuentran-propiedades-antiinflamatorias-en-compuestos-de-microalgas
http://whatwhyguide.com/salud/medicina-alternativa/propiedades-antiinflamatorias-de-algas.php
http://ama.redciencia.cu/articulos/19.06.pdf
Images:
https://www.ecuacionnatural.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/algas-marinas.jpg
http://www.alimentarnos.com/media/mediacontent/post/image/png/micro%20algas.png
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZVDul9XGztv8YTiSmhr0pP4_mR9Px6yaG6rmM3T0BbuqRrr48Hw
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldGz8kJEMk0

Drug treatment to reduce obesity

     Researchers at the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have shown that partial pharmacological inhibition of PI3K enzyme reduces body weight and physiological manifestations of metabolic syndrome, particulary in diabetes and hepatic steatosis (fatty liver). This experiment was conducted with obese mice and monkeys, which showed no side effects or toxicity. The PI3K enzyme is responsible for achieving balance in the production of cellular and biochemical components of cell nutrients spending. The enzime favors and induces cell division and growth and ultimately can  cause cancer. That is why many cancer researchers have worked with the intention of finding a drug that inhibits this enzyme to find a treatment for cancer.

     To test the effect of this enzyme the researchers administered small samples of inhibitor  CNIO-PI3ki to obese mice over a period of five months. After two months, the mice had lost 20% of their body mass. Afterwards their weight remained stable, following a high-fat diet. Another effect was the improvement of physiological symptoms and hepatic steatosis. Elena Lopez, from CNIO, explains that steady weight loss is very dangerous in obesity cases, so it is expected to achieve an alteration in the balance between undertaking and spending of nutrient, favoring the spending of energy. 

     If through more research, they are able to find a way to alter the balance of nutrients encouraging spending, it will be of great help to the obesity problem which most of the Americans face. This problem is due to several factors, one being genetic heritage. It is often difficult to work with and achieve a decrease in obesity because the body needs to store nutrients. That is why this treatment would be of great impact, because there are many people who will benefit from it. Furthermore, not only obesity reduces, this will reduce diabetes. This is a disease that just like obesity, affects a large portion of the American population. It is caused when the body can not regulate sugar levels in the blood, which is treated with a strict and rigid diet. There are three types of diabetes: diabetes type I, diabetes type II and gestational diabetes, which have very harmful effects on the health of the individual. Type I diabetes can not be prevented, however, type II diabetes can be prevented or delayed if you have a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
    For the previously mentioned reasons and many others, we hope we can find an efficient treatment for reducing obesity among the population. Like diabetes there are many more diseases that are caused by obesity. Meanwhile we should promote the correct nutrition in the busy lifestyle of people, since  malnutrition has a big effect due to the time factor.

Video retrived from: https://youtu.be/NjpzSDa7Wro

Credits:

http://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/Un-tratamiento-farmacologico-reduce-la-obesidad-en-ratones-y-monos

Images:

http://i1.wp.com/clinicadenutricionbiodieta.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/raton.jpg
http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/reference_guide/prescription_weight_loss_drugs_ref_guide/375x321_prescription_weight_loss_drugs_ref_guide.jpg

Two ways of a more confident handling of pills

Weekly Pill Organizer- Moments of the day

     Many of us have a medicine cabinet in our bathroom, where we store all medications we have needed, so over time it fills more and more of medicines. We also have the medicines we take daily, either for the treatment of a medical condition or simply to supplement our daily diet with the necessary vitamins. Usually, if more than two daily medications need to be ingested, which should not be forgotten, the most convenient way is to use a "Weekly pill organizer". With this organizer we can place the medicines that we need in the days and hours that we must take them. This way, we keep track  of the consumption of our medications. Sometimes we have our personal agenda so full and we forget certain things like taking our medicine. For this reason it is recommended to store this pill organizer in a place where you can easily look at, afor example, the kitchen, which we visit several times a day.

     When we plan a trip we want to take the least amount of items, so we pack our pills in small bags or we use these pills organizers staples on a trip. In my case, to save space in the kit, my mother discarded packaging of medicines and puts them altogether in a bag inside their plastic packaging, which does not identify the drug, only the active ingredients and some warnings. This makes my life complicated when I am going to get an allergy pill and I do not know how to difference it from the headache pills.

    Technology always thinks in us. That's why the platform www.drugs.com created a pill identifier. How does it work?... it consists of only three easy steps to identify a pill.

   1) Identify the enumeration in the tablet, the color and the shape thereof. (As shown in image #x)

(Note: All Rx and OTC drugs in the US are required by the FDA to Have an imprint If your pill has no imprint it Could Be a vitamin, diet / herbal / energy pill, illicit drug or foreign...)

   

   
2) Go to: http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php.Then write the information of the tablet in the search.

   3) Compare the tablet with the picture illustrated to ensure that the appearance is similar and you get it!

Weekly Pill Organizer 

     These two tools will help us to not forget to take a dose of a pill and keep track of what we take. With the "Weekly pill organizer" we make sure we organize our drugs in the hours or days corresponding, depending on our necessities. In case you forget if you took the dosis or not, you have the security of verifying if the pills stay in the organizer. On the other hand, if we have problems identifying the name of a pill we have the facility to access a pill finder to submit the information of the pill and know the name, active ingredients and other important information about the identity of the pill. Using these tools helps us verify our medicines before consuming them, thus preventing an accident from an equivocal dose or ingesting a double dose of the same medicine by mistake.

Credits:
http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php
Images from:
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/68/55/72/0007685572069_500X500.jpg
http://www.oncallinternational.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Pills.jpg
http://www.healthaccessories.com/sc_images/products/463_image.jpg