Posted on Diet, Obesity, Pain Management

A diet that helps the weighty battle with chronic pain

Chronic pain is a persistent and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While pain interventions are available, many individuals struggle without any treatment.

Recent research from the University of South Australia indicates that a healthy diet can alleviate the severity of chronic pain, providing an easy and accessible method for sufferers to manage their condition more effectively.

Researchers investigating the links between body fat, diet, and pain discovered that a higher intake of foods aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines was significantly associated with lower body pain levels, particularly among women.

Significantly, these findings were not influenced by a person’s weight, indicating that a healthy diet can help alleviate chronic pain, regardless of body composition.

Approximately 30% of the global population experiences chronic pain.

Women experience higher rates of chronic pain, as do those who are overweight or obese.

UniSA PhD researcher Sue Ward states that the study demonstrates how modifiable factors, such as diet, can help manage and alleviate chronic pain.

“It’s common knowledge that eating well is good for your health and wellbeing. But knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain could be life-changing,” Ward says.

“In our study, higher consumption of core foods – your vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, dairy and alternatives – was related to less pain, regardless of body weight.

Being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for chronic pain.

Understanding that food choices and diet quality enhance health and reduce pain is invaluable.

Notably, the findings suggest that diet quality affects pain differently in men and women.

“Women with better diets, had lower pain levels and better physical function. But this effect was much weaker for men,” Ward says.

“The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the healthier core food groups may be what reduces pain, but we can’t yet determine whether poorer diet quality leads to more pain, or if pain leads to eating a poorer quality diet.

“A healthy, nutritious diet brings multiple health, wellbeing, and pain management benefits. And while personalised pain management strategies should be adopted, a healthy diet is an accessible, affordable, and effective way to manage and even reduce pain.”

Posted on Diabetes

Kumamoto University researchers discover groundbreaking antidiabetic compound

HPH-15: A Promising New Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

HPH-15 offers multiple benefits for managing Type 2 diabetes, including effective blood glucose control, reduced risk of lactic acidosis, improved insulin resistance, and suppression of fat buildup and fibrosis in the liver and fat tissue, with these effects observed in studies using muscle, liver, and fat tissue models. These properties make HPH-15 a potentially more effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Credit Hiroshi Tateishi, Eiichi Araki, Kumamoto University

Kumamoto University scientists have introduced a new compound, HPH-15, which effectively lowers blood glucose levels and reduces fat accumulation. This represents a significant advancement in diabetes treatment.

Type 2 diabetes, a condition affecting millions worldwide, is often accompanied by complications like fatty liver and insulin resistance, which challenge current treatment methods. The research team, led by Visiting Associate Professor Hiroshi Tateishi and Professor Eiichi Araki, has identified HPH-15 as a promising alternative to medications like metformin.

The study, published in Diabetologia, a top journal in the field of diabetes, demonstrates that HPH-15 outperforms metformin by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)—a critical protein regulating energy balance—at lower doses. HPH-15 not only improved glucose uptake in liver, muscle, and fat cells but also significantly reduced fat accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)- induced obese mice. Unlike metformin, HPH-15 exhibited additional antifibrotic properties, potentially addressing liver fibrosis and other complications often seen in diabetes patients.

Key findings include:

  • Enhanced Efficacy: HPH-15 activated AMPK and promoted glucose uptake at concentrations 200 times lower than metformin.
  • Fat Reduction: The compound decreased subcutaneous fat by 44% and mitigated fatty liver more effectively than metformin in preclinical trials.
  • Safety Profile: Lactic acid production, a concern with metformin, was comparable or lower with HPH-15, suggesting reduced risks of lactic acidosis.

These results suggest that HPH-15 could redefine diabetes management by combining glucose control with preventing obesity-related complications. “This compound holds transformative potential for diabetes treatment, offering benefits beyond blood sugar regulation,” said Professor Mikako Fujita from the Faculty of Life Sciences at Kumamoto University.

Posted on Pain Management

Living With Chronic Pain: Practical Advice for Newly Diagnosed Patients

Image via Pexels

Receiving a diagnosis that involves chronic pain can be a life-altering moment, filled with uncertainties and challenges. As you begin this new chapter, understanding how to manage your condition effectively is crucial for maintaining your quality of life. This article from Patient Talk aims to provide practical advice and support to those navigating this difficult journey, covering everything from medical treatments to lifestyle adjustments.

Understanding Your Condition

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to managing chronic pain. Start by fully understanding your specific condition, which can empower you and reduce any anxiety related to the unknown.

  • Consult Specialists: Regular appointments with healthcare providers who specialize in your condition can provide tailored advice and treatment plans.
  • Educate Yourself: Read up on your condition through reputable sources such as healthcare websites, books, and patient advocacy groups.
  • Join Support Groups: Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can provide emotional support and practical advice.

Medical Management Strategies

Effective medical management is essential in the treatment of chronic pain. Your healthcare provider can guide you through various options to find what works best for you. It is important to maintain open communication with your provider to tailor your treatment plan as your needs evolve.

  • Regular Medical Reviews: Keep in touch with your healthcare provider to adjust your pain management plan as needed.
  • Pain Medications: Explore both over-the-counter and prescription medications under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
  • Physical Therapy: Engage in physical therapy to enhance mobility, decrease pain, and improve your quality of life.

Alternative Pain Relief Methods

Exploring alternative treatments can enhance your primary medical therapies, providing holistic benefits and potential relief. Integrating these methods may improve overall well-being and contribute to more effective pain management.

  • Acupuncture and Massage: These therapies can help reduce pain and muscle tension, promoting relaxation.
  • Mind-Body Techniques: Yoga, meditation, and tai chi can increase body awareness and decrease the overall perception of pain.
  • Shockwave Therapy: The benefits of shockwave therapy machines are used to stimulate healing in injured tissues, often used for conditions like tendonitis or other musculoskeletal issues.

Lifestyle Modifications

Adjusting your daily habits and lifestyle is crucial for managing chronic pain. Even small changes can significantly enhance your overall well-being. Consistently applying these changes can lead to long-term improvements in pain management and quality of life.

  • Diet and Nutrition: Focus on a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods that can help manage inflammation, a common cause of pain.
  • Exercise Regularly: Low-impact activities such as swimming, walking, or cycling can help keep the joints flexible and muscles strong without exacerbating pain.
  • Quality Sleep: Prioritize getting a good night’s sleep, as poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity.

Mental and Emotional Health

Chronic pain is not just a physical challenge; it affects your mental and emotional health as well. Managing these aspects is essential for a holistic approach to pain management.

Living with chronic pain may require significant adjustments, but with the right strategies and support, it is manageable. By understanding your condition, engaging with both medical and alternative treatments, modifying your lifestyle, and taking care of your mental health, you can lead a fulfilling life despite the challenges. Remember, you are not alone in this journey; support is available, and improvements are possible. Embrace the resources around you and allow yourself patience as you navigate this new part of your life.

Posted on Fatigue

Immune T cells become exhausted in chronic fatigue patients

Self-help tips to fight fatigue

According to a new Cornell University study, chronic fatigue syndrome creates conditions where pathogen-killing immune T cells become exhausted.

The study’s authors were aware that the immune system is dysregulated in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Still, they sought to identify which specific components were affected by the condition. Through a systematic exploration, they discovered that key CD8+ T cells exhibited one of the most significant signs of dysregulation. These cells showed evidence of continuous stimulation, which ultimately leads to an exhausted state—a phenomenon that has been extensively studied in cancer.

“This is an important discovery for ME/CFS because it allows us to examine T cells more closely. By investigating the exhausted cells, we hope to gain insights into what they are responding to,” said Andrew Grimson, a professor of molecular biology and co-corresponding author of the study. Maureen Hanson, a molecular biology and genetics professor, is the corresponding author.

“Therapies have been developed to reverse T cell exhaustion as treatments for cancer,” Hanson stated. “Our findings raise the question of whether these anti-exhaustion drugs could also be beneficial for ME/CFS.”

Hanson added that there is strong evidence for T cell exhaustion in ME/CFS, which has also been observed in long COVID.

“According to Hanson, immune cells from patients with ME/CFS showed elevated levels of surface proteins that are typical of exhausted cells. This exhaustion can result from prolonged exposure to a viral protein or ongoing stimulation of the immune system, a condition also observed in cancer patients.”

Future work will try to determine whether a virus is involved, which is currently not known. “We need to understand what is pushing them to this exhausted state,” Grimson said.

The team also plans to take cells from patients and controls, purify those cells, treat patients with drugs that reverse exhaustion, and see if the immune cells resume normal function. If CD8+ T cell exhaustion can be reversed, the next question is whether such reversal benefits a patient, as exhaustion can have protective qualities.

Posted on autoimmune conditions, Diabetes

Engineered immune cells may be able to tame inflammation

Immune cells that are designed to soothe could improve treatment for organ transplants, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions.
Immune cells designed to soothe could improve treatment for organ transplants, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions.

When the immune system overreacts and begins attacking the body, the only option may be to suppress the entire system, potentially risking infections or cancer.

Scientists at UC San Francisco have discovered a more precise method to regulate the immune system.

The technology uses engineered T cells that act as immune “referees” to soothe overreacting immune responses. They also can mop up inflammatory molecules. 

The new approach could prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs and tissues, such as pancreatic islet cells, sometimes used to treat type 1 diabetes. Thus, recipients would not need to take harsh immunosuppressant drugs.

“This technology has the potential to restore balance to the immune system,” said Wendell Lim, PhD, a cellular and molecular pharmacology professor at UCSF and co-senior author of the paper published on December 5 in *Science*. “We view it as a potential platform for addressing various types of immune dysfunction.”

Lim and his colleagues were inspired by “suppressor” cells, the immune system’s natural brakes. They wanted to use suppressor cells to temper immune responses, such as inflammation.

Unfortunately, suppressor cells can’t always stop a dangerous immune response. In type 1 diabetes, for example, the immune system destroys pancreatic islet cells while these suppressor cells stand by. 

The team adapted the suppressor cells’ anti-inflammatory abilities to work in CD4 immune cells, the same cells that are used to make cancer-killing CAR T cells. They also gave these cells a molecular sensor to guide them to their target tissue in the body.

Proof of principle in type 1 diabetes 

The scientists tailored a batch of immune referees to search for human pancreatic islet cells and then produce TGF-Beta and CD25, molecules that can muzzle killer T cells.

They introduced the engineered referee cells into mice that had received a transplant of human islet cells, modelling the treatment for type 1 diabetes.

The referee cells found the vulnerable islet cells and stopped the killer T cells from attacking, and the islet cells survived.

“It would be life-changing for people with type 1 diabetes if they could get new islet cells without needing to take immunosuppressants and stop having to take insulin every day,” said Audrey Parent, PhD, associate professor in the UCSF Diabetes Center and a co-senior author of the paper.

Lim envisions a future in which organ transplant patients, or those with autoimmune diseases, receive therapies that only treat the specific regions of the body where the immune system is misbehaving. 

This could prevent the significant side effects from general immunosuppressants and the infections and cancers that arise when the immune system is disabled completely.

The new technology could also be used to fine-tune CAR T cell therapies for cancer so that these cells only attack tumors and not healthy tissue.