Health
Injectable, radioactive gel synergizes with chemotherapy to shrink pancreatic tumors
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer—in the U.S., it is estimated that over 88 percent of people will die from the disease within five years of their diagnosis.
Preclinical study led to unprecedented results in mouse models
The preclinical treatment regimen evaluated in this study. The radioactive biopolymer (131I-ELP, where ELP stands for elastin-like polypeptide) is injected into the pancreatic tumor, and the radiosensitizing chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel is delivered systemically.
« Injectable, radioactive gel synergizes with chemotherapy to shrink pancreatic tumors
Newswise — Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer—in the U.S., it is estimated that over 88 percent of people will die from the disease within five years of their diagnosis. One reason for this bleak prognosis is that the majority of pancreatic cancers are diagnosed after the disease has already spread, or metastasized, to other parts of the body. Another reason is that pancreatic cancers are particularly challenging to treat, as these tumors are often resistant to standard anti-cancer drugs.
NIBIB-funded researchers are developing a new method to treat this lethal disease. Their study, recently published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, combined an injectable radioactive gel with systemic chemotherapy in multiple mouse models of pancreatic cancer. The treatment resulted in tumor regression in all their evaluated models, an unprecedented result for this genetically diverse and aggressive type of cancer.
“Radiation treatments are typically delivered externally, which exposes healthy tissue to radiation and limits the dose that a tumor receives, ultimately limiting its effectiveness,” said David Rampulla, Ph.D., director of the division of Discovery Science & Technology at NIBIB. “The radioactive biomaterial investigated in this preclinical study can be injected directly into the tumor, allowing for a localized approach. What’s more, this biodegradable biomaterial allows for higher cumulative radiation doses than other implantable radiation treatments.”
Brachytherapy—where a radiation source is placed inside the body—can be used to treat several different types of cancer. Early-stage prostate cancer, for example, can be treated with ‘seed’ brachytherapy, where many tiny metal seeds that contain a radioactive substance are implanted into the prostate. While these seeds can limit healthy tissues’ exposure to radiation, their metal casing prevents the use of potent radiation particles, known as alpha and beta emitters, which are more effective at killing cancer cells. Additionally, due to their small size, around 100 seeds are typically needed for prostate cancer treatment (with each individual seed requiring an injection). To date, brachytherapy approaches have not improved clinical outcomes among patients with pancreatic cancer.
The current study is investigating a new type of brachytherapy. Instead of delivering radiation using a metal seed or a catheter, the study authors are investigating the use of a radioactive biopolymer that is injected directly into the tumor. In addition to being biodegradable, the biopolymer has a unique property—it has been engineered to transition from a liquid at room temperature to a gel-like state when warmed to body temperature. As the biopolymer solidifies, it stays within the tumor, and can’t easily spread into surrounding healthy tissues.
“Our biopolymer is derived from elastin, an abundant protein that it is found in the connective tissues throughout our bodies,” explained first author Jeff Schaal, Ph.D., who conducted this work at Duke University. “By tinkering with the composition of this biopolymer, we can control the exact temperature where it transitions from a liquid to a gel. And because we’re not encasing the radioactive polymer within a protective metal seed, we can use different—and more potent—isotopes, allowing us to deliver a higher radiation dose than conventional seed brachytherapy.”
The radioactive isotope used in this proof-of-concept treatment is iodine-131 (or I-131), which releases high-energy particles known as beta particles. Beta particles cause DNA damage and kill irradiated cells, but they can’t travel very far—only a few millimeters (so off-target toxicity is limited). I-131 has been used to treat thyroid cancer for decades and has a well-established safety profile, said Schaal.
Pancreatic cancer is sometimes treated with a combination of radiation and specific chemotherapeutic agents that make the radiation more effective. These ‘radiosensitizing’ drugs work by prolonging the cell’s replication process—specifically when its DNA is exposed, Schaal explained. The exposed DNA is more sensitive to radiation and is more likely to be irreparably damaged by it, which ultimately results in cell death.
In combination with a radiosensitizing chemotherapeutic known as paclitaxel, the study authors evaluated their radioactive biopolymer in several different pancreatic cancer models, carefully selected to reflect different aspects of pancreatic cancer (e.g., common mutations, tumor characteristics, tumor density, or treatment resistance). Among all the models tested, nearly every mouse responded, meaning the tumors either shrunk or completely vanished. “The response rates that we saw in our models were unprecedented,” said Schaal. “After a thorough review of the literature, we have yet to find another treatment regimen that demonstrates such a robust response in multiple and genetically diverse models of pancreatic cancer.” Further, in some mice, the tumors never returned during the course of the study.
When the study authors evaluated a current clinical treatment regimen—paclitaxel plus external beam radiation—the response rates weren’t nearly as impressive: Tumor growth rate was only inhibited, instead of tumors shrinking or vanishing. “Unlike external beam radiation, which is given in short bursts, our brachytherapy approach delivers radiation continuously,” explained Schaal. “We found that this continuous beta-particle radiation altered the microenvironment of the tumor and allowed paclitaxel to better penetrate into the tumor core, allowing for a synergistic therapeutic effect.”
Importantly, the researchers did not observe any acute toxicity issues during the course of their study, with negligible amounts of radioactivity accumulating in critical organs in the mice. They have previously reported that their radioactive biopolymer safely biodegrades—with the half-life of the gel (roughly 95 days) far outlasting the half-life of I-131 (roughly eight days).
The authors did not evaluate their treatment in metastatic disease, but the nature of their approach would allow for biopolymer injections in multiple locations, such as tumor masses in other organs. And while this study remains in the preclinical stage, the study authors are working to move this treatment forward. “Our group has been partnering with clinical researchers to develop and optimize our system for endoscope-guided delivery in a larger animal model,” said senior author Ashutosh Chilkoti, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. “The challenge however of taking this—or any new treatment—to patients is finding the support to take it through clinical trials.”
This study was supported by a grant from NIBIB (R01EB000188) and a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI; grant R35CA197616).
This Science Highlight describes a basic research finding. Basic research increases our understanding of human behavior and biology, which is foundational to advancing new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Science is an unpredictable and incremental process—each research advance builds on past discoveries, often in unexpected ways. Most clinical advances would not be possible without the knowledge of fundamental basic research.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36261625/
Source: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
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(Family Features) Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, around 75% do not have it under control, and many may not even realize they have it unless they experience other complications.
De hecho, la hipertensión es una de las principales causas y un factor de riesgo controlable de enfermedades cardíacas y accidentes cerebrovasculares, así como de otros problemas, como insuficiencia renal, pérdida de la visión y problemas sexuales. Sin embargo, la Asociación Americana del Corazón recomienda seguir estos sencillos pasos para ayudar a controlar sus niveles y manejar los riesgos.
1. Conozca sus números
En la mayoría de los casos, la presión arterial normal es de 120/80 mm HG o menos. Las lecturas consistentemente superiores a 130/80 se consideran presión arterial alta. Pida a un profesional de la salud que le mida la presión arterial al menos una vez al año y contrólela regularmente en su casa con un monitor validado y luego discuta las lecturas con su médico. Obtener lecturas precisas puede ayudar a garantizar el tratamiento más adecuado en caso de que surja algún problema.
2. Mantenga un peso saludable
Si tiene sobrepeso u obesidad, tiene un mayor riesgo de hipertensión. Perder solo el 3-5% de su peso corporal puede ayudar a mejorar sus números. Hay una gran cantidad de planes y programas disponibles que pueden ayudar con la pérdida de peso, y tomar medidas positivas con un amigo o familiar puede ayudar con la motivación.
3. Manténgase activo
Para maximizar los beneficios para la salud y ayudar a mantener la presión arterial en el rango normal, la Asociación Americana del Corazón recomienda que los adultos realicen al menos 150 minutos por semana de actividad moderada, 75 minutos de actividad intensa o una combinación de ambas. Pruebe actividades como caminar a paso ligero, nadar, montar en bicicleta o bailar. Por ejemplo, la campaña Get Down with Your Blood Pressure usa música y baile para ayudar a recordar los cuatro sencillos pasos para autocontrolarse la presión arterial:
- Tómelo: tome su dispositivo de autocontrol de la presión arterial (SMBP, por sus siglas en inglés)
- Deslícelo: deslice el brazalete SMBP hacia arriba de su brazo
- Envuélvalo: envuelva el brazalete cómodamente, pero no demasiado apretado
- Compruébelo: compruebe su presión arterial en el dispositivo
4. Aliméntese bien
Hacer cambios pequeños y simples en sus hábitos alimenticios puede ser de gran ayuda para que usted y su familia se mantengan saludables. Comer frutas y verduras, como mangos, aguacates y arándanos, puede reducir la presión arterial con el tiempo. Otras opciones inteligentes incluyen frutos secos y semillas, cereales integrales, proteínas magras y pescado.
5. Disminuya el consumo de alcohol y tabaco
Fumar agrava los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades cardíacas, como la presión arterial alta y la diabetes, y las sustancias químicas del humo del tabaco pueden dañar el corazón y los vasos sanguíneos. Asimismo, el consumo excesivo de alcohol (más de dos copas al día) se asocia con la hipertensión arterial. Limitar el consumo de alcohol y dejar de fumar, o evitar el humo de segunda mano, puede ayudar a reducir el riesgo.
Si desarrolla hipertensión, trabaje con un profesional de la salud para controlarla y visite heart.org/hbpcontrol para encontrar recursos locales para la presión arterial, videos de autocontrol paso a paso y más.
Control de su presión arterial en el hogar
Es importante saber cómo controlar correctamente su presión arterial, especialmente si su médico recomienda un autocontrol regular en casa.
- Quédese quieto. No fume, tome cafeína ni haga ejercicio durante los 30 minutos antes de medir su presión arterial. Vacíe su vejiga y tómese al menos 5 minutos de descanso tranquilo antes de medir.
- Siéntese correctamente. Siéntese con la espalda recta y apoyada. Mantenga los pies apoyados en el suelo y las piernas sin cruzar. Apoye su brazo sobre una superficie plana, como una mesa, con su bíceps al nivel del corazón. Coloque la parte inferior del brazalete directamente sobre el pliegue de su codo. Nunca tome medidas sobre las mangas u otra ropa.
- Mida a la misma hora todos los días. Para una mayor consistencia, tome lecturas a la misma hora todos los días, por ejemplo, a una hora determinada por la mañana y por la noche.
- Tome varias lecturas y registre los resultados. Cada vez que mida, tome 2-3 lecturas con aproximadamente 1 minuto de diferencia y registre los resultados para compartirlos con su médico.
Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo de acuerdos cooperativos (CPIMP211227 y CPIMP211228) con la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías (OMH) del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS) de EE. UU., como parte de una asignación de asistencia financiera por un total de $14.6 millones de dólares en colaboración con la Administración de Recursos y Servicios de Salud (HRSA). El contenido no necesariamente representa las opiniones oficiales de la OMH, la OASH, el HHS ni del Gobierno de EE. UU., ni estos organismos respaldan dicho contenido. Para obtener mayor información, visita https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/.
Fotografías cortesía de Getty Images
SOURCE:
American Heart Association
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Family
5 consejos para la salud del corazón para las fiestas
La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
(Family Features) La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
De hecho, las alegrías de la temporada pueden estropearse para muchos, ya que las investigaciones muestran un aumento en los eventos cardíacos y las muertes por ataques cardíacos durante la última semana de diciembre. Según un estudio publicado en la revista de la American Heart Association, “Circulation”, ocurren más muertes por problemas cardíacos el 25 de diciembre que cualquier otro día del año, seguidas por el segundo número más grande el 26 de diciembre y el tercero el 1 de enero.
“Las vacaciones son un momento ajetreado, a menudo estresante, para muchos de nosotros”, dijo Mitchell S.V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, director de ciencias clínicas de la American Heart Association. “Las rutinas se interrumpen. Es posible que tendamos a comer y beber más y a hacer menos ejercicio y relajarnos menos. Dormimos muy poco y experimentamos demasiado estrés. Si bien no sabemos exactamente por qué hay más ataques cardíacos mortales durante este tiempo, es importante tener en cuenta que estos factores pueden incrementarse, aumentando el riesgo de un evento cardíaco mortal”.
Ser consciente de este fenómeno anual y tomar algunas medidas importantes y saludables para el corazón puede ayudar a salvar vidas. Considere estos consejos del Dr. Elkind y los expertos de la American Heart Association.
- Conozca los síntomas y tome medidas. Los signos de un ataque cardíaco varían en hombres y mujeres, pero es importante reconocerlos temprano y llamar al 9-1-1 para obtener ayuda. Cuanto antes comience el tratamiento médico, mayores serán las posibilidades de supervivencia y de prevención del daño cardíaco.
- Celebre con moderación. Comer saludablemente durante las fiestas no tiene por qué significar privarse. Hay maneras de comer de manera inteligente, como limitar la ingesta de sodio y buscar pequeños intercambios saludables para que continúe sintiéndose lo mejor posible mientras come y bebe con moderación.
- Practique la buena voluntad hacia sí mismo. Tómese un tiempo para cuidarse durante esta temporada ajetreada. Leer un libro favorito, meditar o incluso jugar con mascotas son formas productivas de reducir el estrés de las interacciones familiares, las finanzas tensas, los horarios agitados, los viajes y otros factores estresantes que pueden provocar las vacaciones.
- Siga moviéndose. El ajetreo y el bullicio de la preparación para las fiestas a menudo deja de lado el ejercicio, pero es importante mantenerse activo tanto como sea posible. Sea creativo para mantenerse en movimiento dando un paseo familiar o jugando juegos físicamente activos con sus seres queridos.
- Tome sus medicamentos. Los horarios ocupados pueden hacer que algunas personas se salten los medicamentos, a veces incluso los olvidan en casa o no renuevan las recetas a tiempo. Trate de usar un cuadro de medicamentos como recordatorio y asegúrese de controlar los números de su presión arterial.
Descubra más formas de vivir una vida saludable para el corazón durante las fiestas y durante todo el año en heart.org.
Foto cortesía de Getty Images
SOURCE:
American Heart Association
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fitness
Scaling Back: 5 ways to manage your weight
For many people who wish to work toward a healthier weight, one of the greatest obstacles is figuring out where to begin.
(Family Features) For many people who wish to work toward a healthier weight, one of the greatest obstacles is figuring out where to begin.
These tips from SlimFast consultant and registered dietitian Maryann Walsh show it doesn’t take a drastic lifestyle overhaul to make an impact.
Eat Mindfully
Many people who struggle with their weight benefit from being more conscious about what they’re eating and why. For example, consider your eating habits, such as eating even when you’re not hungry whether that’s because it’s mealtime and you think you should eat, you’re satisfying a craving or using a tasty snack to cope with stress.
Recognizing why you’re eating is an important step toward correcting destructive eating patterns, but so is paying attention to the other details of the eating experience, including what you eat and how it makes you feel. Ultimately, this may allow you to choose healthier foods that nourish your body for the long-term, rather than the brief satisfaction that comes with less nutritious choices.
Consider Intermittent Fasting
One weight-loss method many people find success using is intermittent fasting, which involves abstaining from all food and beverages for a specified time period each day or week. While going too long without food can sometimes lead to excess hunger then overeating later, in shorter, controlled fasting timeframes one can often more easily achieve a caloric deficit, which is required for weight loss.
Prepare for your fasting phase by choosing foods that support satiety. Options like SlimFast’s Intermittent Fasting line of meal bars and protein shakes can help avoid a sense of deprivation with tasty flavors like the Vanilla Cupcake Snack Shake Mix and Vanilla Almond Crunch Complete Meal Bar. The shake mixes deliver 15 grams of slow-digesting protein, compared to whey protein, to help curb hunger, along with more than 20 vitamins and minerals. The meal bars clock in with 15 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.
Manage Stress
When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, which also raises insulin and can drive hunger and trigger cravings for comfort foods. In fact, that’s the very reason people tend to overeat when they’re under pressure. Light exercise and meditative practices can help you manage your mental strain. You might also consider talk therapy with a friend or professional or spend time unwinding with a book or music.
Get Proper Sleep
Poor sleep habits affect your weight in numerous ways. One is that when you’re feeling tired, your hunger and satiety hormones, ghrelin and leptin, can be affected, leading to an increase in caloric intake and subsequent weight gain. Additionally, when you’re tired, you’re more likely to take shortcuts like skipping workouts or opting for unhealthy convenience foods. All are reasons to make better rest a bigger priority.
Track Eating and Exercise
When you’re not paying attention to what you eat and how you move, you may not even realize how your habits are affecting your health. Logging what you eat, especially if you use a tool like an app that helps you see the nutrition breakdown, may give you a clearer idea of the quality and quantity of your intake. Similarly, when you’re specifically writing down the time you’re committing to physical activity, you’ll find it easier to identify patterns and pinpoint where you can make adjustments to increase your exercise.
Visit SlimFast.com to find more resources on weight management and intermittent fasting.
3 Tips for Intermittent Fasting
If you’re new to the idea of intermittent fasting, these tips can help you find greater success so you can see results.
- Pace yourself. Make a gradual transition so your body gets used to going without food for shorter periods of time before you work up to extended fasting periods.
- Stay hydrated. Avoid confusing thirst for hunger by upping your fluid intake. Staying hydrated and energized while you fast helps keep fatigue and brain fog at bay. Options like fruit-flavored SlimFast Intermittent Fasting Energizing Hydration Supplement Drink Mix won’t break your fast and can help you add variety as a flavorful alternative to water. They can provide the energy and focus you need between meals and are perfect for those who feel groggy or run-down while fasting.
- Set goals. Know what you want to achieve and why, so your “why” can keep motivating you to follow your intermittent fasting plan even when you’re tempted to quit.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images (woman and man exercising)
SOURCE:
SlimFast
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