Executive Health January 17, 2011, 06:00 EST text size: TTBlood Type O Associated With Less Risk for Heart Attack
Study finds gene that raises the danger and another, also tied to blood type, that might offer protectionBy Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have simultaneously discovered a gene that seems to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, while also noting that having the blood type O might guard against heart attack once arteries become clogged.
"Certain genes predispose to heart artery plaque build-up, whereas different genes lead to heart attack when you already have plaque build-up," said study author Dr. Muredach P. Reilly, an associate professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Institute of the University of Pennsylvania.
One of the more heart-protective genes also helps direct people to have type O blood, the team reported.
The study suggests the multifaceted relationship between genetics and cardiovascular health, Reilly said. "Not all genes for heart disease are equal and therefore have to be used differently in new treatments for heart disease and when assessing risk of heart disease," he said.
The report is published in the Jan. 15 online edition of The Lancet.
For the study, Reilly's team compared almost 13,000 people with coronary artery disease against almost 7,400 people who did not have the condition.
And to hone in on specific genes that might play a role in heart attacks, they compared about 5,800 people with coronary artery disease who had had a heart attack with more than 3,600 people who had coronary artery disease but had never had a heart attack.
Using this method, Reilly's group identified a new gene called ADAMTS7, which was associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.
And in the analysis specific to heart attack, they also found an association between blood type and the risk for heart attacks.
Specifically, the gene that makes people have blood type O also protects them from heart attacks, the researchers explained.
Blood is classified as ABO, with eight possible types, determined by the antigens they carry. Type O is know as the universal red cell donor.
"Therapies that modify ADAMTS7 and blood typing may be useful for heart disease, but are likely to work in different ways and different people," Reilly said.
"This concept speaks to future advances in personalized medicine and heart disease treatments. In addition, blood groups might be simple, if crude, indicators of heart attack risk or protection," he said.
But one expert cautioned that while blood type O may offer some protection from heart attack in people with coronary artery disease, that doesn't mean that your blood type alone will spare you from cardiovascular trouble.
"Individuals with blood type O should be just as vigilant about preventing heart disease and stroke as those of other blood types," said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Luca A. Lotta, co-author of accompanying editorial from the Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Luigi Villa Foundation, University of Milan, said the findings "increase our knowledge of the DNA sequences that predispose individuals to develop atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction."
However, there is no direct and immediate clinical application for the findings, she added.
"But, they may lead in the future to the identification of previously unrecognized disease mechanisms and, potentially, to the development of new preventive and therapeutic strategies for these common and severe diseases," Lotta said.
Fonarow noted that, "it is well-established that there are genetic components to the risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction."
However, studies have not shown that genetic testing improves risk stratification or has clinical value in determining which treatment should be given over standard care, he said.
More information
For more information on genes and heart disease, visit the American Heart Association.
SOURCES: Muredach P. Reilly, MBBCH, associate professor, medicine, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Luca A. Lotta, M.D., Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophia and Thrombosis Center, Luigi Villa Foundation, University of Milan; Gregg Fonarow, M.D., American Heart Association spokesman and professor, cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles; Jan. 15, 2011, The Lancet, online
Monday 17 January 2011
Thursday 13 January 2011
Artificial blood cells breakthrough
Jelly-like synthetic particles which mimic tiny cells in size and shape may be the first step towards developing truly artificial blood, scientists believe.
The "hydrogel" nanoparticles measuring just six micrometres (0.006 millimetres) across could also be used to fight cancer. They have the important property of being highly flexible, just like real red blood cells, and this means they remain longer in the circulation before being filtered out, and can slip through narrow capillaries or microscopic pores in organs.
Scientists are yet to test the particles' ability to perform functions such as transporting oxygen or carrying anti-cancer drugs. But early experiments indicate they have exciting medical potential. One possible application is unlimited supplies of man-made blood.
To date the most promising research on so-called synthetic blood has seen red blood cells created from stem cells.
A US company has developed a "pharming" process to produce blood cells from stem cells taken from umbilical cords which it hopes can be used in the field. Scientists have also succeeded in creating red blood cells from spare IVF embryos, but attempts to mimic nature with an artificial way of carrying oxygen around the body have not proved successful.
Lack of flexibility has been the major stumbling block. Real blood cells gradually become stiffer during their life and are eventually filtered out of the circulation when they can no longer bend enough to pass through pores in the spleen.
Professor Joseph DeSimone, one of the study investigators from the University of North Carolina, said: "Creating particles for extended circulation in the blood stream has been a significant challenge in the development of drug delivery systems from the beginning.
"Although we will have to consider particle deformability along with other parameters when we study the behaviour of particles in the human body, we believe this study represents a real game changer for the future of nanomedicine."
The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Commenting on the study, US professor Chad Mirkin, from Northwestern University in Chicago and one of US President Barack Obama's science advisers, said: "These findings are significant since the ability to reproducibly synthesise micron-scale particles with tuneable deformability that can move through the body unrestricted as do red blood cells, opens the door to a new frontier in treating disease."
The "hydrogel" nanoparticles measuring just six micrometres (0.006 millimetres) across could also be used to fight cancer. They have the important property of being highly flexible, just like real red blood cells, and this means they remain longer in the circulation before being filtered out, and can slip through narrow capillaries or microscopic pores in organs.
Scientists are yet to test the particles' ability to perform functions such as transporting oxygen or carrying anti-cancer drugs. But early experiments indicate they have exciting medical potential. One possible application is unlimited supplies of man-made blood.
To date the most promising research on so-called synthetic blood has seen red blood cells created from stem cells.
A US company has developed a "pharming" process to produce blood cells from stem cells taken from umbilical cords which it hopes can be used in the field. Scientists have also succeeded in creating red blood cells from spare IVF embryos, but attempts to mimic nature with an artificial way of carrying oxygen around the body have not proved successful.
Lack of flexibility has been the major stumbling block. Real blood cells gradually become stiffer during their life and are eventually filtered out of the circulation when they can no longer bend enough to pass through pores in the spleen.
Professor Joseph DeSimone, one of the study investigators from the University of North Carolina, said: "Creating particles for extended circulation in the blood stream has been a significant challenge in the development of drug delivery systems from the beginning.
"Although we will have to consider particle deformability along with other parameters when we study the behaviour of particles in the human body, we believe this study represents a real game changer for the future of nanomedicine."
The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Commenting on the study, US professor Chad Mirkin, from Northwestern University in Chicago and one of US President Barack Obama's science advisers, said: "These findings are significant since the ability to reproducibly synthesise micron-scale particles with tuneable deformability that can move through the body unrestricted as do red blood cells, opens the door to a new frontier in treating disease."
Sunday 9 January 2011
Eat and Exercise for your Blood Type
Ever wondered why your training partner recovers from a workout faster than you, or why you need more fuel on the run than they do? It could be because you have a different blood type.
For more than a decade, runners worldwide have been subscribing to Dr Peter D’Adamo’s Blood Type Diet.
The American naturopathic physician and researcher is author of Eat Right For Your Type, a series of books about eating and exercising for your blood type. His theory? Each of the four basic blood types O, A, B and AB reacts differently to the lectins, or proteins, in the foods we eat.
His research shows each blood type is susceptible to certain diseases, physical vitality and emotional strength, and by adjusting your diet to suit your biological make up, you can live – and run – better.
But Dr Trent Watson, Dietitians Association of Australia spokesperson, says there is little scientific evidence to suggest such strict DNA traits are passed on.
“There are 50,000 to 100,000 genes contained in human DNA, so passing on the same DNA from one generation to the next is like rolling the genetic dice,” says the Newcastle sports dietitian.
Dr Watson suggests runners interested in taking up the Blood Type Diet seek advice from a dietitian to ensure you match nutrition and energy needs with your level of training.
TYPE 0
This is the most common of the four blood types and, according to Dr D’Adamo, your ancestral background shows you are hunters with an extroverted personality type.
He says Type Os can have a higher level of stomach acid than the other blood types, which can result in stomach irritation and ulcers – a theory supported by a 1993 Oxford University study. Dr D’Adamo’s research shows Type Os are more susceptible to arthritis, asthma and hay fever because the immune system is “environmentally intolerant”, especially to foods such as grains and potatoes, which can produce inflammatory reactions in your joints.
EAT RIGHT
Dr D’Adamo’s Type O diet focuses on protein particularly lean, organic meats, vegetables and fruits. He says it’s best to avoid wheat and dairy, which can trigger digestive problems. Caffeine and alcohol can also raise adrenaline and noradrenaline and should be avoided.
TYPE A
Type As are cultivators and more likely to have an introverted personality, according to Dr D’Adamo. You are thought to have high cortisol levels, a hormone made by the adrenal glands which helps maintain blood pressure, immune function and the body's anti-inflammatory processes. Too much of this hormone can lead to heart disease, cancer and diabetes, writes Dr D’Adamo.
EAT RIGHT
Type As are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet of organic Mediterranean foods. Hopkins recommends avoiding dairy and red meat, because As are typically low in intestinal alkaline phosphatise, a stomach acid, which makes it difficult to digest and metabolise animal protein and fat.
TYPE B
More like nomads with an independent personality, Type Bs have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system, says Dr D’Adamo. “They tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types,” he writes. But Type B is more susceptible to autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, lupus and multiple sclerosis because of a reaction to foods that affect how your metabolic process works.
EAT RIGHT
Dr D’Adamo says Type Bs are generally capable of digesting either animal proteins or carbohydrates. But, he says, it’s best to avoid chicken, which contains a lectin in its muscle tissue that can attack the bloodstream. He also recommends avoiding wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. “Each of these foods affect the efficiency of your metabolic process, resulting in fatigue, fluid retention and hypoglycemia – a severe drop in blood sugar after eating,” he writes.
TYPE AB
This is the rarest blood type, carried by just two to five per cent of the population. Known for an intuitive personality, Dr D’Adamo says Type ABs are the most biologically complex because group because they combine elements of both blood types. Like Type As, Dr D’Adamo says ABs immune system can be more susceptible to heart disease, cancer and anaemia when under stress.
EAT RIGHT
According to Dr D’Adamo Type AB has Type A’s low levels of stomach acid, but Type B’s adaptation to meats. “Therefore, you lack enough stomach acid to metabolise them efficiently and the meat you eat tends to get stored as fat,” he writes. Hopkins says he has more energy when he eats the right foods including plenty of green vegetables, seafood, dairy and tofu. Dr D’Adamo recommends type ABs avoid smoked or cured meats because they can cause stomach cancer in people with low levels of stomach acid.
For more than a decade, runners worldwide have been subscribing to Dr Peter D’Adamo’s Blood Type Diet.
The American naturopathic physician and researcher is author of Eat Right For Your Type, a series of books about eating and exercising for your blood type. His theory? Each of the four basic blood types O, A, B and AB reacts differently to the lectins, or proteins, in the foods we eat.
His research shows each blood type is susceptible to certain diseases, physical vitality and emotional strength, and by adjusting your diet to suit your biological make up, you can live – and run – better.
But Dr Trent Watson, Dietitians Association of Australia spokesperson, says there is little scientific evidence to suggest such strict DNA traits are passed on.
“There are 50,000 to 100,000 genes contained in human DNA, so passing on the same DNA from one generation to the next is like rolling the genetic dice,” says the Newcastle sports dietitian.
Dr Watson suggests runners interested in taking up the Blood Type Diet seek advice from a dietitian to ensure you match nutrition and energy needs with your level of training.
TYPE 0
This is the most common of the four blood types and, according to Dr D’Adamo, your ancestral background shows you are hunters with an extroverted personality type.
He says Type Os can have a higher level of stomach acid than the other blood types, which can result in stomach irritation and ulcers – a theory supported by a 1993 Oxford University study. Dr D’Adamo’s research shows Type Os are more susceptible to arthritis, asthma and hay fever because the immune system is “environmentally intolerant”, especially to foods such as grains and potatoes, which can produce inflammatory reactions in your joints.
EAT RIGHT
Dr D’Adamo’s Type O diet focuses on protein particularly lean, organic meats, vegetables and fruits. He says it’s best to avoid wheat and dairy, which can trigger digestive problems. Caffeine and alcohol can also raise adrenaline and noradrenaline and should be avoided.
TYPE A
Type As are cultivators and more likely to have an introverted personality, according to Dr D’Adamo. You are thought to have high cortisol levels, a hormone made by the adrenal glands which helps maintain blood pressure, immune function and the body's anti-inflammatory processes. Too much of this hormone can lead to heart disease, cancer and diabetes, writes Dr D’Adamo.
EAT RIGHT
Type As are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet of organic Mediterranean foods. Hopkins recommends avoiding dairy and red meat, because As are typically low in intestinal alkaline phosphatise, a stomach acid, which makes it difficult to digest and metabolise animal protein and fat.
TYPE B
More like nomads with an independent personality, Type Bs have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system, says Dr D’Adamo. “They tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types,” he writes. But Type B is more susceptible to autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, lupus and multiple sclerosis because of a reaction to foods that affect how your metabolic process works.
EAT RIGHT
Dr D’Adamo says Type Bs are generally capable of digesting either animal proteins or carbohydrates. But, he says, it’s best to avoid chicken, which contains a lectin in its muscle tissue that can attack the bloodstream. He also recommends avoiding wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. “Each of these foods affect the efficiency of your metabolic process, resulting in fatigue, fluid retention and hypoglycemia – a severe drop in blood sugar after eating,” he writes.
TYPE AB
This is the rarest blood type, carried by just two to five per cent of the population. Known for an intuitive personality, Dr D’Adamo says Type ABs are the most biologically complex because group because they combine elements of both blood types. Like Type As, Dr D’Adamo says ABs immune system can be more susceptible to heart disease, cancer and anaemia when under stress.
EAT RIGHT
According to Dr D’Adamo Type AB has Type A’s low levels of stomach acid, but Type B’s adaptation to meats. “Therefore, you lack enough stomach acid to metabolise them efficiently and the meat you eat tends to get stored as fat,” he writes. Hopkins says he has more energy when he eats the right foods including plenty of green vegetables, seafood, dairy and tofu. Dr D’Adamo recommends type ABs avoid smoked or cured meats because they can cause stomach cancer in people with low levels of stomach acid.
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