Ferritin for the Clinician

Blood cells in the vein
Summary: Elevated serum ferritin (a form of iron) levels are associated with coronary artery disease, malignancy, and poor stem cell transportation. It is also involved in conditions like neurodegenerative disorders, sideroblastic anemia, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant for the inflammatory response. Abstract: Ferritin, a major iron storage protein, is essential to iron
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Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance

Man doing yoga on his desk
Summary: Posture can influence neuroendocrine levels. High-power poses lower cortisol, increase testosterone, increase power and tolerance for risk. Low-power poses do the exact opposite. Abstract: Humans and other animals express power through open, expansive postures, and they express powerlessness through closed, contractive postures. But can these postures actually cause power? The results of this study
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Gut Microbiota are Related to Parkinson’s Disease and Clinical Phenotype

Elderly person with Parkinsons
Summary: There’s a positive relationship between the relative amounts of certain bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and the severity of postural instability and gait difficulty, which are signs of Parkinson’s Disease. There’s a relationship between the gut microbiome and Parkinson’s Disease, and further research needs to be done to determine the extent of that relationship. Abstract: In the
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The Neuropharmacology of L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine)

Glass of green tea with some polished pebbles.
A Possible Neuroprotective and Cognitive Enhancing Agent Summary: L-theanine can protect and enhance the brain, by increasing serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels. Abstract: L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine) or theanine is a major amino acid uniquely found in green tea. L-theanine has been historically reported as a relaxing agent, prompting scientific research on its pharmacology. Animal neurochemistry studies
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Replication of Cortisol Circadian Rhythm

Woman sleeping in her bed.
New Advances in Hydrocortisone Replacement Therapy Summary: Cortisol is essential to life, and is elevated in the morning and decreased at night while being a crucial part of the circadian rhythm. When circadian rhythm (cortisol release) is disrupted, that is associated with increased risk of mortality, sleep disturbances, increased bone turnover, worsening of cardiovascular risk
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Injury of the Vertebral Artery in Suicidal Hanging

X Ray of someones neck. On the inside, we're all the same.
Summary: The vertebral artery was intact/unaffected in 75% of hangings. Vertebral artery dissection can be one cause of a stroke. Abstract: The vertebral artery was investigated in suicidal hanging for specific forensic, but also general traumatological reasons. The objective was to establish the extent to which the vertebral artery in its relatively protected position is
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Prenatal Vitamins, One-Carbon Metabolism Gene Variants, and Risk for Autism

Woman getting ultrasound
Summary: Children, especially with gene variants associated with autism, may benefit from supplementation from mother around conception to reduce risk of developing autism. In other words, the mothers taking supplements around conception may decrease the likelihood of children developing autism. Further research is still needed to determine mechanisms, but it appears to deal with one-carbon
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The Calorically Restricted Ketogenic Diet, An Effective Alternative Therapy for Malignant Brain Cancer

MRI brain scan images
Summary: A high-fat, low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet indicated anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic (blood vessel formation) properties that help with brain tumors in mice and humans. Calorie restriction was another aspect of the ketogenic diet that helped with the results of the study. This could prove useful as an alternative or in conjunction with malignant brain cancer treatments.
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Vitamin D Intake and Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis

Beach with some sunglasses and pebbles that spell out Vitamin D with a sun.
Summary: Vitamin D shows protective effect against developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Abstract: Background: A protective effect of vitamin D on risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been proposed, but no prospective studies have addressed this hypothesis. Methods: Dietary vitamin D intake was examined directly in relation to risk of MS in two large cohorts of
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Circadian Clock Protein Rev-erbα Regulates Neuroinflammation

X Ray with brain and skull
Summary: The protein Rev-erbα controls brain inflammation, which neuroinflammation has been associated with many diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. Circadian rhythm disruption leads to the suppression of Rev-erbα, which causes microglial and astrocyte activation, inflammation, and brain injury. Abstract: Circadian dysfunction is a common attribute of many neurodegenerative diseases, most of which are associated with
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