Tag Archives: stroke

Ultrasound Could Enhance Stroke Survival by Clearing Brain Debris

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Ultrasound can penetrate the skull and reach the brain

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Recent research suggests that pulsed ultrasound waves directed at the brain may enhance survival rates following a specific stroke type by promoting the removal of inflammatory dead blood cells, based on findings from a study involving mice. This technique, which boosts lymphatic drainage efficiency, could also have applications for treating Alzheimer’s disease, with clinical trials anticipated to commence next year.

Hemorrhagic stroke, constitutes around 15% of all strokes and occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding, disrupting oxygen supply to the brain, and causing cellular damage, which can result in motor and cognitive issues.

Treatments typically involve sealing the ruptured blood vessel with small metal clips and extracting dead red blood cells via a catheter or similar device. Neglecting this procedure can exacerbate inflammation and lead to further tissue damage. However, this method is highly invasive, posing risks of brain damage and infections, as noted by Larg Airan at Stanford University, California.

After an unexpected experience with prolonged ultrasound application during drug activation in mouse brains, Aylan considered whether pulsed ultrasound could be effective in removing the “debris” from the brain. “When I observed the drug’s effects, it appeared to spread throughout the brain, almost as if it were being ‘painted’ over,” he recounted.

To probe this idea, the research team simulated a hemorrhagic stroke by injecting mice with blood from their tails. For three consecutive days, they administered pulsed ultrasound to the skulls of half the mice for 10 minutes each day, while the others received no treatment.

Subsequently, all mice underwent a three-minute test in a water tank divided into four corners, with healthy mice typically turning in either direction 50% of the time. The team discovered that mice treated with ultrasound turned left 39% of the time, compared to 27% for the control group. Additionally, treated mice exhibited stronger grips on a metal bar than their untreated counterparts, indicating they suffered less brain damage, a conclusion that was later substantiated through brain slice analyses conducted post-euthanasia.

One week following the blood injection, around half of the control group mice perished, compared to only one-fifth of the ultrasound-treated group. A rapid increase in survival rates was noted, with an approximately 30 percentage point improvement achieved through just three 10-minute ultrasound treatments, according to Airan.

Further insights revealed that the ultrasound pulses triggered pressure-sensitive proteins in microglia, the brain’s immune cells, reducing their inflammation and enhancing their ability to clear dead red blood cells. Additionally, this technique improved the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, facilitating the removal of dead cells to lymph nodes in the neck, which are part of the lymphatic system responsible for eliminating metabolic waste.

While more investigations are necessary, this method might also have the potential to address various brain disorders. “If ultrasound can efficiently remove larger red blood cells from the brain, it stands to reason it could also eliminate smaller toxic proteins, such as the misfolded tau associated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases,” Aylan explained.

Experts are impressed with this promising research due to its non-invasive nature. Kathleen Caron from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted that the lymphatic systems in mice and humans show considerable similarities, indicating this approach could be applicable in human cases as well.

The use of ultrasonic irradiation is considered safe, and while research is ongoing to confirm these findings, Aylan is optimistic about the lack of unforeseen side effects from this treatment.

Ultimately, the research team aspires to test this technique on individuals suffering from hemorrhagic strokes that necessitate urgent intervention. They aim to gather additional data on its safety and efficacy for Alzheimer’s patients, with trials projected to begin next year, according to Aylan.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study: Common Sweetener Erythritol May Impact Brain Cells and Elevate Stroke Risk

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A recent study from the University of Colorado Boulder indicates that erythritol, a widely used non-nutritive sweetener, may be linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

Berry et al. Our study demonstrates that erythritol, at concentrations commonly found in standard size sugar-free beverages, negatively impacts cerebral microvascular endothelial cell oxidative stress, ENOS activation, NO production, ET-1 expression, and T-PA release in vitro. Image credit: Tafilah Yusof.

Erythritol is a popular alternative to non-nutritive sugars due to its minimal effects on blood glucose and insulin levels.

This four-carbon sugar has a low-calorie content of 60-80%, being as sweet as sucrose, and commonly replaces sugar in baked goods, confections, and beverages.

Authorized by the FDA in 2001, erythritol is recommended for individuals with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes, as it aids in regulating calorie consumption, sugar intake, and minimizing hyperglycemia.

Found naturally in small amounts in certain fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, erythritol is quickly absorbed in the small intestine through passive diffusion.

In humans, erythritol is produced endogenously from glucose and fructose by erythrocytes, liver, and kidneys via the pentose phosphate pathway, making its levels dependent on both endogenous production and external intake.

“Our findings contribute to the growing evidence that non-nutritive sweeteners, often considered safe, could pose health risks,” stated Professor Christopher Desouza from the University of Colorado.

A recent study involving 4,000 participants from the US and Europe revealed that individuals with elevated erythritol levels are at a significantly increased risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke within three years.

Professor Desouza and his team sought to determine what factors were contributing to this heightened risk.

They exposed human cells lining blood vessels in the brain to erythritol for three hours, using concentrations similar to those found in standard sugar-free beverages.

The treated cells exhibited several alterations.

Notably, they produced significantly less nitric oxide, a molecule critical for dilating blood vessels, while increasing the expression of endothelin-1, which constricts blood vessels.

Furthermore, the challenge of a thrombogenic compound called thrombin significantly slowed the cell’s production of T-PA, a naturally occurring compound that promotes coagulation.

Cells treated with erythritol also generated more reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, which can lead to cellular damage and inflammation.

“We’ve been diligently working to share our findings with the broader community,” noted Auburn Berry, a graduate student at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“Our research indicates that erythritol may indeed heighten the risk of stroke.”

“Our study solely focused on sugar substitutes,” emphasized Professor Desouza.

“For individuals consuming multiple servings daily, the potential impact could be even more pronounced.”

The researchers caution that their findings are based on lab research conducted on cells, necessitating larger-scale studies involving human subjects.

Nonetheless, they advise consumers to check product labels for erythritol or “sugar alcohol.”

“Considering the epidemiological evidence informing our research, along with our cellular discoveries, monitoring the intake of such non-nutritive sweeteners seems wise,” Professor Desouza remarked.

The study was published today in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

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Auburn R. Berry et al. 2025. The non-nutritive sweetener erythritol negatively affects brain microvascular endothelial cell function. Journal of Applied Physiology 138(6):1571-1577; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00276.2025

Source: www.sci.news

17 Simple Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Stroke, Dementia, and Depression Simultaneously

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Stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression. These are significant issues that become more prevalent as we age—often overlooked, yet surprisingly frequent in our older population.

Moreover, the abundance of information available today makes it challenging to determine effective preventative measures. Are these conditions purely genetic? Do they stem from our environment? Or can we actually enact changes that make a difference?

Recent research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry offers encouraging insights and a clear starting point.

Led by Dr. Sanjurasin from the Brain Care Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the study systematically reviewed data on modifiable lifestyle factors linked to the three critical brain conditions.

The team discovered 17 interconnected risk factors associated with stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression—all of which are within an individual’s capacity to change.

“These are actionable steps that everyone can incorporate into their lives,” Shin explained in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “For example, dietary choices, physical activity, or adhering to blood pressure medications prescribed by a doctor—all factors influenced by socioeconomic conditions that may not be easily altered.”

Instead, the emphasis is placed on daily habits that can be reshaped, such as diet, sleep, exercise, social connections, and mental engagement.

17 Modifiable Risk Factors for Brain Health

This study outlines 17 overlapping factors impacting the risks of stroke, dementia, and consequent depression, which encompass both protective and risk-enhancing behaviors. They can be categorized based on quality and context, such as dietary choices and social engagement.

Here’s the complete list:

Protective Factors:

  • Low or very low alcohol consumption
  • Regular engagement in cognitive activities like reading, puzzles, and acquiring new skills
  • A nutrient-rich diet comprising vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish, and nuts
  • Moderate to high levels of physical activity
  • A strong sense of community
  • Extensive social networks or substantial social involvement

Risk-Increasing Factors:

  • Hypertension
  • Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Hyperglycemia
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Hearing impairment
  • Kidney disease or renal dysfunction
  • Chronic pain affecting daily activities
  • Symptoms of depression
  • Diet high in lean meats, sugary beverages, sweets, and sodium
  • Sleep disorders or prolonged sleeping periods
  • History of smoking
  • Feelings of loneliness or social isolation
  • Chronic stress or stressful life events

Each factor was associated with at least one of the three conditions explored in the study, and often with two or three. While certain factors, like kidney dysfunction and hearing loss, may not intuitively seem linked to brain health, their impacts can be significant.

Noteworthy Findings

To pinpoint the most influential risk factors, Singh’s team reviewed 182 meta-analyses from the last two decades and selected the 59 most reliable. They calculated the impact of each factor using disability-adjusted life years (DALYS), which measures the burden of conditions, and assigned normalized scores.

One risk factor rose to prominence: hypertension.

“People often associate blood pressure with heart health,” Singh noted. “However, our review highlights it as the most critical factor for brain health. It’s essential to monitor your blood pressure and understand your numbers. If elevated, consult your doctor and adhere to prescribed treatment.”

Hypertension is known to harm small blood vessels in the brain and contribute to the development of all three conditions. However, it’s not the sole important factor.

The study also underscores that kidney dysfunction, hyperglycemia, depressive symptoms, poor sleep, obesity, smoking, and chronic stress negatively affect brain health. These risk factors tend to compound one another.

Blood pressure is the most significant modifiable risk factor for stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression. – Getty

Healthy Choice Menu

The encouraging news is that these factors are interconnected. Addressing one area can often lead to improvements in others.

However, this doesn’t mean that an all-at-once overhaul is necessary. Singh cautions against attempting to tackle everything simultaneously. “Our aim is to suggest gradual changes; bombarding someone with all 17 factors can be overwhelming. We encourage individuals to select what resonates with them and work on that—other improvements will often follow.”

Indeed, motivation presents a significant challenge. “Behavioral science indicates that maintaining lasting changes is difficult.” Other obstacles, like time constraints and financial means, can also impede habit formation.

A potent strategy is to involve others. Whether walking with friends, cooking healthy meals with a partner, enrolling in classes, or engaging in activities that blend lifestyle changes with social connections, you’re more likely to stay committed.

“We strongly advocate for collaborative exercise,” Singh emphasizes.

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When to Start

Some risk factors are more critical at specific life stages. For instance, hypertension during middle age seems particularly detrimental to long-term brain health. Nonetheless, it’s never too late to make changes.

And what if you’re starting later in life? Don’t wait.

“You’re never ‘too old.’ Addressing modifiable risk factors is beneficial at any age. Whether you’re 20 or 80, everyone can take steps, however small, to better brain health.”

Notes on Limitations

This study presents a robust framework for prevention, but it does not demonstrate causality. It relies on observational studies, which can indicate associations but do not establish direct cause-effect relationships.

As Dr. Anya Topiwara, a consultant psychiatrist at Oxford University who did not participate in the study, remarked in an email to BBC Science Focus: “It’s important to recognize that this paper examines associations rather than experimental findings. Hence, due to various biases, one cannot directly infer causation between risk factors and disease.”

For example, while alcohol consumption may appear protective in moderate quantities, it can mislead. “Individuals with higher socioeconomic status or education levels tend to drink moderately. These individuals are typically healthier and less likely to face dementia diagnosis and perform better on memory assessments.”

In essence, some correlations may stem from other underlying variables, like education, income, and healthcare access.

A Message of Hope

Despite the limitations, the overall outlook is optimistic. Singh emphasizes that the findings aim to empower rather than overwhelm. “This is a hopeful paper. There are numerous controllable factors that can lower your illness risk.”

“Based on estimates, up to 45% of all dementia cases could potentially be prevented by managing modifiable risk factors, alongside 80% of strokes and 35% of later-life depression. There’s a lot you can do to maintain a healthy and happy brain.”

So whether it’s taking a walk, learning something new, monitoring your blood pressure, or cooking a meal with a friend, the core message is simple: start where you can. Your efforts may yield more benefits than you realize.

About Our Experts

Sanjurashin is a physician scientist and Oxford-trained epidemiologist, whose expertise merges clinical medicine, epidemiology, behavioral science, and global health innovation. She became a professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School by the age of 28. Singh founded Singh Lab within Brain Care Labs, where she and her team are innovating scalable, evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing stroke, dementia, and subsequent depression.

Anyatopiwarra earned her medical qualification at Oxford University and subsequently specialized in elderly psychiatry. In 2017, she completed her DPhil in Psychiatry centered on an MRC-funded study, “Predicting MRI abnormalities using longitudinal data from the Whitehall II study.” In 2019, Topiwala received the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship to investigate how physical mechanisms related to alcohol consumption impact brain health.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Experimental Brain Computer Implant Restores Speech for Stroke Survivors

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A device has been created by scientists that can translate speech ideas into spoken words in real time.

Although still in the experimental stage, the goal is to develop a Brain Computer Interface that can give voice to individuals unable to speak.

In a recent study, the device was tested on a 47-year-old woman with quadriplegia who had been speech-impaired for 18 years since experiencing a stroke. The device was implanted in her brain during surgery as part of a clinical trial.

According to Gopala Anumanchipalli, co-author of the study published in Nature Neuroscience, the device “translates the intent to speak into fluent text.”

Most brain computer interfaces for speech experience a delay between thought and speech, which can disrupt conversations and cause misunderstandings. However, this new device is considered a significant advancement in the field.

The device works by recording brain activity using electrodes and generating speech based on this activity. An AI model is then trained to translate this neural activity into spoken words.

The UCSF Clinical Research Coordinator will connect a neural data port to the head of the ANN, a participant in El Cerrito, California, on May 22, 2023.Noah Berger/UCSF, via AP files via UC Berkeley

Anumanchipalli of the University of California, Berkeley, explains that the device operates similarly to existing systems used for transcribing meetings and phone calls in real time.

Located in the brain’s speech center, the implant translates signals into spoken sentences as they are heard. This “streaming approach” ensures a constant flow of audio to the recorder without waiting for the sentence to finish.

Rapid speech decoding enables the device to keep up with natural speech pace, enhancing language naturalness according to Brumberg.

Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, further research is necessary before the technology can be widely available. Anumanchipalli suggests that with sustained investment, the device could potentially be accessible to patients within the next decade.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Preventing Inflammation After Stroke by Blocking This Enzyme

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Stroke can cause irreversible, life-altering, and long-term brain damage. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot called a thrombus. ischemic strokeor a ruptured blood vessel. hemorrhagic stroke. Our brains require large amounts of oxygen, so when blood flow is interrupted, oxygen-dependent brain substances are damaged in the short term.

Think of the blood vessels in your brain as a perfectly designed highway. When an ischemic stroke occurs, blood clots block these blood vessels, preventing oxygen from reaching the brain. When an ischemic stroke occurs, microglia It acts as our body's “ambulance” and focuses on the site of the blood clot. Scientists classify microglia into two types: anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory microglia help fight inflammation in the brain. Pro-inflammatory microglia cause further brain inflammation by damaging nerve cells. neuronremove the protective sheath known as . myelin.

Chinese researchers recently developed a hypothesis that inhibits an enzyme associated with inflammation called histone deacetylase 3 or HDAC3 may reduce proinflammatory microglial production in mice. They reasoned that because HDAC3 enzymes activate proinflammatory immune cells, inhibiting these enzymes may reduce inflammation.

To study how stroke affects the production of inflammatory cells, the researchers first determined which cell types in mice were most likely to be affected by HDAC3. They induced strokes in mice and found that HDAC3 was more active in the mice's microglia than in other cells. High levels of HDAC3 were present in the mice's neurons, but they were not active. The researchers interpreted this data to suggest that HDAC3 plays a more important role in microglia than in other types of brain cells.

Next, the researchers genetically engineered mice that lack microglial HDAC3. knockout mouse. They compared the knockout mice to a control group of mice that retained microglial HDAC3. They induced strokes in both groups of mice for 60 minutes. They then examined the mice's brains using MRI after three, 14, and 35 days to see how the brain damage caused by the stroke progressed in the two different groups. They found that the knockout mice had less brain damage than control mice on all three days.

The researchers also found that the knockout mice had better scores on motor, learning, memory, and behavioral tests than control mice. For example, when scientists applied sticky tape to the soles of mice's feet, the knockout mice removed the tape about 50 seconds faster than control mice. The knockout mice had less myelin loss and less degeneration of electrical pathways in the brain. The researchers interpreted these results to suggest that inhibiting microglial HDAC3 in mice prevented brain damage and improved mental performance after stroke.

The researchers also investigated which gene There were active and inactive forms in two sets of mice. They found that all pro-inflammatory genes tested were inactive in knockout mice, but highly active in mice with microglial HDAC3. They also found that the knockout mice had less activity in genes that produce inflammatory cells.

The researchers concluded that deleting microglial HDAC3 can prevent brain inflammation, myelin removal, and brain tissue damage during stroke. However, before HDAC3 deletion becomes a treatment, they recommended that future researchers determine whether there are any serious side effects. The reduction in inflammation in mice means the same technology could one day be used to reduce the inflammatory effects of stroke in humans.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Spinal cord stimulation aids in the recovery of stroke patients

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A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Strokes are the leading cause of disability in adults over the age of 55. Despite advances in medical care and rehabilitation, 35% of stroke patients still have difficulty performing daily tasks because they have trouble walking or standing. Approximately 70% of stroke patients have problems with walking, including slower walking speed, problems with coordination, and uneven stride length.

Doctors have found that these problems often occur when the pathways that spinal cord neurons use to transmit information from the brain to the body are disrupted. By applying electrical pulses to the brains of stroke patients, doctors have attempted to reactivate the neural pathways that control movement. Researchers have shown that electrical pulses to the brain can help stroke patients regain control of fine movements, but the ability to maintain basic walking patterns relies on neural pathways in the spinal cord. So a team of scientists from the US and Russia hypothesized that targeting the spinal cord could help stroke patients recover.

To test whether spinal cord electrical stimulation could help stroke patients walk again, the team attached electrodes to the skin of the patients' spinal cord. Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation or tSCS. Researchers have previously found that tSCS can help stroke patients walk more steadily and smoothly in the short term. But the team wanted to test whether tSCS could improve nerve and muscle function and help patients walk better in the long term.

To measure how tSCS affected the walking ability and muscle function of stroke patients, the researchers recruited two groups of four people each. Both groups of participants were matched for age, time since stroke, and walking speed to minimize experimental bias. All participants were over 18 years old, had experienced a stroke at least one year ago, and were able to walk without support. The researchers conducted gait training in both groups three times a week for eight weeks to improve balance and movement. The first group, called the control group, was assigned to only gait training, while the second group, called the stimulation group, was assigned to a combination of gait training and tSCS.

The researchers assessed how well each participant walked before, immediately after, and three months after walking training. The researchers measured each participant's step symmetry using two metrics: step length and stride length. They also measured participants' walking speed and the distance they walked in a six-minute period. The researchers collected this data through a combination of observation by physical therapists and direct measurements using sensor-equipped mats.

The team found that after gait training, the stimulation group's stride symmetry improved by 64%, while the control group's stride symmetry improved by only 33%. The stimulation group also had faster walking speeds and more consistent swing times than the control group. All participants in the stimulation group and one participant in the control group walked greater distances than they had before gait training, but only one participant in each group maintained this progress after three months. The researchers interpreted these changes as meaning that combining tSCS with gait training enabled stroke patients to walk faster and longer. However, they warned that patients could lose these gains if they did not continue treatment, as only gait symmetry showed a sustained improvement.

The researchers also measured changes in the participants' muscles and neurons before and after tSCS treatment and walking training. The researchers explained that the more complex and numerous a person's muscle groups are, the better they can control leg movements when walking. So they wanted to see how the patients' muscle groups work together when walking, i.e. Muscle synergy. To investigate muscle synergy, the researchers measured the activity of the leg muscles of five participants by attaching sensors to the participants' skin to detect electrical signals when the muscles contracted. The results showed that participants in the two stimulation groups had improved muscle coordination after walking and tSCS. The researchers interpreted this result as meaning that tSCS helped participants improve muscle coordination while walking.

The researchers concluded that electrical stimulation of the spinal cord allowed some stroke patients to walk better than before. However, they suggested that the effectiveness of tSCS could be improved with individualized training and customized stimulation settings to address each patient's challenges. They also suggested that studies be conducted for a longer period of time and with a larger number of participants to better understand the lasting effects of tSCS and to apply the findings to a wider range of stroke patients.


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Source: sciworthy.com

California requires indoor workers to adhere to heat stroke prevention measures

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summary

  • California is set to implement state-first regulations aimed at protecting indoor workers from the heat.
  • The policy, which could go into effect later this summer, would require employers to provide water, breaks, and places to cool down if indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • The only other states that mandate similar protections are Oregon and Minnesota.

California is poised to pass the state’s first regulations to protect people who work indoors from extreme heat, a policy that could take effect as soon as later this summer.

The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Committee unanimously voted Thursday to approve heycircle circleOak Place RulesThis will send the standards to the state’s Office of Administrative Law for quick final approval, meaning the standards could go into effect by early August.

The heat plan was originally scheduled to go into effect in 2019 but faced a five-year delay. If enacted into law, the policy would protect about 1.4 million warehouse workers, restaurant employees, manufacturing workers, and other indoor workers from dangerously hot working conditions.

The regulations require employers to monitor employees for heatstroke and provide hydration, breaks, and cool areas if indoor temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures reach 87 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take further measures, such as providing more breaks, adjusting work schedules, slowing down work pace, and providing air conditioning.

If these rules go into effect, California would join Oregon and Minnesota as the only states with policies to protect indoor workers from the heat. In 2006, California passed heat standards for outdoor workers, including those in agriculture and construction.

Meanwhile, in Texas and Florida, recent state laws have weakened workplace protections against extreme heat by prohibiting cities and counties from enacting local regulations to protect outdoor workers, such as requiring water breaks or time in the shade.

Labor advocates have been pushing for national workplace heat standards for indoor and outdoor workers, but the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has yet to adopt such rules.

Advocates say California-style regulations are needed more urgently than ever as heat waves become more frequent and intense due to climate change.

“This is huge,” said Anastasia Nicole Wright, policy manager at WorkSafe, a non-profit worker advocacy group based in Oakland, Calif. “Workers need these protections as soon as possible.”

But the state’s new requirements don’t protect all indoor workers. For now, they exempt employees of state and local correctional facilities, as well as other prison staff. In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration revised the standards to exempt the state prison system, questioning how much it would cost to bring the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into compliance with the requirements.

Some labor advocates believe the temperature standards set in California’s policy are still too high.

“The risk of heatstroke depends on both temperature and humidity, but it also has a lot to do with physical demands,” says Tim Shaddix, legal director for the Warehouse Workers Resource Center, an advocacy group based in Ontario, Calif. “If a warehouse worker is lifting heavy boxes for an eight- or 10-hour shift, they’re at risk for heatstroke even when temperatures are in the high 70s.”

Shaddix added that he hopes California’s restrictions will inspire other parts of the country to implement similar rules.

“As summer temperatures rise due to climate change, the problem is only going to get worse, so it’s really important that we see progress and we see more models that encourage other states to follow,” he said. “And that’s the push at the federal level, and we really need that, because we have to make sure that workers across the country are protected.”

More people die from heatstroke each year in the United States than from any other extreme weather event. In 2022, 43 people died from exposure to ambient heat in the workplace, up from 36 in 2021. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Robert Mootrie, senior policy advocate at the California Chamber of Commerce, said California employers are “moving into compliance mode,” but added that certain industries, such as restaurants, will bear a greater burden because kitchens are essentially hot, enclosed spaces.

Mootrie also said small businesses in particular have expressed concerns about how to best implement the rules when they come into effect in just a few months.

“It doesn’t take much to change your internal practices, train your staff, and talk to your lawyers,” he said. “All of these things take time and resources.”

Regarding workers in California prisons and jails, Cal/OSHA said in a statement that it plans to “proceed with proposing industry-specific regulations for local and state correctional facilities that take into account the unique operational realities of these workplaces,” but did not provide a specific timeline.

Wright expressed disappointment that tens of thousands of prison staff are exempt from the restrictions.

“They’re a big percentage of the workforce,” she said, “but heat is an issue for workers and non-workers alike. Many prisons don’t have central air conditioning, so forcing prisons to take certain measures to ensure temperatures inside prisons are safe for workers would benefit inmates as well.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated with Xylitol sweeteners

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Xylitol is often marketed as a “natural” way to sweeten drinks and foods.

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Xylitol, a sweetener commonly found in sugar-free drinks, chewing gum and toothpaste, has been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Often marketed as “low carb,” “natural,” or “keto-friendly,” xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in fruits and vegetables, but at levels roughly 1,000 times lower than what’s added to commercial products. It can also be prepared artificially. Chemical reactions from plant materials.

last year, Stanley Hazen Hazen and his colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio found that the sweetener erythritol was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Suspecting that xylitol might also affect heart health, Hazen surveyed 3,306 adults in the United States and Europe.

The researchers took a single blood sample from participants to measure their xylitol levels after an overnight fast, and found that over a three-year follow-up, those with the highest blood xylitol levels were one-third more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke.

To better understand this trend, the researchers looked at the effects of xylitol in the lab on human blood cells called platelets, and on platelet activity in mice. Platelets crowd together at the site of an injury to prevent bleeding, but they can also clot within blood vessels. This can affect blood supply to the heart and brain, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that human platelets cultured in xylitol showed signs of being more likely to clot than those cultured in saline, and blood clots formed significantly more quickly in the veins of mice injected with xylitol.

Finally, the team tracked platelet activity in 10 subjects after they drank the same amount of water sweetened with xylitol. Within 30 minutes, plasma xylitol levels increased 1000-fold, and all indicators of platelet clotting readiness improved, especially in subjects with the highest levels of xylitol in their blood.

“This study highlights the urgent need to investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners,” Hazen said. “While there’s no need to throw away your toothpaste just because it contains xylitol, people should be aware that consuming products high in xylitol may increase their risk of developing blood clot-related conditions.”

Combined with previous research on erythritol, the findings “emphasize the need for systematic research into the effects of artificial sweeteners on cardiovascular disease risk,” the researchers say. Silvia Radenkovic At the University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Niacin, Vitamin B3 Supplements Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

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Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a popular supplement

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People with high levels of niacin (also known as vitamin B3) in their blood may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than people with low levels of niacin. Consuming too much of this vitamin, which is routinely added to fortified foods and can also be taken as a supplement, can cause inflammation in blood vessels.

Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death worldwide. Although researchers have made great strides over the past few decades in discovering risk factors for these conditions, they have not identified them all.

“If treated [high] cholesterol and [high] You can still have a heart attack even if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other pre-existing risk factors. ”Stanley Hazen at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “There's something we're missing.”

To fill these gaps, Hazen and his colleagues collected blood samples from 2,331 U.S. adults and 832 European adults who chose to undergo cardiovascular testing. The researchers analyzed the samples for substances called metabolites, which are byproducts of metabolic processes such as digestion. The researchers then tracked participants' occurrence of cardiac events, such as heart attacks and strokes, over a three-year period.

The researchers found that people with high levels of a metabolite called 4PY were, on average, about 60 percent more likely to experience such an event than those with lower levels. This compound only occurs when the body breaks down excess niacin.

Further experiments revealed that 4PY inflamed blood vessels in rodents. We know that inflammation is a major contributor to the development of heart disease, Hazen said.

It's not uncommon for people to have high niacin levels, he says. This is partly because certain foods, such as cereals and flour, are routinely fortified with vitamins in countries including the UK and US.

Niacin supplements are also becoming more popular Evidence suggests it has anti-aging effects says Hazen. Additionally, doctors stopped prescribing high doses of niacin to people at risk for cardiovascular disease because it was initially thought that the vitamin protected people from the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol. It happened recently.

“I think this study really shows that when it comes to vitamins, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing,” he says. Jenny Jia at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

However, this study was primarily conducted on people of European descent. So it's unclear whether similar results would occur in people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, Zia said.

topic:

  • heart attack/
  • Heart disease

Source: www.newscientist.com