Latest news with #UCSF
Gulf Insider
3 hours ago
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Cannabis, Smoked Or Eaten, Linked To Tobacco-Like Blood Vessel Harm
Long-term marijuana smoking and THC edible use may harm the blood vessels as much as tobacco, a new study suggests. The research indicates that cannabis users might face an increased risk of heart disease, even if they are otherwise healthy. Both smoking and eating cannabis caused the blood vessel linings to not work as effectively, even in otherwise healthy adults who never used tobacco, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found. 'The blood vessels don't seem to care whether the smoke is from tobacco or cannabis,' study author Matthew L. Springer, professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at UCSF, told The Epoch Times. The research shows cannabis users had blood vessel function 'very similar' to tobacco smokers in previous studies, he noted. For the estimated 17.7 million Americans who use marijuana in some form every day, according to polling data, the study raises important questions about long-term health risks that remain largely unstudied. The research, recently published in JAMA Cardiology, tracked 55 healthy adults aged 18 to 50, dividing them into three groups: marijuana smokers, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) edible users, and non-users. All cannabis users consumed their preferred method at least three times weekly for more than a year—making them regular, not casual users. Springer said they had a good reason for the relatively small number of participants. 'We were very picky!' 'The study is very clean in that our cannabis user groups have never been tobacco smokers/vapers, and tend to avoid secondhand smoke,' he added. 'The marijuana smokers only smoke marijuana and don't vaporize it or vape THC, and our THC edibles group avoids all smoke.' Researchers measured blood flow-mediated dilation, which shows how well blood vessels relax and contract. Both cannabis groups showed significantly worse vascular function than nonusers, with heavier use linked to greater damage. While smoking marijuana and eating edibles both harmed blood vessels, researchers noted they likely do so for different reasons. Marijuana smokers showed reduced production of nitric oxide, a compound that helps blood vessels stay healthy. This effect was not seen in edible users, though their blood vessels sustained similar vascular damage. Other measures of blood vessel health, such as arterial stiffness, did not differ among the groups. For cannabis smokers, Springer believes that smoke is the culprit for their blood vessel damage. 'Tobacco smokers have the same functional problems, and there's no THC in tobacco smoke,' he noted. Previous rat studies showed that even marijuana smoke without any cannabinoids still damaged cardiovascular function. For edible users, the mechanism remains unclear, though the damage is equally real. Springer emphasized that the bottom line is that smoking marijuana does not appear to avoid the harmful vascular effects of smoking tobacco, and neither does frequent use of THC edibles. He noted the study had some limitations, including variability in cannabis strains and self-reported use, which could affect results. 'It's a relatively small study,' Springer said. 'Nonetheless, the differences between groups are clear, and the statistics are robust and show that our results have a high confidence level.' Click here to read more…
NDTV
a day ago
- Health
- NDTV
How Much Exercise You Actually Need Weekly To Keep Blood Pressure In Check
A recent study led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), suggests that young adults need to step up their exercise routines to reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure or hypertension in midlife. According to the research, boosting moderate-intensity exercise to at least 5 hours a week can significantly lower the likelihood of developing hypertension. The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, which followed approximately 5,000 adults for 30 years, found that participants who exercised for at least 5 hours a week had an 18% lower risk of developing hypertension compared to those who exercised less. The researchers also noted that maintaining physical activity levels over time was crucial, with those who sustained their exercise habits until age 60 experiencing even greater benefits. The findings suggest that current exercise guidelines, which recommend a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week, may not be enough to protect against hypertension. The study's authors are calling for increased emphasis on physical activity, particularly in young adulthood, to help prevent hypertension and its associated health risks, including heart attack, stroke, and dementia. The research also highlighted significant racial and gender disparities in exercise habits and hypertension rates. Black women, in particular, had the lowest levels of physical activity and the highest rates of hypertension, with approximately 90% developing the condition by age 60. The study's authors are urging healthcare providers to prioritise physical activity in the same way they do other health metrics, such as blood pressure and glucose levels. By promoting regular exercise and healthy lifestyle habits, individuals can take proactive steps to protect their health and reduce their risk of developing hypertension.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Fast Five Quiz: The Presentation and Diagnosis of LOPD
In LOPD, respiratory muscle involvement, particularly diaphragmatic weakness, can be an early manifestation. This can include symptoms such as exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, and sleep-disordered breathing. Recognizing these signs is crucial, as they might precede limb-girdle muscle weakness, providing an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment. Other respiratory symptoms, such as chronic cough with sputum production, wheezing that is responsive to bronchodilators, or hemoptysis associated with pulmonary embolism, are not as likely characteristic of LOPD and more likely suggest alternative diagnoses, such COPD, asthma, or pulmonary infarction, respectively. Learn more about respiratory involvement in LOPD. A recent systematic review reported that patients with Pompe disease have lower GAA activity in skeletal muscles than healthy patients. More specifically, researchers found there is significantly lower GAA activity in patients with IOPD compared to those with LOPD. As a result of the lower GAA activity, patients with IOPD tend to accumulate more glycogen in the skeletal muscles and have higher glycogen content levels than those with LOPD. Learn more about the presentation of LOPD. Editor's Note: This article was created using several editorial tools, including generative AI models, as part of the process. Human review and editing of this content were performed prior to publication. Lead image: UCSF/Science Source
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Alnylam Announces Promotion of Pushkal Garg to Chief Research and Development Officer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics company, today announced that Pushkal Garg, M.D., has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Research and Development Officer to oversee an integrated R&D organization. Building on the launch of AMVUTTRA ® in transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), Alnylam is entering a new phase of growth, and a combined R&D organization will accelerate pipeline progress by fostering earlier collaboration, faster decision-making, and more agile responses to both scientific opportunity and patient need. 'I could not be more excited for Pushkal to take the helm of the combined R&D organization, given his strategic vision, operational excellence and impressive track record building and steering an industry-leading, innovative drug development organization that has delivered a new class of medicines to the world,' said Yvonne Greenstreet, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam. 'In recent years, we've made remarkable progress across all facets of our innovation engine, achieving numerous drug approvals and positive Phase 3 readouts, and rapidly increasing the size of our clinical pipeline. As our science has advanced, so has the need for tighter alignment across Research and Development to ensure that we continue to scale our impact and transform the lives of patients across a growing number of diseases.' 'As we begin this exciting new chapter, I am energized about what lies ahead for Alnylam R&D and for patients,' said Dr. Garg. 'I believe we are just beginning to scratch the surface of what RNAi therapeutics can do to improve human health. Our ambition is to deliver RNAi therapeutics to every major tissue in the body and thereby address many additional diseases that lack effective treatments. It's a privilege for me to have the opportunity to work with and lead an integrated R&D organization that has already validated a new class of medicines so that we can imagine the next generation of treatments, drive them from the lab to approval, and help patients live healthier lives.' Dr. Garg joined Alnylam in 2014 to build and lead the Company's Development group. He previously held leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. He received a B.A. with high honors in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at UCSF, was a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Johns Hopkins University, and served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston prior to joining the industry. About RNAi Therapeutics RNAi (RNA interference) is a natural cellular process of gene silencing that represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in biology and drug development today. Its discovery has been heralded as 'a major scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so,' and was recognized with the award of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. By harnessing the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, a new class of medicines known as RNAi therapeutics is now a reality. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic platform, function upstream of today's medicines by potently silencing messenger RNA (mRNA) – the genetic precursors that encode for disease-causing or disease pathway proteins – thus preventing them from being made. This is a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the care of patients with genetic and other diseases. About Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Alnylam (Nasdaq: ALNY) has led the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into a whole new class of innovative medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people afflicted with rare and prevalent diseases with unmet need. Based on Nobel Prize-winning science, RNAi therapeutics represent a powerful, clinically validated approach yielding transformative medicines. Since its founding in 2002, Alnylam has led the RNAi Revolution and continues to deliver on a bold vision to turn scientific possibility into reality. Alnylam has a deep pipeline of investigational medicines, including multiple product candidates that are in late-stage development. Alnylam is executing on its 'Alnylam P5x25' strategy to deliver transformative medicines in both rare and common diseases benefiting patients around the world through sustainable innovation and exceptional financial performance, resulting in a leading biotech profile. Alnylam is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than historical statements of fact regarding Alnylam's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects including, without limitation, Alnylam's expectation that a combined R&D organization will accelerate pipeline progress; Alnylam's ability to scale its impact and transform the lives of patients across a growing number of diseases; the potential for RNAi therapeutics to improve human health; Alnylam's ability to deliver RNAi therapeutics to every major tissue in the body and to address many additional diseases that lack effective treatments; and Alnylam's ability to imagine the next generation of treatments, achieve regulatory approval for additional treatments and to help patients live healthier lives should be considered forward-looking statements. Actual results and future plans may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: Alnylam's ability to successfully execute on its 'Alnylam P 5 x25' strategy; Alnylam's ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product candidates; the pre-clinical and clinical results for Alnylam's product candidates; actions or advice of regulatory agencies and Alnylam's ability to obtain regulatory approval for its product candidates, as well as favorable pricing and reimbursement; successfully launching, marketing and selling Alnylam's approved products globally; and any delays, interruptions or failures in the manufacture and supply of Alnylam's product candidates or its marketed products; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the 'Risk Factors' filed with Alnylam's 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as may be updated from time to time in Alnylam's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in its other SEC filings. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Alnylam's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Alnylam explicitly disclaims any obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update any forward-looking statements.
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Cannabis, Smoked or Eaten, Linked to Tobacco-Like Blood Vessel Harm
Long-term marijuana smoking and THC edible use may harm the blood vessels as much as tobacco, a new study suggests. The research indicates that cannabis users might face an increased risk of heart disease, even if they are otherwise healthy. Both smoking and eating cannabis caused the blood vessel linings to not work as effectively, even in otherwise healthy adults who never used tobacco, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found. 'The blood vessels don't seem to care whether the smoke is from tobacco or cannabis,' study author Matthew L. Springer, professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at UCSF, told The Epoch Times. The research shows cannabis users had blood vessel function 'very similar' to tobacco smokers in previous studies, he noted. Different Methods, Same Damage For the estimated 17.7 million Americans who use marijuana in some form every day, according to The
