Published inThe Microscope·Aug 25Member-onlyWhat’s Going On In Lupus (SLE): The Role Of A Sugar-Binding Protein In Disease DevelopmentWhich can possibly serve as an indicator or risk predictor of SLE. — The immune system protects us from dangerous viruses and other microbes — it is an incredibly complex network of cells and molecules, so intricate that there’s a joke about a cardiologist who’d rather face death than listen to an immunologist explain it. But to make things simple, the immune system…Lupus7 min readLupus7 min read
Published inMicrobial Instincts·Aug 13Member-onlyThree Common Viral Infections That Can Imitate, Trigger, or Worsen Systemic Lupus ErythematosusOne aspect to consider when SLE-like symptoms suddenly appear. — Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In SLE, the immune system becomes dysfunctional, where the immune cells become overly aggressive, less competent in their tasks, and fail to differentiate between the body’s proteins and foreign invaders. As a result, these cells erroneously target healthy tissues, provoking inflammation and…Autoimmune Disease9 min readAutoimmune Disease9 min read
Published inThe Microscope·Jul 25Member-onlyLinking Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and UV Sensitivity: When Immune Cells Receive Misguided Cell EducationInstead of improving their efficiency, they appear to lose competence. — In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s cells, leading to inflammation in affected tissues. About 70% of SLE patients experience cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), where the immune system targets the skin cells, resulting in uncontrolled inflammations that manifest as skin rashes. …Autoimmune Disease6 min readAutoimmune Disease6 min read
Published inThe Microscope·Jul 9Member-onlyWhy Sunlight Exposure Can Cause Kidney Damage In SLE PatientsExploring the skin-kidney crosstalk in systemic lupus erythematosus — The sunlight can be daunting for people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the host’s tissues. Unlike people with healthy immune systems, minimal exposure to UV light from the sun can cause skin rashes in those with SLE. But mysteriously…Lupus6 min readLupus6 min read
Published inThe Microscope·Jun 23Member-onlyHDL Cholesterol: Apparently, There’s A Limit To How High It Should BeEven these good cholesterols can turn bad, and an extremely high level may mean having more of the bad ones. — Being the leading cause of death in the world, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for ~32% of global mortality. In the U.S. alone, a person dies every 33 seconds from heart disease, and ~805,000 people have had a heart attack at least once. …Science8 min readScience8 min read
Published inThe Microscope·Jun 10Member-onlyWHO’s Take On Non-Sugar Sweeteners: What They Have Left Out In Their StatementAmidst the artificial sweetener controversy, let’s put things into perspective. — Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement discouraging non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) use for weight loss or prevent diseases linked to excessive sugar consumption, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. According to the WHO’s statement, “[The] use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in…Artificial Sweeteners19 min readArtificial Sweeteners19 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·May 12Member-onlyStruggling To Stay Focused When Meditating? Here’s How To Approach Meditation EffectivelyWhen the mind wanders, the goal isn’t to empty the mind. The goal is to focus on one thing. — When our minds wander, we may find ourselves reminiscing the past, worrying about the future, or simply thinking about our list of things to do. In the meantime, we dissociate from the present moment. …Science8 min readScience8 min read
Published inThe Microscope·Jun 26, 2022Member-onlyR.I.C.E. For Sprains, Strains And Muscle Tears For Faster Healing Is Apparently A MythThe physician who started the R.I.C.E. protocol agreed that it delays healing rather than helping after all. — On May 23, 1962, Dr. Ronald A. Malt, a young chief resident, and a team of twelve doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital created a medical miracle. …Injury6 min readInjury6 min read
Published inMicrobial Instincts·Jun 14, 2022Member-onlyMonkeypox Vaccine: Unless For Occupational Exposures, Only Vaccinate If You Are Infected Or A Close ContactFor the others, good hygiene, safe distancing, and perhaps, wearing a mask will suffice. — Since May 7 — the day monkeypox made it to global headlines with its unusual appearance in non-endemic continents — over 1600 cases are now confirmed in 35 countries, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to raise its concern over the outbreak. While experts, including the World Health…Monkeypox5 min readMonkeypox5 min read
Published inThe Microscope·May 25, 2022Member-onlyGrapefruit Juice And Statins: A Potential Hazard?Statistically significant doesn’t necessarily mean clinically significant. — Grapefruits are known for being nutritionally dense, especially with vitamins and minerals believed to help with weight management, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of kidney stones. But while well-known for its health-promoting effects, grapefruit is also notorious for interacting with certain medications. …Health9 min readHealth9 min read
