Steroid Lanosterol drugs melt away cataract from the eyes

Scientists in California have discovered that the naturally occurring steroid lanosterol is able to melt away cataracts and prevent them from returning when administered to patients via eye drops. If approved for human use, the compound would be available as a non-invasive treatment for individuals with moderate forms of cataracts.

Scientists first became aware of lanosterol cataract-blocking abilities by observing two children in China who had a hereditary form of the condition. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the children shared a mutation that blocked the production of the steroid lanosterol,Science Alert reported. Their parents lacked this mutation and as a result never went on to develop cataracts. From this observation, the team proposed that the steroid must play a role in the formation of cataracts.

In a series of experiments outlined in a study now published in Nature, the team tested lanosterol on donated human lenses and live rabbits and dogs. Results repeatedly showed that lanosterol was able to significantly shrink cataract size.

Cataracts develop when protein in the lens builds up and prevents light from getting through. Although the condition can be hereditary, such as in the case of the Chinese siblings, it is more often likely to develop at an older age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S. Currently, the only treatment available for cataracts is surgically removing the clouded lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens.

Although it’s not entirely clear how lanosterol is working, the researchers believe that the steroid prevents the proteins from building up. According to Tech Times, if the drops prove to also work on humans, they could offer a non-invasive treatment for individuals with mild to moderate cataracts and serve as a way to prevent the condition from ever returning. While cataract surgery is relatively easy and safe, the drops would serve as an easier alternative for the 50 million Americans estimated to be afflicted by the condition by the year 2050.

Despite not yet being tested on humans, the study is already causing excitement. Jonathan King, a molecular biologist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Armitage that the study is the strongest of its kind that he’s seen in decades.

"They discovered the phenomena and then followed with all of the experiments that you should do — that’s as biologically relevant as you can get," King explained.

Too much exercise may lead to blood poisoning

Exercise is certainly a big step toward a healthier lifestyle, but even the most devoted gym rat wonders at some point: How much exercise is too much exercise? A recent study conducted at Monash University has found that there is such a thing as getting too much exercise, like a 24-hour ultra-marathon, and doing so can cause intestinal bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, resulting in blood poisoning.

“Exercising in this way is no longer unusual,” Dr. Ricardo Costa, at the university’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, said in a statement. “Waiting lists for marathons, Ironman triathlon events, and ultra-marathons are the norm and they're growing in popularity.”

Costa and his colleagues took blood samples from athletes before and after they completed a 24-hour ultra-marathon. The research team set out to determine if any relationship existed between extreme bouts of exercise and the stress it can place on the gut wall. When the blood samples of athletes competing in a 24-hour ultra-marathon were compared to control subjects, they found that prolonged physical activity caused naturally occurring bacteria, known as endotoxins, to leak into the bloodstream.

As endotoxins seep into the bloodstream, the body’s immune cells trigger an inflammatory response that is similar to a serious infection. This inflammatory response is much greater than what the body required and more than it could handle. If the flood of endotoxins is too much, it can result in a potentially fatal condition known as sepsis induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Costa says that participating in over four hours of exercise and repetitive days of endurance training is considered extreme.

"Nearly all of the participants in our study had blood markers identical to patients admitted to hospital with sepsis," Costa explained. "That's because the bacterial endotoxins that leach into the blood as a result of extreme exercise, triggers the body's immune cells into action."

If this is true, then why aren’t more marathon runners suffering from blood poisoning? Simply by training hard and staying fit. By preparing for an ultra-marathon and staying fit, certain athletes from the study had higher levels of Interleukin 10, an anti-inflammatory protein heralded for its healthy properties.

"The body has the ability to adapt and put a brake on negative immune responses triggered by extreme endurance events," Costa added. "But if you haven't done the training and you're unfit, these are the people who can get into trouble."

Costa recommends that anyone hoping to compete in an activity that requires peak endurance get a health checkup first before starting "a slow and steady training program." One month of training is not enough.

How should you poop

There are two types of poopers in this world: Type A has their pooping down to a science. They go every day at the same time and usually (if they can help it) in the same toilet. Then there's Type B. This group heeds nature's calls less frequently with no real ritual to its toilet habits. So, which of these two is the healthier option? Both.

It’s All Relative

Poop, or as it’s also known, feces, is actually around 75 percent water. According to the University of Massachusetts, the remaining parts are made from a mixture of dead bacteria that helped us to digest our food, living bacteria, protein, indigestible fiber, and waste materials from the liver and intestines.

Exactly how often you poop is relative to the individual. The average individual poops about once a day, releasing around one ounce of excrement per 12 pounds of body weight, meaning that a 160-pound person will produce just under a pound of poop a day. Although once a day may be the average, that does not necessarily make it the norm. As reported by Live Science, gastroenterologists agree that anything in the range of three times a day to three times a week is normal as long as the feces is neither too hard nor too loose.

The frequency and amount that you poop is based on a combination of your personal dietary habits. For example, it’s been said that Asians have far more frequent bowel movements than individuals in Western countries, such as the U.S. Live Science reported that this difference in bathroom habits is an effect of the high-fiber diet favorited by many in the East.

Pooping is your body’s way to get rid of waste buildup, but some individuals have taken up colon cleansing in an effort to increase this toxin removal. In actuality our body is perfectly equipped to rid itself of its own waste and colon cleansing does little, if any, good. Good bacteria in our digestive tract help us break down our foods and maintain homeostasis. But when we colon cleanse, we also clean these necessary bacteria away. On top of this, colon cleansing can up your chances of seriously injuring your rectal muscles, and may even lead to a blood infection. Regularly taking laxatives without a doctor's advice is also likely to cause similar long-term effects. 

Time For Concern

The only time the frequency of your bathroom habits should cause you worry is if they suddenly change. For example, if you go from pooping every other day to going twice a day you may need to be concerned. The most common cause for a change in bathroom habits is a change in diet and lifestyle. For example, Everyday Health reported that most individuals find they are less consistent with their pooping on the weekends or on vacation, which is when they're probably less strict with their eating and exercising.

Menstruation can also cause irregularity in some women’s bathroom habits. Prostaglandins are hormones released by the female body to signal the beginning of the shedding of the uterus lining. As reported byPopular Science, some women produce more prostaglandins than others, and the stray hormones may make it to the bowels. Here, they have a similar effect but instead of stimulating the uterus to expel waste, they stimulate the bowel.

Progesterone, another hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, can also influence a woman’s bowel movements, PopSci reported. Low levels of progesterone can stimulate the bowels, which is why some women may get diarrhea right before their menstrual period.

Suddenly using the bathroom less frequently than normal may be a sign of something as minor as dietary and exercise changes or something more serious, such as irritable bowel disease or colorectal cancer.Depression is also a common cause of constipation. If left unaddressed for too long, extreme constipation can lead to an impacted bowel — a treatable but extremely unpleasant health condition.

When it comes to bathroom habits, your own intuition should be the first reference you turn to. As long as your bathroom trips don't cause pain or discomfort you are most likely in the clear. Your digestive system works all day and every day, so slight hiccups are to be expected. But if either constipation or diarrhea lasts for longer than weeks at a time, it may be time to seek medical assistance.