Scientists solve the mystery of hardening arteries, and find solution in a common drug

New Atlas ^ | June 11, 2019 | Rich Haridy

[Hostage]

Uncovering the mechanism by which calcium deposits accumulate on the walls of arteries
could help develop new treatments for everything from heart disease to dementia
(Credit: Melinda Duer)

A landmark study, led by a team of scientists from King's College London and the University of Cambridge, has described the mechanism responsible for the hardening of arteries. The research also points to a common antibiotic as a potential new treatment to prevent this condition.

[DuncanWaring]

You said running prevents heart attacks.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Now studies have shown [a daily low-dose aspirin] to be worthless.

My cardiologist said the same goes for fish oil and olive oil. He said that the egg and butter "rehabilitation" are politically and financially driven, too. He still says stay away from eggs and dairy.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

From "Wise Geek" (which may be a quack site, but this sounds right): What Is the Connection between Aspirin and Platelets?

Aspirin is an oral medication that has both anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning properties. It inhibits the formation of blood clots by preventing platelets from producing a chemical called thromboxane A-2, which normally induces platelet clumping. When aspirin and platelets interact, the medication blocks the action of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) that forms thromboxane A-2. Without thromboxane A-2, platelets cannot stick together and join with fibrin to make a blood clot. While other agents also block the COX-1 enzyme, the antiplatelet effect of aspirin lasts for several days versus several hours for the other agents, making it a preferred choice according to many physicians for long-term prevention of heart attacks and strokes secondary to blood clots.

The connection between aspirin and platelets has been well studied in clinical trials.

The current recommendation for patients experiencing severe chest pain, shortness of breath with exercise, clamminess, nausea, and pain radiating into the jaw or arm is to take a regular aspirin as soon as the symptoms develop and to continue the aspirin each day for at least one month. Although aspirin will not open an blocked vessel with an existing blood clot, it will prevent growth of that clot and prevent the formation of more clots. In this way, aspirin limits the extent to which heart tissue becomes starved for oxygen and thereby limits the damage.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

HATE, ANGER, UNFORGIVENESS, GREED, LUST, RAGE

So all Democrats, leftists, socialists and the entire perpetually outraged crowd should die by age 30?

[RoosterRedux]

That was another Freeper. I was just defending Jim Fixx.;-)

[griffin]

Bttt

[BipolarBob]

P.S. we need organic probiotics in our bodies, not more antibiotics from the insane clowns of Big Medicine/Big Pharma

Exactly and that's why I take a daily dose of my organic non-GMO probiotic drink of brewed grains, hops and water. Plus it has Vitamin Pee.

[DuncanWaring]

So it was.

Never mind.

</emilylitella>

[Hostage]

PAR is a cellular expressed protein, enzyme and as with all such molecular structures, it has an active ‘pocket’ with unique dipole arrangements..

Drugs are small molecules that have polarity designed to hit certain active pockets, like key to lock.

Taking out a larger PAR molecile with a small molecule in this case disables PAR from doing its things with calcium molecules.

The antibiotic that is a possible solution is already approved so it can save ten years to market. But the approved dosage of the particular antibiotic falls short, so an increased dosage needs to be studied.

But what some of the excellent FR contributors are pointing out is that an increased circulation of antibiotics in the human population has a significant downside.

Now that we know precisely that PAR is the cause, a thorough study by nutritional chemists that can link precisely which dietary elements and regimes such as called out in the excellent comments of this thread including things like ketosis, must link all to precise measurements of effects on PAR. So now they have a target to test against.

This is a problem affecting hundreds of millions. We should expect Johns Hopkins or any of the network of NIH to get the funding to hop on this pronto.

[Liberty Valance]

"Garlic and cayenne pepper, especially eaten in combination, are alleged to clear out clogged arteries."

I Garontee!

[mad_as_he$$]

Yes, unless you have a tendency to get kidney stones.

[M Kehoe]

Thanks for the additional info.

5.56mm

[Sontagged]

A little wine, fine, but to your liver... be kind

[Yo-Yo]

The current recommendation for patients experiencing severe chest pain, shortness of breath with exercise, clamminess, nausea, and pain radiating into the jaw or arm is to take a regular aspirin as soon as the symptoms develop and to continue the aspirin each day for at least one month call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

There, fixed it.

[logi_cal869]

Cogent statement. Here’s the idiocy: “They” ignore the causes of inflammation and that cholesterol is the effect of the body trying to heal the vascular system. Inflammation is the disease, not the buildup they seek to remove WITH YET ANOTHER DRUG.

Failure to identify the problem serves no one but the researchers (grants), care providers (everyone is sick) and big pharma (selling the single-point solutions to that which ails everyone).

Hard to type that without a dozen sarc tags...but it’s all fact.

[logi_cal869]

Cogent statement. Here’s the idiocy: “They” ignore the causes of inflammation and that cholesterol is the effect of the body trying to heal the vascular system. Inflammation is the disease, not the buildup they seek to remove WITH YET ANOTHER DRUG.

Failure to identify the problem serves no one but the researchers (grants), care providers (everyone is sick) and big pharma (selling the single-point solutions to that which ails everyone).

Hard to type that without a dozen sarc tags...but it’s all fact.

[gnarledmaw]

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Statins all around! Even though there is no evidence they help most people reduce the risk of a 1st heart attack. Doctors push this stuff like candy.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Everyone knows aspirin comes from the active ingredient of willow bark, which was a popular remedy.

Sorry, you can’t negate that. It’s well known. As is the fact penicillin - the greatest single medicinal discovery - is based on certain mold growths.

If you want to peddle snake oil, go ahead. Just don’t expect everyone to follow you. Just because I think there is alot of bunk in “natural” garbage (HEMLOCK is natural - big deal), and ALOT of money (100% profit, no checking/research needed), doesn’t mean I’m against it existing. I just think it’s foolishness and a huge waste of time and money.

[Hostage]

You’re welcome.

Pharmaceutical chemists look at drugs (molecules) and biologics (made from living matter) as small molecules, small because they are designed to interact with molecules like proteins, hormones, enzymes which are large molecules about 100 X bigger.

Small molecules are called antibiotics when they are designed to deactivate or neutralize a bacterial element.

If a small molecule is designed to interact with an arthritic condition or inflammation, they might be called an anti-inflammatory agent. So a small molecule is named by what it’s designed for.

The key and lock analogy is a good one and is used in the field. Some molecules are designed for dual uses, like a key that fits more than one lock. Conversely, some locks can be opened up by more than one key.