Hey, it’s us again! We know you’re busy, here’s a quick run down of this week’s highlights!

The Full Panel delivers the latest medicine & health news in a nutshell. 🥜

The Science of Soy

Gist: A study published in the journal, Antioxidants, reported that a soybean protein, B-conglycinin, has been discovered to have the potential to reduce LDL cholesterol levels and lower the risk of metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver disease.

Nitty-Gritty: Glycinin and B-conglycinin are the two soy proteins thought to be responsible for the cholesterol-lowering properties and lipid-regulating effects of soybeans, with the latter identified to be particularly significant in this study. After testing the digested materials' capacity to inhibit the activity of HMGCR, a protein that controls the rate of cholesterol synthesis, the researchers found that their inhibitory properties were two to seven times less potent than simvastatin, a popular drug used to treat high LDL cholesterol and fat levels in the blood used as a control in the study. The digested soybeans' peptides were able to reduce lipid accumulation by 50% to 70%, and it was comparable to the statin, which reduced it by 60%, according to the researchers.

Big Picture: Soy sounds good! However, as with anything, moderation may be key here! Many of soy's health benefits are found in isoflavones— which mimic estrogen (a hormone) which could have different effects for everyone when consumed in excess. Interestingly, there is no tofu emoji 😅
Original source: here.

Ketamine: much more than an anesthetic agent! 😷

Gist: A recently published randomized controlled trial reported first evidence of efficacy of repeated ketamine infusions in reducing symptom severity in individuals with chronic PTSD.

Nitty-Gritty: A randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of repeated intravenous ketamine infusions for treating chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 30 individuals with chronic PTSD received either six ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) or midazolam (0.045 mg/kg) as a placebo control over two weeks. The ketamine group showed significantly greater improvement in PTSD symptom severity and depression scores than the placebo group. At week 2, 67% of the ketamine group were treatment responders, compared to 20% in the placebo group. The median time to loss of response among ketamine responders was 27.5 days following the infusions. Ketamine infusions were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events.

Big Picture: This study provides promising potential of ketamine in the treatment of PTSD. Further studies are warranted to understand ketamine's full potential in the context of chronic PTSD treatment. That being said, ketamine, an anesthetic agent which is used to put a patient to sleep for surgery, is not a new drug by any means. It has also been widely used for evidence-based acute pain management.
Original source: here.

Keto & Cholesterol: What you may like to know! 🥓

Gist: According to a recent study presented at the ACC Annual Scientific Session together with the World Congress of Cardiology, a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet, similar to the ketogenic (keto) diet, nearly doubled the risk of cardiovascular events when compared to a standard diet.

Nitty-Gritty: The study analyzed data collected by the UK Biobank for individuals with data on serum lipids, metabolic markers, and dietary patterns. Among the participants, 305 met the criteria for an LCHF diet, defined as consuming less than 25% of daily calories from carbohydrates and more than 45% from fat. The researchers matched these participants with 1,220 individuals who were considered to be on a “standard diet,” and made up the control group. Participants’ average age was 54 years, and they had a mean body mass index (BMI) of around 27. During the follow-up period, 9.8% of participants on an LCHF diet versus 4.3% of controls experienced a cardiovascular event, including blockage in arteries, a heart attack, or stroke. Those on LCHF diets had significantly higher LDL cholesterol levels and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) – a protein indicator of cholesterol levels.

Big Picture: As the study also reports, this is correlation, not causation, therefore, other factors not accounted for by the study could also skew the results seen. However, that being said, a prudent approach could be that those on a LCHF diet monitor their lipid levels and ensure regular checkup of their cholesterol levels with their health care practitioner.
Original source: here.

Turns out our parents were right! Eat your greens!🥦

Gist: A recent study published in the medical journal Neurology suggests that people who consume diets rich in green leafy vegetables, as well as other vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, and fish may have fewer amyloid plaques and tau tangles in their brain, which are signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Nitty-Gritty: The study examined how closely people followed the MIND and Mediterranean diets and found that both diets were associated with fewer Alzheimer's disease plaques and tangles. The MIND diet prioritizes green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens, along with other vegetables and berries over other fruits. On the other hand, the Mediterranean diet recommends vegetables, fruit, and three or more servings of fish per week. The study involved 581 people who agreed to donate their brains at death to advance dementia research.

Big Picture: While the study suggests an association of regularly consuming these diets with fewer Alzheimer's disease plaques and tangles, it does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. However, we doubt a diet with balanced amounts of fruits and vegetables could ever be bad! 😉
Original source: here.

Anxiety: is it in our blood? 💉

Gist: Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have developed a blood test that can potentially diagnose anxiety disorders, according to a study published in the Journal of Molecular Psychiatry.

Nitty-Gritty: The test, which has not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, measures blood levels of certain microRNAs, small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. The researchers found that people with anxiety disorders had different microRNA levels than those without anxiety. The test also differentiated between different types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Big Picture: According to the researchers, the test could potentially help clinicians diagnose anxiety disorders more accurately and quickly, leading to earlier individualized treatment and better outcomes for patients. Perhaps this could become part of routine testing during wellness visits to evaluate a person’s mental health over time and prevent any future distress.
Original source: here.

Beyond Text: Video of the Week

Dr. Andrew Huberman explains how alcohol increases stress levels. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

🤓Fact of the week: Our bodies can produce a natural painkiller called endorphins. Endorphins are released in response to stress, pain, or vigorous exercise and can help reduce the perception of pain, much like morphine or other opioid painkillers. They are also associated with feelings of pleasure and well-being, which is why many people experience a "runner's high" after engaging in intense physical activity.

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