Research supported by the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) provides new insight into Huntington disease (HD) and may provide benefits for other neurodegenerative diseases

(KITCHENER, ON) July 10, 2018 – A multi-institutional, international study supported in collaboration by the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC), the Krembil Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and McMaster University has developed a new theory on Huntington disease (HD) which is showing promise and is opening new avenues of potential drug development.

HD is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in every 7,000 Canadians has HD and approximately one in every 5,500 is at-risk of developing the disease.

HD is caused by a mutation in the gene that makes the protein called huntingtin. This study was conducted in partnership with the Ray Truant lab of McMaster University, the Simonetta Sipione lab of the University of Alberta, the David Litchfield lab of the Western University and the Christopher Ross Lab of Johns Hopkins University.  They found that there is a unique type of signalling coming from damaged DNA, that signals huntingtin activity in DNA repair, and that this signalling is defective in Huntington disease.

A study developing the new hypothesis was published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).

“The concept was that if we applied the signalling molecule back in excess, even orally, this signalling can be restored in the Huntington disease mouse brain,” said Laura Bowie, a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster. “This resulted in the mutant huntingtin protein levels being restored to normal, leading to a correction of Huntington disease in mouse models.”

This discovery was made using a robotic microscope and drug screening by artificial intelligence, coupled to state-of-the-art super-resolution microscopy in a system developed by Bowie.

Ray Truant, senior author on the study, has focussed his career on Huntington disease research and how the mutation leads to Huntington disease. His lab was the first to show that normal huntingtin was involved in DNA repair.

“This is an important new lead and a new hypothesis, but it is important for people to know this is not a drug or cure,” said Truant, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster. “These compounds also show promise in Parkinson disease models as there may be pathways in common for Huntington and Parkinson diseases.”

Dr. Truant’s research is supported in part through HSC’s research funding strategy which supports excellent, peer reviewed research into the most promising basic and clinical research, leading to viable treatments for HD.  The universal goal for the international HD research focus is to find treatments that reverse, slow or prevent the progression of HD.

“The Huntington Society of Canada is proud to support such leading edge research,” says Bev Heim-Myers, CEO of the Huntington Society of Canada.  “Innovative research initiatives, such as the work led by the team in Dr. Truant’s Lab, including PhD student Laurie Bowie, has the potential to transform HD research.  The answers we find for Huntington disease will likely lead to better understanding of treatments for other neurological diseases and it is important that we continue this cross-talk amongst neurodegenerative diseases.”

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Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in every 7,000 Canadians has HD and approximately one in every 5,500 is at-risk of developing the disease. Many more are touched by HD whether as a caregiver, a family member, or a friend. HD causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington disease becomes less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. Many describe the symptoms of HD as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.

The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is a respected leader in the worldwide effort to end Huntington disease. HSC is the only Canadian health charity dedicated to providing help and hope for families dealing with Huntington disease across Canada.

5 Ways Neglecting Your Teeth Can Cost You – In Money And In Health

Here’s a hard fact to chew on: Adults between the ages of 20 and 64 average losing about seven permanent teeth, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

Lost teeth are just one of the many costs that can be incurred by neglecting your oral health. Dental professionals say a lack of preventative care by patients is often at the root of dental problems; only 37 percent of adults participating in the NIDCR survey reported visiting a dentist in the previous year.

“You can eliminate a lot of pain by being proactive about your dental health,” says Dr. Ramón Durán (www.drramonduran.com), a dentist in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and author of Your Best Smile … For a Lifetime: Achieving Your Optimal Oral Health. “Taking preventative measures is vital if you want to save money and, more importantly, save your teeth and stay healthy.

There are many signs you need to see your dentist, yet often people ignore oral issues until the pain forces them into action.

“By then, the conditions have likely progressed to the point where more involved and expensive treatments are necessary,” Durán says. “Along with the many dental-related problems, there are serious diseases and health complications that are linked to poor dental health.”

Durán lists five ways neglecting your oral health can cost you - not just in money but also in medical issues:

• Implants. These are the expensive replacements for those teeth you lost. They can run anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 for a single tooth. Durán links implants with what he calls “opportunity costs” – the choice one relinquishes when making a poor dental health decision. “Deciding not to brush at least twice a day and floss, opting for sugary foods and snacks, not visiting your dentist twice a year – all are opportunity costs,” Durán says. “Your mouth is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, and if neglected, one the most direct results is tooth loss.”
• Jobs. Yes, yellowed, missing or crooked teeth can cost you a job. An American Dental Association survey found young adults and low-income adults agreed that the appearance of their mouth affected their ability to interview. One reason: they were too embarrassed to smile. ”Like it or not, we’re often judged by our appearance,” Durán says. “We often associate a person’s oral health with some of the social biases we have.”
• Diabetes. The National Institute of Health’s report “Oral Health in America” links periodontitis to diabetes. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the tissue around the teeth, often causing shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth. “Reports have suggested it’s a two-way street for these diseases,” Durán says. “Periodontal disease may have a negative impact on glycemic control.”
• Heart disease and stroke. “Certain bacteria that thrive in dental infections are being identified as potentially linked to heart disease,” Durán says. “Bacteria or viruses in the mouth can get directly into the bloodstream, with the possibility of causing blood clots and narrowing of the arteries.”
• COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, caused by chronic bronchitis, recurrent respiratory infection or emphysema, has been associated with periodontal disease. “This can happen due to bacterial pneumonia living in the mouth and making its way to the airway,” Durán says.

“The cost of choosing not to take proper care of your teeth and gums is greater than many people imagine,” Durán asks. “It could be the cost of an implant, dentures, your overall health – and even your life.”

About Dr. Ramón Durán

Dr. Ramón Durán, DMD (www.drramonduran.com), is a dentist based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a practice focused on cosmetic and implant dentistry. He’s a public speaker and author of Your Best Smile … For a Lifetime: Achieving Your Optimal Health. Dr. Durán is part of just 10 percent of dental professionals in the U.S. who practice the concept of complete dentistry, helping patients to identify potential problems before further damage can occur. He is a former faculty member of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Duran also is a graduate of The Dawson Academy, a world-renowned continuing education institution for dentists.

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The Devastating Connection Between Lead Pollution and Fertility

Sexual health expert Dr. Laura Berman discusses new findings that show the insidious impact of lead on reproductive health

Lead pollution in Flint, Michigan has caused fetal deaths to increase by as much as 50%. Now, new research from Carnegie Mellon University has found that airborne lead exposure has lowered the general fertility rate in recent years.

“For years, the link between lead exposure and fertility has been researched,” says Dr. Laura Berman, sexual health expert and television host. “We now know that exposure to lead, even airborne exposure via topsoil, can harm our reproductive abilities.”

Dr. Berman says that concerned couples can take several steps to safeguard their fertility, including having their home tested for lead and using water filters to help remove lead from drinking water.

“But, beware, not all water filters are created equal,” says the sexual health expert and New York Times bestselling author. “For example, refrigerator water filter units generally do not have the capability to remove lead from water.”

In addition to limiting your exposure to harmful lead, Dr. Laura Berman advises hopeful couples to also consider other lifestyle choices which could be impacting your ability to become pregnant, including:

• Ibuprofen. “Many men think nothing of grabbing a handful of ibuprofen whenever they have muscle aches after the gym or they are battling a headache,” says Dr. Berman. “However, a brand-new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that men who take ibuprofen on a regular basis could suffer from hypogonadism, which is a hormonal condition that could cause infertility in men.”
• Low iodine. “By now, most women know that being a healthy weight is an important factor when it comes to getting pregnant. Hence, these women tend to focus on the calories and carbs they consume, and the number on the scale. But a new study suggests that these women need to be focused on the amount of iodine they are eating as well.  Women who are low in iodine have HALF the chance of conceiving as women who have a healthy level of iodine.”
• The wrong lubricant. “Couples know that they need to enjoy lots of love-making in order to increase their chance of conception, but when it comes to making babies, not all lubricants are created equal,” explains Dr. Berman. “There is only one lubricant on the market which has an FDA-cleared formula and is recommended for fertility enhancement, and that is ToConcieve.”

ToConcieve was created by ob-gyns in conjunction with Callitas Health Inc. (CSE: LILY, OTCBB: MPHMF, FWB: T3F2). The fertility enhancing gel is unlike any other fertility product on the market in that it actually encourages the woman’s body to create more of her own lubricant, which in turn may increase the activation of sperm and the woman’s chances of pregnancy. Unlike every other lubricant on the market, ToConceive doesn’t just add chemical lubricants to a woman’s body, it actually encourages her to make more of her own natural lubricant which not only adds to her pleasure, but also may improve her chances of natural conception.

“This ground-breaking product is going to change the way that couples approach their fertility journey,” says Dr. Berman. “Now they have something over the counter that they can use before they have to spend the time and money on interventions at the doctor’s office.”

• Too much red meat. “A new Greek study has found that women who eat a Mediterranean diet are more likely to be successful on their IVF journey than women who do not. In other words, eating a plant-based diet with lots of healthy fats (such as olive oil and avocados) and lean protein like fish could help you to become pregnant.”
• Air pollution and pesticides. “Shocking research has revealed that pollution in the air could actually lead to poorer quality of sperm and hence higher levels of infertility for many couples,” says Dr. Berman. “Other research has linked a high consumption of pesticides with a woman’s inability to become pregnant. These findings are good reminders that we need to eat clean and breathe clean if we want to have optimal fertility.”

For more on this topic or to speak to Dr. Berman about ToConcieve and how it can help improve a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant, please contact me.

About Dr. Laura Berman:

Laura Berman, PhD, is a world-renowned sex and relationship educator and therapist; popular TV, radio and Internet host; New York Times best-selling author; and assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. Considered a thought leader in her field, Dr. Berman has helped countless couples build stronger relationships, improve their sex lives, and achieve a heightened level of intimacy through her TV and radio shows, books, columns and website, along with her private practice based in Chicago. Dr. Berman is a New York Times best-selling author of many books on sexual health and pleasure, a weekly columnist for the Chicago Sun Times, and host of the radio program “Uncovered with Dr. Laura Berman.” She has appeared on Fox News, CNN and the TODAY Show, as well as in The New York Times, USA Today, and every major woman’s magazine. Dr. Berman serves on the advisory board for The Dr. Oz Show and is a regular guest on The Steve Harvey Show.

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