undeather

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About undeather

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  • Birthday 06/06/1993

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  1. It really depends on the area of research. The harder the science, the easier it gets to design adequately powered research. In medicine, I would go way higher than 50%. I would argue that at least 80-90% of all studies published suffer from significant methodological flaws. That said, it's important to mention that there is still great research to lean on for scientific progress. One just has to weigh it properly.
  2. I can't imagine myself working on that thing and actually being productive
  3. If you are not a skeptical person in todays world, you are credolous fool. The right path is being skeptical without becomming a skeptic.
  4. David Sinclair, Harvard professor, longevity reseacher & author - best known for his appearances on Joe Rogan and several other podcasts - seems to be one of the new big snakeoil salesmen in the medical industry. I did not expect this kind of bullshitting from someone with his credentials, but there you have it. Absolutely shocking:
  5. Indeed, research as early as 2017 has shown that a ketogenic diet can impair thyroid function in some individuals. It's well-documented that the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) diminishes during fasting. However, experiencing significant effects after just one week on a low-carb diet would be unusual. Have you had your thyroid function checked recently? The issues you've mentioned—being skinny-fat, experiencing mood fluctuations, focus difficulties, and challenges in building muscle—could all be indicators of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Regarding the "big ball" you feel in your stomach, it's unlikely to be your liver; fatty liver disease typically doesn't present as a palpable condition. It's possible that this sensation could also be related to low thyroid function; bloating is a common symptom and might manifest as a "ball-like" structure in a specific area of the stomach. My first advice would be to get your blood-levels evaluated by your GP. Also, an ultrasound of your internal organs would be indicated in such case (just be sure your "big ball" isn't something serious) Second, I would really push back against ketogenic diets in general. For every success story you read online, there is at least one other person who progressively gets worse on a low carb diet. You have started a ketogenic diet and now notice negative patterns in your body - so I would argue it's maybe not the right choice for you. What hinders you from going on a healthy, omnivorous diet? You need to really take all those healh-influecners (like Mark Sisson) and fad-diets with a grain of salt. They will promise health, wealth and beauty - but so does every other diet-scheme nowadays (carnivore, vegan, paleo...). And if you actually check what kind of evidence they are basing their claims on - it becomes laughable. Carbs are not your enemy - that's a conditioned believe. Most people who follow a healthy omnivorous diet consisting of enough protein, good carbs & healthy fats are doing more than fine from a health perspective.
  6. Binding of proteoglycans induces structural changes in LDL impacting both the configuration of apoB100 and the lipid composition. Hence, the binding of LDL to proteoglycans makes the LDL more susceptible to oxidation and aggregation, which promotes foam cell formation and a proinflammatory response, and the process is self-perpetuating. Oxidized LDL can induce further production of proteoglycans by vascular smooth muscle cells, retaining more LDL in the arterial wall.The causal relationship between ApoB and cardiovascular disease progression is one of the most consistent in all of modern medicine. What you measure in your serum as "oxLDL" is NOT the same as the particle that goes through the oxidation process in the subendothelial space. A fully oxidized lipoprotein particle, which then becomes a ligand for the scavenger receptor of the macrophage, shows a high modifcation-state in their phospholipids and the apoB-component. This process doesn't occur directly in your bloodstream, primarily because of the abundance of antioxidants present there. However, minimally oxidized LDL particles in your serum do show a higher propensity to enter the arterial wall and appear to further promote atherosclerotic activities, such as reduced capability for reverse transport and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Yet, it's important to note that most studies to date haven't definitively pinpointed the direct cause. Ultimately, the crucial factor is total ApoB, and in my view, mendelian randomization studies illustrate this most effectively. Even with no oxidized LDL (oxLDL) in your serum, having a high ApoB count can still lead to heart disease. Numerous studies indicate that having a higher antioxidative capacity does not guard against atherosclerosis. Intriguingly, exceeding a certain threshold of antioxidative potential might even exacerbate the condition. While I support efforts to reduce serum oxLDL, given the strong mechanistic rationale behind it, it's crucial we don't selectively interpret data. Instead, we should consider the broad spectrum of research findings to guide our understanding and actions. What we definitely can be sure of is that reducing ApoB burden, through lifestyle interventions and sometomes drugs, directly reduces our cardiovascular disease risk.
  7. We can't. It's everywhere. Even if we somehow manage to get rid of food-packaging, plastic particles can be found in cloud water ocean and marine environments, freshwater systems, bascially all terrestrial environments (soil & air), household dust, and also in every food group available (more common in animal foods). I believe a universally actionable step at this juncture is to reduce unnecessary contaminations. This entails adhering to straightforward measures, such as avoiding the use of certain plastic bottles (paying attention to the resin identification code, with codes other than 4, 5, 1, 2 being problematic), being vigilant about the presence of microplastics in personal care products (including soaps, makeup, deodorants, etc.), replacing plastics in the kitchen with alternatives like ceramic or glass, and opting for purchases at farmers' markets, among others. Such practices are instrumental in minimizing environmental impact. I can assure you that this study is poised to elicit considerable attention, particularly should the findings be replicated. This will likely prompt endeavors to seek solutions to the identified issue over the coming decade. As it stands, this represents a nascent scientific discovery, necessitating further elucidation to fully comprehend the intricacies of the phenomenon and develop efficacious treatment strategies.
  8. I am currently doing a lot of research on this topic since I want to include "detox"-protocols for the patients in my private practice. That said, there isn't a proven method specifically tailored for removing microplastics from the bloodstream (yet). There are mechanistical approaches and a whole lot of garbage science - so one needs to be very careful with the data. The good news is that your body seems to somehow take care of the problem IF you stop the constant influx. Some specific particle-measurements actually go down if people stop using products polluted with certain kinds of particles. So, prophylaxes and minimizing plastic in day to day life is the way to go for now. That said, not all plastics are equally bad - some don't seem to have a negative effect at all - it's very complex. A life completely without plastic is tedious and also unnecessary. If I find the time, I will go into more detail and what everyone can do from a practical standpoint.
  9. I can send you the full paper next time when I am in the clinic since we have NEJM access! https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 Well, the study looks at people who underwent carotid endarterectomy and that usually means (depending on on the guideline) a 60%+ stenosis (asymptomatic) of the artery - meaning there is already a significant amount of atherosclerotis degeneratuion underlying the whole cardiovascular system. So we are propably talking about patients who did not choose the healthiest life-path to begin with - I can't give you the exact numbers (controls & adjustments) at the moment (since I am already at home), but I will get back to you asap! What is pretty crazy however, is that the presence of microplastic in the atheroma itself seems to be an independent major predictor of the structural integrity of the atherosclerotic lesion and therefore a huge risk factor for it "bursting", causing a stroke or heart attack in the process. Why only some individuals seem to deposit such compounds in their lesions, while others don't is still up to debate. Maybe there are certain risk factors like smoking or hypertension that increase the tendency while others maybe be neutral towards it. It seems like the mononuclear phagocyte system is very much involved in this process - and there is quite a lot of mechanistical speculation going on at the moment. But just the numbers themselves, that HR - that's almost unheard of. We might find out that those compounds are as - if not more detrimental than some of our classical cardiovascular risk factors in the near future!
  10. Microplastics and nanoplastics, tiny particles less than 5mm in size, have long been a concern for environmental scientists, feared for their potential to infiltrate the food chain and accumulate in biological tissues. Until now, the direct impact of these particles on human health remained largely speculative, with most evidence rooted in preclinical studies. However, this latest research presents undeniable evidence of their perilous presence within human arteries, specifically targeting patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Unveiling the Evidence In a meticulously designed prospective study spanning multiple centers, researchers analyzed carotid plaque specimens (atherosclerotic sludge in the carotid arteries) from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (extraction of plaque through surgery). Using advanced techniques such as pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electron microscopy, the study revealed the unsettling prevalence of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride particles within the plaque. These findings are shocking - over half of the patients harbored these plastic particles, turning their own bodies into unwitting hosts for pollution. Electron microscopy further exposed the jagged edges of these particles nestled among plaque macrophages, painting a grim picture of the internal battle waged within the arteries. Radiographic analysis underscored the severity of the situation, identifying chlorine among the debris - a testament to the synthetic origins of these invaders. The Toll on Human Health The study's findings take a grim turn as they quantify the impact of these particles on cardiovascular health. Patients with MNPs (micro & nanoplastics) detected in their arterial plaque were found to be at a staggering 4.53 (353% !!) times higher risk of experiencing a myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause compared to those without such particles. This stark revelation underlines a grim reality - the invasion of microplastics into our bodies is not merely a passive occurrence but propably a potent harbinger of disease and mortality. A Call to Action This research is a clarion call to the global community, highlighting an urgent need for measures to curb plastic pollution and protect public health. The study not only adds a new dimension to our understanding of cardiovascular disease risk factors but also implores us to rethink our relationship with plastics. The findings underscore the necessity for immediate action to mitigate this invisible threat, urging for policies aimed at reducing plastic production and improving waste management, alongside fostering further research into the health implications of plastic accumulation in the human body. In the face of this silent threat, the path forward demands a concerted effort to address the pervasive issue of plastic pollution. As we grapple with the implications of these findings, the study serves as a sobering reminder of the complex interconnections between environmental health and human well-being, urging us to act before the toll of inaction becomes irreversible.
  11. The DMT machine elves told me
  12. This is very dangerous nonsense.
  13. Well, I tried. Good luck with your life, Yousif!