Recently, the United States Health Day News reported news with the title Parkinson’s Patient Improving After First-Ever Stem Cell Therapy. For the first time, scientists have transformed Parkinson’s patients’ own skin cells into key brain cells, and have achieved considerable results.

Scientists used the patient’s own skin cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in vitro, and then they differentiated the iPSCs into midbrain dopaminergic precursor cells. After testing, patient-specific dopaminergic precursor cells have the phenotypic characteristics of substantia nigra neurons, and experiments with humanized mouse models have shown that these cells lack immunogenicity.

Subsequently, these cells were implanted into the Parkinson’s patient for two times at intervals of 6 months. The transplantation sites were the left and right hemisphere putamen, and the patient did not receive immunosuppressive treatment during this period. The positron emission tomography showed that the cells survived steadily in the patient. After 18-24 months of transplantation treatment, this patient’s Parkinson’s clinical symptoms tended to be stabilized or even improved.

“It has been two years since the stem cell transplantation treatment began, and the patient has not experienced serious side effects. Parkinson’s clinical symptoms have been stabilized or even improved.” The patient’s attending doctor also said that the improvement is moderate, but before receiving stem cell transplantation, his condition deteriorated quickly, and this kind of condition had stopped after the treatment. This case gave Parkinson’s patients great encouragement, proving the feasibility and safety of this stem cell transplantation treatment.

However, this treatment still takes a long time to maker a further exploration before it is widely promoted. First of all, it is difficult to popularize this therapy on a large scale since inducing the induction of pluripotent stem cells, and differentiating into dopaminergic progenitor cells require very high production routes. Secondly, how to benefit patients by transplantation? To solve this problem, it still needs many more practice. In the case, the 69-year-old patient reported that his life improved rapidly shortly after the operation. It does not rule out the possibility of other effects, and the mechanism of how stem cells improve the life of Parkinson’s patients in a short period of time still requires further exploration.

Parkinson’s incidence is the second, which is only lower than Alzheimer’s disease. Acording to statistics, it is the second largest neurodegenerative disease, with an incidence of more than 2% in people over 65 years of age. Now, there are more than 10 million Parkinson’s patients worldwide. However, at present, Parkinson’s treatment is mainly to relieve symptoms, there is no cure, and cell transplantation is the most promising treatment for this disease. The principle is to increase the level of dopamine by transplanting cells into the striatum or midbrain substantia nigra of Parkinson’s patients to achieve the purpose of improving exercise.

In addition to the induced pluripotent stem cells in the above case, the most widely used treatment in clinical studies are mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells have the advantages of convenient material extraction, easy separation and culture, as well as autoimmunity without immunogenicity.

Stem cell transplantation is proved to have the potential to treat Parkinson’s disease, and this case shows that iPSCs transplantation treatment is both feasible and safe, and can even block the progression of the disease and improve clinical conditions. This novel research report undoubtedly brought hope to the majority of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

In recent years, more and more studies have confirmed that stem cell therapy, including induced pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, has clinical application prospects, which shows that the prospect of stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease is also very promising.

As the temperature continued to rise, mosquitoes began to appear in many places. Because mosquitoes suck blood and are the vectors of many diseases, many people start to worry that if mosquitoes inhale the blood of COVID-19 patients or hidden infectious patients, and then bite healthy people, will they be able to spread the disease? Is it possible for mosquito bites to become a new way of spreading COVID-19?

Currently, it is known that the routes of transmission of COVID-19 are mainly direct transmission, aerosol transmission and contact transmission. In general, according to the WHO and the CDCs, there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, are able to be transmitted by mosquito bites.

In general, the viruses that can be transmitted by mosquitoes are “human mosquito symbiosis”, such as dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika fever. It is because these viruses can survive and reproduce in the mosquitoes, so they will spread to others through bites, while SARS-CoV-2 is a genus of beta coronavirus that can only infect vertebrates, and mosquitoes are invertebrates.

If the mosquito bites, the “mouth” is contaminated with the patient’s blood, will it be brought into the next bite? This possibility is also extremely low. First of all, the amount of blood that can be contaminated by mosquito mouthparts is narrow, and the concentration of virus in the blood is also very low, so the chance of getting the virus is very small. Second, mosquitoes generally do not attack the next prey quickly after the first bite, but instead find a place to hide and digest for a while. This process usually takes at least two days, after two days, and the virus has lost its activity. Therefore, the possibility of mosquito bites spreading SARS-CoV-2 is minimal.

Since mosquito bites cannot transmit the virus, how can we protect ourselves from other sources? It requires not only strong medical treatment, but also the patient’s own good immunity. However, it may be difficult to quickly improve immunity in the short term. The following three methods can help the body adjust immunity.

First, strengthen the protection, which means staying at home is the best protection at current time. If you need to go to a crowded and poorly ventilated place, such as taking public transportation or going to a hospital, you must wear a mask correctly. Wash your hands frequently, and don’t touch your face with dirty hands are also proved to be effective. Second, be sure to get a good night’s sleep. Staying up late has an immediate effect on the destruction of the human immune system. Staying up late will affect the body’s circadian clock, thus affect the immune system’s response ability and defense ability, so in such a special period, it is important to ensure 7-8 hours of good sleep every day. Finally, keep a positive attitude. Tension, restlessness, anxiety, these psychological changes will affect the immunity through the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system, and the immune system’s ability to resist pathogens will be reduced, then the body is more vulnerable to infection. At the same time, severe psychological changes can also cause many physical and mental diseases, such as insomnia, headache, blood pressure fluctuations, stomach upset, intestinal dysfunction, etc. These diseases will further weaken the body’s resistance.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, scientists around the world have mobilized various forces to devote themselves to the development of antiviral drugs or SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. With the development of R&D process, it seems that the victory of fighting against the virus is in the near future.

Sperm Motility and its Types

The ability of the sperm to move efficiently is called sperm motility. Sperms are said to have healthy motility if they have progressions of at least 25 micrometres per second. The condition of low sperm motility is referred to as Asthenozoospermia. It is diagnosed when less than 32% of the sperms are able to move efficiently.

Sperm motility can be categorized into three types. These are:

Progressive motility – When the sperm swim in straight lines or large circlesNon-progressive motility – When the sperm do not travel in straight lines and swim in tight circlesNo motility – When the sperm do not move at all

Asthenozoospermia and Natural Pregnancy

Sperm motility plays a vital role when it comes to conceiving naturally. This is because, in order to reach and fertilize the egg, the sperm needs to move through the woman’s reproductive tract. The sperm should have progressive motility of at least 25 micrometres per second to get through the cervical mucus and fertilize a woman’s egg. Hence, the issue of poor sperm motility can result in a failure in pregnancy.

Causes of Asthenozoospermia

The causes behind low sperm motility or Asthenozoospermia can be many. Some of the possible ones are as follows:

Genetic problems
Abnormal semen
liquefaction
Damage to the testicles
Undiagnosed medical conditions
Changes in lifestyle
Environmental factors
Smoking habit
Inflammation of veins in the scrotum or VaricoceleImmunological factors
Diagnosis

A routine semen analysis is carried out to test sperm motility. A minimum of two sperm samples is needed in order to obtain accurate results in the test. Generally, the patient is requested to abstain from sex between 2 and 7 days before collecting the sample. The patient is then instructed to masturbate with a specially designed condom. The obtained samples are then delivered to the medical facility within 30-60 minutes and are kept at room temperature. If less than 40% of the patient’s sperm are found motile, the patient is considered to have low motility.

Asthenozoospermia Treatment

There are several ways to treat Asthenozoospermia. Here are a few, suggesting how to increase your sperm motility.

Perform daily exercise
Maintain a healthy eating lifestyle
Relieve stress and anxiety
Limit the usage of electronic equipment like cell phones, laptops etc
Ditch tight clothing like skinny jeans and jockeys
Take regular breaks if you work in a hot environment
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every day
Avoid alcohol consumption
Quit smoking
As a result, a man with low sperm motility or Asthenozoospermia can successfully take part in natural pregnancy if he adopts these changes in his lifestyle.

There are also certain supplements that can help in improving sperm motility. These include selenium and vitamin E. However, these supplements should only be consumed after speaking to a medical professional. In addition to this, treatments like Intrauterine insemination, In vitro fertilization and sperm donation can also be utilised to initiate the process of fertilization. If any medical condition is the cause for a man’s low sperm motility then medications like follicle-stimulating hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin might be helpful. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the patient to undergo surgery.

Understanding Panic Attacks
A panic attack is an intense wave of fear characterized by its suddenness and debilitating, physical, and psychological effects. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), panic attacks can occur unexpectedly, and the fear is not proportional to the situation. Despite their brief duration, typically peaking within 10 minutes, they can leave a lasting impact on an individual’s mental health.

Symptoms of Panic Attacks
Panic attacks manifest through a variety of symptoms, which can include:

Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Heart palpitations or a racing heart
Chest pain or discomfort
Trembling or shaking
Feeling detached from reality or oneself
Fear of losing control or dying
Sweating
Nausea or stomach cramps
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Numbness or tingling sensations
Who is at Risk?
While anyone can experience a panic attack, certain factors may increase the likelihood, such as living in high-stress environments like big cities, having a predisposition to anxiety or depression, or experiencing significant life stressors. The ADAA notes that about 2-3% of Americans experience panic disorder in a given year, and it’s more common in women than men.

Morning and Night Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can also strike at night or upon waking, often for individuals who maintain high levels of control and composure during the day. The relaxation of this control during sleep can lead to nocturnal panic attacks, which can significantly disrupt sleep patterns.

Halting a Panic Attack: 5 Actionable Tips
When a panic attack strikes, these strategies can help:

Engage in a Distraction: Focus on an activity that requires attention, such as playing a game, reading, or listening to music.
Physical Engagement: Perform tactile activities like handling a stress ball or massaging your earlobes to ground yourself.
Stay Hydrated: Keep water nearby to help alleviate feelings of stuffiness and breathlessness.
Breathing Techniques: Practice controlled breathing—inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, and exhale for four counts.
Utilize Apps: Apps like Stop Panic & Anxiety Self-Help and Calm offer resources and exercises to manage anxiety.
Preventing Panic Attacks: 5 Proactive Measures
To reduce the frequency of panic attacks, consider these preventative steps:

Stay Active: Regular exercise can boost endorphin levels and improve mood.
Manage Stress: Find relaxation techniques that work for you, such as meditation or yoga.
Limit Caffeine: High caffeine intake can exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol can trigger panic attacks in some individuals.
Review Medications: Consult with a healthcare provider if you suspect a medication may be contributing to panic attacks.
Treatment Options for Panic Attacks
Treatment typically involves a combination of therapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective for panic disorder, as it helps individuals change their thought patterns and reactions to anxiety-provoking situations. Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines may also be prescribed, but they should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional due to potential side effects and dependency risks.

Breathing exercises are a cornerstone of non-pharmacological treatment. Deep breathing and breath-holding techniques can help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of panic attacks.

For more detailed information on panic attacks and their management, reputable sources such as the National Institute of Mental Health and the ADAA offer valuable insights and resources.