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Jul 7

Nadler and family members suing HGH – The Review Newspaper

Dr. Brian Nadler and two of his family members have initiated a lawsuit against Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH).

According to a CBC report on Thursday, July 4, Nadler is suing HGH for $20 million in damages for alleged defamation, abuse of process, and conspiracy, accusing HGH staff of making an abrupt, erroneous and defamatory decision to involve police. Nadler, who was working at HGH at the time, was charged with First-Degree murder in March 2021 in connection with the death of 89-year-old HGH patient Albert Poidinger. Police later laid three additional charges of First-Degree murderconnected to the deaths of 80-year-old Claire Brire, 79-year-old Lorraine Lalande and 93-year-old Judith Lungulescu.

On July 2, Nadler was acquitted of the murder charges, and of four charges of Criminal Negligence Causing Death due to inadmissible evidence during the pre-trial proceedings.

The lawsuit, filed in April 2023, also names Nadlers mother Susan Epstein and his sister Erica Nadler as plaintiffs.

HGH has declined to comment about the lawsuit to The Review.

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Nadler and family members suing HGH - The Review Newspaper


Jul 7

Actress Kajal Aggarwal, chef Vicky Ratnani launch their brand licencing programmes at HGH India 2024 – MediaNews4U

Mumbai: Actress Kajal Aggarwal and celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani launched their brand licencing programmes at HGH India. HGH India is a bi-annual trade show for home textiles, home dcor, home furniture, houseware and gifts.

Partnering with Swag, a lrand licensing company Aggarwal aims to bring her home design ideas to life under her brand Kateeka. Her Brand Licensing Programme looks to integrate traditional artistry with modern design sensibilities. She aims to develop premium home lifestyle products that resonate with both heritage enthusiasts and modern homeowners.

She said, At this stage in my life, focusing on Home Lifestyle categories comes naturally. I am deeply passionate about the vibe and design aesthetics that shape our homes. I am looking forward to bringing my home design ideas to fruition through my brand and am excited to meet and engage with industry leaders at HGH India to explore potential collaborations.

HGH India also enabled the launch of Ratnanis journey into kitchenware through a strategic collaboration with Swag. This initiative marks his foray into the kitchenware sector. He said, I wanted to translate my global experiences into creating products that resonate with Indian households while offering a chic, international aesthetic. His Brand Licensing Programme aims to redefine kitchenware, leveraging his understanding of culinary essentials to inspire cooking aficionados nationwide.

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Actress Kajal Aggarwal, chef Vicky Ratnani launch their brand licencing programmes at HGH India 2024 - MediaNews4U


Jul 7

Kajal Aggarwal and Vicky Ratnani unveil Brand Licensing Program at HGH India 2024 – Mediabrief

Partnering with Swag, a brand licensing company for creating and establishing some of Indias most prominent celebrity-led brands, Kajal Aggarwal aims to bring her visionary home design ideas to life under her brand Kateeka.

Read More

Her Brand Licensing Program promises to integrate traditional artistry with modern design sensibilities. She aims to develop premium home lifestyle products that resonate with both heritage enthusiasts and modern homeowners.

Kajal Aggarwalsaid, At this stage in my life, focusing on Home Lifestyle categories comes naturally. I am deeply passionate about the vibe and design aesthetics that shape our homes. I am looking forward to bringing my home design ideas to fruition through my brand and am excited to meet and engage with industry leaders at HGH India to explore potential collaborations.

HGH India also enabled the launch of Chef Vickys transformative journey into kitchenware through a collaboration with Swag. This initiative marks Chef Vickys ambitious foray into the kitchenware sector.

Chef Vicky Ratnani, said, I wanted to translate my global experiences into creating products that resonate with Indian households while offering a chic, international aesthetic.

His Brand Licensing Program is poised to redefine kitchenware, leveraging his deep understanding of culinary essentials to inspire cooking aficionados nationwide.

Could not have been a better platform to launch its brand licensing programs as HGH India has been working with the home improvement sector for over a decade now. It is the only trade show that is designed to connect Indian and global home product brands and manufacturers with the Indian domestic market.

The show integrates home textiles, home decor, home furniture, and houseware under one roof to provide sourcing solutions to retailers, distributors, importers, architects, interior designers, and institutional buyers, keeping upcoming design trends in focus.

Read more here:
Kajal Aggarwal and Vicky Ratnani unveil Brand Licensing Program at HGH India 2024 - Mediabrief


Jun 21

Years Abusing HGH Joe Rogan Publicly Shamed for Weirdest Body Type as Fanny Pack Picture With Action … – EssentiallySports

A picture of Joe Rogan with his UFC broadcasting team at UFC 300 caught the attention of the entire MMA world, but the reason is not what you might expect. The community pointed out that Rogans core was so tight that it was protruding in an unusual way. And it wasnt just his belly that appeared tight, but his organs, too. Well, months after the UFC 300, fans have gotten to witness another similar photo of Joe Rogan.

This time, it wasnt at a UFC event. Rather, it was on Action Bronsons food show, F*ck, Thats Delicious. KG BBQ posted the picture on Instagram, writing,Blessed with 2 legends visiting my food truck this week! [Bronson], thanks for choosing us for your amazing show, and [Rogan], cant believe it took you that long to visit!! What caught most fans eye was, once again, Joe Rogans bubble gut which they attribute to an overdose of HGH (Human Growth Hormone). But what is HGH?

The growth hormone is a naturally occurring element produced in the pituitary gland. The hormone alone is responsible for the growth of all the tissues in developing children and adolescents. However, the production of these hormones decreases with age. As such, Rogan, who is in his 50s, has been using it for quite some time, and it seems like its taking a toll on him now. That said, this is not the first time Rogans gut has come into the limelight.

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In 2019, when the color commentator bared it all for his Sober October Weigh-In, his protruding midsection became the talk of the ton. Explaining the reason behind it to Andrew Schultz on the Joe Rogan Experience, he disclosed that he uses a dosage of one international unit (IU) of HGH per day, which is within the accepted limit. However, because of what the pictures suggest, the reality might be a bit different.

Do you think Rogans bubble gut is only because of HGH use? React!

Time and time again, the 56-year-old has emphasized that he uses a very small dosage of the HGH, which the doctors have naturally verified. The UFC commentator also emphasized that he started using HGH back in 2011. On an episode of JRE, he said, I took a lot of different stuff. Now, I take human growth hormone and testosterone. I go for hormone replacement therapy. I dont need more [testosterone]. Its a very light dose. The testosterone is cream. Its healthy. It does wonders for your body.

Does it, in fact, do wonders for his body? Because 13 years later, from the looks of it, Joe Rogans bubble gut has caused widespread concern in the MMA community. So, when a follower posted KG BBQs Instagram post on Reddit, others took cognizance of his enlarged midsection and expressed their worries, while some also called him out for his body type.

A worried fan addressed that Joe Rogan has been using HGH for more than a decade now, and it seems like the after-effects of overdose are starting to show now. Thats what happens when you spend years abusing HGH like he did. Referring to the numerous times Rogan has addressed his HGH usage on the JRE, they added, Dude couldnt stop raving about it on his forum and the early days of the pod.

Another Redditor emphasized that it would be better for Rogan to stay as lean as possible. The commentator weighs around 190-200 pounds, and his height is 170 cm. His height-to-weight ratio doesnt match up, as his body weight is significantly higher than his height should support. Giving some fitness advice, the user wrote, I thought he only takes a few IUs, not Olympia doses. Regardless, at his age carrying around 200lbs on that frame has to be a strain. Whats wrong with just being 180lbs & lean? It would look better & he would be healthier.

The condition where ones belly looks like a bubble is known as Palumboism. It generally happens to bodybuilders who overuse HGH or other hormonal therapies. Joe Rogans condition might not be advanced as of now, but it can take a turn for the worse. Studies have shown that high usage of HGH could lead to abnormalities in the human body, like carpal tunnel syndrome, increased insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, and much more.

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You can admit hes in good shape for his age and also admit he has a distended belly due to HGH abuse. They arent mutually exclusive, especially when hes pushing 60, wrote a user. Rogan used to look athletic when he was actively involved in martial arts, but in the past few years, he has become overly muscular, which fans havent taken too well to. Joe has the weirdest f*ckin body shape Ive ever seen.

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Echoing that sentiment, another seemed to have some problems with how Rogan looked. Hes so damn weird looking now. However, it was not all criticism, as Joe Rogan also found some support and love from the people. Defending the UFC commentator and applauding him for being fit, a fan wrote, You think thats what it is? Idk Joe gots 20 years on me and dude is definitely in better shape than me. And Im a mailman and walk daily. I for sure would take whatever hes taking that has him in that kinda shape and health as he approaches his 60s.

Whats your take on the podcasters physique? Let us know in the comments!

See the rest here:
Years Abusing HGH Joe Rogan Publicly Shamed for Weirdest Body Type as Fanny Pack Picture With Action ... - EssentiallySports


May 27

It’s the HGH Pot Belly Joe Rogan Reveals Tank Physique While Throwing Thunderous Kicks Leaving Fans … – EssentiallySports

Did you know that there was a time when your favorite podcaster, aka Joe Rogan, competed? Well, the firebrand podcaster might be a comedian and podcaster, but he started this journey back in the 90s after leaving his professional fighting career. Joe Rogan was a Taekwondo and kickboxing professional who participated in multiple Taekwondo state championships. There was a time when he was a full-contact 4-time Taekwondo state champion while also winning the US Open Taekwondo Tournament as a lightweight.

However, things changed when Rogan started experiencing frequent injuries and continuous headaches at the age of 21. For the sake of his well-being, the famed commentator decided to leave the world of martial arts. Nevertheless, while he might have left martial arts, martial arts never left him. To this day, Rogan continues to practice, and even after leaving competitive fighting, he attained a black belt in BJJ in 2012.

The multi-million dollar podcaster recently uploaded a video on his Instagram stories. What is he doing in the video, you ask? Well, he is demonstrating why he is considered dangerous. In the video, Rogan could be seen showcasing his Taekwondo and kickboxing skills on a boxing bag. As the video progressed, people witnessed Rogans powerful kick, which had the strength to break ribcages.

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via Getty

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA JULY 08: Joe Rogan announces the fight during the UFC 290 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Fans quickly took to social media to express their admiration and amazement. Comments on Reddit ranged from praising his technique and strength to joking about how Rogan looked. Lets look at what the fans are thinking about Rogans explosive kicks.

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Well, this is not the first time that Joe Rogan has been praised for his explosive kicks. There was once a time when he threw kicks that sounded like gunshots. Does he have a patent for those kicks though? a fan wrote. The podcaster is quite muscular. However, the community jokes that he looks overweight most of the time. Well, maybe its because of his supplement overdose, but who knows? All the dudes calling Rogan fat sure are quiet right now. Quick, better call him short.

Just as we had the conversation about supplements, a fan seems to have struck the nerve. Rogan has been accused of overdosing with HGH, which is fairly dangerous for the human body and his overgrown belly might be the indication of it, but according to Rogan, the amount of dosage is normal for him. Its the HGH pot belly that cant be denied, wrote a social media user.

In fighting lot of movements deplete your stamina, which in turn slows you down. This is the reason why many fighters do intense cardio to maintain a high level of stamina. A fan adequately pointed out that fighting Joe Rogan might prove tough, but once his stamina depletes its over for him, His technique is good, but thats a lot of body to have to move. In other words, if you end up fighting JR you exploit his stamina and range of motion.

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Furthermore, a fan seems to have some high expectations from Rogan, Dude. The guy is a tank. Hed blast Jake Paul out of existence. Rip anyone else, including Michael Jai, that opposes this man in a MMA or kickboxing match. Last but not least, a fan asserted that Joe Rogans skin looks rock hard in that video: He looks like if the thing didnt have rock skin.

Even at the age of 56, Joe Rogan has the agility and power of a 30-year-old man. Nonetheless, what are your thoughts on his kick? State your opinion in the comments below.

Original post:
It's the HGH Pot Belly Joe Rogan Reveals Tank Physique While Throwing Thunderous Kicks Leaving Fans ... - EssentiallySports


Apr 18

What Is Wrong With Joe Rogan’s Gut? Does UFC Commentator Have Palumboism Because of TRT and HGH? – EssentiallySports

Joe Rogans physique, particularly his midsection, garnered widespread attention during his Sober October weigh-in in 2019. Many observers pointed out his protruding midsection and speculated that it could be linked to his daily intake of human growth hormone. Recently, at the UFC 300 event, when Rogan was standing alongside Daniel Cormier, Megan Olivi, and Jon Anik, his posture and his bodys appearance, concerns were raised online again about the possible impact of HGH and TRT on Rogans physique.

Rogan too has been open about his usage of substances he began taking at 39 to aid recovery and maintain his musculature. However, though he has been in great shape for so many years, it could be due to his height being around 5-foot-6 that makes his belly noticeable. Palumboism or the bubble gut has caused eyebrows to be raised at Joe Rogans midsection.

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The term Palumboism describes the condition of a visibly bulging belly associated with HGH use, and was coined in reference to bodybuilder David Palumbo, who first brought the issue to light with his bubble gut. This condition especially occurs in bodybuilders when the muscles on the sides of the abdomen thicken and make it difficult to hold the stomach. According to a few studies, it was reported that this condition could occur because of insulin use, use of HGH, and high calorie/carb diet. Pregnant abs is another term used to describe this condition.

But what exactly are HGH and TRT? Human growth hormone is a small protein that is prepared in the pituitary gland. This hormone influences a persons height and helps build bones and muscles. To enhance their physique, bodybuilders consume this hormone in large doses along with other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) such as insulin and anabolic steroids. This causes a rare condition called the HGH gut. And, Testosterone Replacement Therapy, is the method used to treat low testosterone in the body.

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Synthetic forms of HGH have long been abused by athletes for muscle building and injury recovery due to their difficulty in getting detected by drug tests. However, attributing Rogans midsection solely to HGH use may be oversimplifying. Rogans commitment to transparency about his supplement use, along with his stocky physique and training regimen, suggests other factors at play. Without more information, its challenging to attribute his midsection solely to HGH.

In one of the episodes of JRE, in hisconversation with his guest, Andrew Schulz, comedian, Rogan explained that he takes HGH to maintain his vitality, increase muscle mass reduce fat, which was similar to his testosterone replacement therapy. So when HGH is consumed in excess, it could lead to irregular growth of all muscles in the midsection.

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Since the hormone contains high insulin levels, it can result in the storage of visceral fat behind the stomach, causing it to grow outwards. If the bodybuilder follows a high-carb diet, it will further contribute by storing glycogen in the blood and attracting water which will lead to a bloated appearance. This is another reason why bodybuilders with HGH gut cannot suck their gut in and perform stomach vacuums.

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Palumboism can affect both men and women who abuse PEDs. However, it is more common among men who consume higher dosages. Apart from Joe Rogan a few other bodybuilders who also were affected by this condition are, Phil Heath, Big Lenny, Kai Greene, and Ronnie Coleman.

Since this is not an untreatable illness or disease, there are reports that Palumboism can be prevented if the person avoids abuse of PEDs and HGH injections. They should instead focus on eating healthy and training regularly. However, without enough evidence, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the cause of Rogans physique. Nevertheless, his commitment to fitness and martial arts remains unwavering and continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

Excerpt from:
What Is Wrong With Joe Rogan's Gut? Does UFC Commentator Have Palumboism Because of TRT and HGH? - EssentiallySports


Apr 18

Patient waiting time at HGH Emergency Department improves significantly – The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital has improved the average waiting time for patients to be seen by a doctor, according to a senior official.

Prof. Aftab Mohammad Umar, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, said efforts made to improve the level of care provided to patients at the Emergency Department have contributed to reducing the median waiting time for patients to be seen by a doctor to between 15 to 25 minutes from arrival.

The time is considered very good compared to emergency departments in the region, according to Prof. Aftab.

We have implemented new changes in operations and in the flow of patients, said Prof. Aftab, explaining about the reasons for the improvement in waiting time.

The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital treated more than 1,700 cases during the first three days of Eid Al Fitr holidays.

About 50% of the cases were with minor problems and the most common complaints were related to gastrointestinal system.

Prof. Aftab explained that HMC follows the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) which allows prioritising patients based on their medical condition.

Critical cases receive immediate attention upon arrival at the Emergency Department, they have zero waiting time, he said.

Low priority cases will be seen by a doctor at an average of 15 to 20 minutes, said Prof. Aftab, adding that the waiting time is subject to change depending on the condition and number of patients visiting the Emergency Department at a given time.

According to Prof. Aftab, almost 50% of the cases at the Emergency Department present with conditions which are at low acuity. CTAS is considered the most predominantly accepted method for grouping patients according to the severity of their condition. Patient acuity refers to the severity of an illness or medical condition. It is often used to designate which patients should be seen first. A high-acuity patient is one who is severely ill and should receive care before others.

Prof. Aftab also noted that all emergency departments across HMC operate around the clock, seven days a week, with a medical team consisting of consultant physicians and specialists. They are scheduled according to patient volumes throughout the day.

We have medical teams ready around the clock to handle all cases, he said. The Ambulance Service, trauma and emergency departments across HMC hospitals and paediatric emergency centres provide care to patients with the most critical, life-threatening conditions.

Some 11 Urgent Care Units operated by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) provide urgent care services to patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Among the units, five offer services to adults and paediatrics. HMC and PHCC also operate Urgent Consultation Service helplines.

Here is the original post:
Patient waiting time at HGH Emergency Department improves significantly - The Peninsula


Apr 8

Alzheimer’s may have once spread from person to person, but the risk today is low – Monash Lens

An article published recently in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine documents whats believed to be the first evidence that Alzheimers disease can be transmitted from person to person.

The finding arose from long-term follow-up of patients who received human growth hormone (hGH) that was taken from brain tissue of deceased donors.

Preparations of donated hGH were used in medicine to treat a variety of conditions from 1959 onwards including in Australia from the mid-60s.

The practice stopped in 1985 when it was discovered about 200 patients worldwide who had received these donations went on to develop Creuztfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which causes a rapidly progressive dementia. This is an otherwise extremely rare condition, affecting roughly one person in a million.

CJD is caused by prions infective particles that are neither bacterial or viral, but consist of abnormally folded proteins that can be transmitted from cell to cell.

Other prion diseases include kuru, a dementia seen in New Guinea tribespeople caused by eating human tissue, scrapie (a disease of sheep), and variant CJD or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease. This raised public health concerns over the eating of beef products in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Read more: People who lived in the UK in the 'mad cow disease' years may now be able to give blood. The risk of vCJD is tiny

Human growth hormone (hGH) is produced in the brain by the pituitary gland. Treatments were originally prepared from purified human pituitary tissue.

But because the amount of hGH contained in a single gland is extremely small, any single dose given to any one patient could contain material from about16,000 donated glands.

An average course of hGH treatment lasts about four years, so the chances of receiving contaminated material even for a very rare condition such as CJD became quite high for such people.

hGH is now manufactured synthetically in a laboratory, rather than from human tissue. So this particular mode of CJD transmission is no longer a risk.

The Nature Medicine paper provides the first evidence that transmission of Alzheimers disease can occur via human-to-human transmission.

The authors examined the outcomes of people who received donated hGH until 1985. They found five such recipients had developed early-onset Alzheimers disease.

They considered other explanations for the findings, but concluded donated hGH was the likely cause.

Given Alzheimers disease is a much more common illness than CJD, the authors presume those who received donated hGH before 1985 may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers disease is caused by presence of two abnormally folded proteins,amyloid and tau. Theres increasing evidence these proteins spread in the brain in a similar way to prion diseases. So the mode of transmission the authors propose is certainly plausible.

However, given the amyloid protein deposits in the brain at least 20 years before clinical Alzheimers disease develops, theres likely to be a considerable time lag before cases that might arise from the receipt of donated hGH become evident.

Read more: Size of brain area linked with cognitive decline even in people with no other warning signs of Alzheimers disease

In Australia, donated pituitary material was used from 1967 to 1985 to treat people with short stature and infertility.

More than 2000 people received such treatment. Four developed CJD, the last case identified in 1991. All four cases were likely linked to a single contaminated batch.

The risks of any other cases of CJD developing now in pituitary material recipients, so long after the occurrence of the last identified case in Australia, are considered to be incredibly small.

Early-onset Alzheimers disease (defined as occurring before the age of 65) is uncommon, accounting for about 5% of all cases. Below the age of 50 its rare and likely to have a genetic contribution.

The Nature Medicine paper identified five cases that were diagnosed in people aged 38 to 55. This is more than could be expected by chance, but still very low in comparison to the total number of patients treated worldwide.

Although the long incubation period of Alzheimers disease may mean more similar cases may be identified in the future, the absolute risk remains very low. The main scientific interest of the article lies in the fact its first to demonstrate that Alzheimers disease can be transmitted from person to person in a similar way to prion diseases, rather than in any public health risk.

The authors were keen to emphasise, as I will, that Alzheimers cannot be contracted via contact with, or providing care to, people with Alzheimers disease.

Read more: Young-onset Alzheimers can be diagnosed from as early as 30 and the symptoms are often different

This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

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Alzheimer's may have once spread from person to person, but the risk today is low - Monash Lens


Feb 29

Mike Trout takes HGH for a ‘thyroid’ condition" – When 11x All-Star outfielder was wildly accused by ex-Yankees … – Sportskeeda

Mike Trout is one of the biggest names in the world of MLB. The player has been known for his performance on the pitch and has mesmerized his fans with it. However, at one point, it was speculated that the Angels star was using human growth hormones (HGH).

However, following the fallout from the Houston Astros sign-steal scandal, the MLB commissioners office shot down this speculation about Trout and the players' association. But even though the league flunked off such speculations, some still believed he was guilty of using it. Legendary Yankee Scott Brosius' son, David Brosius, was one of them.

In January 2020, David, via his Instagram post, publicly accused the 11-time All-Star of using his medical condition as a loophole to take HGH. He also speculated that the league knew everything but looked the other way around because Trout was their 'best player.' His post read (via Bleacher Report):

However, this didn't go so well for the Brosius. He faced much backlash and criticism for his wild accusations towards the 9-time Silver Slugger winner. The next day, he deleted the post and apologized for what he said about the player.

Mike Trout has flunked off possibilities of leaving Angles in a trade move. The 32-year-old has been his team's biggest star ever since joining in 2011.

According to reports, Trout dismissed any idea of him leaving the Angels clubhouse soon. He has made it clear that he has no current intentions to make a trade move until the end of his contract. However, he has kept doors open for every option. Talking about his future at the club, the star said:

With the new season starting in a few more days and the Spring Training ongoing, Trout will look forward to starting on a good note and helping his team reach success and win the championship he desperately longs for.

Original post:
Mike Trout takes HGH for a 'thyroid' condition" - When 11x All-Star outfielder was wildly accused by ex-Yankees ... - Sportskeeda


Feb 5

Alzheimer’s may have once spread from person to person, but the risk of that happening today is incredibly low – The Conversation

An article published this week in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine documents what is believed to be the first evidence that Alzheimers disease can be transmitted from person to person.

The finding arose from long-term follow up of patients who received human growth hormone (hGH) that was taken from brain tissue of deceased donors.

Preparations of donated hGH were used in medicine to treat a variety of conditions from 1959 onwards including in Australia from the mid 60s.

The practice stopped in 1985 when it was discovered around 200 patients worldwide who had received these donations went on to develop Creuztfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which causes a rapidly progressive dementia. This is an otherwise extremely rare condition, affecting roughly one person in a million.

CJD is caused by prions: infective particles that are neither bacterial or viral, but consist of abnormally folded proteins that can be transmitted from cell to cell.

Other prion diseases include kuru, a dementia seen in New Guinea tribespeople caused by eating human tissue, scrapie (a disease of sheep) and variant CJD or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease. This raised public health concerns over the eating of beef products in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Read more: People who lived in the UK in the 'mad cow disease' years may now be able to give blood. The risk of vCJD is tiny

Human growth hormone (hGH) is produced in the brain by the pituitary gland. Treatments were originally prepared from purified human pituitary tissue.

But because the amount of hGH contained in a single gland is extremely small, any single dose given to any one patient could contain material from around 16,000 donated glands.

An average course of hGH treatment lasts around four years, so the chances of receiving contaminated material even for a very rare condition such as CJD became quite high for such people.

hGH is now manufactured synthetically in a laboratory, rather than from human tissue. So this particular mode of CJD transmission is no longer a risk.

The Nature Medicine paper provides the first evidence that transmission of Alzheimers disease can occur via human-to-human transmission.

The authors examined the outcomes of people who received donated hGH until 1985. They found five such recipients had developed early-onset Alzheimers disease.

They considered other explanations for the findings but concluded donated hGH was the likely cause.

Given Alzheimers disease is a much more common illness than CJD, the authors presume those who received donated hGH before 1985 may be at higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers disease is caused by presence of two abnormally folded proteins: amyloid and tau. There is increasing evidence these proteins spread in the brain in a similar way to prion diseases. So the mode of transmission the authors propose is certainly plausible.

However, given the amyloid protein deposits in the brain at least 20 years before clinical Alzheimers disease develops, there is likely to be a considerable time lag before cases that might arise from the receipt of donated hGH become evident.

Read more: Size of brain area linked with cognitive decline even in people with no other warning signs of Alzheimers disease

In Australia, donated pituitary material was used from 1967 to 1985 to treat people with short stature and infertility.

More than 2,000 people received such treatment. Four developed CJD, the last case identified in 1991. All four cases were likely linked to a single contaminated batch.

The risks of any other cases of CJD developing now in pituitary material recipients, so long after the occurrence of the last identified case in Australia, are considered to be incredibly small.

Early-onset Alzheimers disease (defined as occurring before the age of 65) is uncommon, accounting for around 5% of all cases. Below the age of 50 its rare and likely to have a genetic contribution.

The Nature Medicine paper identified five cases which were diagnosed in people aged 38 to 55. This is more than could be expected by chance, but still very low in comparison to the total number of patients treated worldwide.

Although the long incubation period of Alzheimers disease may mean more similar cases may be identified in the future, the absolute risk remains very low. The main scientific interest of the article lies in the fact its first to demonstrate that Alzheimers disease can be transmitted from person to person in a similar way to prion diseases, rather than in any public health risk.

The authors were keen to emphasise, as I will, that Alzheimers cannot be contracted via contact with or providing care to people with Alzheimers disease.

Read more: Young-onset Alzheimers can be diagnosed from as early as 30 and the symptoms are often different

See the original post:
Alzheimer's may have once spread from person to person, but the risk of that happening today is incredibly low - The Conversation



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