Calcitonin, a hormone produced by the heart that helps regulate bone mass could be a treatment for people with AF.
"Until recently, the hormone calcitonin was only thought to be produced by the thyroid gland, with no known effects on the heart. Now, research published in Nature has revealed that cells in the atria, produce approximately 16 times more calcitonin than cells in the thyroid.
Researchers at Oxford also found that the hormone plays a vital role in reducing atrial scarring. Such scarring makes it harder for electrical impulses to travel smoothly through the atria and can cause them to beat in a chaotic manner, known as atrial fibrillation.
The researchers studied muscle cells from atrial biopsies taken from people undergoing heart surgery and found that they released calcitonin. Interestingly, cells from biopsies of patients with severe AF produced six times less calcitonin.
The calcitonin receptor was present in atrial cells responsible for producing collagen, a major component of scar tissue. When the team treated these cells – called fibroblasts – with calcitonin the cells produced 46 percent less collagen.
Further experiments showed that mice that were unable to produce calcitonin in their hearts developed two-and-a-half times more atrial scar tissue compared to mice with normal levels of calcitonin. They also developed AF at a younger age and had approximately 16 times longer episodes of AF. Strikingly, atrial scarring and AF were completely prevented in mice whose hearts produced greater amounts of calcitonin."
That is so amazing. I hope research can go at a fast pace so that people can get help sooner rather than later. Sad to thinthough, there will be the same worthless Drs who won't even give this news any credibility. Too easy for them to make lots of money with the magical pills and procedures. 😒😡 Hope has to persevere.
I'm sure everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving is trying to get ready. I know you in the UK are back in lockdown and most of the USA where I am is trying to get back to lockdown. I continue to practice the guidelines as well as I can. Here in the city I live in a music festival is going on this weekend. It's outside and people are not supposed to be allowed in the area without a mask. Who knows what will happen with that. Cases of the virus are surging fast in different states all over the country. Fewer deaths as treatments are working better. But it's still not something to dismiss. People need to learn to work together during this pandemic. Sadly some just poo poo it. Then next thing they know, they test positive for the virus. An 87 year old congressman here poo pooed the virus. Now he has it. Who knows if he'll survive it. So far he has. Politics have gotten too much in the way in dealing with this pandemic. It's just insane. So everyone out there. Continue to stay safe and well. Enjoy Thanksgiving the best you can. Those of you who can use the technology to visit with your loved ones are blessed. Not everyone has that. Think of others and pray for others. Maybe just maybe a vaccine will come soon and next year all will be able to sit down for Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. 😔🙏
Calcitonin is in salmon. Maybe another good reason to eat more of it. 😊
Very interesting- when I tried to "like" it went to unlike! I managed to get it back to like but now writing instead! Makes a lot of sense- as I'm 76 and previously fit and healthy- now no energy and have a large gallstone!
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