NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – New York and Nashville researchers studied blood cell mutations in 9/11 first responders and determined some cells were cloning out of control and causing cardiovascular disease. Thanks to this research, an exercise fanatic discovered he had underlying and extensive heart disease.
Roger Grad exercises 90 minutes a day, five days a week. So, why did his doctor tell him something so off-the-wall?
“’You look like you’re in absolutely perfect physical shape, perfect health, and you should be dead.’,” Roger recalls.
His doctor, Director of Hematologic Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Michael Savona, suspected cardiovascular disease, but standard tests revealed nothing. However, he had studied the blood of 9/11 responders to see how certain genetic mutations could trigger cardiovascular disease by replicating out of control.
“So, I looked at some genetic screening and found mutations in his blood cells, and 30 percent of his blood cells had one mutation and 30 percent of his cells had another mutation, both of which we know increase your risk for vascular disease,” Dr. Savona explains.
Roger did have high hematocrit — extra red blood cells that can be related to mutations. He also had TET2 cells, which cause disease. These clonal hematopoietic cells trigger inflammation and heart attacks.
Dr. Savona adds, “These are gene mutations that occur as you age, and these mutations are naturally occurring, just because of math. If your cells divide enough, sooner or later there’s gonna be an error that doesn’t get fixed.”
Roger needed an open heart bypass.
“I don’t know how to repeat it enough – I had no symptoms,” Roger tells Ivanhoe.
But, he was at critical risk for a heart attack because his arteries were blocked nearly 100 percent.
Dr. Savona exclaims, “Having a bypass probably saved his life, and helped him avoid having a heart attack during one of his workout routines.”
Dr. Savona says, throughout the world, there are bio-repositories where blood samples, like the ones from 9/11 responders are stored. He says it’s important because doctors can go back to Vanderbilt’s repository called CHIVE, which is one of the most advanced, and study potential outcomes of genetic mutations like Roger’s. So, research from these studies continue to help others.
Contributors to this news report include: Donna Parker, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer & Editor.
To receive a free weekly e-mail on medical breakthroughs from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
Source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01708-3
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS ARE STILL SAVING LIVES
REPORT: MB #5261
BACKGROUND: There are many that can contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Some common heart conditions include, but are not limited to: coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, arrythmia, and congenital heart conditions. According to The American Heart Association, over 80 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. A couple of culprits for heart conditions are high hematocrit and TET 2 cells.
DIAGNOSING: People who are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases are people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and/or have a family history of cardiovascular disease. Some signs and symptoms of heart disease include, but are not limited to: chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and/or fatigue. It can be diagnosed with blood tests, EKGs, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs.
(Sources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease#diagnosis-and-tests)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Research conducted in New York and Nashville suggested that cell mutation in the 9/11 first responders could help detect cardiovascular diseases earlier in people today. Dr. Michael Savona, Director of Hematologic Research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says that this new discovery is important because it allows doctors to go back into Vanderbilt’s repository, called CHIVE, and get more insight into other patient’s health conditions.
(Sources: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01708-3
Dr. Michael Savona)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Craig Boerner
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
