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Lucina
Highlights from the literature

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Hibernating bears

Brown bears hibernate for 4–7 months a year. They are big animals, and during this time are clearly immobile. It is very interesting that they do not get deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or venous thromboembolic phenomenon (VTE). Lucina found this fascinating and so Jennifer Abassi [JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.7143] who has summarised a paper recently published by Thienel M et al [Science 2023;380;178–187. DOI: 10.1126/science.abo5044]. This team explained the bear animal model. They have identified a protein on platelets that down regulates during periods of immobility. Using mass spectrometry proteomics, they showed an antithrombotic signature in platelets in brown bears which was due to a heat shock protein (HSP47). This down regulation is essentially causing ablation and attenuated immune cell activation which leads to thromboprotection. This down regulation is also found in humans with long term immobilisation associated with spinal cord injury. Future therapeutics?

Breast or Bottle – The Illusion of Choice

Lucina has always promoted breast feeding, wherever and whenever. It is consistent with all advice for good practice. It is not always that easy and Amy Kennedy (who is a physician and a mother) has published the story of her journey with breast feeding with her first child [ …

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Footnotes

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.