LCFC#14: Forgive my brevity

Plus: A few newsy items on my radar

Dear Lamb Chop Fans,

I know I promised a dive into the vagus nerve, but it will have to wait until a later newsletter. I didn’t make time to really investigate the topic as I’d hoped. I have taken my first airplane ride after transplant to go to D.C. and attend a work event.

One of my favorite Washington views. Credit: Collier71/Wikimedia

My first thought was about the physicality of the city. I texted my physical therapist (she deserves her own post) to tell her I could not have done what I did here last summer. Last summer, I could barely walk a block and definitely not in the heat. Already, I’ve walked several miles. I am appreciating the ability to talk with my colleagues and enjoy the city, despite disruptive chimes from my phone to take my medicine, (which I do dutifully). This post won’t be long because we are plotting and planning, but I wanted to note a few papers and stories that caught my eye.

First is a connection between the genetics of protein building blocks in the gut and the immune system. (Filing this paper to dive into later.)

Then there is this piece from Spectrum about the risk of being diagnosed with autism or other neurodevelopmental issues if you are born with congenital heart malformations.

This last one I find wild — an idea about what causes low levels of the hormone melatonin and poor sleep in people with heart disease. Heart disease unleashes immune cells that attack nerve cells in the neck, when those nerve cells are destroyed, it severs a connection between the nerve cells in the neck and those at the center of the brain, in the pineal gland. That gland secretes melatonin, which can help us sleep. Damaged neurons means less melatonin. This work was done in mice and humans, so it seems applicable. Knocking down the immune cells that attack the nerves could be a promising therapy, but that work was done in mice and might be a way off. (Ok, this one also goes on the read closer pile).

There were a few more, but I want to save those so I can really vet them before sharing.

Nerdiness to come in two weeks.