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    Category Health/Medical

    Fiber-rich Diet may Reduce Lung Disease

    January 24, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Variety of fiber-rich foods. Credit: ATS

    Variety of fiber-rich foods. Credit: ATS

    A diet rich in fiber may not only protect against diabetes and heart disease, it may reduce the risk of developing lung disease, according to new research. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, researchers report in “The Relationship between Dietary Fiber Intake and Lung Function in NHANES,” that among adults in the top quartile of fiber intake:
    • 68.3% had normal lung function, vs 50.1% in the bottom quartile
    • 14.8% had airway restriction, vs 29.8% in the bottom quartile.

    In 2 important breathing tests, those in the top quartile had a greater lung capacity (FVC) and could exhale more air in one second (FEV1)r.

    “Lung disease is an important public health problem, so it’s important to identify modifiable risk...

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    Brain levels of Vitamin B12 decrease with Age and are Prematurely low in people with Autism and Schizophrenia

    January 24, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Cobalamin-related redox metabolic pathways in neuronal cells. Endocytosis brings TC-bound Cbl species to lysosomes where axial ligands are removed by MMACHC and MeCbl or AdoCbl are subsequently formed by SAM and ATP-dependent pathways, respectively. MeCbl is a required cofactor for methionine synthase, whose activity supports a large number of methylation reactions, including DNA methylation, as well as dopamine-stimulated phospholipid methylation, carried out by the D4 dopamine receptor (D4R). AdoCbl supports MMACoA mutase in mitochondria. Cysteine, which is rate-limiting for GSH synthesis, can be provided either by cellular uptake via the cysteine/glutamate transporter EAAT3 (excitatory amino acid transporter 3) or by transsulfuration of HCY via cystathionine. The latter pathway is restricted in human brain, increasing the importance of growth factor-dependent cysteine uptake by EAAT3.

    Cobalamin-related redox metabolic pathways in neuronal cells. Endocytosis brings TC-bound Cbl species to lysosomes where axial ligands are removed by MMACHC and MeCbl or AdoCbl are subsequently formed by SAM and ATP-dependent pathways, respectively. MeCbl is a required cofactor for methionine synthase, whose activity supports a large number of methylation reactions, including DNA methylation, as well as dopamine-stimulated phospholipid methylation, carried out by the D4 dopamine receptor (D4R). AdoCbl supports MMACoA mutase in mitochondria. Cysteine, which is rate-limiting for GSH synthesis, can be provided either by cellular uptake via the cysteine/glutamate transporter EAAT3 (excitatory amino acid transporter 3) or by transsulfuration of HCY via cystathionine...

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    Are Football Players Too Obese?

    January 23, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Defensive whine: The tight-fitting shirts may be a little too tight for Baltimore Ravens (left to right) Terrence Cody (62), nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu (96) and Haloti Ngata (92)

    Defensive whine: The tight-fitting shirts may be a little too tight for Baltimore Ravens (left to right) Terrence Cody (62), nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu (96) and Haloti Ngata (92)

    New research suggests being bigger doesn’t mean being better – or healthier. In American football, there is a stigma that players need to increase their overall body size to make an impact on the field. Exercise scientists set out to determine how body size has changed in college and professional football players over the past 70 yrs. “We started to take a look at providing the information that sports medicine personnel need to be aware of in order to effectively protect the health of the players under their care,”Prof.Potteiger said. “In football, the most at-risk athletes are the offensive and defensive linemen...

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    Neurons in our Gut help the Immune System keep Inflammation in check

    January 23, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Neurons say relax: This three-dimensional view of part of a mouse intestine shows the neurons that surround tissue-protective immune cells. These neurons release norepinephrine, which instructs the immune cells to activate an anti-inflammatory response.

    Neurons say relax: This three-dimensional view of part of a mouse intestine shows the neurons that surround tissue-protective immune cells. These neurons release norepinephrine, which instructs the immune cells to activate an anti-inflammatory response.

    The immune system must protect against potential infections, but over-vigilant reactions can cause problems. New research shows neurons in the intestine send signals to immune cells to curb inflammation. This could have Rx implications for gastrointestinal diseases such as IBS.

    Lamina propria macrophages are found very close to the lining of the intestinal tube, while muscularis macrophages are in a deeper tissue layer, more distant from what passes through the intestine...

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