Immune Protein Could Stop Diabetes in it's Tracks

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From Science Daily

Published May 20th 2013

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130520104932.htm

Summary:

A protein has been discovered that can stop the destruction of insulin producing cells before they have been destroyed. Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's Molecular Medicine have identified the CD52 protein as responsible for protecting against autoimmune diseases. The interesting thing is that the CD52 protein also has the possibility to be used to protect against other autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis. The research also suggests that T-cells carry this protein as a way of preventing a uncontrolled immune response. The goal of the research is to eventually find a way to prevent and cure type 1 diabetes. 

Connections: 

This article relates to our discussion of the immune system. The protein is a regulator of T-cells which are a crucial part of the immune system, as they attack damaged cells. Autoimmune diseases are very dangerous and a cure to them would help many people. Perhaps this research will come up with one.

Protective Phages

Edyta Zielinska 
May 20, 2013
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35635/title/Protective-Phages/

Summary
     Researchers have discovered bacteriophages, or bacterium-attacking viruses, in the protective mucous layer present in many animals, including humans. Since mucus provides a warm, wet environment that is optimal for bacterial growth, scientists infer that the bacteriophages present in the mucus help to control the growth of bacteria in those areas. The researchers pinpointed the Ig receptor in about 25% of the bacteriophages: further research suggests that the Ig receptor causes the viruses to become "stuck" in the mucous layer, whereas without the receptor they would be able to travel due to their small size. Testing phage-treated mucus-producing cells versus cells not treated with phages, scientists monitored growth of an E. coli strain they added to both samples. Results concluded that the phage-treated cells were protected from the bacteria and untreated cells were not.

Connection
     This article connects to our current unit on the immune system. The mucus lining the respiratory and digestive tracts helps to defend against infection by providing a physical barrier against bacteria. The article suggests a more specific role for the mucus layers: the destruction of harmful bacteria using symbiotic phages. Whether the phages are specific defense against pathogens, or are an extension of the nonspecific immune system is unclear, but the bacteriophages play a definite role in bacterial defense.

Gut Bacteria Adapt to Life in Bladder

Meghan Rosen
May 9, 2013
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350277/description/News_in_Brief_Gut_bacteria_adapt_to_life_in_bladder

Summary:

Although humans may be mutualists with bacteria living in the gut, such bacteria can still cause infections in humans. Normally, E. coli bacteria live in the small intestine and aid in digestion. The E. coli benefits from this as well, for they receive food and more importantly, nutrients from the food the host human eats. In the intestine, E. coli is viewed as helpful bacteria and don't cause infections. However, recent research shows that E. coli may sometimes travel from the intestine all the way through the bladder, where they can cause dangerous infectious diseases. This transition from gut to bladder is aided by the fact that the bacteria use sticky nubs to cling to the organ's walls. By clumping together and hiding between individual bladder cells, the E. coli bacteria can prevent antibodies from reaching them and destroying them, which is why they can cause disease. Also, such bacteria are easily able to travel from bladder to gut (where they are not attacked by bodily defenses) in both directions, allowing large quantities of such bacteria to grow and cause urinary tract infections.

This was discovered by Jeffrey Gordon of Washington State University by analyzing urine and fecal matter of four woman with urinary tract infections and this discovery may lead to doctors monitoring bacteria levels in the body to determine the risk of such infections.

Relevance:

This article is highly relevant to the systems we are discussing in class in many ways. First of all, the E. coli play a very important role in the digestive system, which we talked about last unit. In the digestive system, E. coli helps break down certain foods, getting nutrients and food in return. Also, the article talks about how the bacteria can avoid the antibodies of the immune system, which is the system we are discussing right now. Lastly, the article also mentions the bladder, which is part of the excretory system, a later part of this unit.

Greater Understanding of Tumor Growth Mechanism

Greater Understanding of Tumor Growth Mechanism

Science Daily (May 16th, 2013)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516105515.htm

By: Marshall Grant

Summary:

     A recent study conducted by researchers at the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry has discovered for the first time how the loss of a particular tumor suppressing protein can lead to the abnormal growth of tumors throughout the nervous system and the brain.

     Tumor suppressing genes are vital to prevent the abnormal growth of cells within parts of our body. A new tumor suppressor discovered, called Merlin, is vital to the sustainability of our nervous system to prevent abnormal growth denying critical functions and processes. Two copies of this tumor suppressor is found on one of each chromosome passed down from each parent. The loss of Merlin is caused by a random loss of both copies in a single cell, causing sporadic tumors to develop. Inheriting one abnormal copy and loosing the second copy throughout a person's lifetime is seen in the inherited condition Neurofibromatosis Type 2.
     The tumors generated from lack of the Merlin protein develops in cells called Schwann cells that form the sheaths that surround neurons. Tumors of these cells can block the vital functions of the neurons which is the basic structure of the nervous system and more importantly the brain. Tumors caused by lack of Merlin protein also can effect hearing, variety of disabilities, and eventually death.
     This new study also investigated the loss of a protein called Sox10 which functions in the cause of these tumors. They develop Schwann cells and are a mechanism in the reproduction and sudden development of such tumors of Schwann cells.
     One of the researchers said, "We have for the first time shown that human schwannoma cells have reduced expression of Sox10 protein and messenger RNA. By identifying this correlation and gaining an understanding of the mechanism of this process, we hope that drug-based therapies may in time be created and introduced that will reduce or negate the need for multiple surgery or radiotherapy."

The study is published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology.

Leave comments and questions down below...

Connection:

     This article connects to our biology class because it focuses on the basic function of cells and the effects of proteins on the Human Body Systems. Both the nervous and immune system are effected from lack of vital tumor suppressing proteins such as Merlin. Tumors and abnormal growth of cells can deny the basic functions of neurons and blood cells throughout the body. It is intriguing to learn more about how cancerous cells and their outcome effect an entire body system as a whole, just like we are trying to learn more in our biology class.

Electricity Producing Bacteria

American Society of Microbiology
Science Daily
19 May, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130519191102.htm

Summary:

    Scientists have recently been able to create a type of bacteria which can use hydrogen (live in water) and use carbon dioxide (CO2 commonly found in the atmosphere) to produce electricity. This could be a potentially huge step forward in the way we produce electricity due to the bacteria's needs being so abundant in the atmosphere. Researchers at UMASS AMHERST made this particular strain of bacteria. The bacteria create electricity by producing electrical current in microbial fuel cells with an electron being given to the cell from the hydrogen. It also does not need an organic carbon source, something generally needed. It has also been observed that when the hydrogen was removed for short periods of time the electron current activity would greatly decrease. With this potential for a new way to obtain energy multiple doors have opened into the future of powering the world.

Connection:

    Throughout our studies in biology we have talked about carbon dioxide being an important gas with plants and other organisms. This discovery further supports the importance of carbon dioxide. Also, we talked about how hydrogen readily shares electrons. Most recently was our talk about bacteria and we have learned through this and other examples that bacteria is not just a negative word, bacteria can be useful and beneficial to our lives. On a more broad scale we have talked about electrical currents being passed on in humans through cells, using words such as myelin sheath or synapsis, where in this case the elctrical current is being passed inside a bacteria. Lastly, as the world searches for better and cleaner ways to power their cities and other things requiring electricity this discovery seems to be a step in the right direction.

Pushing Kids to Eat May Cause Obesity Later

Val Wadas-Willingham
CNN Health
22 April, 2013
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/22/pushing-kids-to-eat-may-cause-obesity-later/

Summary: 

We've all heard the phrase, "clean your plate," from our parents. However, recent data collected by investigators from studies conducted by the EAT and the F-EAT suggest otherwise. After examining 2,800 middle and high school students in Minnesota, investigators found that 50-60% of parents require their children to finish all the food on their plate and 30-40% encourage their children to finish their food even after the children have stated they are full. This parental pressure to finish the food has been shown to increase obesity and cause kids to be unhealthy. Because this behavior forces kids to eat more than they can handle and cause to to respond naturally to their hunger, kids are becoming more unhealthy. Also, restricting foods has also been proven to have a negative effect. Since parents don't give the restricted food to their children very often, this causes children to over eat whenever they are allowed to have the treat. In conclusion, this article tells parents that they should teach their kids to eat in moderation and make the right food choices rather than forcing them to eat only a certain type of food or forcing them to "clean their plate."

Connection:

This article relates to our study of the circulatory system. Obesity and being overweight is a major cause of high blood pressure, hypertension, and increased plaque build up in the arteries leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to heart attack or myocardial infarction in which case blood flow to the heart is severely or completely blocked causing heart muscles to die and the flow of blood throughout the body to slow. This in turn leads to the cells throughout our body to have a lack of nutrients and oxygen.

Report questions benefits of salt reduction

Saundra Young
CNN Health
14 May 2013
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/14/report-questions-benefits-of-salt-reduction/

summary:
For some time, health groups and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans have advised Americans in general, as well as some specific groups, to limit their salt intake in their daily diets. On average, Americans eat 3400 mg of salt a day, a significantly higher amount than recommended, thanks to the abundance of sodium in most prepared foods. The current recommended amount of salt intake for one day is 2300 mg, although the American Heart Association suggests reducing this number even more, to 1500 mg a day. This is because high sodium intake is strongly associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), which in turn is associated with heart disease. However, the independent Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recently released a report at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looking over studies from 2012 investigating direct connections between salt intake and detrimental health effects, like heart disease and death. These researchers found that while lowering salt intake below the recommended 2300 mg/day to 1500 mg/day can actually be harmful to a person's health, leading to heart attack or death, there is not enough evidence to clearly state that reducing salt intake actually increases or decreases chances of heart disease. While lowering salt levels from very high to moderate can be beneficial, reducing them to the point of some recommendations may be a bad idea. The IOM suggests that researchers should conduct more studies to clarify the effects of lower salt intake in all Americans.

connection:
This article connects to our study of nutrition, as we have learned about Americans' excessive salt intake compared to recommended levels, which can lead to negative health effects. We have also studied blood pressure and hypertension, which can injure the heart and blood vessels. The heart muscles may expand considerably, weakening and losing propulsive power. At the same time, the increased pressure on the arteries can cause tears, which speed up atherosclerosis, eventually causing potential heart attack.

Black women may have highest multiple sclerosis rates

Nathan Seppa

May 8 2013

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350271/description/Black_women_may_have_highest_multiple_sclerosis_rates

Summary: It has been long assumed that Hispanics and Africans have a lower rate of MS than Caucasians. However a new study refutes this statement. The study brings forth the notion that a vitamin D deficiency may cause MS. This is common in dark skinned people. Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease which removes the protective coating of central nervous system neurons and causes muscle degeneration and eye problems among other things. It afflicts an estimated 2.1 million people worldwide.The researches scanned a 3.5 million people pool for subjects for patients of MS between 2008-2010. Of these 496 people, by far the highest percentage was black women with 10.4 cases out of 100,000. In terms of african american populations, women are three times more likely to contract ms.The low vitamin d is thought to be because of low vitamin d intake during the winter among darker skinned individuals in northern areas.Many other factors may contribute to MS but this is an important study to say the least.

Connection to Class:

We studied the nervous system in class and how an impulse travels from the brain.I studied ALS for my pathological disease project which is another neuro-degenerative disease which affects motor neurons. Both are similar in the fact that the cause is unknown. Also we talked about homeostatic imbalances and this is hereditary and environmental influence.These diseases are crippling, and any research that may help find a cure is of utmost importance.

Target to Prevent Hardening of Arteries Identified

May 16, 2013
Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516161700.htm

Summary: The hardening of the arteries is caused by a build up of plaques, a form of connective tissue. Until recently, the exact method of this hardening was unknown.  But early this year it was discovered the exact cellular and molecular pathway of this hardening.  One particular protein that is involved in the build up of plaques is Dkk1.  Normally, Dkk1 is a helpful protein to the body.  It causes an inflammatory response, aiding in the repair of wounds.  But, Dkk1 sometimes initiates the conversion of endothelial cells inside arteries into mesenchymal cells, which cause a dangerous stiffening of the artery walls, increasing systolic blood pressure.  All of this new information is helpful because now specific Dkk1 protein inhibitors can be observed and used in prevention of heart disease.

Connection: This connects to our most recent unit, about the circulatory system.  The build up of plaques cause cardio vascular diseases, which we studied.  We also learned about inflammatory responses to heal injuries, as well as blood pressure.  Systolic pressure, the maximum pressure, is increased when plaques build up.  This can be dangerous and can lead to disease.

Hard Labor May Augment Risk of Heart Disease

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20130418/hard-physical-labor-may-boost-risk-of-heart-disease-stroke-studies

Summary:
Cardiovascular Diseases have been linked to high levels of stress for quite some time now, with many studies conducted regarding its influence over the well-being of the body. With this in mind, doctors have urged patients to reduce stress in any way possible, including exercise. Exercise is a common remedy for poor health, and is known to greatly relieve stress. But when does exercise affect the body in a negative way? The answer is simple: in the work place. In a recent study, researchers looked at 250 patients who had suffered a first heart attack, and 250 who had suffered a first stroke. They were then compared to a control group of 500 healthy individuals. The results were clear: stroke and heart patients were more likely to have physically demanding jobs than those in the control group. They concluded that having a less physically demanding job was associated with a 20 percent lower risk of a heart event or stroke. The exercise involved in hard labor is not tied to increasing risk of heart disease, however. The high levels of stress which stem from intense physical labor is the real killer. It is unknown why labor-linked exercise increases mental stress, but it is evident in the researcher's findings that it plays a major role in the health of those individuals. According to  Dr. Demosthenes Panagiotakos, an associate professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at Harokopio University in Athens, Greece, people with physically demanding jobs should be considered an important target group for prevention of cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that, "leisure-time exercise might be important to "balance out" the physical stress encountered in laborious jobs", as said by Dr. Tara Narula, associate director of the cardiac care unit at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
In a second study, researchers followed more than 14,000 middle-aged men for an average of 3 years, and found that physically demanding work was a risk factor for developing coronary heart disease. They also found that men with physically demanding jobs who also did moderate to high levels of exercise during their leisure time had an even greater risk of developing coronary heart disease. "The results of this study suggest that additional physical activity during leisure time in those who are already physically exhausted from their daily occupation does not induce a 'training' effect but rather an overloading effect on the cardiovascular system," said Dr. Els Clays, of the department of public health at the University of Ghent, in Belgium. In all, the results of the two studies suggest that hard labor may cause high levels of stress, potentially leading to cardiovascular disease. Exercise is important, but when it leads to stress, it is counter-productive. Instead of making the body stronger, exercise induced stress can take a toll on the body, increasing risk of heart disease.

Connections:
In our studies of the human body, disease and sources of homeostatic imbalances have been commonly discussed, including cardiovascular disease. After studying the circulatory system, and examining the heart, it is interesting to learn of different factors which can ultimately lead to the dysfunction of this system. Also, the benefits of exercise in preventing such diseases has been discussed, and the fact that exercise could possibly be causing an increased risk of heart disease is very interesting. Lastly, the part that mental stress plays in this increase has to do with the interaction of the nervous system and the circulatory system, involving two different systems which have been examined in depth this year.  

Better Hearing- Bionically

Jack Billings

http://www.saga.co.uk/health/news/2013/may/the-bionic-3d-printable-ear-424.aspx

Published: Monday, May 13, 2013

Source: saga.co.uk

Author: Lesley Dobson

Summary:

Scientists at Princeton University have developed an ear in their laboratories that can “hear” all of the sounds that a human ear can, but at a much larger range and with the addition of other waves (such as radio waves that are too high-pitched for a human ear to detect. The scientists are working on efficient and versatile ways to merge this dog-like electronic ear with human tissue. They used a 3D printer to construct the ear out of plastic and cells. This “bionic ear” has a coil antenna that the scientists have fused with cartilage to be used as both an antenna and a wire that may eventually be able to be connected to a human’s inner ear.

Connection:

This new innovation in hearing technology connects to our studies of the human nervous system. It helps synthesize the types of neurotransmitters in the ear that we discussed in our study of the peripheral and central nervous systems. The synthetic ear has two wires that go from the base of the ear and wind around the helical cochlea and can connect to electrodes. Like a hearing aid, the electrical signals from the synthetic ear could be connected to the patient’s nerve endings.

Job Stress, How Fatty Acids are Metabolised in the Body, and Associated Heart Disease Risk

No Author

Medical News Today

May 19, 2013

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260658.php

Summary:

It is widely known in the medical world that higher job stress is linked to a higher risk of heart disease. This has widely been thought to be a result of the sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and a poor diet that stress can cause. However, Spanish researchers have found a different explanation. People who report that they are stressed about their job have a higher risk of suffering from dyslipidemia. This condition affects lipoproteins, proteins that transport lipids and fats in the blood stream. It is characterized by an increase in LDL cholesterol, “bad cholesterol” which contributes to plaque formation, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, “good cholesterol” which helps prevent heart disease. The combination of these factors can lead to heart disease.

Connection:

This relates to our units on the digestive and circulatory systems. Lipids are a macromolecule that is ingested, digested, and absorbed in the small intestine where they enter into the lymphatic system and are carried to the bloodstream to be delivered to cells to make membranes or serve as an energy reserve. We discussed heart disease and plaque during the circulatory system unit. When plaque builds up on artery walls, it can cause a partial or complete blockage, leading to heart attacks and other heart conditions.

Surgeons Pilot Expandable Prosthetic Valves for Congenital Heart Disease

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121003082933.htm

Science Daily
Published: October 3, 2012

Summary:

For patients with any sort of mitral valve disease, doctors prefer to do a repair surgery but when repair is impossible, they take the valve replacement surgery approach. However, during the replacement the traditional prosthetic valves have a fixed diameter and this poses a problem for children with congenital heart diseases. As time passes, the children outgrow their prosthetic valves and this calls for multiple replacement surgeries to fit the child with the prosthetic valve that fits their newly grown heart. The faster the child grows, the faster they outgrow their prosthetic valves and the more replacements they have to have. Doctors at the Boston Children’s Hospital have come up with a new way of modifying the mitral valve replacement surgery in pediatric patients. Medical scientists have revolutionized the care for infants and small children with complicated mitral valve diseases by coming up with the expandable prosthetic mitral valve called the Melody Valve. This valve can be expanded by cardiac catheterization as the child grows. Catheterization is when an X-Ray guided catheter is inserted into a femoral artery which is then navigated to the heart, into the mitral valve. This reduces the number of valve replacement surgeries children need. It was initially approved for the replacement of the heart’s pulmonary valve, which is the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs. However doctors now have started using it to replace the mitral valve. When the Melody is implanted in a child, doctors can potentially leave it there till the child reaches adulthood with minimal number of operations and risk of the lungs swelling due to valve leakage. It opens up the opportunity to carry out mitral valve replacement in more children and at an earlier point in time.

 

Connection:

This connects to the unit on the circulatory system where we studied the mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve, which is located on the left side of the heart, in between the left atrium and left ventricle. The direction of blood flow at this point is when the heart receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and the blood flows into the left atrium and then flows into the left ventricle. The bicuspid valve prevents back flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium disrupting the directional flow, in a process known as mitral regurgitation. This disrupts the function of the blood transporting minerals and nutrients, especially oxygen in this case, to the rest of the body. The Melody Valve used during replacement surgeries in children restores the structure of the mitral valve and helps the overall circulatory system to function efficiently by transporting adequate blood supply to the rest of the body. 

 

 

3D printed body parts not far away

5/6/13
nanowerk.com
http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/biotech/newsid=30342.php

Summary: Scientists from the University of Wollongong say that they are three years away from printing, in 3D, real human body parts such as muscle, nerve and cartilage, and a decade away from printing custom made organs for patients. ACES Director Professor Gordon Wallace, who is in charge of the project, said, “Within a few years, we believe it will be possible to manufacture living tissues like skin, cartilage, arteries and heart valves using cells and biomaterials. Using a patient’s own cells to create this tissue avoids issues of immune rejection. By 2025, it is feasible that we will be able to fabricate complete functional organs, tailored for an individual patient.” This means that if you need a new heart, for example, they can take tissue samples from you and use your own DNA to create a unique heart from a 3D printer, which work by adding layer on layer of material until the heart is completed. This revolutionary technology holds great promise for the future of medicine, especially since the body will not reject the new organ, since it is made from it's own DNA.

Connections: This article connects to the human body because it has to do with the body systems. It also shows a way to fix homeostatic imbalance in the body because of a malfunctioning organ that is pretty close and viable.  

Obese women give birth to babies with lower vitamin D levels

http://www.naturalnews.com/038770_childbirth_obesity_vitamin_D.html
David Gutierrez
January 22, 2013

Summary:  Recent studies have shown that obese women give birth to babies with lower vitamin D levels.  Vitamin D is a fat soluble, so it tends to accumulate in fat, causing there to be less vitamin D in the blood.  Researches have found that even if two women have the same amount of vitamin D levels, babies of non obese women have 3 times more vitamin D.  They think this is because healthier women have more vitamin D in their bloodstream, where obese women have less.  Therefore it is easier for healthy women to pass along vitamin D to their babies.  Insufficient vitamin D levels in babies is bad for their health.  Vitamin D is crucial to their bone growth and development, and to create a healthy immune system.  Also not enough vitamin D can lead to a higher risk of obesity and autoimmune diseases down the road.

Connection:  This connects largely to our study on the skeletal system.  Vitamin D is very important for the development of bones from cartilage, and insufficient levels of vitamin D can lead to diseases like rickets and osteoporosis.  The importance of nutrition and vitamins is shown in this article as well.  Having healthy levels of vitamins, like vitamin D, is important for the functions and health of the body as a whole.

Living Close to Major Roads May Impair Kidney Function

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130513202447.htm
Science Daily - May 13, 2013

Summary:
A new report shows that living close to major roads may impact kidney function. Over 1100 stroke patients were tested to find their glomerular filtration rate, or GFR, by measuring a metabolic by product called serum creatinine. The results show that those who live 50 meters away from a major road had a much lower GFR compared to those who lived 1000 meters away from a major road. The GFR can help indicate how efficiently the kidneys are working. Therefore, a lower GFR suggests that the kidneys are not working as efficiently compared to a higher GFR. The chances of cardiovascular death go up by approximately 4% due to living within 50 meters of a major road compared to living 1000 meters away from a major road. The risk increase, as well as the lowering of the GFR, are being associated to the air pollution caused by traffic. Exposure to a major roadway may affect the kidney, as it is highly sensitive to the build up of plaque.

Connection:
We have been studying the human body and the circulatory system. This article relates to the circulatory system because plaque build up can damage the kidneys. Additionally, we have also learned about various cardiovascular diseases which may cause death. In addition to the circulatory system, the article also talks about various parts of the excretory system which shows how various systems in our bodies work together and are intertwined.

Microgravity's effect on the body

http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/article_effects.jsp

Summary: To move on to missions to near earth asteroids or to mars, NASA and other space agencies will have to overcome the effects of long term space flight. Through research at the international space station, we know much more about what happens to astronauts over long duration stays in space. Most notably is the circulatory and muscle systems. On earth your body must overcome the effects of gravity so that your blood does not pool in the legs. Without gravity the heart does not need to work as hard causing blood to move up from the lower body to the trunk causing puffy faces and skinny legs. Also affected by micro gravity is the muscular system. Without gravity constantly pulling down on your body, muscles are not under the same strain that they are adapted to on earth. This can cause muscles that are repeatedly unused to become weak and unusable after initial return to earth. Several other parts of the body are also being investigated including the immune system and many of the psychological effects.


Connection: In order for humans to land on mars after a long flight to get there, the body must be as capable as it is on earth. This requires homeostasis to be kept throughout the flight as it affects the circulatory and muscular system. The systems cannot remain in balance in micro gravity and thus will be bombarded by a slew of homeostatic disruption. This is very similar to what we studied in how systems are compromised in disease.

Increases in Heart Disease Risk Factors May Decrease Brain Function

Publishes originally by Stroke
Science Daily
5/2/13
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130502185421.htm

Summary:
The negative effects of heart risk factors such as heart attack or stroke also affect the cognitive health. The things that are bad for the heart are also bad for the brain. There was a Dutch study done which included 3,778 participants, each 35-82 years old who took tests to measure the ability to plan and reason and to initiate and switch tasks. A separate test had tested memory function. People with heart disease risk factors were shown to do 50% worse on cognitive tests than those with the lowest possible risk for heart disease. Diabetes or bad cholesterol or smoking were also shown to be linked to poor cognitive scores. Also, those who smoked 1 to 15 cigarettes a day had a cognitive score of about 2.5 points less (compared to non-smokers), and people who smoked more than 16 cigarettes a day had a decrease of about 3.5 points on cognitive tests. On memory tests, the results were roughly the same, with people who smoked more generally having worse scores. The study also shows that smoking and diabetes (both risk factors) were strong determinants of cognitive function. The lead author and nephrology fellow at the University Medical Center in Groningen , Netherlands claims that it is likely that quitting smoking will have a beneficial effect on cognitive function. These studies show that health officials need to also worry about cognitive function in those patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Smoking cessation programs will be able to help cognitive function in addition to preventing cancer, stroke, etc.

Connection:
In biology class this term, we learned about the body systems. Specifically, this article talks about the brain, which is part of the nervous system, and the heart, which is part of the circulatory system. More specifically, the article talks about the effects of heart risk factors in connection to brain function. We've learned about types of cardiovascular disease (Atherosclerosis, Arteriosclerosis, Hypertension, Stroke), and the effects of smoking. We've learned what is contained in tobacco smoke that makes it addictive and dangerous (Nicotine, carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, etc.). Finally, we've also learned about the parts of the brain, especially the cerebrum (responsible for logical thinking, problem solving, language, creativity, imagination, etc.), which might be affected by heart disease risk. We've also learned about memory (which is affected by heart disease risk factors), which is related to the limbic system.

Skin cancer associated with lower risk of developing Alsheimer's

May 16, 2013

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/16/skin-cancer-associated-with-lower-risk-developing-alzheimers-study-finds/

Summary

Albert Einstein College of Medicine recently conducted a study to observe the relationship between non-melanoma skin cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Richard Lipton theorized that cancer's constant cell division would protect against the death of specific groups of cells characteristic of Alzheimer's. Lipton gathered and observed 1,102 people averaging 79 years old for around 3.7 years. Originally, no one had been diagnosed with dementia and 109 individuals had been diagnosed in the past. By the end of the study, 126 people developed dementia (100 were Alzheimer's) and 141 people had developed skin cancer. Only two people with skin cancer also developed Alzheimer's. This implied that people with skin cancer were 80% less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Currently, it is unknown why non-melanoma skin cancer actually reduces the likeliness of developing Alzheimer's.

Connection

This article relates to our study of the human body systems because both skin cancer and Alzheimer's disease impair the functions of the important body systems. Skin cancer affects the Integumentary system that protects the internal organs important to human survival. Alzheimers affects the central nervous system that receives, processes, and sends signals to the peripheral nervous system. 

Body Fat Hardens Arteries After Middle Age

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130515085333.htm
Science Daily- May 15, 2013

Summary

Research shows that when a child, one's body is able to adapt to obesity. Arteries appear to be more flexible and adaptable. Although when researchers tested, studies show that after middle age, body fat is a huge factor in artery hardening. Being young and obese doesn't affect your arteries but once you reach middle age, the long term affect of being exposed to obesity is arteries hardening which leads to more breaks due to less elasticity which compensates for the extra pressure. The damage done by body fat differs depending on how many years one has been obese. Although it is not clear as to why having excess body fat affects arteries, scientists speculate that certain metabolic products in the blood may progressively damage the elastic fibers in our blood vessels. This is an increasingly concerning problem.

Connection

This article connects to our studies in biology because it talks about arteries and body fat. We learned that arteries are the vessels that carry blood from the heart and have a lot of pressure put on them. They are very crucial in the circulatory system. The hardening of them, mentioned in this article, is a very serious matter. The body fat which is ingested in excess amounts apparently has an affect on this. It connects to our studies in many ways, mainly to the circulatory system.

New Approach to Treatments for MS

Published May 17, 2013 by Science Daily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130517152439.htm

Summary

New research done by scientists at UC Davis have found a new possible approach in improving drugs to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases. MS is a disease in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged, slowing the transmission of nerve signals. The scientists identified a protein that could be targeted in designing drugs to treat the disease. The protein is known as mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) and is located on the outer surface of mitochondria. It was previously known but not linked to MS. Scientists identified the protein as a possible therapeutic target when mice with symptoms of MS were treated with the anti-anxiety drug etifoxine, which interacts with TSPO. The results of their study showed that mice given the drug before clinical signs of the disease then had less severe disease symptoms than those that were not treated. At the peak of the severity of MS, mice who were given the drug improved. The discovery of etifoxine’s beneficial effects in treating MS suggests that drugs that bind to TSPO may be able to help repair the myelin sheath, which is important because current FDA-approved treatments do not do so. 

Connection

This connects to our study of the nervous system, since the disease affects the myelin sheaths of neurons in the central nervous system. It also relates to our study of homeostasis and the relationship between structure and function; in MS, when the myelin sheath is damaged, function is consequently disrupted because the transmission of nerve signals is impaired.

Target to Prevent Hardening of Arteries Identified

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute

Science Daily

May 16, 2013

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516161700.htm

Summary:

The scientists at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have been studying the hardening of the arteries. They particularly focused on a destructive protein called Dkk1. Their studies suggest that the development of drug therapies to inhibit Dkk1 signaling may help limit arteriosclerotic disease. This would be helpful for diseases such as chronic renal deficiency or diabetes. In chronic renal deficiency and diabetes, unregulated Dkk1 signaling can be destructive, so restraining the action of Dkk1 for a prolonged period of time may be helpful.

When Dkk1 is working normally, it is essential for wound repair. However, inflammatory responses inside artery walls triggered by hyperglycemia and other metabolic injuries, can trigger prolonged and destructive Dkk1 signaling. Dkk1 causes the conversion of endothelial cells, cells that line the interior surface of artery walls, into mesenchymal cells. It directs connective tissue formation; the process is  called endothelial-mesenchymal transition. The fibrosis inside artery walls that results from this causes a dangerous hardening of arteries that increases blood pressure and ultimately impairs blood flow.

Drug therapy will target specifically where Dkk1 must be inhibited, the arteries. Researchers hope to develop a therapeutic drug that would include a Dkk1 inhibitor and a peptide engineered to target specific vascular tissues. The scientists will continue to research the prevention of artery hardening.

Connection:

This article relates to our study of human body systems because we studied the circulatory systems. The hardening of the arteries is often associated with the disease that we studied, arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is an advanced stage of plaque buildup in the arteries. The deposits on the artery wall harden. With arteriosclerosis, the arteries lose their ability to stretch. This disease increases blood pressure and the chance for blood clots to form within blood vessels.

Fast and Painless Way to Better Mental Arithmetic? Yes, There Might Actually Be a Way

May 16, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516123912.htm

Summary
In a recent study, researchers have reported an improvement in mental math using brain stimulation. Scientists, including Roi Cohen Kadosh, applied a harmless form of brain stimulation to an area known to be important for math ability. With just five days of cognitive training and brain stimulation, they brought about long-lasting brain function improvements that held for around six months. This new method of stimulation, called transcranial random noise stimulation (TRNS), works, but the scientists have not exactly figured out how. They think it allows the brain to work more efficiently by firing neurons in a more synchronized manner. TRNS has been shown to improve mental arithmetic, which more than 20% of people struggle with. Cohen Kadosh thinks this work could help humans reach their math potential and beyond, as well as helping those with neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, or learning disabilities. Also, since math is a complex cognitive ability, they think they will be able to enhance simpler cognitive functions with this stimulation.

Connection
This article connects with our study of the nervous system. The brain, which is the core processing center of the nervous system, has different regions that specialize in different functions. The area stimulated in this experiment in important for performing mathematics. Also, we learned about neurons and how they are sent. The more frequent the neurons are fired, the stronger the effect will be on the brain's processing. TRNS may help in doing this.

Brain Frontal Lobes Not Sole Center of Human Intelligence, Comparative Research Suggests

May 13, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130513152827.htm

Summary
People believe that the enlarged frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for human intelligence. Other areas of the brain, such as the cerebellum, are considered "primitive". However, in a study by Durham and Reading universities, these "primitive" areas are actually equally important in contributing to humans' superior cognitive abilities. For example, damage to the cerebellum is a factor for autism and dyslexia. When looking at the frontal lobes, the size of the frontal lobes are exactly the expected size if a non-human brain was scaled up to human size. Therefore, the human brain did not evolve only because of a size increase in the frontal lobes. Scientists from Durham and Reading universities argue that many of our abilities are carried out by brain networks linking different parts of the brain, and that these structures (rather than one enlarged brain area) are more critical for our intelligence and cognitive functioning.

Connection
This article connects to our unit on the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems because it connects to the brain and the nervous system. For example, the article shows that the brain has many parts such as the frontal lobes and cerebellum, and the belief of what the different parts function for. The frontal lobes are generally viewed as responsible for human intelligence, but this article argues that this common fact might be wrong.

Allergy, asthma less frequent in foreign-born kids in U.S.

Nathan Seppa, Science News
May 2, 2013
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350112/description/Allergy_asthma_less_frequent_in_foreign-born_kids_in_US


Summary: Recent study and analysis have found that foreign-born kids in the U.S. are less frequent to get allergy, asthma. The hypothesis holds that kids who grow up with more exposure to dirt, infections, and animals dander develop a stronger immune system; their do not overreact to harmless natural substances like pollen. They are also less likely to have hay fever or asthma, so do their parents. However, immigrates seem to lose their advantages after they moved to the U.S. Some of their immune conditions weaken several years later. One factor generates this protection is the lifestyle from the country of origin. Vitamin D may matter too, since vitamin is involved in regulating immune system.

Connection: This article relates to our unit on human immune system. It is an interesting discovery on human immune system differences in worldwide. As a foreign-born kid who moved to the U.S. two years ago, the hypothesis from the article applies to me: I have never had any allergy in the past. Yet, my parents are found to have some allergic symptoms starting this spring. I hope my immune system will keep its old senses later on.