Calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart damage

Calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart damage!
People believe that calcium supplements intake will reduce their risk of osteoporosis. In line with this, they especially women over 60 take calcium supplements without consulting a physician.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that intake of calcium in the form of supplements may increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart damage. Although a calcium enriched diet seems to be protective.
Overabundance of calcium in the form of supplements might be harmful for the heart and vascular system. As the person ages, calcium plaques builds up in the body’s main blood vessel, the aorta and other arteries, obstructing blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack.
There is no harm in having a calcium enriched diet, in fact it is beneficial for the health. But do consult a physician before planning to take any calcium supplements.

Marie Curie’s close family won a total of six Nobel Prizes

Did you know?
Marie Curie’s close family won a total of six Nobel Prizes!
Marie Curie = 2
Husband, Pierre Curie = 1
Daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie = 1
Son-in-law, Frédéric Joliot = 1
Son-in-law, Henry Richardson Labouisse, Jr. = 1
Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre Curie, jointly won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel.
Marie Curie was the recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for her discoveries and studies of the elements radium and polonium.
Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband, Frédéric Joliot, jointly won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 in recognition of their synthesis of new radioactive elements.
Henry Richardson Labouisse, Jr., husband of Marie Curie’s youngest daughter, Ève Curie, collected the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.

Acne victims have longer telomeres which protect their cells against aging

Acne is a nightmare for teenagers. People who have suffered through acne at some point of their life consider it as most horrendous experience. But little do they know that their cells might be protected against aging.
Researchers at King’s College London reported that acne sufferers’ are likely to have longer telomeres in their white blood cells, meaning their cells could be better protected against aging. Telomeres are the repetitive nucleotide sequences at the end of the chromosomes which protect them from degenerating during the replication process. As cells age, telomeres progressively break down and contract. This leads to cell death which is a normal phenomenon of human growth and aging.

2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Jean-Pierre Sauvage of the University of Strasbourg, France; Sir J. Fraser Stoddart of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; and Bernard L. Feringa of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands are the awardees of 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
They are recognized for the design and synthesis of molecular machines. They have invented molecules whose movements can be controlled and are able to perform a task when energy is added.
The first step towards the development of a molecular machine was taken by Sauvage in 1983. He successfully linked two ring-shaped molecules together to form a chain, called a catenane. The second step was taken by Stoddart in 1991. He developed a rotaxane and demonstrated the movement of the ring along the axle. In 1999, Feringa developed a molecular motor. Using molecular motors, he also designed a nanocar.
Molecular machines will most likely be used in the development of things such as new materials, sensors and energy storage systems.
With the development of world’s smallest machines, these Nobel Laureates have taken chemistry to a new dimension.

Zika virus vaccines

Zika vaccines protected mice pups against neurological damage!
Zika is a virus spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The virus can pass from an infected pregnant women to their fetus which can cause severe neurological birth defects.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh have developed two vaccines against zika virus which have successfully carried immunity from female mice to pups.
Two vaccines- adenovirus zika vaccine and microneedle array zika vaccine showed immunity against zika after two weeks and six weeks of immunization respectively.
One week old pups were exposed to zika. All the pups from the mothers immunized with zika vaccines survived infection. Only a small percentage of the pups (~12.5%) from the unimmunized mothers survived.
Efforts are in progress to develop this vaccine for possible human clinical trials in the future.

2016 Nobel Prize in Medicine

Yoshinori Ohsumi, a molecular biologist, has won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He is recognized for his astonishing work on autophagy and becomes the single winner who will collect 8 million Swedish kronor (US$940,000) for the Nobel Prize.
Autophagy is the process by which the cell digests and recycles its own components. Cells won’t survive without autophagy. The process can be used to remove deleterious proteins and organelles and to renew cells. Storming bacteria and viruses can also be kept off by autophagy.
Ohsumi used baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in 1990’s to identify genes that control how cells destroy their own contents.
The autophagy mechanism is remarkably important in medicine. Disruptions in autophagy have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer and other disorders. Research is in progress to develop drugs that can affect the process.
The 71 year old biologist is currently serving at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Yokohama. HSC congratulate Yoshinori Ohsumi for his incredible accomplishment.

Coffee is most effective if consumed between 9.30am and 11.30am

Does coffee acts as a rocket propellant for you?
Fair enough, try to consume it between 9.30 am and 11.30 am to reap maximum benefits of caffeine.
A neuroscientist reports that the best time to drink coffee is when the body’s levels of the hormone cortisol are low.

Dogs’ cordial behaviour is affected by genes

The dog is the most loyal and affectionate animal.
It is the primitive tamed animal and has accustomed to a life among us. During the years of domestication, dogs have developed distinctive capabilities to interact and collaborate with us. This potential distinguish them from their wild ancestors, the wolves.
Researchers at Linkoping University, Sweden studied the behaviour of the dogs by presenting them with an insolvable problem. The dogs were asked to open a tight lid of the jar to obtain a treat. DNA of the dogs was studied. Dogs seeking contact with a person more often carried certain genetic variants. Researchers found a clear association with DNA regions containing five different interesting genes.
This study might also help to better understand social disorders in humans.

Electrifying therapy for kidney stones

Electrifying therapy for kidney stones: Amusement park and bungee jumping!
Researchers at Michigan State University simulated the human body by making an artificial human kidney model out of clear silicone gel and loaded it up with real kidney stones. By keeping their kidney device in a backpack, they rode the roller coaster. Backpack was assured to be positioned at a kidney height.
On taking total of 20 rides they noticed that front seating on the roller coaster resulted in a passage rate of 4 of 24 whereas rear seating on the roller coaster resulted in a passage rate of 23 of 36.
The therapy can work only for small stones. Any stone bigger than 4mm or 5mm could get stuck. Before trying, please see a doctor first.

Cancer cells’ camouflage exposed

Cancer cells’ camouflage exposed!
Due to the invisibility to the body’s immune system, cancer cells metastasize and spread throughout the body.
Researchers at The University of British Columbia have discovered a new mechanism explaining how tumours can outplay the immune system. Cancer cells genetically change and evolve over time. As they evolve, they may lose the protein called as interleukin-33 (IL-33). On the disappearance of IL-33, body’s immune system has no way of recognizing the cancer cells and they can begin to spread.
Loss of IL-33 occurs in epithelial carcinomas, meaning cancers that begin in tissues that line the surfaces of organs. These cancers include prostate, kidney breast, lung, uterine, cervical, pancreatic, skin and many others.
Further research will examine whether this finding could provide an effective cancer treatment in humans.

Morning sickness is related to lower risk of miscarriage

Morning sickness involving nausea or vomiting is a symptom of pregnancy.
The cause of morning sickness is ambiguous, but researchers at NIH have suggested that morning sickness is associated with a lower risk of miscarriage in pregnant women. It protects the fetus against toxins and disease-causing organisms in foods and beverages.

Sixth sense of touch and body awareness is dependent on a gene

‘Sixth Sense’ of touch and body awareness is dependent on a gene!
Researchers at NIH have discovered a gene ‘PIEZO2’ that controls specific aspects of human touch and proprioception. They found that mutations in the gene cause movement and balance problems and the loss of some forms of touch.

Smoking leaves its impression on the human genome

Smoking is hazardous to your health!
American Heart Association found long-lasting impact of smoking on the human genome. DNA methylation, one of the mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression, could be an important sign of person’s smoking history. Smoking-associated DNA methylation sites are associated with more than 7000 genes.
Some methylation sites are linked to genes associated with diseases viz. cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers.
Researchers compared the DNA methylation sites in current and former smokers to those who never smoked. They found that some DNA methylation sites persisted even after 30 years of quitting. The encouraging news is that after quitting smoking, majority of sites return to never smoker levels after 5 years meaning that body tries to heal itself of the harmful impacts of tobacco smoking.

Fungus discovered as a major factor in Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease- devitalizing inflammatory bowel disease causing severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue.
Hundreds of bacterial and fungal species are known to inhabit the human intestines.
It is already known that in addition to genetic and dietary factors, bacteria play a major role in causing Crohn’s disease.
Now researchers at Case Western Reserve University for the first time has identified a fungus in humans as a key factor in the development of Crohn’s disease.
The study suggests that the bacteria and fungus interact in the intestines in those with Crohn’s disease. Two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) and one fungus (Candida tropicalis) moved in lock step.

Say No to Codeine

Say NO to Codeine!
Codeine is a common painkiller given to children in pediatric settings, after surgical procedures such as tonsil and adenoid removal.
According to experts, codeine can be life-threatening for kids. Children may experience severely slowed breathing rates or even die after taking standard doses of codeine.
Despite the risks and concerns expressed by American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Food & Drug administration and the World Health Organization, the drug is still available without a prescription in over-the-counter cough formulas.

New Mosquito-Borne Disease Found in Caribbean

After colossal outbreak of chikungunya, dengue and zika virus; the new mosquito-borne virus ‘Mayaro’ is being reported to circulate in the Caribbean.
Researchers at University of Florida have identified a new mosquito-borne illness in a 8-year-old boy in Haiti.
Mayaro virus belongs to the Alphavirus genus, and is closely related to chikungunya, and produces a dengue-like illness.
The symptoms of Mayaro fever are: fever, join pain, muscle pain, rashes and abdominal pain.

Cinnamon improves memory

Research investigators found some palatable therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. They have noticed some improvement in the memory of poor-learning mice on an increased ingestion of cinnamon.

Chocolate smell provokes relaxation

Theta brain waves, which activates relaxation, gets increased with the fragrance of chocolate!
Another reason to stay around chocolates for chocolate lovers 

Human behaviour classified into four basic personality types

Human behaviour is affected by several factors viz. personality traits, feelings, instincts, etc.
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and University of Barcelona using computer algorithm with applications in sociology and economics found that human behaviour can be categorized into four basic personality types: optimistic, pessimistic, trusting and envious.
Majority of the population, accounting for 30%, falls under envious group compared to 20% for each of the other groups. The fifth group, representing 10%, failed to get classified by the algorithm suggesting that some individuals do not respond in a determined way to any of the outlined models.

Risk of melanoma can be reduced by using high factor sunscreen

Some people prefer high factor sunscreen over low factor to avoid sunburns.
Researchers at University of Oslo reported that high factor sunscreen not only protects against sunburn but also reduce the risk of melanoma by 33%.
Melanoma is a malignant tumour that starts in melanocytes. Melanocytes are a type of cell that make melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin and eyes their colour.

New fabric yields energy from both sun and motion

Tired of carrying power banks for your mobile phones? The new discovery might be of some help.

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a fabric that can yield energy from both sunshine and motion.

These fabrics will combine two types of electricity generation and could provide their own source of energy to power devices such as mobile phones and GPS.

This new fabric could be integrated into garments, tents or curtains.

Light beam replaces electric shocks

Heart Rhythm disorder- irregular heartbeat that can cause sudden cardiac death within minutes.

Current remedy involves devices that deliver pulses of electricity that are acutely painful and can damage heart tissue.

Researchers at John Hopkins University and Bonn University have shown that beams of light could replace electric shocks in patients suffering from a deadly heart rhythm disorder. This technique will be a safer and gentler remedy for patients in which the normal functioning of the heart will be restored in a gentle and painless manner.

Image source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160912173836.htm

Autism severity linked to diagnostic ultrasound

Genetic variability and number of outside stressors have been investigated in autism and a class of genetic disorders.
Researchers at UW Medicine, UW Bothell and Seattle Children’s research institute have found a link between diagnostic ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy and increase autism severity. Ultrasound in the second and third trimester showed no such link.

This study strengthens the FDA guidelines which recommend that diagnostic ultrasound should only be used for medical necessity.

                           

Stem cell therapy- hope for increased self-sufficiency for paralyzed man

Experimental stem cell therapy regained the movement of arms and hands of a 21 year old man who was paralyzed from his neck to his toes.
Team of doctors at Keck Medical Center of USC injected stem cells experimental treatment, AST-OPC1, into the damaged cervical spine of Kris who suffered a traumatic injury to his cervical spine in a car accident.
Three months post treatment, kris is able to feed himself, write his name, use his phone, maneuver a motorized wheelchair and cuddle his family and friends.

Chicken or Egg first

Protein ‘ovocleidin-17’ in chicken is found to play an active role in egg shell formation!
It might be an indication that chicken came first – an answer to the age-old conundrum of ‘Chicken or Egg first’.

Chimpanzees also believe in cooperation

Once again cooperation wins over competition!
We strongly believe that human cooperation is unique. However, researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center found that our closest relatives ‘Chimpanzees’ also know very well how to discourage competition and freeloading.
According to their research, chimpanzees enormously performed cooperative acts- 3565 times across 94 hour long test sessions.

BPA could lead to population declines in turtles

People often throw plastics in aquatic environments such as rivers and streams making them reservoirs for BPA. This badly affects turtle habitats.
Researchers showed that BPA induce behavioral changes in turtles, reprogramming male turtle brains to show behavior common in females. This could lead to population declines in turtles.
STOP discarding plastics in water bodies and SAVE turtle populations.
PLEASE SPREAD AWARENESS!

Blue-eyed individuals at higher risk for alcohol dependency

Many people love blue eyes. They actually look amazing. But not everyone is aware of the correlation between blue eyes and alcohol tolerance.
A research study showed that blue-eyed individuals are at a higher risk for alcohol dependency than those with darker eyes!

Biobank storage time is as important as age and health factors

Uppsala University’s new research finding will change the way the entire world works with biobank blood.
Researchers found that blood sample storage time for medical research is as important as age, sex and health factors of the person providing the sample.
This study is significant for future drug research and testing new treatment methods.

Do you find Airplane food so “Mediocre”?

Do you find Airplane food so “Mediocre”?
Don’t blame the airlines…your body is at fault.
It has been found that high in the sky makes your sense of smell and taste drop by 20-50% which is as bad as having a cold.