#Model to study human response to bacteria that cause peptic ulcers developedresearchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have developed a new large animal model to study how the immune system interacts with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori the leading
cause of peptic ulcer disease. The discovery in the October edition of the journal Infection and Immunity may inform changes in the ways doctors treat patients.
An estimated 4 million Americans have sores in the stomach lining known as peptic ulcers according to the American Gastroenterological Association.
Although the bacterium is found in more than half the world s population most people do not develop diseases.
However some experience chronic inflammation of the stomach or gastritis which can lead to the development of ulcers or cancer.
In addition to its role as a pathogen the bacteria have beneficial effects preventing certain chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases including Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
In patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis higher numbers of cytotoxic T cells are present indicating that these cells may contribute to the development of gastric lesions.
and gerbil models of H. pylori infection. However the rise of the cells in pigs mirrors the recent findings in human clinical studies.#
Laboratory and the Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens. The results from our new pig model closely mimic
Researchers within the Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens are using results from the pig model and other experimental data to develop a computational model of H. pylori infection.
Such modeling efforts aim to develop faster more efficient ways to predict initiation progression and outcomes of infection.
The Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases part of the National institutes of health under Contract No.
Additionally there is also contamination of soil and waterways by agricultural chemicals as well as carbon costs because of vehicles and artificial fertiliser necessary to maintain the pasture.
(and less runoff) encourages predators of harmful animals minimizes greenhouse gas emissions improves job satisfaction for farm workers reduces injury
enigma of why melatonin has metabolic benefits in treating diabetes and hyperlipidemia. In earlier publications the researchers analysed the effects of melatonin on obesity dyslipidemia high blood pressure
and type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with obesity in young obese diabetic Zucker rats--an experimental model of metabolic syndrome.
In view of their most recent results it seems the key lies in the fact that chronic melatonin consumption not only induces the appearance of'beige fat'in obese diabetic rats
but also increases its presence in thin animals used as a control group.''Beige fat'cells are found in scattered lentil-sized deposits beneath the inguinal skin in obese diabetic Zucker rats.
Melatonin is a natural hormone segregated by the human body itself and melatonin levels generally increase in the dark at night.
and prevent cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity and dyslipidemia. The study--coordinated by University of Granada lecturer Ahmad Agil--showed that chronic administration of melatonin sensitizes the thermogenic effect of exposure to cold heightens the thermogenic effect of exercise
to confirm these findings in humans by administering melatonin to help combat obesity and diabetes.
#Sports medicine specialists make pitch to prevent overuse injuries in young athletesit stands to reason that young people who play organized sports are going to get injured.
But while young athletes are susceptible to the ankle sprains wrist fractures and other acute injuries that are common among competitors of all ages numerous studies indicate that approximately half of the sports-related injuries among children
and adolescents in this country are caused by overuse. These injuries--pitcher's elbow swimmer's shoulder runner's knee tennis elbow tendinitis--are the result of repetitive stress on tendons bones and joints.
Because they develop gradually over time they are not as obvious as bruises or breaks and can be more difficult to diagnose and treat.
Overuse injuries in young people are said definitely preventable Dr. David Martin an orthopedic surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical center.
But the incidence of overuse injuries in young athletes has increased at a much quicker rate across all sports for reasons that are no mystery to sports medicine experts.
and more overuse injuries than you normally would see. Playing different sports on the other hand is good for young people on multiple levels said Dr. Daryl Rosenbaum who specializes in family medicine and sports medicine at Wake Forest Baptist.
You also want to avoid an overuse type of injury. It's tough to go pro
That view is echoed by Dr. Michael Freehill a Wake Forest Baptist orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder injuries and assists as team physician for the Winston-salem Dash.
or shoulder as you would by playing the same sport all the time Proper rest is also a key factor in minimizing the risk of overuse injuries.
But Martin for one believes that overuse injuries can be taken out of the picture. The key is said education he.
and coaches to recognize the signs of overuse to catch things before they develop into real injury.
We need to be doing it with overuse injuries too and I think that will come.
and chronic movement disorders resembling Parkinson's disease. It is also a developmental toxicant that has been shown to impair fetal development
and tested the effectiveness of a new apple snack impregnated with tangerine juice that reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in obese children
and in the long term prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries caused by the accumulation of fat cholesterol
while also helping to prevent embolisms--the spread of air pockets in the tree. In wood fallen to the forest floor it controls the rate that fungi advance through the wood cells to cause decay
It is accepted generally that acid rain harms trees but the value of our study is that it proves the causal link between the chronic loss of soil calcium caused by decades of acid rain
and now this demand is being linked to the contamination of Central america's crocodilians. New research published in Environmental Toxicology
In Costa rica which ranks second in the world for intensity of pesticide use the problem of contamination is compounded by environmental conditions and lax enforcement of regulations.
Frequent heavy rains can wash pesticides from plantation areas leading to contamination and the reapplication of sprays to the crops said Grant.
or washing application equipment in rivers also contributes to contamination downstream. The team collected blood samples from 14 adult caiman and analyzed them for traces of 70 types of pesticide.
MRSA bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents that are essential for treatment of treating life-threatening infections in humans.
Otherwise healthy people may carry MRSA without showing any symptoms or signs of infection. The problem with people who are carrying MRSA is that the bacteria can spread at hospitals if not discovered in time.
Of the 1556 people positive 54%had an infection when MRSA was identified. In immunosuppressed people or hospitalized patients MRSA can lead to serious infections.
As in previous years the number of hospital acquired cases continued to be very low:
whom 92 had an infection at the time of diagnosis (63 in 2011). The continued increase in the number of cases of MRSA particularly in people who are in contact with pigfarms causes problems both for those affected
MRSA guidelines are effective The low incidence of hospital-acquired infections indicates that the Danish regulations function very well
and the occurrence of this MRSA type in tank milk may be attributable to contamination from pig production explains Yvonne Agersã¸Senior Researcher at National Food Institute Technical University of Denmark.
Staphylococcus aureus can cause a wide range of infections ranging from superficial wounds and abscesses to serious infections such as Osteitis and Endocarditis.
In hospitals Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent cause of post-surgery infections. In 2012 MRSA was identified in 1556 people.
Of those infected with pig-type MRSA 92 (40%)had an infection when the diagnosis was made compared to 62 (38%)in 2011.
The risk of meat constituting a source of MRSA infection in humans is considered still to be very small.
but it can also mean suffering from seasonal allergies seasonal allergies. Ragweed pollen and lingering mold can create double the symptoms for some allergy sufferers.
The daunting task of yard work can be favorable for allergy sufferers if they know how to reduce allergens in the areas surrounding the home said allergist Richard Weber MD president of the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Many people think you can only control the environment inside the home but there are also precautions you can take to help eliminate allergens outside as well.
While completely avoiding pollen and mold is an impossible feat the following tips from ACAAI allergists allergists can help you breathe a little easier.
if you have pollen allergies. Pollen counts are the highest during this time making early morning and evening hours more suitable.
and shirts to prevent skin irritation while keeping allergy-causing stinging insects away. Choose Wisely--The worst allergy offenders might be in your own yard.
If you are considering adding new trees grasses and plants into your landscape be sure they aren't the worst offenders.
While everyone's allergies are different these are typically safe:#¢#¢Trees: Apple Dogwood Pear Plum Begonia flower#¢Plants and Flowers:
Taking allergy medication long before you head into the great outdoors can help suppress allergy symptoms.
For those with severe seasonal allergies an allergist may prescribe immunotherapy also known as allergy shots which provide great relief.
The above story is provided based on materials by American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI.
Several obstacles face planners and growers including soil contaminants water availability and changes in climate and atmospheric conditions.
Several contaminants can be found in urban soils and lead is the most prevalent. While there is concern about plants taking up lead from soils research suggests that they actually take up very little.
but those sources must be monitored for contaminants and perhaps treated. Changes in atmospheric and climate conditions in cities compared to rural areas can also be obstacles for urban growers.
#Vaccinating cattle against E coli could cut human cases of infection by 85 percentvaccinating cattle against the E coli O157 bacterium could cut the number of human cases of the disease by 85%according to scientists.
The bacteria which cause severe gastrointestinal illness and even death in humans are spread by consuming contaminated food and water or by contact with livestock feces in the environment.
The risk of E coli O157 infection is particularly significant when the cattle are'super-shedding'--excreting extremely high numbers of bacteria in their feces for a limited period of time.
E coli O157 is a serious gastrointestinal illness. The economic impact is also serious--for instance studies in the US suggest that healthcare lost productivity
In Scotland an average of 235 culture positive cases of E coli O157 infection per year (i e. people who had the organism in their stools) were notified to Health Protection Scotland from 2008 to 2012.
--and inevitably the pathogens they harbor. This study is an excellent example the interface between veterinary and human medicine
and of the concept of'One Health'in action--controlling infections in animals can have a major impact on public health.
The study was based on the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study. The participants over 2000 middle-aged or older Finnish men were followed-up for an average of 13-20 years.
The effects of the three-year lifestyle intervention on depressive symptoms were investigated in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) with 140 middle-aged men
and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health have for the first time found an association between living in proximity to high-density livestock production and community-acquired infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus commonly known as MRSA.
and soft tissue infections in the study population could be attributed to crop fields fertilized with swine manure.
The study is the first to examine the association between high-density livestock operations and manure-applied crop fields and MRSA infections in the community.
For the study researchers utilized Geisinger's sophisticated electronic health record system to identify patients with MRSA infections and skin and soft tissue infections.
The two groups were compared to patients who never had a MRSA infection. Patients received an exposure score based on their distance from the production the number of animals at livestock operations the amount of manure spread on crop fields and the size of the field.
and 50000 with skin and soft tissue infections who were diagnosed and treated in the Geisinger Health System.
No association was found between dairy farms and MRSA infections. The study shows the utility of electronic health records for demonstrating the unrecognized public health consequences of operations with environmental impacts said Brian Schwartz M d. MS senior author
#Model of dangerous bee disease in Jersey provides tool in fight against honeybee infectionsscientists at the University of Warwick have modelled an outbreak of the bee infection American foulbrood in Jersey using a technique
As well as modelling how bee infections spread the method also allows scientists to simulate various disease control interventions in order to measure their efficacy.
which they attempted to reconstruct the entire epidemic. Reconstructions like this are common for livestock infections
but this is the first time the method has been applied to bee disease. The research is published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
which the infection grew as well as how it spread geographically. Dr Samik Datta of the WIDER group based at the School of Life sciences at the University of Warwick said:
This is the first rigorous statistical analysis carried out on a honeybee disease epidemic that we are aware of.
The model suggests that just under half of the 2010 Jersey infection spread was attributed to transmission by owners between their own hives.
The model also simulated the impact of different control strategies on controlling the epidemic and found that the measures taken by authorities in Jersey at the time--to inspect
Using just two snapshots of data we have been able to reconstruct this epidemic and we are confident that our technique can be applied to a wide range of other outbreak scenarios.
#Surgery proving effective with epilepsy patientsmelanie Vandyke can't wait to get her driver's license. I just want to get back out in the world she said.
For nearly 15 years Vandyke's world was restricted severely by epileptic seizures during which she couldn't control her speech
In the operation the source of Vandyke's seizures--a lesion on her right medial temporal lobe--was destroyed with heat generated by light from a thin laser-tipped probe inserted into her brain through a tiny hole in her skull
and the only one between Philadelphia and Atlanta to perform this type of laser surgery for epilepsy with a technology called Visualase.
and initially used to destroy tumors the Visualase system was employed first as a treatment for epilepsy in 2010 Wake Forest Baptist performed its first epilepsy-related laser procedure in June of last year
More than 2. 5 million Americans have epilepsy a disorder in which abnormal electrical impulses in the brain affect a variety of mental and physical functions.
But most people with epilepsy don't need surgery as seizures can be controlled by medication in approximately 60 percent of all patients.
or spasms that are associated commonly with epilepsy that wasn't the initial diagnosis. At first it was diagnosed as blackouts Vandyke said.
Subsequent tests indicated that Vandyke did have epilepsy. Despite seeing specialists at hospitals in three states and taking a variety of medications she continued to have seizures often twice a day.
In 2010--12 years after her first seizure--she was referred to Wake Forest Baptist's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.
Sometimes the bacteria were similar to human pathogens. Again it wasn't clear what was going on Brock said.
Were they pathogens that were making the amoebas sick? But the amoebas carrying these bacteria seemed to be thriving rather than sick.
A new study by a team of researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center may help provide some insight.
Research on schooling behavior in fish may seem an odd fit for a cancer research center
but Greenwood said natural variation can influence not just behavior but also susceptibility to illness and disease.
The above story is provided based on materials by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
or proanthocyanidins are thought to play diverse roles such as defense against herbivores and pathogens or ultraviolet protection.
#Influenza virus in wild birds in Norwayducks and gulls are the natural hosts of Influenza a virus.
Most subtypes of Influenza a virus cause subclinical infections in wild birds. Infections in domestic chickens most commonly result in mild disease.
In rare cases if introduced from wild birds to poultry some viruses of the H5
One example of this is the highly pathogenic H5n1 virus in Southeast asia known to cause#oebird flu#.
#Due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5n1 in Southeast asia a programme to monitor influenza viruses in wild birds in Norway was initiated in 2005.
The results showed that low pathogenic avian influenza viruses were present in 15.5%of the samples
but not the highly pathogenic H5n1 virus. The complete genetic material from a total of five influenza viruses from mallard and common gull were sequenced and characterized.
The results showed that the genes of the Norwegian viruses resembled the genes found in influenza viruses from other wild birds in Europe.
and America influenza viruses with different genetic material have developed between these two continents. However in some areas it has been observed that genes can be exchanged between influenza viruses from Eurasia and America.
Tønnessen studied the role that gulls play in the transfer of virus genes between these two continents.
Genes from American avian influenza viruses were detected not in the European gull viruses studied. However within avian influenza viruses from Eurasia she found that virus genes were exchanged between influenza viruses typically found in gulls and ducks respectively.
During the breeding seasons of 2008 and 2009 Tønnessen studied the occurrence of influenza virus in the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) at Hornã¸ya in Finnmark in Northern Norway.
Low amounts of influenza virus were detected in 5-15%of the samples from adult kittiwakes
and she discovered that more than 70%of the adult birds had developed antibodies against Influenza a virus. The majority of the kittiwakes had antibodies against an influenza virus subtype typically found in gulls namely H16.
Ducks can become infected with influenza virus through consumption of surface water contaminated with faeces shed by virus infected birds.
Most subtypes of influenza virus from ducks can retain their infectivity in water over long periods of time.
Experiments performed by Tønnessen showed that influenza virus subtypes primarily found in gulls (i e.
H13 and H16) can also remain infectious in water for several months under different salinity and temperature conditions.
To assess if a typical influenza virus subtype from gull can infect chickens Tønnessen inoculated chickens with an H16n3 virus obtained from herring gull.
Influenza virus was detected in the oropharynx of 2 of the 19 virus inoculated chickens and specific antibodies against H16 were found in the same two chickens.
These results suggest that H16n3 virus from gull can cause a limited infection in chickens.
In order to find out why influenza viruses of the H13 and H16 subtypes primarily infect gulls Tønnessen examined
#The research was conducted at the Department of Food safety and Infection Biology at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and at Section for Virology at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
And nootkatone shows promise for being the most effective agent for the ticks that cause Lyme disease.
and investor presentations) with those harm reduction pursuits it has espoused publicly and explore the implications for EU tobacco control policy.
The authors note the study's findings indicate that the industry's rhetoric on harm reduction has been inconsistent with historical and recent documents and business actions.
She is with Popz Europe Kft Chicago Ill. But remember that packaging is there to protect the product
Its nearly 20 talks cover a wide range of topics from the microbes in the human gut to the potential use of diet to manage inflammatory diseases.
Xiaoqin Wu a postdoctoral student in Gan's lab who gave the ACS presentation said all the crops absorbed PPCPS including a medication for epilepsy;
Although such projects are instituted typically based on the cold calculus that land remediation is a better long-term solution
With widespread occurrence of cholera in Latin america the direct use of untreated wastewater was restricted in the country.
Most wastewater goes untreated in Sub-saharan africa where water pollution triggers the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera.
#Broccoli to fight skin cancer? With skin cancer emerging as one of the world's most prevalent forms of cancer researchers are using every tool at their disposal to fight this disease.
The tool of choice for Sally Dickinson Phd? Broccoli. A diet heavy in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts has shown potential risk-reduction properties for colorectal prostate and various other forms of cancer.
Dr. Dickinson's research currently focuses on how sulforaphane--a naturally occurring compound in broccoli with established chemopreventive properties--could possibly be used to help patients reduce their risk for skin cancer.
What sets Dr. Dickinson's research apart? Instead of eating broccoli to unlock the risk-reduction nutrients she's asking patients to apply small doses of sulforaphane to their skin.
and use of sunscreens we're still seeing far too many cases of skin cancer each year Dr. Dickinson said.
We're searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use.
Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Dr. Dickinson a research assistant professor in the Pharmacology Department at the University of Arizona and a UA Cancer Center member began investigating broccoli's chemopreventive properties
Prior to joining Dr. Bowden's laboratory Dr. Dickinson earned her Phd through the Genetics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program at the UA studying oxidative stress and heart disease.
when it comes to inhibiting cancer-causing pathways (such as the AP-1 protein) while activating chemoprotective genes (such as the Nrf2 gene).
We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin.
in order to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Sulforaphane is one of the many natural products and pharmaceutical agents being explored for use in topical prevention of UV-induced skin cancers through the Chemoprevention of Skin cancer Program Project Grant headed by Dr. Bowden and UACC Director David Alberts MD.
Dr. Dickinson's research could potentially lead to a day when parents are instructing their children to not only eat their vegetables
The above story is provided based on materials by NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length h
MHC) play a key role in detecting and fighting infections. By biasing fertilisation in favour of MHC-dissimilar males females increase the diversity of MHC within their offspring providing them with better disease resistance.
#Whole genome sequencing provides researchers with a better understanding of bovine TB outbreaksthe use of whole bacterial genome sequencing will allow scientists to inexpensively track how bovine tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted from farm to farm according to research presented this week
and local persistence of the pathogen in cattle has a distinct spatial signature--we believe that explaining this signature is the key to quantifying the role that badgers play in the persistence of bovine TB in Britain and Ireland.
research confirmsthe first systematic review of related research confirms a positive impact on cognitive function but an inconsistent effect on mild cognitive impairment.
In nine out of the 12 studies a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with better cognitive function lower rates of cognitive decline and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.
However results for mild cognitive impairment were inconsistent. A Mediterranean diet typically consists of higher levels of olive oil vegetables fruit and fish.
In particular research is needed to clarify the association with mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. It is also important to note that
as a result of winter injury U s. Forest Service and University of Vermont scientists came up with a surprising result--three decades later the canary is feeling much better.
when foliage predisposed to injury by exposure to acid rain experiences freezing injury and dies. Paul Schaberg a research plant physiologist with the U s. Forest Service's Northern Research Station in Burlington Vt. and partners studied red spruce trees in Vermont New hampshire and Massachusetts.
They found that the influence of a single damaging winter injury event in 2003 continued to slow tree growth in New england for 3 years longer than had been expected
The study Quantifying the legacy of foliar winter injury on woody aboveground carbon sequestration of red spruce trees was published earlier this year in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.
and his colleagues also answered the question they set out to answer--how did the foliar damage associated with the 2003 winter injury affect carbon storage?
They found that the winter injury event reduced the growth of red spruce trees for at least 3 years
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