This 2018 UK paper reviewed genomic imprinting: “Since their discovery nearly 30 years ago, imprinted genes have been a paradigm for exploring the epigenetic control of gene expression. Moreover, their roles in early life growth and placentation are undisputed. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that imprinted gene function has a wider role in maternal … Continue reading Genomic imprinting and growth
This 2016 Italian review subject was the interplay of genetic imprinting and sleep regulation: “Sleep results from the synergism between at least two major processes: a homeostatic regulatory mechanism that depends on the accumulation of the sleep drive during wakefulness, and a circadian self-sustained mechanism that sets the time for sleeping and waking throughout the … Continue reading Genetic imprinting, sleep, and parent-offspring conflict
This 2016 UK human study assessed the roles of genetic imprinting on diseases that may originate from a certain interval on chromosome 15: “The 15q11.2-q13.3 region contains a cluster of imprinted genes, which are expressed from one parental allele only as a consequence of germline epigenetic events. The importance of epigenetic status of duplications at … Continue reading A study of genetic imprinting and neurodevelopmental disorders
“The malady of needing to move constantly: organizing trips, making reasons to go here and there, and in general, keeping on the move..below all that movement is a giant, silent scream. The price we pay is never knowing our feelings or where they come from. We have the mechanism for our own liberation inside of … Continue reading Trapped, suffocating, unable to move – a Primal imprint
This 2023 primate study investigated the body’s capability to remember prenatal experiences influencing later life: “Maternal stressors and other environmental factors affect the developing embryo and fetus in ways that lead to increased susceptibility for chronic disease in later life. Developmental programming of chronic low-grade inflammation plays an important role in onset and progression of … Continue reading Remembering life before birth
This 2022 human study investigated another type of aging clock: “The glycan clock of age, based entirely on immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycans, can predict biological age with high accuracy. Unlike DNA methylation, glycosylation of IgG does not predict chronological age with high accuracy. Heritability analysis of plasma glycans revealed that the majority of traits have … Continue reading Blinded by their paradigm?
This 2022 rodent study investigated glucoraphanin’s effects on reducing uric acid: “Hyperuricemia is a chronic disease characterized by abnormally elevated serum uric acid levels. Sulforaphane could lower uric acid by decreasing urate synthesis and increasing renal urate excretion in hyperuricemic rats. A hyperuricemia model was established by administering feedstuffs with 4% potassium oxonate and 20% … Continue reading Do broccoli sprouts treat gout and kidney stones?
Two papers, starting with a 2022 rodent study of maternal behaviors’ effects on offspring physiologies: “Early life adversity (ELA) is a major risk factor for development of pathology. Predictability of parental care may be a distinguishing feature of different forms of ELA. We tested the hypothesis that changes in maternal behavior in mice would be … Continue reading If you were given a lens to see clearly, would you accept it?
Two 2022 rodent studies from the same research group on short-chain fatty acid effects, beginning with butyrate: “Maternal nutrition, gut microbiome composition, and metabolites derived from gut microbiota are closely related to development of hypertension in offspring. A plethora of metabolites generated from diverse tryptophan metabolic pathways show both beneficial and harmful effects. Butyrate, one … Continue reading Gut microbiota, SCFAs, and hypertension
Two papers on trained immunity, starting with a 2022 review: “Live attenuated vaccines such as the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, measles-containing vaccines, and the oral polio vaccine have been shown to reduce overall mortality beyond their effects attributable to the targeted diseases. After an encounter with a primary stimulus, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of bone marrow progenitor … Continue reading Trained immunity epigenetics
This 2022 article commented on a human / rodent study of gut dysbiosis: “Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal track. Together with ulcerative colitis, another major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), these intestinal disorders affect millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide. Excessive T helper 1 … Continue reading Fueling a gut fire
This 2022 rodent study investigated effects of inducing hypertension for two weeks: “Hypertension is conventionally associated with a neurohormonal activation from the sympathetic nervous and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems. Angiotensin II (AngII) is a potent regulator of blood pressure, and is also a key player in hypertension development. An initial 2-week exposure to AngII induced profound … Continue reading Vascular memory
Here are three papers that cited last year’s Part 1. First is a 2021 rodent study investigating a microRNA’s pro-depressive effects: “Depressive rat models were established via chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) treatment. Cognitive function of rats was assessed by a series of behavioral tests. Nrf2 was weakly expressed in CUMS-treated rats, whereas Nrf2 upregulation … Continue reading Eat broccoli sprouts for depression, Part 2
This 2022 review suggested more effective ways to conduct in vitro studies of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and neurodegenerative diseases: “The main goal of this review was to present and discuss in vitro models that were applied or have the potential to be used in research on AGEs and ND. We introduced and explained … Continue reading Studying AGEs and neurodegeneration
This 2021 rodent study investigated conception through weaning effects on offspring from stressing their mothers: “We investigated consequences of two prenatal insults, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and food-related stress, on DNA methylation profiles of the rat brain during early development. We analyzed patterns in prefrontal cortex, a key brain region involved in cognition, executive function, … Continue reading Offspring brain effects from maternal adversity
Surface Your Real Self 