Survive 8/13?
“When Black Friday falls You know it’s got to be Don’t let it fall on me”
Search Results for: surviv
The function of the dorsal ACC is to monitor pain in survival contexts
This 2015 California human study was of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC): “No neural region has been associated with more conflicting accounts of its function than the dACC. The best psychological description of dACC function was related to pain processing—not executive, conflict, or salience processing. We conclude by considering that physical pain may be … Continue reading The function of the dorsal ACC is to monitor pain in survival contexts
Glutathione primes β-glucan-trained immunity
Two 2021 papers on glutathione interactions with β-glucan, with the first studying human cells from healthy donors: “(1→3)-β-D-Glucan stimulation induces epigenetic and transcriptomic changes in monocytes associated with increased glutathione (GSH) synthesis and metabolism. Intracellular glutathione levels were crucial in regulating several monocyte antifungal functions including resilience to oxidative stress, immunometabolism, nitric oxide production, phagocytosis, … Continue reading Glutathione primes β-glucan-trained immunity
Saving bees by regulating epigenetics
This 2021 study investigated an epigenetic treatment for bees forgetting about their hives: “Over the last few decades, numbers of both wild and managed bee pollinators have been declining. Although reasons for this decline are under debate, it is highly likely that a combination of multiple stressors is to blame, in particular, deformed wing virus … Continue reading Saving bees by regulating epigenetics
Intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of trained immunity
I’ll curate this 2021 rodent study Transmission of trained immunity and heterologous resistance to infections across generations (not freely available) through two instances of its news coverage: “Here we provide evidence for transmission of trained immunity across generations to murine progeny that survived a sublethal systemic infection with Candida albicans or a zymosan challenge. Progeny … Continue reading Intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of trained immunity
Broccoli sprouts and microRNAs
This 2021 in vitro study investigated microRNAs as potential causative factors for broccoli’s beneficial effects: “A computational analysis was performed to explore processes and pathways associated with genes targeted either by: Host-expressed miRNAs (endogenous) modulated by bioactive compounds in broccoli; or miRNAs derived from broccoli (exogenous). miRNAs are noncoding RNAs containing between 19 and 24 … Continue reading Broccoli sprouts and microRNAs
Choosing your gut immune response
This 2021 paper reviewed evidence for immune system effects associated with specific gut areas: “The intestinal immune system must not only contend with continuous exposure to food, commensal microbiota, and pathogens, but respond appropriately according to intestinal tissue differences. The entire intestine, inclusive of its lymph nodes, is considered a immunosuppressive organ overall compared to … Continue reading Choosing your gut immune response
The brainstem’s parabrachial nucleus
I often reread blog posts that you read. Yesterday, a reader clicked Treat your gut microbiota as one of your organs. On rereading, I saw that I didn’t properly reference the parabrachial nucleus as being part of the brainstem. A “parabrachial nucleus” search led me to a discussion of two 2020 rodent studies: “Nociceptive signals … Continue reading The brainstem’s parabrachial nucleus
Vitamin K-dependent proteins
This 2020 review focused on three Vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs): “We summarize three important emerging VKDPs: Growth arrest‑specific protein 6 (Gas 6), Gla‑rich protein (GRP) and periostin in terms of their functions in physiological and pathological conditions. As examples: Carboxylated Gas 6 and GRP effectively protect blood vessels from calcification; Gas 6 protects from acute … Continue reading Vitamin K-dependent proteins
Ride the waves of gene expression with betaine
This 2021 cell study investigated a dietary supplement’s role in preventing nerve disease: “A loss of epigenetic control has been implicated in development of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have implicated aberrant DNA and histone methylation in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease pathogenesis. We have previously reported that methyl donor betaine is depleted in MS and is … Continue reading Ride the waves of gene expression with betaine
Oat β-glucan effects on colitis
This 2021 rodent study investigated oat β-glucan effects on colitis: “In this study, we determined effects of consumption of low- and high-molar-mass oat beta-glucans on expression of selected markers of apoptosis and autophagy in colonocytes in TNBS colitis-induced rats. We analyzed expression of colon wall receptors, including TLRs and Dectin-1, which are involved in recognition … Continue reading Oat β-glucan effects on colitis
Choosing your future with β-glucan
This 2020 rodent study investigated yeast cell wall β-glucan effects on bacterial infections: “β-glucan is a potent inducer of epigenetic and functional reprogramming of innate immune cells, a process called trained immunity, resulting in an enhanced host response against secondary infections. We investigate whether β-glucan exposure confers protection against pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. β-glucan … Continue reading Choosing your future with β-glucan
Flailing with probiotics?
This 2021 review subject was probiotic bacteria survival and colonization: “Health benefits of probiotics are diminished due to substantial reduction of viable probiotic bacteria under harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and colonization resistance caused by commensal bacteria. This review illustrates the journey of probiotics from oral administration to the gastrointestinal tract, followed by colonization … Continue reading Flailing with probiotics?
Treat your gut microbiota as one of your organs
Two 2021 reviews covered gut microbiota. The first was gut microbial origins of metabolites produced from our diets, and mutual effects: “Gut microbiota has emerged as a virtual endocrine organ, producing multiple compounds that maintain homeostasis and influence function of the human body. Host diets regulate composition of gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites, which causes … Continue reading Treat your gut microbiota as one of your organs
How will you feel?
Consider this a partial repost of Moral Fiber: “We are all self-reproducing bioreactors. We provide an environment for trillions of microbes, most of which cannot survive for long without the food, shelter and a place to breed that we provide. They inhabit us so thoroughly that not a single tissue in our body is sterile. … Continue reading How will you feel?
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