Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – News-Medical.net

Over the last decade, the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) - Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) have been key areas of research into complex disease genetics.

More than 100 genes have been identified that increase the risk of these conditions developing, confirming that a strong genetic element is involved. Although scientists still do not understand exactly what causes Crohns and UC to develop, it is known that the bowel inflammation tends to arise in response to bacteria in the gut among people who are genetically pre-disposed to the conditions.

In 2006, all 22,000 genes of the human genome across 6,000 individuals were scanned by researchers. As reported in Nature Genetics, the scientists said that around 50% of the people had Crohns disease and the remainder did not, showing that genetics is a key element in the development of these diseases. They also said that identifying the predisposing genes could lead to the development of new treatment approaches. Several initiatives are now in place to use todays scientific technologies and knowledge to help achieve this goal and two of these are described in more detail below.

The Crohns & Colitis Foundation (CCFA) has launched a project called the IBD Genetics Initiative, which involves leading scientists in the field who hope to use science and technology to discover new ways of curing or preventing the development of Crohn's disease.

To date, 165 IBD-associated genes have been identified, but their functions are not yet understood. The goals of the IBD Genetics Initiative are to:

So far, the initiative has led to the discovery of at least two gene pathways that can already be targeted using existing drugs, with one already having been confirmed as safe for use in humans.

In a world-wide collaboration over recent years, the IIBDGC has been gathering large datasets from a wide variety of countries in order to discover IBD-associated genes and also explore what the associations mean. The consortiums latest article involved twelve groups of research analysts who used advanced statistical methods to identify patterns across the genes.

This provided new understanding about IBD risk that could not be provided by single locus analysis. Specifically, the research led to the finding that, as well as IBD genetically resembling other immune conditions, it is especially closely associated with particular inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis. The risk of IBD is not just associated with immune system changes, but with a certain subset of immune cells and signals. The risk is not only associated with susceptibility to bacterial infection, but in particular, with susceptibility to bacteria from the family that includes tuberculosis and leprosy.

The IIBDGC says that times have changed compared to five years ago, with disease gene discovery no longer being the challenging aspect; the focus of future studies should be to examine the new associations found and transform any findings into a deeper understanding of biology.

Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, MSc

Read more from the original source:
Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - News-Medical.net

The Ida Hudson Callaway Building: LC’s New Beacon of Pride – The Hilltop News

By Meagan Lennon

Many LaGrange College student s, myself included, were skeptical when construction first began. I recall thinking, Why do we need a new science building? The current one is perfectly fine.

Little did I know that I would be so wrong.

Dr. Arthur Sikora used a chemical reaction to cut the ribbon at the grand opening.

With its spacious laboratories, state-of-the-art technology, and modern design, the new Ida Callaway Hudson Lab Science Building provides the best accommodations for students and professors alike. Comparatively, the memories of the old building seem like ancient history since the new building has been completed. As Dr. William Paschal, professor of anatomy and physiology, neurobiology, and embryology, says, We no longer have to share space. There is so much more room to maneuver and see.

In the old building, most of the classes had to share the same lab space, but now every class has its own lab. The lab spaces in the old building were crowded, and they could hardly fit an entire class. However, in the Ida, each lab space can fit up to twenty-four students with space to spare.

We now have neat equipment that is typically found at research universities, and we dont have to share.

Everything in the new building is state-of-the-art and perfect for the budding scientist. According to Dr. Nickie Cauthen, the science department chair and professor of genetics, biology, and molecular biology, We now have neat equipment that is typically found at research universities, and we dont have to share.

Dr. William Paschal leads his lab on the first day of school.

In the chemistry labs, each lab group has a dedicated drawer for beakers, test tubes, and other equipment, and lab partners can safely conduct experiments without worrying about volatile gases under the new hoods. In the anatomy lab, each table has its own snorkel so the lab does not reek of the dissection specimen.

Professors can also use special microscopes to project specimens onto the projection screen. This addition makes it easier for students to understand what the professor is talking about during the lecture or the laboratory session.

Although the Ida is truly something to marvel, its space and its technology are not its sole captivating features. It was built with professors and students in mind. Students can use multiple study rooms and we love being able to write on the whiteboard walls that separate the classrooms from the offices. As Dr. Cauthen states, When we were the old building, it was rare to see students outside of class times. But now? The students want to hang around.

The whiteboard walls are directly outside of the offices, so if we are struggling with a concept, we can draw out what we understand and ask the professor any questions. I have taken advantage of the whiteboard feature many times, and it is perhaps one of my favorite things about the Ida.

When we were the old building, it was rare to see students outside of class times. But now? The students want to hang around.

Dr. Cauthen states, We are hoping that the new building will draw in new students.

Meagan Lennon, 19, is a sophomore biology major.

The building itself is more than equipped to handle incoming students because, as Dr. Cauthen claimed, We dont have to worry about overcrowding, and we have room to grow.

Students of all majors can appreciate the spacious hallways and the technologically advanced lab rooms. Professors can provide students with extra help on the whiteboard walls that line the hallways. And the extra study space is more accessible to groups. The Ida Callaway Hudson Lab Sciences Building stands as a beacon of pride on our historic and prestigious campus.

Like Loading...

View post:
The Ida Hudson Callaway Building: LC's New Beacon of Pride - The Hilltop News

Matthew Morrison Joins ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ See On-Set Pics and Video – Variety

Matthew Morrison has been cast onGreys Anatomy.

ABC confirmedtoVarietythat the Glee alum is joining the medical drama in aguest role. However, the network kept details on his character and storyline under wraps.

Morrisonwas recently spotted in on-set pictures, which surfaced on a Twitter fan account this past weekend. In the photos, hes filming with Greys Anatomy vet Justin Chambers, plus star and director Kevin McKidd. The images depict Morrison and Chambers on a street and near a cab.

Morrison also teased a new gig on his Instagram story, but did not specify the new show. He did say thathed be playing a character named Dr. Paul Stadler.

Actors Justin Chambers & Matthew Morrison with director Kevin McKidd on the set of #GreysAnatomy episode 13.23, wrote one fan account on Saturday, with a picture of the two actors.

Things we learned today: #GreysAnatomy ep 13.23 has some medical event that Alex & Dr. Paul Stadler played by Matthew Morrison go to, wrote the same fan account on Friday.

Morrisonis best known for starring on Glee for its entire run, which ended in 2015. He recently had a memorable guest role on TV Lands Younger. He also had an arc on The Good Wife. He is repped by CAA.

Go here to read the rest:
Matthew Morrison Joins 'Grey's Anatomy' See On-Set Pics and Video - Variety

Anatomy Of A Decision Series Highlights Skills Necessary To Climb To The Top Of The Corporate Ladder – Benzinga

GLG recently produced a series of videos that include interviews with a number of business leaders who have different backgrounds in the business world. GLG, the worlds leading membership network for professional learning, focused its Anatomy of a Decision series on the decision-making process that these leaders used to make some of the most difficult choices of their careers.

Each of the participants in the video series offered advice about how future leaders should approach critical decisions. Several of the participants also discussed ways they wish they had done things differently throughout their careers as well. Heres a rundown of some of the highlights from the five-part series.

For former Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) CEO Jeff Kindler, the key to his business success was an open mind.

I started saying I should be open to whatever comes along, Kindler said. And that led me down all kinds of different paths I never would have predicted.

Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson said preparation and confidence go a long way in the business world.

When you have to confront powerful people about unpleasant things that they dont want to talk about like their personal finances or their campaign finances, you develop a kind of calm steadiness that allows you not to get horribly nervous, Abramson said.

Pamela Thomas-Graham, former Credit Suisse Group AG (ADR) (NYSE: CS)board member, CEO of CNBC and the first ever African-American partner at McKinsey & Co., had some advice for anyone who is subjected to discrimination in the workplace. She said anger is often not constructive, but direct, open dialogue can be.

You can be angry and you can be frustrated, but if you really want to change peoples behavior you have to meet them where they are, she said.

Jeffrey Brenzel, dean of undergraduate admissions at Yale, said companies often underestimate the importance of the hiring process.

Its not who you fire, its who you hire that is going to make the difference between success and failure for your company, Brenzel said. And how those decisions are made and whos making them and what the process is for making those decisions I think could not conceivably be more critical.

Jake Sullivan, a former advisor to former President Barack Obama, discussed the importance of removing irrational emotions from his decision-making process when discussing the Iranian nuclear deal with the president.

Being able to make that decision to recommend to the president that we go ahead and do this deal required stepping back from the anxiety, the emotion, the nerve-wracking idea that maybe we were going to screw this thing up and actually systematically running a cost benefit analysis, he said.

Collectively, these five leaders have decades of experience at the highest level of the business world. Despite the fact that all of them have unique backgrounds and areas of expertise, the themes of adaptability, preparation, discipline, respect, and critical thinking were common among their discussions. In order to have a chance at reaching the pinnacle of success in any field, young entrepreneurs and aspiring executives should focus on honing these universal skills on a daily basis.

Related Links:

Anatomy Of A Decision, Part 1: The C-Suite

Anatomy Of A Decision, Part 2: The Newsroom

Anatomy Of A Decision, Part 3: Minorities In The Boardroom

Anatomy of a Decision, Part 4: The Admissions Office

Anatomy Of A Decision, Part 5: The West Wing

Posted-In: Anatomy of a Decision Barack Obama GLGNews Education Media Interview General Best of Benzinga

2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from:
Anatomy Of A Decision Series Highlights Skills Necessary To Climb To The Top Of The Corporate Ladder - Benzinga

Anatomy of a Goal: Ola Kamara’s Chip – Massive Report

Welcome to the first Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from the previous weeks Columbus Crew SC match.

For week four on the 2017 MLS Season, we take a look at Ola Kamaras 19th minute chipped goal that put Crew SC up 2-1 as part of the 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Heres a look at the finish from the Columbus forward.

First, lets set the scene. Up to this point in the game, Crew SC had dominated possession while Portland looked to defend, high press, and counter. The Timbers first goal came off of a direct attack and the Black & Golds first goal came from a Justin Meram rebound on a corner kick.

The build up to Kamaras chip goal starts with an Alvas Powell throw-in.

In the above image, you can see that Portland has five players in position to receive the throw-in (Federico Higuain is pointing to the sixth man/safety valve). Realistically, Powell has three options: Fanendo Adi, Dairon Asprilla, and Diego Valeri. In what looks like a designed play, Powell makes the deep throw to Adi who immediately heads the ball in the direction of Valeri.

Jonathan Mensah is easily able to cut off the headed ball and makes a simple pass to Artur, who immediately turns the ball upfield.

The image above shows where this goal really begins. If you notice Higuain, his head is turned downfield rather than looking at Artur. At this moment, hes aware that Powell has not tracked back on defense and Zarek Valentin is pushed far up the field watching Ethan Finaly, leaving Kamara downfield and marked only by the Timbers center backs.

As Artur dribbles upfield, still un-pressured by Diego Chara, Higuain continues to look at Kamaras positioning. Higuain knows exactly where Kamara is at all times during this play.

Here, you can see that Chara begins to pressure Artur, and Artur can see two options: Harrison Afful or Finlay. Artur opts for the pass upfield to Finaly but makes his decision and pass too late, allowing Chara to deflect the ball right into the path of Valeri.

Valeri heads the ball back into the general direction of Chara and Sebastin Blanco. However, Afful makes a great hustle play to out-jump Chara (who is two inches taller than Afful), and head the ball downfield in the direction of Higuain. If Afful gets beaten by Chara, the ball likely makes its way to Blanco, who only has to beat Jonathan to get in on goal.

Above, Higuain is waiting for the ball that Afful was able to put right in his path. He knows the ball is going to get to him so hes looking to see EXACTLY where Kamara is. Higuain likely notices that Powell is still not back on defense and Kamara is only marked by the two center backs. You can just see Valentins shadow above Higuains head. Valentin has arguably moved too far up the field to track Finaly and provide an outlet pass.

Higuain receives the ball on a bad bounce, maybe controlling the ball with his arm, but hes already made his mind up to send a long ball into the path of the sprinting Kamara. Higuain controls the ball, and fires a second-touch-volley down the field and over the head of Kamara and the Portland center backs.

This image shows exactly how open Kamara was whenever Higuain turned his head in the seconds leading up to this pass. The forward is only marked by the two center-backs. Kamara splits the center-backs, and puts his run close enough to Lawrence Olum that Olum doesnt have the speed to get in front of Kamara.

Kamara can now see that hes going to get the first touch on the ball. The decision he has to make is whether to hit a one-touch-volley over the head of Jake Gleeson, who he can see is very far off of his line, or to take a touch and try to beat Gleeson 1 v 1. Both Olum and Roy Miller peel off of Kamara to try and get into a goal-side position. Olum immediately heads toward the goal, while Miller makes a bent run, trying to coax Kamar into a second touch. On the replay, it looks like Gleeson isnt sure whether to come out or stay back. Both defenders head toward the goal so Gleeson stays out.

By this point, Kamara has decided to knock a one-time chip over Gleeson before Olum or Miller can get in position for a clearance. Kamara is running toward a ball that is traveling left and away from the goal. On this shot, he displays excellent control of his body. Kamara maintains his run away from the goal, slowing down only long enough to make sure he connects with the ball. Then, he expertly uses his left foot (dont forget, Ola is right-footed) to redirect the ball over Gleeson and into back of the net.

Findings:

And that, is this weeks Anatomy of a Goal. This one showed some pretty impressive stuff from Crew SC and ultimately played a large part in three points at home.

See the rest here:
Anatomy of a Goal: Ola Kamara's Chip - Massive Report

Scoop: GREY’S ANATOMY on ABC – Thursday, April 13, 2017 – Broadway World

On the episode In the Air Tonight Meredith and Nathan have to confront their feelings when they are are stuck sitting next to each other on a plane, on Greys Anatomy, THURSDAY, APRIL 13 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

Greys Anatomy stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Sarah Drew as April Kepner, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Jason George as Ben Warren, Martin Henderson as Nathan Riggs and Giacomo Gianniotti as Andrew DeLuca.

Greys Anatomy was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes (Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder), Betsy Beers (Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder) and Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan). William Harper, Stacy McKee, Zoanne Clack and Debbie Allen are executive producers. Greys Anatomy is produced by ABC Studios.

In the Air Tonight was written by Stacy McKee and directed by Chandra Wilson.

Greys Anatomy is broadcasted in 720 Progressive (720P), ABCs selected HTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

The rest is here:
Scoop: GREY'S ANATOMY on ABC - Thursday, April 13, 2017 - Broadway World

Anatomy and physiology of ageing 3: the digestive system – Nursing Times

Download a print-friendly PDF file of this article here

Yamni Nigam is an associate professor of biomedical science; John Knight is a senior lecturer in biomedical science; both at the College of Human Health and Science, Swansea University.

Ageing can have drastic effects on the functions of the digestive system. One of these is reduced appetite due to changes in hormone production and analteration in smell and taste. Physiological changes in pharyngeal skills and oesophageal motility may lead to dysphagia and reflux. In the intestines, several factors contribute tochanges in the regular gut microbial fauna, making older people more prone to bloating, pain and bacterial infection. There is also a drastic age-associated rise in the incidence of several gut pathologies including cancer of the colon. This third article in our series on the anatomy and physiology of ageing explores the digestive system.

Nigam Y, Knight J (2017) Anatomy and physiology of ageing 3: the digestive system. Nursing Times [online]; 113: 4, 54-57.

The main role of the digestive system is to mechanically and chemically break down food into simple components that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. The gut and accessory organs also play an important role in the elimination of indigestible food components, bile pigments, toxins and excess salts. The system performs a range of anatomically and physiologically distinct functions, each of which is affected differently by ageing (Fig 1).

2

Fig 1. Age-related changes to the gastrointestinal tract

Food intake diminishes with age due to a range of complex reasons that lead to reduced appetite. These include physiological changes and changes in psychosocial and pharmacological circumstances.

Appetite is controlled mainly by sensors in the gastrointestinal tract, which detect the physical presence of food and prompt the GI tract to produce a range of hormones. These are released before, during and after eating, and control eating behaviours, including the amount consumed. They include:

Table 1 highlights the changes that occur in the production of these hormones with advancing age; the overall result is reduced appetite.

ta

Table 1. Age-related changes in appetite hormones

We choose what we eat based on the smell and taste of food; however, the number of olfactory receptors decreases with age and the sense of smell diminishes. US research suggests that about half of people aged 65-80 and around three-quarters of those aged over 80years have a demonstrable loss of smell (Doty and Kamath, 2014).

This decreased sense of smell can have significant safety implications; for example, a disproportionately high number of older people die from accidental gas poisoning. It can also be an early sign of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons or Alzheimers disease (Httenbrink et al, 2013). Olfactory loss including loss of the ability to discriminate between smells may also be a consequence of age-related skull bone growth that results in a pinching of sensory nerve fibres.

Most older people experience regional taste deficits in the mouth. However, what is perceived as a taste defect (gustatory dysfunction) is often a primary defect in olfaction although some studies suggest that age-related changes in the taste cell membranes diminish the sense of taste (Seiberling and Conley, 2004).

The gradual reduction in smell and taste, and therefore in appetite, leads to diminished food intake, possibly resulting in weight loss and malnutrition, while the inability to taste and enjoy food can lead to anxiety. The ability to taste salt also diminishes (Mauk, 2010) and may lead to increased consumption of salt-rich meals, which can aggravate health conditions such as hypertension. Older people should be encouraged to use herbs or mild spices in their dishes, rather than salt, if they need to add flavour.

The lips, tongue, salivary glands and teeth all play a role in chewing, breaking down and swallowing food. Age-related shrinkage of the maxillary and mandibular bones and reduction in bone calcium content cause a slow erosion of the tooth sockets, leading to gum recession and an increased risk of root decay (Pradeep et al, 2012). People without teeth (edentulous) or who have poorly fitting dentures may find chewing difficult and, therefore, eat less and become malnourished. Alternatively, they may choose highly refined, easy-to-chew foods, thereby consuming less dietary fibre; this will affect their bowel function, and may cause problems such as constipation.

A dry mouth (xerostomia) is common among older people; Smith et al (2013) showed that healthy subjects aged 70years and over produced less saliva than younger people. However, while the number of tongue acinar (saliva-producing) cells decreases with age, there is conflicting evidence as to whether the volume of saliva produced also decreases. Xerostomia can be an adverse effect of medication or can result from diseases such as diabetes. Although it is common among older people generally, it is more likely to occur in those who are taking more than four prescription drugs per day (Yellowitz and Schneiderman, 2014). Drug categories that may cause xerostomia include:

Having formed a bolus of food, the mouth prepares to swallow. The bolus reaches the posterior pharyngeal wall and the musculature contracts around it; swallowing occurs and food travels through the upper oesophageal sphincter into the oesophagus. With age, the muscular contractions that initiate swallowing slow down, increasing pharyngeal transit time (Nikhil et al, 2014). This may lead to swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), which can increase the risk of choking and the feeling that food is stuck in the throat. Up to 26.7% of people aged 76years and over experience dysphagia (Baijens et al, 2016).

In general, the motor function of the GI tract is relatively well preserved in healthy older people, but there are significant changes in oropharyngeal and oesophageal motility. In the very old, impaired oesophageal motility is common; oesophageal peristalsis weakens with age (Gutschow et al, 2011) and peristalsis may no longer be triggered by each swallow. Both upper and lower oesophageal sphincters lose tension; the lower one in particular undergoes a reduction in pressure, resulting in problems such as dysphagia, reflux and heartburn (Grassi et al, 2011). In addition, the gag reflex is absent in 43% of older people (Davies et al, 1995).

The stomach acts as a reservoir for food, allowing us to eat at regular intervals. With age, it cannot accommodate as much food, primarily because its wall loses elasticity.

As a normal part of digestion, the stomach secretes gastric juice containing hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Although, in general, older and younger people produce gastric acid at a similar rate (Merchant et al, 2016), acid hyposecretion occurs in 10-20% of older people versus <1% of younger subjects (Gidal, 2007). This can compromise the bioavailability of certain drugs, including vitamin B12, and lead to disorders such as chronic atrophic gastritis.

There is also an age-related reduction in mucus-producing goblet cells, which results in reduced secretion of protective mucus and therefore a weakened mucosal barrier. Consequently the stomachs lining becomes more prone to damage (Saber and Bayumi, 2016).

Gastric bicarbonate (HCO3-) and mucus normally provide an alkaline layer to defend the stomach lining against gastric juices; however, research suggests that advancing age is associated with a decline in HCO3- secretion (Saber and Bayumi, 2016). The protective prostaglandin content of mucus also decreases with age, making older people more prone to gastromucosal injury such as lesions and ulcers, especially after ingesting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly taken by older people. However, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which suppress acid production, are often prescribed alongside NSAIDs (Fujimori, 2015).

Finally, gastric emptying slows down with age; this means food remains in the stomach for longer, prolonging satiation and reducing appetite (Nieuwenhuizen et al, 2010).

The main function of the small intestine is to digest and absorb food. It produces a range of digestive enzymes, supported by the pancreas and liver.

Absorption of nutrients occurs in the jejunum and ileum, the second and third regions of the small intestine. The lining of the small intestine is shaped into microscopic folds (villi), which increase the surface area available for absorption. Although an age-related reduction in villus height has been shown, the impact on nutrient uptake does not seem to be clinically significant (Drozdowski and Thomson, 2006).

There is evidence that the production of the enzyme lactase decreases with age, making older people more prone to lactose intolerance (Di Stefano et al, 2001); lactase is created following instruction fromthe LCT gene, which becomes less active over time.

Populations of certain bacteria that reside in the small intestine have been shown to increase as we age, leading to bloating, pain and decreased absorption of nutrients such as calcium, folic acid and iron. This can have a negative effect on health. In addition, PPIs have been shown to provoke bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, which may exacerbate NSAID-induced small intestinal injury and foster the development of systemic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and autoimmune diseases (Fujimori, 2015).

Peyers patches small nodules of lymphatic tissue that form part of the guts immune defence system monitor populations of intestinal bacteria to prevent the growth of pathogens. However, there is a gradual reduction in the number of Peyers patches in the small intestine, accompanied by a gradual loss of lymphoid follicles (Merchant et al, 2016); this can result in an uncontrolled growth of resident micro-flora.

As already mentioned, oesophageal peristalsis slows with age, but research has recently shown that small intestinal transit time does not seem to be affected (Fischer and Fadda, 2016). In contrast, there is an age-related slowing down of colonic transit caused by a decline in propulsive activity of the colon, whichis associated with a reduction in neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors (Britton and McLaughlin, 2013). This causes a delay in colonic transit of waste, leading to constipation (Wiskur and Greenwood-Van Meerveld, 2010).

Peristalsis is also affected by the age-related atrophy of the mucosa and muscle layers of the colon. The walls of the colon sag, prompting the formation of pouches (diverticuli). Straining to eliminate faeces may put additional pressure on weakened blood vessel walls, giving rise to haemorrhoids.

The rate of cell division declines in the digestive epithelium, which cannot repair and replace itself as well as it needs to. There is also a drastic age-associated rise in the incidence of several gut pathologies including cancer of the colon in fact, age is the key risk factor for colorectal cancer. Recent studies indicate that ageing induces changes in the DNA of epithelial intestinal cells, particularly in the colon; this process known as DNA methylation is believed to play a significant part in the development of colorectal cancers (Masoro and Austad, 2010).

Changes in the populations of gut microbes lead to an increase in facultative anaerobes including streptococcus, staphylococcus, enterococcus and enterobacteriaceae which are able to thrive in inflamed conditions (Pdron and Sansonetti, 2008). The ageing process mimics the intestinal microbe profile that accompanies inflammatory bowel diseases and obesity (Neish, 2009).

The commensal microorganisms inhabiting the lumen of the colon are prevented from entering surrounding tissues by a single layer of epithelial cells that form an impermeable mucosal barrier. This barrier becomes leaky with age (Mabbott, 2015). As the barrier function of the mucosal immune system is impaired, the incidence of GI pathogen infections is higher and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older people (Mabbott et al, 2015). This group is also at increased risk of infection with Clostridium difficile, which causes a potentially fatal dehydrating diarrhoea for which the two major risk factors are age of 65years and exposure to antimicrobials (Jump, 2013).

With age, the pancreas, which generates four major digestive enzymes, decreases in weight and some of its tissue undergoes fibrosis. Its exocrine function is impaired and the secretion of chymotrypsin and pancreatic lipase reduced (Laugier et al, 1991), adversely affecting the ability of the small intestine to digest food.

The liver undertakes more than 114 functions for the body; as it shrinks with age and blood flow to it decreases, its functional capacity also decreases (Drozdowski and Thomson, 2006). There is a decrease in the rate of protein synthesis and of metabolism, the livers ability to detoxify many substances, as well as the production and flow of bile (involved in fat emulsification). In addition, bile becomes thicker and its salt content diminishes, resulting in higher plasma concentrations of cholesterol, particularly in women (Frommherz et al, 2016). Drugs are no longer inactivated quickly by the liver and are therefore more likely to cause dose-related side-effects: dosages therefore need to be carefully checked when prescribing for older people.

Baijens LW et al (2016) European Society for Swallowing Disorders European Union Geriatric Medicine Society white paper: oropharyngeal dysphagia as a geriatric syndrome. Journal of Clinical Interventions in Ageing; 11: 1403-1428.

Britton E, McLaughlin JT (2013) Ageing and the gut. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society; 72: 1, 173-177.

Davies AE et al (1995) Pharyngeal sensation and gag reflex in healthy subjects. Lancet; 345: 8948, 487-488.

de Boer A et al (2012) Physiological and psychosocial age-related changes associated with reduced food intake in older persons. Ageing Research Reviews; 12: 1, 316-328.

de Boer A et al (2013) Physiological and psychosocial age-related changes associated with reduced food intake in older persons. Ageing Research Reviews; 12: 1, 316-328.

Di Francesco V et al (2008) Effect of age on the dynamics of acylated ghrelin in fasting conditions and in response to a meal. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; 56: 7, 1369-1370.

Di Stefano M et al (2001) Lactose malabsorption and intolerance in the elderly. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology; 36: 12, 1274-1278.

Doty RL, Kamath V (2014) The influences of age on olfaction: a review. Frontiers in Psychology; 5: 20.

Drozdowski L, Thomson ABR (2006) Aging and the intestine. World Journal of Gastroenterology; 12: 47, 7578-7584.

Fischer M, Fadda HM (2016) The effect of sex and age on small intestinal transit times in humans. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; 105: 2, 682-686.

Frommherz L et al (2016) Age-related changes of plasma bile acid concentrations in healthy adults results from the cross-sectional KarMeN study. PLoS One; 11: 4, e0153959.

Fujimori S (2015) What are the effects of proton pump inhibitors on the small intestine? World Journal of Gastroenterology; 21: 22, 6817-6819.

Gidal BE (2007) Antiepileptic drug formulation and treatment in the elderly: biopharmaceutical considerations. International Review of Neurobiology; 81: 299-311.

Gong Z, Muzumdar RH (2012) Pancreaticfunction, type 2 diabetes, and metabolism in aging. International Journal of Endocrinology; 2012: 320482.

Grassi M et al (2011) Changes, functional disorders, and diseases in the gastrointestinal tract of elderly. Nutricin Hospitalaria; 26: 4, 659-668.

Gutschow CA et al (2011) Effect of aging on esophageal motility in patients with and without GERD. German Medical Science; 9: doc 22.

Hickson M et al (2016) Increased peptide YY blood concentrations, not decreased acyl-ghrelin, are associated with reduced hunger and food intake in healthy older women: preliminary evidence. Appetite; 105: 320-327.

Httenbrink KB et al (2013) Olfactory dysfunction: common in later life and early warning of neurodegenerative disease. Deutsches rzteblatt International; 110: 1-2, 1-7.

Jump RLP (2013) Clostridium difficile infection in older adults. Aging Health; 9: 4, 403-414.

Laugier R et al (1991) Changes in pancreatic exocrine secretion with age: pancreatic exocrine secretion does decrease in the elderly. Digestion; 50: 3-4, 202-211.

Mabbott NA (2015) A breakdown in communication? Understanding the effects of aging on the human small intestine epithelium. Clinical Science; 129: 7, 529-531.

Mabbott NA et al (2015) Aging and the mucosal immune system in the intestine. Biogerontology; 16: 2, 133-145.

Masoro EJ, Austad SN (2010) Handbook of the Biology of Aging. Burlington, MA: Academic Press.

Mauk KL (2010) Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care. London: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Merchant HA et al (2016) Age-mediated changes in the gastrointestinal tract. International Journal of Pharmaceutics; 512: 2, 382-395.

Neish AS (2009) Microbes in gastrointestinal health and disease. Gastroenterology; 136: 1, 65-80.

Nieuwenhuizen WF et al (2010) Older adults and patients in need of nutritional support: review of current treatment options and factors influencing nutritional intake. Clinical Nutrition; 29: 2, 160-169.

Nikhil J et al (2014) Oral and pharyngeal transit time as a factor of age, gender, and consistency of liquid bolus. Journal of Laryngology and Voice; 4: 2, 45-52.

Pdron T, Sansonetti P (2008) Commensals, bacterial pathogens and intestinal inflammation: an intriguing mnage trois. Cell Host and Microbe; 3: 6, 344-347.

Pilgrim A et al (2015) An overview of appetite decline in older people. Nursing Older People; 27: 5, 29-35.

Pradeep K et al (2012) Gingival recession: review and strategies in treatment of recession. Case Reports in Dentistry; 2012: 563421.

Saber A, Bayumi EK (2016) Age-related gastric changes. Journal of Surgery; 4: 2-1, 20-26.

Seiberling KA, Conley DB (2004) Aging and olfactory and taste function. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America; 37: 6, 1209-1228.

Smith CH et al (2013) Effect of aging on stimulated salivary flow in adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; 61: 5, 805-808.

Wiskur B, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B (2010) The aging colon: the role of enteric neurodegeneration in constipation. Current Gastroenterology Reports; 12: 6, 507-512.

Yellowitz JA, Schneiderman MT (2014) Elders oral health crisis. Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice; 14(Suppl): 191-200.

See the rest here:
Anatomy and physiology of ageing 3: the digestive system - Nursing Times

Anatomy of a Victory – SAMAA TV

By: Omair Alavi

Pakistan may have won the first T20 against World Champions West Indies in Barbados but the victory was far from a convincing one; the team went out with a mixture of old and new players and sadly, it was the new ones who made the difference. Lets take a look at The Good, The Bad and The Ugly performers of the match and hope that either the bad ones get dropped or improve in the next outing.

The Good

Shadab Khan came, he bowled and conquered. The leg spinner made his T20 debut memorable by taking as many as 3 wickets for just 7 runs which is the most economical figures, ever for a newbie. He was rightly used as an attacking bowler by Sarfraz Ahmed who won his 5th consecutive match in charge. Due to Shadabs brilliant spell combined with excellent captaincy, Pakistan managed to restrict the hosts for just 111. It took a gutsy innings from Babar Azam to rescue Pakistan from a familiar collapse and his 29 off 30 proved to be one of the reasons the greenshirts came out victorious.

The Bad

Kamran Akmal once again proved that he is one of the worst fielders in the world with or without gloves. Yes, he did provide the explosive start but that doesnt mean that one can forget the blunder in the field. His opening partner Ahmed Shehzad also told the selectors that their confidence in his abilities was short-lived as he did what he always does nothing exceptional with the bat. He may be a wonderful fielder and for that, he might play as a 12th man, one who doesnt burden the team with his irresponsible batting at the top!

The Ugly

Once upon a time there was a fast bowler named Wahab Riaz who bowled a wonderful spell against Australia in the last World Cup, 2 years back. He has been playing in the side for that one performance and its about time that he should make way for young guns that actually fire and take wickets, not just donate runs. His 4 overs went for 35 runs and helped the West Indians more than the Pakistan side. Another player who proved to be useless in the final XI was former captain Mohammad Hafeez who bowled one over and scored 5 runs off 12 deliveries which is criminal if you do that in a T20. If he cant bowl, cant bat and cant field, then why is he in the team beats me. It is time that non-utility players like him are shown the door and young ones are included, because the young are the way forward for Pakistan, not the old ones!

Story first published: 27th March 2017

Read the original post:
Anatomy of a Victory - SAMAA TV

Nuke the Internet From Orbit? – Washington Free Beacon

A computer gamer in Osnabrueck, Germany. / Getty Images

BY: Jack Butler March 26, 2017 4:50 am

What if the Internet shut down?

The Internet is so enmeshed in modern life that such a question seems unthinkable, an apocalyptic disaster of the sort reserved for fiction, such as E.M. Forster's startlingly prescient 1909 short story"The Machine Stops." But at the end of February, huge swaths of the Internet went dark due to problems with Amazon's servers. (The cause was a typo.) A similar outage occurred last October. That time, though, it wasn't accidental. The culprit was a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on key aspects of the Internet's infrastructure. The attackflooded vitalwebsites and services with requests, amplifying itself through loosely secured, Internet-connected devices. Such devices, includinghousehold fixtures like wireless printers and DVD players, are known collectively as the "Internet of things."

Mary Aiken's The Cyber Effect: A Pioneering Cyberpsychologist Explains How Human Behavior Changes Online deals only tangentially with such threats to the Internet. But, after reading it, one is tempted to hope that an attacksucceeds in bringing the whole thing down.

Aiken didn't set out to make the case for nuking the Internet from orbit. Her goal was rather to dissent from typical tech reporting, which breathlessly focuses on the relentless pace of change or submits paeans to Silicon Valley. Instead, she observes dispassionately how the Internet, smartphones, and related items affect us. As Aiken somewhat clumsily notes, "[w]e are living through a unique period of human history, an intense period of flux, change, and disruption that may never be repeated." At the same time, she submits another awkward, obvious, but important message: "What is new is not always goodand technology does not always mean progress."

Aiken struggles through parts of the book to convey her thesis. Virtually every page bears a trite phrase (beginning with the JFK-quoting epigraph "Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future"), some meaningless filler (the first words of the book proper are "I am sitting on a cold, hard bench"), or a pointless rhetorical question (my favorite was "where am I going with this?"). Aiken could have used a better editor.

Moreover, the authorhas a curious habit of explaining or discovering the obvious. Is it really that surprising to learn that "people behave differently when they are interacting with technology than they do in the face-to-face real world"? Is anyone shocked to find that "the more you mention something, the more you normalize it"? Did she really need to define "content analysis" and "logic" for readers?

Yet the importance of Aiken's message inclines me to forgive these faults. The meat of the book isdata and anecdotes about technology's effects, and she is at her best simply conveying these. Aiken rightly notes that "[t]he impact of technology on human behavior begins at birth and ends at death," and providesplenty of striking examples to show how technology may be deforming human behavior.

There's what Aiken calls "online syndication," or the way the Internet has allowed all sorts of warped individuals to organize aroundtheir fetishes and festering ideas. There are the video game addicts who have literally played themselves to death, and the ever-growing cohort of mostly young males who may not be literally dying but who are increasingly checking out of the real world for the more reliable stimulants of video games and pornography. Aiken cites psychologist Philip Zimbardo's claim that the average boy watches 50 pornographic videos a week, and will have played ten thousand hours of video games by age 21.

And then there are today's infants and children, the first generation raised entirely in a digitally saturated world. As Aiken notes, we will not know how staring at screens for hours from birth will affect the neurological development of today's children,or how social media will affect the self-image of today's teenagers who have spent their entire lives cultivating themselves forit, until it's too late. Don't forget the children harassed in online game worlds or lured into prostitution; horror stories of this kindmay convince you of the need fora separate Internet just for kids, an idea Aiken endorses. These and countless other examples, drawn from headlines and psychological literature, enliven the book, and nearly suffice as expiation for other faults.

The Cyber Effect may not be the world's best-written book, but Aiken has performed an invaluable service by producing it. We desperately need pushback against the tech-addled mores of our time, which encroachon us seemingly from every direction, at every stage of our lives. The Internet has given us many great things, and it would probably be a bad thing on the whole if one of these cyber attacks does take it out. Nevertheless, we still must pay attention to the work of Aiken and others, consider the questions they raise, and try our best to resist the Internet.

Read more here:
Nuke the Internet From Orbit? - Washington Free Beacon

Contagious yawning, laughing and scratching gives clues to how the human brain works – KBIA

In 1962, a strange epidemic swept through several communities in Tanganyika, present-day Tanzania. It wasnt a virus, but laughter among teenage schoolgirls. The contagious laughter, which lasted for about two and a half years, afflicted about 1,000 people and forced at least 14 schools to temporarily shut down.

Experts later determined that the origin of the epidemic was psychological, perhaps related to stress caused by the presence of British colonialism. But such events have raised scientific questions about why humans cant control behaviors such as laughing, yawning, coughing and shivering and why they spread among groups of people.

We are a part of a human herd whose behavior is often the involuntary playing out of an ancient neurological script that is so familiar that it goes unnoticed, wrote neuroscientist Robert Provine in his book, "Curious Behavior."

Consider what is really happening when your body is hijacked by an observed yawn or you spontaneously join others in a communal chorus of ha-ha-ha," Provine wrote. "You dont decide to yawn or laugh contagiously. It just happens.

Provinediscovered that people are 30 times more likely to laugh around others than alone. To date, there has been much research thats observed socially contagious behaviors in humans and animals, but scientists are just starting to look into what makes them ripple through groups of people.

Empathy may not have much to do with it

Many studies have suggested that empathy could explain contagious yawning. A study published a year ago, for example, indicated that women are more susceptible to catch yawns than men. Researchers also noted that women score higher on empathy tests, and thought the two might be associated.

Another study published in 2008 found that dogs may yawn in response to their owners, but not to strangers or other dogs. Researchers wrote that because dogs are incredibly skilled at reading human cues and generally have unique social interactions with people, there is the potential that dogs may also have developed the capacity for empathy towards humans, and may catch human yawns.

Other studies, however, suggest that empathy is less significant in contagious behaviors than we might think. A paper in 2014 published by Duke University researchers, for example, analyzed various factors that influenced yawning among more than 300 human volunteers. Scientists considered a number of influencers such as empathy, energy levels and age. They saw that contagious yawning decreased among older people.

In our study, there was a connection between contagious yawning and empathy, but it was explained by a stronger connection between contagious yawning and age, said Elizabeth Cirulli, a geneticist at Duke University and an author of that paper.

Other research also showed that young children arent likely to catch yawns from other people, either.

Itch researchers at Washington University believe empathy has very little to do with such behaviors. This month, they published a study in the journal Science that showed that mice will scratch themselves in response to seeing videos of other mice that have chronic itch problems.

At the beginning, this [experiment] may sound like a crazy idea because, as you know, mice are nocturnal. They have very poor vision, said Zhou-Feng Chen, director for the schools Center for the Study of Itch.

Chen and his colleagues examined the brains of the non-itchy mice in the study and found that a specific

region, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, released a chemical thats been known to signal when theres an itch that needs to be scratched.

Basically, our study shows those kinds of contagious behaviors are instinctive behaviors and are hardwired into our neurocircuitry, Chen said.

However, more research is needed to understand exactly how involved the brain is when we uncontrollably copy each others behaviors. As Cirulli noted, other factors need to be examined. Empathy, she said, shouldnt be ruled out, but is likely just as connected to such behaviors as height is to weight.

I dont think empathy is totally unrelated, Cirulli said. Its just that its absolutely not everything thats going on with contagious yawning. In some cases, its a proxy for something else.

We behave like the pack to survive

In the animal kingdom, one principle that prevails is strength in numbers. Snow geese, for example, will fly in groups as large as 5,000. A pack of zebras will whine loudly when they detect a predator nearby.

Some scientists believe that humans evolved to uncontrollably copy others behavior, as a means of communicating important information.

You can imagine millions of years ago when animals lived widely and maybe living in places where there are parasites," Chen said. "If all the animals begin to scratch, it could mean the area that theyre in may be dangerous.

He further speculated that as scratching became a regular way to alarm others that they needed to leave certain environments, its possible that the behavior became innate and written into our genetics over time.

From an evolutionary point of view, contagious behaviors actually help animals to better survive because you dont have to learn everything from scratch, Chen said.

How the brain works

While it might seem frivolous to study why we catch yawns and participate in other kinds of unconsciously provoked micmicry, the research could provide fundamental insight into how our brains work and develop. For instance, a 2009 study by University of Zurich researchers showed that contagious yawning and laughing happened much less frequently with people who have schizophrenia. Yawning also spread much less among people with autism.

Such findings still need further research to be understood. However, its promising that contagious scratching is observed among mice, for example, since theyre often used as experimental subjects to understand brain diseases.

Reflecting on her contagious yawning study, Cirulli mused that it would be interesting to study how genetics might influence a persons susceptibility to this behavior and how that might be connected to neurological conditions.

Because big genetic studies have been done on schizophrenia and autism and other diseases, you can calculate someones risks of developing those diseases from their genetic information and you can see if its associated with contagious yawning, she said.

Follow Eli Chen on Twitter:@StoriesByEli

See original here:
Contagious yawning, laughing and scratching gives clues to how the human brain works - KBIA