Telomere Length Considerations Can Be Used for Hospital Patient Treatments
By Fatin Chowdhury ‘19 Telomeres are regions of repeated nucleotide sequences at the ends of chromosomes; while they are valuable for protecting chromosomal ends from deterioration or fusion with the ends of neighboring chromosomes, their roles among medical treatments have been mainly unknown. A recent study led by Dr. Jonathan K. Alder of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine analyzed telomere length value and aimed … Continue reading Telomere Length Considerations Can Be Used for Hospital Patient Treatments
Tackling Perisurgical Hyperglycemia Complications with a Simple Solution
By Fatin Chowdhury ‘19 As major surgery techniques have been developed and refined, better standards of practice before, during, and after surgery have also been established. Researchers in a recent study led by Dr. Barrett A. Kielhorn explored how the ingestion of a small amount of maltodextrin and citrulline solution — before surgery — would impact patients after colectomy or enterectomy surgery. This change was … Continue reading Tackling Perisurgical Hyperglycemia Complications with a Simple Solution
A Forest Pest Aids in Bat Survival
By Fatin Chowdhury ‘19 Although invasive pest species are often associated with threats to biodiversity, new research may indicate that the bark beetle I. typographus creates a conducive environment for the survival of an endangered European bat. A team lead by Dr. Mareike Kortmann of the University of Würzburg recently undertook a project examining the interaction of the bat species Barabastella barastellus within a forest … Continue reading A Forest Pest Aids in Bat Survival
The Pathology of Schizophrenia: Action-Outcome Learning Impairments
By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 Schizophrenia is often associated with disconnections between thoughts and actions, as well as slow acquisition of adaptive behavior. Doctor Richard W. Morris and researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia wanted to establish whether schizophrenia (SZ) patients could distinguish causal consequences from reward values. The researchers aimed to reveal action-outcome (AO) learning impairments in SZ patients. The analysis … Continue reading The Pathology of Schizophrenia: Action-Outcome Learning Impairments
What Dominates in Shaping Human Gut Microbiota?
By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 The human microbiome is thought to be shaped by many factors. Daphna Rothschild and researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel attempted to find the most important determinant for the microbial composition of the human gut. They compared genetic and environmental factors that were thought to influence gut composition and utilized statistical measures to analyze them. The study recruited 1046 … Continue reading What Dominates in Shaping Human Gut Microbiota?
Functionally Different Smiles Cause Distinct Physiological Responses in Humans
By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 A smile is often associated with positive feedback and friendly gestures. Jared D. Martin and researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison aimed to reevaluate this nonverbal social tool. They suggested that there are three distinct smiles that could be encountered — reward, affiliation, and dominance — with each smile playing a different role in human society. Verbal communication activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal … Continue reading Functionally Different Smiles Cause Distinct Physiological Responses in Humans
Synthetic Bioluminescence Allows Scientists to See Deep Tissues Using Cameras
By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ‘21 In this study, bioluminescence, the ability of a living organism to produce light, is made possible by luciferase: an enzyme derived from fireflies. The process by which luciferase catalyzes a substrate known as D-luciferin. This process generates a green-yellow glow. Atsushi Miyawaki of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Tokyo, in collaboration with members from the University of Electro-Communications, the Tokyo … Continue reading Synthetic Bioluminescence Allows Scientists to See Deep Tissues Using Cameras
Glutamate Consumption Linked to Chronic Pain
By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ’21 Chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts more than three months, is triggered by the activation of pain sensors in the body due to sustained firing of electrical signals from nerve cells. There are many known causes of chronic pain including nerve damage, past surgeries, and even headaches. A new pilot study conducted in Meru, Kenya, is looking to add the … Continue reading Glutamate Consumption Linked to Chronic Pain
Direct Connection Between Eye Movement Patterns and Memory Established
By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ‘21 For the first time in history, researchers have established a direct connection between eye movement patterns and brain activity. Using brain imaging technology, scientists from the Baycrest Rotman Research Institute (RRI) found evidence that the brain uses eye movements to help recreate vivid moments. Dr. Bradley Buchsbaum, a scientist at RRI and a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, … Continue reading Direct Connection Between Eye Movement Patterns and Memory Established
Money Can Buy Some Happiness
By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 We’ve all heard the adage: money can’t buy happiness. This statement, however, may be only partly true: a recent study suggests that there is a level of monetary compensation that ensures emotional wellbeing and an even higher level that allows for satisfaction in life. This study was led by Andrew T. Jebb, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychological Sciences … Continue reading Money Can Buy Some Happiness
Lung Function Decline Found in Women Who Use Cleaning Products
By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 The consistent use of cleaning products may be more dangerous than originally thought. Researchers from the American Thoracic Society recently published a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine outlining the negative effects of using cleaning products on a daily basis. The researchers conducted their study with a subject pool of over 6,235 participants followed longitudinally over … Continue reading Lung Function Decline Found in Women Who Use Cleaning Products
Social Media and Academic Achievement: Connections Explored
By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 While logging onto Facebook during a study session might be one of your guilty pleasures, new research has shown that the link between social media use and academic performance may be more complicated than what comes to mind. Studies conducted on the relationship between academic performance and social media use often report contradictory results, with some stating that social media use … Continue reading Social Media and Academic Achievement: Connections Explored
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