Monthly Archives: March 2018
Vit D leads to a shift of the bacterial composition in Crohn’s disease
“Vitamin D has a specific influence on the bacterial communities in CD, but not in healthy controls.”
Oral Antibiotic Treatment of Mice Exacerbates the Disease Severity of Multiple Infections
“In summary, we have shown that oral Abx treatment increases the risk of severe disease during flavivirus infection in mice, and we have illuminated a potential role for host microbial communities in promoting antiviral T cell responses during systemic virus infection.”
Calorie restriction trial in humans suggests benefits for age-related disease
One of the first studies to explore the effects of calorie restriction on humans showed that cutting caloric intake by 15 percent for two years slowed aging and metabolism and protected against age-related disease.
Being hungry shuts off perception of chronic pain
“According to research by University of Pennsylvania neuroscientists, the brain has a way to suppress chronic pain when an animal is hungry, allowing it to go look for food while leaving intact the response to acute pain.”
Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria
“we screened more than 1,000 marketed drugs against 40 representative gut bacterial strains, and found that 24% of the drugs with human targets, including members of all therapeutic classes, inhibited the growth of at least one strain in vitro. “
Chemicals in lavender and tea tree oil appear to be hormone disruptors
“A new study lends further evidence to a suspected link between abnormal breast growth in young boys—called prepubertal gynecomastia—and regular exposure to lavender or tea tree oil, by finding that key chemicals in these common plant-derived oils act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.”
Artificial sweetener Splenda could intensify symptoms in those with Crohn’s disease
“In a study that has implications for humans with inflammatory diseases, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and colleagues have found that, given over a six-week period, the artificial sweetener sucralose, known by the brand name Splenda, worsens gut inflammation in mice with Crohn’s-like disease”
Soy formula associated with estrogenic response in infant girls
“Our findings are consistent with the animal literature, in that we detected several developmental perturbations of estrogen-responsive tissue,” the researchers wrote.
Intermittent dietary restriction may boost physical endurance
“Mice fed a standard diet but deprived of food every other day developed more efficient energy metabolism and improved running endurance.” Read more here.
SWAT team of immune cells found in mother’s milk
“Short term, the ILCs in breast milk may help protect newborns from infection, and longer term help babies develop their own protective immune system, they report in JAMA Pediatrics.”