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Asthma, Food Sensitivity, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

News Picture: Study Probes Links in Asthma, Food Sensitivity and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Teens who had asthma and food hypersensitivity when they were younger are at increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers report.

For the study, the investigators examined the health of 2,770 children from birth to age 16. Kids with IBS at age 16 were more likely to have had asthma at age 12 (about 11% versus 7%).

In addition, the researchers found that 16-year-olds with IBS were more likely to have had food hypersensitivity at age 12 (41% versus 29%).

Asthma, food hypersensitivity and eczema (a condition that makes your skin red and itchy) were all associated with an increased risk of concurrent IBS at age 16, the findings showed.

"The associations found in this large study suggest there's a shared pathophysiology between common allergy-related diseases and adolescent irritable bowel syndrome," said study leader Jessica Sjölund, of the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden.

Sjölund noted that previous studies on allergy-related diseases and IBS have been contradictory.

These new findings could lead to development of new treatments for adolescent IBS, targeting processes of low-grade inflammation seen in the allergy-related diseases, she said.

The study findings were scheduled for presentation Monday at a United European Gastroenterology virtual meeting. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

IBS affects more than one in 10 people and is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, the study authors noted in a meeting news release. It can cause abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, and can be extremely disabling for patients.

Hans Törnblom is a leading IBS expert in Europe who was involved in the research. He said, "Even though functional gastrointestinal disorders are common, many patients are, unfortunately, negatively stigmatized and labeled. The fact that many IBS sufferers do not seek medical advice should be of great concern."

-- Robert Preidt

Surce: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=247670

DOH suggests holding of activities in open spaces amid pandemic

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised the public to conduct activities in open-air spaces, install exhaust fans in comfort rooms and avoid usage of recirculated air options for vehicles to prevent the possibility of contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) through airborne transmission.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a virtual press briefing on Monday, said that while health experts are still studying the possibility of airborne infection, the DOH has issued Department Memorandum 2020-0429 which provides administrative and engineering controls for the improvement of ventilation and air quality in enclosed, indoor spaces and lessen the transmission of the virus.

“When an activity cannot be moved into an open-air setting, opening windows and doors should be put into practice to facilitate the flow of outdoor air into the space, when possible,” the memorandum read.

The DOH advised individuals not to stay where air coming from fans and air-conditioning units flow directly as these may facilitate the transmission of the coronavirus "by directing air from infected individuals to others in the room".

“In non-hospital settings where ventilation is greatly recirculated or access to outside air is not feasible, filters such as high-efficiency particulate air filtration air purifiers can be used to clean recirculated air provided that the unit is adequate for the size of the room in which it is installed in,” it added.

The DOH also suggested the installation of exhaust fans in comfort rooms and closing of the toilet seat lid while flushing to “minimize the release of droplets into air flows after flushing".

“Utilize the car’s vents to bring in fresh outside air and/or lower the vehicle windows,” the DOH said, adding that recirculated air option for the vehicle’s ventilation during passenger transport must be avoided.

Earlier, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people with Covid-19 seem to have infected others who were more than six feet away in enclosed spaces and inadequate ventilation. (By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, PNA)

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118297

Does Wearing a Mask Cause CO2 Poisoning?

Wearing a face mask cannot lead to carbon dioxide poisoning, even in people with lung disease, researchers report.

The findings counterclaim that wearing face masks to prevent spread of the new coronavirus may put some people's health at risk.

The authors of the new study assessed changes in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in healthy people as well as in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), before and while using surgical masks.

In general, people with COPD must "work harder to breathe," which can lead to shortness of breath and/or a tired feeling, according to the American Thoracic Society.

The study -- published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society -- found "that the effects [of wearing masks] are minimal at most even in people with very severe lung impairment," said lead author Dr. Michael Campos. He's an associate professor in the University of Miami's division of pulmonary, allergy, critical care and sleep medicine.

Campos also addressed the feeling of breathlessness that some healthy people may experience when wearing a mask.

"Dyspnea, the feeling of shortness of breath, felt with masks by some is not synonymous of alterations in gas exchange. It likely occurs from restriction of airflow with the mask in particular when higher ventilation is needed (on exertion)," he said in a society news release.

For example, if you're walking briskly up a hill, you may experience breathlessness, and a mask that is too tight may increase that feeling. The solution: Slow down or remove the mask if you're at a safe distance from other people, Campos advised.

"It is important to inform the public that the discomfort associated with mask use should not lead to unsubstantiated safety concerns as this may attenuate the application of a practice proven to improve public health," the researchers concluded.

"The public should not believe that masks kill," Campos emphasized.

-- Robert Preidt

Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=247492

Philippines and UK strengthen S&T cooperation in health

The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) launched the Memorandum of Understating (MOU) with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) to strengthen science and technology cooperation in health.

Under the MOU, DOST-PCHRD, LSHTM, and UP Manila will work together on various S&T collaborations focusing on priority research areas including genomics, modelling, diagnostics, clinical trials, epidemiology, and immunology.

The partnership also entails the exchange of scientists, faculty, and specialists interested in scientific and technological cooperation in health. DOST-PCHRD agreed to extend funding to various capacity-building activities such as research fellowship, scholarship, post-doctoral training, research enrichment (sandwich) programs, and staff training.

Professor Martin Hibberd of LSHTM viewed the partnership as a huge opportunity to expand health research ventures in the Philippines. Dr. Jaime Montoya, DOST-PCHRD Executive Director, assured LSHTM and UP Manila the Council’s full support and cooperation in this collaboration.

In attendance to witness the MOU launching were DOST Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation Unit Dr. Leah Buendia, UP National Institutes of Health Executive Director Dr. Eva Cutiongco de la Paz, LSHTM Coordinator Dr. Julius Clemence Hafalla, and DOST-PCHRD Institutional Development Division (IDD) Chief Ms. Carina Rebulanan. (Written by Catherine Joy C. Dimailig)

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6600-philippines-and-uk-strengthen-s-t-cooperation-in-health

New key player in long-term memory

A McGill-led multi-institutional research team has discovered that during memory consolidation, there are at least two distinct processes taking place in two different brain networks -- the excitatory and inhibitory networks. The excitatory neurons are involved in creating a memory trace, and the inhibitory neurons block out background noise and allow long-term learning to take place.

The team, led by McGill University Professors Nahum Sonenberg and Arkady Khoutorsky, Université de Montréal Professor Jean-Claude Lacaille, and University of Haifa Professor Kobi Rosenblum, senior authors on the paper published today in Nature, also found that each neuronal system can be selectively manipulated to control long-term memory. The research, which answers a long-standing question about which neuronal subtypes are involved in memory consolidation, has potential implications for novel targets for medication for disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and autism, which involve altered memory processes.

Looking for the neurons involved in memory consolidation

How do short-term memories (which last just a few hours) transform into long-term memories (which may last years)? It's been known for decades that this process, called memory consolidation, requires the synthesis of new proteins in brain cells. But until now, it hasn't been known which subtypes of neurons were involved in the process.

To identify which neuronal networks are essential in memory consolidation, the researchers used transgenic mice to manipulate a particular molecular pathway, eIF2α, in specific types of neurons. This pathway had already been shown to play a key role in controlling the formation of long-term memories and regulating protein synthesis in neurons. Moreover, earlier research had identified eIF2α as pivotal for both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Excitatory and inhibitory systems both play a role in memory consolidation

"We found that stimulation of protein synthesis via eIF2α in excitatory neurons of the hippocampus was sufficient to enhance memory formation and modification of synapses, the sites of communication between neurons," says Dr. Kobi Rosenblum.

However, interestingly, "we also found that stimulation of protein synthesis via eIF2α in a specific class of inhibitory neurons, somatostatin interneurons, was also sufficient to augment long-term memory by tuning the plasticity of neuronal connections," says Dr. Jean-Claude Lacaille.

"It is fascinating to be able to show that these new players -- inhibitory neurons -- have an important role in memory consolidation," added Dr. Vijendra Sharma, a research associate in Prof. Sonenberg's lab and the first author on the paper. "It had been assumed, until now, that eIF2α pathway regulates memory via excitatory neurons."

"These new findings identify protein synthesis in inhibitory neurons, and specifically somatostatin cells, as a novel target for possible therapeutic interventions in disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and autism," concluded Dr. Nahum Sonenberg. "We hope that this will help in the design of both preventative and post-diagnosis treatments for those who suffer from disorders involving memory deficits."

The research was funded by: Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) to K.R. and N.S., JCL is supported by a CIHR Project grant and a Canada Research Chair in Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology.

Story Source:

Materials provided by McGill University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201007123121.htm

Journal Reference:

Vijendra Sharma, Rapita Sood, Abdessattar Khlaifia, Mohammad Javad Eslamizade, Tzu-Yu Hung, Danning Lou, Azam Asgarihafshejani, Maya Lalzar, Stephen J. Kiniry, Matthew P. Stokes, Noah Cohen, Alissa J. Nelson, Kathryn Abell, Anthony P. Possemato, Shunit Gal-Ben-Ari, Vinh T. Truong, Peng Wang, Adonis Yiannakas, Fatemeh Saffarzadeh, A. Claudio Cuello, Karim Nader, Randal J. Kaufman, Mauro Costa-Mattioli, Pavel V. Baranov, Albert Quintana, Elisenda Sanz, Arkady Khoutorsky, Jean-Claude Lacaille, Kobi Rosenblum, Nahum Sonenberg. eIF2α controls memory consolidation via excitatory and somatostatin neurons. Nature, 2020; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2805-8