Top 5 Health News of the Week: July 5th to July 10th 2010
Various genetic factors, stress or a traumatic brain injury may cause inevitable mental disorders. Scientists across the globe are conducting various experiments to understand such diseases in detail. A quote aptly puts it, ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ Today we devote our weekly to unravel the secrets of the brain. Throughout the week we presented an abundant amount of news on the mind and here are five of them which kept us completely enraptured.
A research from the UT Southwestern Medical Center asserted the enzyme PI3 kinase to control the heightened generation of body heat. Mainly centering their experiment on the PI3 kinase, the experts suggested that the enzyme possibly aids in burning off excess calories after eating a high-fat meal. For initiating the experiment, investigators set up a type of mouse with reduced PI3 kinase activity in neurons. These neurons can be found in the ventromedial hypothalamus, a small region of the brain that is known to control food intake and body weight. This experiment helped the researchers determine the way PI3 kinase signaling in these neurons affect energy balance. The scientists further aim to precisely shed light on the relationship between PI3 kinase-expressing neurons and fat-burning.
Next we saw two studies that are published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The study under the guidance of Dr Andy Calder associated anti-social behavior with abnormal activity of the brain. On the other hand, the other study linked abuse and ignorance during childhood with elevated mood, anxiety and substance use among young adults. The former analysis encompassed 75 males aged between 16 and 21 years. The study participants were categorized into three groups. While the first group included 27 individuals with childhood-onset conduct disorder and the second group encompassed 25 participants with adolescence-onset conduct disorder, the last group consisted 23 healthy males who formed a control group. Having examined the study subjects, the authors concluded that the level of brain abnormality augmented greater aggression and antisocial behavior among teenagers.
In the latter study, the investigators thoroughly scrutinized data gathered from a nationally representative community survey of mental disorders among young adults aged between 16 and 27. The authors analyzed 2,144 young adults of the survey out of which 221 had history of child mistreatment as revealed by child protection agency records. It then appeared that 15 percent of the participants without a child protection agency record reported maltreatment.
Further, we witnessed experiments triggered by Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., a professor in the Laboratory for Genetics at the Salk Institute which apparently exposed the signal preventing stem cells to increase quickly and protecting the brain against too much cell division. The lead author explained that as age progresses, though the number of new neurons decreases, physical exercise can bring that number back. The study also suggested that the BMP signal may become dominant over time further forcing neural stem cells deeper into quiescence and thus making it harder to generate new brain cells.
Lastly, the University of Bristol affirmed the brain to be involved in the development of high blood pressure. In fact, the experts suggested a reaction in the nervous system triggered by the kidneys to cause high blood pressure. Apparently the investigators blocked a signaling mechanism in the brainstem and completely avoided high blood pressure. The researchers believe that a disruption of blood flow to the kidneys, known as renovascular hypertension provoke a reaction in the nervous system which causes an elevation in the blood pressure. Blood flow to the kidneys may be blocked by either narrowing or obstruction of the blood vessels that supply the kidneys.
With these fascinating findings we come to the end of our weekly. Until we meet next week on Health Jockey, have a cheerful weekend!
