My brother is deathly allergic to hazelnuts. I remember the day we found out. I was at a friend’s house and my mom called saying they were rushing to the hospital because my brother couldn’t breathe but “don’t worry.” How I wasn’t supposed to worry, I don’t know, but when I met them at the hospital he was ok. His back however, was not. Spread across his back were red dots, some minuscule and some very visible. He was getting an allergy test and the biggest dot: hazelnut. The doctor’s connected the dots and figured that the Nutella (chocolate and hazelnut crème) crepe he ate hours before was the culprit. Thankfully he got to the hospital time, because as we found out, allergies are nothing to joke about.

Unfortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics apparently made a big mistake when advising parents in 2000 to keep peanuts far away from infants and toddlers. Researchers released findings at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s annual meeting in February that children who were exposed to peanuts at least three times a week were seven times less likely to develop a peanut allergy than children who were not exposed to them in their first five years of life. This trial gives more backing to the idea of hygiene hypothesis. It claims that in today’s world, children are exposed to far less germs and bacteria necessary to build a strong immune system because of the super-clean world we live in. Antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectants are making children’s immune systems susceptible to less and less foreign invaders.

This idea is further highlighted in a study from Sweden published in February. The study claims that parents who wash dishes by hand are less likely to have kids with allergies. Dr. Bill Hesselmar at the University of Gothenburg and his team studied data from the 2007 Sweden survey and found that overall, washing dishes by hand was tied to a 43% reduced risk of allergies. The study found that additionally, 2% of kids in homes that hand washed had asthma compared to 7% in households that use washer machines. The same goes for children with eczema, with about 23% of children having it from hand-washing households compared to 38% in dishwasher machine households.

In 2015 the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America conducted a peanut allergy study, Learning Early about Peanut Allergy (LEAP). Dr. Tammy Jacobs, certified position and head of the study, was curious about an interesting fact regarding Jewish children: in the UK, they were ten times as likely to develop a peanut allergy as Israeli children of similar ancestry. Since this strayed from the hypothesis that genetics was the sole factor in allergies, researchers found this curious. Their findings discovered that Israeli children consumed a steady diet of peanut protein at only seven months and that UK children were exposed much later.

The idea that genetics are the sole factor in allergies was debunked even further in a 2015 study also release at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology annual meeting. Here, Dr. Matthew Greenhawk, introduced his findings that he and his team at University of Michigan found. The team worked with 1,120 children who have siblings with documented food allergies. While 53% had food sensitivity, only 13% had an actual food allergy.

As the years go by and many of us begin to have to children, after reading these studies I’d advise using the incremental introduction method with your children when it comes to foods. Many scientists believe that by doing so you will ease your children into having little to no food allergies. However, if they have an immediate poor reaction, take them to a doctor. While these methods may work for some, other children may be genetically incapable of handling some foods. Nowadays, many elementary schools have become peanut free due to the allergies of some students. Do not let this discourage your future children, as introducing them young may eliminate the unfortunate need to keep away from these tasty nuts.

Sources:

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-peanut-allergy-leap-study-20150223-story.html#page=1

http://www.heraldextra.com/momclick/health-and-fitness/health-and-wellness-column/leaps-and-bounds-a-new-study-could-change-the-peanut/article_738275e7-31a3-53bd-b7ba-d33787fa99cb.html

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2015/11/05/Study-Siblings-unlikely-to-share-the-same-food-allergies/4631446735057/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/washing-dishes-by-hand-linked-to-fewer-allergies-in-kids-1.2968512

While sitting on my computer pondering what to write my next post about, I realized something: my gum lost its flavor. I had become so focused on writing my last post that I chewed away all the delicious mintiness. I quickly popped in a new piece. Back to work…It was then that I remembered an article I had read a while back about the benefits of chewing gum and decided it would be a great discussion to post about. I did some looking around, and boy is there tons of research done on chewing gum. So much so, I think you would all benefit from learning a bit about that chewy stuff many of you constantly crave.

Humans have been chewing on gum like substances for thousands of years. In 2007, students from the University of Derby uncovered 5,000-year-old chewing gum. Made from birch bark tar, the gum was believed to have antiseptic properties along with other medicinal benefits. The Ancient Greece used resin of the mastic tree to make mastic gum, which woman used to clean their teeth and enjoy its sweetness. North American Indians were known to chew on the sap of spruce trees. The Maine Pure Spruce Gum was the first commercial chewing gum, developed by John B Curtis in 1848 after he and other New England settlers picked up the practice from the American Indians. What we know today as chewing gum wasn’t developed until 1869, when Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (a veteran of the Alamo) discussed his idea of chicle (a rubber substitute) with Thomas Adams. Adams used chicle in production of his failed toy and rain boots companies, but applied flavoring thanks to the idea Santa Anna. Soon after, companies like Black Jack and Chiclets took over the market, using the formula we are most familiar with today in producing their gum: instead of chicle they use styrene-butadiene rubber based synthetic rubber. Years after the gum craze had hit America, scientific observations and experiments began to see what, if any, benefits this delicious treat has.

A study published in January 2015 in PLoS ONE, found that gum traps harmful bacteria that can cause dental cavities. When you spit it out, that bacteria is removed. Biomedical engineering students chewed gum in lengths varying from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. They spit the gum in sterile water afterwards and analyzed the samples. The students found that the longer the piece of gum is chewed, the more species from the mouth it captures. They noted however, that the crucial time for picking up these species was in the first 30 seconds, and after that less and less species were picked up as time went on. But, this concept is limited to sugarless gum. Sugar-sweetened gum actual makes oral bacteria more prevolant. When these microbes ferment sugars, the biofilm on your teeth grows more acidic, which leads to cavities. The researchers are hoping their findings leads to advances in the gum industry towards producing oral-benefiting gums.

Another study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that chewing gum after giving birth by C-section appears to help new mothers recover faster. The study was done by taking 200 pregnant woman and separating them into two groups: 93 women would chew gum for 15 minutes every two hours while the other 107 would follow traditional treatment (no clear liquids until a patient passes gas, and no regular diet until the first bowel movement). The gum was found to stimulate bowel function sooner, allowing for shorter hospital stays and lower healthcare costs. Chewing gum stimulates saliva which is calming for your stomach and it also is believed to prepare your bowels for food, as it signals food is on the way. By not actually eating food, the digestive movements are stimulated without being forced to actually do work.

A widely held belief is that chewing gum helps with mental stimulation, memory, and test scores. While many studies have been done on this topic, there have been mixed findings. Many people refer to a 2011 study at St. Lawrence University that found that gum is an effective booster of mental performance. However, most people don’t realize the study found that only the first 20 minutes of gum chewing is helpful, and even those 20 minutes are not as helpful as widely believed. Research conducted at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, did find substantial results though. The third of students who chewed gum while studying performed better on a 20-minute memory tests compared with a third of the students who did chewing motions and a third of students who chewed nothing. They noted that chewing gums raises the heartbeat by 3bpm, increasing blood flow in the cerebral area. The memory association between the flavor and scent of the gum and previously studied concepts are believed to help recall learned material.

Personally, I’ve always found chewing gum to be helpful when studying. To me it’s very stress relieving and puts you in a constant rhythm. Plus it tastes good, and it apparently helps your teeth. After this post, its time for another piece.

Sources:

http://www.realclearscience.com/journal_club/2015/01/21/chewing_gum_removes_bacteria_from_your_mouth_109038.html

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/19/chewing-gum-effects-mind-productivity

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/education-nation/commentary-chewing-gum-may-improve-test-scores-n21731

http://www.chewinggumfacts.com/chewing-gum-history/history-of-chewing-gum/

http://www.rodalewellness.com/health/recovery-after-c-section

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6954562.stm

http://www.psychologistworld.com/memory/chewing_gum.php

In a previous post, I discussed how scientists have started using stem cells to reduce the symptoms and hopefully cure Multiple Sclerosis. I have previously read about the use of stem cell in disease treatment, however after my research for the post I found a lot more I felt could be shared in an additional post.

Stem cells are one of the new “in” innovations in the field of science and disease study, however they have been studied for over a hundred years. They were first termed in 1868, in a research piece published by biologist Ernst Haeckel. He described these cells as single-celled organisms that acted as the ancestor cell to all living things in history. In 1981, Martin Evans from the University of Cambridge and Gail Martin from University of California San Francisco conducted separate studies [that] derive[d] pluripotent stem cells from the embryos of mice. This was the first time these cells had ever been isolated. And more recently, President George W. Bush sign[ed] an order that called for federal funds to b given to research of human embryonic stem cell lines. Since then, stem cells have been at the forefront of scientific study on cancer, transplant medicine, and the many ways to heal numerous human ailments.

Now, the newest research on stem cells has scientists generating contracting muscles from these miracle cells. A group of researchers led by Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, professor of regenerative medicine at Korlinska Institute, have succeed[ed] in recreating sections of the diaphragm. (The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle used in the process of inhalation. It sits at the base of the chest cavity and separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. It is essential for breathing.)

Dr. Macchiarini has been at the forefront of the study and manipulation of stem cells. In 2008 he took a woman’s stem cells and created a new windpipe to replace her diseased one. However, creating the diaphragm is a significant step as it is a much more complex muscle. Although this feat was accomplished using rat stem cells, the doctor and his team of researchers believe they are capable of recreating a human diaphragm from human stem cells. Over 2,500 babies are born each year with dysfunctional diaphragms, so this is an urgent and necessary study.

The great things achieved through manipulating stem cells aren’t without controversy though. One of these issues is over the ethicality of using embryonic stem cells. Many people believe that abortion (the means of which most of the embryonic stem cells are gathered) is an unethical and immoral act. These people believe that an embryo is a human life, thus abortion is the illegal ending of a human life.

Another issue that has arisen is the financial aspect of stem cell research and use. According to analysts at Frost & Sullivan, a Texas consulting firm that does market research and analysis, the global market is value at $16.4 billion and is expected to grow to $67.5 billion in the next 5 years. With so much money on the line, the important thing is to remember the scientific importance as well as the importance of helping as many people as possible. If the scientific community is able to focus on the medical needs and put financial gains in the back burner, the positive impact of studying and implementing stem cell techniques is unparalleled.

Personally, I think the use of stem cells is an amazing and useful scientific study. Any advancement in science that has such a beneficial impact on people should be utilizing to the greatest extent possible. Because if not, aren’t we just keeping people from being in the best medical condition possible?

Sources:

http://time.com/4131443/stem-cells-trachea-muscle/

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-regenerative-medicine-and-the-use-of-stem-cells-is-becoming-big-business-2015-12

http://stemcell.childrenshospital.org/about-stem-cells/history/

http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/diaphragm

http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embyronic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease near and dear to my heart. My mother’s fiancée has been diagnosed for close to 4 years and since I have known him (2 years), I have witnessed the horrible things this disease does to one’s body. Fatigue and numbness are a daily hindrance, and the constant fear of developing the more severe symptoms is a huge mental toll. Although the amount of research and information available about this disease has increase astronomically since its first sighting in 1838, researchers are still looking for a cure to this chronic, unpredictable disease.

A study published in January of 2015 may lead us one step closer to curing this horrible disease. Dr. Richard A. Nash and his colleagues at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute have published findings of a four-year study in JAMA Neurology. The study took place between 2006 and 2010 and monitored 24 volunteers who underwent stem cell transplants. By using the patient’s own stem cells, the researchers found that more than 86 percent of the patients remained relapse free after three years, and nearly 91 percent showed no sign of disease progression.

There were a few parameters for the volunteers of this study. Those who were chosen had relapse-remitting MS and did not respond to at least one FDA-approved disease-modifying drug. The patients also needed to be tested on their Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and score between a 3 and 5.5. This test measures cognitive functions and quality of life of MS patients.

The patients were administered high-dose immunosuppressive therapy, which essentially gets rids of their immune system. They were then given stem cells from their own blood. After allowing three to four weeks of hospitalized healing, the volunteers were monitored for four years to monitor their progress.

What exactly is MS, you may ask? It’s a disease that affects the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. The body’s immune system attacks these nerve cells so they cannot function properly. The immune system directly attacks the myelin, which is the insulation around nerve fibers. Healthy nerve cells carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body that give us cognitive and sensory functions. This damaged myelin causes the cells to no longer carry messages properly. This leads to MS patients having problems with walking, serious fatigue, dizziness, numbness, and visual impairment.

The results from the study are very exciting. Most of the current research and testing has resulted in simply preventing any further damage from occurring. However, this study seems to have found a way to improve patient’s lives. Many of the patients have shown remarkable improvement in their EDSS scores.

After over 150 years of serious research and observation, the route to solve MS seems to have been directed towards using stem cells. California’s Stem Cell Agency has given four grants totaling over $10 million to researchers using stem cells. Their healing property and ability to develop into different types of cells allows for scientists to manipulate them in positive ways.

Although scientists have yet to find a cure, their progress is motivating. Hopefully one day there will be no MS. This terrible disease affects the life of 400,000 Americans and over 2.5 million people around the world. It is a scary disease and affects the lives of not only the victims, but their family and friends.

Sources:

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/ms-patients-who-received-stem-cell-transplants-still-in-remission-010715#3

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/a-short-history-of-multiple-sclerosis

http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/multiple-sclerosis-how-could-stem-cells-help

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20131884

https://www.cirm.ca.gov/our-progress/disease-information/multiple-sclerosis-fact-sheet

Every so often scientists stumble on parts of nature that baffle them, for their very existence strays from the very defined and strictly followed laws of nature. The tardigrade, also known as a water bear, is one such case.

These creatures, which are only a sixteenth of an inch long, are somewhat translucent and resemble minuscule hippopotamuses or bears. Tardigrade’s can be found almost anywhere: moss and lichens, bubbling hot springs, and Antarctic ice. They’ve also been found in the Himalayan Mountains and deep-see trenches. They’ve recently become famous for becoming the only known animal able to survive the vacuum of space. Its other claim to fame is that it is the animal with the largest genetic complement (set of chromosomes contained within any one particular cell).

Discovered in 1773 by German pastor Johann August Ephrain Goeze, these microscopic creatures have continued to be intensely studied due to their unique and foreign features. Through hundreds of years of serious scientific observance, scientists have found that tardigrade’s have some truly amazing traits. They are known to be able to survive in temperatures ranging from -458°F to over 300°F. Tardigrades are able to adapt to survive without water by completely drying their body out and replacing the water in their bodies with a sugar called trehalose. They have survived all 5 mass extinctions and have been around longer than nearly every other living organism (approximately 500 million years).

In 2007, Swedish researcher K. Ingemar Jonsson and his team from Kristianstad University, sent tardigrades into space on a spacecraft to low-Earth orbit. These remarkable creatures were exposed to open space conditions, yet were able to survive cosmic rays, deadly levels of UV radiation, and the vacuum of space.

In November of 2015, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill released a publication on the genome of tardigrades. The sequencing of the tardigrades’ genome revealed that a massive portion of the tiny organism’s genome is of foreign origin. Nearly 17.5% of the water bear’s genome is comprised of foreign DNA, which results in about 6,000 genes.The transfer of these genes is believed to occur during the process of desiccation (the druying out described above).

So, what value do we have from studying these microscopic creatures? Their ability to travel through space can give insight on how to better prepare other organisms and possibly humans for future extended space explorations. Their unique DNA can give understanding on how organic material first traveled through the universe and arrived on Earth. Scientists believe there is much more to learn from these little guys, so their value to the scientific and real world is almost immeasurable.

Sources:

http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/19/5-reasons-why-the-tardigrade-is-natures-toughest-animal/

http://news.meta.com/2015/11/23/waterbear/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/science/the-tardigrade-water-bear.html?_r=0

http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/2011/5/tardigrades/1

Hey guys,

My name is Jared Katz and I am currently a senior majoring in Economics. I live in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, about 25 minutes south of Philadelphia. I am huge sports fan and am anxiously waiting for the Eagles to dominate this season. I studied abroad this past spring in Barcelona. The program, along with the 2 week backpacking excursion I went on after with my best friend, was an unbelievable experience. I managed to travel to 14 different countries, immersing myself in as many unique cultures as I could.

Although I am an Economics major, I plan on attending law school next year. With that, I hope to enter the movie production interest. My dad has some friends in the business and ever since I spoke with them about their job about 5 years ago, I’ve had a deep desire to enter the profession. Here is a link to a movie I am very excited to see: Suicide Squad. I am also a huge Quentin Tarantino fan, so The Hateful Eight is definitely on my “to see” list. Below is the movie poster.

I am taking this course because I need to fulfill a GN course. I was expecting to dread coming to class, however after the few ones we’ve had so far, I believe I will truly enjoy Dr. Read’s class. Unfortunately, I think high school killed my interest in science, thus resulting in me not wanting to be a science major. My grandfather is a toxicologist and I am always interested in stories of his work. However, a few bad teachers and some very boring classes caused me to lose interest in the field. I love thinking out of the box and exploring new ideas, so I think this science course may rekindle my interest.

I look forward to a good year.