#66 Albinism (English)

Albinism

Otherwise known as achromia, achromasia, or achromatosis, albinism is a genetic condition characterized by a deficit in the production in melanin resulting in the partial or complete absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. This hereditary disease can be found in humans, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Despite the fact that albinism is a hereditary condition, in most cases, there's no family history of it. People with albinism often have vision problems and are vulnerable to sunburns and skin cancers if they do not protect themselves well enough. According to The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, one in every 17,000 people in the United States has some type of albinism.

Oculocutaneous albinism is used to refer to people with little or no pigmentation in their eyes, skin and hair. Little or no pigmentation in the eyes alone is known as ocular albinism. An individual with complete absence of melanin is called an albino. One with only a small amount of melanin is described as albinoid. People with albinism are very pale with fair hair and very light eyes. In some cases, the eyes appear red or purple as the iris actually has so little color that  blood vessels inside of the eye show through. Hence why the main test for albinism is an eye test.

A person with albinism is generally as healthy as the rest of the population. However, problems with vision and skin are particularly common. Vision problems result from abnormal development of the retina and patterns of nerve connections between the eye and the brain. The lack of pigment in the eyes results in problems with eyesight leading to discomfort in bright light. Concerning the skin, the lack of melanin, which helps protect the skin from UV radiation, means that their skin can burn more easily. Precautions, such as applying lots pf suncream and staying covered, need to be take to avoid damage to the skin caused by the sun.

Albinism is caused when a person inherits one or more defective genes that cause them to be unable to produce the normal amounts of a melanin. Melanin is a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals. It is responsible for the tanning of skin when exposed to sunlight.

Researchers have identified several genes that result in albinism. The genes are located on "autosomal" chromosomes - chromosomes that contain genes for general body characteristics. Genes carry the information that makes you an individual. Albinism is a "recessive trait" - a person without albinism can carry the albinism trait. Both parents must carry a defective gene to have a child with albinism. When neither parent has albinism but both carry the defective gene, there is a 25% chance that the baby will be born with albinism.

Individuals with this condition are often outcasted and misunderstood by society. They can be the center of ridicule, fear and even violence.

 

McA

#65 Cloning (English)

Cloning

To clone is to make an identical copy of. Now, cloning isn't as futuristic as people often believe it to be. When people think of cloning they often picture someone entering a machine and exiting with a twin by their side. This however is not the case.

 

In biology, a clone is a group of genetically identical organisms or a group of genetically identical cells derived from a single parent cell. The first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell using the process of nuclear transfer was Dolly the sheep. Nuclear transfer is a two-part process where scientists first remove the nucleus from an egg which they then replace with the nucleus of an older donor cell. A new clone is formed when the egg starts to divide. Dolly was cloned by taking udder cells from a donor sheep. These cells were cultured in a low nutrient medium to make the genes switch off and become dormant. An unfertilized egg was taken from another sheep and its nucleus was removed by using a micropipette. The egg cells were fused with the udder cells using a pulse of electricity. The fused cells developed like normal zygotes and became embryos. These embryos were then implanted into another sheep who’s role was to be the surrogate mother. One lamb was born successfully and called Dolly. Dolly was genetically identical to the sheep from which the udder cells were taken.

 

Human cells can also be cloned however several ethical issues are raised when it comes to it. For example, embryonic stem cells can be used for therapies that save lives and reduce pain for patients. Cells can also be taken from embryos that have stopped developing meaning they would have died anyway and they are taken at a stage when the embryos have no nerve cells and therefore can not feel pain. Nonetheless, every human embryo is a potential human being and should be given the chance of developing. Not to mention there is an abundance of embryos produced and so many are killed. Finally there is a risk of embryonic stem cells developing into tumor cells.

 

In my opinion cloning is useful to a certain extent. However when it reaches a point where scientists get to decide the outcome of a certain organism then something needs to be done. Otherwise all sense of individuality will be gone and nothing will be down to chance. We will live in a society where everything is planned and imperfection ceases to exist. Not only this but cloning can still go wrong and lead to further complications. For example, cloned animals that survive tend to be much larger at birth resulting in breathing problems. On the other hand some argue that scientists and doctors should not "play God," however aren't we technically already playing God by curing disease and implanting embryos? In saying this, how is cloning any different?

To conclude the concept of cloning is still relatively new and futuristic as well as controversial. Several ethical issues come in to play when the subject is brought up, however it definitely has its strengths and weaknesses.

 

McA

 



#64 Sharks can't get cancer? (English)

Sharks can't get cancer?

Although it is not true that sharks do not develop cancer, they do have a remarkable cancer shield. Tumors are uncontrolled cellular growth and to support their very high metabolism, they secrete a hormone called 'angiogenin.' This causes nearby blood vessels to grow new branches that surround the tumor, bringing in nutrients and carrying away waste products. A part of the tumor then breaks away and establishes another cancerous colony elsewhere in the body. Research has revealed a promising anti-tumor agent obtainable from shark cartilage. Shark cartilage contains a compound opposed to the effects of angiogenin, called 'angiogenin inhibitor.' This prevents the formation of new blood vessels so that the proto-tumor 'chokes' in its own waste products.

Sharks seem to possess only one class of broad-spectrum serum antibody - similar to that found in human infants. An antibody is a blood protein produced in response to a specific antigen. In humans, this broad-spectrum class of antibody is replaced by more specific antibodies as the child matures and is exposed to a greater variety of pathogens. Sharks however keep their non-specific immune response throughout their lives. This generalized immune system is one of the reasons sharks are able to detoxify many potentially harmful compounds quickly without need of previous exposure. It has even been suggested that sharks may be helpful in our fight against HIV and AIDS. This was originally disregarded as no one could see why a shark would develop a response to something it is very unlikely to encounter. 

Finally, Sharks have all the internal organs one would expect of a gill-breathing vertebrate as well as something 'extra' called an 'epigonal organ'. This lies underneath each of the kidneys and is quite unique to elasmobranchs (cartilaginous fish.) The epigonal organ seems to be composed of lymphoidal tissue and seems to be concerned with hemopoetic functions. Recent data also indicates that the organ is the site of T-cell differentiation in elasmobranchs, playing an important role in the immune system of these fishes. Without long bones to serve as a site for leucocyte development, sharks have jury-rigged a scrap of available tissue to bear that function.

McA

#63 Sexually transmitted diseases (English)

Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases transmitted through sexual activities. They are transferred through the exchange of bodily fluids or by direct contact with the infected area. They can however be prevented from the use of protection during intercourse. Condoms, for example, are highly effective when it comes to preventing disease. Herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia are all types of STDs.  

Herpes is identified by painful blisters of the mouth or genitals. It is caused by two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV.) HSV enters the body through a mucous membrane or a small opening in the skin. Although the virus is most contagious through direct contact with herpes sores, it can also be transmitted through saliva. After the primary infection, the herpes virus travels along the nerves and becomes dormant within nerve cells. It is reactivated during times of stress where it travels back out through the same pathway, causing recurring blisters. Antiviral drugs can help people with herpes to stay outbreak-free for longer.

Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in mucus membranes of the body in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract. In women symptoms include whitish discharge from the vagina, pelvic pain, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods and several others. Men also experience a whitish discharge from the penis, a burning sensation when urinating and painful or swollen testicles. Symptoms for men usually appear two weeks after infection. However with women some symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed. Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics and other medication. 

Chlamydia is easily spread and often goes unnoticed. Abnormal vaginal discharge that may have an odor, bleeding between periods and pain when having sex are all symptoms of chlamydia in women. In men painful urination, burning and itching around the opening of the penis and swelling around the testicles are all common signs. Once again this disease can be treated through the use of oral antibiotics.

Sexually transmitted diseases however can be prevented through the practice of safe sex or just refraining from any sort of sexual intercourse. Another way to keep safe is not sharing towels or underclothing as well as getting a vaccination for hepatitis B.

 

McA

#62 Why do we shiver? (English)

Why do we shiver?

Its well-known that we shiver when we are cold but why do we shiver? Is there a specific and biological reason why we shiver?

The answer is yes! The human body needs to be at a constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius in order for us to work properly. Your brain has a gland called the hypothalamus gland which helps control your body temperature. In order to prevent things such as hypothermia and other diseases, your brain must be very careful with your body temperature. Your skin contains receptor cells which send messages to your brain telling your brain if your body temperature to go up or down and uses different tacts to do this.

Shivering is a tactic your brain uses in order to keep your body temperature at 37 degrees Celsius. In order to shiver, your muscles contract and relax very quickly repeated times. Twitching enables your muscles to produce heat which will in turn make your body temperature warmer. Your brain sends signals and some of these signals may also go to your jaw which is why, sometimes, your teeth start to chatter as your whole body are getting signals and some may get sent to your jaw. When your muscles produce heat, your muscles release the hormone Irisn which helps to heat your core temperature back to 37 degrees Celsius.

Some may argue that shivering is the opposite as sweating, which in fact, it is! Instead of helping you cool down like sweating does, shivering helps you warm up meaning that it helps your core temperature heat up.

This is why, next time you feel shivers down your spine, it may mean that you should grab another sweater and sit by a fire!

Resources:
http://www.livescience.com/32475-why-do-we-shiver-when-cold.html
http://blog.zocdoc.com/shiver-cold-weird-science-daily-life/

PRM

#61 Why does food taste different on airplanes? (English)

Why does food taste different on airplanes?

We have all at in point in time complained about the bland, sometimes disgusting food on an airplane. Many people think that it’s due to the low cost food that the airline provides, but recent studies suggest that might not be the case at all. Ever noticed how your ears pop when you reach a high altitude? Well, that’s not the only thing that changes in your body. Your taste buds change when you take off too! This is due to low air pressure so it can affect the way things taste? Also sense of smell and background noise can effect flavor perception.

Your sense of smell is directly related to the humidity in the cabin. This means that when you take off and air pressure decreases, so does humidity. At worst the air can be drier than the desert, causing your taste buds to be less sensitive to sweet and salty foods, whereas bitter, spicy and sour  foods are not changed that much. Also, smell can affect how a food tastes. Smell relies on nasal mucus, but in a dry plane there is less, which affects the smell of the food. Ultimately what you smell is what you taste, so the taste of the food can be perceived differently. Airlines try to combat this problem by using more salt, sugar and spices to food (this is often why airline food is not the healthiest) so foods such as curry can be more flavorful in the air. Just remember this the next time  you fly: having slightly less salty, sweet or flavorsome food is a very small price to pay for being able fly across the globe so quickly and if you really can stand airplane food, wait until the flight has ended and your taste buds have gone back to normal before enjoying a meal!

SJS

#60 Why does plastic degrade slower than other substances (English)

Why does plastic degrade slower than other substances

                  An important definition to know when talking about degrading is the term, biodegradable. Biodegradable means materials that can be broken down by microorganisms into organic matter. For example, vegetables may degrade in a month or so, while metals might take longer than a month. This shows that one of the factors affecting biodegradability is the type of material that makes up the object. Another factor affecting biodegradability is the environment. Air, water, and light all affect the biodegradability. In the case of plastics, they are not affected by air, water, or light, and therefore do not biodegrade to any significant degree. One of the reasons that plastics degrade slowly, is because the links joining the atoms are linked more intricately. In things like wood or cotton, the atoms are linked to each other naturally, therefore allowing bacteria to easily break down the links. The conditions for plastic to decompose is limited to ultraviolet light or heat, neither of which are found naturally in landfills where plastic is discarded after its use.

             When we normally consider biodegradables, we think of the materials degrading in landfills. However, it has recently been found that certain plastics degrade in water. Not only that, but they also break down within a year of contact with water. Although this may seem positive for people finding ways to speed up the degradation of plastic, it poses a threat to the underwater ecosystems. The plastics that break down in the water are made up of a molecule called polystyrene, a chemical pollutant. The plastic not only releases this dangerous molecule into the water, it also introduces chemicals not found near the water, to the water. These chemicals have the power to create cancer in humans, and simpler creatures in the water may be more susceptible to these harsh chemicals. In the food chain, the animals at the top would be consuming the highest amount of these dangerous chemicals, potentially threatening the entire ecosystem as we know it.

PoS 
 

#59 Meningitis (English)

Meningitis

 Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meinges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can develop for many reasons including: bacteria, viruses, physical injury, cancer, and in some rare cases, drugs. It is important to know what caused meningitis for each person because how you contracted the disease affects the severity of the disease. There are two types of the disease, viral meningitis is fairly common and does not cause serious illness, however, bacterial meningitis is not as common, but if not treated immediately, can cause brain damage and death. The disease is easy to identify as symptoms come in seven hours to two days and include: sudden high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting, seizures, sensitivity to light, and confusion. If it is not recognized and treated properly, it could potentially lead to: hearing loss, memory difficulty, learning disabilities, brain damage, walking problems, and even death.
In order to find out if you have meningitis or not, you must have a lumbar puncture done. A lumbar puncture is when a long thin needle is inserted into the spinal canal. It is used to collect samples of spinal fluid to check for bacteria and viruses. Depending on the type of meningitis contracted, there are different methods of treatment. For viral meningitis, you will only have to drink more liquids and take medicine for pain and fever. For bacterial meningitis, the use of medicines, as well oxygen therapy. We can prevent ourselves from contracting meningitis by getting vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox. We get these shots to prevent germs from causing some of the diseases that lead to meningitis.

PoS

#58 Why do cats purr? (English)

Why do cats purr?

For many, a cat’s purr seems to be a sign of contentment and a rather positive message. Cats are known to purr when they are being pet but do we really know what a purr signifies? Does a purr really mean that cats are happy or could they be purring for another reason?

Scientists have seen that purring can show happiness but it may also indicate other things such as nervousness or pain. Some scientists even think that purring may actually be a way of self-healing for cats. According to livescience.com, the frequency of between 25 to 150 Hertz is the frequency at which bones and muscles best repair themselves. This frequency range is also the frequency range of domestic cats. Cats may also use their purrs to signify their hunger so it is not only created to show pain or contentment but also hunger. It has also been shown that mothers of litters teaches their newborn kittens to purr when they are only a few days old and this may therefore show us that purring may also be a form of communication between cats.

Some scientists however believe that purring may only be the equivalent of a smile. They say this as we too sometimes smile when we are happy, when we are anxious and as a form of communication.
Therefore the reasons why cats purr is still not clear. Scientists have different reasons to why they purr for different circumstances therefore purring may just be a common occurrence for cats and a form of communication.

Resources: http://www.livescience.com/40377-why-do-cats-purr.html

PRM

#57 Mutaciones (Español)

Mutaciones

Estas se denominan como la alteración en la descendencia, producto de un cambio de la información genética de uno o ambos padres.

Causas e importancia:

Las mutaciones son importantes porque constituyen la base para la variabilidad en los seres vivos. La mayoría de las mutaciones son perjudícales porque hacen al individuo menos eficiente para sobrevivir en su ambiente. Muchas mutaciones son de carácter recesivo por lo que se mantienen entre generación. Hay unas que lleven a al muerte inmediata del individuo y por eso se les conoce como mutaciones letales, pero también hay otras que son benéficas para el ser vivo y así por selección natural llevan a la formación de una nueva especie. 

Las mutaciones ocurren espontáneamente de la naturaleza, algunas pueden ocurrir por errores en la replicación del ADN, otras pueden ser producto de la exposición a la radiación o a los agentes físicos y químicos de los alrededores del ambiente. Los factores ambientales causantes de la mutaciones se llaman agentes muta génicos y estos pueden ser bióticos o abióticos.

Los bióticos muta génicos se encuentran en ciertos virus y bacterias los cuales se asocian con el ADN de la célula parasita y originan cambios en el material genético de la célula huésped, lo cual provoca tumores y malformaciones.

Los abióticos muta génicos se conoce a : los rayos X, rayos ultravioleta, radiaciones nucleares, nicotina, dióxido de carbono, parafina,  gas mostaza, los colorantes artificiales en bebidas y otros.

Clasificación de las mutaciones según el material de cambio:

·         Mutaciones puntuales

Estas mutaciones se original al nivel del ADN y los cambios se pueden dar: por perdida ( cuando un nucleótido desaparece),  por duplicación ( nucleótido se duplica), por adicción (cuando se le añaden nucleótidos a la información) y por sustitución ( nucleótidos se sustituyen por otros).

·         Mutaciones cromosómicas

Estas pueden ocurrir durante el proceso de división celular y se presentan por:

Ø  Perdida de mas de un segmento de cromosoma

Ø  Translocación, es el intercambio de material genético de un segmento del cromosoma a otra.

Ø  Inversión, que consiste en la alteración de la secuencia de los genes de los cromosomas y en la eliminación del entrecruzamiento.

Ø  Duplicación, cuando hay repetición de una parte del cromosoma.

Estos cambios estructurales causan retraso mental, malformaciones y  malformaciones congénitas.

·         Mutaciones genómicas

El numero de cromosomas y la forma que presentan suele ser constante en una especie. Por ejemplo la especie humana tiene 46 cromosomas, 44 autosomas y dos sexuales. Hay ocasiones en que ocurren accidentes genéticos que producen una distribución anormal de cromosomas. Cuando no o mas pares de cromosomas dejan de separarse ocurre lo que se llama no-disyunción y esto trae como consecuencia que una de las células hijas reciba un cromosoma menos o uno extra. A esto se le llama aneuploidia.

El síndrome de Klinefelter ocurre por la no-disyunción durante la división meiótica y  el espermatozoides presenta un numero anormal de cromosomas que son XY, y fecunda a un ovulo que tiene un cromosoma X. El individuo resultante tendrá un cromosoma demás en la carga genética  que determina el sexo: XXY, este error cromosómico ocurre en los varones y produce: testículos que no producen espermatozoides, esterilidad y retraso mental.

Existen otras alteraciones como el síndrome de Turner que presenta fenotipo femenino y e da cuando el ovario produce óvulos sin el cromosoma X, y a cruzar es un individuo que presenta el genotipo XO.  El resultado es no ovular, no menstruar y un coeficiente intelectual bajo.

AAM

#56 Se nourrir au IIIe millénaire (Français)

Se nourrir au IIIe millénaire

Bonjour à tous, je voudrais vous parler des alternatives alimentaires. c'est une phénomène mondiale car la population a tendance à augmenter abruptement. Comme la pénurie des ressources est un enjeu quotidien. On a besoin de prendre des mesures pour nourrir le monde. Bien qu'il existe une possibilité d'un grave effet sur la santé, la culture en laboratoire est prometteuse. De plus, on pourrait dépasser quelques générations de cultures grâce à la culture en espace. Enfin, je souligne l'importance de la réduction du gaspillage d'aliments.

D'abord, et si on pouvait préserver les animaux et se nourrir en même temps? C'est une idée géniale! Les cellules qui sont des extraits d'animaux sont cultivées en laboratoire. Par conséquent, les viandes fabriquées n'est pas encore prête à être instaurée.

 Ensuite, l'environnement de l'espace - l'absence de la gravité - provoque des mutations de légumes. Autrement dit, c'est idéal pour leur culture. Non seulement, les légumes spéciaux atteignent une grande taille, mais la quantité fournie est également énorme.

Pour finir, la nourriture pour l'avenir est un sujet brûlant: le gaspillage d'aliments, en Europe surtout. Si on commence à consommer un petit peu moins qu'avant, on peut se nourrir 200 ans de plus selon une article par Le Monde Diplomatique. À mon avis, l'imposition d'une amende est primordiale pour empêcher le gaspillage.

En conclusion, c'est évident qu'on sera confrontés à un problème de manque d'aliments. En revanche, il existe plusieurs solutions pour l'avenir. Cependant, pour chaque remède que j'ai mentionné, il existe toujours des davantage. C'est nécessaire de poursuivre nos efforts pour ralentir cet événement.

KSJ

#55 Possible Future Evolution (English)

Possible Future Evolution

There are many possibilities with possible future human evolution. We will adapt very differently from what we are now. Firstly there will only be one ethnicity of humans. With more people having babies with someone of a different ethnicity their children will be mixed ethnicity, then they will have babies with people of different ethnics and so on until we will all be the same ethnicity. We will eventually lose our distinguishable features such as freckles and certain eye colours, and instead all have one skin colour, eye colour and hair colour.

We will all be taller! Human height has grown (excuse the pun) rapidly over about 150 years by 10 cm. It is believed that the more a child eats, the more energy they have to grow. Thus making the possibilities for how high we can grow, potentially endless!

With the improvement of modern medicine and our dependency on it, we will have a weaker immune system. We do not let our body fight of the illness. Instead we turn straight to modern medicine for a cure. This proving to be a weakness if we are relying on external aids to cure us internally. So our immune system will have no use if we are using medicine and will not work.

Another way we can adapt is by the loss of hair. It will mainly occur in women though. Having less hair on various parts of a woman is seen as attractive. Women will be the first to be hairless whereas there is less of a demand for smooth skinned men, so men may either not adapt or be the slower than women.

Lastly one last way we are adapting is by self-improvement. It will be no surprise that technology will literally be a part of us in the future. So if we do not like a certain part of us we can use technology to create a new part of us. Some couples are recently choosing their child’s traits even before they are born. This is known as gene selection, the babies are called designer babies. 

In conclusion with some parts of us we don’t need anymore and some things we will gain, future human evolution is possible and will of course happen over the course of thousands of years.

SSP

#54 Is yawning contagious? (English)

Is yawning contagious?

We have all yawned in our lifetime, maybe it was during a chemistry lesson or when you’re about to fall asleep. The Google definition of yawning is “A yawn is a reflex consisting of the simultaneous inhalation of air and the stretching of the eardrums, followed by an exhalation of breath” But when a person yawns another person tend to yawn straight after, why does that happen? Is yawning contagious? 

 

 

Cats, dogs, fish (and many more animals), also even babies in the womb all yawn. But what is yawning? Well nothing is for certain yet due to the lack of testing scientists have done, but some scientists believe that we yawn because our brains have a lack of oxygen. Although there are recent studies that have proved that yawning helps thermoregulation. (It helps us cool down our brains.)  

  

What makes our brains warmer? Our brains tend to get warmer when we are deprived from sleep and are exhausted, which would explain why we yawn when we are tired and about to go to sleep. Yawning cools down our blood through the nasal cavity when we inhale air, which then goes into the blood, then into our brain and cools our brain down. Scientists proved this theory by giving some testers warm packs (to put on their head) and others cold packs. The people with warm packs on their head yawned 41% whereas the cold pack people yawned only 9%. 

 

But what makes it contagious? It is apparently linked with empathy. There was a study done on autistic children and non-autistic children, they were shown a video of people yawning. The autistic children did not yawn as much as the other children. (Autistic children tend to lack social interaction skills and communication.) So when we yawn we are feeling empathetic towards the person who yawned and then we yawn. Therefore yarning can be contagious, but it depends on how much empathy you feel towards other humans.
 

SSP

#53 Processed Meats and Cancer (English)

Processed Meats and Cancer 

Processed meats cause cancer? 

According to a new study released by the World Health Organisation processed meats such as bacon, sausages and ham do cause bowel cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has now classified processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" which also includes tobacco and formaldehyde. Scientists say that eating as little as 50g of processed meat a day can increase a person's risk of cancer by 18%. 

What is processed meat? 

Processed meat has to have been modified to extend shelf life or change taste by smoking, curing, adding salt or preservatives. The chemicals that are involved in the processing and high temperature cooking (such as cooking on a BBQ) are also thought to create carcinogenic chemicals. Meats to avoid include bacon, sausages, hot dogs, salami, ham, corned beef, canned meat products and meat based sauces.  

How can I apply this to my eating habits?

The good new is that in order to decrease the probability of cancer you don't have to cut out meat completely! Maintaining a healthy, well balanced diet is ideal and processed meats can be enjoyed once in a while in moderation. If you eat lots of these kinds of meats however, you might want to think about cutting down as the risk for cancer increases as the amount of meat consumed does.

SJS

#52 Celiac disease (English)

Celiac disease 

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people of all ages. This digestive disorder occurs in reaction to gluten, a protein that is found on wheat, rye and barley. The body’s immune system reacts to the gluten and causes damage to the small intestine, affecting the villi, the one in charge of promoting the absorption of nutrients. With the villi damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body. 

Symptoms

•     Digestive problems: abdominal bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, plate stools

•        Skin rash

•        Anemia

•        Musculoskeletal problems

•        Growth problems (children)

•        Seizures

•        Tingling sensation in your legs

•        Sores in mouth

•        Missed menstrual periods

Organs affected 

The inflammation associated with celiac disease may lead to grater chance on developing certain gastrointestinal cancers, such like those in the small intestine or in the esophagus.  The inflammation and lack of nutrients can also lead to problems affecting many other organs and systems of the body.

How to prevent it

Celiac disease cannot be prevented. If you already have the disease, you can prevent symptoms by eating a gluten free diet.

Treatment

Currently the only treatment for this disease is to follow a strict gluten free diet. People living gluten free must void foods with wheat, rye and barely, such as bread and beer.

Similar to/ looks like

•        Colic

•        Crystic fibrosis

•        Crohn’s disease

•        Irritable bowel syndrome

•        Colitis

•        Osteoporosis

What happens a cellular level?

To understand the Celiac disease we have to start with Gluten, which can be found in rye, wheat and barley. Gluten can be divided in two components, gliadin and glutenin. Gliadin is the most toxic one because it is resistant to the membrane proteasis, so they remain there after gluten is digested. The whole problem begins at the top of the small intestine, in the epithelium. There the epithelial cells absorb gliadin and interleukin-15 is activated, signaling proteins for the immune system. They activate the intraepithelial lymphocytes, which can divide in three parts, the T- cells (induce the death of pathogens), the B- cells (release antibodies which neutralize foreign bodies) and natural killer cells. 

In the epithelium cells are being killed because B-cells are activating a protein. After the epithelial cells, gliadin is progresses into the Lamina Propria (layer under the epithelium) where an enzyme called transglutaminase increases gliadin’s capability to cause an immune response by deanimating it.  After this process the antigen presenting cell grab onto the gliadin using HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 receptors.  The gliadin is then presented to the gliadin-reactive T- cells through a T-cell receptor. The T-cell then trigger the release cytokines which besides being signaling proteins also destroy the cells in the villi and send out signal to continue the destruction. After the process, the T-cell and B-cells form memory cells to remember the gliadin. This cycle of destruction is repeated every time a celiac eats gluten. 

AAM

#51 Nervousness (English)

Nervousness

             Whether you are waiting for an exam, about to start an important presentation or at the start of a race, we've all experienced nervousness. But have you ever wondered why this happens? In this short article we will tell you why.

             In stressful situations, your brain sends a signal from the pituitary gland all the way to the kidneys where your adrenal gland resides; this is where adrenaline is released. You’ve felt it before, the rapid heart rate, dilating pupils and increased circulation in your muscles. It's all part of the "fight or flight" response which developed in our evolutionary history to help us survive. However this response isn't all or nothing, there are degrees reaction, according to the perceived threat or importance you attach to the outcome. So something like an interview, which presents a challenge, stimulates the same biological reaction that a threat to your life does, just to a smaller degree. 

             Have you ever felt those nervous butterflies in your stomach? This is because adrenaline helps redirect blood and energy to the most important parts of your body during stress, like the heart and muscles, and also away from your digestive system causing the blood vessels to close around your stomach, which leads to that tingling sensation.

             There are some effective tricks the athletes do in order to handle a huge stress they go through before competitions. The concept of 'mental imagery' is a widely used method in popular sport. With 'Cognitive Specific' imagery an athlete simply imagines themselves practicing a technique or skill before competing or training. While it may sound crazy, this actually stimulates the relevant neurons in the brain, and has been shown to enhance the specific skill. 'Motivational Specific' imagery on the other hand encourages athletes to recall the feeling of winning an event or beating a competitor as a motivational tool. This way by imagining yourself as focused, tough and having positive thoughts prior to competition, you can easily deal with stressful situations in your life.

KAA

#50 Blood circulation (English)

Blood circulation

             Have you ever been interested in why your heart actually beats? The process of heart beating is what actually keeps us alive, so it is quite useful and important to know about it.

             The heart is made up of four different blood-filled areas, and each of these areas is called a chamber. There are two chambers on each side of the heart: one is on the top and another is on the bottom. The two chambers on top are called the atria. The atria are the chambers that fill with the blood returning to the heart from the body and lungs.

             The two chambers on the bottom are called the ventricles. The heart has a left ventricle and a right ventricle. Their job is to squirt out the blood to the body and lungs. Running down the middle of the heart is a thick wall of muscle called the septum. The septum's job is to separate the left side and the right side of the heart.

             The atria and ventricles work as a team — the atria fill with blood, then dump it into the ventricles. The ventricles then squeeze, pumping blood out of the heart. While the ventricles are squeezing, the atria refill and get ready for the next contraction. So when the blood gets pumped, how does it know which way to go?

             Well, your blood relies on four special valves inside the heart. A valve lets something in and keeps it there by closing — think of walking through a door. The door shuts behind your blood and keeps it from going backward.

             Two of the heart valves are the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve; they let blood flow from the atria to the ventricles. The other two are called the aortic valve and pulmonary valve, and they're in charge of controlling the flow as the blood leaves the heart. These valves all work to keep the blood flowing forward. They open up to let the blood move ahead, then they close quickly to keep the blood from flowing backward.

KAA

#49 Wrinkly fingers underwater? (English)

Wrinkly fingers underwater?

             It's Friday night, you decide to have a nice long relaxing bath with lovely scented bubbles and soothing candles. Suddenly you realize that your toes and fingers have wrinkled up like prunes! Have you ever wondered why this happens? Well, now you're going to find out.

             Our toes and fingers contain oils that essentially make them waterproof - cool right? These oils help lubricate and protect our fingers and toes. This is why having a quick shower or washing your hands does not have any affect on them. However if they spend too long submerged underwater they will start going all wrinkly. What's happened is that the water has temporarily washed off this oily layer and has been absorbed by the outer layer of skin.

             The skin on our fingers and toes contain more dead cells than any other part of our body. As a result water is soaked up by these dead cells like a sponge. When you're fingers are wrinkly this means they are waterlogged, in other words they are completely saturated with water. The epidermis pulls on live skin layers beneath as it begins to swell. The deeper layers are firmly attached to fibers in your skin and therefore do not swell. This is what causes the appearance of wrinkles after you’ve spent some time in the bath.

             There is however another theory to explain why these wrinkles appear. According to scientists it is all a part of evolution. Puckered skin gives better grip which would have been useful to our ancestors when performing tasks such as foraging for food or being more sure-footed in the rain.

 

McA