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Cocoa may protect against negative effects of fatty foods when stressed – study

Having a cup of cocoa or green tea could protect you from the negative effects of fatty comfort foods during times of stress, new research suggests.

The food choices people make when stressed can influence the effect this tension has on heart health, experts say.

But now a small study has found that drinking cocoa (the key ingredient in chocolate) high in flavanols with a fatty meal can mitigate some of the impact the food has on the body.

Flavanols are compounds found in some foods and drinks, like apples and tea, and are considered to have a range of different benefits, including being good for regulating blood pressure and protecting cardiovascular health.

For people who are likely to reach for a fat-rich treat when stressed, or because it is quick or convenient, adding a cup of minimally processed cocoa or green tea “could make a real difference” for their health.

Dr Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in nutritional sciences at the University of Birmingham, and leading author, said: “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate towards high-fat foods.

“We have previously shown that fatty food can impair the body’s vascular recovery from stress.

“In this study, we wanted to see if adding a high-flavanol food to the fatty meal would alleviate the negative impact of stress in the body.”

Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, professor of biological psychology at the University of Birmingham, and author of the study, added: “Modern life is stressful and the impact of stress on our health and the economy has been well documented, so any changes we can make to protect ourselves from some of the symptoms of stress is positive.

“For those who tend to reach for a treat when stressed or depend on convenient food because they work high-pressure jobs or are time-poor, incorporating some of these small changes could make a real difference.”

In a previous study, the Birmingham researchers found that high-fat foods can negatively affect the function of blood vessels and oxygen delivery to the brain, while flavanols – found in abundance in cocoa and green tea – can protect this function during periods of everyday stress. 

Dr Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in nutritional sciences at the University of Birmingham, added: “This research shows that drinking or eating a food high in flavanols can be used as a strategy to mitigate some of the impact of poorer food choices on the vascular system.

“This can help us make more informed decisions about what we eat and drink during stressful periods.”

For the study, researchers gave 23 healthy adults two butter croissants with 10g salted butter, 1.5 slices of cheddar cheese and 250ml whole milk for breakfast, and either a high-flavanol cocoa or a low-flavanol cocoa drink.

After an eight-minute rest period, the group was asked to complete a mental maths test which increased in speed for eight minutes, alerting them when they got an answer wrong

During the rest and test, scientists measured blood flow in the forearm, heart activity and oxygen in the body.

They found that the stress task induced significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure – similar to the stress that may be encountered in daily life.

The researchers also found that eating fatty foods with the low-flavanol drink when stressed reduced blood vessel function, and lasted up to 90 minutes after the stressful event was over.

But the cocoa drink high in flavanols prevented the decline in blood vessel function following stress and fat consumption, the study published in the journal Food And Function found.

The experts say that people should be looking for minimally processed cocoa powder in the supermarkets, and if cocoa is not quite your beverage of choice, there are other ways you can get a higher dose of flavanols, such as green tea, black tea and berries. 

Advanced sequencing reveals eye microbiome variances linked to dry eye

 

Advanced sequencing reveals eye microbiome variances linked to dry eye© Provided by News Medical

 

Researchers have used advanced sequencing technology to determine how the mix of microbes present in patients with healthy eyes differs from the mix found in patients with dry eye. The new work could lead to improved treatments for various eye problems and for diseases affecting other parts of the body. 

Microbial communities in and on our body -; collectively referred to as the human microbiota -; play an essential role in keeping us healthy. Although many studies have focused on microbial communities in our gut, understanding the microbiota present in other body sites is critical for advancing our knowledge of human health and developing targeted interventions for disease prevention and treatment.

Once we understand the eye microbiota properly, it will improve disease diagnosis at an early stage. This knowledge can also serve as a catalyst for developing innovative therapies aimed at preventing and treating ocular disease as well as those that affect the central microbiome site: the gut."

Alexandra Van Kley, research team leader, professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas

Pallavi Sharma, a graduate student in Van Kley's lab, will present the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which will be held March 23–26 in San Antonio.

"Human microbiome research suggests a strong connection between the gut microbiome and the brain and eyes," said Sharma. "Any alteration in the gut microbiome affects other organs and can lead to disease. Therefore, we are trying to identify patterns of an imbalance between the types of microbes present in a person's ocular microbiome for people with different health problems."

For the study, the researchers collected eye samples from 30 volunteers using a swab and then performed 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to determine the microbiome distribution for patients with healthy eyes and those with dry eyes.

The analysis showed that Streptococcus and Pedobacter bacteria species were the most prevalent microbes in healthy eyes while more Acinetobacter species were present in the eye microbiomes of people with dry eye. "We think the metabolites produced by these bacteria are responsible for dry eye conditions," said Sharma. "We are performing further research to understand the metabolic pathways associated with the Acinetobacter to better understand the disease."

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Power of Asparagus: A Nutrient-Dense Vegetable for Better Health

Reference: shari :Linkeindn

From Bone Regeneration to Heart Repair: Stem Cell Transplantation Paves the Way for New Medical Frontiers

Stem cell technology has radically improved the scope of regenerative medicine and helped address the major challenge of organ and tissue shortage. Stem cell transplantation is also a promising avenue for addressing age-related degeneration and diseases and injuries that require tissue regeneration.  

In a recent review published in Heliyon, researchers from China discussed the recent advances and challenges associated with the development and application of stem cells for the regeneration of cartilage and bone, and the treatment of hematological and neurological conditions. 

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Study: Advancements and challenges in stem cell transplantation for regenerative medicine. Image Credit: alicancomertpay/Shutterstock.com

Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cells are categorized into four classes based on their potential to differentiate, with totipotent stem cells having the ability to transform into any cell type, including a complete organism. The only totipotent stem cell in humans is the zygote. The other stem cell types include unipotent, multipotent, and pluripotent stem cells

While unipotent stem cells can only divide into one type of cell, multipotent stem cells can give rise to several types of cells within an organ system.

Pluripotent stem cells have a broader scope of differentiation and can give rise to numerous types of cells. The interactions between pluripotency-associated factors control the differentiation of these stem cells.

The controlled upregulation of pluripotency-associated factors can give rise to induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. Stem cell transplantation involves the use of cells from within an individual, from genetically similar and immune-compatible individuals, or genetically unrelated individuals.

Immunosuppressants and tissue typing based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are used to lower the probability of graft or organ rejection.

Stem Cell Technology and Ethical Concerns and Regulations

Since their discovery and isolation by James Thomson in 1998, human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been used for regenerative medicine because of their pluripotency.

The regulation of ESC differentiation using key transcription factors has resulted in the use of human ESCs for treating various injuries and diseases, such as spinal cord injuries and age-related macular degeneration, where ESCs are programmed to differentiate into the cone cells of the retina. 

Cardiomyocytes and cardiovascular progenitor cells have also been derived from ESCs to treat cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia and repair heart tissue. Additionally, human ESCs have been used to form hepatocytes, pancreatic β cells, chondrocytes, and pacemaker cells to treat liver injuries, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and for restoring heart rhythm, respectively.

Since 2006, the development of iPSCs has further expanded the applications of stem cells in regenerative medicine, with reprogrammed adult cells being used to form organoids, neuronal cells, and more.

However, the risk of immune rejection, tumorigenicity, ethical concerns, and high production costs remain significant challenges in the field.

The researchers also discussed some of the regulatory and ethical challenges in detail, including the preference for ethically favorable iPSCs over embryonic stem cells. 

The study expanded on the potential applications of iPSCs in treating neurodegenerative disorders, lung disease, genetic disorders, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, autism, and mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.

Additionally, the researchers examined the recent advancements in the generation of iPSCs using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems and their use in drug development.

Recent Advances and Applications

The review also delved deep into the development and applications of tissue-specific stem cells (TSCs), as well as the associated challenges. While TSCs can maintain the plasticity that is characteristic of stem cells, their differentiation ability is limited, and factors such as scarcity and difficulties in in vitro manipulation are roadblocks in the large-scale production of TSCs for therapeutic use. 

Specific TSCs and their applications were explored in depth in the review, including pancreatic progenitor cells for diabetes treatment, dental pulp cells for neurogenic restoration, and stem cells from the inner ear for use in treating hearing loss.

Numerous advances in TSCs, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for liver and muscle regeneration, the development of three-dimensional scaffolds to generate intestinal tissue, and novel methods to treat alopecia, were also discussed.

The researchers also examined the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs, including their role in suppressing T cell responses and promoting a shift from the M1 phenotype of macrophages to the M2 phenotype, which is beneficial for treating immune-mediated disorders such as Crohn’s disease, and graft-versus-host disease.

The role of MSCs in influencing cytokine profiles, reducing inflammatory responses, and promoting angiogenesis and tissue repair were also discussed.

Conclusions

In summary, this comprehensive review expounded on the significant advances in and numerous applications of stem cell transplantation in regenerative medicine, with concise examples of the applications of various types of stem cells in specific diseases.

The researchers also discussed the challenges associated with production costs, safety concerns due to tumorigenicity and graft rejection, and side effects from immunosuppressants.

The focus of future research in the field is on improving the efficacy, safety, and affordability of stem cell transplantation by improving stem cell sources and techniques and ensuring long-term stability and safety.

The researchers believe that collaborative efforts can significantly further the advances in stem cell transplantation and improve patient outcomes.

Reference: By Dr. Chinta Sidharthan:AZO Life Sciences