Category: Health

Dermcidin may play role in the pathogenesis of skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa

Tom Patriot

Dermcidin, an anti-microbial peptide normally found in human sweat, may play a role in the pathogenesis of this chronic skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), according to a research team from the George Washington University (GW). Their findings were recently published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. HS is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease of the apocrine sweat glands, which impacts 1%-4% of people and is most prevalent in young adults. There are several treatments to help alleviate symptoms, however there is no known cure for the disease. “Until now, the molecular drivers…

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The impact of exercise and sleep on depression varies by gender

Tom Patriot

For some people, getting enough exercise and quality sleep can alleviate depressive symptoms almost as effectively as antidepressants alone, research has shown. But a new University of Michigan study suggests that exercise and sleep impact depression differently in men and women. Principal investigator Weiyun Chen, an associate professor of kinesiology, and first author Ana Cahuas looked at exercise and sleep patterns in more than 1,100 college students at Beijing University. Participants completed three questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, physical activity habits and sleep patterns. For men, vigorous and moderate physical activity…

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Keeping fit is more than physical: It’s a state of mind

Tom Patriot

According to a new study differences in what motivates individuals and how they self-regulate behavior influence how they keep fit. The study appearing in the journal Heliyon, published by Elsevier, associates personal characteristics with whether people are likely to prefer solo or group exercise activities, CrossFit® training, resistance training, or team sports, how frequently they work out, and if they are likely to stick to their routine. The investigators set out to better understand why individuals adopt and adhere to regular physical activity programs, whether differences exist in personality, participatory motives, and…

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FRECKLES VS. DARK SPOTS: HOW TO SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Tom Patriot

Some of us are born with freckles, while others develop them later on in life — but do you know what causes them to emerge? Sure, they tend to surface after long days in the sun — especially in the summer — but why do they only find a home on some complexions and not others? Similar to freckles, pigmented spots can appear on the surface of your skin after too much sun exposure, but they’re not the same thing. So, what makes a freckle different than a dark spot or sun spot?…

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Brain mapping: New technique reveals how information is processed

Tom Patriot

Scientists have discovered a new method for quickly and efficiently mapping the vast network of connections among neurons in the brain. Researchers combined infrared laser stimulation techniques with functional magnetic resonance imaging in animals to generate mapping of connections throughout the brain. The technique was described in a study published in the journal Science Advances. “This is a revolution in detecting connections in the brain,” said senior author Anna Wang Roe, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Neuroscience at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Center. “The ability to easily map…

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