How does the immune system respond to fungi on our skin? Researchers at the University of Zurich have demonstrated that the same immune cells that protect us against skin fungi also encourage the inflammatory symptoms of atopic dermatitis. An antibody therapy could alleviate this chronic inflammatory skin disease. The skin of humans and animals is densely populated by fungi. It is suspected that a small yeast species called Malassezia, which besides bacteria and viruses is part of the microflora of healthy skin, strengthens the body’s defenses and prepares the immune…
Read MoreLady Gaga Responds to Pregnancy Rumors in the Best Way
Lady Gaga took to Twitter last night to set the record straight about the pregnancy rumors surrounding her. The truth is, she’s not expecting—but she still did announce some great news. “Rumors I’m pregnant? Yeah, I’m pregnant with #LG6,” she tweeted last night. “LG6” is an abbreviation for “Lady Gaga 6,” referencing the singer’s sixth solo album. As of right now, it’s unclear whether the project has a title or a prospective release date, but it’s definitely in the works. Gaga’s five solo albums so far are: The Fame (2008) The…
Read MoreSmoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity each linked to unhealthy brains
Factors that influence the health of our blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood and pulse pressures, obesity and diabetes, are linked to less healthy brains, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Monday). The study examined the associations between seven vascular risk factors and differences in the structures of parts of the brain. The strongest links were with areas of the brain known to be responsible for our more complex thinking skills, and which deteriorate during the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The researchers, led by Dr…
Read MoreFootwear habits influence child and adolescent motor skill development
New research finds that children and adolescents who spend most of their time barefoot develop motor skills differently from those who habitually wear shoes. Published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, this is the first study to assess the relevance of growing up shod vs. barefoot on jumping, balancing and sprinting motor performance during different stages of childhood and adolescence. The study shows that habitually barefoot children are noticeably better at jumping and balancing compared to habitually shod children, particularly from 6-10 years of age. While these beneficial barefoot effects diminished in older…
Read MoreHow the skin becomes inflamed: Toxin-producing bacteria
Publishing online this week in Cell Host & Microbe, researchers at Johns Hopkins report the discovery of a key underlying immune mechanism that explains why to how our skin becomes inflamed from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema. Toxin-producing bacteria on the surface of our skin induces a protein that causes our own cells to react and cause inflammation. “Our skin is covered with bacteria as part of our normal skin microbiome and typically serves as a barrier that protects us from infection and inflammation. However, when…
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