Affordable Cosmetic Dental Work By Dayo Dental

June 13, 2012 by admin

Cosmetic dental work may sound complicated and expensive, but in reality it can be as cheap as you want it to be. People generally go in for cosmetic dental treatments to enhance the appearance of their teeth. Whether it is to make your crooked teeth look straighter or to improve the general appearance of your teeth and to make them shine, people go in for cosmetic dental work. It is commonly understood that these treatments are best if you have a healthy set of teeth and gums.

A general understanding of teeth would tell you that the teeth and gums are to be treated for cavity and decay before cosmetic dental work.

Colored fillings seem to be the most common form of cosmetic dental work. Not only are fillings used to fill holes caused by decay or cavity, but they are also being used as attractors. Amalgam fillings are being replaced by colored fillings because they are more natural-looking when compared to the silver color of the former. However, when it comes to durability, amalgam fillings are better than the colored fillings because they are able to assist in grinding and chewing effectively.

Tooth whitening is another module of cosmetic dental work this is generally used to lighten the natural shade of the teeth. Whitening agents are abrasive and tend to remove the top layer of the teeth bringing in a natural shine rather than giving an artificial white coating on the teeth.

Veneers are generally used to give the appearance of straighter teeth even if they are chipped or damaged. They are made of ceramic materials that can be placed on the tooth. Not only do they gel well with the teeth, but also they are available in different thickness to fill the gaps between teeth. This is one of the few methods which do not require the use of anesthesia. Veneers have to be custom-made depending on the requirement of the teeth line and have to be cemented on the surface. Crowns, inlays and on-lays are also for the same purpose and filling in chips and broken teeth.

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Anti aging genes discovered

June 13, 2012 by admin

The Fountain of Youth, an anti aging nectar that prolongs time spend on earth; a nectar that can cure every health problem; a nectar, unfortunately, that can be found only in fictional stories. In spite of its fictional existence, the fountain of youth is a kick-start motif for scientist search for longer life span. Youth is the greatest period in everyman’s life and forever young a common wish.

Scientist claim that the root of longer life span lies in human’s genes. It is not something that you can gain reaching certain age and it is not something that you can make by consuming special drugs. Centurion is created from birth. Through out the years scientists have made many researches concerning longer life-span situation. One type of research is published in Science and has two parts.

The first part is called GWAS, or “genome-wide association study.” About 1,000 people over 100 years old were part of the New England Centenarian Study.

The obtained data was compared to a normal aging group of people; their number was also about 1,000. 70 genes were found in centenarians, repeating the study to a smaller group gave the result of 33 genes.

To make sure that everything is fair-and-square, disease-causing genes were examined in both of the groups, centenarians and normal aging people. It was confirmed that centenarians were exposed to disease as much as the normal aging people. The interesting thing is that strong immunity was given to the centenarians by the genes, ergo, longer healthy days.

150 people, centenarians and normal aging people, underwent the model research without the knowledge of who has 70 genes of longer life. The model was 77 % accurate in his prediction to which group the subject belong to. It gave 19 different genetic combinations in the centenarians.

An interesting fact about this is that 15 % had those combinations, meaning that 15 % of us should reach the age of 100 years old, and even more. But reality bites with the result of 1 in 6,000.

There are scientists that greet these results and consider them good data for future research. There are others that counter them stating that the number of people in the research is not enough.

Science confirms the fact that genes have major role in longer life. But it also, firmly states, that if you don’t take care of your body, it won’t be able to take care of you. Healthy nutrition and exercising on a regular schedule is a perfect natural way to contribute years on your calendar. Every body is undergoes aging; so, make it a healthy aging process.

 

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Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles: Eat Your Way to Firmer, More Beautiful Skin with the 100 Best Anti-Aging Foods

At long last, a book that tells all about the connection between diet and health and the look of your skin. Everyone interested in beautiful skin should read this book!

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Get Affordable Rates On Dental Emergency Treatment

June 13, 2012 by admin

Dental insurance cover in Edgewater, NJ is one of the most sought after insurances in the United States today. Many companies offer this type of insurance but to get a good deal, you have to shop around. There are a couple of things you need to consider when looking for dental insurance. Some of these are discussed below:

First, you need to know who is in charge of making decisions on your treatments. Is it you and the dentist or is treatment predetermined in the dental insurance policy? Also, find out whether you will get to choose your own dentist or will have to use one in the network stipulated by the insurance company.

Another thing you have to consider is what dental procedures the cover will cater for and which ones you will have to pay for. No dental plan provides a 100% cover but with proper research on the internet, you can get yourself an affordable package. Talk to your dentist in Edgewater if you are looking for recommendations on good insurance firms.

In addition, you need to be conversant with the standard fees charged for different procedures by dentists Edgewater NJ firms. This will protect you from overpaying for the insurance or treatment. When you know the standard fee, you will then have a yardstick to measure whether what you are being charged under the policy is fair.

Other useful things to find out as you choose a plan is whether it covers you alone or with your family. Try to get a policy that also covers your family as this will be cheaper in the long run. Also, find out whether your preferred dentist Edgewater NJ firm offers financing for the procedures you are likely to undertake. You can easily find affordable dentist Edgewater NJ insurance policies on the internet.

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Peter Thomas Roth Anti Aging Cleansing Gel 8.5 fl oz

A Peter Thomas Roth Best Seller! Our most popular cleanser! A luxurious facial cleansing gel that does double duty with 1% Glycolic Acid (AHA) and 1% Salicylic Acid (BHA). Advanced pore resurfacing action promotes a fresh youthful-looking complexion. Increases cell turnover to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Detoxifies the pores and improves skin texture as it gently sweeps away impurities that can dull the complexion. Salicylic acid, brightening botanicals and a gentle form of glycolic acid exfoliate and clarify the skin, leaving it ultra clean, refined and revitalized.

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YoArt Makes New York City Debut at The Plaza Food Hall

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2012Frozen Yogurt Boutique Offers Guests an Upscale DIY Experience.

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) June 06, 2012 - Memorial Day weekend marked the grand opening of YoArt, the newest shop to open in The Plaza Food Hall. YoArt is a frozen yogurt boutique where guests can taste various flavors before they pick up a cup and create their own edible masterpieces.

YoArt at The Plaza Food Hall offers 12 flavors including non-fat/low-fat flavors, a no-sugar- added option, a sorbet, an original tart, a Greek yogurt and Eloise Strawberry, an exclusive Food Hall flavor in honor of The Plaza's favorite guest. Most flavors are gluten-free and all are teeming with four strains of probiotics, which help maintain a healthy digestive system. YoArt also offers over 90

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Low Vitamin D Associated with Falls and Loss of Mobility in Elderly

One-third of elderly Americans are blatantly deficient in vitamin D and a majority lack optimal vitamin D for good health.  One quality of health aspect during aging is maintaining the physical ability to get around and do things.  Several new studies point out that vitamin D is needed to maintain physical functionality during aging.

The first study involved 2,099 men and women aged 70-79 who did not have mobility problems at the beginning of the study.  They were tested for vitamin D status and followed for the next six years.  Those with low vitamin D were more likely to develop mobility limitations, including a twofold higher risk for mobility disability.

“This is one of the first studies to look at the association of vitamin D and the onset of new mobility limitations or disability in older adults,” said lead author Denise Houston, Ph.D., R.D., a nutrition epidemiologist in the Wake Forest Baptist Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology.  “It’s difficult to get enough vitamin D through diet alone and older adults, who may not spend much time outdoors, may need to take a vitamin D supplement.  Higher amounts of vitamin D may be needed for the preservation of muscle strength and physical function as well as other health conditions.”

In a separate report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended exercise and vitamin D to prevent falls in adults ages 65 and older.  This report is significant because government panels of experts seldom recommend a vitamin for anything, even when the evidence is overwhelming.  In other words, the evidence in support of older people taking vitamin D to prevent falls is overwhelming.  And according to the first study they also need vitamin D to keep active, which is another recommendation of this panel.

I previously reported that researchers have found that increasing vitamin D in the elderly would significantly extend lifespan.  I have also reported that the dose of vitamin D needed to optimize levels is between 4,000 I.U. and 8,000 I.U. per day.  A person does not want to be at the bottom of the normal range on a vitamin D test.  You should strive to be in the middle of the normal range for optimal benefits of vitamin D during aging. 

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Milk ingredient does a waistline good

ScienceDaily (June 5, 2012) — A natural ingredient found in milk can protect against obesity even as mice continue to enjoy diets that are high in fat. The researchers who report their findings in the June Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, liken this milk ingredient to a new kind of vitamin.

See Also:Health & MedicineObesityDiet and Weight LossBreastfeedingPlants & AnimalsBeer and WineMiceCows, Sheep, PigsLiving WellReferenceColostrumSaturated fatCalorie restricted dietLactic acid

"This is present in what we've all been eating since day one," says Johan Auwerx of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

The researchers identified this ingredient, known as nicotinamide riboside, as they were searching for alternative ways to boost the well-known gene SIRT1, which comes with benefits for both metabolism and longevity. One way to do that is to target SIRT1 directly, as the red wine ingredient resveratrol appears to do, at least at some doses.

Auwerx's team suspected there might be a simpler way to go about it, by boosting levels of one of SIRT1's molecular sidekicks, the cofactor NAD

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Overfed fruit flies develop insulin resistance; Represent new tool to study human diabetes

ScienceDaily (June 5, 2012) — Researchers find that fruit flies overloading on carbs and protein not only gain weight but have shortened life spans -- and develop insulin resistance, a hallmark of Type 2 human diabetes.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiabetesDiet and Weight LossObesityPlants & AnimalsMolecular BiologyCell BiologyAnimalsReferenceDiabetes mellitus type 2Blood sugarSouth Beach dietDiabetic diet

With Type 2 human diabetes climbing at alarming rates in the United States, researchers are seeking treatments for the disease, which has been linked to obesity and poor diet.

Now biologists at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, report they have developed a new tool that will help researchers better understand this deadly disease.

By manipulating the diets of healthy adult fruit flies, the researchers developed flies that are insulin-resistant, a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.

Until now, researchers largely have relied on rats, mice and other animals as model systems for exploring the metabolic and genetic changes that take place in diabetics.

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been widely deployed in labs to investigate a wide range of human diseases, from Alzheimer's to cancer. But the scientific literature hasn't documented use of the adult fruit fly for studying the metabolic disruptions that are the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes. The fruit fly's advantages include its low cost and a very short lifespan, both of which enable scientists to undertake rapid screenings in their search for new genetic and drug treatments.

The insulin-resistant fruit fly was developed in the lab of SMU biologist Johannes H. Bauer, principal investigator for the study. It was accomplished by feeding fruit flies a diet high in nutrients, said Bauer, an assistant professor in SMU's Department of Biological Sciences. That process mimics one of the ways insulin resistance develops in humans -- overeating to the point of obesity.

The lab's insulin-resistant fruit flies now can serve as a highly relevant and efficient model for studying Type 2 diabetes.

"We learned that by manipulating the nutrients of fruit flies, we can make them insulin resistant," Bauer said. "With this insulin-resistant model we can now go in with pinpoint precision and study the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance, as well as drug treatments for the condition, as well as how to treat obesity, how to block insulin resistance and how metabolic changes from a specific diet develop. The possibilities are endless."

The researchers reported their findings in the article "Development of diet-induced insulin resistance in adult Drosophila melanogaster," published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta -- Molecular Basis of Disease.

Two overfeeding diets, carb and protein, both result in insulin resistance

Insulin, produced by the pancreas, is the hormone that tells our cells to absorb glucose, a necessary sugar molecule that provides our body, particularly the brain, with the energy to function, make repairs, move and grow.

In Type 2 diabetes, a person is insulin-resistant because his or her cells fail to respond to insulin's signal to absorb glucose. The disregulation of glucose upsets the body's delicate internal equilibrium, causing massive disruptions in normal cellular processes. These interruptions manifest in multiple disease symptoms, making Type 2 diabetes difficult to characterize, treat and cure.

To provide a good base model organism to study aspects of this complex disease, researchers in the Bauer lab wanted to determine whether flies develop diabetes-like metabolic changes when fed different diets. The researchers developed the insulin-resistant flies in two different ways: One group of fruit flies was overfed a carbohydrate-loaded diet; a second group of flies was overfed a protein-loaded diet. In both cases, the disruption had a profoundly detrimental effect on the flies' health and physiology.

SMU biologist Siti Nur Sarah Morris, lead author on the study, said the results the researchers observed were both expected and unexpected. The researchers expected the flies to gain weight, which they did. Carb-loaded flies gained excessive weight and got fat, just like humans who overeat sweets, french fries, pasta and ice cream. Protein-loaded flies also gained weight, but upon extreme overfeeding they lost weight, just like humans who follow the popular Atkins Diet, a weight loss program in which participants eat only meat, seafood and eggs.

The researchers expected the carb-loaded fruit flies to develop insulin resistance, which they did.

In a surprising result, however, the fruit flies that overate protein also developed insulin resistance, but at a quicker and more severe rate.

"Carb-loaded flies gain weight. Protein-loaded flies gain and then lose weight. So the two diets have exactly opposite effects on metabolism," Bauer said. "But too much of either one of them causes insulin resistance. That surprised us."

Overfed flies had shortened lifespans, differences in fertility

In other findings, carb-loaded flies experienced a profound decline in egg-laying, a measurement of fertility. In contrast, protein-loaded flies first experienced increased egg-laying, but the extreme diet led to decreased egg laying. Both diets led to shortened longevity, the scientists reported.

"The high-protein flies looked frail and unhealthy. They moved less, almost as if sedated," Morris said. "The fatter flies on the high-carb diet had massively decreased fertility; they flew less but still tried to move."

While both diets resulted in insulin resistance, differences were remarkable.

"The carb data imply a linear relationship between carb levels and health. The more carbs, the more weight, the more sugar storage and fat, the more insulin resistance and the less fertility," Bauer said. "But with protein, this relationship becomes parabolic, meaning all readouts go up, then come down again. The decreased storage we liken to a catabolic state that is primarily destructive for the body's optimum metabolic functioning, such as the ketosis typically seen in people eating Atkins-type diets."

Besides Morris and Bauer, other authors on the study were SMU students Claire Coogan, Khalil Chamseddin and Santharam Kolli. Other co-authors, from Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, La., are Jeffrey N. Keller, director, Institute of Dementia Research & Prevention, and Sun Ok Fernandez-Kim. The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

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Complex world of gut microbes fine-tune body weight

ScienceDaily (June 6, 2012) — Microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract form an intricate, living fabric made up of some 500 to 1000 distinct bacterial species, (in addition to other microbes). Recently, researchers have begun to untangle the subtle role these diverse life forms play in maintaining health and regulating weight.

See Also:Health & MedicineObesityDiet and Weight LossGastrointestinal ProblemsPlants & AnimalsMicrobes and MoreFoodMicrobiologyStrange ScienceReferenceAppetiteMicroorganismMalnutritionBody mass index

In a new study appearing in the journal Nutrition in Clinical Practice, researcher Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown and her colleagues at the Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute in collaboration with John DiBaise from the Division of Gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, review the role of gut microbes in nutrient absorption and energy regulation.

According to Krajmalnik-Brown, "Malnutrition may manifest as either obesity or undernutrition, problems of epidemic proportion worldwide. Microorganisms have been shown to play an important role in nutrient and energy extraction and energy regulation although the specific roles that individual and groups/teams of gut microbes play remain uncertain."

The study outlines the growth of varied microbial populations -- from birth onwards -- highlighting their role in extracting energy from the diet. The composition of microbial communities is shown to vary with age, body weight, and variety of food ingested; as well as in response to bariatric surgery for obesity, use of antibiotics and many other factors.

Based on current findings, the authors suggest that therapeutic modification of the gut microbiome may offer an attractive approach to future treatment of nutrition-related maladies, including obesity and a range of serious health consequences linked to under-nutrition.

Micromanagers

The microbes in the human gut belong to three broad domains, defined by their molecular phylogeny: Eukarya, Bacteria, and Achaea. Of these, bacteria reign supreme, with two dominant divisions -- known as Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes -- making up over 90 percent of the gut's microbial population. In contrast, the Achaea that exist in the gut are mostly composed of methanogens (producers of methane) and specifically by Methanobrevibacter smithii -- a hydrogen-consumer.

Within the bacterial categories however, enormous diversity exists. Each individual's community of gut microbes is unique and profoundly sensitive to environmental conditions, beginning at birth. Indeed, the mode of delivery during the birthing process has been shown to affect an infant's microbial profile.

Communities of vaginal microbes change during pregnancy in preparation for birth, delivering beneficial microbes to the newborn. At the time of delivery, the vagina is dominated by a pair of bacterial species, Lactobacillus and Prevotella. In contrast, infants delivered by caesarean section typically show microbial communities associated with the skin, including Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Propionibacterium. While the full implications of these distinctions are still murky, evidence suggests they may affect an infant's subsequent development and health, particularly in terms of susceptibility to pathogens.

Diet and destiny

After birth, diet becomes a critical determinant in microbial diversity within the gut. Recent research indicates that microbial populations vary geographically in a manner consistent with regional differences in diet. Children in rural areas of Burkina Faso for example showed much more abundant concentrations of Bacteroidetes compared with their cohorts in Italy, a finding consistent with the African children's plant-rich diet.

While microbiomes appear to have adapted to local diets, changes in eating habits significantly alter composition of gut microbes. Variations in macronutrient composition can modify the structure of gut microbiota in a few days -- in some cases, a single day. Studies in mice show that changing from a low fat, plant polysaccharide diet to a Western diet high in sugar and fat rapidly and profoundly reconfigures the composition of microbes in the gut.

Another modifier of gut microbe composition is gastric bypass surgery, used in certain cases to alleviate conditions of serious obesity. In earlier work, the authors found that the post-surgical microbial composition of patients who underwent so-called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was distinct from both obese and normal weight individuals.

"Obesity affects more than a third of adults in the U.S. and is associated with a raft of health conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain forms of cancer," says Dr. John DiBaise. The authors further note that concentrations in the blood of lipopolysaccharides derived from gut bacteria increase in obese individuals, producing a condition known as metabolic endotoxemia. The disorder has been linked with chronic, systemic, low-level inflammation as well as insulin resistance.

Energy harvest

In the current review, the cycle of microbial energy extraction from food, involving hydrogen-producing and consuming reactions in the human intestine, is described in detail. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a critical component in this system. During the digestive process, fermentation in the gut breaks down complex organic compounds, producing SCFA and hydrogen. The hydrogen is either excreted in breath or consumed by 3 groups of microorganisms inhabiting the colon: methanogens, acetogens and sulfate reducers.

Research conducted by the authors and others has demonstrated that hydrogen-consuming methanogens appear in greater abundance in obese as opposed to normal weight individuals. Further, the Firmicutes -- a form of acetogen -- also seem to be linked with obesity. Following fermentation, SCFAs persist in the colon. Greater concentration of SCFAs, especially propionate, were observed in fecal samples from obese as opposed to normal weight children. (SCFAs also behave as signaling molecules, triggering the expression of leptin, which acts as an appetite suppressor.)

While it now seems clear that certain microbial populations help the body process otherwise indigestible carbohydrates and proteins, leading to greater energy extraction and associated weight gain, experimental results have shown some inconsistency. For example, while a number of studies have indicated a greater prevalence of Bacteroidetes in lean individuals and have linked the prevalence of Firmicutes with obesity, the authors stress that many questions remain.

Alterations in gut microbiota are also of crucial concern for the one billion people worldwide who suffer from undernutrition. Illnesses resulting from undernutrition contribute to over half of the global fatalities in children under age 5. Those who do survive undernutrition often experience a range of serious, long-term mental and physical effects. The role of gut microbial diversity among the undernourished has yet to receive the kind of concentrated research effort applied to obesity -- a disease which has reached epidemic proportions in the developed world.

Exploiting microbes affecting energy extraction may prove a useful tool for non-surgically addressing obesity as well as treating undernutrition, though more research is needed for a full understanding of regulatory mechanisms governing the delicate interplay between intestinal microbes and their human hosts.

Dr. Krajmalnik-Brown and colleagues at the Biodesign Institute and Mayo Clinic are currently in the second year of an NIH-funded study to better understand the role of the gut microbiome in the success or failure of surgical procedures performed to treat obesity including the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

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To quit smoking, try eating more veggies and fruits

ScienceDaily (June 6, 2012) — If you're trying to quit smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit and stay tobacco-free for longer, according to a new study published online by University at Buffalo public health researchers.

See Also:Health & MedicineSmokingVegetarianStaying HealthyPlants & AnimalsFoodBotanyOrganicReferenceFood groupsVegetableGreenhouseTobacco smoking

The paper, in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, is the first longitudinal study on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and smoking cessation.

The authors, from UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions, surveyed 1,000 smokers aged 25 and older from around the country, using random-digit dialing telephone interviews. They followed up with the respondents fourteen months later, asking them if they had abstained from tobacco use during the previous month.

"Other studies have taken a snapshot approach, asking smokers and nonsmokers about their diets," says Gary A. Giovino, PhD, chair of the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at UB. "We knew from our previous work that people who were abstinent from cigarettes for less than six months consumed more fruits and vegetables than those who still smoked. What we didn't know was whether recent quitters increased their fruit and vegetable consumption or if smokers who ate more fruits and vegetables were more likely to quit."

The UB study found that smokers who consumed the most fruit and vegetables were three times more likely to be tobacco-free for at least 30 days at follow-up 14 months later than those consuming the lowest amount of fruits and vegetables. These findings persisted even when adjustments were made to take into account age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, household income and health orientation.

They also found that smokers with higher fruit and vegetable consumption smoked fewer cigarettes per day, waited longer to smoke their first cigarette of the day and scored lower on a common test of nicotine dependence.

"We may have identified a new tool that can help people quit smoking," says Jeffrey P. Haibach, MPH, first author on the paper and graduate research assistant in the UB Department of Community Health and Health Behavior. "Granted, this is just an observational study, but improving one's diet may facilitate quitting."

Several explanations are possible, such as less nicotine dependence for people who consume a lot of fruits and vegetables or the fact that higher fiber consumption from fruits and vegetables make people feel fuller.

"It is also possible that fruits and vegetables give people more of a feeling of satiety or fullness so that they feel less of a need to smoke, since smokers sometimes confuse hunger with an urge to smoke," explains Haibach.

And unlike some foods which are known to enhance the taste of tobacco, such as meats, caffeinated beverages and alcohol, fruits and vegetables do not enhance the taste of tobacco.

"Foods like fruit and vegetables may actually worsen the taste of cigarettes," says Haibach.

While smoking rates in the U.S. continue to decline, Giovino notes, the rate of that decline has slowed during the past decade or so. "Nineteen percent of Americans still smoke cigarettes, but most of them want to quit," he says.

Haibach adds: "It's possible that an improved diet could be an important item to add to the list of measures to help smokers quit. We certainly need to continue efforts to encourage people to quit and help them succeed, including proven approaches like quitlines, policies such as tobacco tax increases and smoke-free laws, and effective media campaigns."

The UB researchers caution that more research is needed to determine if these findings replicate and if they do, to identify the mechanisms that explain how fruit and vegetable consumption may help smokers quit. They also see a need for research on other dietary components and smoking cessation.

Gregory G. Homish, PhD, assistant professor in the UB Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, also is a co-author.

Funding was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Legacy®.

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Role of fungus in digestive disorders explored

ScienceDaily (June 6, 2012) — Cedars-Sinai researchers say their examination of the fungi in the intestines suggests an important link between these microbes and inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

See Also:Health & MedicineColitisGastrointestinal ProblemsCrohn's DiseasePlants & AnimalsFungusMicrobiologyMicrobes and MoreReferenceDiarrheaDigestionGallstoneConstipation

In the new study, published in the June 8 issue of Science, researchers at Cedars-Sinai's Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute identified and characterized the large community of fungi inhabiting the large intestine in a model of the disease.

The digestive tract is home to a large number of micro-organisms. In fact, with an estimated 100 trillion bacteria residing in the gut, microbes outnumber human cells in the body. Some are necessary to aid in digesting food, producing necessary vitamins and suppressing the growth of harmful microbes. Others are harmful to the body, contributing to illnesses such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and obesity.

Modern DNA-sequencing technology has revolutionized the study of these microbes in the last decade, allowing the role of bacteria in disease to be understood more clearly, as is shown in the Cedars-Science research published in Science.

"It's long been recognized that fungi must also exist in the gut, but we're among the first to investigate what types, how many, and whether they're important in disease," said David Underhill, PhD, associate professor and director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science and Translational Medicine, who led the study. "We were truly stunned to see just how common fungi are, identifying more than 100 different types" and seeing linkages to digestive disorders.

An estimated 1.4 million Americans have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, a chronic digestive disorder, and about 30,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. Ulcerative colitis, one of the most common types of IBD, causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite. Ulcerative colitis patients can be at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

"This study takes us an important step closer to understanding how fungi contribute to disease, as well as significantly expanding our understanding of what types of fungi are living in our bodies," said Iliyan Iliev, PhD, a Cedars-Sinai research scientist and lead author on the study.

To determine fungi contribute to inflammatory disease, the study homed in on a protein called Dectin-1, produced by white blood cells and used by the immune system to detect and kill fungi. In an animal model of the disease, researchers found that the protein is important in protecting against inflammation caused by indigenous fungi. The finding has significant implications for human disease, as scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute found a variant of the gene for Dectin-1 that is strongly associated with severe forms of ulcerative colitis.

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