Obesity could take this many years off your life

Scientists have calculated how much earlier overweight and obese people are likely to die when compared to the rest of the population

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fobesity-could-take-this-many-years-off-your-life%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

First virus-hunter in space will test DNA-decoding device

If successful, these technologies might be used to help identify life in space and provide medical care here on Earth

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-virus-hunter-in-space-will-test-dna-decoding-device%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

The Man Cold: Do Guys React Differently to Colds?

Is there any truth to the belief that men handle having a cold differently than women?

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcold-and-flu%2Ffeatures%2Fman-colds%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Freshwater 'Brain-Eating' Amoeba: What to Know

No need to avoid lakes and rivers -- disease experts say infection is exceedingly rare

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fbrain%2Fnews%2F20160714%2Fis-swimming-safe-in-areas-with-the-freshwater-brain-eating-amoeba%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

White House Rural Council Announces Assistance to Grow Small Business Exports

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2016 - The White House Rural Council (WHRC), today announced a workshop series to provide targeted assistance for rural small businesses working to grow demand through international sales. The announcement was made by WHRC Chair Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fusda%2Fusdahome%3Fcontentid%3D2016%2F07%2F0168.xml%26contentidonly%3Dtrue&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

USDA Funds 81 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Projects in 32 States

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund 81 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) projects in 32 states.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fusda%2Fusdahome%3Fcontentid%3D2016%2F07%2F0167.xml%26contentidonly%3Dtrue&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Obesity More Deadly for Men Than Women

Losing even a little weight could cut the risk, researchers say

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiet%2Fobesity%2F20160713%2Fobesity-more-deadly-for-men-than-women-study%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Rising Blood Sugar Hitting More Obese Adults

To curb diabetes, researchers urge serious weight-loss efforts

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiabetes%2Fnews%2F20160713%2Frising-blood-sugar-hitting-more-obese-adults%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Alzheimer's Gene May Show Effects in Childhood

Brain scans reveal slower development in certain areas

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Falzheimers%2Fnews%2F20160713%2Falzheimers-gene-may-show-effects-in-childhood%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Whether or not a diet works may be in your genes

A new study in mice sheds light on why certain diets seem to work for some and not others

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fwhether-or-not-a-diet-works-may-be-in-your-genes%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Sleep aids: Understand over-the-counter options

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fhealthy-lifestyle%2Fadult-health%2Fin-depth%2Fsleep-aids%2Fart-20047860&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Gut microbiota are linked to increased susceptibility to hepatic steatosis in low-aerobic-capacity rats fed an acute high-fat diet

Poor aerobic fitness is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and increased all-cause mortality. We previously found that rats with a low capacity for running (LCR) that were fed an acute high-fat diet (HFD; 45% kcal from fat) for 3 days resulted in positive energy balance and increased hepatic steatosis compared with rats that were highly aerobically fit with a high capacity for running (HCR). Here, we tested the hypothesis that poor physiological outcomes in LCR rats following acute HFD feeding are associated with alterations in cecal microbiota. LCR rats exhibited greater body weight, feeding efficiency, 3 days of body weight change, and liver triglycerides after acute HFD feeding compared with HCR rats. Furthermore, compared with HCR rats, LCR rats exhibited reduced expression of intestinal tight junction proteins. Cecal bacterial 16S rDNA revealed that LCR rats had reduced cecal Proteobacteria compared with HCR rats. Microbiota of HCR rats consisted of greater relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and unassigned genera within this family, suggesting increased reduction of endogenous mucins and proteins. Although feeding rats an acute HFD led to reduced Firmicutes in both strains, short-chain fatty acid-producing Phascolarctobacterium was reduced in LCR rats. In addition, Ruminococcae and Ruminococcus were negatively correlated with energy intake in the LCR/HFD rats. Predicted metagenomic function suggested that LCR rats had a greater capacity to metabolize carbohydrate and energy compared with HCR rats. Overall, these data suggest that the populations and metabolic capacity of the microbiota in low-aerobically fit LCR rats may contribute to their susceptibility to acute HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and poor physiologic outcomes.

From: Panasevich, M. R., Morris, E. M., Chintapalli, S. V., Wankhade, U. D., Shankar, K., Britton, S. L., Koch, L. G., Thyfault, J. P., Rector, R. S. http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fajpgi.physiology.org%2Fcgi%2Fcontent%2Fabstract%2F311%2F1%2FG166%3Frss%3D1&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Corrigendum

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fajpgi.physiology.org%2Fcgi%2Fcontent%2Ffull%2F311%2F1%2FG202%3Frss%3D1&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Night workers with circadian misalignment are susceptible to alcohol-induced intestinal hyperpermeability with social drinking

Alcohol-induced intestinal hyperpermeability (AIHP) is a known risk factor for alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but only 20–30% of heavy alcoholics develop AIHP and ALD. The hypothesis of this study is that circadian misalignment would promote AIHP. We studied two groups of healthy subjects on a stable work schedule for 3 mo [day workers (DW) and night workers (NW)]. Subjects underwent two circadian phase assessments with sugar challenge to access intestinal permeability between which they drank 0.5 g/kg alcohol daily for 7 days. Sleep architecture by actigraphy did not differ at baseline or after alcohol between either group. After alcohol, the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in the DW group did not change significantly, but in the NW group there was a significant 2-h phase delay. Both the NW and DW groups had no change in small bowel permeability with alcohol, but only in the NW group was there an increase in colonic and whole gut permeability. A lower area under the curve of melatonin inversely correlated with increased colonic permeability. Alcohol also altered peripheral clock gene amplitude of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in CLOCK, BMAL, PER1, CRY1, and CRY2 in both groups, and inflammatory markers lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, LPS, and IL-6 had an elevated mesor at baseline in NW vs. DW and became arrhythmic with alcohol consumption. Together, our data suggest that central circadian misalignment is a previously unappreciated risk factor for AIHP and that night workers may be at increased risk for developing liver injury with alcohol consumption.

From: Swanson, G. R., Gorenz, A., Shaikh, M., Desai, V., Kaminsky, T., Van Den Berg, J., Murphy, T., Raeisi, S., Fogg, L., Vitaterna, M. H., Forsyth, C., Turek, F., Burgess, H. J., Keshavarzian, A. http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fajpgi.physiology.org%2Fcgi%2Fcontent%2Fabstract%2F311%2F1%2FG192%3Frss%3D1&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Autophagy induced by exogenous bile acids is therapeutic in a model of {alpha}-1-AT deficiency liver disease

The bile acid nor-ursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA) has many biological actions, including antiapoptotic effects. Homozygous PIZZ α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT)-deficient humans are known to be at risk for liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer as a result of the accumulation of the toxic, A1AT mutant Z protein within hepatocytes. This accumulation triggers cell death in the hepatocytes with the largest mutant Z-protein burdens, followed by compensatory proliferation. Proteolysis pathways within the hepatocyte, including autophagy, act to reduce the intracellular burden of A1AT Z protein. We hypothesized that norUDCA would reduce liver cell death and injury in A1AT deficiency. We treated groups of PiZ transgenic mice and wild-type mice with norUDCA or vehicle, orally, and examined the effects on the liver. The PiZ mouse is the best model of A1AT liver injury and recapitulates many features of the human liver disease. Mice treated with norUDCA demonstrated reduced hepatocellular death by compensatory hepatocellular proliferation as determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation (3.8% control, 0.88% treated, P < 0.04). Ki-67 staining as a marker for hepatocellular senescence and death was also reduced (P < 0.02). Reduced apoptotic signaling was associated with norUDCA, including reduced cleavage of caspases-3, -7, and -8 (all P < 0.05). We determined that norUDCA was associated with a >70% reduction in intrahepatic mutant Z protein (P < 0.01). A 32% increase in hepatic autophagy associated with norUDCA was the likely mechanism. norUDCA administration is associated with increased autophagy, reduced A1AT protein accumulation, and reduced liver injury in a model of A1AT deficiency.

From: Tang, Y., Fickert, P., Trauner, M., Marcus, N., Blomenkamp, K., Teckman, J. http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fajpgi.physiology.org%2Fcgi%2Fcontent%2Fabstract%2F311%2F1%2FG156%3Frss%3D1&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8