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Originally published by Nagoya University, on June 17, 2024   In Parkinson's disease, a reduction in the gut bacteria of genes responsible for synthesizing the essential B vitamins B2 and B7 was found. Credit: Reiko Matsushita A study led by Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has revealed a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease (PD) . The researchers found a reduction in the gut bacteria of genes responsible for synthesizing the essential B vitamins B2 and B7 . They also identified a relationship between the lack of these genes and low levels of agents that help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier. This barrier prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream , which c auses the inflammation seen in PD . Their findings , published in npj Parkinson's Disease , suggest that treatment with B vitamins to address these deficiencies can be used to treat PD . PD is characterized by a variety of physical symptoms that h...

  Originally published by Bob Yirka, Phys.org, on September 8, 2023 Pteropus rufus, the Malagasy Flying Fox, in flight over Madagascar. Credit: Michael McGuire (CC-BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ) A small team of biologists and evolutionists from the University of Chicago, York University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Exeter reports why bats carry viruses that cause higher fatality rates when jumping to humans than those that come from any other mammal. In their study, reported on the open-access site PLOS Biology , the group used data from past research efforts to model the growth of viruses within bat populations as well as their spread to other animals. Prior research has shown that when a virus jumps from bats to humans, the results can be deadlier for humans than when viruses jump from other mammals. The reason has been a matter of debate. In this new effort, the team used data from prior research efforts , along wi...

Originally published by Frontiers, on August 18, 2023  Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain What if we could identify the earliest warning signs of cardiovascular disease from a simple saliva sample ? Scientists think they have found a way to do so. Gum inflammation leads to periodontitis , which is linked with cardiovascular disease . The team used a simple oral rinse to see if levels of white blood cells —an indicator of gum inflammation—in the saliva of healthy adults could be linked to warning signs for cardiovascular disease. they found that high levels correlated with compromised flow-mediated dilation , an early indicator of poor arterial health . " Even in young healthy adults, low levels of oral inflammatory load may have an impact on cardiovascular health—one of the leading causes of death in North America," said Dr. Trevor King of Mount Royal University, corresponding author of the study published in Frontiers in Oral Health . Read more