#public health sciences

[equinesandeducation]

Snack preps for the week and a perfect recovery run around the faculty. Found a route that’s exactly 5k and starts/ends in front of my building!

[politijohn]

Source

[typhlonectes]

Lizards may be protecting people from Lyme disease in the southeastern U.S.

The reptiles make poor hosts for transmitting the infection.

Lyme disease is one of the most devastating tick-borne infections in the United States, affecting more than 300,000 people each year. It's also one of the most mysterious: The creature that spreads it—the black-legged tick—lives throughout the country. Yet the northeastern United States is home to far more cases than anywhere else. Now, researchers have identified an unexpected reason: lizards. Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as deer ticks, carry corkscrew-shaped bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The ticks pick up the pathogens—spirochetes that belong to the genus Borrelia—when they suck the blood of animals like mice, deer, and lizards. In the next stage of their life cycle, the ticks may latch onto an unlucky human. But every host transmits the microbes differently. Reptiles are worse transmitters than mammals, so ticks that have lived on reptiles are less likely to make people sick. The north-south divide in Lyme cases is a fairly sharp line right along the border of Virginia and North Carolina. Researchers have hypothesized that disparity in cases stems from ticks feeding on different hosts in the two regions...

Read more: https://www.science.org/content/article/lizards-may-be-protecting-people-lyme-disease-southeastern-united-states

[themedicalstate]

It’s The Guns.

[odinsblog]

[culturevulturette]

That's the least malicious use of the term that I can think of.

[mindblowingscience]

​Modelling found that increasing tree cover to 30 percent would shave off 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit) locally, on average, during hot summer months, they reported in The Lancet.

​Of the 6,700 premature deaths attributed to higher temperatures in 93 European cities during 2015, one-third could have been prevented, according to the findings.

​Currently, just under 15 percent of urban environments in Europe, on average, are covered by some kind of foliage.

​The study is the first to project the number of premature deaths due to higher temperatures in cities that could be prevented by additional tree cover, said lead author Tamara Iungman, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).

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[thoughtportal]

Masks work. Wear one. Bill Nye

[cbirt]

An epidemic of monkeypox occurred in May 2023 that led to a disease named mpox displaying symptoms such as fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and rash. This ailment is usually mild and self-limited, but severe cases can be harrowing and may cause lifetime scarring. In response to the outbreak, researchers from Mount Sinai and the Carlos III Health Institute (ICI) in Madrid, Spain, worked together to investigate the genetic makeup of the monkeypox virus (MPXV). They mainly studied subclade IIb strains of the virus, helping them to understand the convolutions in viral genes that influence virus behavior, thereby offering strategies for intervention.

The concept of “genomic accordion” refers to periodic expansions and contractions within the genome of monkeypox virus (MPXV), especially in low-complexity regions (LCRs). Adaptive evolution for this virus depends on these variants, which are drivers of gene expression changes or modifications, including short tandem repeats.  

Contrarily, researchers believe that differences in LCRs rather than single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may explain the distinct epidemiology of subclade IIb MPXV strains. MPXV’s genetic pathways that underlie its unique transmission dynamics and pathogenicity have been illuminated through precise LCR resolution and repeat length analysis.

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[roversrovers]

happy eclipse aftermath to north american ophthalmologists

[science-lover33]

"Delving Deeper into Glutathione: The Biochemistry Behind its Protective Powers"

Hello, Tumblr community! 🌿 Today, let's embark on an intellectual journey into the intricate world of Glutathione, a molecular marvel with profound implications for your body's defense mechanisms and overall vitality. 🧬

The Biochemical Symphony of Glutathione:

Glutathione, abbreviated as GSH, is a low-molecular-weight tripeptide comprised of three amino acids – cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Its presence is pervasive, with significant concentrations found within virtually every cell of your body. At its core, GSH serves as a central hub for a variety of biochemical reactions, many of which are critical for maintaining cellular health.

🛡️ Shielding Against Oxidative Stress:

At the heart of Glutathione's prowess lies its ability to act as an antioxidant. To understand this, we must venture into the realms of free radicals highly reactive molecules that can wreak havoc on your cellular structures. GSH swoops in like a molecular guardian, neutralizing these renegade radicals and preventing cellular damage.

🔄 Recycling Antioxidants:

GSH doesn't stop at just neutralizing free radicals. It has a unique capacity to regenerate other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which are also instrumental in combating oxidative stress. This recycling process amplifies the body's antioxidant defenses, making it a true linchpin of cellular protection.

💪 The Multifaceted Benefits of Glutathione:

1. Immune Resilience: By fortifying the immune system, Glutathione empowers your body to defend against pathogens and infections more effectively.

2. Detoxification Dynamo: As a vital component in phase II detoxification, GSH aids in the removal of harmful substances, thereby bolstering liver health and overall detox processes.

3. Anti-Aging Elixir: The anti-aging properties of Glutathione are tied to its ability to quell oxidative stress and cellular damage, potentially slowing down the aging process.

4. Skin Health: Some individuals explore Glutathione for its role in skin lightening and brightening, although its effects can vary among individuals.

📚 Diving into the Research:

1. "The Role of Glutathione in Cellular Response to Chemotherapeutic Agents"

- A scholarly article by Maria Serpina and John D. Hayes, featured in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

2. “Glutathione as a Biomarker in Oxidative Stress: An Overview"

- An in-depth review by Farzaneh Rahmani and Hossein Aslani, published in the Journal of Medical Biochemistry.

3. "Mechanisms of Glutathione-Dependent Protection Against Oxidative Stress and Nitric Oxide-Induced Neurotoxicity in a Neuronal Cell Line"

While Glutathione supplements are gaining popularity, it's imperative to seek counsel from a healthcare professional before incorporating them into your regimen. Your individual health and physiology can influence the efficacy and safety of supplementation.

Stay curious, stay informed! 📖✨

[socialismforall]

COVID-19 Pandemic Update for 2024–01–31

Take a close look at what’s happening with the USA’s #COVID19 wastewater curve. Leveling out (at 821 copies/mL, surge levels) in late January is NOT an encouraging sign! See second image for close-up.

Typically, the #SARSCoV2 viral levels in the water peak on New Year’s and then drop through February and early March. This year, levels are remaining high to extremely high in all regions, and all of them are starting to stabilize or flatten out rather than continuing to drop. While they could resume dropping again soon, for now this is a concerning sign that the virus is spreading at very high levels and a sharp reminder that #COVIDisNotOver!

#MaskUp with an #N95 mask or better that has a tight seal around your mouth and nose (no surgical or cloth masks) and STOP THE SPREAD. #COVID can cause disabilities, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, brain damage, immune dysfunction, and all kinds of other serious health problems up to and including death.

source for wastewater curve: https://biobot.io/data/

[kingdrawcse]

An intriguing medical mystery...

Capecitabine, a chemotherapy drug for breast, stomach, and colon cancer, transforms into 5-fluorouracil in the body. It disrupts cell division by blocking Thymine, a crucial DNA ingredient. Side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, and a unique one – temporary fingerprint loss.

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[potentially-a-poser]

"cars aren't a solution" lol EVERYONE SHOULD WALK EVERYWHERE EVEN HUNDREDS OF MILES EVEN IF IT TAKES WEEKS TO GET SOMEWHERE ONLY WALKING MAYBE HORSE RIDING BUT HORSES FART WHICH IS CO2 DESTROYYYYING THE ENVIRONMENT OH NO I BREATHED OUT THAT’S MORE CO2 WE ALL DED ITS MY FAULT

Sweet baby Jesus calm down. I’m an advocate for improved public transportation, including buses and railways. I don’t think cars should be completely stripped away from us, but they’re expensive, inaccessible, and bad for the environment.

I know damn well you didnt actually think I believed everyone should walk everywhere. What I can’t tell is if you’re arguing that excessive amounts of CO2 aren’t damaging to the environment, or if you’re saying it doesn’t matter