Artificial Stimulation of the Brain

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Buffalo conducted an interesting study related to stimulation of brain regions.  Brain stimulation is used to treat patients that have certain disorders by using electricity.  Researchers were trying to determine which areas or regions of the brain to stimulate based on the disorder.  This was increasingly difficult because each region connects to other regions in ways that are not understood.  To learn more about brain stimulation, these connections and pathways had to be studied and evaluated.

Using a model mapped from an MRI scanner, eight individuals' brains were evaluated. Every region in the brain (there are 83) were stimulated. With the exception of a few outliers, the majority of the results were the same.  When stimulating certain regions of the brain, network hubs in particular, the activation of many regions within the brain was shown.  This may be linked to the amount of white matter within these areas.  The white matter connects regions of the brain together, and these regions resulted in a higher amount of activation when one region was stimulated.

Within the two sub-networks of the brain, the subcortical network and the default mode network, there were dramatic changes caused by the stimulation. The subcortical network stimulation resulted in many regions being triggered. The default mode network also had many regions switched on, but only where the white matter was linked to another region.

This research shows that treatment of disorders is possible in the future by doing a complete change in the brain network from stimulating the subcortical network or by performing a more specific change throughout the brain from stimulating the default mode network.  This is promising research within the neuroscience field. With more research in the future, electric stimulation could cure certain disorders.

How Much Coffee Can You Drink? Are you a Fast or Slow Caffeine Metabolizer?

           Everyday people across the country partake in the enjoyment of one of the most popular stimulants, coffee. Like most things, there are some people who enjoy multiple cups of coffee throughout the day whereas some can only have one. The question is, is this a personal preference? Or is there a genetic reason for the proclivity for more or less coffee?

            Caffeine, or scientifically known as 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine, and is a stimulant of the central nervous system. Professor Ahmed- El-Sohemy, from the University of Toronto, focused on a particular gene known as CYP1A2 which controls the activity of an enzyme also named CYP1A2, which is key in determining how fast our bodies can break down caffeine. There are two variants of the CYP1A2 gene where one allows people to break down caffeine four times faster than individuals with the slower variant of the CYP1A2 gene. Interestingly enough, a research test was lead by El-Sohemy in observing 4,000 individuals and their CYP1A2 genes along with their consumption of coffee and chances of having increased heart related issues. By the end of the research, El- Sohemy discovered that individuals with the slow caffeine metabolizing variant were the only ones with a 36% increase for risk of having heart issues given 1 to 3 cups of coffee a day. In contrast, individuals with the fast caffeine metabolizing gene had no increased risk of heart issues. El-Sohemy deduced that individuals with the fast caffeine metabolizing gene were able to break down caffeine before it can have any detrimental effects on the heart. The opposite is true for individuals with the slow metabolizing gene since caffeine is allowed to remain in an individual’s system longer meaning caffeine has more time to trigger some form of heart issue like a heart attack.

            Although the data speaks for itself, many other researchers don’t truly believe that the sole cause of the increased risk of heart issues is solely from the CYP1A2 slow variant gene. Others believe that there are some other environmental or even genetic influences. Today, researchers are observing the CYP1A2 gene in hopes to find links between it and other diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cancer, or even Parkinson’s.  If you want to find out whether you have the fast or slow variant of the gene, you can go to FitnessGenes which targets 41 genes related to fitness and health including the CYP1A2 gene. If you don’t want to pay $200 dollars to view those genes, it is said that nearly 40% of people are fast caffeine metabolizers. 

(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/for-coffee-drinkers-the-buzz-may-be-in-your-genes/)

Selenium Slows Down Immuno-Response to Treat Melanoma, Prostate Cancer, and Types of Leukemia

By researching more about disease mechanisms that cause cancer in the skin and body, cancer can be fought by neutralizing these stimulants. New research about a Selenium compound (element naturally found in garlic and broccoli) that partook in the University of Copenhagen: The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (in a Journal of  Biological Chemistry) involving Selenium's cancer treating properties was written in this article. More specifically, the researchers found that a liquid form of NGK2D ligands (or tumor marker) can be seen to be neutralized by Selenium and therefore, slowing the cancer spread. This neutralization is helpful against Melanoma, Prostate Cancer, and Types of Leukemia because these types of cancer are a result of over expression by the immune system. By neutralizing the over-expression, these cancers can be effectively treated with future Selenium-type drugs.

However, this was not the first test in determining whether Selenium was effective in any cancer treatment because of its possible long term adverse effects by too much dosage over time and conflicting results in test studies. For example, three years ago, a study done through randomized controlled clinical trials showed that Selenium was not beneficial in blocking prostate cancer and had long term health complications. However, with this new discovery, Selenium can be taken to the next step into producing effective drugs.

I found this topic and articles very interesting because anything cancer treatment fascinates me because I'm living in the generation that has the high possibility of solving the problem of  many types of cancer. Knowing that better treatment like Selenium is out there to be exploited gives my mind comfort with the fact that humanity is one step closer to curing cancer completely.
Original Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141124125442.htm
Supporting Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510211556.htm