Here are the top medical news for the day:
CRAC gene removal approach counters allergic asthma
Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, experiments showed that removing the gene for a calcium channel - specifically the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel made up of ORAI1 proteins - thoroughly reduced asthmatic inflammation in the lungs of mice caused by house dust mite feces, a common cause of allergic asthma.
The study revolved around the use of charged particles, mainly calcium, by human cells to send signals and flip biological switches. When triggered–whether by viral proteins or allergens - immune cells called T cells open channels in their outer membranes, letting calcium rush in to turn on signaling pathways that control cell division and secretion of cytokine molecules that help T cells communicate with other immune cells.
Reference:
Stefan Feske et al, Distinct roles of ORAI1 in T cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation and immunity to influenza A virus infection, Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn6552
DNA organization within human retina cells revealed in 3D maps
National Eye Institute researchers mapped the organization of human retinal cell chromatin, the fibers that package 3 billion nucleotide-long DNA molecules into compact structures that fit into chromosomes within each cell's nucleus.
Adult human retinal cells are highly specialized sensory neurons that do not divide, and are therefore relatively stable for exploring how the chromatin's three-dimensional structure contributes to the expression of genetic information.
Chromatin fibers package long strands of DNA, which are spooled around histone proteins and then repeatedly looped to form highly compact structures. All those loops create multiple contact points where genetic sequences that code for proteins interact with gene regulatory sequences, such as super enhancers, promoters, and transcription factors.
Reference:
Anand Swaroop et al, High-resolution genome topology of human retina uncovers super enhancer-promoter interactions at tissue-specific and multifactorial disease loci, Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33427-1
Pediatric BMI increased during pandemic: Study
A study that tracked body mass index (BMI) two years prior to the pandemic and one year after the start of the pandemic in a primarily Medicaid pediatric population in Norfolk, Virginia, found a significant increase in BMI during that time.
Data was collected from 238 patients with an average age of 9.47 for females and 9.57 for males. Pediatric patients and their parents/guardians were given a questionnaire that examined six potential sources for lifestyle changes that could affect BMI, including fast food intake, time spent with electronic devices, and children's activity levels.
Reference:
Examining the Effects of Covid-19 Lifestyle on Pediatric BMI, Rylie Mainville, MEETING 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition
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