Month: March 2021

Numerous non-infectious diseases are influenced by the presence or absence of microbes. These diseases affect virtually every system conceivable in the human body. Thus, I will analyze these diseases and the system that they affect.

The gut microbiota is crucial to the human digestive system and overall well-being. Thus, the disruption of the gut microbiota often results in metabolism issues and a decrease in overall well-being. Examples of gut microbiota-related issues are Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, and numerous more.

Secondly, cancers can be influenced by the presence of several microbes. Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals have a higher likelihood of developing cancerous tumors from gastric ulcers. Human papillomaviruses are correlated with several cancers in females. The mechanisms of microbes in cancer development often include the transformation of the host cells’ genome, which can turn off apoptosis and increase cell division.

Certain diseases are caused by the immune response to bacterial infections, not by the bacteria themselves. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the accumulation of beta-amyloid oligomers in the brain that cannot be completely cleansed by cerebrospinal fluid. A recent discovery noted that beta-amyloid oligomers can be the product of the immune response to pathogens in the brain.

Compared to Week 1, it looks like I gained more knowledge throughout the term about the mechanisms by which microbes influence human health. It is not just about the disruption of the microbiome anymore. The main takeaway for me this term would be there is no one-size-fits-all explanation for an illness, but rather it has to be looked at from many perspectives.

Mental illnesses are the result of the interaction between genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors. The microbial community is an environmental factor that is considerable in overall mental health outcomes.

In one way, mental health can affect the microbial community. Stress causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from lymphocytes. Chronic stress prolongs this release of cytokines and at a certain level, the adaptive immune system decreases in function. This means that pathogens may have an easier time causing infections in the body and cause dysbiosis, disrupting the delicate balance between the good and the bad bacteria. It is worth noting that it is not stress that causes this disruption, but rather the behaviors that we engage in during stressful times. Stress is linked to binge eating and poor choices in food, and these behaviors cause dysbiosis.

In another way, the microbial community can affect mental and neurobiological health. Cells release protective secretions during a viral infection, such as beta-amyloid oligomers. Cerebrospinal fluid cleanses these oligomers from the brain, but factors like subsequent infections, which can be attributed to stress, can result in a buildup of these oligomers. The result is this buildup is the development of Alzheimer’s disease, a neurobiological disease that causes memory loss and possible death.

A different composition of the microbial community can affect mental health. Inflammatory bowel disease is linked with dysbiosis and so is Autism Spectrum Disorder. Perhaps it is due to a genetic vulnerability or behaviors during the gestational period that affects the microbiota is implied as a correlational factor. Bifidobacterium can be particularly helpful in reducing anxiety, as a study points out that mice with this bacterium have a lesser increment in stress hormone compared to germ-free mice.

It is a two-way street when the topic of mental health and microbial community is brought up. Thus, it is crucial that researches in both directions are approached and studied.

W. P. Hanage comes up with a formula to understand scientific articles. This formula consists of questions to ask to address the validity and real-life application of these journals. Thus, this blog will address each question and the reasoning behind these questions.

Firstly, can the experiments in these scientific articles detect differences? Ultimately, every scientific article aims to use an experiment or existing evidence to address a question. What is the difference that we are observing in the data? What stands out? Do the elements that stand out have any significance in the whole picture? In conclusion, the first question asks the scientists to address and clarify the difference found in the data.

Secondly, does research suggest a correlation claim or a causation claim? A correlation is best explained as a factor is influencing the outcome of a phenomenon, but not directly causing it. For example, “smoking causes lung cancer” is a causation statement because there is numerous evidence to suggest so. However, “smoking may be related to impotence” is a correlation statement because there is evidence but it is not enough to establish a causal claim.

Thirdly, what is the mechanism? This question addresses how the outcome of an experiment can be addressed. Thus, this question ties back to the first question. Scientists observe the difference in the data obtained in their research. Then, it is now their time to establish a reason behind the difference in the data. The hypothesis comes into play here, as it provides an educated prediction as well as an explanation.

Fourthly, how much do experiments reflect reality? This question addresses how the experiment relates to real life. An explanation may apply to a single case, but not a different case. For example, medication dosage is different between people of different weights and ages. 1000 milligrams of paracetamol is helpful to reduce pain in adults and children over 16. But what about children under 16?

Finally, and the most important question, could anything else explain the results? This is known as the confounding variable question. Confounding variables are factors that affect both a factor and an outcome that is the result of a factor. For example, the lack of exercise in pregnant women leads to their weight gain. But a confounding variable here would be these women are carrying a fetus inside their bodies.