Saliva

This is how tobacco damages our cells

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

With the countless studies available today on the effects of tobacco use, we should have no trouble convincing ourselves and others of how harmful it is.

Key Points: 
  • With the countless studies available today on the effects of tobacco use, we should have no trouble convincing ourselves and others of how harmful it is.
  • The cells that make up our tissues, organs and body systems are sensitive to the effects of external toxic agents, many of which can be found in tobacco.
  • Many smokers not only accept this, but also ignore the serious danger it poses to the people around them.

Initial effects in the mouth and pharynx

  • When tobacco smoke enters our body, the first cells to receive it are in the mouth, nose and throat.
  • These effects on the immune system are also linked to a higher likelihood of developing cancer.
  • We also cannot forget that tobacco smoke robs us of our sense of taste and smell, leaving an almost continuous bitter taste in the mouth.

Lung damage

  • Furthermore, due to the direct damage caused by tobacco on the tissue that maintains the structure of the lungs, the bronchi and bronchioles become blocked, generating symptoms similar to suffocation.
  • As if that were not enough, people with COPD are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer.

Black tar and macrophages

  • We can cast our minds back to the previous image of my father’s pipe, black and sticky with tar.
  • It so happens that the lungs are rich in macrophages – special cells that play a key role in our immune systems by reacting to attacks, producing inflammatory responses.
  • These cells end up ingesting the tar from tobacco, and they eventually die loaded with this substance which builds up and gives a smoker’s lungs their characteristic blackened appearance.

Nicotine’s effects on neurons: dependence and addiction

  • As with any other compound that stimulates neurotransmitter receptors, permanent stimulation desensitises neurons.
  • This means that the neurons reduce the number of receptors, or change their sensitivity to the stimulant.
  • This desensitisation process can lead not only to nicotine dependence, but also to other diseases such as memory loss.


Guillermo López Lluch is a member of the Spanish Society of Cell Biology, the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Society for Free Radical Research and the International Coenzyme Q10 Association. The research carried out by the author is financed by public funds from the Spanish Government or the Autonomous Government of Andalusia.

Another ‘First’ for Cottonwood

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

– The famed Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel – birthplace of the Rueben sandwich and butter-brickle ice cream – has added another item to its list of unique amenities: Personal Plants.

Key Points: 
  • – The famed Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel – birthplace of the Rueben sandwich and butter-brickle ice cream – has added another item to its list of unique amenities: Personal Plants.
  • The Cottonwood has long invited guests to bring their furry friends on stays (pets are welcome in all 205 rooms), and now the Cottonwood has become even more of a staycation destination by adding adoptable plants to become Nebraska’s first pet and plant-friendly hotel.
  • But a philodendron or a peace lily can positively affect your mood, too, by alleviating stress and reducing anxiety.
  • “We’re going all-in on healthy living in 2024,” said Dayna Baker, General Manager at Cottonwood.

Danish dog owners are medicating their pets with unlicensed cannabis products – is it safe?

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Unsurprisingly, this trend has made its way to our pets, with a recent study suggesting that 38% of surveyed Danish dog owners routinely gave their pets some form of cannabis product.

Key Points: 
  • Unsurprisingly, this trend has made its way to our pets, with a recent study suggesting that 38% of surveyed Danish dog owners routinely gave their pets some form of cannabis product.
  • Previous studies suggest that 80% of dog owners in the US and Canada had bought cannabis products for their pet.
  • But, is CBD safe for our pets and could it be a useful addition to our pet’s healthcare regime?
  • Indeed, 36% of respondents in the Danish study indicated that they used cannabinoids for pain management in their pets.

InventHelp Inventor Develops Drool Proof Dog Toys (TRO-1040)

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create new hydrophobic toys to repel gross slobber and drool when playing with your dog," said an inventor, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, "so I invented the DROOL PROOF DOG TOYS.

Key Points: 
  • PITTSBURGH, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create new hydrophobic toys to repel gross slobber and drool when playing with your dog," said an inventor, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, "so I invented the DROOL PROOF DOG TOYS.
  • My design would make playing with your dog mess free."
  • The patent-pending invention provides an improved design on familiar toys to play with dogs.
  • 22-TRO-1040, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext.

There are benefits to sharing a bed with your pet – as long as you’re scrupulously clean

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

Perhaps the cat curls up at the end of your bed.

Key Points: 
  • Perhaps the cat curls up at the end of your bed.
  • Maybe the dog dives under the duvet or pops their head on your pillow.
  • But if you do share your bed with Fluffy or Fido, what what does science suggest is best practice?

Disturbed Sleep

  • One challenge of sharing your bed with your pet could be disturbed sleep.
  • The movement of sleeping partners (two or four-legged) may lead to reduced sleep efficiency, although a bed large enough to accommodate all can mitigate this.
  • Encouraging your pet to sleep elsewhere, but within the bedroom could also be beneficial if sleep disturbance is affecting your wellbeing.

Bed bugs

  • These ectoparasites might hop from our pets to us and either cause transient or more prolonged irritation.
  • Indeed, we can even share infections with our pets – including COVID-19 – so it’s not all one-sided.

Allergies and injuries

  • Minor, unintentional injuries such as scratches can occur.
  • Contact with dust and dander from pet hair can be prolonged when in close proximity.

Keeping it clean

  • Advice suggests that at least weekly washing of bed sheets is good practice.
  • If you share your bed with pets, washing bedclothes every three to four days is suggested.
  • The fur and feet of our pets can be contaminated with dirt and pathogens too.

It’s bedtime

  • Balancing the potential downsides of sharing a bed with your pet, with possible benefits is important to assess whether it is a good choice for you or not.
  • With good hygiene and management, the choice to share your sleep with your pet might just give you both a great night’s sleep.


Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup and member of the Dog Health Group. Jacqueline is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #01583) and she also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis, in addition to her academic affiliation at Nottingham Trent University.

Loyal Launches Nationwide, 1,000-Dog Clinical Trial for Drug to Extend Healthy Lifespan in Senior Dogs

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 1, 2024

LOY-002 is being developed by Loyal to extend the healthy lifespan of senior dogs and maintain their quality of life as they age.

Key Points: 
  • LOY-002 is being developed by Loyal to extend the healthy lifespan of senior dogs and maintain their quality of life as they age.
  • The company recently announced a historic milestone in bringing its LOY-001 drug to market to extend lifespan in large-breed dogs.
  • LOY-002 expands the canine population eligible for a Loyal product to senior dogs of all but the smallest sizes.
  • “There are more than 15 million senior dogs in the United States — including my much-loved senior Rottweiler, Della,” said Halioua.

FOXO Technologies Formalizes License Agreement with KR8.ai to Power New Epigenetic Wellness Solutions

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 22, 2024

Mark White, Interim CEO of FOXO Technologies, stated, “Formalization of this agreement is an important milestone as we advance our new direct-to-consumer offering.

Key Points: 
  • Mark White, Interim CEO of FOXO Technologies, stated, “Formalization of this agreement is an important milestone as we advance our new direct-to-consumer offering.
  • By leveraging our epigenetic data, genetic insight and growing patent estate, with KR8’s AI-driven analytic software and proprietary algorithms, we aim to provide the most robust direct-to-consumer health and wellness app in the industry.
  • Since initially announcing the collaboration, we have made tremendous progress and are well ahead of schedule with our planned commercial launch.
  • We could not be more excited about the outlook for VITHAR™ and look forward to providing further updates.”

Advanced Lateral Flow Conference 2024 Innovation Award Finalists Announced

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DCN Dx, a global leader in the end-to-end development, manufacturing, and commercialization of point-of-use tests, has announced the finalists for its 2024 Innovation Awards.

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DCN Dx, a global leader in the end-to-end development, manufacturing, and commercialization of point-of-use tests, has announced the finalists for its 2024 Innovation Awards.
  • The awards will be presented at the Advanced Lateral Flow Conference (ALFC) 2024.
  • Innovation Award finalists will pitch their entries to the ALFC audience on the first day of the event (Feb. 13, 2024).
  • For more information about the Advanced Lateral Flow Conference, visit alfc2024.com.

What if every germ hit you at the exact same time? An immunologist explains

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

What would happen if all the diseases in the world hit us at the exact same time?

Key Points: 
  • What would happen if all the diseases in the world hit us at the exact same time?
  • – Gabriella, age 12, Irving, Texas
    What would happen if all the diseases in the world hit us at the exact same time?
  • – Gabriella, age 12, Irving, Texas When I was younger, I would watch “Batman” on my black-and-white television after school.
  • In fact, sometimes fighting off one enemy can leave a hole in your defenses that another opportunistic pathogen can take advantage of.

BAM! Understanding the rivals

  • The potential bad guys include cancer cells and dangerous microorganisms – including bacteria, viruses, fungi and more – that cause infections.
  • The immune system must also be careful not to damage healthy cells and beneficial microorganisms that live on and inside you.
  • Your skin, snot, saliva and tears form a critical first line of defense.
  • Gathering an army of immune cells to fight pathogens takes a lot of energy and makes you feel awful.

BOOM! Where are their weaknesses?

  • Pathogens have specific parts on their surfaces called pathogen associated molecular patterns, or PAMPs.
  • Because the same PAMP is present on many different pathogens, a strategy to combat one PAMP can defeat many pathogens.
  • There are molecules in cells all over your body that can recognize PAMPS and destroy anything those PAMPS are on.

SPLAT! Raising an army of defenders

  • When the virus that causes COVID-19 emerged in 2019, it was something people’s immune systems likely had never seen before.
  • The immune system makes many immune cells that are specific to antigens, or unique and recognizable parts of cancers and microorganisms, it hasn’t encountered before.
  • The DNA in each of these immune cells is different from the DNA in any other cell in your body.
  • Since pathogens can also multiply rapidly, clonal selection allows you to rapidly raise an army to fight them.
  • It would take a tremendous amount of energy and time to build an appropriate army against each microorganism all at once.


Joseph Larkin III receives funding from the Grayson Jockey Research Foundation, The National Institutes of Health, and industry.

Our 'food environments' affect what we eat. Here's how you can change yours to support healthier eating

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Achieving these is often challenging – it can be difficult to change our eating habits.

Key Points: 
  • Achieving these is often challenging – it can be difficult to change our eating habits.
  • The collective physical, economic, policy and sociocultural surroundings, opportunities and conditions that influence people’s food and beverage choices and nutritional status.
  • But it’s possible to change certain aspects of our personal food environments, making eating healthier a little easier.

Unhealthy food environments

  • Our food environments also provide us with various prompts to eat unhealthy foods via the media and advertising, alongside health and nutrition claims and appealing marketing images on food packaging.
  • For example, social occasions or work functions might see large amounts of unhealthy food on offer.
  • Here’s what’s driving our unhealthy food habits

Not everyone is affected in the same way

  • People who are more susceptible will likely eat more and eat more unhealthy foods than those who are more immune to the effects of food environments and situations.
  • These people might also be more likely to experience physiological reactions to food cues including changes in heart rate and increased salivation.
  • Some of us tend to eat when we’re tired or in a bad mood, having learned over time eating provides comfort in these situations.
  • Being in front of a TV or other screen can also prompt people to eat, eat unhealthy foods, or eat more than intended.

Making changes

  • Then you can restructure some aspects of your personal food environments, which can help if you’re working towards healthier eating goals.
  • Foods consumed as snacks are often sugary drinks, confectionery, chips and cakes.
  • Try removing unhealthy foods, particularly packaged snacks, from the house, or not buying them in the first place.
  • This means temptations are removed, which can be especially helpful for those who may be more susceptible to their food environment.


Rebecca Leech receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1175250). Georgie Russell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.