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Editor’s NoteGaibrie Stephen Dear Reader,

It is my pleasure to present to you the seventh edition of Brock Health! Brock Health is student run

academic magazine that emphasizes peer to peer interaction. Ideally, the goal of every article in this magazine is to provide knowledge translation on hot button issues for leisure reading. Our authors invest a great deal of time reviewing literature on popular issues in order to provide you, the reader, with a quality publication.

In the field of health there are widely held beliefs and misconceptions about a multitude of topics. Through the media and mainstream health news sources, we have a general understanding of lifestyle habits that improve our physical and emotional health. Words like ‘free-radicals’, ‘organic’, ‘plaque’ and ‘anti-oxidants’ have very much become a part of our regular vocabulary. As intelligent consumers, we have to ask ourselves, are there times when reality deviates from our mantras? Science and research has battled extensively with these topics and we now understand that there are always gray areas. Even our understanding in some of the most traditional health views are not complete. There is still more to research, and with that there are more exciting discoveries to be made. In this issue of Brock Health many of our writers work to elucidate these gray areas.

Our featured article for this semester sees the talented Miso Gostimir tackle a topic that has been in the forefront of scientific literature for quite some time. Miso will be evaluating calorie restriction diets and its possible link to longevity. First time writer Michael Easson will be tackling the possibility of reprogramming tobacco plants in order to treat cancer. Furthermore, we also have a sobering piece by Saumik Biswas reflecting on the power of healthcare and medical science. Issue seven includes a wide range of topics evaluating hot button issues like the cost of food, mental health development, antioxidants and much more. Finally, I am excited to present to you our master’s highlight and faculty spotlight this semester as Phuc Dang and Dr. Sandra J. Peters talk about both their research and life at Brock University.

As always, this magazine could not have materialized without the help of a number of individuals. I would like to thank Brock Health’s managing editors, Saumik Biswas, Amen Idahosa and Yasmeen Mann for their continued support. Thank you to Dr. Neil McCartney, The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, BUSU and BUSAC for funding our magazine! A special thank you goes out to all our graduate editors who ensure the quality of this product. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Kelli-an Lawrance and Joanne Boucher for their continued support towards this publication! Finally, this semester we have a beautiful new layout and design for the magazine. If it wasn’t for the hard work of our graphics guru, Scott Alguire none of this could have been possible. A big thank you goes out to Scott for his continued excellence in both layout and design!

Contents

Live long and prosper and I hope you all have a wonderful time reading this issue!

Brock Health TeamEditor-in-ChiefGaibrie Stephen

Managing EditorsSaumik BiswasAmen IdahosaYasmeen Mann

Layout DesignScott Alguire Gaibrie Stephen

Editorial BoardSierra BarrettEliza BeckettSaumik BiswasCarly CameronMichael EassonMiso GostimirAmen IdahosaJoan LopezJordan McNaltyYasmeen MannAmanda MilburnCubby SadoonJaya SamGaibrie StephenShalina Vighio

Graduate EditorsMeagan BarkansJon ChoptianyPhuc DangWilliam GittingsSteffannie HancharykKaitlyn LaForgeRebecca MacPhersonYasmeen MezilPaula MiottoMadina NaimiMike Pryzbek

Graphic DesignScott Alguire

Faculty ConsultantKelli-an Lawrance (PhD)

Disclaimer: Brock Health is a neutral magazine. It is not

strictly hardcore sciences nor public health issues; it is a

platform for students to present scholarly, peer reviewed

research in any topic related to health.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (228g)

Servings Per Container 2

Amount Per Serving

Calories 260 Calories from Fat 120% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13g

20%

Saturated Fat 5g

25%

Trans Fat 2g Cholesterol 30mg

10%

Sodium 660mg

28%

Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%

Dietary Fiber 0g

0%

Sugars 5g Protein 5g

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

2March 2013 - Issue 7

Contents

Low Calorie: Longer Life? Page 10

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3 Tobacco Plants: Can They Be Programmed To Cure Cancer?

4 Internet Addiction Disorder: How Real Is It?

5 Fatty Acids: How Beneficial Are They?

6 The Cost of Healthy Eating

7 Master’s Highlight: Phuc Dang

8 Cancer: An Evaluation of Antioxidant Diets

9 Featured Article: Low Calorie: Longer Life? How Important Are They?

11 RePOOPulate: Recent advancements in the fight against Clostridium difficile

12 Fibrous Dysplasia

13 Asperger’s Syndrome: What The TV Shows Aren’t Telling Us

14 Printing Up A Storm: 3D BioPrinting

15 Hot Headlines

16 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sandra J. Peters

17 Mental Health in Development: Take the First Step

18 Concussions: Where’s Your Head At?

19 DNA Vaccines: From Cancer to HIV to Allergies

20 Brock Health Team

21 References

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Michael Easson For the most part the answer to this ques-tion is yes! Professor Vincenzo De Luca of Brock University has already made critical steps in this exciting and relatively new research. Part of his research involves the manipulation of Tryptophan Decarboxylase (TDC) activity in tobacco plants. TDC is expressed in some mutants of the plant type Ni-cotiana tabacum3. TDC is critical in the biosynthesis of tryptamine, a protoalkaloid and precursor to the synthesis of Vinblastine, a well-known drug used in treatment of certain types of cancers such as lung and breast2. Indole alkaloids are a very potent class of chemicals, which have a wide range of biological ef-fects. The range in properties extends from the hal-lucinogenic that are found in the mushroom Psilo-cybin, to cancer fighting agents employed in modern medical treatments. The latter is of high interest to the scientific and medical community. Vinblastine can be synthesized (under appropriate conditions) from the combination of alkaloid precursors known as vindoline and catharanthine4. In the Madagascar Periwinkle, (another plant studied by Dr. De Luca) the synthesis of alkaloids involves many enzymatic steps in order for the entire process to proceed4. Vinblas-tine can be isolated from the Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) and it is found that the plant produces vindoline in leaves and stems, and cathar-anthine in above ground and below ground tissues4. Unfortunately, the sites of catharanthine biosynthe-sis are found in the roots of C.roseus, while vindoline is found mainly in the shoots where trace levels of catharanthine arepresent. This physical separation

of substrates does not allow the formation of the anti-cancer drug vinblastine, and is critical in the un-derstanding of the biosynthetic pathway. If these biosynthesized molecules were able to come in contact with one another, then vinblas-tine could very well be formed within the plant. Dr. De Luca is currently studying the effects of ethane methyl sulfonate (EMS) mutations in hopes of dis-covering a mutant plant that shows a high expres-sion of vindoline or catharanthine 1 in advantageous morphologies. This discovery will prove to be a key aspect in the advancement in the natural synthe-sis of the biologically active vinblastine and deriva-tives. In the end, what does the investigation of these different species mean for the research of anti-cancer drugs and treatments? Catharanthus roseus is a model organism for the investigation of the biosynthetic process of vindoline and catharan-thine production, which are direct precursors to the formation of vinblastine. If mutants of these plants are discovered to over-express genes of high im-portance in alkaloid biosynthesis, then perhaps the nuclear mechanism in the organism’s genetic code can be analyzed. This vital information can then be translated to an alternate organism and - providing it is not detrimental to the organsim’s life - intro-duced to provide this species with the same biosyn-thetic pathway for synthesis of useful compounds. In essence, tobacco plants can be taken from simply producing the precursor tryptamine, to biosynthesis of vinblastine or other anti-cancer derivatives. Ulti-mately, tobacco plants could help to cure cancer it-self.

Tobacco Plants: Can They Be ProgrammeD To Cure Cancer?

Did you know• For the earliest settlers of the

Americas, it was believed that tobacco was a “gift from the Gods” and that exhaled tobacco smoke carried thoughts and prayers to the heavens.

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Internet Addiction Disorder: How Real Is It?

Join Our Team!Email us: BrockUHealth@gmail.com

4March 2013 - Issue 7

Jaya Sam Do you frequently have ‘one of those days’? You know, the ones where you just sit at your computer or laptop, and go back and forth between Harlem Shake videos on YouTube, or cat pictures on Reddit? If you answered yes, you may be experiencing Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). IAD is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled Internet behaviors, in which the user is persistently preoccupied online. As a result, IAD may lead to emotional distress or impairment, mood changes, withdrawal symptoms when not engaged, and continuation of the behaviour despite family conflict 1,2. Upon first glance, one might believe that excessive Internet use is a minor issue, due to its convenience and widespread networking abilities. However, like many addictions, severe consequences may exist. For instance, IAD has been linked to neurological complications, psychological disturbances, and social problems2. Unfortunately, this disorder is not well known; primarily because IAD is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, there is discussion to include it in the next version of the DSM2. Despite this, surveys have been completed across the USA and Europe, demonstrating that IAD is prevalent between 1.5 and 8.2% of these populations 1. To put this into perspective, that is up to 26, 682, 693 people affected in the US alone!

Since research regarding IAD is still in its infancy and this disorder is not included in the DSM, not a single definition exists that is regarded as the definition. Although, following criteria have been suggested as requirements for an IAD diagnosis: (1) Thoughts of previous or future Internet activity are always on the mind; (2) Internet usage continues to increase in order to achieve satisfaction; (3) Previous attempts to gain control over Internet use have been unsuccessful; (4) The person becomes restless, moody, depressed, or irritable during attempts to control Internet behaviours; or (5) The individual stays online longer than originally intended. In addition to the preceding criteria, one of the following must also be present: (1) The individual has jeopardized a job, relationship, or career opportunity due to their Internet use; (2) The person has lied about the degree of their Internet use; or (3) The person uses the Internet as a way of avoiding confrontation or to escape from their problems3. One possible explanation for IAD resides in

how addictive behaviours can stimulate the release of neurochemicals (i.e., dopamine) that bind to the ‘pleasure center’ receptors of the brain. Eventually, the receptors develop a tolerance for these neurochemicals and more stimulation is required (through a greater surge of dopamine release). You may be reading this and think that you have IAD or have met an alarming amount of the criteria for IAD, however; fear not! Simple tactics can be used to alter potentially toxic internet behaviours. As such, you can plan events or activities that will take you away from the computer, set goals to reduce the amount of time spent online, or join an Internet addictions support group2. These are just a few examples, however; keep in mind that what works best for you is key! Addiction can ruin lives, don’t let it ruin yours.

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Joan Lopez When it comes to being a university or college student, there are challenges that one must overcome to ensure that the required nutrients are met with a balanced, varied, and adequate diet. Students often lack the time and patience to prepare healthy meals and tend to go for high-calorie and low nutrient-dense foods. A group of lipids in particular that students do not consume frequently are essential fatty acids, which are fats that are not made in the body and must be obtained through diet1.

The two essential fatty acids that are required in diet are α-linoleic acid and linoleic acid, which are also known as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids respectively1. Although minimal amounts of each are required in a 2000 kilocalorie diet, studies have shown that these fatty acids, particularly omega-3, may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and may even decrease the progression of Alzheimer’s disease2. You may ask why the sudden interest in cognitive health, particularly if it is not one of the major concerns of a younger generation. We have all the heard the expression, “you are what you eat”, and since the food we consume now affects us as we age, changes in diet are encouraged to support long-term health. One study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can improve cognitive health as it contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), acids that are crucial for nerve growth in the brain development of humans3. Researchers state that most DHA accumulation in the hippocampus

takes place from the beginning of the third trimester to two years after birth in humans4. DHA levels are reduced when a person has Alzheimer’s disease, which results in memory loss as the hippocampus links short-term memories to the processing and storage of spatial information5. It is starting to sound like these fatty acids are becoming more important to mental health than one would have initially thought. However, there are other researchers who are quick to dismiss these findings. There are clinical trials that were performed on humans have failed to demonstrate the advantages of an increased consumption of essential fatty acids, although there have been promising benefits as seen in rodents6.

The inconsistencies in research make it difficult to believe that an increase in fish and nut consumption can ultimately boost brain power as we age. As our generation becomes more concerned with nutrition and overall health, it is suggested that achieving a balanced, varied, and adequate diet can only further benefit our bodies in the long run1.

Fatty Acids: How beneficial are they?

Did you know• Research suggests that cultures

that consume foods with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids tend to have a lower incidence of depression.

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the cost of Healthy eating

6March 2013 - Issue 7

? Jordan McNalty When you think of “healthy” foods, which come to mind? Perhaps images of fruits and vegetables? According to Mukhopadhyay and Thomassin (2012) in the field of nutrition, an ideal healthy diet is comprised of the following: 15-35% of total caloric intake from fat, 55-75% from carbohydrates, and the remaining 10-15% from protein sources. The authors say that on average, it is recommended to obtain more than 400 g/day of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, most Canadians do not meet the standards put forth by the Canadian Food Guide. For instance, Canadians consume 50% less fruits and vegetables than recommended1. A major reason for improper dietary consumption is that a healthy diet costs Canadians more money. The Nutritious Basket of Canada was introduced by the Ministry of Health Promotion in 1974 as a way to measure the cost of basic healthy eating that represents current nutritional guidelines2. According to the 2012 Nutritious Basket of Toronto, it would cost the average 19-30 year old male $54.37 per week to afford the recommended nutritional intake. This is a 7.3% increase per week compared to 2009. It would cost females in the same age category $42.03 per week in 2012, which signifies an increase of 7.4% per week compared to 20093. From this data, it is evident that the costs of nutritional foods are continually increasing for Canadians.

Not following recommended nutritional guidelines is not only costing Canadians economically. Eating outside of these guidelines can be at the cost of their health. A study by Feeney (2012) says that although processed foods are more affordable and convenient, buyers should be aware of the high quantities of salt, sugar and fat found in processed foods4. Kennedy et al. (2010) states that salt, refined sugar and saturated fat when consumed above recommended levels are linked to preventable chronic diseases5. Six chronic diseases (hypertension, stroke, respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disease) cost the health care system 26.43 billion dollars in 20051.

One demographic that appears to be at a higher risk of unhealthy eating is university and college students. A study conducted by Meldrum and Willows (2006) at the University of Alberta examined the impact that student loans have on the ability for students to buy healthy groceries. In 2003, the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) provided

up to $196.00 per month for students’ groceries. Meldrum and Willows calculated that it would cost a student upwards of $296.44 per month in order to meet healthy guidelines. This estimate is $100.44 more than the CSLP provides. The authors suggest that the CSLP should increase their grocery limit so that students are more easily able to adopt healthier food selections6.

Organic foods are often seen as a great choice towards establishing a healthier diet. The Canadian organic food industry had grown between 15-25% between 2005 and 2006 7. Hamzaoui-Essoussi and Zahaf (2012) state that this trend is likely to continue because most people perceive organic food as healthier, better tasting and as economic support for local organic providers. However, the cost of these foods is an ongoing issue. On average, the study estimates that there is a 10-20% increase in the price of organic food compared to non-organic alternatives8.

In order for Canadians to eat a healthier diet, Lee and colleagues (2011) suggest that lowering the price of low-fat snacks, fruits and vegetables throughout common establishments (grocery stores, restaurants, workplace, etc.), will increase the chance a Canadian would buy these items. By doing this, Canadians would be able to enhance their nutritional intake9. Ultimately, the cost of an unhealthy country is not a price we can afford to pay.

Master’s Highlight: Phuc Dang

7

Gaibrie Stephen You may recall seeing her on the front page of Brock University’s Community Health Sciences web-site. If you’re in the Faculty of Applied Health Scienc-es, you’ve likely seen her while adventuring through the department offices. As one of the co-founders of Brock Health, VP of Student Affairs for the Grad-uate Students Association and a Mapping New Knowledges Organizing Committee member, Phuc is the poster-child for ingenuity. Having obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Health at Brock Univer-sity, Phuc is in the second year of her master’s pro-gram under the supervision of Dr. Madelyn Law. Her research focuses on inter-organization-al networks and falls prevention programs. Phuc’s interest lies in the effectiveness of the referral pro-cess that directs clients to any of the 43 programs in the Niagara region dedicated to fall prevention. Her research is largely qualitative and as a result she interacts with a wide range of health profession-als. Phuc conducted 30-40 minute interviews with health care professionals, public health professionals and primary care professionals as part of her data collection. In these interviews, she identified how the aging population in the Niagara Region is exposed to falls prevention programming. Phuc enjoys the small class sizes, seminars and research based learning at Brock University. Furthermore, she is a fan of the holistic approach to health that is promoted at Brock. She enjoys the fact that she can choose from a wide range of courses, whether it be Pharmacology, Public Health or the History of Medicine. Like most of us, Phuc entered her undergraduate degree with a limited un-derstanding of health, let alone healthcare. By taking

Her advice? “Volunteer as much as you can, and be as inquisitive as possible!”

research opportunities and pursuing projects of her own, Phuc has developed her passion for both popu-lation health and public health. What’s next for Phuc? She is currently com-pleting her Master’s degree and is planning to defend her thesis before the summer. In hopes of continuing research initiatives, Phuc will be applying for her PhD in the upcoming year to University of Victoria in Brit-ish Columbia. While Phuc’s main interest is research, she hopes to pursue practical work within the Public Health field as well. She plans to balance practical work with her studies in the future so she can gain

a better un-derstanding of research and practice.

Outside of everything mentioned above, Phuc regularly promotes the Community Health Sciences Department at the Fall Preview Day, the Ontario Universities’ Fair and the Spring Open House. She is also involved in organizing a series of research cafes and a conference through the Faculty of Graduate Studies called Mapping the New Knowledges. Last year Phuc assisted in the organization of a research cafe on career changes and in February she will aid in planning another research cafe focused on envi-ronmental sustainability. Phuc exemplifies grit, in-genuity and hard work. In this she has made a name for herself as a staple figure in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Brock University and the Niagara community as a whole.

Cancer: An Evaluation of antioxidant diets

8March 2013 - Issue 7

Shalina Vighio Antioxidants have become a popular trend in the health world. This buzz word is present on many food and juice packages promoting awareness and building hype about their powerful health benefits and dietary satisfaction. In fact, there has been an increase in the number of fad diets and detoxifying remedies dedicated to overloading the body with antioxidants. Although claims are made about the benefits, those who purchase these foods and juices may not truly understand what antioxidants are or how they work in the body. Firstly, what is an antioxidant? Antioxidants include substances such as beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, vitamin ace. It does exactly as the name suggests, reverses and combats oxidation reactions within cells3. They are in the form of vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes that assist the body in chemical reactions3. Antioxidants are known to combat oxidative damage, occurring in cells by removing free radical intermediates and inhibit oxidation reactions2.

Oxidation reactions are a natural occurrence in the body especially as the body ages and cells grow older. Within these oxidation reactions, electrons are transferred3. These free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are the chemically active atoms that possess a charge due to an excess or deficient number of electrons and include hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, and hypochlorous acid2. The excess or deficient number of electrons is what makes these readicals highly unstable, causing them to search the body for electrons to grab, causing damage to cells, proteins, and DNA along the way. Radicals are often produced from the breakdown of foods, and environmental factors such as smoke and radiation2. These radicals are known for their ability to cause irreparable damage within cells and can play a significant role in the onset of cancers and heart disease. Causing oxidative stress, especially when the production of free radicals is beyond the ability of the antioxidant defense2. Antioxidants are vastly present among many different types of teas such as green tea, sweet potatoes, beans and many greens and berries. Benefits of antioxidants include increasing longevity and slowing the process of aging by making the skin appear youthful and more vibrant as well as

repairing some of the free radical damage associate with cancer.

Conklin (2000) suggests that dietary supplementation of antioxidants can influence the response to chemotherapy and the side effects that result from treatment with antineoplastic agents. Administration of antineoplastic agents results in oxidative stress from the production of ROS, reducing the rate of cell proliferation and may interfere with the cytotoxic effects of antineoplastic drugs, occur during chemotherapy1. Some activities function beyond antioxidant properties in which ROS contribute to side effects such as alopecia are not prevented by antioxidants. Agents that interfere with these side effects, also interfere with the anticancer effects of chemotherapy 1,4. It may not be the best idea to over consume strictly antioxidants, however it is evidently beneficial to health, moreover, it would be a better idea to consume it in moderation, thereby not giving into the fad of antioxidant diets.

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Miso Gostimir The link between aging and nutrition has been extensively researched since the beginning of the century. Ever since it was observed that a re-stricted-calorie diet extended the life span of rats, the major focus of nutrition-related aging research has shifted towards the relationship between caloric restriction and longevity1. If a link could be made be-tween lower-calorie diets and longevity, then a new and simple method of extending life spans would be available to humans. Astonishingly, research has strengthened this connection.

The observation that calorie restriction in-creases life span was also confirmed in other spe-cies as well. Numerous studies explored this effect on other rodents, such as mice and hamsters, and concluded that when the food intake of rodents was reduced by 30-60%, an increase in life span was observed2. Even a study on primates by the Wis-consin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) published the same conclusion in Science, one of the most highly-respected scientific journals3.

Furthermore, the relationship between calo-rie restriction and longevity was observed in animals regardless of whether such diets were implemented early or later in life. When mice were fed low-calo-rie diets starting at one month of age, the expected increase in life span was observed4. Additionally, when a low-calorie diet was implemented in a group of middle-aged mice, the same relationship was ob-served, albeit to a lower extent4.

The explanation behind this relationship has also been explored. Restricted-calorie diets have been shown to reduce metabolic rates, and it is widely-accepted that decreased metabolic rates correlate with longer life spans4. When the meta-bolic rate increases within cells, the rate of oxygen consumption increases as well4. The by-products of oxidative metabolism are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS)5. Hydrogen peroxide is a particularly dangerous ROS because it is able to penetrate cel-lular membranes5. Once it has crossed the cellular membrane, hydrogen peroxide is broken down into one of the most reactive molecules known, the hy-droxyl free radical. This molecule is believed to be one of predominant causes of damage to proteins, DNA, and lipids4. Damage to these macromolecules is a major cause of senescence, the deterioration of organisms associated with age4.

This phenomenon happens on a regular ba-sis, and several cellular defenses have evolved to combat the associated damage. The body also produces natural oxidants which aid in neutralizing reactive oxygen species4. However, the increased production of these molecules that results from an increased metabolic rate eventually exhausts cel-lular defense mechanisms, rendering the cells vul-nerable to oxidative damage4. Thus, the decreased metabolic rate that results from a restricted-calorie diet could serve as a method of alleviating the body’s cells from oxidative stress, prolonging the life span. This had enormous implications in the field of nutrition because it had now been determined that a low-calorie diet not only led to weight loss, but also

Low Calorie: Longer Life? How Important Are They?

Feature Article LOW CALORIE: Longer Life? How Important are They?

10March 2013 - Issue 7

had the potential to increase the life spans. How-ever, all of these beliefs were put to rest after the conclusion of a 25-year study that was published in the highly-respected scientific journal known as Na-ture in 20126.

The 25-year study, conducted by the National Institute of Aging (NIA), began in 1987 and examined the life spans of monkeys that were fed diets with 30% less calories than those of control monkeys6. The monkeys were analyzed extensively during life and after death, providing the most in-depth conclu-sions of any study of this kind6. The publication in 2012 concluded that low-calorie diets had no signifi-cant effects on longevity6. Although this finding is contrary to the re-sults of previous studies, there are several explana-tions for the previously-accepted results. Many of the former studies focused only on non-primate ani-mals with typically short life spans6. These studies were also relatively short and did not offer a reliable interpretation of the relationship between calorie re-striction and longevity in all animals. Although the WNPRC study did examine this relationship in rhe-sus monkeys and found calorie-restricted diets to increase life span, the control monkeys in this exper-iment were placed on ad libitum diets, meaning that their meals were unlimited3. Although ad libitum di-ets are meant to represent the typical diet, it is quite possible that the monkeys actually consumed more food than normal simply because there was more readily available6. Additionally, the sucrose content of these diets was found to be 28.5%, whereas the NIA control monkeys were given diets that contained only 3.9% sucrose3, 6. The diets of the 25-year NIA study also included fish oil and antioxidants, which have been shown to produce beneficial health ef-fects6.

The effects of caloric restriction on longevity are much more complicated than initially expected6. Compounds such as resveratrol, a constituent of red wine, have been shown to trigger the same benefi-cial effects observed with low-calorie diets6. There-fore, the inclusion of similar beneficial compounds in diets may serve as a better option than simply lowering caloric intake, especially for the low-calorie diets composed of nutrient-poor foods.

These findings disprove the emerging theory that there is a diet-triggered switch that can delay the aging process. Instead, the study proved that genetics and the specific nutritional contents of a diet play a larger role in determining longevity than simply the number of calories6.

A calorie is not merely calorie anymore. The source of calories makes a profound difference on the health effects of two foods that have the exact same amount of calories. Therefore, those interest-ed in improving their health should focus more on the content of the foods that they consume rather than simply ‘counting calories’.

LOW CALORIE: Longer Life? How Important are They?

WE WANT YOU!Email us: BrockUHealth@gmail.com

11

Did you know• People who have a lowered im-

munity can develop C.Difficile without any hospital contact. These community acquired infections account for 25% of the total cases.

?Amen Idahosa Reducing the incidence of nosocomial infec-tions in hospitals is one of the most difficult challeng-es in health care across the country today. Although infection control guidelines emphasize the impor-tance of hand washing, the improvement in cleaning standards, and a call for a change in antibiotic use, nosocomial infections are rampant and generally very difficult to control. These infections continue to hamper our health care system and place a great financial strain on hospitals. In particular, Clostridi-um Difficile (commonly referred to as C. difficile), is a highly contagious antibiotic-resistant bacillus found in human stool that has claimed many patients’ lives in health care facilities over the past several years1. In fact, there has been a two to three fold increase in C. difficile infections in Canadian hospitals alone be-tween 1997 and 20054. Initial symptoms associated with C. difficile include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever1. C. difficile is a harmful microbe that can eradicate the healthy bacteria in the gut, allowing it to flourish without competition2. Regrettably, pa-tients can experience recurring C. Difficile infections as there are very few treatments available for these patients - none of which seem to be permanent3. Most recently, a highly publicized outbreak of C. Dif-ficile occurred in several hospitals within the Niagara Health System. If our health care professionals cannot miti-gate or decrease the current rate of transmission of C. difficile, improved treatment options such as stool transplantation could improve the care of individuals with recurring C. Difficile infections. In preliminary studies by Bakken (2009) and Rohlke, Surawicz and

Stollman (2010), fecal bacteriotherapy (also known as a stool transplant), has improved re-establish-ment of normal bacterial microbiota in the intes-tines of the recipient by the infusion of donor stool3. In addition, a more recent study explored whether the same result could be accomplished by using a stool substitute (a desirable alternative), lessening concerns for pathogen transmission and increasing the patient acceptance rate3. The mixture, called Re-POOPulate, is a human probiotic or synthetic stool mixture that was developed from the stool of a 41-year-old female donor3. In the study, the mixture was transferred to the proximal ascending colon and the transverse colon of a 74 and 70-year-old patient during a colonoscopy. The results were promising as the patients demonstrated a return back to normal bowel patterns and health with formed stool every 1-2 days with no detection of C. difficile at ten days post procedure3. Overall, this study showed a cure rate of 94%, introducing a great alternative for pa-tients that fail oral vancomycin therapy3.

The increased cost of utilizing the RePOOPu-late mixture in the future will need to be compared against the cost prolonged hospital stays required for those with recurring infections. Finally, the ef-fect of the RePOOPulate transplantation on risk of death related to repeat infections and the likelihood of transmittance to neighbouring patients will need to be studied before the efficacy of this treatment option may be firmly established.

Repoopulate: Fight against Clostridium difficile

fibrous dysplasia

12March 2013 - Issue 7

Saumik Biswas In the year 2000, there was a child who fell in a waiting room of a walk-in clinic. In agonizing pain, the little boy screamed for help and his fragile body began to turn pale. Once the boy and the parents were called to a room by the receptionist, the phy-sician did his appropriate diagnosis and concluded that the child suffered a “minor injury” and that it was “nothing to worry about”. With the reassurance of the doctor, the parents felt at ease, but little did they know what the next few hours had in store for them. Once they arrived home, the parents of the boy urgently spotted that he was still in need of great medical assistance and they then rushed him to the hospital. As the boy was still crying in the emergency room, the physician dressed in the bright white coat read his x-ray and discovered something absolutely astounding. The faces of the staff around the emer-gency department grew with confusion and the first words that came out of the physician’s mouth were, “where is his tibia”? After it was determined that the child had fibrous dysplasia (FD), the little boy was quickly transported to a world-renowned hospital in Toronto for immediate surgery. This “little boy” is my younger brother and he has monostotic FD. FD is a type of bone disease involving abnor-mal bone development in which normal bone is re-placed with fibrous tissue2. This anomaly develops due to the failure in the remodeling of “primitive bone” to “mature lamellar bone” and a failure of the bone to realign in response to mechanical stress1. Since the bone is unable to mature, masses of immature

isolated trabeculae are left behind- trabeculae are small tissue elements that form a

network. The tra-

beculae are also meshed in dysplastic fibrous tissue, and are constantly “turning over” at a slow rate, but never end up completing the remodeling process1.

You might ask yourself, “What causes fibrous dysplasia”? Well, certain theories postulate that FD is linked to a mutation in the gene that encodes the alpha subunit of a stimulatory G protein located on chromosome 20. As a result of this mutation, the amino acids cysteine or histidine in the G protein of osteoblasts is replaced by arginine which causes these cells to produce a fibrous tissue in the bone marrow instead of the proper elements required for normal bone development2. Now, depending on when the mutational event occurs during embryogenesis, different forms of FD can arise: monostotic (affects a single bone in the body), polyostotic (affects multiple bones), or McCune-Albright syndrome (most severe form)1,3. Furthermore, in order to treat my brother’s disease, the head orthopedic surgeon at the Hospi-tal for Sick Children performed a procedure known as ‘bone grafting’. To simplify, the surgeon implanted an intramedullary rod (for bone support), bone graft material (served as a scaffold for new bone growth), and osteoprogenitor cells (these cells help with the formation of a new bone by osteogenesis) into his leg1.

At the end of the day, I find it truly extraor-dinary that the human body can be afflicted with many intricate diseases and yet, medicine has de-veloped such fascinating advancements that can help us combat them. Nevertheless, my family and I are sincerely grateful for the help we received from

the various healthcare professionals.

?

13

Did you know• An increasing amount of

evidence is linking the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin with some of the social impairments as-sociated with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

?Eliza Beckett It has become increasingly common for symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome (AS) to be de-picted by characters in popular television shows. Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, Abed from Com-munity and Dr. Virginia Dixon from Grey’s Anatomy all demonstrate personality traits that may be con-sidered symptomatic of AS. Because of these shows, this syndrome has gained a high level of popularity in the past few years. Each of these characters pres-ents as a remarkable individual living with AS how-ever, this is only showing viewers a partial glimpse of what AS truly is.

Asperger’s Syndrome is considered “High-Functioning Autism”1 and is defined as a develop-mental disability characterized by impairments in social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive and routine patterns of behaviour, interests and activi-ties1. An individual with AS can sometimes appear as arrogant or condescending as people with AS often demonstrate advanced verbal skills, superior intelligence and difficulty reading social cues2 in-dicating difficulty with social cognition1 and have difficulty understanding emotions experienced by other individuals1,2. People with AS are often detail oriented and have trouble acquiring a larger meaning or general ideas. Due to this altered thought process, people with AS are often more susceptible to mood and anxiety disorders such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder1,2,3. The prevalence of AS is unclear, although it has been noted that the diagnosis of AS is far more common now than it was in the past2. Diagnosis of

AS is difficult because varying definitions as well as diagnostic criteria and tools exist for Asperger’s Syn-drome. There are many tools available to clinicians for diagnosis of AS, yet there is variability and notable differences across these tools and diagnosis of AS can often be muddled with symptoms from another disorder1,3. In general, AS is diagnosed in childhood and symptoms can be treated as they develop3. Di-agnosis in adulthood is far more difficult and people with AS can be misdiagnosed or written off due to similar symptoms for other mental disorders3.

The treatment goal for someone with Asperg-er’s syndrome is not to treat AS itself but to manage the issues that are causing distress2,3. Treatment is designed to aid the individual in coming up with ef-fective ways to deal with psychological and social is-sues that can make daily interactions difficult. Many people with Asperger’s consider the syndrome to be a part of who they are and do not consider it a dis-order or disability. Cognitive behaviour therapy has been shown to be effective as a treatment method; however there must be a therapeutic alliance. This is defined as trust between client and therapist2. There is also pharmaceutical therapy for the associ-ated mood disorders such as depression, which have mixed reviews among treating clinicians. As with any syndrome, disorder or disease, psychosocial support from friends, family and health professionals can help individuals with AS to lead a healthy and fulfill-ing life.

Asperger’s Syndrome: What TV Shows Aren’t Telling Us

Printing Up A Storm: 3D BioPrinting Technology

Image via PLOS ONE/Reiffel et. al.

Join Our Team!Email us: BrockUHealth@gmail.com

14March 2013 - Issue 7

?Cubby Sadoon As any patient on a transplant list will tell you, organs are a precious commodity. When diseas-es and genetic predispositions impair the functions of organs, ill-health will surely follow. Once a patient has been admitted into a hospital, the initial goal of medical staff is to prevent that patient’s death. If survival is warranted, the patient is often placed on a transplant list for a specific organ. Once transplan-tation has been successfully achieved, many prob-lems may arise post-surgery. For instance, organ re-jection and other side effects such as hypertension and high cholesterol can interfere with a patient’s recovery4. One way to potentially divert the nega-tive consequences of foreign organ transplantation is to use groundbreaking technology that exploits the ability to print numerous amounts of biological materials such as cells and tissue scaffolding that potentially yields the creation of biomimetic tissues and organs1.

Direct cell-printing or as it is commonly dubbed, ‘bioprinting’ is the latest methodology under investigation as an alternative to organ transplanta-tion. The entire process is based on cell dispersion, in which there are two main types available. The first type involves ink-jet dispersion which refers to the ejection of cell encompassing ink using a modified bubble jet printer2. There is also an additional ink-jet printing technique utilizing a piezo crystal that re-ceives a tiny electric charge and induces vibrations forcing a minimal amount of ink out2. Both of these printers dispense cells onto a hydrogel material to form a layer of cell-hydrogel complexes3. The second type of cell dispersion is known as laser printing; a

technique that is based on the principle of focusing high-energy laser pulses onto a spot above hydrogel dominated by cells, and then uses the evaporated spot to dispense cells underneath2. These two tech-niques have allowed for the construction of a bio-printing platform which accommodates for different printing materials that are then loaded into ‘bio car-tridges’. This creates multi-layered 3D tissue archi-tecture. The first layer is multi-cellular, the second is filled with fluidic channels intended for perfusion and lumen-formation and the third is a scaffold that integrates water-soluble growth factors (i.e. cyto-kines) and releases them periodically into the first layer5.

Simplistically, the entire process of bioprint-ing can be summarized by a practical analogy. Imag-ine reprinting an image on a sheet of paper over and over again using a regular ink-jet printer. Eventually, ink will begin to collect in one area and compromise the integrity of the paper. Now imagine doing the ex-act same process, but with three-dimensional scaf-folding embedded in the paper that allows the ink to separate. Through repetition, this will eventually cre-ate a 3D representation of the image being printed; which is essentially the premise behind bioprinting.

This technology is currently employed for printing various biological materials such as nucleic acids and growth factor proteins, and its future ap-plication in transplant surgery is promising 2. Though there are indefinite obstacles in the development of this technology for 3D tissue engineering, it is no longer a question of why, but why not...

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sandra J. Peters

15

HoTHeaD lines

How you can burn calories by drinking ice-cold waterMiso GostimirThe term ‘calorie’, that we often see on nutrition labels actually represents something that scien-tists call a ‘kilocalorie’. A kilocalo-rie is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 ki-logram of water by 1 degree Cel-sius[1].Interestingly, this definition can be used to reveal a diet ‘cheat’ that we can all apply to our every-day lives.

Based on this definition, you can burn a few extra calories each day by drinking ice-cold water. This is because your body must use en-ergy, or calories, to warm the wa-ter to regular body temperature (37°C)before it can be utilized by your cells. Assuming that ice-cold water sits at around 3°C, the body spends about 8 calories warming up a 250 mL cup of ice-cold wa-ter. Sure, 8 calories isn’t much, but if you adhere to the Mayo Clinic’s recommendations of 3 liters of water per day for men and 2.2 liters for women, the numbers change quite drastically. Men can burn an extra 102 calories per day, and women can be burning 75 calories simply by drinking ice-cold water! For all you dieters, that’s about 2 free Oreo cookies!

Of course, this ‘cheat’ isn’t a sub-stitute for regular exercise. While you definitely shouldn’t rely on drinking ice-cold water to lose weight, this is an interesting piece of information that we can all use to burn some extra calories.

1. Thompson, Manroe, and Vaughan, The Science of Nutrition: Second Edition2011, San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education.

HIV ‘Cured’ In InfantGaibrie StephenA topic that has been heavily re-ported recently is the case of a 2.5 year old baby being ‘cured’ of HIV through the use of antiretroviral therapy. This report has gener-ated a lot of buzz with the possi-bility of a cure to the world’s most deadly virus. Although this pros-pect is certainly interesting, ques-tions have been raised on various dimensions of the case report. One researcher in the University of North Carolina denounced the scenario as “irresponsible report-ing”. Researchers are questioning whether this baby was simply a “super-controller”. A super-con-troller is an individual who has a genetic mutation on a white blood cell surface receptor that offers a natural resistance to HIV.

In addition to this, the timeline of the baby’s infection was also gray as there was question as to whether the baby was genuinely infected in the first place. Anti-retroviral therapy was the drug of choice for the baby, the most popular drug cocktail given to indi-viduals with HIV. It was found that after treatment for 18 months doctors found no detectable lev-els of the virus even after treat-ment cessation. Important to note is that there are still doubts regarding whether the cure is per-manent, as this requires exten-sive follow-up.

As with all case-reports, this has sparked a new field of research regarding a triple drug regime. If this regime proves to be effective it could help millions of infants all around the world. Overall, this case does provide hope that there is a cure for children suffering from HIV.

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23231-hiv-baby-cured-with-triple-blast-of-drugs.html

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sandra J. Peters

16March 2013 - Issue 7

Amanda Milburn A lot of hard work and dedication has lead Dr. Sandra Peters to a Professor position at Brock University. The seed for her interest in science was planted when she did her honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry at Mc Master University. She met her husband while studying at Mc Master, and they got married while her husband was in medical school. Together, they have three sons who have grown into very successful men. After having her children, Dr. Peters had the itch to go back to school and grow her knowledge in the field of research. She completed her Master of Science degree at the University of Guelph in Human Biology studying the effects of epinephrine on lipid metabolism in resting skeletal muscle. Following completion of her Master’s degree, Dr. Peters went on to pursue her PhD at the University of Guelph in Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. Her main interest was the dietary regulation of rat and human skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase activity. In the year 2009, Dr. Peters started working at Brock University. Although she had no background in Kinesiology when starting, she became a very distinguished powerhouse in the field of physiology and is well respected by her peers and students. Most of Dr. Peter’s students know her for teaching human physiology, exercise physiology and regulation of human metabolism; however, a few are familiar with her impressive research background. For many years, PDH, which is the key regulator of carbohydrate metabolism in skeletal muscle, was Dr. Peter’s main area of research. During her sabbatical at McMaster University in 2007-2008, Dr. Peters conducted research on the novel field of PLIN proteins which are embedded in the lipid droplet membrane. Since then, her field of research

“...be passionate about what you do... go after it with gusto!”

has expanded from PDH to also include the PLIN proteins which are believed to play a major role in lipolysis. The PLIN proteins are newly discovered and Dr. Peter’s lab in the new Cairns Bioscience building is one of only a few in the world to examine these proteins in skeletal muscle. Both of her areas of expertise have implications for obesity and type II diabetes. Dr. Peters’ wealth of knowledge in physiology positions her to be a strong advocate for physical activity. She notes that numerous studies, including

her own, have shown that exercise and a balanced diet are essential to leading a healthy life. That is one of the reasons Dr. Peters has increased her physical activity in the last 10 years by working out at the YMCA, doing Zumba® classes as well as tai chi where she is now a senior student. Besides exercising, Dr. Peters and her husband also enjoy making wine (as well as learning about the chemistry of the reactions involved) and spending time by the Atlantic coast at their cottage in Newfoundland. All of Dr. Peters’ experiences have made her an excellent professor and mentor. Her number one advice to students is to be passionate about what you do so you can get up every morning and go after it with gusto!

Did you know• In a recent article published by

CBC Health, it was implicated that over the past 10 years the use of antidepressants in Cana-dian post secondary students has nearly equaled the use of birth control.

Mental health: take the first step

17

?Yasmeen Mann

Based on the events in this past year, people became more aware of the issue of mental health awareness, with up-close news reports about convicting felons enforced to undergo mental health treatment. Mental health is a silent killer that can strike anywhere, harming any age, sex, size or race, being overlooked by health systems. Personally, as university students, we face mental health issues frequently, primarily or secondarily. Without the care and treatment necessary for mental disorders, people everywhere are at risk of becoming ostracised from society, potentially falling into poverty and homelessness. The question that remains is, why do several fail to be convinced that improving mental health programs may be one of the first steps to take in improving our society as a whole?

Despite the desire or physical ability to work, 90% of individuals with a serious mental illness in Canada are unemployed1. Good mental health can benefit businesses through increased productivity, work performance, fewer workplace accidents and a more consistent work attendance. With strong mental health benefit programs instilled for employees, employers can safeguard their businesses, thus guarding a driving force in our economy1.

A decline in mental health that leads to anxiety and stress can lead to health problems such as heart disease, ulcers, frequent body pain and a decline in the overall physical wellbeing of

an individual1. Studies demonstrate that when people receive the appropriate care for their mental health issues, their need for medical services overall declines1. A specific study demonstrated that after psychological treatment for anxiety disorders, medical visits decreased by 90%, laboratory costs by 50% and treatment costs by 35%1. With programs available to improving mental health, psychological problems that lead to poor behavioural choices for one’s physical health will decrease as well. People may be less likely to engage in smoking, excessive alcohol use, drug use or other poor choices that negatively affect their physical health.

Another aspect of today’s society that mental health can have a dramatic impact on is the overall quality of life. The average middle-class lifestyle involves a busy family and work life which repeats almost everyday. Though this routine sounds typical, the thin line between looking forward to repeating it every day or fearing it is a peace of mind, which is a natural condition. that can be available to everyone. When free of anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or other psychological problems, we have the potential to live our lives to the maximum. Taking the first step and recognizing when you need to talk about your mental health can save you from measuring your quality of life in terms of days that pass rather than the days to look forward to.

Concussions: Wheres Your Head At?

18March 2013 - Issue 7

? Carly Cameron

A concussion is a minor traumatic brain injury (TBI) that may occur when the head hits an object, or a moving object strikes the head1. Concussions are becoming extremely prevalent in our current sports industry – such as Sidney Crosby’s accident. Crosby was first injured in 2011 and did not return until the 2011-2012 season. His return was halted because he returned to play just a few days later, where he was hit again. However, despite this media blitz, a new study shows fear of losing valuable playing time keeps many high school football players from telling a coach or parent about symptoms of a concussion 2– the very reason Crosby chose to return to play despite his concussion like symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of concussion can be categorized into four areas: physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related issues3. In the growing body, the central nervous system is framed by musculature that is still1. The structure and size of cranial bones also provide a thinner layer of protection from physical impact1. All these factors contribute to an increased risk for concussions in youth. The developing brain is acquiring new information and skills continually4. This makes cognitive skills such as focusing, sustaining attention and recall of information extremely difficult after sustaining a concussion4. This makes academic activities challenging as common classroom activities can exacerbate the symptoms of a concussion. In other words, the symptoms associated with concussions will not only surface when the person is physically active, but also when they are mentally active4. Additionally, treating and managing concussions is very different between youth and adults. Studies have shown that children with more concussions are not only more likely to sustain additional concussions, but they are also more likely to suffer long-term neurological deficits2. Adults are more neurologically developed, which results in fewer symptoms and quicker recovery times after mild head injuries2. Youth also have to be aware that when signs and symptoms appear to resolve, subtle cognitive deficits may persist5. Several studies have demonstrated that verbal memory, visual memory, reaction time, and processing speed are still diminished in players who have reported recovery from symptoms5. One study revealed that athletes who had a history

of two or more concussions and were symptom-free had testing scores similar to athletes who were tested immediately postconcussion6. The researchers found “subtle yet significant prolonged neuropsychological effects in youth athletes with a history of two or more previous concussions”6. It is important to recognize, report and manage concussion like symptoms in youth in order to avoid the multitude of academic performance deficits as well as long-term impacts on the proper growth and functioning of the brain.

Many people assume that concussions are an unavoidable part of the game. However, young athletes do not need these life long frustrations in order to enjoy sports. Increased awareness regarding signs, symptoms and appropriate protocol to follow will help to reduce the prevalence of concussions in young athletes.

19

Did you know• Paul Berg sparked the topic of

genetic engineering by creating the first recombinant DNA. Soon after, in 1974 Paul Berg drafted a letter calling for all scientists to suspend studies in the field.

?Sierra Barrett Vaccination is one of the most significant sci-entific advancements of the 20th century and has revolutionized global health. Currently the World Health Organization’s Expanded Program on Im-munization, which includes six vaccines for diseases common in young children, such as measles and pertussis (whooping cough), has prevented over one million deaths in developing nations1. Still, most of the common and devastating diseases and ailments we face have no vaccines currently available. There are also certain disadvantages to vaccines that are used to treat modern diseases including an inabil-ity to immunize against the mutated strains of dis-eases such as influenza2. Additionally, scientific eth-ics become a factor when working in a laboratory to synthesize vaccines from dangerous pathogens due to the possibility of inciting pandemics in the case of accidental exposure to society. DNA vaccines are a relatively new field of research that has the poten-tial to develop generally simple and safe immunity treatments for a plethora of conditions from cancer to HIV to allergies3. DNA vaccines are classified as a third genera-tion vaccine that works differently from traditional vaccines that use live-attenuated virus vectors or recombinant protein vectors4. Instead of using the pathogenic agent itself, DNA vaccines manage to eliminate the “middle-man” by injecting only the agent’s genetic code. The DNA is inserted into a plas-mid, which is used as the vector for transportation to the targeted cells. When these body cells attempt to translate this DNA into the coded proteins, an im-mune response is stimulated to produce antibodies

in response to the specific antigen5. This immune response stimulates both B and T-cell production, which combine to form a more effective antibody reaction.

The widespread advantages of DNA vaccines have implications in health, safety, and economics. One of the most promising effects is the versatility of DNA vaccines. Just one treatment can provide an-tibodies for many strains of a disease, such as the seasonal flu for which new vaccines must be created each year3. A patient may even be given personal-ized DNA vaccines made from a biopsy of their own tissue3. Another is the seemingly endless number of possible pathogens to treat. Studies have been done using different types of cancers, HIV, and more recently, allergies and autoimmune disease4. When considering safety, DNA vaccines are a safer option compared to many traditional vaccines where there is a possibility of the viral vector reverting to its viru-lent form and becoming harmful to the host3. Re-garding the economic implications, DNA vaccines are quicker and less expensive to make. They are stable at a wide range of temperatures, which decreases the need for high-tech storage particularly in devel-oping nations5.

You may ask: if there are so many advantag-es then why don’t we have miraculous new vaccines made with DNA? Currently, the only approved DNA vaccines, such as the anti-cancer vaccine for dogs and the West Nile vaccine for horses, are for animals2. In order to develop human vaccines that will pass clini-cal expectations, immunological research still needs to be done to make DNA vaccines more effectual in human hosts.

DNA Vaccines: From Cancer to HIV to Allergies

Amanda Milburn

Micheal Easson

Eliza Beckett

Shalina Vighio

Amen Idahosa

Miso Gostimir

Jaya Sam

Sierra Barret Yasmeen Mann

Carly Cameron

Saumik Biswas

Joan Lopez

Cubby Sadoon

Scott Alguire

Jordan McNulty

20March 2013 - Issue 7

Thanks For Reading!

See You Next Issue!

Brock Health Team

This CoulD Be

YOU! To find out how

please contact us:

BrockUHealth@gmail.com

?

21

ReferencesImage SourcesTabacco Plants: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Native_American_tobacco_flower.jpg

Internet Addiction Disorder: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LG_L194WT-SF_LCD_monitor.jpg

Fatty Acids: How Beneficial Are They?: http://pixelperfectdigital.com/photo/372/gel-caps-macro.html

The Cost of Healthy Eating: http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/h/hotblack/preview/fldr_2008_11_02/file0001113585346.jpg

Cancer: An evaluation of Antioxidants: http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=69

Low Calorie: Longer life? How important is it?: http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=19557

http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=10437

http://morguefile.com/archive/display/555797

RePOOPulate: Fight Against Clostridium Difficille: http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=15728

Fibrous Dysplasia: http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=5255

Asperger’s Syndrome: http://www.flickr.com/photos/medhius/3217871488/

Printing Up A Storm: Image via PLOS ONE/Alyssa J. Reiffel, Concepcion Kafka, Karina A. Hernandez, Samantha Popa, Justin L. Perez, Sherry Zhou, Satadru Pramanik, Bryan N. Brown, Won Seuk Ryu, Lawrence J. Bonassar, Jason A. Spector

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0056506#references

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/an-artificial-ear-built-by-a-3d-printer-and-living-cartilage-cells/

Mental Health: Take the First Step: Image via openphoto/ Miroslav Vajdichttp://openphoto.net/gallery/image.html?image_id=23259#how_to_credit_this_image

DNA Vaccines: From Cancer to HIV to Allergies: http://morguefile.com/archive/display/732482

Concussions: Where’s Your Head At?: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brain_trauma_CT.jpg

Information SourcesTobacco Plants: Can They Be Programmed To Cure Cancer?

1. Campos-Tamayo, F., Hernández-Domínguez, E., & Vázquez-Flota, F. (2008). Vindoline formation in shoot cultures of Catharanthus roseus is synchronously activated with morphogenesis through the last biosynthetic step. Annals of botany, 102(3), 409-415.

2. Legha, S. S., Ring, S., Eton, O., Bedikian, A., Buzaid, A. C., Plager, C., & Papadopoulos, N. (1998). Development of a biochemotherapy regimen with concurrent administration of cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, interferon alfa, and interleukin-2 for patients with metastatic melanoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 16(5), 1752-1759.

3. Songstad, D. D., De Luca, V., Brisson, N., Kurz, W. G., & Nessler, C. L. (1990). High levels of tryptamine accumulation in transgenic tobacco expressing tryptophan decarboxylase. Plant physiology, 94(3), 1410-1413.

4. St-Pierre, B., Vazquez-Flota, F. A., & De Luca, V. (1999). Multicellular compartmentation of Catharanthus roseus alkaloid biosynthesis predicts

intercellular translocation of a pathway intermediate. The Plant Cell Online, 11(5), 887-900.

Internet Addiction Disorder: How Real Is It?

1. Weinstein, A.; Lejoyeux, M. (2010). Internet addiction or excessive internet use. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36, 277-283.

2. Cash, H.; Rae, C. D.; Steel, A. H.; Winkler, A. (2012). Internet addiction: a brief summary of research and practice. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 8(4), 292-298.

3. Beard, K.W. (2005). Internet addiction: a review of current assessment techniques and potential assessment questions. CyberPsychology & Behaviour, 8(1), 7-14.

Fatty Acids: How Beneficial Are They?

1. Thomson, J. L., Manore, M. M., & Vaughan, L.A. (2011). The science of nutrition. 40-41, 182-185.

2. Mazereeuw, G., Lanctôt, K. L., Chau, S. A., Swardfager, W., & Herrmann, N. (2011). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis. Neurobiology of ageing. 33. 1482.e17-1482.e29

3. Jones, C. R., Arai, T., & Rapoport, S. I. (1997). Evidence for the involvement of docosahexaenoic acid in cholinergic stimulated signal transduction at the synapse. Neurochemical research, 22(6), 663-670.

4. Dobbing, J., & Sands, J. (1979). Comparative aspects of the brain growth spurt. Early human development, 3(1), 79-83.

5. Moser, M. B., & Moser, E. I. (1999). Functional differentiation in the hippocampus. Hippocampus, 8(6), 608-619.

6. Languille, S., Aujard, F., & Pifferi, F. (2012). Effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on the exploratory activity, emotional status and spatial memory of the aged mouse lemur, a non-human primate. Behavioural brain research, 235, 280-286.

The Cost of Healthy Eating

1. Mukhopadhyay, K., & Thomassin, P. J. (2012). Economic impact of adopting a healthy diet in Canada. Journal Of Public Health, 20(6), 639-652. doi:10.1007/s10389-012-0510-2

2. Nutritious Food Basket.(2012). Ministry of Health Promotion - Standards, Programs & Community Development Branch.

3. Weekly Cost of the Nutritious Food Basket in Toronto.(2012). Toronto Public Health.

4. Feeney, D. F. (2012). 10 Worst Processed Foods for People With Diabetes. Nutritional Perspectives: Journal Of The Council On Nutrition, 35(1), 5-6.

5. Kennedy, P. (2010). Economic Incentives for a Healthy Diet: A Comparison of Policies in a Canadian Context. B E Journal Of Economic Analysis & Policy, 10(1)

6. Meldrum, Liesel A.; Willows, Noreen D. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice & Research. Spring 2006, Vol. 67 Issue 1, p43-46. 4p.

7. MacRae, R., Martin, R., Juhasz, M., & Langer, J. (n.d). Ten percent organic within 15 years: Policy and program initiatives to advance organic food and farming in Ontario, Canada. Renewable Agriculture And Food Systems, 24(2), 120-136.

8. Hamzaoui-Essoussi, L., & Zahaf, M. (2012). Canadian Organic Food Consumers’ Profile and Their Willingness to Pay Premium Prices. Journal Of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 24(1), 1-21. doi:10.1080/08974438.2011.621834

9. Lee, J., Ralston, R. A., & Truby, H. (2011). Influence of food cost on diet quality and risk factors for chronic disease: A systematic review. Nutrition & Dietetics, 68(4), 248-261. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0080.2011.01554.x

Cancer: An Evaluation of Antioxidant Diets

References1. Conklin KA. (2000). Dietary antioxidants during cancer chemotherapy: impact on chemotherapeutic effectiveness and development of side effects. PubMed. 37(1):1-182. Mathew, B., Tiwari, A., & Jatawa, S. (2011). Free Radicals and Antioxidants: A Review. Journal ofPharmacy Research, 4(12), 4340-4343.

3. Main, P., AE., Angley, M., T., O’Doherty, C., E., Thomas, P., & Fenech, M. (2012). The potential role of the antioxidant and detoxification properties of glutathione in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2012). Nutrition & Metabolism, 9(1), 35-71. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-9-35

4. Valko, M., Rhodes C.J., Moncol, J., Izakovic, M., Mazur, M. (2006). Free radicals, metals and antioxidants in oxidative stress-induced cancer. ELSEVIER. Chemico-Biolgoical Interactions(160)1-40.

Low Calorie: Longer Life? How Important Are They?

1. McCay, C.M., M.F. Crowell, and L. Maynard, The effect of retarded growth upon the length of life span and upon the ultimate body size. J Nutr, 1935. 10(1): p. 63-79.

2. Weindruch, R. and R.L. Walford, The retardation of aging and disease by dietary restriction1988: CC Thomas Springfield, IL.

3. Colman, R.J., et al., Caloric restriction delays disease onset and mortality in rhesus monkeys. Science, 2009. 325(5937): p. 201-204.

4. Weindruch, R. and R.S. Sohal, Caloric intake and aging. The New England journal of medicine, 1997. 337(14): p. 986.

5. Finkel, T. and N.J. Holbrook, Oxidants, oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. NATURE-LONDON-, 2000: p. 239-247.

6. Mattison, J.A., et al., Impact of caloric restriction on health and survival in rhesus monkeys from the NIA study. nature, 2012.

RePOOPulate: Fight Against Clostridium Difficille

1. CBC News Health. (2013). C. Difficile-related deaths highest in recent years. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/01/12/c-difficile-increase-quebec.html?cmp=rss on January 12th 2013.

2. CBC News Health. (2013). “Poop” substitute may help C. difficile infections. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/01/08/c-difficile-stool.html?cmp=rss on January 8th 2013.

3. Petrof, E. O., Gloor, G. B., Vanner, S. J., Weese, S. J., Carter, D., Daigneault, M. C., Brown, E. M., Schroeter, K., & Allen-Vercoe, E. (2013). Stool substitute transplant therapy for the eradication of Clostridium Difficile infection: ‘RePOOPulating’ the gut. Microbiome 1:3.

4. Simor, A. E. (2012). Clostridium difficile Infection: Canadian epidemiology, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.oahpp.ca/resources/documents/presentations/2012may28-29/2.0%20-%20Epi%20Data/CdiffCanEpi2012.pdf on January 9 2013.

Fibrous Dysplasia

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2. Guruprasad, Y., & Chauhan, D. (2012). Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia - A review of current management techniques. Chronicles Of Young Scientists, 3(2), 106-110. doi:10.4103/2229-5186.98672. Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=aeff136d-4204-4208-9765-e44c74dee278%40sessionmgr115&vid=4&hid=107

3. Monini, S., Volpini, L., Lacolucci, C., & Barbara, M. (2012). Temporal Bone Fibrous Dysplasia: A Rare Mastoid Localization. Journal Of International Advanced Otology, 8(2), 321-324. Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=aeff136d-4204-4208-9765-e44c74dee278%40sessionmgr115&vid=7&hid=107

Asperger’s Syndrome: What TV Shows Aren’t Telling Us

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Printing Up A Storm: 3D Bioprinting Technology

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Mental Health: Take The First Time

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DNA Vaccines: From Cancer to HIV to Allergies

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Concussions: Wheres Your Head At?

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