Lacto Bacto – Health, Microbes, and More

The Viruses and Fungi Living In Our Gut

SimaMay 9, 2025Leave a comment

It has long been known that fungi and viruses live in the gut microbiome (the bacteria, fungi, viruses living in the gut), but generally the focus has only been on the bacteria living there. The viruses tend to be bacteriophages - viruses that go after bacteria by infecting them and killing them.

Bacteriophages have a large influence on what lives in the gut, as well as having an effect on the immune system. They start living in the human gut (the GI or gastrointestinal tract) shortly after birth. Scientists are now studying phages to see if they can be used against harmful bacteria and as a treatment for chronic diseases that involve the gastrointestinal system. They think that they could be used in place of antibiotics for antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Fungi are considered immune stimulating. They can have beneficial effects (cause immune responses that promote metabolic health and protect against infection). Others (sometimes even the same species!) can have harmful effects, such as promoting inflammation, for example, in intestinal bowel diseases (IBD). Candida albicans is one such fungi - it is found in the gut of most people, and can cause problems or not.

From Medscape: The Extra-Bacterial Gut Ecosystem: The Influence of Phages and Fungi in the Microbiome

Research on the gut microbiome — and clinical attention to it — has focused mainly on bacteria, but bacteriophages and fungi play critical roles as well, with significant influences on health and disease, experts said at the Gut Microbiota for Health (GMFH) World Summit 2025.

Fungi account for < 1% of the total genetic material in the microbiome but 1%-2% of its total biomass. “Despite their relative rarity, they have an important and outsized influence on gut health” — an impact that results from their unique interface with the immune system, said Kyla Ost, PhD, of the Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, in Denver, whose research focuses on this interface. ...continue reading "The Viruses and Fungi Living In Our Gut"

The Senate Votes To Release More Mercury and Lead Into the Air

SimaMay 8, 2025May 9, 2025Leave a comment

Uh oh...So many environmental regulations dealing with the environment are being overturned this year. In addition to changing the mission of the EPA (it's no longer to protect us and the environment, but instead to roll back regulations and costs - in other words, pro polluters and Big Business), the Senate is doing its bit to make our air and water dirtier.

The Senate voted last week to overturn EPA rules on 7 toxic air pollutants emitted by industry, with voting along party lines - Republicans voted to weaken regulations, and Democrats voted against it. These are horrible pollutants, including mercury, lead, dioxins.

The scientific names of the 7 pollutants are: mercury, alkylated lead compounds, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polycyclic organic matter (POM), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofurans (TCDF), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

How can anyone rationalize weakening regulations on these toxic chemicals and think that allowing more to be released into the air as beneficial? These hazardous chemicals cause death, neurological problems, cancer, and so many more health problems.

This is a huge win for the chemical and fossil fuel industry, and a major loss for people (us!) and the environment.

It is expected that the House will also pass this bill. This will be the first time that the Congress weakens protections passed in the Clean Air Act. So... this will be their legacy - deliberately making our environment more polluted.

From Washington Post: Senate overturns EPA rule on seven highly toxic air pollutants

The Senate voted Thursday to overturn an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting the seven most hazardous air pollutants emitted by chemical plants, oil refineries and other industrial facilities, reversing one of President Joe Biden’s major environmental regulations.

The 52-46 vote delivers a key victory to major companies and trade groups in the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors that had lobbied against the regulation. It also marks the first time in the Clean Air Act’s 55-year history that Congress has scaled back protections under the landmark environmental law.

...continue reading "The Senate Votes To Release More Mercury and Lead Into the Air"

Walnuts, Gut Microbes, and Lower Levels of Inflammation

SimaMay 1, 2025May 2, 2025Leave a comment

Nowadays, the scientific view is to eat some nuts frequently for all sorts of health benefits. Recently, a study found that eating walnuts helps to lowers systemic inflammation (inflammation throughout the body), and in doing so reduces colon cancer risk.

The researchers said that the beneficial health effects are from ellagitannins, plant-derived polyphenol compounds, found in walnuts and pecans. Gut microbes convert the ellagitannins into anti-inflammatory urolithins.

Ellagitannins are also found in pomegranates, some berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, cloudberries), and muscadine grapes. They are mainly metabolized by microbes in the colon. The consumption of foods containing ellagitannins has been associated with positive effects on many diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative syndromes, and cancer). Ellagitannins are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer preventive.

From Medical Xpress: Walnut consumption curbs inflammation and may reduce colon cancer risk, clinical trial finds

There are new findings out about the benefits of eating walnuts. Results from a UConn School of Medicine clinical trial on the cover of the April edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research show that walnuts improve systemic inflammation while also reducing colon cancer risk. ...continue reading "Walnuts, Gut Microbes, and Lower Levels of Inflammation"

Is This the End Of the Journal Examining Effects Of the Environment On Health?

SimaApril 30, 2025May 3, 2025Leave a comment

Credit: Wikipedia

Will the leading environmental health science journal Environmental Health Perspectives lose funding and be forced to shut down due to DOGE budget cuts? It appears this will happen.

This journal publishes high quality research and information on the effects of the environment on human health. It has published research on effects on humans from forever chemicals, endocrine disruptors, flamed retardants, pesticides, air pollution, lead, arsenic, mercury, toxins in skin care products, and so much more.

It is published monthly, and is free to everyone (it is open access). For decades, the journal has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to review studies on the health effects of environmental toxins (e.g., forever chemicals, pesticides) and publish them for free.

However, it now may be shut down due to DOGE budget cuts at NIH. The journal has already announced that it is no longer accepting articles for publication. Shutting down this journal would be a terrible loss to all of us.

By the way, two other well-regarded journals, both published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are also on the chopping block: Emerging Infectious Diseases and Preventing Chronic Disease. The first journal has cutting-edge reports on infectious disease threats (e.g., mpox viruses, Marburg virus) from around the world.

From NY Times: Citing N.I.H. Cuts, a Top Science Journal Stops Accepting Submissions

Environmental Health Perspectives, widely considered the premier environmental health journal, has announced that it would pause acceptance of new studies for publication, as federal cuts have left its future uncertain. ...continue reading "Is This the End Of the Journal Examining Effects Of the Environment On Health?"

Useless Female Organ Discovered To Have A Purpose

SimaApril 19, 2025Leave a comment

Well, well, well...it turns out that an organ in women long considered useless ("a vestigial structure") actually has a purpose. A recent study found that the rete ovarii may have an important role in the function of the ovaries, and therefore fertility.

The rete ovarii has 3 regions and responds to hormonal signals. It is a horseshoe-shaped network of tubes nestled beneath the ovary.

The study used female mice, but the researchers think the results also apply to humans. Other species of mammals (e.g., cows, sheep, dogs, cats, monkeys) also have a rete ovarii.

From Live Science: 'Useless' female organ discovered over a century ago may actually support ovaries, study finds

An unsung appendage in the female body, which has long been considered useless, may actually be essential for ovary development and fertility, a new mouse study finds. ...continue reading "Useless Female Organ Discovered To Have A Purpose"

Four Baby Foxes Doing Well

SimaApril 19, 2025April 19, 2025Leave a comment

This week I find myself looking to see if the 4 baby red foxes and their mother have made it through another day. This is day 3 after emerging from their den.

They now stay close to their den at all times. No sign of a father fox. Single parenthood is tough. (photos from first day)

Baby Foxes

SimaApril 18, 2025April 19, 2025Leave a comment

Last weekend 4 baby red foxes emerged from their den for the first time. They were so exuberant, running all over the yard, and even up to my house. They had no fear that day.

Baby foxes are also called kits or cubs. They are about 4 to 5 weeks old.

Hair Straighteners and Kidney Harm

SimaApril 11, 2025April 11, 2025Leave a comment

Natural hair, not straightened Credit: Wikipedia

A number of hair styling products are actually harmful to health. This includes hair straighteners, which contain chemicals hazardous to both the hairdresser applying the products, as well as the woman that is using the product in her hair. These products are especially harmful if the woman using or applying the product is pregnant (it will go to the fetus) or breastfeeding (chemicals get into the mother's breastmilk).

A number of health risks are already known from chemicals (e.g., forever chemicals, formaldehyde) in such products, such as increased risks of certain cancers. But now there is an additional concern.

A 2024 study found that hair-straightening products containing glyoxylic acid was associated with a risk for acute kidney failure. This is because it resulted in the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys. While the study was done on mice, the researchers thought this could explain cases of renal damage in young women. For example, one woman who became very ill with acute renal damage after each visit to a hair salon - where she had her hair straightened.

Similar cases have been noted elsewhere after women getting their hair straightened in hair salons. Black women are especially at risk because of their frequent use of such products. [Site with more information.]

According to the researchers, it is the glyoxylic acid that is problematic, but not glycolic acid.

Glyoxylic acid is found in some cosmetic products (such as shampoo, styling lotion, and straightening products) - generally as a replacement for formaldehyde (which is irritating and carcinogenic). However, glyoxylic acid is recommended to avoid contact with the scalp. (So why is it in the products!!??)

From Medscape: Hair-Straightening Products Entail Acute Kidney Failure Risk

The use of hair-straightening products containing glyoxylic acid is associated with a risk for acute kidney failure because of the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys. The observation was made by a team of French researchers who tested the suspected straightening product on animals. The product is believed to be the cause of several episodes of renal damage in a young woman. ...continue reading "Hair Straighteners and Kidney Harm"

Exercise Is Beneficial For the Kidneys In Older Adults

SimaApril 10, 2025April 11, 2025Leave a comment

Our kidneys are incredibly important for our health. Unfortunately, some conditions (e.g., diabetes) and just getting older results in a decline in kidney function. Let's face it - as we age, our organs age.

But there is some good news. A recent study found that moderate and high intensity exercise slows down the risk of rapid kidney function decline in older adults. Exercise actually helps preserve kidney function.

A large study randomly assigned older adults (aged 70 to 77 years) to one of three groups: 1) moderate intensity exercise (peak heart rate 70%) for 50 minutes twice a week, or 2) high intensity interval training (peak heart rate 90%) for four minutes 4 times per week (with first a 10 minute warm-up), or 3) a control group that just received education.

There was a dose response relationship over the 5 years - the more exercise, and the more vigorous exercise - the better kidney function was, and less of a decline from aging. Also, the more exercise, the better the oxygen uptake. There were no heart disease related events (cardiovascular events) during the supervised exercise sessions.

Bottom line: Exercise at all ages, including older adults in their 70s, is good for health, including the kidneys. Move, move, move!

From Medscape: High-Intensity Interval Training Reduces Risk for Kidney Function Decline in Seniors

Supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over 5 years reduced the risk for rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in community-dwelling adults aged 70-77 years. ...continue reading "Exercise Is Beneficial For the Kidneys In Older Adults"

Research Finds Lower Risk of Dementia After Receiving Shingles Vaccine

SimaApril 5, 2025April 6, 2025Leave a comment

People are always looking for ways to lower their risk of dementia in their senior years. For a while now there has been research suggesting that older adults getting vaccines (e.g., annual flu shots) lower their risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A recent study found that the shingles vaccine (herpes zoster vaccine) has a similar protective effect.

Adults in their 70s who received the shingles vaccine had a lower incidence of dementia. They were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next 7 years. And the differences in rate of dementia among those who received or didn't receive the vaccine started within 1 1/2 years of getting the vaccine.

The study also showed that the protection against dementia was stronger in women than in men - that is, the shingles vaccine benefited women more than men.

By the way, one could view lower incidence of dementia as a non-target effect. The target was shingles, but other protective health effects are non-target effects.

Excerpts from Science Daily: Study strengthens link between shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk

An unusual public health policy in Wales may have produced the strongest evidence yet that a vaccine can reduce the risk of dementia. In a new study led by Stanford Medicine, researchers analyzing the health records of Welsh older adults discovered that those who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years than those who did not receive the vaccine.

The remarkable findings, to be published April 2 in Nature, support an emerging theory that viruses that affect the nervous system can increase the risk of dementia. If further confirmed, the new findings suggest that a preventive intervention for dementia is already close at hand.

...continue reading "Research Finds Lower Risk of Dementia After Receiving Shingles Vaccine"