Fregoli Delusion

Submitted by Grace, class of 2012:

Imagine going into work one morning, and finding that all of your coworkers are actually your friend Susan in disguise. And beyond that, it soon becomes clear that all of your coworkers are attempting to get you fired, and subsequently murdered.

Have you ever had these thoughts, or thoughts similar? Fregoli delusion is a rare psychological disorder that causes a person to believe that various people around them, are instead one person who is able to change appearance, or is in disguise. The name, Fregoli, comes from the Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli, world renown for his ability to change his appearance quickly during his stage act.

Fregoli delusion is a monothematic delusions, as it incorporates only one delusional topic. Scientifically, psychiatrists believe it is related to the failure of normal face perception. Causes include L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and lesions in the fusiform gyrus (as this section of the brain processes color information and is necessary in face and body recognition). Fregoli delusion is often coupled with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Could the Common Cold Contribute to Children’s Obesity?

Submitted by Rachel, class of 2012:

Can childhood obesity be linked to a common cold? A new study suggests it can. In September of 2010 Pediatrics released a publication explaining that children exposed to the adenovirus-36 (a common cold virus) are more likely to be obese than children who have no evidence of infection. Jeffrey Schwimmer, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of California, San Diego, and at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego led a study on the hypothesis. He found that out of the 67 obese children and 57 normal-weight children, 19 of them carried the antibodies for adenovirus-36. 15 of these children were obese and 4 of them were normal weight. (That means 22% of the obese kids had the antibodies compared to 7% of the normal weight kids.) Additionally, the obese children with evidence of AD36 prior infection were 35 pounds fatter than the other obese children.
In a previous study chicken, mice, rats and monkeys with the infection all got fat even though they didn’t eat more or exercise less than they did before infection with AD36.
Now, why is this? Another experiment on human cells explains that the virus promotes weight gain and the adult infected stem cells make more fat cells, which store more fat.
The same correlation can be found among adults. Around 30% of obese adults carry antibodies for AD36, compared to 10% of normal-weight people.
This study isn’t to say that AD36 causes obesity. Rather, there may be a correlation between the two.
So, stay healthy this flu season!
For more information: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63507/title/

Image source: http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/01/can-you-catch-obesity-like-a-cold/

T. Rex wiped out by parasites?

Submitted by Genevieve, class of 2012:

When we think of the legendary T. Rex, one imagines that the death of such a fearsome creature would be a result of an epic dino-battle. However, recent findings from researchers Ewan D.S. Wolff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Steven W. Salisbury of the University of Queensland, Australia studying the famous corpse of the T. Rex "Sue" suggest that it was a far less dramatic, yet equally interesting battle that sealed this massive carnivore's fate: it was a parasite that did the monster in! The scientists were able to peg the killer as a trichomonosis infection, caused by a single-celled parasite that causes similar pathologies on the mandibles of modern birds. Transmission of the parasite may have been through salivary contact (through physical-altercation puncture wounds) or cannibalism, both of which serve as testaments to the infamous bullying behavior of the T. Rex.

But here's the kicker: scientists say that Tyrannosaurus Rexes might have been the original source of the disease, whose transmission continues among pigeons (raptor descendants) today!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929133117.htm

Autism link to MMR vaccine is discredited

Submitted by Rebecca, class of 2011:

MMR is a vaccine used to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella. In the 1998 a paper was written and published in the medical journal Lancet that connected the MMR vaccine to autism. This scared lots of parents and they stopped taking their kids in to get the vaccine; which then caused outbreaks of said diseases. Even though the article was retracted parents still fear the connection between the two. Journalist Brian Deer did some digging on the supposed study that Andrew Wakefield did in order to write the article. Deer found that while Wakefield said that the 12 children he tested were normal and had not preexisting conditions that this was in fact not the case at all, five had previously documented developmental problems and all of the medical files were altered and didn’t match up to what the parents said about their children. While not very many professionals believed the study Deer’s discovery really cleared things up. Some parents will probably still shy away from the MMR vaccine even though there is no connection between it and Autism.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/01/05/health/AP-EU-MED-Autism-Fraud.html

Tuberculosis Ratted Out by Giant Rats!

Submitted by James, class of 2012

You might first react to these large rodents by exclaiming “Get that away from me!” but you, and especially those in low-income countries, now have a reason to actually benefit from Gambian pouched rats. These huge rodents can sniff out Tuberculosis, which is estimated by the World Health Organization to affect one in three people worldwide. The rats are 90% accurate, and can detect low doses of TB that might be skipped over by primary microscopy tests. They might one day be used commercially in low-income countries, and would be much more affordable. Once trained, they can whip through a dozen samples in a minute.

Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/68001/title/Giant_rats_detect_tuberculosis

Arsenic for Dinner?

Check ou this article from the New York Times. A scientist has grown bacteria that exist on a phosphorous-free diet and eat arsenic instead. Quite intriguing...

How cats lap