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Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Second Brain Alert: Gut Tags Your Nutrients
At first glance, 'trusting your gut' may seem intuitive, irrational, or even unscientific. However, science confirms that the digestive system is indeed 'sensitive'; it contains its own autonomic network, known as the enteric nervous system, comprising approximately 100 million nerve cells. A study in Nature revealed that the gut's own enteric nervous system can not only detect nutrients but also distinguish between them, showing that it is far smarter than once believed. New research led by KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, researchers from the Translational Research in GastroIntestinal Disorders team shows that neurons in the intestinal wall respond to specific nutrients in a targeted manner. The study conducted on the intestinal tissue of mice showed that the intestine can differentiate between sugars, proteins, and fats. Each nutrient activates its own neurochemical network through reactions involving specific neurons. Using calcium imaging in the mouse jejunum, researchers found that nutrients activate specific groups of enteric neurons, but not directly. The epithelium, the surface tissue on the inside of the intestine, plays a key role in the detection of different nutrients. The tissue uses serotonin, a well-known neurotransmitter, to send signals to the nervous system. Signals move from the villus epithelium to the myenteric plexus and then to the submucosal plexus, revealing a clear communication pathway across the intestinal walls. 'What we're seeing is that the enteric nervous system doesn't just respond to pressure or stretching. It works in a much more targeted way depending on the specific nutrients in the intestine,' said Candice Fung, postdoctoral researcher and first author of the study. 'The precision with which the nervous system can differentiate between sugars, proteins, and fats proves how refined and intelligent this system is.' The LENS (Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience) research group, led by Pieter Vanden Berghe, PhD, specialises in light microscopy for imaging live cells and tissues. Scientists use fluorescent markers that make neurons light up when activated. Thus, the processes in the enteric nervous system can be visualised in real time. 'When we talk about a 'gut feeling,' we shouldn't be dismissive when it comes to our digestive system and enteric nervous system. This research demonstrates a certain form of intelligence in the gut. This is why people sometimes refer to it as the 'second brain' or 'little brain.' But if you ask me, the enteric nervous system is too important and too sophisticated to be considered the 'little brother,'' said Berghe. This story was translated and adapted from MediQuality.
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Behavioral Therapy as First-Line for Bladder Control in PD?
TOPLINE: Structured behavioral therapy focused on pelvic floor muscle exercise was noninferior to treatment with solifenacin for alleviating overactive bladder symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), new research showed. Because it was also associated with fewer side effects, especially falls, researchers recommended the behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment option. METHODOLOGY: This 12-week randomized noninferiority trial was conducted between 2018 and 2023 within four Veterans Affairs healthcare systems in the US. Overall, 77 patients diagnosed with PD and overactive bladder symptoms, as measured with an International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire overactive bladder module (ICIQ-OAB) symptom score ≥ 7, were included. All participants (mean age, 71 years; 84% men; 90% White individuals) were randomly assigned to receive either pelvic floor muscle exercise-based behavioral therapy with urge suppression training (n = 36) or 5 mg solifenacin daily with need-based titration up to 10 mg daily (n = 41). The primary outcome was ICIQ-OAB symptom score at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were ICIQ-OAB bother and quality of life scores and drug-related adverse events. TAKEAWAY: At 12 weeks, clinically significant improvement in ICIQ-OAB scores was observed across both treatment groups within a noninferiority margin of 15% (drug vs behavioral therapy: mean ICIQ-OAB score, 5.8 vs 5.5; P = .02). Both groups also had a reduction in symptom frequency, which was associated with a reduction in bother scores and an improvement in overactive bladder-related quality of life. Compared with the behavioral therapy group, the solifenacin group had a greater number of adverse events, including dry mouth (P = .002) and pain or burning during urination (P = .03). They also had a greater number of falls (6 vs 0). IN PRACTICE: 'The finding of increased falls in the solifenacin therapy group reinforces the need to carefully consider the risk-benefit ratio of medications for urinary symptoms, especially given the increased risk of falls among persons with PD. Results of this study suggest that behavioral therapy is an effective treatment option for persons with PD,' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Camille P. Vaughan, MD, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology in the Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta. It was published online on July 14 in JAMA Neurology. LIMITATIONS: The follow-up duration was limited to 12 weeks, restricting insight into longer-term outcomes. The cohort predominantly had male participants, reducing the generalizability of the findings, and the study relied on patient-reported data. Additionally, a higher dropout in the drug group led to nonrandom missing data, potentially biasing comparisons. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by a grant from Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development. Two investigators reported receiving grants from various sources during the conduct of the study. The other nine investigators reported having no relevant financial relationships. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Ocean Warming Throws Angelshark Mating Out Of Sync
As seas heat up, female angelsharks are prioritizing survival over reproduction, leaving their male ... More counterparts waiting alone at breeding sites. getty In the warming waters of the Canary Islands, female angelsharks are making a difficult choice: either skip the mating season, or risk overheating. New research reveals that rising ocean temperatures are disrupting the natural mating patterns of these Critically Endangered sharks, potentially jeopardizing the future of the species. The study, led by scientists from Lancaster University and the Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands, used acoustic tracking to monitor the movements of more than 100 individual angelsharks between 2018 and 2023. Over those five years, researchers consistently found both males and females gathering in the La Graciosa Marine Reserve off Lanzarote each November and December. But 2022 broke the pattern. It was in this year that an extreme marine heatwave pushed sea surface temperatures above 74.8°F (23.8°C), with conditions staying hotter than 72.5°F (22.5°C) nearly three times longer than usual. This heatwave overlapped with the angelsharks' entire breeding season, which typically kicks off in late autumn when waters are cooler. The result? While male presence peaked on schedule, female sightings were scarce. In fact, females largely abandoned the species' traditional mating grounds, and the data showed a strong link between female angelshark activity and cooler water, suggesting that 72.5°F (22.5°C) may be close to their upper thermal limit. Dr David Jacoby, Principal Investigator from Lancaster University, likened these marine heatwaves to 'wildfires of the ocean,' with far-reaching impacts that are only beginning to be understood. Why does this matter? Angelsharks, like most sharks, are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature depends on the surrounding water. Unlike males, who seemed determined to find a mate regardless of conditions, females may be more sensitive to temperature spikes due to the energy demands of reproduction. Carrying and developing young requires a lot of metabolic regulation, and excess heat may push their physiology past a safe threshold. Faced with the choice between reproduction and self-preservation… the females appear to be choosing the latter. Jacoby noted that the observed behavioral differences between sexes during extreme temperature events could have serious implications for the species, and lead author of the study Dr. Lucy Mead, a researcher at ZSL's Institute of Zoology and Lancaster University, agreed: 'The fact that environmental extremes are driving differing male and female arrival times at coastal mating sites is of particular concern for this Critically Endangered species.' Squatina squatina, commonly known as the angelshark, is a Critically Endangered species of shark ... More that looks more like a ray due to its flattened body and broad pectoral fins. It's a bottom-dwelling species once commonly found along the northeast Atlantic coast, from Scandinavia to northwest Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it's vanished from much of its former range. getty The Canary Islands represent one of the last strongholds for angelsharks ( Squatina squatina ), which were once widespread across European coasts but have now vanished from much of their former range. Here, adults and juveniles are still regularly seen, and the species has become a flagship for the local diving tourism industry. But even in this refuge, sightings are becoming less reliable. In just a few years, the number of hot days in the region has steadily increased from 30 days above 72.5°F (22.5°C) in 2019 to 85 such days in 2022. These elevated temperatures now extend well into what used to be the cooler season, narrowing the window when mating can safely occur. 'Our concern is that key areas may become inhospitable for females,' Mead said. 'These findings have important implications for how we conserve this highly threatened species in a warming world.' The team believes conservation strategies must begin factoring in these behavioral shifts, especially as climate extremes become more frequent and severe. And co-lead Eva Meyers from the Leibniz Institute stressed that this research underscores why long-term monitoring of critical habitats like the Canary Islands is so vital. 'These findings are a reminder of how climate extremes are already reshaping the behaviour of threatened marine species,' Meyers stressed, calling for more urgent protection of these areas, not only for angelsharks but for the broader marine ecosystems they support. Angelsharks are ambush predators that help maintain balance in coastal food webs, so if their populations collapse, the effects could ripple outward in unpredictable ways. 'It's important to understand how changes in the ocean's physicochemical conditions can affect the [all] species that inhabit coastal ecosystems,' agreed Dr. David Jiménez Alvarado of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 'These environmental shifts may alter the habitat use and behaviour of key predatory species that play a crucial role in maintaining trophic balance. Since many of these species are already globally threatened, studying how climate-related stressors impact their ecological function is essential for developing effective conservation and management strategies.' For threatened marine species like the angelshark, which are already teetering on the brink, even small shifts in behavior can have large consequences. As the world focuses on land-based climate impacts, it's easy to overlook what's happening beneath the waves. But the ocean is warming too — and quickly. The choices angelsharks are making now, between mating and survival, reflect a sinister truth: marine life is adapting… but not always in ways that ensure its future. If we're serious about conserving ocean biodiversity, we need to pay attention to these warning signs and act before more species are pushed past their limits.
