Latest news with #OOM
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Study shows how allergies differ in urban, rural children
New York: Scientists discovered that a previously uncharacterized subset of immune cells may play an important role in the development of allergy illnesses and explain disparities between urban and rural populations. The study sheds light on how the immune system develops in early life and why urban children are more prone to allergies than rural children. Led by researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Department of Pediatrics, including MD/PhD student Catherine Pizzarello and senior author Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, the study uncovered a unique subpopulation of T cells known as helper 2 (Th2) cells with distinct molecular characteristics. T-cells are the foundational immune cells that fight off infections, but there is evidence that this specific subtype is recognizing certain foods as allergenic and attacking them, according to Jarvinen-Seppo. "These pro-allergic T cells are more inflammatory than anything previously described in this context," said Jarvinen-Seppo, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at UR Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital. "They were found more frequently in urban infants who later developed allergies, suggesting they may be a predictive biomarker or even a mechanistic driver of allergic disease." The study compared blood samples from urban infants with those from infants in a farming community, specifically the Old Order Mennonites (OOM) of New York's Finger Lakes region--known for their low rates of allergies. Researchers found that while urban infants had higher levels of the aggressive Th2 cells, OOM infants had more regulatory T cells that help keep the immune system in balance and reduce the likelihood of allergic responses. While additional research is needed to identify a possible cause, Jarvinen-Seppo speculates that differences in the development of the gut microbiome between the two populations, and more exposure to "healthy" bacteria in rural children, may be a factor. "The farming environment, which is rich in microbial exposure, appears to support the development of a more tolerant immune system. Meanwhile, the urban environment may promote the emergence of immune cells that are primed for allergic inflammation," said Jarvinen-Seppo. The work is part of a broader, NIH-funded investigation into how early-life exposures influence long-term immune outcomes. In 2023, Jarvinen-Seppo's team received a $7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to study environmental, microbiome, and immune differences between OOM and urban infants. The goal is to continue this foundational work to uncover protective factors that could be translated into preventive therapies, including probiotics or microbiome-supporting interventions. "If we can identify the conditions for this disparity between the different T cell subpopulations, we can potentially find solutions in allergic disease development," Jarvinen-Seppo said.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harrison Crowe goes low to snatch NZ Open lead
Former amateur star Harrison Crowe cashed in on a red-hot putter to take a one-shot first-round lead after a day of low scoring at the New Zealand Open. Sunny conditions left the Millbrook Resort layout at the mercy of the field on Thursday, and they took full advantage with more than half of the field breaking par. Nobody capitalised more than Crowe, who had one eagle and nine birdies in a nine-under round of 62 where the only blemish was a double-bogey six on the 13th after he lashed his tee shot out of bounds. Even then, the 23-year-old bounced straight back with an eagle-three on the following hole. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰Harrison Crowe posted the lowest score of the day to hold the lead after Round 1 #NZOpen📸: @PhotosportNZ — PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 27, 2025 "I definitely had a lot of things go my way today and I think to shoot these rounds you have to," said Crowe who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur and the NSW Open in 2022 before turning professional the following year. "After that double bogey, to back it up with the eagle ... it was a nice day out there." Crowe had a hot run before Christmas with top-10 finishes at the NSW Open, Australian PGA and Australian Open, but had missed his last three cuts on the Australasian Tour before arriving in Arrowtown. "It's felt a little bit annoying at times over the last month of golf," he said. "But it's got to turn around eventually because I've been playing solid-enough golf and the putts finally went in today so we've got to keep it rolling." Fellow Australian James Marchesani was in outright second at eight under, a shot clear of Australians Lucas Herbert and Kevin Yuan, and South Korean Guntaek Koh. LIV Golf star Herbert is playing the NZ Open for the first time since 2020 and is eyeing the guaranteed British Open spots on offer to both the Australiasian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) winner and the tournament victor. He holed a clutch birdie putt from off the fringe on the 17th on Thursday to get to seven under, but was frustrated not to drain another makeable birdie attempt on the last hole. "I've struggled with the putter for a while," said Herbert. "I felt like I putted OK without being amazing. "I hit a lot of good puttts but I couldn't get as many to go in as I would have liked. "It's probably going to be a week of low scoring so it was good to get off to a hot start and not feel like we're chasing from a long way back." OOM pacesetter Elvis Smylie is well placed in a big group tied for ninth at five under. Playing in the same group as Smylie, OOM contender Jack Buchanan had a dirty day. He eventually signed for an eight-over 79 to be in second-last spot. Takahiro Hataji from Japan made a middling start to his title defence in the $A1.8 million event with a two-under 69.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian Jack Buchanan aiming high at NZ Open
Rising Australian star Jack Buchanan need look no further than his New Zealand Open practice partner David Micheluzzi for inspiration as he stares down the prospect of a full DP World Tour card in 2026. Heading into this week's $A1.8 million Open at Millbrook Resort, Buchanan sits in fourth spot on the Australasian Tour order of merit (OOM). The three players above him - big-name Australians Elvis Smylie, Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert - already have full cards on either the LIV or DP World Tours. If the 22-year-old Buchanan can hold onto fourth spot or move even higher, he'll gain a full European card - just as Micheluzzi did two years ago. Micheluzzi made the best of the opportunity, finishing 72nd on the money list on debut to easily retain his card and gain access to the biggest events on the European Tour in 2026. "I spoke to David about a few things during the practice round on Tuesday," said Buchanan, who only turned pro 15 months ago after a celebrated amateur career which included playing a key role in Australia's silver-medal finish at the 2023 Eisenhower Cup. "Its good to learn from guys like David, to see how he's progressed in his career and that you can do it too. "Obviously the focus is to play well here this week, but you can afford to think about the big picture as well with the order of merit. "In golf you've got to accept being under pressure. "It's definitely the ultimate goal and it would be great to get out onto the European Tour next year." The Scottish-born Buchanan got off to a flying start on the 2024-25 Australasian Tour with wins at the WA PGA and the Webex Players Series South Australia. He than finished high enough in a LIV qualifier in Saudi Arabia to gain automatic entry into the 10 International Series events on the Asian Tour in 2025. The winner of the Australasian OOM is guaranteed a start in the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush and will almost certainly get invited to the US PGA as well. There's another British Open spot on offer to the winner of the NZ Open which has helped attract such a strong field including the likes of Smylie, Herbert, Micheluzzi and Australian Open runner-up Curtis Luck, Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and New Zealanders Daniel Hillier, Ben Campbell and Steve Alker. "I was playing here no matter what, but when I saw that (a guaranteed British Open start for the winner) it was like 'alright, let's get into it'," said Micheluzzi. "That will fit nicely in the schedule when we get to Europe. "But I'm just looking forward to the week. "The course is always immaculate, I've got a few of my mates staying with me this week and I've got my girlfriend here as well." Smylie will effectively lock away the OOM title if he finishes fourth or better this week. But in the unlikely event that the Australian PGA champion misses the cut, any of the top six could overtake him, with LIV Golf star Herbert the main danger. Australasian Tour OOM (with four events remaining) 1. Elvis Smylie, 1247.56 points 2. Cameron Smith, 735.68 3. Lucas Herbert, 717.06 4. Jack Buchanan, 626.21 5. Curtis Luck, 523.44 6. Anthony Quayle, 496.54 * The winner of the NZ Open receives 760 points. The remaining three events offer 190 points each to the victor.
