Natto is widely recognized for inhibiting arteriosclerosis, yet its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Researchers led by the University of Tsukuba studied the effects of natto on arteriosclerosis in mice. The findings, published in Scientific Reports showed that consuming natto induced changes in the intestinal microflora, suppressing inflammation and preventing arteriosclerosis.
Moderate low-carbohydrate diet found to be beneficial for adults with type 1 diabetes
A moderate low-carbohydrate diet for adults with type 1 diabetes has advantages over traditional diet. The average blood sugar level is reduced and the time with good values during a 24 hour period is increased, without any negative health impact. This has been shown in a study carried out at the University of Gothenburg.
Researchers find about a quarter of mitochondrial disease patients suffer from malnutrition
A healthy diet is a key factor in making sure both children and adults have enough energy to get through the day. However, patients with primary mitochondrial disease have an additional challenge, since mitochondria function as the “batteries” of our cells, and the disease can impair the function of mitochondria and affect energy levels.
New health mapping study pinpoints cancer risk factors at local level
A new QUT-led study that maps health statistics in Australia highlights the disparities in small area-level data and identifies communities where people may have unhealthy behaviors that could lead to cancer.
Study finds connection between light levels and mental health: Climate change could also have impact
In Finland, there is a clear increase in the number of sick days taken due to depression, anxiety and sleep disorders in October and November, whereas the number of absences is lower than expected between June and September. In late autumn, the number of sick days taken is almost twice as high as in the summer and about a quarter higher than in early autumn. On the other hand, manic episodes related to bipolar disorder occur more frequently than expected during the spring and summer, when there are more daylight hours, and less frequently than expected during darker times of year.
Researchers develop novel intranasal mask to protect respiratory tract from viral aerosols
Researchers from two State Key Laboratories in Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel intranasal mask to protect the respiratory tract from viral aerosols. It showed satisfactory protection in a mouse model, digital human nasal model, and human respiratory tract model.
Health officials push to get schoolchildren vaccinated as more US parents opt out
When Idaho had a rare measles outbreak a few months ago, health officials scrambled to keep it from spreading. In the end, 10 people, all in one family, were infected, all unvaccinated.
CIVIL SERVICE FOR ALL
IT makes good reading to hear top officials from the new dawn administration preach about the need for unity in the nation across the political divide.
Yes, it is nice to hear the UPND spokesperson, Mr Cornelius Mwape calling for an end to the culture of hatred, reprimanding his cadres of threatening civil servants perceived to be remnants of the Patriotic Front Regime.
We recall that the UPND secretary-general Mr Batuke Imenda recently spoke out against their cadres especially those who locked the Sinda District Commissioner’s office.
They were not happy that the local leadership was favouring those they claimed were PF-aligned in accessing the Constituency Development Fund.
But until the nation starts to see action being taken against such offenders by the ruling party, their public statements will continue to be treated as mere rhetoric.
Mr Mweetwa was right to advise UPND functionaries to stop issuing statements threatening civil servants in the name of the ruling party because Zambia does not exclusively belong to members of the governing party.
Mr Mweetwa, the Minister of Information and Media as well as Chief Government Spokesperson called for unity and co-existence among Zambians irrespective of their divergent views.
He said it is against the Constitution for some UPND non-position carrying members to preach discrimination against other people on the basis of party affiliation.
Mr Mweetwa was referring to statement by a UPND stalwart, Mr Beene Hachoombwa who has warned Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa to remove from the civil service purported PF remnants.
He warned that should Mr Kangwa, the top civil servant fail to deal with what the UPND considers remnants of the PF, the party shall mobilise its cadres and wage protests against senior civil servants.
Mr Hachoombwa claimed that these are hijacking the policies of the new dawn administration.
In their place, Mr Hachoombwa wants those aligned to the UPND to be employed. He forgets that the civil service is staffed by nonpartisan Zambians.
Mr Hachoombwa claims to be a member of Presidential Hakainde Hichilema’s campaign team for the 2021 general elections and is therefore not an ordinary cadre.
Whatever he says can be viewed as carrying the weight of the UPND’s top leadership. The best the UPND could do is to take disciplinary action against him and show others that divisive talk will not be accepted.
It is their closeness to the powers-that-be that emboldens them to issue such statements although Mr Mweetwa thinks “Those of our members who do not have substantive positions in the structures of the UPND should not be using the tag of the ruling party when expressing themselves.”
We agree with Mr Mweetwa that politics of hatred in Zambians should be dispensed with and buried because Zambians were one people and that the country should never descend into a situation where citizens should be identifying each other through partisan lenses.
But that is what is being seen if the recent happenings are the Registrar of Societies is anything to go by or the large number of officers who have been dumped at Cabinet Office since the change of government.
Study discovers novel biomarker for vascular aging and neurodegeneration
Decreased activity of a specific signaling pathway in brain vessels was linked to a decline in vascular function and subsequent neurodegeneration, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Finding and targeting a tumor’s sweet spot to eradicate aggressive form of leukemia
A highly aggressive common form of leukemia which is activated by mutations in signaling molecules is maintained by a web of regulatory proteins downstream of these signals.