Posts in category: Uncategorized

We, as adults, experience a unified conscious world by integrating various scattered pieces of information from the external environment. To experience consciousness by integrating individual features into one, it is believed that not only aggregating information from lower to higher visual areas but also “feedback processing,” where information is sent back from higher to lower visual areas in the brain, plays a crucial role.

An international research team has revealed how Plasmodium vivax, one of the main causes of malaria, is capable of infecting people in Africa. This is an important discovery, given that until now these populations were considered to be naturally protected due to the absence of the Duffy protein on the surface of their red blood cells.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals have identified an enzyme that blocks insulin produced in the body—a discovery that could provide a new target to treat diabetes.

Providing human breast milk to preterm infants is a strategy for preventing complications including necrotizing enterocolitis. Because a mother’s own milk (considered the gold standard) is not always available, it is important to determine whether alternate breast milk products confer equal nutritional and bioactive value.

Researchers studied stomach and duodenal ulcers in a large research project comparing Japanese and European populations. They found 25 new genetic markers linked to ulcers which showed that, though these sores on the walls of the stomach and of the duodenum (the beginning part of the small intestine) share some genetic factors, stomach ulcers have more possible causes.

New research shows Māori and Pacific medical students remain underrepresented in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In an article published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil describe a potential strategy for combating zika virus (ZIKV).

Family gatherings and workplace parties with mouth-watering spreads are hallmarks of the holiday season. But if you want to boost your holiday cheer and your health simultaneously, tap your feet to the beats of salsa, merengue and bachata.

GOVERNMENT’s decision to lift the ban on the movement and sale of livestock in some selected parts of the country is a welcome move.

It is common knowledge that rearing livestock is an economic activity which supports a large por- tion of the country’s population.

And with the festive season quickly approach- ing, the livestock farmers have a chance to recoup some of the losses suffered during the ban.

The government was forced to effect the ban due to an outbreak of anthrax at the beginning of Oc- tober.

However, it is clear that the government’s quick intervention has helped the country contain the outbreak of anthrax and restrict it to a few areas.

Livestock and Fisheries Minister Makozo Chikote has announced that the ban on livestock trading has been lifted in low risk areas following the re- duction of anthrax cases.

Mr Chikote said the country has not recorded an anthrax case since October 21, 2023.

But this should not mean that livestock farmers should relax. They should ensure that they con- tinue to heed the experts’ advice on how to look after their animals.

They must ensure that they work closely with the Department of Veterinary Services whose exper- tise is crucial to the health of their livestock.

Mr Chikote said on its part, the ministry has con- tinued with surveillance as the disease has not been completely eradicated.

Mr Chikote said as part of the measures to con- trol the disease, farms within the affected areas were surveyed as well as those that reported sus- pected cases of the disease.

He said in Chongwe, 793 pigs were destroyed to prevent the disease from spreading, while 43 died after being infected.

The uncontrolled movement of animals is largely responsible for animal diseases and it is important that the Veterinary Department is active.

As Mr Chikote pointed out, the relaxation is how- ever subject to conditions that farmers should have a valid stock movement permit from the respective district veterinary office, among other measures.

This is to ensure that diseased animals are not transported across the country.

No wonder that when the country recorded an outbreak of anthrax, some cases were reported in areas which had never been affected before.

This just shows how irresponsible some live- stock owners could be by putting the whole coun- try at risk of animal diseases like anthrax.

Maintaining a healthy herd must be every cattle owners’ priority as that translates into wealth par- ticularly in rural areas.

For its part, the government, while assuring that it would continue with its surveillance must go out of its way to sensitise the farmers on proper animal husbandry.

This must include having their animals regularly treated. For those rearing pigs, the animals should be kept in clean surroundings.

Their focus should be on the export market espe- cially to the huge Congo DR market which is there for the taking.

Thus, they must prioritise the health of their animals to reap the economic benefits and must therefore not drop their guard.

Northwestern University researchers have developed new virtual reality (VR) goggles for mice. Besides just being cute, these miniature goggles provide more immersive experiences for mice living in laboratory settings. By more faithfully simulating natural environments, the researchers can more accurately and precisely study the neural circuitry that underlies behavior.