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  • The interaction between circadian rhythms and nutrition | Scientia News

    The effect on sleep on nutrition (nutrition timing) Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The interaction between circadian rhythms and nutrition Last updated: 27/04/25, 11:20 Published: 01/05/25, 07:00 The effect on sleep on nutrition (nutrition timing) The circadian system regulates numerous biological processes with roughly a 24-hour cycle, helping the organism adapt to the day-night rhythm. Among others, circadian rhythms regulate metabolism, energy expenditure, and sleep, for which meal timing is an excellent inducer. Evidence has shown that meal timing has a profound impact on health, gene expression, and lifespan. Proper timed feeding in accordance with the natural circadian rhythms of the body might improve metabolic health and reduce chronic disease risk. Circadian rhythms Circadian rhythms are controlled by the central clock of the brain, which coordinates biological functions with the light-dark cycle. Along with meal timing, circadian rhythms influence key elements of metabolism such as insulin sensitivity, fat storage, and glucose metabolism. When meal timing is not synchronised with the body's natural rhythm, it can cause circadian misalignment, disrupting metabolic processes and contributing to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Literature has indicated that one should eat best during the daytime, particularly synchronised with the active phase of the body. Eating late at night or in the evening when the circadian rhythm of the body is directed towards sleep could impair metabolic function and lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and numerous other diseases. Also, having larger meals in the morning and smaller meals later in the evening has been linked to improved metabolic health, sleep quality, and even lifespan. A time-restricted eating window, in which individuals eat all meals within a approximately 10–12 hour window, holds promise for improving human health outcomes like glucose metabolism, inflammation, harmful gene expression, and weight loss ( Figure 1 ). It is necessary to consider the impact of meal timing on gene expression. Our genes react to a number of stimuli, including environmental cues like food and light exposure. Gene expression of the body's metabolic, immune, and DNA repair processes are regulated by the body's circadian clock. Disturbances in meal timing influence the expression of these genes, which may result in greater susceptibility to diseases and reduced lifespan. Certain nutrients, such as melatonin in cherries and grapes, and magnesium in leafy greens and nuts, can improve sleep quality and circadian entrainment. Omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish and flax seeds also have been shown to regulate circadian genes and improve metabolic functions. Other species Meal timing is quite varied among species, and animals have adapted such that food-seeking behavior is entrained into circadian rhythm and environmental time cues. There are nocturnal animals which eat at night, when they are active ( Figure 2 ). These nocturnal animals have evolved to align their meal time with their period of activity to maximise metabolic efficiency and lifespan. Meal timing is optimised in these animals for night activity and digestion. Humans, and most other animals, are diurnal and consume food during the day. In these animals, consuming most of their calories during the day is conducive to metabolic processes like glucose homeostasis and fat storage. These species tend to have better metabolic health when they are on a feeding regimen that is synchronized with the natural light-dark cycle. Conclusion Meal timing is important in human health, genetics, and life expectancy. Synchronising meal times with the body's circadian rhythms optimises metabolic function, reduces chronic disease incidence, and potentially increases longevity by reducing inflammatory genes and upregulating protective ones. This altered gene expression affects the way food is metabolised and metabolic signals are acted upon by the body. Humans naturally gravitate towards eating during daytime hours, while other creatures have feeding habits that are adaptively suited to their own distinct environmental needs. It is important to consider this science and incorporate it into our schedules to receive the best outcome from an activity that we do not normally think about. Written by B. Esfandyare Related article: The chronotypes REFERENCES Meléndez-Fernández, O.H., Liu, J.A. and Nelson, R.J. (2023). Circadian Rhythms Disrupted by Light at Night and Mistimed Food Intake Alter Hormonal Rhythms and Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , [online] 24(4), p.3392. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043392 . Paoli, A., Tinsley, G., Bianco, A. and Moro, T. (2019). The Influence of Meal Frequency and Timing on Health in Humans: The Role of Fasting. Nutrients , [online] 11(4), p.719. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30925707 . Potter, G.D.M., Cade, J.E., Grant, P.J. and Hardie, L.J. (2016). Nutrition and the circadian system. British Journal of Nutrition , [online] 116(3), pp.434–442. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114516002117 . St-Onge MP, Ard J, Baskin ML, et al. Meal timing and frequency: implications for obesity prevention. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(1):7-16. Patterson RE, Sears DD. Metabolic effects of intermittent fasting. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017;37:371-393. Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ. Melatonin treatment for age-related insomnia. Endocrine. 2012;42(3):1-12. Prabhat, A., Batra, T. and Kumar, V. (2020). Effects of timed food availability on reproduction and metabolism in zebra finches: Molecular insights into homeostatic adaptation to food-restriction in diurnal vertebrates.Hormones and Behavior, 125, p.104820. Project Gallery

  • STEM research and resources for students | Scientia News

    Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and the other sciences. Log In Welcome to Scientia News DELIVERING INFORMATIVE CONTENT Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and other sciences. We hope this platform helps you discover something that inspires your curiosity, and encourages you to learn more about important topics in STEM. Meet the Official Team NAVIGATE AND CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US! To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Latest Articles biology The interaction between circadian rhythms and nutrition View More physics Basics of transformer physics View More Biology The effects of nanoparticles on health View More zoology Emperor penguins, the kings of the ice View More CONTACT CONTACT US Scientia News welcomes anyone who wants to share their ideas and write for our platform. If you are interested in realising your writing potential with us AND live in the UK; and/ or would like to give feedback: Email us at scientianewsorg@gmail.com or fill in our GET IN TOUCH form below and we'll be in contact... Follow us on our socials for the latest updates. Comment, like and share! Join our mailing list below for latest site content. You can also sign up to become a site member . SUBSCRIPTION Join our mailing list to receive alerts for new articles and other site content. Be sure to check your spam/ junk folders in case emails are sent there. Email Subscribe GET IN TOUCH First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

  • The effects of nanoparticles on health | Scientia News

    Looking at silicon dioxide Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The effects of nanoparticles on health Last updated: 13/04/25, 16:25 Published: 01/05/25, 07:00 Looking at silicon dioxide There are around 100 trillion harmless and beneficial microbes in the gut, representing as many as 5,000 different species! They are called the gut microbiota and are essential for regulating brain function through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, controlling intestinal inflammation and more. Nanoparticles may alter the gut microbiota, posing a risk to health and well-being. Read on to find out more about how. What are nanoparticles? Nanoparticles are small particles that are usually less than 100 nm in diameter. One example of a common nanoparticle is silicon dioxide, which can be found as the food additive E551. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) are commonly used as anti-caking agents in free-flowing powdery food products, such as spices and coffee. These nanoparticles can be toxic, damaging cells, tissues, and organs including the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The damage is primarily due to the way SiO2NPs react in the body as a result of their size: even though SiO2NPs are bigger than 100 nm in the form of E551, when the SiO2NPs are in the gastrointestinal tract, they can clump together and degrade into a smaller size of 10-50 nm. The experiment Researchers completed several experiments to examine the effects of exposure to SiO2NPs on health. This article will specifically talk about one experiment where they looked at the impacts of SiO2NPs on the gut microbiota. For this experiment, the researchers hypothesised that oral exposure to SiO2NPs will cause changes in the gut microbiota, affecting diversity and function in mice. 20 healthy male 4-week-old mice were used, weighing 8 to 12 grams. Researchers administered either SiO2NPs solution or vehicle solution for 28 days. The vehicle solution can be considered the control and was created out of a sterile saline solution. All bacteria contain the 16S rRNA gene which is highly conserved, meaning that the sequence remains mostly unchanged across different species. After 28 days, the researchers took faecal samples from the mice and conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the bacterial DNA in the faeces to analyse the gut microbiota. Figure 1 shows the process of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, a method used to identify and compare bacterial diversity without needing to grow bacterial cultures. Because it is culture-free, 16S sequencing can survey complex microbiomes or difficult environments to study. This technique is commonly used to identify bacteria down to the genus or species level, depending on the needs of the experiments. Researchers looked at the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, with Sob, Ace, Chao, Simpson, and Shannon indices being used. Sob, Ace and Chao give information about the number of species, while Simpson and Shannon give information about the community diversity, including the species evenness. The results The results of this experiment, as seen in Figure 2 , show that there was a significant increase in Sob, Ace, and Chao indices, but there was no substantial change in Simpson or Shannon indices. This suggests that SiO2NPs can change the diversity of gut microbiota, which could impact their biological functions. For example, if there are changes to the gut microbiota, it could result in increased inflammation in the intestine. This could potentially lead to the immune system’s defences in the gut being weaker, allowing harmful pathogens to pass through the epithelial barrier more easily. Conclusion One of the main weaknesses of this experiment is that it was conducted on mice. Because of this, the study's findings cannot be directly translated to humans. In addition, the study was conducted over only 28 days, meaning we don’t know the long-term effects and consequences of the impacts of SiO2NPs on the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, this is still a critical study as it shows that SiO2NPs do impact the gut microbiota. It also shows that maintaining healthy gut microbiota is important. This can be done by being mindful of what we eat. So next time, instead of having instant noodles full of additives, think about making a home-made soup with your favourite vegetables! Eating unprocessed whole foods is not just good for us, but also for our gut microbiota! Written by Naoshin Haque Related articles: Nanomedicine / Nanoparticles as diabetes treatment / Silicon hydrogel lenses / Microbiota Project Gallery

  • STEM book reviews | Scientia News

    An extensive collection of insightful reviews on the best STEM books available. Whether you're a student looking to deepen your knowledge or something to aid your revision and research, an educator seeking great resources for your classroom, or simply a curious mind passionate about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and more, you'll find something here to inspire and inform you.  Discover Your Next Great Read Deep Dive into STEM Books Here you can explore an extensive collection of insightful reviews on the best STEM books available. Whether you're a student looking to deepen your knowledge or something to aid your revision and research, an educator seeking great resources for your classroom, or simply a curious mind passionate about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and more, you'll find something here to inspire and inform you. Our Curated Selections: Intern Blues by Robert Marion, M.D. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee

  • Epilepsy 101 | Scientia News

    Understanding what goes wrong in the brain Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Epilepsy 101 29/04/25, 16:10 Last updated: Published: 09/10/24, 11:32 Understanding what goes wrong in the brain Epilepsy is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, often causing unprovoked seizures due to irregular brain activity. But what exactly happens in the brain when someone has epilepsy? It is important to establish that not everyone with seizures has epilepsy. While epilepsy can start at any age, it often begins in childhood, or in people over the age of 60. Epilepsy can be due to genetic factors - 1 in 3 people with epilepsy have family history- or brain damage from causes like stroke, infection, severe head injury or a brain tumour. However, around half of epilepsy cases have an unknown cause. Now, imagine your brain as a big city with lots of lights. Each light represents a part of your brain that controls things like movement, feelings, and thoughts. Epilepsy is like when the lights in the city start flickering or shut completely. There are three main types of epilepsy, and each affects the lights in different ways: 1) Generalized epilepsy: when all the lights in the city flicker or go out at once, affecting the whole brain. There are two main kinds: Generalized Motor (Grand Mal) Seizures: Imagine the lights in the city going wild, making everything shake. This is like the shaking or jerking movements during myoclonic or tonic-clonic seizures. Generalized Non-Motor (Absence) Seizures: Picture the lights suddenly pausing, making everything freeze. During these seizures, a person might stare into space or make small, repeated movements, like lip-smacking. 2) Focal epilepsy: when only the lights in one part of the city flicker or go out. This means only one part of the brain is affected: Focal Aware Seizures: The lights flicker, but people in that part of the city know what’s happening. The person stays aware during the seizure. Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures: The lights flicker, and people lose track of what’s going on. The person might not remember the seizure. Focal Motor Seizures: Some lights flicker, causing strange movements, like twitching, rubbing hands, or walking around. Focal Non-Motor Seizures: The lights stay on, but everything feels strange, like sudden change in mood or temperature. The person might feel odd sensations without moving in unusual ways. 3) ‘Unknown’ epilepsy: ‘Unknown’ epilepsy is like a power outage where no one knows where it happened because the person was alone or asleep during the seizure. Doctors might later figure out if it's more like generalized or focal epilepsy. Some people can even have both types. But how do doctors find out if someone has epilepsy? A range of tests could be used to look at the brain’s activity and structure, including: Electroencephalogram (EEG): detects abnormal electrical activities in the brain using electrodes. This procedure can be utilised in Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), a more invasive method where the electrodes are placed directly on or within the brain to locate the abnormal electrical activities more precisely. Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): form images of the brain to detect abnormal brain structures such as brain scarring, tumours or damage that may cause seizures. Blood tests: test for genetic or metabolic disorders, or health conditions such as anaemia, infections or diabetes that can trigger seizures. Magnetoencephalogram (MEG): measures magnetic signals generated by nerve cells to identify the specific area where seizures are starting, to diagnose focal epilepsy. Positron emission tomography (PET): detects biochemical changes in the brain, detecting regions of the brain with lower-than-normal metabolism linked to seizures. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT): identifies seizure focus by measuring changes in blood flow in the brain during or between seizures, using a tracer injected into the patient. The seizure focus in this scan is seen by an increase in blood flow to that region. So, how does epilepsy affect the brain? For most people, especially those with infrequent or primarily generalised seizures, cognitive issues are less likely compared to those with focal seizures, particularly in the temporal lobe. The following cognitive functions can be affected: Memory : seizures can disrupt the hippocampus in the temporal lobe, responsible for storing and receiving new information. This can lead to difficulties in remembering words, concepts, names and other information. Language : seizures can affect areas of the brain responsible for speaking, understanding and storing words, which can lead to difficulties in finding familiar words. Executive function: seizures can impact the frontal lobe of the brain which is responsible for planning, decision making and social behaviour, leading to challenges in interacting, organising thoughts and controlling unwanted behaviour. While epilepsy itself cannot be cured, treatments exist to control seizures including: Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs): suppress the brain’s ability of sending abnormal electrical signals - effective in 70% of patients. Diet: ketogenic diets can reduce seizures in some medication- resistant epilepsies and in children as they alter the chemical activity in the brain. Surgery: 1) Resective Surgery: removal of the part of the brain causing the seizures, such as temporal lobe resection, mainly for focal epilepsy. 2) Disconnective Surgery: cutting the connections between the nerves through which the seizure signals travel in the brain, such as in corpus callosotomy, mainly for generalised epilepsy. 3) Neurostimulation device implantation (NDI): insertion of devices in the body to control seizures by stimulating brain regions to control the electrical impulses causing the seizures. This includes vagus nerve stimulation and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Even though epilepsy can be challenging, many people manage it successfully with the right treatment. Continued research offers hope for even better, long lasting treatments in the future. Written by Hanin Salem Related articles: Different types of epilepsy seizures / Alzheimer's disease / Parkinson's disease / Autism REFERENCES D’Arrigo, T. (n.d.). What Are the Types of Epilepsy? [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/types-epilepsy [Accessed 5 Aug. 2024]. Epilepsy Foundation. (n.d.). Thinking and Memory. [online] Available at: https://www.epilepsy.com/complications-risks/thinking-and-memory [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024]. GOSH Hospital site. (n.d.). Invasive EEG monitoring. [online] Available at: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and- treatments/invasive-monitoring/ [Accessed 9 Aug. 2024]. My Epilepsy Team.com. (2016). Epilepsy: What People Don’t See (Infographic) | MyEpilepsyTeam. [online] Available at: https://www.myepilepsyteam.com/resources/epilepsy-what-people-dont-see- infographic [Accessed 29 Aug. 2024]. National institute of Neurological Disorders and stroke (2023). Epilepsy and Seizures | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. [online] www.ninds.nih.gov . Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health- information/disorders/epilepsy-and-seizures [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024]. NHS (2020). Epilepsy. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/ [Accessed 10 Aug. 2024]. Project Gallery

  • Epilepsy 101: what are the different types of epilepsy seizures? | Scientia News

    Seizures are not mainly uncontrolled jerking and losing consciousness Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Epilepsy 101: what are the different types of epilepsy seizures? Last updated: 29/04/25, 16:09 Published: 27/02/25, 08:00 Seizures are not mainly uncontrolled jerking and losing consciousness After previously covering a very generic overview into epilepsy – what it is, its different types, methods of diagnosis and treatment, it would be a good idea to really delve deeper into the different types of seizures. Are they just convulsions, shaking and losing consciousness? Or is there more to it? Read more to find out! But before we begin, it is important to cover some key terms and prefixes, to help us with understanding what the different types of seizures are: Myo-: muscle Clonic: repeated jerking Tonic: muscle stiffness Atonic: muscles become limp Motor: movement From our previous article , we know that the two main types of epilepsy are generalised and focal epilepsy. Each type of epilepsy has different types of seizures associated with it. Generalised epilepsy – it consists of 2 main types of seizures (motor and non-motor seizures): 1) Generalised Motor Seizures: Involves changes in muscle activity, where they either move abnormally, or don’t move at all. This includes: Myoclonic seizures: sudden body jerks (especially the hands or the legs) as if someone had been jolted with electricity. Tonic - Clonic (Grand mal) seizures: This seizure has 2 main phases – a tonic and clonic stage:- Initial tonic (stiffness) phase is followed by a clonic (repeated, uncontrolled jerking of the limbs) phase. During the 'tonic' phase, the person may become unconscious and fall to the floor. In the 'clonic' phase, the person might struggle to breathe or uncontrollably bite their tongue. This is probably the ‘typical’ seizure everyone thinks of when they hear about epilepsy! Atonic seizures: The muscles become limp, and the person might even collapse. 2) Generalised non-motor seizures: They are usually also referred to as 'absence seizures', and they don’t include any changes in muscle activity. Instead, the person might stare into space, and might have a pause in activity, or a repetition in movements, such as lip-smacking for around 15 seconds or less. The individual may not remember what happened during the seizure; however their normal state of alertness is regained immediately after. People might easily confuse this type of seizure with daydreaming! Focal epilepsy- This is split into 4 main types based on whether the person is aware of their seizure, and if there are any changes in muscle activity involved: 1) Focal awareness seizures: Patient is fully aware of what is happening during a seizure, even if they are unable to move or respond. Some people might experience an "aura" as a warning before this seizure. This could feel like a strange sensation, fear, euphoria, a sense of déjà vu, feeling that something bad is about to happen, visual changes or even tingling or stiffness in their body. 2) Focal impaired awareness seizures: The person isn’t aware of their seizure, nor can they remember having it, and can’t respond to anyone during the seizure. The seizure can include movements such as moving their hands and legs or making random noises. 3) Focal Motor Seizures: involves random muscle activity, such as twitching, stiffness, limpness, or other movements such as rubbing hands, lip-smacking and walking around. 4) Focal Non-motor Seizures: no muscle movements or stiffness (as this is a non-motor seizure), but there is a change in a patient’s feelings and thoughts, causing strange feelings, a racing heart, and waves of heat or cold. Now that we’ve covered the key seizures, what triggers epilepsy seizures, causing those lights in the city (which in this case, is our brain) to start flickering or shut completely? There are many different causes, and they vary from one person to another. They could include: Stress Lack of sleep Drinking alcohol Consuming illegal drugs Not taking your anti-seizure medication (ASMs) Some types of medication Menstrual Cycle and hormonal changes Flashing lights (for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy) Photosensitive epilepsy is epilepsy that is triggered by flashing of lights, causing seizures such as myoclonic seizures. It is interesting to see how many people hold the misconception that seizures are mainly uncontrolled jerking and losing consciousness, when in fact there’s a huge variety of seizure! It is important that we know what different seizures look like, so we could help these individuals appropriately. Don’t be afraid to read further about epilepsy and seizures, and how to help people out there! Written by Hanin Salem Related articles: Epilepsy 101 (overview) / Traumatic brain injuries REFERENCES Dhanyamraju, S. (2019). What is a Seizure? - Lone Star Neurology . [online] Lone Star Neurology. Available at: https://lonestarneurology.net/seizures/seizures/ . [Accessed 19 Dec. 2024]. Ditki medical & biological sciences. (n.d.). Neurological System Glossary: Tonic-Clonic Seizure . [online] Available at: https://ditki.com/course/neurological-system/glossary/eeg-findings/tonic-clonic-seizure . [Accessed 19 Dec. 2024]. Epilepsy action (2022). Focal seizures | Epilepsy Action . [online] www.epilepsy.org.uk . Available at: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/seizures/focal-seizures [Accessed 18 Dec. 2024]. John Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Generalized Seizures . [online] Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/generalized-seizures#:~:text=Generalized%20seizures%20include%20absence%2C%20atonic [Accessed 17 Dec.2024]. NHS (2020). Symptoms - Epilepsy . [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/symptoms/ [Accessed 17 Dec. 2024]. Project Gallery

  • Beyond the bump: unravelling traumatic brain injuries | Scientia News

    The yearly incidence of TBI is around 27 and 69 million people worldwide Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Beyond the bump: unravelling traumatic brain injuries 29/04/25, 16:12 Last updated: Published: 15/10/24, 11:32 The yearly incidence of TBI is around 27 and 69 million people worldwide A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious and complex injuries sustained by the human body, often with profound and long-term effects on an individual’s physical, emotional, behavioural and cognitive abilities. What is a traumatic brain injury? A TBI results from an external force which causes structural and physical damage to the brain. The primary injury refers to the immediate damage to the brain tissue which is caused directly by the event. Whereas secondary injuries result from the cascade of cellular and molecular processes triggered by the initial injury and develop from hours to weeks following the initial TBI. Typically, the injury can be penetrating, where an object pierces the skull and damages the brain, or non-penetrating which occurs when the external force is large enough to shake the brain within the skull causing coup- contrecoup damage. Diagnosis and severity The severity of a TBI is classified as either mild (aka concussion), moderate, or severe, using a variety of indices. Whilst more than 75% of TBIs are mild, even these individuals can suffer long-term consequences from post-concussion syndrome. Here are two commonly used measures to initially classify severity: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is an initial neurological examination which assesses severity based on the patient’s ability to open their eyes, move, and respond verbally. It is a strong indicator of whether an injury is mild (GCS 13-15), moderate (GCS 9-12) or severe (≤8). Following the injury and any period of unconsciousness, when a patient has trouble with their memory and is confused, they are said to have post-traumatic amnesia (PTA). This is another measure of injury severity and lasts up to 30 30 minutes in mild TBI, between 30 minutes and 24 hours in moderate TBI, and over 24 hours in severe TBI. Imaging tests including CT scans and MRIs are used to detect brain bleeds, swelling or any other damage. These tests are essential upon arrival to the hospital, especially in moderate and severe cases to understand the full extent of the injury. Leading causes of TBI Common causes of TBI are a result of: Falls (most common in young children and older adults) Vehicle collisions (road traffic accidents- RTAs) Inter-personal violence Sports injuries Explosive blasts Interestingly, the rate of TBI is 1.5 times more common in men than women. General symptoms The symptoms and outcome of a TBI depend on the severity and location of the injury. They differ from person to person based on a range of factors which include pre-injury sociodemographic vulnerabilities including age, sex and level of education, as well as premorbid mental illnesses. There are also post-injury factors such as access to rehabilitation and psychosocial support which influence recovery. Due to this, nobody will have the same experience of a TBI, however there are some effects which are more common than others which are described: Mild TBI: Physical symptoms: headaches, dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision. Cognitive symptoms: confusion, trouble concentrating, difficulty with memory or disorientation. Emotional symptoms: mood swings, irritability, depression or anxiety. Moderate-to-severe TBI: Behavioural symptoms: aggression, personality change, disinhibition, impulsiveness. Cognitive symptoms: difficulties with attention and concentration, decision making, memory, executive dysfunction, information processing, motivation, language, reasoning, self-awareness. Physical symptoms: headaches, seizures, speech problems, fatigue, weakness or paralysis. Many of these symptoms are ‘hidden’ and can often impact functional outcomes for an individual, such as their capacity for employment and daily living (i.e., washing, cooking, cleaning etc.). The long-term effects of TBI can vary, with some returning to normal functioning. However, others might experience lifelong disabilities and require adjustments in their daily lives. For more information and support, there are some great resources on the Headway website, a leading charity which supports individuals after brain injury. Written by Alice Jayne Greenan Related articles: Neuroimaging / Different types of seizures Project Gallery

  • Biological sciences | Scientia News

    Dive into the latest biological research! Explore the profound impact of negligent exercise on well-being, discover breakthroughs in organoid and iPSC research, and gain insights into how biomarkers are enabling disease diagnosis and prevention. Biology Articles Dive into the latest biological research! Explore the profound impact of negligent exercise on well-being, discover breakthroughs in organoid and iPSC research, and gain insights into how biomarkers are enabling disease diagnosis and prevention. You may also like: Cancer , Ecology , Genetics , Immunology , Neuroscience , Zoology , and Medicine Can a human brain be uploaded to a computer? Uncovering the possibilities of transferring information from your brain to a computer Impacts of negligent exercise on physiology How to avoid negligent personal training as it can harm the individual Key historical events in public health A timeline of discoveries in the history of public health Influence of different environmental factors on exercise How different environmental factors can affect exercise Why bacteria are essential to human survival The benefits of bacteria Will diabetes mellitus become an epidemic? Diabetes mellitus is when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it Correlation between a country's HDI and COVID-19 mortality rate HDI stands for Human Development Index, i.e. how much a country is developed considering various factors such as wealth Rising food prices Food deserts and malnutrition Organoids in drug discovery What organoids are, their applications in drug discovery and more The genesis of life What came first: the chicken or the egg? Challenges in endometriosis Form underreporting to under-research iPSCs and organoids iPSC stands for induced pluripotent stem cells PCOS and endometriosis These two diseases are very similar, but how are they different? Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) A biomarker for renal damage Childhood stunting Its issue in developing countries Innovations in the biosciences The biggest ones currently Various health models Understanding health through different stances Medicinal Manuka The benefits of using Manuka honey as medicine The dual role of mitochondria A mechanism for survival, or death? Next

  • University prep | Scientia News

    Resources to help you prepare for university admission. Entrance Exam Preparation Resources to help you with university admission for: medicine , dentistry, natural sciences , physics , maths , engineering . Do note these entrance exams are mainly for UK universities, but can be used for international unis too. It is advised to check with the university when applying. You may also like: A-level resources, IB resources and Extra resources MEDICINE: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) UCAT resources: UCAT website / The Medic Portal / 6med UCAT Books: 1300 UCAT Practice Questions / 1250 UKCAT Practice Questions / UCAT 700+ UCAT online course: Medify Help with medical exams DENTISTRY: UCAT and BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT; for University of Leeds only) Dentistry application preparation BMAT: online mastery course / Medify guide / Past papers / 700 BMAT Practice Questions / BMAT ebook For UCAT resources, see above OTHER ADMISSION TESTS Engineering: STEP / PAT University of Cambridge: natural sciences (NSAA) / engineering (ENGAA) / maths (STEP) / physics (PAT)

  • Physics | Scientia News

    These articles range from astrophysics and space science to nuclear physics, harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. Physics Articles These articles range from astrophysics and space science to nuclear physics, harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. You may also like: Maths, Technology , Engineering The liquid viscosity of castor oil An experiment determining the liquid viscosity of castor oil using spheres Summary of a pendulum experiment An experiment on the pendulum and its relation to gravity Female Nobel Prize winners in physics Who were they and what did they achieve? The Northern Lights in the UK What determines the Northern Lights to be seen in your country? The James Webb Space Telescope And its significance in space exploration Geoengineering Will it work to save the environmental crisis? The Lyrids meteor shower What is it and when does it happen? Nuclear fusion Unleashing the power of the stars Colonising Planet Mars Which fuel would be used to colonise Mars? Superfluids And their incredibly slippery nature Total solar eclipses A description of them Mercury The closest planet to the Sun The DESI instrument DESI stands for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Cumulus clouds How they form and their link to the weather Hubble Tension The cause of the Hubble Tension discrepancy is unknown Artemis The lunar south pole base A room-temperature superconductor? The search for one Physics in healthcare Incorporating nuclear medicine The Crab nebula In the constellation of Taurus The physics of LIGO LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Next

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