Anthropogenic and environmental stress response in wolves and ungulates

The natural balance of predatory and prey populations is beginning to crumble under the heavy weight of climate change and anthropoengic disturbances. No where is it this delicate dance more visible than between ungulates and their predators, specifically roe deer and gray wolves across Eurasia. It has been well established that the presence of predators drastically increases stress related hormones in ungulate species; however, as humankind continually dominates and spreads across the landscape, prey species are unable to differentiate between predatory and anthropogenic related stress (Bonnot et al. 2018). The continual pressure of anthropogenic disturbances such as deforestation, hunting, and noise has already begun to offset the migration pattern, mating behavior, and stress response in roe deer (Bonnot et al. 2018). As the behavior of herds continues to be altered in response to climate and anthropogenic change, gray wolves will be under an increasing amount of stressors to maintain predator prey equilibrium. 

Gray wolves are a keystone species across the globe as a top down pressure to control primarily ungulate species; however, as ungulate species, roe deer in particular, change their behavior, wolves are forced to adapt. The rapid change in climate and overall suitable environment has increased undue stress on native/reintroduced packs that we are yet to see the full effect of (Santos et al. 2017). A major indicator of environmental and social stress in wolves is howling behavior (Mazzini et al. 2013). Therefore, in combination with physiological stress indicators, it can be assumed that changing prey behavior and the increased presence of humanity has begun to place an overwhelming amount of acute stress on packs (Santos et al. 2017). As anthropogenic and prey availability stressors are exponentially increasing, social relationships and the very foundation of packs may begin to unravel. Even under immense efforts to reintroduce the gray wolf across Eurasian, humanities environmental impact may be too severe to support apex predators and subsequently sustainable ecosystems.   

References

Bonnot, N. C., Bergvall, U. A., Jarnemo, A., & Kjellander, P. (2018). Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Variation in the stress response among personalities and populations in a large wild herbivore. Oecologia, 188(1), 85–95. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1007/s00442-018-4174-7

Santos, N., Rio-Maior, H., Nakamura, M., Roque, S., Brandão, R., & Álvares, F. (2017). Characterization and minimization of the stress response to trapping in free-ranging wolves ( Canis lupus ): insights from physiology and behavior. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, 20(5), 513–522. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1080/10253890.2017.1368487

Mazzini, F., Townsend, S. W., Virányi, Z., & Range, F. (2013). Wolf howling is mediated by relationship quality rather than underlying emotional stress. Current Biology : CB, 23(17), 1677–1680. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.066 

How does the election effect a voters physiology?

Election day has finally arrived. This election has been highly anticipated, with many people believing that this may be the most important election in years. With an event as large as this one I wanted to see if there was any correlation between the election and a voter's physiological response throughout the voting process. Turns out that the election can have significant effects on the voters physiology and there are different variables which can affect the severity of the response. 

In 2008 a study found a correlation between the outcome of the election and the testosterone levels in males (Stanton, 2008). This study measured testosterone levels in males throughout the course of election night and found a decrease in testosterone levels for males who voted for John McCain and a consistent or increased testosterone level for people who voted for Barack Obama. In this paper they discussed the linkage between testosterone levels and dominance contests and show that males can have a similar physiology response from voting for the winning party as winning a dominance competition. From class we have discussed how this drop in testosterone may not be detrimental, but still shows a clear example of how the election can affect our human physiology. 

Another example of the linkage between the election and human physiology can be seen through measuring different voters' cortisol levels. Another study observing the 2008 election showed that the cortisol levels for people that voted for the losing candidate were significantly higher than voters for the winning candidate (Stanton, 2010). It was also shown that cortisol levels were higher than normal for voters in general until the results of the election were in, despite political parties. This is especially important to understand during this political season due to the possibility of delayed election results. If the results of the election are delayed we could possibly see these heightened cortisol levels leading up to the results being present for an extended period of time.

Furthermore, elections are not to be taken likely, they can change the course of our country as well as our world. However we should understand the effects that they can have on our own physiology and keep that in mind through this political season. Just because something is important doesn’t mean it has to have a negative impact on your health, so try and take care of yourself during this stressful time.

Stanton, S. J., Beehner, J. C., Saini, E. K., Kuhn, C. M., & LaBar, K. S. (2009). Dominance, Politics, and 

Physiology: Voters’ Testosterone Changes on the Night of the 2008 United States Presidential 

Election. PLoS ONE, 4(10), 1–6. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0007543

Stanton, S. J., LaBar, K. S., Saini, E. K., Kuhn, C. M., & Beehner, J. C. (2010). Stressful politics: Voters' 

cortisol responses to the outcome of the 2008 united states presidential election. 

Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(5), 768-774. doi:http://dx.doi.org.dml.regis.edu/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.10.018

 

Clorox and COVID-19

 

    As we are all very aware the COVID-19 Pandemic has drastically uprooted many lives and has changed the day-to-day routines of nearly everyone throughout the world. Sparse grocery store shelfs, empty restaurants and bars, and packed hospitals have all become the new normal for us since March 2020. With this in mind, how is the disinfection of these places being monitored and is this really helping stop the spread of COVID-19 or are we on the brink of a war against anti-microbial/anti-viral resistance? Since the beginning of quarantine finding a package of disinfectant wipes, anti-microbial cleaning sprays, and other common disinfectants has been like finding a needle in a haystack and as someone who used to religiously use Clorox Wipes and Lysol (ask any of my friends), I am very familiar with these products and their wonderful sanitizing properties. These products are being used more than ever, on nearly every surface humans come in contact with, whether it’s at the grocery, in the classroom, or the ED of your local hospital. While this is all fine and dandy in helping control the spread of COVID-19, is there a bigger beast we should be worried about down the line?

            Since the late 20^th century, scientists and doctors have warned the public about excessive use of household anti-microbial/anti-bacterial/anti-viral cleaning products, as they can further worsen ones susceptibility to infection (Wise et al., 1998). Nearly 30 years after the initial discussion, COVID-19 has brought about drastic concerns regarding anti-microbial resistance. As the rates of transmission have recently skyrocketed to levels not seen since the beginning of quarantine, it is now important as ever to maintain good hygiene habits and practice social distancing. Unfortunately, that means the use of more antimicrobial cleaners and disinfectants in areas that are vital to human life. It has been proposed by some scientists that the over disinfection and sterilizing of the places I have previously mentioned could actually create a better environment for the virus as they’re will be less microbial competition (Rawson et al., 2020). More importantly, the significantly increased use of these products in hospitals, walk-in clinics, and COVID-19 testing centers can spur the diagnosis of hospital-related infections such as bloodstream infections, UTI’s, pneumonia, and surgical site infection, among other things (cdc.gov). By no means am I discrediting the seriousness of this virus, but I do believe we as a society need to evaluate our use of household disinfecting products so we do not wake a beast that may have more extreme consequences than COVID-19.

 Works Cited

Rawson, T., Moore, L., Castro-Sanchez, E., Charani, E., Davies, F., Satta, G., . . . Holmes, A. (2020, May 20). COVID-19 and the potential long-term impact on antimicrobial resistance. Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/75/7/1681/5841159

Types of Healthcare-associated Infections. (2014, March 26). Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/hai/infectiontypes.html

Wise, R., Hart, T., Cars, O., Streulens, M., Helmuth, R., Huovinen, P., & Sprenger, M. (1998, September 05). Antimicrobial Resistance. Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://www.bmj.com/content/317/7159/609

Weight Gain? Weight loss? Lets talk about it!

 

         Weight gain is a very common health concern for many people including me!Yes, I said it. Managing your diet, exercising and overall being healthy is sometimes very difficult to maintain when you have a busy schedule and lifestyle. As someone who struggles with weight, I have personally tried every diet and weight loss pill you could think of. JK! (I just think I have…lol).  It is a struggle sometimes; my stubborn weight always seems to come back every time I lose weight and I know I am not the only one. There are many factors that contribute to weight gain like eating a lot of junk and a sedentary lifestyle. A relatively popular and common method used for weight loss are diets, because they are mostly inexpensive and can help with rapid weight loss in a short period of time.  So many of these diets come out all year round or are reintroduced back into the market that promise rapid weight loss and other health benefits often categorized as fad diets. 

           As I decided to give up on my attempt to lose weight, I stumbled on something called the ketogenic diet. I was skeptic and decided why not just try this. If it doesn’t work I will go back to being my chubby self. So, my journey with ketogenic diet began. You may ask, what is a ketogenic diet? Simple, a ketogenic diet (keto) is a low carbohydrate diet “that causes the body to release ketones into the bloodstream” (healthharvard,edu). That is when you do not eat a lot of carbs, after a period of time, the body begins to break down the stored carbs within the body that is needed for energy which leads to the process called ketosis. During ketosis the body burns the stored fat very quickly because energy is needed for all proper functioning of organs in the body contributing to weight loss. As I continued to do my research on ketogenic diet, I found out that they are sometimes recommended for cancer patients who have trouble digesting foods, especially before and after surgery. I was impressed, this may actually work for me and it truly did. It was not easy but I was able to lose 15lbs in a month and maintain it. It took about two weeks, for my body to adjust to my new dietary intake and actually started feeling good with some new found energy . A Boston Medical report, reviewed that over 45 million Americans try out or use a diet for weight loss including weight loss products to assist with faster weight loss. So, I am not the only one (sigh of relief!). Did you know that, In America only, over $33 billion is spent on weight loss products every year? Often the idea of losing weight sells very quickly (Bostonmedical.org).  

        To conclude ketogenic diet can be beneficial to weight loss. Ketogenic diet can be beneficial in many ways. And I think some more studies should be done to learn other ways can ketogenic diet can help the body not only limiting it to body weight. It is important that anyone who use or plans to use keto as an alternative form to lose weight know the effect of keto on their body and total cholesterol levels. There could be many underlying side effects that may arise from short or long-term use of a ketogenic diet including decreasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein which is vital for proper body functioning because it works against low density lipoprotein to unblock arteries for proper blood flow. So there goes, keto is good and I can testify of its effectiveness. However, everything has a short/long side effect. So therefore, remember to do your research, reach out to a professional and use due diligence to determine what  diet or supplement works out for you.

Bueno et al 2013: Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.  

Campos, Marcelo 2018 “Ketogenic Diet: Is the Ultimate Low-Carb Diet Good for You?” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Health Publishing. 

Cohen et al., 2018: Favorable Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Physical Function, Perceived Energy, and Food Cravings in Women with Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Coronary Artery Disease vs. High Altitude

Colorado may seem like the place to move to but is it really safe for those with pre-existing, severe cardiac issues? According to Khodaee et al. (2016), high elevations (2000 to 3000 m utilized in their study) can induce states of hypoxia as O2 levels decrease from normal, ~21% at sea level (Khodaee et al., 2016). Colorado has a mean elevation of 2,070 m with O2 levels ranging from 15.4% in Aspen (elevation at 2,400 m), and 12.3% at Pikes Peak (elevation at 4,302 m) (Mile High Training, n.d.). So how does high altitude affect the heart? With less O2 around, this can lead to your heart working harder and faster in order to maintain proper O2 levels throughout the body. Thus, if you are a healthy person with stable to no pre-existing cardiac issues, this will, hopefully, lead to an acute response: increased heart rate, contractility, and cardiac output until one is able to acclimate. Despite knowing this, research is very elusive regarding the effects of those with severe CAD and high altitude given that effects can vary largely on the individual, the level of activity, and/or even the weather (Rimoldi et al,. 2010; Parati et al., 2018). This suggests that further research should be conducted in order to ensure the safety of those with severe CAD who are ascending to higher elevations.

According to the CDC (2020), heart disease is also one of the leading causes of death, costing the United States about $219 billion from 2014-2015. The most common heart disease is CAD which about 18.2 million adults have (CDC, 2020). As future healthcare providers, this should raise red flags for us especially in the context of treatment. Moreover, due to the high prevalence, this should facilitate more urgency in researching severe CAD and factors, such as high elevation, in order to effectively treat and advise patients. 

CDC. (2020). Heart Disease Facts. Retrieved November 1, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

 

Khodaee, M., Grothe, H. L., Seyfert, J. H., & VanBaak, K. (2016). Athletes at High Altitude. Sports Health, 8(2), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738116630948

 

Mile High Training. Mile High Training Altitude to Oxygen Chart. (n.d.), Retrieved from https://milehightraining.com/altitude-to-oxygen-chart/

 

Parati, G., Agostoni, P., Basnyat, B., Bilo, G., Brugger, H., Coca, A., Festi, L., Giardini, G., Lironcurti, A., Luks, A. M., Maggiorini, M., Modesti, P. A., Swenson, E. R., Williams, B., Bärtsch, P., & Torlasco, C. (2018). Clinical recommendations for high altitude exposure of individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions: A joint statement by the European Society of Cardiology, the Council on Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology, the European Society of Hypertension, the International Society of Mountain Medicine, the Italian Society of Hypertension and the Italian Society of Mountain Medicine. European heart journal, 39(17), 1546–1554. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx720

 

Rimoldi, S. F., Sartori, C., Seiler, C., Delacrétaz, E., Mattle, H. P., Scherrer, U., & Allemann, Y. (2010). High-altitude exposure in patients with cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and practical recommendations. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 52(6), 512–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2010.03.005

The Vaping Crisis

    E-cigarette use has exploded in popularity and use over the past several years; however, what makes this particularly concerning is its popularity among teenagers with a whopping 27.5% of high school students admitting to currently using e-cigarettes (Setty 2019). Some might argue that it is not as bad as smoking cigarettes, but not so fast. Research has shown traces of heavy metals such as aluminum, iron, tin, copper, zinc, and lead to be present in the inhaled vapor (Williams 2019). This is thought to occur because the intense heat generated within the e-cigarette used to vaporize the liquid may also cause the metals to leach into the liquid. Harmful chemicals such as diacetyl and formaldehyde are also inhaled which are known to pose a risk to an individual’s lungs (Broderick). All of that is aside from nicotine being a highly addictive drug with about half of smokers attempting to quit annually, but only about 6% being successful (CDC 2010). Those statistics should be extremely worrying when considering that so many young people who start smoking are completely unaware that they may likely be unable to break their new habit. The most concerning aspect of this should be how little we really know about long-term effects of e-cigarette use. They have become mainstream only recently, so scientists and doctors do not know what the long-term health effects of their use are. It is very possible that the health effects of vaping may not become evident until the the next several years or even decades. 

    All of this is complicated by the fact that many e-cigarettes are designed to look like inconspicuous items such as pens or USB’s (making it easy for minors to hide them from their parents), and popular e-cigarette brands such as JUUL being widely accused of marketing to those minors and even being taken to court on this charge by environmental groups, the North Carolina DA, a Florida law firm, and many other groups and individuals. The vaping crisis has gotten so out of hand that the federal age for sale of tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 last year. I’m curious to know what other people think about this issue. Is raising the age for tobacco sales a good start, is there no effective way to combat teenage vaping, or is it not even that big of an issue?

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Quitting smoking among adults—United States, 2001-    2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(44):1513-1519.

Setty, G. (2019, November 5). More than half of teens who vape use Juul and its mint pods are No. 1 flavor in high school, new studies show. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/more-than-half-of-teens-who-vape-use-juul-new-studies-show.html

What Does Vaping Do to Your Lungs? Hopkins Medicine.                              https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-does-vaping-do-to-your-lungs

Williams, M., Li, J., & Talbot, P. (2019). Effects of Model, Method of Collection, and Topography on Chemical Elements and Metals in the Aerosol of Tank-Style Electronic Cigarettes. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50441-4

The smell of memories

 Have you ever caught a smell and instantly you can start remembering the first time you experienced the smell, or perhaps a period in your life with a distinct visual memory? Well, as it turns out there is a strong connection between the human olfactory and memory system.  

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that the region of the brain that stores information based on space and time integrates with the same region of the brain that is important for the sense of smell known as the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON). When this information combines in the brain, a memory is formed, and this process is called an episodic memory. While researching this connection, the researchers discovered a new neural pathway between the AON and the hippocampus, which also happens to be highly impacted in Alzheimer’s patients. Interestingly enough, patients with Alzheimer’s are commonly found to have lost their sense of smell, thus providing more evidence for its connection and impact on memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients. Without smell, these memories cannot be triggered.

 

This pathway is fascinating as it can be used a potential screening for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. There has been some shift in focus to creating smell tests that can target this neural connection in the brain. Thus providing affordable and non-invasive detection measures that can be used for these patients for early diagnosis.

Aqrabawi, A. J., & Kim, J. C. (2018). Hippocampal projections to the anterior olfactory nucleus differentially convey spatiotemporal information during episodic odor memory. Nature Communications, 9(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05131-6