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Introduction : In a recent study published in  a group of researchers evaluated how various intermittent fasting (IF) regimens impact the composition of the human gut microbiome. Background :   Fasting, the voluntary avoidance of food and drinks, varies from calorie restriction (CR), which reduces daily calorie intake without causing malnutrition. Fasting is categorized into IF and prolonged fasting (PF), with PF involving water-only consumption for two or more days. IF is popular in various lifestyles, religions, and cultures, encompassing methods like time-restricted eating (TRF), where food intake is limited to 12-18 hours daily, alternate day fasting (ADF), and the 5:2 diet, which alternates between fasting and unrestricted eating days. While TRF may not reduce overall calorie intake, ADF limits calories to about 25% of daily needs on fasting days. Research indicates IF benefits weight loss, blood pressure, anti-inflammatory responses, and metabolic health, partly through ...

Introduction :   Smelling a familiar scent can help depressed individuals recall specific autobiographical memories and potentially assist in their recovery.  The study showed that scents are more effective than words at cueing up a memory of a specific event and could even be used in the clinical setting to help depressed individuals get out of the negative thought cycles and rewire thought patterns, aiding faster and smoother healing. About Research: Early in her career, Dr. Kymberly Young, a neuroscience researcher who studies autobiographical memories, realized that engaging the amygdala – the reptilian brain that controls not only the 'fight or flight' responses but also directs attention and focus to important events – helps with memory recall. She also knew of extensive evidence that people with depression have a hard time recalling specific autobiographical memories and that, in healthy individuals, odors trigger memories that feel vivid and 'real', likely becau...

Introduction of Article :   When pharmaceutical companies develop a novel drug for the market, several steps are required to assess and regulate its safety, effectiveness, manufacturability, and reliability. These processes, and all associated activities, are referred to as chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC). CMC  is conducted throughout drug development to create a product that meets patient needs while demonstrating to regulatory authorities that it is safe for market use and that rigorous testing has been performed. This article explores how CMC drug development works and the reasons its processes are typically outsourced to companies with specific expertise. What is drug development CMC? CMC is a critical element of drug development. It encompasses the evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of an active compound, as well as the finished drug product. In the initial phases, product safety and manufacturability are the focus. Later, the focus shifts tow...

  Background : Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairments that have an impact on daily life and functioning. These cognitive impairments affect abilities such as decision-making, memory, problem-solving, thinking, and mobility, often accompanied by drastic personality changes. The cognitive decline is attributed to the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and the hyperphosphorylation of tau neurofibrillary tangles, which also result in inflammation. The gut microbiome-brain axis plays a vital role in influencing the risk of mental health disorders such as depression and various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals with mild cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease have been found to have lower diversity indices for gut microbiota as compared to healthy controls. Various factors such as age, genetics, diet, and antibiotic usage are known to impact the gut microbiome, and understanding the ...

Introduction Cornell food scientists show that a standard quality test used for raw, organic milk is insufficient for distinguishing between specific groups of bacteria, suggesting that the criteria for determining milk quality at processing plants needs to be updated. Testing milk should not be one size fits all as tests should be used appropriately to give the best feedback to dairy producers, said lead author Renee Lee '21, a master's student who works in the laboratory of Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D. '97, the Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). If the current test causes milk to be downgraded or rejected by processors, the farmers will earn less money or not get paid at all.  The present test, called the Laboratory Pasteurization Count (LPC), looks for thermoduric bacteria (strong enough to endure pasteurization) and does not differentiate whether bacteria form spores or not – a key factor in determining both the qua...