[www.keralites.net] Mucus Might Just Be the Answer to Healthier Teeth!

 

A New Way to Fight Against Cavities! You brush your teeth. You floss once a day. A couple of times a year you grit your teeth and visit the dentist for a bit of oral torture. So it is with apologies that we break the following news: The best defense against cavities might not be your own attentiveness, much less those fillings, sealants, or fluoride treatments. In fact, what could work better is warm, moist, and a bit slimy. That's correct, mucus. Mucus, along with tears and skin, makes up our first line of defense against disease. They all form a barrier against invading germs. And, as it turns out, according to a study published recently in the "Applied and Environmental Microbiology" journal, the crucial proteins found in mucus known as salivary mucins can protect our teeth from cavity causing bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans. Unlike toothpaste and mouthwash, which destroy bacteria, mucins prevent bacteria from attaching themselves onto your teeth and secreting acid that bores holes through the enamel. Now,the researchers who led the study are trying to engineer synthetic mucus that could be added to toothpaste or bubble gum. Sounds lovely doesn't it? As disgusting as this sounds, synthetic mucus might go well beyond just preventing cavities. Studies have suggested that mucins might also be able to defend against respiratory infections, stomach ulcers, and even HIV. Since mucins do not actually kill bacteria (they merely prevent bacteria from causing damage), they are seen by some as a much better alternative to antibiotics, which may kill not only harmful bacteria, but helpful bacteria as well, allowing more dangerous strains to take their place. This means that synthetic mucin might offer a less intrusive alternative, used "not necessarily to resolve infections but to stabilize or prevent infections," says Katharina Ribbeck, an assistant professor in the department of biological engineering at MIT, who co-authored this study alongside Erica Shapiro Frenkel, a Ph.D student in her lab.  We get cavities when bacteria such as S. mutans cling to our teeth, forming an intricate, mesh-like arrangement known as biofilm. The bacteria that make up this biofilm feed on the sugars found in the food we eat to produce acid that can then dissolve the tooth enamel. To investigate how much mucus might be needed to guard against this process, Ribbeck's group got down to the molecular level and homed in on a mucin known as MUC5B. This is the most commonly found mucin in the mouth. First, the researchers isolated MUC5B from saliva samples of some volunteers. Then, they grew S. mutans bacteria with sugar and a special broth in plates containing wells that were made from a plastic which imitates a tooth's enamel. Some of the wells also contained MUC5B. At the end of the experiment, Ribbeck and Frenkel counted the number of attached S. mutans bacteria at several points in time and found more of them floating in the growth broth than attached to the plastic in the wells containing MUC5B. This suggests that the mucin somehow prevents S. mutans from sticking to the surface of the tooth. How, exactly? The researcher aren't sure, but, according to Ribbeck, it's possible that MUC5B encases S. mutans in a "3-D spiderweb" that traps the acid that they secrete. MUC5B might even form a bacteria-repellent coating over the tooth's surface, or even turn off S. mutans genes that are involved in attachment and biofilm formation. Ribbeck and Frenkel are still trying to find the most likely mechanism, though they suspect that mucins might maintain bacterial diversity in the mouth by not only keeping S. mutans alive, but by also neutralizing the toxins that different bacterial strains release to outdo each other.  Of course, scientists still need to confirm the protective role of mucins before investigating the mechanisms involved. William Bowen, a professor at the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry, also points out that cavity-causing bacteria embed themselves in plaque - not directly to the surface of the tooth. And many other bacteria in the mouth cause cavities, not just S. mutans, which is not a "major acid producer." Still, having said that, Ribbeck and Frenkel have reported similar results with other surfaces, hinting at "a more general mechanism" of MUC5B. Translation? Benefits of synthetic mucus could extend far beyond human health, and could be used to prevent food spoilage, and the accumulation of bacteria on ship hulls and other surfaces, for example. "The applications are enormous," Ribbeck declared.

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[www.keralites.net] Complicated World!

 

Complicated World! Men: 1. All men are extremely busy. 2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women. 3. Although they have time for women, they don't really care for them. 4. Although they don't really care for them, they always have one around. 5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others. 6. Although they try their luck with others, they get really pissed off if the women leaves them. 7. Although the women leaves them they still don't learn from their mistakes and still try their luck with others. Women: 1. The most important thing for a woman is financial security. 2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes. 3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they never have something to wear. 4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully. 5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just "an old rag". 6. Although their clothes are always "just an old rag", they still expect you to compliment them. 7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don't believe you.

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[www.keralites.net] Will Eating Tomatoes Lead To Kidney Stones?

 

Will Eating Tomatoes Lead To Kidney Stones? Indian cooking is incomplete without all the spices and ingredients like garlic, chili, onion and tomatoes. You can hardly avoid these when you relish any typical Indian dish. Now comes the million dollar question- will eating tomatoes lead to forming of kidney stones in your body? To know this, let us find out how kidney stones are formed - Interestingly, you may not know that you have a kidney stone, till it starts moving within your kidney or gets into your ureter. That's when you start experiencing symptoms like severe pain in and around your ribs and lower abdominal area, nausea, increased urination, smelly urine and painful urination often with traces of blood in it.   Kidney stones often occur due a number of factors. Simply speaking, kidney stones form when there are substances in your urine which help form crystals. Uric acid, calcium and oxalate are examples of such substances. Also at the same time, if your urine does not have compounds that stop the crystals from sticking together, then stones occur. Food that you eat plays a major role in forming kidney stones. Avoiding such foods will definitely lower the risk of stone formation. So, what do tomatoes contain that may result in forming a kidney stone?   It is a good idea to clearly understand the link between tomatoes and kidney stones to avoid getting flustered over this issue. Normally eating tomatoes or tomato seeds does not result in kidney stones.   However, eating tomatoes may not be a good idea after all for those people who already have a tendency of developing kidney stones or have kidney related problems. There is a reason for this.   Tomato seeds have a lots of oxalate content. When this oxalate comes in contact with calcium in the body, it forms a compound known as calcium oxalate. This compound leads to forming of crystals in the kidneys eventually leading to formation of kidney stones.   So, if you already have kidney stones in your body or have the tendency to develop them, then you should keep away from consuming tomatoes in any form like in salads, dishes, sauces, puree etc. This will lower your risk of getting kidney stones.   One more thing to keep in mind is that if you already have kidney stones then avoid eating green tomatoes seeds. They are harmful for your kidneys. This is because these seeds are very difficult to digest and may lead to formation of more kidney stones if you eat them too frequently.   Tomatoes are a minefield of fibre, minerals, vitamins, lycopene and other antioxidants that boost your health tremendously. You should avoid its consumption in any form only if you have kidney stones.

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[www.keralites.net] The 15 Best Designed Cities According to UNESCO

 

UNESCO's Top 15 Cities for Culture Design UNESCO is the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and its purpose is to promote peace through education and scientific advancements. This organization has identified the 15 following cities as ones who maintain creativity and culture as part of advancement, while being very easy on the eyes. 1. Montréal, Canada   UNESCO calls Montréal "The City of Designers", as it is home to some 25,000 designers, as well as the famous Canadian Center for Architecture. The city also boasts many cultural centers, including museums, art galleries, and exhibition centers. 2. Buenos Aires, Argentina   One of South America's best places for design and architecture lovers, Buenos Aires is home to spectacular sculptures and buildings, mixing the styles of the Renaissance, Goth, and Art Deco. UNESCO points out the government's active roles in encouraging cultural exhibitions and constructions, as well as conservation of historical sites. 3. Curitiba, Brazil   This Brazilian city goes beyond architectural design, offering residents and tourists the opportunity to visit some of the world's most stunning gardens. 4. Bilbao, Spain   Bilbao is the home of the Guggenheim Museum, a truly odd-shaped building that is located in the heart of the city. It is also where an amazing wine warehouse from 1909 is located, which was meant to be demolished and was saved at the last moment, then converted into a cultural facility. 5. Turin, Italy   Originally the home of the Roman Senate, Turin is now the home of some of Italy's automotive giants – Fiat and Alfa Romeo. Additionally, the city has a slew of classic-period European architecture and is home to several innovative design companies. 6. Graz, Austria   Home to a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but that doesn't mean that this city stops for a moment, with its nearly 5,000 design companies. 7. Berlin, Germany   Once a city divided by a wall, Berlin is now home to over 2,400 design companies. Local companies focus on green technologies and designs, and the city itself promotes a healthy lifestyle of its residents. 8. Helsinki, Finland   If you love architecture, Helsinki should be high on your list of places to visit. The most remarkable part of the city's character is in its municipality's willingness to include residents in public design projects, as it did when it consulted with the locals about how to design public transportation seats. 9. Dundee, Scotland   Not a well known Scottish city, unless of course, you're a designer, Dundee is the United Kingdom's number one creative city of design. Dundee was the home to many textile companies, as well as shipbuilders, but as time passed, these industries made way to biotech and digital media. Despite its technological growth, the city still works to maintain and rejuvenate its old, traditional parts. 10. Shenzhen, China   The city's skyline is filled with cutting-edge buildings, celebrating the history of design Shenzhen has. With the recent shift of designers to Shanghai and Hong Kong, Shenzhen has become home for large finance companies instead. 11. Shanghai, China   The biggest design show in Asia is the Shanghai Design Show, which attracts brands and designers from all around the world. The city itself is home to more than 4,000 design agencies, 239 community centers for art and culture, 283 art institutions, 100 museums, and 25 libraries. Combined with the city's amazing skyline, it becomes obvious why the city was chosen by UNESCO. 12. Kobe, Japan   Kobe's modern skyline is not the result of sped up development, but of a rebuild following a catastrophic earthquake back in 1995. Despite past misfortune, Kobe is a world-class fashion and art city, second only to Paris. 13. Nagoya, Japan   Modern Nagoya is home for some major auto industries, such as Toyota and Mitsubishi, as well as advanced robotics centers. At the same time, it maintains a slew of local cuisine places, a traditional Japanese theatre, and medieval craftworks. 14. Seoul, South Korea   A hub of technology and innovation, South Korea is home to mega brands such as Samsung and LG. Along with its technological growth the city designated one of its oldest districts into its own "silicone valley", transforming it while keeping its historical roots. 15. Beijing, China   The home of the 2008 Olympic Games also boasts more than 3,000 years of rich history, incredible architecture, and traditional Chinese neighborhoods (hutongs).

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