Biology in Action

by Tiffany Rodriguez

Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the small passages in the lungs (bronchioles) of children, usually caused by a viral infection.  Some children have infections with few or minor symptoms.  It begins as a mild upper respiratory infection that can develop into increasing respiratory distress with wheezing and a tight wheezy cough over just a couple of days.  The infant’s breathing rate may increase a lot, and the infant may start to become short-tempered or anxious-looking. If the disease is severe enough, the infant may turn bluish, which is an emergency.  There have been many viruses found that seem to be the cause of bronchiolitis, including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza, or parainfluenza.  The virus is transmitted from person to person by direct contact.

This article is about a study done to determine whether or not specific types of pollution increases the risk of infants developing bronchiolitis.  The researchers analyzed about 12,000 diagnoses of infants with the developing disease between the years of 1999 and 2002 in southwestern British Columbia.  They monitored the levels of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter from monitoring stations within 10 kilometers of the homes of the infants to determine exactly how exposed the children are to the pollution.  They also used maps of land use regression to assess intensities of ambient pollution with respect to traffic and wood smoke.  The researchers also used other confounding variables including sex, gestational age, maternal smoking and breastfeeding.  As a result, they found that bronchiolitis is definitely linked to the amount of exposure to specific pollutants.  Nitric oxide increased the illness by 8%, nitrogen dioxide by 12%, carbon monoxide by 13%, and sulfur dioxide by 4%.  Infants who lived within 50 meters of a highway had a 6% increased chance of getting the illness and those who lived in a higher wood smoke exposure area had an 8% increased chance.

Pollution can cause many different respiratory diseases for infants, but these researchers focused on bronchiolitis for many different reasons.  First, it is the main reason for infants to become hospitalized within the first year.  Secondly, it is pretty harsh for an infant’s lungs to handle.  Lastly, the disease is pretty costly to handle and resolve.

Reflection

I became interested in this article for many different reasons.  I am currently attending Fairleigh Dickinson to become an elementary teacher, so anything involving children catches my attention.  Also, I have had much experience with infants working in an infant room for two years, dealing with children ranging between 2 months and 18 months old.  When a baby is sick, so much changes, and a parent may need to take many days off from work to help the child get better.  With the economy right now, parents need to try everything they can to avoid having to do so.  A parent should take into consideration the amount of pollution is around the area they live in, along with the area their child’s school is in.  I felt that this article was a great way to keep parents educated on different concerns regarding their children, pollution that harms their children, and the places where their children spend the most amount of time.

Works Cited

American Thoracic Society. “Air Pollution Increases Infants’ Risk Of Bronchiolitis.”

ScienceDaily 7 November 2009. 7 November 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/11/091106084243.htm>.

by Andrew K

Recently scientists realize that the precise molecular arrangement within natural pathways in organisms have been highly tuned for specific processes.  Compounds can be exploited directly and vital information over how new products can be synthesized by mimicking the biochemical process.  The bright future for research and development of natural products will soon be discussed by the European Science Foundation.  Some compounds investigated have shown to be effective against the HIV virus in laboratories.

Source:
http://www.esf.org/research-areas/physical-and-engineering-sciences/news/ext-news-singleview/article/nature-inspires-new-highly-specific-drugs-and-organic-products-481.html

by Tara D
Scientists in the department of plant biology and pathology at Rutgers University received an award for their work in plant breeding.  New technology has been developed for the purposes of  breeding all types of crops and grasses. Stacy Bonos, professor at rutgers, uses plant genetic resources to develop new plant types.  Some of her varieties are more tolerant and therefore need less pesticides and fertilizers.  This new research will improve the quality of the environment.  Bonos has developed at least 14 new plant varieties for agriculture.

Source
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20091112/LIFE02/911120304/Rutgers-professor-receives-plant-breeding-award

by Matt K

After reading the article, I agree with what it says. I think that if you have a pet in your life than you will not have as high of a blood pressure. Pets are great companions because they will love you no matter who you are and what you do. I have a pet dog and I love her. She makes me happy and I love playing fetch with her. She is a chocolate Labrador named Toby. Dogs can keep you in shape because they always love to walk and play. When I had a bad day my dog always makes me feel better.

by Brittany Schwartz

Corey Haas is a seven-year-old boy that was born with a retinal disease. Most of his vision is already gone, and in order to get around he clings to his parents and walks with a cane. In school he could not see the blackboard at all and had to sit with an aid in the back of the room with a large type computer screen and materials in brail. Up until 13 months ago Corey was legally blind and expected to eventually lose all of his sight. After his eighth birthday he underwent an experimental gene procedure where he injections in his left eye. His vision in his left eye began to improve rapidly. Corey is now nine years old and drives-go carts, plays on a little league baseball team, navigates wooded trails near his home in Hadley, N.Y., and he can finally read the blackboard in class. This gene therapy research is considered promising, however experts in vision problems say it is unclear how many people with impaired vision it will actually help. Gene therapy has also had many set backs. In the journal Lancet, a study was reported involving seven adults, and five children from Belgium, Italy, and the United States. All of the people involved have a rare but serious disease called Leber’s congenital amaurosis, a congenital retinal disease. Read More…