“Healthy” Smokers’ Lungs: Mystery Solved!

It makes sense to assume that all smokers have unhealthy and blackened lungs, so you might be interested to know that some smokers actually have surprisingly healthy lungs, despite a lifetime of smoking. Of course, this is something that has puzzled scientists for quite some time... Until now! This ongoing mystery has finally been explained by researchers in the UK, funded by the Medical Research Council. And what's more, the findings could eventually lead to new medicines for improving lung function and health in the future. Led by the University of Nottingham's Professor Ian Hall and the Univerity of Leicester's Professor Martin Tobin, the study was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and presented to the European Respiratory Society (ERS). ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) says that there are around 10 million adult smokers in the UK, which is about a sixth of the population. Many of these will develop lung disease at some point in their life - but not all of them. And there will be plenty of people who will develop it who haven't smoked a single cigarette in their life. This latest study saw researchers analysing the health of more than 50,000 people who are all part of the UK Biobank, a major national health resource and charity in its own right. The UK Biobank aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various serious and life-threatening illnesses. It has recruited around half a million volunteers who have all agreed to have their health indepthly analysed, and the results of which used for research. As you can imagine, this project provides a huge amount of health and genetic data. Using this information, the researchers specifically looked into COPD, which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This condition covers a range of problems, including repeat chest infections, breathlessness, coughing, bronchitis, and emphysema. We should also note that although smoking is known to increase the risk of heart disease and some cancers, the focus was on COPD and so these illnesses were not considered in the study. The analysis of both smokers and nonsmokers, as well as those with COPD and without, showed that some people had favourable mutations in their DNA that enhanced lung function and reduced the risk of COPD. Professor Tobin said that these mutated genes seem to affect the way the lungs grow and respond to injury, such as that sustained during smoking. He explained that the biggest lifestyle risk factor for developing the condition is smoking, and "good" genetics play a big part in those few smokers who don't get it. And now, thanks to the research, he is finally able to explain why this is. The team also uncovered parts of the genetic code that were more common in smokers than in nonsmokers. They seemed to subtlely alter the brain's function and therefore how easily a person can become addicted to nicotine. However, these findings still need to be confirmed. "[The findings offer] fantastic new clues about how the body works that we really had little idea about before," Professor Tobin said. "It is those things that are likely to lead to some really exciting breakthroughs for drug development." While this is all very well, the professor does add that the best thing a person can do to avoid COPD or any other smoking-related diseases is to quit smoking altogether. Professor Hall, the other lead in the study, explained that our genes influence the production of the proteins that are targeted by the drugs used to prevent or target diseases in our bodies. "Understanding how genes are involved... can help us design and develop better and more targeted treatments that are more likely to be effective and have fewer side effects," he said. Commenting on the study, the British Lung Foundation's Head of Research Ian Jarrold said that the findings represent a significant step forward in achieving a clearer picture of lung health. He added that understanding genetic predisposition would help them to develop new treatments for lung disease, as well as teach "otherwise healthy people how to better take care of their lungs".

Couple Serve “Recycled” Wedding Breakfast to Guests

When it comes to getting married, there are a number of approaches that couples can take. For example, there are those who like things traditional and "just so". And what about those for whom money is no object, something they like to share as they proclaim their wedding vows before their loved ones. Let's not forget the couples who try and get married while spending as little money as possible. After all, it shouldn't cost anything to tell the world how much you're in love with your spouse-to-be, right? And finally, we have those who want to do something "a little different" for their wedding. We're talking zip-lining into the vows, a wedding breakfast in a fast-food restaurant, trying to break as Guinness World Record, or simply trying to give something back to the community. Zoe and Charles Loughlin from Cambridgeshire fall into this last category. The newlyweds are passionate food waste campaigners who decided to treat their guests to a wedding breakfast with a difference: "recycled" food. Now, any freegans reading this will know all about recycled food, but we'll clear it up for anyone else who might be getting the wrong idea. Recycled food is produce that is perfectly fine for eating, but has to be thrown away for whatever reason. Perhaps the food is right on the cusp of its use-by date, or there is too much of it for the supermarket to sell, or maybe even the packaging is damaged in some way. The food might be fine, but the supermarkets have rules on what they can sell, and so some of the food gets thrown away. This is where freegans and organisations such as FoodCycle come in, wanting as little food as possible to go to waste. FoodCycle is a national charity in the UK that collects some of this food and uses it to give back to the community. Zoe explained that every Saturday a meal is provided for members of the community who are at risk of food poverty or social isolation. The ingredients for this meal are collected from supermarkets the night before, stuff that would otherwise have been thrown away. And as you can see from the photos, the food is absolutely fit for consumption, and had we not informed you of its "recycled" status, you wouldn't think anything of it. As a volunteer for FoodCycle, Zoe knows what happens behind the scenes and thought it would be a wonderful way of providing publicity for the charity. "We thought long and hard about the food and looked into different catering options, but just kept coming back to FoodCycle," she explained. "We thought it would be wonderful to practise what we preach." The food would be collected and prepared by FoodCycle, but Zoe and Charles wouldn't know what that would be until it was dished up on the actual day. And so, a couple of Saturday ago, their wedding day came along and the charity's volunteers helped prepare Morrocan roasted vegetables that would make up some of the main course, and Panzanella salad. As meat can't be donated to the charity, the couple supplemented their main course with cold beef they bought from a local pub. Zoe admitted that serving up such a meal to their 150 guests was a risk, and not something that everyone would want to be involved in, but it all went surprisingly well. Some people even went back for seconds! During her bride's speech, Zoe talked about the charity and explained that there were collection boxes dotted around the grounds for people to donate to the charity. She added that they had already paid a cash donation in exchange for the food and wonderful service. Charles, the groom, revealed that the food wasn't the only thing that was recycled for the wedding. For example, little jam jars held tea light candles and old bean cans were used as flower vases for the table decorations. "The wedding was entirely designed ourselves," Charles said, explaining that they had agreed that if they were going to pay someone to cater for their wedding, FoodCycle was the perfect choice. Alex Collis, a hub leader for FoodCycle Cambridge and who works alongside Zoe, said that this was the first wedding that FoodCycle had catered for. She said although it had certainly been a challenge, it was all really good fun, too. "Zoe and Charles were very relaxed about it and knew exactly what they were getting themselves into," she added. "It was a really lovely day and shows what FoodCycle is all about."   Image Source: FoodCycle Cambridge's Facebook

English Schools to Offer Lessons on Human Rights

A human rights programme that is currently being taught to more than a million students in the US and around the world has been brought to schools in England. The programme, Speak Truth to Power, was designed by human rights activist and lawyer Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the US politician Robert F Kennedy. Robert F Kennedy - also known as RFK or Bobby Kennedy - was brother and campaign manager to the assassinated president JFK. He was also a huge advocate for human rights around the world and actually won his own presidential campaign a few years after his brother's death. Sadly, he was shot that very night and died the next day. His daughter, Kerry, is carrying on with the work in his name, and now wants human rights lessons brought to the UK. She founded RFK Human Rights, an organisation of people who are passionate about realising RFK's dream of a "more just and peaceful world". Speak Truth to Power tackles such topics as slavery, religious freedom, political violence, and repression. Students can also learn about human rights activists who have challenged oppression and who have faced torture or imprisonment. Ms Kennedy explained that the idea of the programme is to blend human rights into what schools already teach, so that it becomes a part of the curriculum and not something just tacked onto the end of it. Material for the lessons will be available to teachers online, and training will be funded by the organisation. This online material will also help teachers discuss with their students current news about the refugees fleeing Syria. Ms Kennedy said that she would love to see teachers across the UK bringing the curriculum to their students, and "creating the tiny ripples of hope to lead to real and lasting change". The programme is hoped to encourage debate about the rights of refugees arriving from the Middle East. Ms Kennedy is also hoping that it will help young people learn to challenge extremism, and show them that intolerable views are not acceptable. At the moment, the biggest threat to human rights around the world is hate, she explained. Whether in the form of oppression of women in Nigeria, or the political repression and violence in Syria, violations of human rights is something that needs to be severely addressed. She added that the language of prejudice is even something that be heard in the school playground, which, in most cases, is learnt behaviour. But the programme aims to teach young people to challenge intolerance instead of feeding it, and learn how to stand up to it. Speak Truth to Power was officially launched in South London on Monday, at the Lilian Baylis Technology School. Alongside Ms Kennedy at the launch was Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who believes the human rights lessons will encourage students to become more active and engaged citizens in the future. "We want all young people to leave school well-rounded, confident, and resilient," Mrs Morgan noted, "and fully prepared for life in modern Britain." The programme is completely free, and ultimately, it will be up to the individual schools whether or not they adopt the curriculum. But when the aim is to show students how anyone, no matter who they are, can make a difference, we doubt there will be many schools turning this opportunity down. And what more do we want for our children than for them to leave their mark on this world and make a change for the good?

Could Eating More Fish Reduce the Risk of Depression?

After the analysis of almost 30 studies, researchers in China believe that eating more fish could help reduce the risk of depression. Contrary to what some people think, depression isn't just feeling sad for a couple of days - something we all go through now and again. Depression can leave the sufferer feeling persistently down and unable to interact as they normally would for weeks, or sometimes even months. According to Mind, the mental health charity, one in four people will experience a mental health problem every year in the UK. It is thought that around 3% of British people face depression, almost 5% suffer from anxiety, and as much as 10% have a mixture of both. A recent study even suggests that as many as one in five people can suffer from depression in the UK. Depression is a genuine health condition with real symptoms, some of which can manifest as physical symptoms. Of course, there are therapies and medications that a sufferer can use to try and treat their illness, but is there anything else that could help? This latest report, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analysed 26 observational studies conducted since 2001. This means that the study participants' diets were recorded and examined, rather than them having to eat more fish. The studies, altogether involving more than 150,000 participants, looked into possible relationships between fish consumption and depression. However, the conclusions of each of these studies provided some mixed results. And so, a research team from the Qingdao University Medical College's Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics decided to take a look at the different types of study. What they found was that the so-called protective effect from eating a lot of fish was actually only found in the studies carried out in Europe, but not in those from anywhere else in the world. Combining all of the data, the team found a significant link between those who had a lot of fish in their diet and a lower risk of depression. And it was true in both men and women, showing a reduction of 20% and 16% respectively. This is an overall risk reduction of about 17%! Unfortunately, because all of the studies were observational, none of the results pointed to any conclusions about cause-and-effect, which has led the researchers to developing their own theories as to what might be happening. One theory is that people who eat a lot of fish often just have a healthier diet in general. Perhaps something else in their diet, or a combination of all of the healthy foods, could be boosting their mental health. Alternatively, it could have something to do with omega-3 fatty acids, which is primarily found in fish. Consumption of foods containing omega-3 fatty acids has been linked with a reduced risk of several health conditions, from cancer to Alzheimer's. It is thought that these fatty acids could be key in the activity of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters in the brain thought to be involved in depression. Study lead Professor Dongfeng Zhang explained that report was carried out because there is clearly a link between fish consumption and depression, but nothing definitive on the subject. "[The report] indicated that a healthy dietary pattern...was significantly associated with a reduced risk of depression," he said. He explained that such a diet would be characterised by a high intake of fish, as well as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. The professor added, however, that the problem lies in it not yet being clear which component of this diet is actually responsible for the proactive effect on the brain. Overall, the authors concluded that higher fish consumption could indeed be beneficial in the prevention of depression, but further studies are still needed to determine whether this association varies depending on the type of fish. Rachel Boyd, Mind's Information Manager, said that the charity had recently published a guide, Food and Mood, which backs up the findings. It includes advice about eating "good fats", like those you would find in fish. "We really agree that having these fatty acids in your diet can be helpful," she said. "It's something where people can make quite small changes that can have quite a big impact." She also pointed out that vegetarians and other people who don't eat fish can obtain these fatty acids from nuts and seeds, as well as supplements. When a person is prone to depression, having more options available to them can be a big help, so let's hope researchers are able to isolate that dietary component as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, why not try adding more fish to your diet - or nuts and seeds - and be sure to let us know how it affects you!

Crayon Initiative Helps Sick Children – and the Planet!

There's a nonprofit organisation in California that is not only trying to help the planet, but also sick children. The Crayon Initiative collects old crayons and gives them a new lease of life before donating them to children in hospital. The organisation was founded by Bryan Ware, a father of two who has always had a passion for art. He came up with the idea a couple of years ago, after a family meal in a restaurant. In some family-friendly eating establishments, children are supplied with a special menu with activities and a fresh pack of crayons, to keep them occupied during the meal. Sometimes the children take the crayons home, but what happens to those just left on the table once the meal is over and the children have left? This is what Bryan was wondering as he watched his own sons colouring that meal time. He decided to ask their server, who explained that the crayons were just thrown away and end up in a landfill - even the ones that had barely been used. What a waste! This got Bryan to thinking of ways the crayons could be repurposed and so the Crayon Initiative was launched. Now the nonprofit receives used crayons from all over the state, from restaurants and schools, and even independent donors. The first boxes went sent out to hospitals earlier this year, and since then, the Crayon Initiative has donated around 2,000 boxes of crayons. So, what's the process? Well, first off, the old crayons are sorted into tubs by colour. These are then taken to Bryan's kitchen where they are melted down and the remoulded. The new crayons are then packaged up and delivered to the hospitals - often by Bryan himself! The crayons don't look like your traditional crayon, and intentionally have a unique design that is easy for the children to hold and won't just roll off of beds or trays. "We working with an occupational therapist to design the crayons," Bryan explained. "We don't wrap them in paper - which can hold bacteria - and we have had them tested to make sure bacteria from incoming crayons were killed during our processing." He said that when the children receive their new crayons, they light up and it helps to give them a temporary escape from their current situation. Colouring crayons have the potential to help children better express themselves through art therapy, which is becoming a popular treatment for children, especially those with psychological issues. It's also important for the children to stay as close to "normal" as possible. This will help them carry on their childhood development while also giving them a fun outlet, providing them with some comfort while they overcome their challenges. So far, the Crayon Initiative has only made deliveries in California, but its first out-of-state delivery to New York is planned for later this year. "From my perspective, the biggest goal is to give [the children] an escape," said Bryan, adding that he couldn't possibly fathom what these children are going through. "If these crayons given them an escape from that hospital room for 10 minutes, we did our job." To find out how you can donate your old crayons, or simply learn more about the Crayon Initiative, check out their website. Helping sick children in hospital and stopping crayons leave a waxy stain in landfills? Colour us impressed! Image Source: The Crayon Initiative Facebook page

Pope Francis Announces Marriage Reforms

Last week, the Pope made one of the Catholic Church's most significant announcements of the last three hundred years - they are making reforms to their marriage annulment legislation. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong commitment and doesn't recognise divorce. This means that if the marriage wasn't annulled and someone in the relationship goes on to remarry, that person is considered an adulterer. And because adultery is considered a sin, this person will no longer be allowed to receive communion. However, a couple can have their marriage annulled if they can show that they shouldn't have been married in the first place, or if someone has broken the vows. For example, if it were shown that one person in the marriage had an extramarital affair, had an abortion, or if one of the couple lacked religious faith. Before the reforms, a couple seeking annulment would have to get the approval of two church authorities. They could also be likely to have to travel quite far to attend meetings with these authorities. Overall, the process can become very time-consuming, as well as cost a lot of money. But the new changes are intended to make marriage annulments both fast-tracked and more affordable for all of the parties involved. Pope Francis made it clear in his announcement last Tuesday that the reforms do not represent a shift in the Church's teachings. They are simply a way of helping people move on with their lives sooner, and not have to spend so much money while they do it. For a start, couples will only have to seek permission from one church authority from now on. The trials should also be free, according to the Pope, and decided locally, overall making the process much simpler. Bishops will also be given more responsibilities to help in the matter, creating a new panel of judges to decide whether the "nullity of marriage" is sufficient enough to warrant an annulment. In August of last year, a special commission of 11 members of the Catholic Church was appointed to advance proposals on this specific topic. The head of this commission is Monsignor Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Church's highest judicial court, the Roman Rota. He acknowledged that it wouldn't be easy to implement the changes. "It is not excluded that there could be resistance," he noted, adding that the last time substantial amendments to the marriage legislation were made was back when Benedict XIV was Pope in the 18th century. The changes were actually signed in August, but were only announced last week with two papal decrees - official papers from the Pope - know as motu proprio. In the first motu proprio, Pope Francis wrote that the Church still doesn't condone the annulment of marriages. However, it does favour speeding up the trials, "so that the hearts of those faithful waiting for clarification of their status, are not oppressed by the darkness of doubt". Bishops will also be debating the role of the family in the Church in October for the Synod of the Family, and discussing whether divorced and remarried Catholics will be able to take communion in the future. As we explained before, at the moment these people are considered adulterers, and so they are not currently allowed to receive communion. These are not the only changes to legislation and attitude that Pope Francis has brought in. Just last week, he announced that the Church was easing its stance on those who have an abortion. Local priests will now be allowed to forgive these members of their flock, if they repent during the upcoming Jubilee. This is the Holy Year of Mercy, which begins in December. Last year, the Pope revealed that the Church agrees with the theory of evolution and the Big Bang, though both require the existence of a creator to have happened. He said that any thoughts to the contrary were encouraged by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.    

Facebook Partners up to Develop Education System

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been openly expressing his interest in education since he donated $100 million (£65.5 million) to the Newark school since in New Jersey. Last year, he and his wife gave a further $120 million (£78.6 million) to Bay Area schools in San Francisco last year. And now Facebook is taking another step into the education game with software that should allow children in the US to learn at their own pace. This project, the Personal Learning Plan (PLP), is in partnership with Summit Public Schools and completely separate from the Facebook social network. Summit is a non-profit organisation that has a network of charter schools - publicly funded independent schools - in California and Washington. Schools in this network consistently rank among the top schools in the US. So it's not surprising that Summit is behind PLP, a pioneering teaching method that allows students to learn online and be mentored in their own personalised learning of traditional subjects like maths and English. Although Summit had already developed PLP, they only had a single engineer. The dashboards were also connected to various third-party systems, which the students had to log into separately. Of course, this meant that the app ran slowly and would sometimes even break down. Summit Chief Executive Diane Tavenner decided to approach Mr Zuckerberg and ask if there was anything he could do to make it better. Which is exactly what he decided to do. "[PLP] is really driven by this idea that we want to put learning in the hands of the kids," Ms Tavenner explained. "And the control back in the hands of the kids."

Since last year, a small team of eight Facebook engineers have been working full time on the PLP app, rolling out a pilot earlier this year in Summit schools in California. This means that the new and improved version of the PLP has been used by more than 100 teachers and 2,000 students. Ms Tavenner explained that the software should allow students to work with their teachers to create tailored online lessons and projects. Another aspect of the app is that it can grade and track personalised quizzes teachers assign to their students. In a blog post, Facebook's Chief Product Officer Chris Cox explained that the company wanted to help build a classroom that is centred around the students' own ambitions. He added that the app frees up the classroom for teachers to mentor their students directly, and for students to collaborate with each other. Everything else - tests, content, information - can be delivered daily through the system. Facebook and Summit plan to offer the free software to any school in the US that wants to use it so that all children will be able to learn at their own pace. "We've seen that there's an opportunity to help apply our skills to the future of education," explained Mr Cox. "We all wanted to find a way to help make an impact by doing what we do best: building software." Image Source: Activate Instruction