Why do insects stop 'breathing'? To avoid damage from too much oxygen, say researchers
A new study investigating the respiratory system of insects may have solved a mystery that has intrigued physiologists for decades: why insects routinely stop breathing for minutes at a time. Challenging previous theories, researchers at UC Irvine and Humboldt University propose that insects such as grasshoppers, moths, butterflies, some types of fruit flies, beetles and bugs close off th...How exactly does the brain control breathing?
An understanding of exactly how the brain controls breathing is fundamental to the treatment of respiratory disorders. We know that breathing is an automatic rhythmic process that persists without conscious effort whether we are awake or asleep, but the question that has intrigued many scientists for well over 100 years is what maintains this almost fail safe vital rhythm throughout life?...Prenatal nicotine exposure reduces breathing response of newborns...
A 37-year-old-mother, who gave birth to a low-weight preemie at 24 weeks, exhibited the first-found link in a human between bacteria found in the mouth and the amniotic fluid of a woman in preterm labor. Using new DNA finger-printing techniques to find bacteria that cannot be cultured and grown in the lab, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the...Vampire bats recognise their prey's breathing
Vampire bats, the only mammals to feed exclusively on blood, including human blood, recognize their prey by the sound of its breathing. In a study published today in the open access journal BMC Biology, vampire bats of the species Desmodus rotondus could recognise recorded human breathing sounds much better than human participants could. Vampire bats feed on the same prey over several nights and...Breathing easy: When it comes to oxygen, a bug's life is full of it
Because of new imaging technology, researchers are getting a better understanding of a physiological paradox: how insects, which have a respiratory system built to provide quick access to a lot of oxygen, can survive for days without it. The insect respiratory system is so efficient that resting insects stop taking in air as they release carbon dioxide, according to research by Stefan K. H...Drug May Make Breathing Easier for Millions
An experimental drug could make millions of people suffering from smoker’s lung breathe much easier. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or smoker’s lung, is an irreversible progressive illness caused by narrowing of the airways. It encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In tests involving 500 people who had suffered from COPD for more than a decade, the drug appeared...Individuals with sleep related breathing disorders more prone to heart disease
A good night’s sleep is a gift, exclusive to the blessed. The less fortunate are those with sleeping disorders, who may experience problems such as early morning headaches or serious daytime fatigue. Among the various sleep disorders, sleep apnea in its mild or moderate form is commonly experienced. Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Most ind...A unique factor in breathing disorder
According to researchers, people with receding lower jaws are more likely to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep apnoea is a condition which is characterised by collapse of the tissues// at the back of the throat during sleep, impeding the free flow of air into and out of the lungs. Often, it is accompanied by snoring and the person actually stops breathing many times in the night. Lack...Breathing Cancer Causing Compounds During Pregnancy Found To Affect Offspring
Based on findings of a recent study researchers have linked breathing cancer-causing compounds during pregnancy // to an increased risk of childhood cancer among offspring. They also believe that nearly all childhood cancers can probably be traced back to a mother’s inhalation of noxious substances. The study compared a chemical emissions map with all children age 15 and younger who died...Brain damage can affect children who stop breathing
Children suffering from congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) may suffer brain damage// if they stop breathing during their sleep. Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome is the absence of appropriate trigger mechanism that provides breathing over considerable time. Children suffering from CCHS may not breathe regularly during sleep, or even when awake. Alternately, t...