Antibiotics May Up Risk of Diabetes in Kids

                Parents, take note! Giving antibiotics to children may change the composition of gut microbes and dramatically increase their risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. The research focused on the micro-biome, the bacterial species in our guts that co-evolved with humans to play roles in digestion, metabolism and immunity. As children’s exposure to microbe-killing antibiotics has increased in recent decades, the incidence of autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes has more than doubled. The study found that short pulses of antibiotics cause mice that are susceptible to Type 1 diabetes to develop the diseases to develop the decease more quickly and more often. Researchers study begins to clarify the mechanisms by which antibiotic driven changes in gut micro-biomes may increase risk for Type 1 diabetes. This is the first study of its kind suggesting that antibiotic use can alter the micro-biota and have lasting effects on immunological and metabolic development, resulting in autoimmunity.

People Fall in Love at Fourth Sight, Not First

                Lovers need to meet at least four times before cupid strikes, according to a new study which suggests that love at first sight may be a myth. Researchers gave pictures of people’s faces to a group of young men and women. They wired their brains to monitors as the participants ranked the attractiveness of people in the photos. Participants ranked the attractiveness of people in the photos. Participants were then shown the images for a second time. They rated the faces which they found attractive highly. The attraction was higher on the third occasion and strongest of all on the fourth, researchers said. Monitors showed extra activity around the excitement and pleasure centers of the brain. Much to their surprise, people often find themselves drawn to individuals after multiple encounters, even when there was no initial attraction. Cupid’s arrow is often slow to strike. It may be attributable to the gradual change in attractiveness form repetition.