Concept Maps Help Students Find Their Way| TAPP Radio 5

Use concept mapping for student learning and assessment.
Blood doping is a perennial news topic that helps apply central concepts of A&P.

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(0:48) Blood doping stories related to the 2018 Winter Olympics (or in any context) are effective in helping student students apply and integrate diverse concepts in anatomy and physiology

• Olympic athletes are cheating more often than you think (article concerning current issues in doping)
• Doping topics from The A&P Professor blog (various concepts that apply doping in A&P courses)
• World Doping Agency | WADA (website with various resources, including their official prohibited list)
• Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball’s Steroid Era (book)
• Tainted Blood: The Untold Story of the 1984 Olympic Blood Doping Scandal (book)
• Doping, Performance-Enhancing Drugs, and Hormones in Sport: Mechanisms of Action and Methods of Detection | Emerging Issues in Analytical Chemistry (A great acquisition suggestion for your institution’s library)

(6:32) The featured topic is concept mapping and its uses in helps students learn and helping instructors assess learning and diagnose misconceptions and other learning concerns.

• Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning
• Teaching Nursing Using Concept Maps
• Deep Active Learning: Toward Greater Depth in University Education
• Topics in concept mapping for students from The A&P Student blog
• Concept Maps | A How-To for A&P Students (link to this from your course website or syllabus)

Click here to listen to this episode—or access the detailed notes and transcript.

Sweeteners Alter Gut Microbiome to Promote Glucose Intolerance

I'll never forget when Ira Fritz, my doctoral committee chair, practically slapped a packet of artificial sweetener out of my hand as I was about to put it into my iced tea.  "That stuff will kill you!" he said as he extracted from me an oath to swear off the stuff.  I'm not sure I quite believed him, but to this day I still drink my iced tea unsweetened.

As usual, Ira was right.  Recently another brick has been added to the foundation of his concern about sugar substitutes. Researchers have found that sweeteners such as saccharine, sucralose, aspartame can alter the microbial ecosystem of our gut in a way that promotes the development of glucose intolerance.  Glucose intolerance is part of metabolic syndrome, one of the most significant epidemics of our (or any) era.

At least as interesting as this microbial mediation between our diet and our metabolic function is the fact that only those human subjects who were responders exhibited the changes observed.  This underscores our emerging view about the individualized nature of human nutrition and metabolism.

What can we use from this in teaching undergraduate A&P?

• We have yet another example to share regarding why and how the human microbial system plays such a vital role in our body.


• This may be an interesting story to bring up when discussing immunity in our A&P course, perhaps giving a preview of later topics on the gut microbiome and nutrition/metabolism.


• Nutrition and metabolism are not the same for everyone.  So the basic principles learned in an A&P course are likely to be generally true for humans, but not necessarily entirely true for every individual.


• Yet another example of the principle "you are what you eat."


• And here's another case of continued scientific research refining the story of what we know about human structure and function.  Consider mentioning it when you are explaining scientific methodology and it's relevance to A&P at the start of your course.  An interesting discussion may ensue after asking, "does this mean we should stop using sugar substitutes?"

Want to know more?

Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Glucose Intolerance

• Beth Skwarecki. Medscape Medical News. September 17, 2014
• Article summarizing the recent research.
• my-ap.us/1pkI645

Sugar Substitutes, Gut Bacteria, and Glucose Intolerance

• Anna Azvolinsky. TheScientist. September 17, 2014
• Another plain-English article covering how the consumption of artificial sweeteners results in glucose intolerance is mediated by changes in the gut microbiota in both mice and humans.
• my-ap.us/1qOBVvw

Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota

• Jotham Suez, et al. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature13793 September 17, 2014
• Research article outlining the discovery of the sweetener-gut-glucose intolerance  link. Includes numerous illustrations.
• my-ap.us/1uLs0Hc

Metabolic Syndrome 

• S Wang, et al. Medscape. Updated 23 April 2014
• Detailed Medscap entry summarizing various aspects of metabolic syndrome.
• my-ap.us/1uLrNUE

Diet Sodas, as Well as Regular Ones, Raise Diabetes Risk

• Miriam E. Tucker. Medscape Medical News. February 14, 2013
• Article summarizing research showing that women who drink large amounts of diet soda are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• my-ap.us/1uLrY20

Consumption of artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages and incident type 2 diabetes in the Etude Epidémiologique auprès des femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale–European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort

• Guy Fagherazzi, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. January 30, 2013. 
• Original research article about the diet soda-diabetes link.
• my-ap.us/1BQOTLP

Photo: S. Snodgrass

Doping. Again.

Most of us mention the concept of doping in our A&P courses because it's an ever present issue in our society and therefore a good way to help students apply their knowledge of human structure and function to practical scenarios.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, in Olympic years it becomes an even more potent way to draw students interest into the world of human A&P.

Once again, we're hearing doping stories in the news.  On the heels of continuing scandals in the sport of cycling, we are now hearing reports of doping in Olympic athletes.

As many longtime readers of this blog know, besides several blog articles, I have a resource page on doping for A&P teachers at my companion website The A&P Professor.

There is also a recent article in The Scientist outlining advances in detection of doping in athletes.  This article is not only informative for personal enjoyment of the current Olympic games--because we'll all be more knowledgeable--but it's a great resource to prepare for the student questions we'll be getting soon.  And in the near future.

Want to know more?

Anti-Doping Research Gets Creative: Scientists work hard to keep up with ever-evolving performance enhancement techniques that go undetected by existing tests.
Sabrina RichardsThe Scientist Online July 26, 2012
[Comprehensive, easy-to-follow article on the latest in anti-doping strategies. Might be good assigned reading for your course.]
my-ap.us/SXKHU0

Kevin's blog articles on doping
 . . . and how to use doping to illustrate A&P in your classroom
my-ap.us/aa3AjM

Resource page on doping at The A&P Professor website
my-ap.us/942vMZ

What do tuft cells do?

We've known for a half-century that the lining of the small intestine has a scattering of weird little cells called tuft cells.  They are called that because they have distinctive tufts of microvilli facing into the intestinal lumen.  But what do they do?  We're finally getting to the answer!

A recent article in Journal of Cell Biology outlines confirms some recent discoveries about tuft cell function and extends our knowledge a bit further.

Apparently, tuft cells are secretory cells that produce opioids in the gut.  They are also the only epithelial cells that produce the COX (cyclooxygenase) enzymes needed to produce prostaglandins involved in inflammation and tumor formation.

Some physiologists had previously proposed a sensory role for tuft cells.  Could they be involved in tasting foods in the gut and be part of the signaling mechanism that regulates exocrine and endocrine secretion that controls digestive and metabolic processes?

As we learn more about tuft cells, we are sure to discover a role for them in normal regulation of intestinal function as well as in important pathological processes. 

Want to know more?

A fifth amendment to the intestine's constitution
Ben ShortJournal of Cell Biology 2011 192:706. Published March 7, 2011, doi:10.1083/jcb.1925iti2
[Brief synopsis of the discovery and its importance]
http://my-ap.us/ezeS9J

Distinct ATOH1 and Neurog3 requirements define tuft cells as a new secretory cell type in the intestinal epithelium.
Gerbe, F., et al.
Journal of Cell Biology 2011 Mar 7;192(5):767-80. doi:10.1083/jcb.201010127.
[Original research article.  Includes many illustrations, supplements, helps and cross references. FREE full text]
my-ap.us/eCNITF

Here's a really nice teaching image from the Gerbe et al. article, which complements Figure 25-18 in the Anatomy & Physiology 7/E textbook:  my-ap.us/hmdFub (includes downloadable PowerPoint slide)

Here are all the PowerPoints available with the Gerbe et al. article: my-ap.us/gKY7ZG

Chemosensory Perception in the Gut 
Hofer, D., et al.
Physiology February 1999 vol. 14 no. 1 18-23  
[Article proposing sensory function of tuft cells; FREE access to full text/PDF; nice images]
http://my-ap.us/g2HCxw

 

High-fat diets may reduce muscle and cognitive abilities within days

Recent research at the University of Cambridge shows that rats fed on a high-fat diet have markedly reduced muscle and cognitive function within a few days of a change to the high-fat diet, compared to rats fed on a low-fat diet.

The results were reported in The FASEB Journal recently and summarized in a press release published at Science Daily.

Of course, this happened in lab rats . . . not humans.  So we have a long way to go before we can establish specific human nutritional guidelines.  And the low-fat diets were very low, compared the average American diet.  But the high-fat diet fed to rats approached that consumed by many who eat mostly junk food . . . and some on high-fat, low-carb diets (however, the high-fat rat diet wasn't particularly low in carbs).  

Even though there are more questions to answer, these results are remarkable and may prove to be an important milestone in understanding human metabolism.  And may someday affect how athletes prepare for competitions . . . and now students prepare for exams.

For example, researchers claim that the high-fat diet changes the expression of the UCP3 (uncoupling protein) gene.  UCP3 "uncouples" oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis by allowing protons to "leak" across the inner mitochondrial membrane, thus disrupting the proton gradient that drives ATP synthase. (Chapter 27 in my Anatomy & Physiology textbook illustrates the normal function of the proton gradient.) 

Such respiratory uncoupling would explain the reduced physical and cognitive ability seen in the experiments. This could be a very useful trail to follow, eh?

Want to know more?

Do High-fat Diets Make Us
Stupid And Lazy? Physical And Memory Abilities Of Rats Affected After 9
Days.
University of Cambridge (2009, September 5).
ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 6, 2009
[Plain English summary of the results and their implications]

Deterioration of physical performance and cognitive function in rats with short-term high-fat feeding.
Murray et al.
The FASEB Journal, 2009; DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-139691
[FREE abstract of the original research article]

{Photo taken by Muu-karhu}

Vitamin D is hot

A recent article in the LA Times quotes a nutrition professor that "vitamin D is one hot topic." This week an Institute of Medicine committee meets to determine whether the recommended daily intake of vitamin D (and calcium) should be increased. And apparently, there is a LOT of recent research on this topic that says YES! (over 2,000 articles just this year)

The research suggests that besides its well-known effects on calcium absorption, vitamin D may also affect many types of cell functions throughout the body.

Want to know more?

It may be vitamin D's day in the sun
Shari Roan
Los Angeles Times August 1, 2009
[Summary article]

Vitamin D articles
Annals of Epidemiology July 2009 Volume 19, Issue 7
[Collection of FREE journal articles about Vitamin D's health effects]

{The image above from Ragesoss is a FREE image showing supplements containing calcium and Vitamin D}

Metabolism Case Study

This just in from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science . . .

Our latest case study is “Why Is Patrick Paralyzed?” by Maureen Knabb, Department of Biology, West Chester University.

This clicker case introduces students to a rare genetic disease in which an enzyme is deficient in a critical metabolic pathway—the first step in aerobic respiration. This case challenges students to make connections between energy production, enzymes, and metabolic diseases.

Students are exposed to a real life story that serves as a basis for discussing the uses of energy-rich molecules and the importance of complex metabolic pathways catalyzed by protein enzymes.

Overall, students should appreciate the importance of each step in a metabolic pathway and the side effects as well as treatments that can emerge from discovering the underlying enzyme deficiency.

Case: http://www.sciencecases.org/patrick_paralyzed/prelude.asp

Teaching Notes: http://www.sciencecases.org/patrick_paralyzed/notes.asp

Case Collection: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/ubcase.htm

This module also includes a nice PowerPoint slide presentation.

If you use this case in your course, why not let us know how it works for you?

Placenta, anyone?

OK, if you have a weak stomach DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS MESSAGE.

Or better, I just won't even comment on this one . . . just read it for yourself:

Cooking with Joel Stein: How to Eat a Placenta
Joel Stein
Discover Discoblog accessed online 9 July 2009
[no comment!]

Want a FREE slide with a photo of a placenta? Click here for a slide from the Lion Den Slide Collection. FYI this is a "family photo" . . . the placenta seen in the image was photographed shortly after the birth of my youngest son, Luke. The maternal side of the placenta is clearly visible.

FYI, we ate SALAD and BURGERS for dinner that evening!

For more FREE slides, see FREE SLIDES at The A&P Professor website.

To access FREE editable slides from the Lion Den Slide Collection, including "bonus slides" not seen on the website, then go here.

{Click here to access the FREE image seen in this blog post . . . although I think a sprig of cilantro and contrasting cloth placemat would have made for a better presentation.}

The Good Fat

Until recently, scientist believed that we lose our brown fat, or "baby fat," by the time we are adults. But recent findings show that brown fat does persist into adulthood, after all. It seems to be most concentrated in the neck and thorax in adults.

Mitochondrion-rich brown fat (brown adipose tissue) is more easily "burned off" than the white fat (white adipose tissue [WAT]) that predominates in adults. Brown tends to become activated when a person is cold, producing heat that tends to restore the setpoint body temperature.

Beyond that, there's good evidence that there may be ways to stimulate the storage of lipids at brown fat rather than white fat in adults . . . meaning that perhaps it could be lost more easily (when active) than if the lipids were stored in white fat.

This new information is useful when discussing tissues, body fat composition, and metabolism in your A&P course.

Want to know more? Check out these resources:

Identification and Importance of Brown Adipose Tissue in Adult Humans
Aaron Cypess, et al.
New England Journal of Medicine Volume 360:1509-1517. Number 15. 9 April 2009
[FREE abstract of the original research article.]

Calorie-Burning Fat? Studies Say You Have It
Gina Kolata
New York Times 8 April 2009
[Nice summary of the new discovery; includes link to very nice graphics.]

No fad diet: 'Good fat' burns more calories
Associated Press story
MSNBC 8 April 2009
[Summary article that discusses the implications of the discovery]

Here is a recent video (with plenty of good animations and medical images) from NBC Nightly News that does a great job of laying out the importance of the discovery.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

[The video player embedded here may not appear in your news feed or emailed newsletter. Go to The A&P Professor blog to access the video viewer. Go to The A&P Professor website to learn how to embed the video in your PowerPoint or webpage . . . or simply link to it from your own email or webpage.]

Net calories

We're teaching about metabolism and nutrition . . . then comes the perennial question for which we have no good answer:

"Well then, which diet is best?" Meaning, which of the popular weight-reduction diets du jour are most scientifically sound, based on what we've just learned?

This is a great question!

Not because I have a great answer--I don't.

It's a great questions because I don't have an easy answer. We (meaning "the science community") simply don't know enough yet to say for sure. So it's a great question to talk about that aspect of how science works.

It's also a great starting point to ask, "based on what we are learning now, which do you think would be best?" This opens up possibilities to apply concepts, such as

• how nutrients are converted to different forms (lipids, carbs, proteins),
  
• how nutrients are stored in the body,
  
• how metabolism works,
  
• what an energy budget is,
  
• how metabolic imbalances can created pH imbalances and other problems,
• the role of vitamins and minerals in the body,
  
• the role of fiber in the digestive tract,
  
• what metabolic rates are,
• the role of hormones,
• and . . . well . . . this list goes on and on . . .

One concept that I often emphasize in this context is the balance between how many calories come in to the body (food calories) and how many calories go out of the body (metabolic calories expended). Much of the difference is stored* . . . and the favorite way we store it is as body fat. This concept is emphasized in my textbooks as well.

But what about all these different approaches to weight-loss dieting. Or just having a healthy diet in general? What about:

• low-fat vs. high-fat diets
• good-fat vs. bad-fat diets
• low-carb vs. high-carb diets
• processed foods vs. unprocessed foods
• high-sodium vs. low-sodium diets
• high-fiber vs. low-fiber diets
• and this list also goes on and on . . .

You've probably heard about the latest news on this topic . . . something that can inform your next discussion of this topic . . . and perhaps spark additional discussions, eh?

A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the best weight-reduction diet is as simple as reducing calories in a diet that can include just about anything, as long as it's proportionally high in "heart-healthy" foods such as vegetables and fish.

So the "it's all about the calories" notion is pretty close to the mark, eh?

Want to know more? Check out these resources:

Weight-Loss Winner: A Diet High in Fiber, Low in Calories
by Coco Ballantyne
Scientific American online. 25 February 2009
[FREE article summarizes the recent study]

Stick to a Low-Calorie Diet and It Will Work
by Nathan Seppa
Science News online. 25 February 2009
[Another FREE summary of the recent study]

Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Sacks, F.M., et al. 2009.
New England Journal of Medicine 360(Feb. 26):859-873.
[FREE full-text article about the latest research.]

The Science of Weight Loss
Scientific American online. Accessed 27 February 2009
[FREE set of online resources related to this topic.]

Calorie Calculator
freedieting.com Accessed 27 February 2009
[FREE online calculator estimates the daily calorie needs of an individual based on age, gender, size, exercise habits, etc. Has advanced options and links to additional calculators. Interesting class, lab, online, small-group, or homework activity.]

* some of the calories are lost in the feces

[photo by NatalieTraynor at Flickr.com]

Can we extend our lifespan?

One of the things that students often hope to get from A&P class is some information on how they can live healthier and live longer.

Well . . . except that smokers and heavy drinkers often do not want to hear about the hazards of their addictions and most of us don't want to hear about how our favorite food could be bad for us if not consumed in moderation.

A brief article in the journal PLoS Medicine showed that four pretty easy lifestyle choices combine to extend a person by about 14 years!

And find out (one) answer to the question "does vitamin C really help?"

Check out this brief article for a bit of info that could spark a great classroom discussion!

Combined Impact of Health Behaviours and Mortality in Men and Women: The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study
Khaw KT, Wareham N, Bingham S, Welch A, Luben R, et al.
PLoS Medicine Vol. 5, No. 1, e12 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050012

And now for something completely different . . . look what vitamin C did to animate this orange!

[The video may not appear in your news feed or emailed newsletter. Go to The A&P Professor blog to access the video viewer. Go to The A&P Professor website to learn how to embed the video in your PowerPoint or webpage . . . or simply link to it from your own email or webpage.]