Daily Archives: May 4, 2016
Kv7 potassium channels’ subunit composition determines their physiological regulation in arterial smooth muscle cells
Arteries have the remarkable ability to adjust the amount and force of blood that flows through them. Such adjustments are made possible by contraction or relaxation of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) within the walls of the
How to measure maximum animal performance
Scientists are often interested in the performance capabilities of animals, measuring how fast they can run or how hard they can bite. This information helps scientists understand how the bodies of different animals work and how they
X chromosome inactivation and escape: skipping Lyon’s law causes sex differences and disease
The sex chromosomes differ between males (XY) and females (XX) in mammals. The present-day sex chromosomes evolved from a pair of look-alike progenitor chromosomes that stopped recombining once sex was determined by a gene on the Y
Do doctors understand what helps patients with hepatitis C stay on and complete their treatment?
To be cured of hepatitis C, patients must take their medications as prescribed without missing doses and complete the full course of treatment. However, almost half of patients with hepatitis C find it difficult to take their
Targeting cancer’s sweet tooth
The primary source of energy for nearly all living cells is glucose. This simple molecule of sugar, a so-called monosaccharide can be found not only in sweets but also from the digestion of more complex carbohydrates molecules
Modalities to overcome cancer cells safeguard
The increase of intracellular concentration without raising the applied drug doses is big challenge for cancer treatments. Cancer cells employ multiple mechanisms to resists the anticancer drugs action. One of the mechanisms involves P-glycoprotein. The role of
Discrete research “love” of a Nobel price winner
Nobel price award provokes usually some questions concerning a wider background related to the interests of nominated scientists. Dr William Campbell got the Noble award in the year 2015 for his studies on the control of some
Biotransformation of bufadienolides in human liver microsomes
Bufadienolides are a family of cardiac aglycone compounds with the inhibitory activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. They exist extensively in both animal and plant species, such as Crassulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Bufonidae and Colubridae families. In traditional Chinese medicine, bufadienolides are
