Monthly Archives: December 2015
Botox injections: a “bittersweet” medicine
Despite being one of the most deadly neurotoxins known to man, Botox has become a popular cosmetic treatment for reducing facial wrinkles. Originally, Botox injections were used for reducing uncontrolled movements caused by neuromuscular disorders that impaired
Mason bees lose their ways after drinking the pesticide Clothianidin
Pesticides are widely used in modern agriculture to protect field crops, but are suspected to harm pollinating insects. In December 2013, the European Commission imposed a moratorium of using three neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam) for
Time to tweak tremendously tiny trisoligonucleotide-tetrahedrons
DNA is most commonly known as the carrier of genetic information in all living beings on earth. For a chemist DNA is nothing more than a large molecule that can be artificially recreated in the lab on
The unappreciated role of the median eminence in energy balance regulation
Obesity results from a sustained imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure. It is associated with an increased risk of developing a variety of medical conditions that are widespread in Western countries, such as type 2 diabetes
Living on the edge: Planctomycetes at the oxic / anoxic interface in northern wetlands
Peat – accumulating northern wetlands make up approximately one-third of the global soil organic carbon pool. Nutrient – poor and acidic conditions, as well as low temperatures and decay – resistant Sphagnum moss-dominated vegetation, result in low
Building capacity where it is needed
Once thought to be affecting only affluent countries, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and other life-style related diseases (collectively referred to as non-communicable diseases or NCD) are now the leading cause of death and disability also in developing
3D environment enhance cellular capacities
Although we live under the 3D (three-dimensional) environment, drug testing is carried out usually by using isolated cells cultured under the 2D (two-dimensional) environment. Liver is a very important organ which metabolizes glucose, alcohol, lipids (e.g. cholesterol)
A resource for studying the role of RNA-binding proteins in human disease
Advances in science and technology have not only made accessing and analyzing the personal genomic information a reality but also rapid and cost effective. Every living organism is made of cells and every cell is made of
Mothers of children with autism report worse immunity
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report higher levels of parenting stress than almost any other group of parents of children with disabilities. In addition, parents of children with ASD often report high levels of
Tics in toddlers
Transient tics such as eyeblinks, grimacing or throat noises are a normal developmental phase that can be seen in many toddlers. When tics become chronic however, they can increase in severity until puberty and be harder to
An efficient and economical assay to screen for triclosan-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Triclosan is an effective inhibitor for an essential bacterial enzyme, the enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR/FabI), in fatty acid biosynthesis. Due to its value in inhibiting bacterial growth, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA)
Ultraviolet lasing realized in ZnO via electrostatic doping method
Ultraviolet (UV) lasers have a variety of applications in many fields like machining, labeling, measuring, and guiding, etc. Wide bandgap semiconductors are one of the most promising candidates for efficient and robust UV lasers. ZnO has a
How adult female mosquito manages vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian food taste
Mosquitoes are one of the most deadliest animals on earth which not only cause nuisance, irritation and pain at the biting sites, but also take millions of lives worldwide each year by transmitting many infectious diseases like
How to best treat severe and chronic heartburn
Heartburn, a burning sensation behind the breastbone, is the most frequent symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causing acidic stomach contents to be pushed up into the esophagus, the muscular tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
Use of an in vitro model of blastema tissue from Rabbit pinna
Rabbit ear wound repair is an accepted model for studies of tissue regeneration, leading to scar less wound repair. It is believed that a specific tissue, blastema, is responsible for such interesting capacity of tissue regeneration. To
Nutrients in pomegranates and dates provide maximum protection against the development of atherosclerosis
A combination of pomegranate fruit and date fruit and pits provides maximum protection against atherosclerosis, indicates research by Prof. Michael Aviram, Head of the Lipid Research Laboratory at Technion Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Rambam Medical Center
Silicon based radical, radical ion, diradical and diradicaloid
The chemical behavior of a transition metal is extremely different when compared with that of a characteristic main group element. The former is prone to remain cationic while the latter prefers to attain a closed shell electronic
The portal venous system in liver cirrhosis: not yet a gray zone
Liver cirrhosis is a complex disease involving many systems, mainly located inside the abdominal cavity. The clinical diagnosis today is usually followed by laboratory, endoscopic, radiological examinations, among which the sectional imaging tools, ultrasound, computed tomography and
Does physical functioning, emotional and behavioral problems differ in children with ADHD +ASD and ADHD?
ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting approximately 5% and 1% of the population, respectively. Up to 79% of children with ASD and 50% of children with ADHD are
