Yearly Archives: 2016
Fluidizing membranes: a simple way to assist in the formation and size-control of giant polymersomes
In the 2005 article “A Giant Step Towards Artificial Life”, David Deamer outlined twelve requirements for creating an artificial cell or “protocell.” The very first of these steps is to form a membrane enclosure, encapsulating all of
Relative Reinforcing Efficacy predicts smoking abstinence among treatment-seeking smokers
Relative Reinforcing Efficacy (RRE) is a central concept of behavioral economic theories of addiction referring to the behavior-strengthening or behavior-maintaining effects of a drug or specific dose of a drug. A recent approach for assessing RRE within
Radiation-induced morphea: an under-recognized complication of breast radiation
Worldwide, breast cancer was the most common new diagnosis and common cause of death in women in 2012. As screening for breast cancer has improved patients are often identified in the early stage of disease and are
The oncolytic virus ∆PK has multi-modal anti-tumor activity
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are an emerging cancer therapeutic based on tumor cell lysis by replicating virus and the resulting release of cellular proteins [viz. tumor-associated antigens (TAAs)], which modulate tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD). OVs have a
A pill a day to prevent HIV? Successes and challenges of pre-exposure prophylaxis in the real world
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a pill composed of two antiretroviral drugs (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, or TDF/FTC) that prevents HIV infection. Numerous studies have now shown that when taken daily, this medication has the potential to
Capula’s index: a new promising tool in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus screening
Gestational diabetes mellitus ( GDM ) has become a major public health concern whose prevalence is increasing globally , together with the increased rates of obstetric and neonatal complications. Notwithstanding this evidence, a worldwide consensus about the diagnostic
Improving asthma control, one school at a time
Asthma is a big problem: it affects almost 10% of children in the United States and costs $56 billion a year in direct and indirect costs. Every day, 36,000 children miss school because of asthma, and children
New reagents and concepts for complexometric titrations
Complexometric titration is an important titrimetric method that is a mature analytical technique for quantitative determination of metal ions. Chelators and indicators are the two important parts. The chelator is a usually a compound that can form
Delusional infestation: a rare disorder with a high burden of disease
Patients with delusional infestations (DI) are totally convinced that some living or non-living organism or fibers have infested their body. Patients describe associated tactile hallucinations like continuously biting or stinging in or under their skin, or auditory
Rapid detection of polymyxin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from blood cultures
Enterobacterial strains resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones are increasingly reported increasingly reported worldwide. Those strains remain mostly susceptible to polymyxins such as colistin. Polymyxins that are old antibiotics have been used until recently mostly in
Mitochondrial [dys]function; culprit in pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia, a serious condition of late pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and increased protein in the urine in the second-half of pregnancy. This condition affects 5% of first time mothers and is associated with significant maternal
Quantum dots in proteins embraces
You may already heard about quantum dots (QDs) when buying energy saving light source or choosing your new TV set. Quite the same structures are used in life sciences as tools to visualize and track other molecules.
Vitamin D3 supplementation and blood pressure: a meta-analysis
Hypertension is a chronic condition that can lead to renal disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke and mortality. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulation of calcium and bone homeostasis and associated with mortality, type 2 diabetes, metabolic
Sydney rock oysters respond to contaminants in a complex matter
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be produced naturally and through human activities and enter aquatic environments through, for instance, oil spills or surface runoff. These contaminants can persist for a long period of time in the environment
Post-prandial excretion of calcium is a risk factor for calcium kidney stones
Calcium stones are caused by the precipitation of calcium-oxalate and/or calcium-phosphate on the surface of a kidney papilla. High urinary concentration of lithogenic ions, calcium and oxalate or phosphate, and urine supersaturation with respect to lithogenic salts
Interaction of glial cells with Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Zinc oxide nanoparticles have wide applications in electronics, goods packaging, cosmetics, daily care products as well as biomedical sector. The exposure risk of ZnO NPs has been evaluated in different organisms and cell lines. It is reported
Visualization of nutrient distribution in food
We know several kinds of molecules in food and agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. Some of these molecules improve our health, whereas some molecules harm our health. Conventional analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC) or gas
When graphene meets lectin for sensitive glycan analysis
The importance of glycans (chains of carbohydrates) in human body is relatively well known. They have a number of essential roles not only in physiology, but also in origin of various diseases. The majority of proteins and
Oral neutrophils: cells with multiple personalities
Neutrophils are protective immune cells that swarm sites of infection to target and kill invading bacteria. The importance of neutrophils in the maintenance of human health is highlighted by multiple severe and life threatening diseases caused by
Blood profile and resistance of rainbow trout against Yersinia ruckeri following the diet supplemented with Mentha piperita
This study was aimed to assess the potential effects of ethanolic Mentha piperita (MP) extract on the hemato – immunological and biochemical parameters, skin antibacterial activity and survival rate against Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus
