Monthly Archives: January 2016
New function for the well-known lipids
Angiogenesis is the new blood vessels formation in adult tissues which share some similarities to growth of blood vessels during development called vasculogenesis. It is estimated that growth of any tissue to the sizes above 2-3 mm3
Forewarned is forearmed: Protect your children from surprising hot weather injuries this summer
It is known that hot weather adversely affects health and raises mortality rates. This has been reported globally by the World Health Organisation, and locally in Australia. In addition to death, adverse effects of health that have
A novel reovirus mutant: toward the next generation of viruses for cancer treatment?
In the last decade or so, it has been realized that viruses are not only foes to fight, but possible therapeutics against diseases such as cancer. Most of these so-called oncolytic viruses are engineered to acquire desirable
Total ankle replacements in diabetics
Diabetes is a growing public health concern with 380 million people worldwide projected to have the disease by 2025. With over 1% of the world’s population having ankle arthritis, many diabetic patients will require operative treatment. Modern
A central theory of biology
Like all sciences, Biology began with the systematic categorization of plants and animals, beginning with Linnaeus’s Binomial Nomenclature. That process was based on the appearance of organisms, which we know is subjective due to the way that
Counteracting a host factor allows adenovirus infection to progress to new virus production
Viruses use the cells of another organism to reproduce and spread. Although very variable in size, the genetic material of a virus is usually tiny in comparison to that of its host and so cannot specify very
The GC-MS tutorial to successfully carry out your metabolomics study
The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules that are the intermediates and products of metabolism, which represent the result of complex interactions between our genetic inheritance and multiple environmental stimuli. Characterization of the metabolome is a challenging but necessary
Is the post-polio syndrome due to chronic poliovirus infection?
Over the years, poliomyelitis survivors may experience e progressive decline of physical strength accompanied by intolerance to cold, chronic pain and other disabilities. This condition, termed post-polio syndrome (PPS), may lead to the incapacity of living an
Using tumor DNA to refine lung cancer staging and treatment
The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is guided by disease stage as assessed by clinical and pathologic criteria. Clinical tumor stage is determined by imaging including computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron
Time for a new understanding of chest pain
Most people who present to hospitals with pain in the chest have nothing wrong with their hearts. A small proportion have another physical problem such as acid reflux from the stomach but most have health anxiety or
How to spot a sick cell?
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique used to measure the mass of molecules. Chemists extensively use this method to confirm that they have made the right molecule by comparing the mass of the actual product with the
More reasons to appreciate the Golden Spice “saffron”
Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide. What is even worse is that the number of new cancer cases is projected to massive increase which would probably make it the first cause of death
High prevalence of undertreated cardiovascular disease in patients diagnosed with cancer
Heart disease and cancer are the most common causes of death in the United States. They often have the same risk factors (for example, smoking, advancing age, obesity). Heart disease can worsen outcomes after cancer therapy and
A famous astronomer, a full bladder, and the heavens revealed
Our modern conception of the universe largely resulted from a famous astronomer’s inability to urinate. On Saturday, October 13, 1601, the celebrated Danish scientist Tycho Brahe went to a dinner party, drank too much, and returned home
The effect of different educational methods on nurses’ hand hygiene
Nosocomial infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Nosocomial infections have profound effects on patients, families, and healthcare systems. These infections increase length of hospital stay as well as mortality
Perceptual Inference
The common saying goes: seeing is believing. We are accustomed to think that everything in our visual scene is instantly perceived by the brain and recorded like a photograph on paper. In the 19th century a German
Risk factors for psychotic major depression
Risk factors are attributes, characteristics, or experience that increase the likelihood of developing an illness or disorder. An understanding of the risk factors involved in mental disorders may inform the development of more effective treatments or even
Antidepressants associated with falls in Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects mobility and is commonly characterized, in advanced stages of the disease, by instability and falls. Falls are a major reason for hospitalization in Parkinson’s patients and may lead
Exciting new research development in the treatment of obesity
Obesity is a major problem in the United States. In fact, it is a worldwide epidemic. One third of the US population is overweight. Another third is Obese. The definition of obesity is a Body Mass Index
A natural compound called rutin may shade light on diabetes therapy
Diabetes and its major risk factor, obesity, have become a world-wide epidemic and cause of suffering for millions of people. There is still no drug of cure for diabetes and the currently available drugs suffer from a
