Monthly Archives: February 2016
Markers that predict treatment response to inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma
Asthma is a common chronic condition caused by inflammation in the tubes that pass air in and out of the lungs. When asthma is poorly controlled, children cannot breathe normally, cannot play and exercise, and may have
A brucellosis vaccine that provides sterile immunity
Brucellosis is a disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Brucella. Most of Brucella species are capable of infecting humans, and they are all considered zoonotic since different animals are their preferential hosts. Brucella ovis
Non-genetic health professionals’ perceptions of genetic testing for hereditary cancer
Over the last decade more genetic tests are being ordered by non-genetic health professionals, such as oncologists, gynecologists, and primary care providers. Numerous studies have shown that non-genetic health professionals have insufficient knowledge of genetics, express educational
Chemically exfoliated MoS2 on TiO2 mesocrystal with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Over the past decades, the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and serious environmental pollution were started to strongly affect the modern society. With concerning the deficiency of human energy and alleviating the environmental pollution, solar energy as
Could a newly-discovered bacteria contribute to cancer?
For many years, doctors and scientists have known that certain viruses, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), are capable of causing cancer. Until recently, bacteria were ignored as potential carcinogens. This changed with the discovery that Helicobacter
The fate and influence of engineered nanoparticles in wastewater treatment plants
Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) (intentionally created particles with one or more dimensions greater than 1 nanometer and less than 100 nanometers) are now used in consumer and industrial products. However, there are concerns surrounding their potential effects on
Why do obese individuals choose to be active?
Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are labelled obese and urged to lose weight. This often includes encouraging physical activity, but most individuals who lose weight regain the weight they lost. Without weight loss,
Innovative tool, promise for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative brain diseases
If at the dawn of the twentieth century, Alzheimer’s disease was seen as a rare disease, but today the incidence of this disease has taken epidemic proportions and is treated as one of the diseases of civilization.
Smaller cut, same result
The mitral valve is one of the four cardiac valves. It sits in the left side of the heart where it serves to prevent backflow of blood from the pumping chamber of the heart (ventricle) and the
Parenting and social competence in school: the role of preadolescents’ personality
This study of 230 preadolescent students (mean age 11.3 years) from the wider area of Athens, Greece, examined the role of personality in the relation between parenting dimensions and social competence in school. Social competence was defined
Focusing on non-tumor-derived factors for leukemia therapy
Approximately 10-20 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), and 1-3% of HTLV-I-infected individuals develop a cancer of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the blood each year. The retrovirus-associated
Rapid detection of cocaine in fingerprints using ambient mass spectrometry
Fingerprint residues, commonly referred to as fingerprints, are the result of an accumulation of sweat at the fingertips which is transferred to any surface upon contact. The composition of the fingerprint residue is therefore dependant on the
Transcience in enzymes
Protein-enzymes catalyze most biochemical processes through high-energy, transient intermediates. Structural characterization of intermediates can lead to stable analogs that inhibit cognate enzymes and serve as pharmaceutical agents. The enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of pyruvic acid to
What heats the sun’s outer atmosphere?
At several million kelvins, the Sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, is a thousand times hotter than the underlying solar surface. Understanding what heats the corona to its extreme temperatures is one of the cornerstone questions in
The fertilization process: a new way to look at an old phenomenon
The union of the egg with the sperm at fertilization has fascinated many philosophers and scientists. Most of our knowledge on fertilization derives from studies on marine organisms that release eggs and spermatozoa into the sea water.
Undertreatment of men in their seventies with aggressive prostate cancer
Prostate cancer may be cured by either surgery or radiation treatment, but these “radical treatments” often cause permanent side effects that negatively affect the quality of life. Small prostate cancers usually grow very slowly, so more elderly
Are health-related posts on Twitter evidence based?
In recent times, health care professionals in the Middle Eastern countries are using Twitter®, a free social networking website, to tweet health related information. This includes creation of public awareness about health and diseases, communication with other
A cysteine residue is a key commander of SOD1-related neuronal toxicity in ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a life-threatening disease of motor neurons that gradually affects muscle strength of the whole body. The disease occurs familially in some cases, and 25 to 30% of the
Can surgeon operated ultrasound increase the safety of laparoscopic surgery?
Laparoscopic (aka minimally invasive or keyhole) surgery is a modern surgical technique that allows surgeons to perform complex abdominal surgery through much small incisions than conventional “open” surgery. When compared to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery offers patients
How the marmoset can help us develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease
New advances in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease heavily depend on valid animal models of the disease that allows for the evaluation of symptoms over extended time periods. The marmoset is a primate that shares several important features
