Monthly Archives: February 2016
Real life treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of deviation from guidelines recommended therapy
Primary liver cancer is one of the most common cancers at the global level. The outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is related to the extent of both tumor and liver disease, which influence the applicability and efficacy
Functional networks of the awake rabbit brain
The brain constantly transmits signals whether during idle wakefulness (i.e., “at rest”) or different behavioral states like cognitively-demanding tasks. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans have consistently observed neural networks of coherent activity within
Understanding the rare disease alkaptonuria: the role of oxidative stress, inflammation and amyloidosis
Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an ultra-rare disease that was recognized among the first inborn errors of metabolism. In AKU, an altered activity of the enzyme homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) occurring upon gene mutation lead to a defective metabolism of
The exploration of gene expression in Atlantic bluefin tuna
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunus thynnus), the largest of the tuna species, is migratory top predator inhabiting the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Extremely well adapted to life in open waters, they are able to traverse
Heavy metals and cyanobacteria: towards bioremediation
Heavy metals are one of the most common pollutants worldwide, being a serious hazard to the environment and public health. These metals are usually removed from polluted waters by physicochemical methods that can have substantial costs, low
Photometric patch electrode captures optical and electrical signals simultaneously in deep brain tissues
When neurons work they signal each other using action potentials, which is a rapid change of membrane potential and underlies the brain function. In most neurons action potentials accompany changes of intracellular concentration of calcium ions. Calcium
Is a tissue-engineering approach effective for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects?
Osteoporosis (OP) is a disease that affects the formation, maintenance, and density of bone. OP is also associated with an increased risk of bone fracture. For those people/patients facing a traumatic injury or tumor removal in the
Preference for capretto and chevon depending on familiarity
The “capretto”, i.e. four to seven-week old kid fed on milk, is the traditional and, still, the main meat product in this class. It is a major component of farm income during the Easter and Christmas times.
Rising from obscurity: 11β-hydroxy-androstenedione under the spotlight
Steroid hormones are small molecules that act as messengers in our bodies, regulating normal development and impacting on disease. These hormones are produced from cholesterol by the actions of enzymes− proteins which change cholesterol to form new
Immunochemical analysis of pesticides in strawberries
Broad retail of highly perishable fruits like strawberries requires application of agrochemicals at stages near the harvest, so significant amounts of pesticide residues are commonly found at the consumer level. Consequently, maximum residue limits (MRL) have been
He’s giving me good vibrations – the role of vibrations in population divergence in the red mason bee
Females in the animal kingdom are often known to be the choosier sex when it comes to finding the right mating partner. Consequently, differences in female preference for certain male characteristics can be a driving force for
Secret of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) hidden in small molecules
Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a great challenge for today’s medicine. It also results from not fully explained pathomechanisms underlying their development and progression. The group of CVDs is a very complex mixture of
Changes in 3-dimentional chromatin structure as a mean to relieve oxidative stress?
DNA in our cells is packaged into a structure called chromatin, which is mainly a protein-DNA complex. Chromatin needs to be loosened for fundamental processes to take place, such as decoding genetic information (i.e. gene expression) and
Physical activity helps to reduce cognitive symptoms for dementia patients
Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by cognitive symptoms, which lead to disruptions in many aspects of daily life. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which affects 5.3 million people in the United States
Clay nanotubes loaded with Sr(II) could help in designing composite scaffolds for bone regeneration
The treatment of age-related diseases is a high-priority issue in modern western societies, mainly because of the progressive ageing of the population and the increase in life expectancy. Osteoporosis, literally “porous bone”, is a condition in which
Decreased radiation exposure with a safety training program
The importance of limiting radiation exposure among healthcare workers and patients is of utmost importance. According to the National Council on Radiation and Standards the recommended maximum annual dose of radiation to the whole body is 5,000
Cortical bone: a ground-breaking source for multipotent stem cells
Multipotent stromal cells also known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a family of cells derived from the mesodermal germ layer, distinguished by their ability to replicate themselves and differentiate, or change morph into different types of
Alzheimer’s disease or type 2 diabetes?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of senile dementia and it is estimated that by 2050, the number of cases will rise to 110 million. The vast majority of patients suffer from the
Fungicide residues in wine
With a total surface of approximately 7.5 million hectares, viticulture is a hugely important economic activity in geographical areas with warm climates. Grapevines are especially vulnerable to attacks by fungi; namely, gray mold, downy mildew, powdery mildew,
PACAP expression induced in neuropathic pain is controlled by a splicing of REST/NRSF
Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by the damage of the nervous system and one of the most common types of intractable pain. It is often severe, persistent, and refractory to available therapies. Although various analgesic has been
