Monthly Archives: March 2016
Cardiac device lead clots and cardiac ablation: mitigating the potential for Peri-procedural stroke?
An increasing number of patients receive implanted cardiac devices to ensure adequate beating of the heart ( pacemakers ), prevent sudden cardiac death from life – threatening rhythm disturbances (implantable cardioverter – defibrillator (ICDs) ), as well
RhEPO improves time to exhaustion by non-hematopoetic factors in humans
It is still unclear by which mechanism recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) improves endurance performance. The common belief that it acts by increasing oxygen delivery is rather unlikely. Therefore, we investigated several exercise-relevant variables in healthy, very active
Gas Man computer simulation mimics anesthesia care
Gas Man® computer simulation mimics anesthesia care and allows anesthesia care providers to improve patient safety. Major surgery requires an anesthesia professional to give general anesthesia to a patient. This often begins with a drug injected in
A new example of what not to do in science
A well-known example of what not to do in science is to publish one’s research results not in a single paper, but in as many small papers––called Least Publishable Units (LPUs)––as possible. This is advantageous because researchers
Invertase effect localized on the cell wall on resistance of potato plants to low temperatures
Low temperature is a determinative environmental factor, which can affect all aspects of plant life and determine their geographical distribution and productivity. According to the response to low temperatures plants are divided into some groups: frost- resistant,
New app revolutionising assessment in youth mental healthcare
Across the population, young people are at the highest risk of developing mental health disorders but are the least likely to receive the support they require. Barriers to care been attributed to a range of issues with
Essential role of a conserved nitrogen phosphotransferase system in rhizobium-legume symbiosis
The overuse of chemical nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture has caused serious environmental issues around the world. Legume crops play important roles in sustainable agriculture and are characterized by their ability of forming nitrogen-fixing nodules, in which rhizobia
Lyme disease causing Borrelia are genetically distinct from their relapsing fever causing cousins
Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and its relatives, is currently the most prevalent vector-borne disease in North America and temperate regions of Eurasia. Increasing temperatures have expanded the habitat range for
Polyfunctional T cells induced potent anti-tumor efficacy
Adoptive T cell therapy is a form of cancer immunotherapy using T cells to target cancer cells. In adoptive T cell therapy, white blood cells are collected from cancer patients, T cells (CD4+ and CD8+ cells) within
Drugs and drowning
Electrical activity of the heart is commonly monitored by the electrocardiogram (ECG). Such electrical activity depends on certain proteins called ion channels. These channels control the timing and the flow of electrically charged particles (ions) in and
Contamination of newly built thermal plants – does water hold the answer?
A domestic central heating system uses a boiler, powered by electric or gas, to heat water. This is then pumped around the system to radiators that heat a room by radiation and convection. The heat transfer fluid
Why blood donors lapse or reduce their donation’s frequency?
Finding effectives ways to retain blood donors is crucial. Four percent of Quebec (Canada) citizens are registered in the province’s blood bank. Only 6% of blood donors are registered as apheresis donors, but they supply 15% of
Relativity: Relatively uninteresting for chemists?
The periodic table of elements is among the corner stones of chemistry. In the given order, in both the periods (rows) and groups (columns), elements show some specific properties. However, when going around the bottom of the
Phthalate exposure and depression in an elderly population
Phthalates are chemicals used to increase the flexibility and softness of plastics or preserve the scent in various personal care products. They are included in a wide range of products such as food packaging, medical devices, children’s
The youth hormone DHEA in the treatment of liver cancer: die another way
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of malignant liver tumor and one of the leading causes of death all over the world. As for other types of cancer, many drugs have been developed and tested with
Promises and challenges in the engineering of nanosized active pharmaceutical ingredients
The advances in the field of nanotechnology have revolutionized the field of delivery of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Nanoparticles refer to solid colloidal three-dimensional particles in the size range from (1 to 1000) nm. Therapeutically,
Caught in a loop – A story of how plants drop excess baggage
Plants shed their organs such as leaves, flowers, or fruits in response to environmental stimuli or developmental timing. For example, trees drop their leaves in the fall when they sense winter is coming. Plants also drop leaves
The history of carotid stroke
Carotid artery disease is a condition in which fatty deposition (plaque) within the vessel wall of one or both neck arteries causes progressive vascular narrowing. Plaque surface rupture leads to a shower of debris to the brain,
Improving nature’s own communication system to fight cancer
Our bodies are composed of trillions of different cells, which communicate with each other in order to keep us healthy. There are several ways in which messages can be sent back and forth between cells. One of
3D arrangement of elastic fibres in the human cornea
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber, and is continuous with the white sclera. As part of the eye ball it has to be strong to protect the inner contents
