Yearly Archives: 2016
Designing physical activity environments to include nature enhances positive physical and psychological benefits
Physical inactivity has been identified as a pressing health issue across the globe because has been directly related to mental and physical ill health. Insufficient physical activity (PA) is now the fourth leading underlying cause of premature
Jurassic siphon
The sauropod dinosaurs were the tallest animals to ever stalk the earth. The fossilised remains of sauropods indicate that some had necks as long as 12 m. Sauropods are often depicted with their heads held high –
Zinc – A beneficial player in autoimmune diseases
Essential trace elements, especially zinc, are indispensable for a proper immune function. Zinc deficiency or excess causes severe impairment of the immune response. So far, an increased susceptibility to infections, increased number of transplant rejections, development of
Multiplex methods provide effective integration of multi-omic data in genome-scale models
Structures called networks are often used as a way of simplifying complex problems. For instance, you’ve probably heard of social networks, where we simplify the complexity of human interactions by categorizing each pair of people as either
Diversity in the health professions
Our country is becoming more diverse. It is predicted that 24 years from now, we will not have a majority group. When combined, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans will be the majority group. Since
The invisible hearing aids
In the last 20 years, middle ear implants have joined conventional external hearing aids in the rehabilitation of the hearing loss. Middle ear implants solve some typical hearing aid problems such as feedback, signal distortion, or occlusion
How to build a communication system for cells
Single cell organisms, such as amoebae, are able to live independently without the need for extracellular communication systems. However, multicellular organisms, such as insects, fish and mammals, require systems that permit individual cells to communicate to one
Did Joan of Arc and Saint Paul suffer from epilepsy?
In February 2016, I read an article written by two Swiss neurologists trying to demonstrate that Joan of Arc’s and Saint Paul’s visual and auditory experiences were all manifestations of underlying epilepsy. The article was published in
Can Radon radiation become a source of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of autoimmune disease. It is triggered by a faulty immune system of the body. However, the real cause of the disease is not completely known. The disease affects the
Melatonin’s role preventing steatohepatitis and improving liver transplantation results
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is produced by the pineal gland as well as by many other organs including ovary, testes, bone marrow, gut, placenta, and liver. This molecule is both a biological rhythm regulator and an important component of
Autonomy, reciprocity and respect: cultural values and their impact on indigenous children’s development
Child development is currently a topic of concern for scientists, teachers and governments. Ethnography, Cultural Psychology and Human Ecology have contributed to criticize the idea of universal pathways of human development, stressing the intimate relationships between children’s
Direct regulation of G protein signal strength as a new drug target?
Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) remain an important but elusive target in drug discovery. G proteins adapt cell behavior in response to signals generated by cell surface receptors, G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Clinical interest in G
The benefits and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is currently considered a low-grade neoplasm that mainly affects young women, and is characterized by the presence of diffuse pulmonary cysts. Several studies have shown that patients with LAM have reduced exercise capacity secondary to
What is coagulation/flocculation and chitosan-based flocculants used in water treatment?
Insoluble suspended colloids are frequently the main contaminants in raw water which make water look very dirty. Moreover, those colloidal particles are usually small and also surface charged, thus the electrostatic repulsion effects among them cause the
New way to detect kidney injury using keratins
As humans and animals have a skeleton supporting their structure, each cell has a similar microscopic skeleton termed cytoskeleton. Cytoskeleton also helps to maintain the shape and the internal organization of cells and is also involved in
The direct effects of fingolimod in the central nervous system
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). In people with MS, an immune system error causes lymphocytes (white blood cells) to leave glands known as lymph nodes (where they are stored),
A systems-level view of cerebellar function: The interplay between cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cortex
The cerebellum is a key brain region involved in many motor functions. It contributes to coordination, precision, and accurate timing of movements as well as to motor learning and adaptation. Alongside its role in motor control, it
Corticosterone in chameleon claws
Steroid hormones act throughout life to regulate numerous physiological processes such as development, reproduction and immunity as well as behavioral responses, e.g. stress response and risk taking. Steroid levels vary rapidly according to varying conditions and stressors.
Is personality related to biological stress reactivity?
In his influential biopsychological theory of personality, Hans J. Eysenck proposed in 1967 that there was a biological basis to personality. He described two main personality traits which could be measured on a continuum. Individuals scoring high
Is isoniazid so safe to use in tuberculosis preventive therapy?
Tuberculosis (TB) has emerged as a major warning to global public health as thirty three percent of the world population is considered to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Further, multi-drug-resistant strains of MTB in association
