Yearly Archives: 2016
A new picture for an old biology, HDL as you’ve never seen it before
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as good cholesterol since high levels of HDL are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Unlike its counterpart, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), whose actions are combatted by statins, clinical outcome trials for
The declining influence of family background on educational attainment in Australia
Siblings have much more similar educational outcomes than non-related individuals do of the same age. The similarity between siblings’ outcomes compared to individuals from different families provides a measure of the total impact of family background. Family
How can we know patients are involved in treatment decision-making?
Nowadays, patients desire a more active role in decision-making about their healthcare. Besides, the patients’ preference may differ from what their doctor advises. Shared decision-making (SDM) is the process in which both doctors and patients decide together
Epithelial wound healing: a matter of life and death
Wound healing is a crucial property for the maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of an individual. In the whole organism it usually requires the participation of many cellular types. The fundamental aspects of wound healing,
Throwing a wrench into the hepatitis C replication machine
As an essential step in its replication cycle, the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) must make a copy of its RNA genome. The major player in this process is the NS5B polymerase, a molecular machine which uses
Vaccine research on Africa’s cattle-killing East Coast fever: A short (somewhat potted but handsomely illustrated) history
Tremendous research progress has been made over the last ten years to better control the deadly African disease of cattle known as East Coast fever. This disease is caused by a single-celled organism, Theileria parva, which is carried
Influence of DAOA and RGS4 genes on the risk for psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD), including schizophrenia and other psychosis related conditions, affect about 3.5% of the population worldwide. Although there are quantitative differences, similar clinical and cognitive characteristics can be present across all the diagnoses of the spectrum.
Regular physical activity helps with the regulation of appetite and control of food intake
It is widely known that regular physical activity is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle and weight management. Some studies suggest that regular physical activity is also beneficial for controlling appetite; however, the research has never
Assuming defeat, thwarting the feat: Defeatist beliefs, negative symptoms, and everyday functioning in people with schizophrenia
Imagine wanting to invite a friend for coffee. You might be thinking about what coffee shop to go to or what outfit to wear. But what if instead of planning the details of the coffee date you
ARTS (Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke): A novel method for stroke treatment
Ischemic stroke is not only one of the worldwide leading causes of disability and mortality but is also a significant burden on health systems. Actually the standard treatment for the acute event is based on a clot
Long learning curve for surgeons operating on esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide and the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death. The curatively intended treatment usually includes extensive surgery with removal of most of the esophagus (food-pipe) and the
Astrocytes, friend or foe in the brain
Glia, the “support” cells of the nervous system, are vital to the production, maintenance, and repair of one of the greatest triumphs of vertebrate evolution: the myelin sheath. For nerves to receive and conduct signals, as wells
The experts’ perspectives on domains, definitions and measurements of health literacy in chronic disease management
Health literacy is defined as a person’s skills to navigate and access health information and understand and interpret the information to make informed decisions about their health. Understanding what health literacy is and the impact it has
Evaluating the effectiveness of marine debris policies at a local level
Slow to break down and nearly indestructible, plastics can last persist in the environment for thousands of years. Even more astounding is the amount of plastic that annually ends up in our ocean – an estimated 8
Do individuals with hearing loss change their driving habits over time?
Driving helps us carry out our everyday activities, stay socially connected, and maintain our independence and well-being as we age. However, age-related cognitive and sensory changes may negatively impact an individual’s ability to drive. The best predictor
Laser tool magnifies bacterial genotypic alteration as a colony phenotype
Gene manipulation tools are routinely used to create genetically engineered bacteria to understand the function of a gene or its role in pathogenesis in case of an infective microbe. Genetic engineering and manipulation of genes have been
Evaluation of a Farm-to-Preschool and Families program
Despite recent decreases among preschool-aged children, child obesity is still an important public health concern. Community-based programs that focus on increasing fruit and vegetable intake is one way to address this issue. Although there is a strong
Artilysin®s as a novel enzyme-based approach to kill drug-resistant bacteria
In recent years world leading health care authorities have warned the global community about the threat of antimicrobial resistance. We risk being cast back into the dark ages when minor infections and injuries were often lethal. However,
Antioxidant potential: curcumin vs curcumin glucuronide metabolites
Turmeric, the household spice, contains a major colouring pigment known as curcumin, together with other colouring agents (i.e. curcuminoids). Curcumin is known to exhibit potential antioxidant activity with therapeutic potential as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-diabetic agent and
Microfluidic “plaque-on-a-chip” with pH new imaging concept probes individual factors in tooth decay
Your teeth are covered in biofilm called plaque. This biomaterial consists of bacteria in a protective matrix of proteins, polysaccharides and other long organic molecules. When you eat or drink, bacterial respiration and other metabolic processes convert
