Yearly Archives: 2016
Genetic disorders in primary aldosteronism – familial and somatic: an explanatory attempt
Aldosterone is the steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal gland in response to sodium deficiency, blood volume loss or potassium loading. It acts on the kidney and the colon to retain sodium and excrete potassium, in a
Bovine milk microbiological quality and milking practices from pastures in São Miguel Island (Azores)
The bovine dairy industry is mainly supplied by conventional dairy herds. Milk and derivate dairy products are rigorously evaluated and processed in accordance with the biosecurity standard norms. The ultimate aim is to obtain a “Farm-to-Table” food
Could a salamander forage inside your refrigerator?
The behavior and physiology of many animals (e.g., insects, amphibians and reptiles) can be greatly affected by changes in body temperature. For example, low temperature can reduce energy intake via effects on foraging behavior. Many insects and
Looking ahead: What are the lessons for education in Microbiology and beyond?
Higher Education has seen many changes, always faces new challenges, and educational approaches have to adapt in response and proactively. Issues such antibiotic resistance and food security emphasise the need to prepare for future skills demands of
Borrelia spirochetes found in a patient with Flegel disease
Flegel disease (Hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans – HLP) is a rare autosomal dermatosis, characterized by small, asymptomatic, reddishbrown, keratotic papules occurring most frequently over the dorsa of the feet and the lower parts of the arms and legs.
Novel approaches to cancer treatment encoded within non-coding RNA
A hallmark of all living organisms is the presence of genetic material within each cell; this material is invariantly composed of a specific class of biological molecules known as the nucleic acids. While the more familiar variety
“I feel blue”: The problem of using figurative language in psychological tests
Ever had difficulty describing a nagging worry or burst of joy? Emotions are hard to describe with literal language, so people often use figurative language: I’m feeling up today, but she’s got the blues. However, when figurative
Automated chest X-ray screening: can edge map measure the evidence of pulmonary abnormalities?
Among many pulmonary diseases, according to the 2014 WHO report, Tuberculosis (TB) is considered as one of the deadliest communicable diseases. While TB cure rates over 90% have been documented in resource-rich countries, its detection and treatment
A New therapy for healing nonunion fractures in patients using self-bone marrow derived mesenchymal
Sometimes a broken bone fail to heal (“nonunion”) and it is necessary to induce the formation of new bone tissue to connect the broken pieces. Investigators from the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas (IVIC) and orthopedic surgeons
Sub-Antarctic Fish – how do they do when things get warm?
Scientists are concerned about the fate of marine species, in particular fish, under future climate warming. Because fish body temperature varies as a consequence of variation in the ambient environmental temperature (they are “poikilotherms”), scientists expect that
Mapping brain shrinkage in dementia
Dementia is not a specific disease but rather an umbrella term for a collection of syndromes that affect thinking and behaviour. This is similar to cancer being the umbrella term for different cancer types, such as melanoma,
Action plans for pediatric eczema: Are they effective?
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is like asthma in that it requires patients to change their medications and/or treatment depending on their symptoms. This can be very confusing for many patients. An Asthma Action Plan has
Visible-light-induced preparation of Functionalized Indoles
The use of low energy visible-light irradiation for the construction of synthetically and biologically important heterocyclic molecules by simple utilization of readily available starting substrates has emerged as powerful and sustainable approach in organic synthesis. Indole scaffold
Fish waste – a resource
The amount of farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway was 1.27 106 tons in 2014. This results in 0.34 106 tons of waste (residual raw material). In addition, even more waste is produced from pelagic catch, which is
Protection against production of cancer-causing agents in cooked meats by apple peel extracts
There is increasing evidence that the presence of cancer causing compounds in the diet are responsible for variations in cancer rates among different populations worldwide. Cancer causing agents are known to be generated during high temperature cooking
Varicella. A case report: With palms and sole of foot affectation
Varicella is caused by Varicella Zoster Virus (VVZ). This virus produces two different clinical manifestations of diseases: varicella and herpex zoster. It is present all over the world. In children, varicella is a mild disease, but in
Unravel the key genes potentially related to high strength of cotton fiber by comparative phenotypic and genomic analyses
The demand of high strength of cotton fibers has been increased dramatically with the advent of modern high speed spinning technology for producing yarn. Cotton fiber is a gigantic single cell which consists of almost pure cellulose.
Effectiveness of an Internet intervention to decrease young adults’ risk for skin cancer
Every year, almost five million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. Though many think of cancer as being an issue for older people, melanoma is the second most diagnosed cancer in adults aged 20-39. This is in
Does cutaneous sebum affect the skin uptake of chemicals?
The human skin is covered by a mixture of lipids called sebum. Some components of human sebum are involved in the formation of the epidermal skin barrier inhibiting the uptake of exogenous substances. For experimental dermal penetration
Voice modulation: A window into the origins of human vocal control?
Men and women with low pitched and resonant voices are stereotypically judged as dominant, physically large, and masculine. Our voice pitch even affects how competent and trustworthy we seem. These stereotypes appear intricately linked to the fact
