Yearly Archives: 2016
A new paradigm for asthma management
What does Dr. Weinberger mean by needing a new paradigm for managing asthma? A paradigm is essentially a way of thinking about a problem and a method for doing something about that problem. And we do have
Unusual fractures in osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is common in our aging population and is a major reason for loss of independence and deterioration of quality of life. Medications are often required to treat osteoporosis and such treatments, particularly drugs of the bisphosphonate
Is there a relationship between carbon dioxide emission and agriculture?
According to the Earth System Research Laboratory 2015, the growth rate of carbon dioxide has increased over the past 36 years (1979-2014), averaging about 1.4 ppm per year before 1995 and 2.0 ppm per year thereafter. The
Imperforate hymen in a sixteen-month-old child
The hymen is a solid membrane located at the entrance into the vagina. The most common form is the annular hymen with one central opening. However, there are several other variations such as the microperforate hymen, hymen
Pollution may impair water, food, ecosystems, health and livelihoods
Trace/heavy metals are cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), uranium (U), and Zinc (Zn). Metals pollution can be caused by direct discharge of effluents from
What if a surgically removed neck lymph node turns out to be cancer?
A rising epidemic in the United States is throat cancer, specifically a tumor called squamous cell carcinoma, induced by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Approximately 12,000 cases occur each year and the number is increasing. In this
Fighting chronic rejection of transplanted organs
In many diseases the only available cure is organ transplantation. However, if the transplanted organ does not derive from an identical twin (which is genetically identical to the recipient) it becomes rejected by the immune system of
How can lithium prevent stroke – Is the inner cell layer of our vessels the key?
Since decades, lithium is one of the most effective drugs for psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorders; but lithium has a narrow therapeutic window. This means that lithium concentration in patients’ blood should be kept in a
Organic single crystal gains elastic flexibility
Organic fibrous materials, such as polymers, have attracted great attention due to their flexibility. On the other hand, organic single crystals are contrasting materials with less flexibility. Semiconducting films and fibers based on π-conjugated polymers have exhibited
Why do women go through menopause? Science offers a new solution to an old puzzle
Passing on our genes to the next generation is the key process in evolution that happens through natural selection. So why do women suddenly lose the ability to have children when they have at least a third
Does eating oily fish improve gestational and neonatal outcomes?
Fish is a source of long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (LCPUFA), and its consumption is associated with prolonged length of gestation, decreased pre-term birth rates, increased birth weight. However, fish may contain a number of pollutants which
Electric fields drive macrophage healing functions
When the skin is cut, or otherwise injured, a spontaneous electrical current is created immediately at the wound and this promotes healing. Several studies have demonstrated how naturally generated electrical fields cause movement of skin epithelial cells,
The inert noble gases are anything but inert biologically
The noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) present an intriguing scientific paradox. They are extremely inert chemically, and very drastic conditions need to be employed to convert them into other compounds. However, they display a
Stellar dinosaurs in the prehistory of the Solar System
Prehistoric dinosaurs and the time when they were roaming the Earth have been discovered thanks to the bones we find and their radioactive content. In the same way, stars that lived before the formation of the Solar
Collagen V2.0: A system for re-engineering human type II collagen
Collagen is the main structural component in animals, making up approximately 30% of the total protein in our bodies. Collagen is an integral component of skin, tendon, bones, cartilage, and the placenta. Modern methods in cell biology
Music as a medicine for sudden hearing loss
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a disease that suddenly affects hearing in one ear without any special trigger and is often accompanied by tinnitus (a ringing in the ear), ear fullness, vertigo, dizziness. The rate of
Flares and pirouettes: the different moves of spinning bacteria
Bacteria often form together on surfaces in dense communities, known as biofilms. These cause medical and industrial problems because this lifestyle increases their resistance to disease and other stresses, making them difficult to remove. We aim to
How to avoid cisplatin associated hearing-loss using nanoparticles
Cisplatin (CDDP) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent against a variety of solid tumors including head and neck, lungs, ovary, bladder and testicles, however, it presents severe side-effects that affect kidney function, nervous system and hearing. There
Electrostatic charging of pharmaceuticals – a multifaceted phenomenon
Pharmaceutical solids are usually insulators and thus they are likely to carry an electrostatic charge during powder handling processes. Tribocharging is a popular phenomenon in pharmaceutical solids that arises from particle – particle and particle – wall
Paper-based sensor for on-site detection of hydrogen sulfate in water
In 2013 UNICEF reported that ca. 2200 children below 5 years old die every day of diarrheal diseases. This report also indicates that around 90% of these deaths are the consequence of unsafe drinking water. The detection
