Yearly Archives: 2016
Serotonergic drugs in the treatment of symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease showing alterations in neurotransmitters, above all in brain regions responsibles for cognition and emotions. In this disease, an imbalance between neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, noradrenaline and serotonin are included. In brain
Hand disinfectant with activity against all viruses
Across the hospitals worldwide the same procedure can be seen to take place: the doctor or the nurse applies disinfectant (sanitizer) on their hand before examining the patient. In doing so, she or he inactivates bacteria, yeasts
What are data?
Current debates on big data and data-centric research have reignited social and cultural interest in what counts as data, and under which conditions data are transformed into knowledge. I propose a philosophical perspective on these issues that
Chiral organic molecules at work with epoxides: two arms drive the asymmetric transformations
Many organic compounds, including natural aminoacids and sugars, are chiral molecules. They exist in two not superimposable forms, the enantiomers, having identical chemical formulae and bond connections, but likewise our hands, being mirror – images. As in
Combining paper-based electrochemistry and mass spectrometry
Electrochemistry / mass spectrometry ( EC / MS ) has many applications in science and industry such as drug discovery, elucidation of redox mechanisms, identification of drug metabolites, and online chemical derivatization for improving analytical figures of
Botulinum toxin for depression: Does patient appearance matter?
Most people know Botulinum Toxin (Botox®) as “the stuff that people use to make them look younger.” Botulinum toxin is a “neurotoxin” produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. When injected in small amounts, it causes weakening
An “appealing” small virus
In 1975 in London , an australian researcher, doctor Yvonne Cossart has detected by immunological procedures a new virus in the serum of a blood donor; the name of the blood pocket was B19 so this virus
Visual information signaling threat gains privileged access to consciousness
At any moment in time we are submerged in an overwhelming amount of visual information. If our brain had to consciously process all the information reaching our eyes, it would take us a lifetime just to read
Genetic differences in elite rugby players and the general population
We have known for many years that genetic variation is important in understanding any physiological trait and contributes substantially to the way people develop. Height for example is estimated as being ~80% determined by genetic variation with
Chemical priming: a way to increase plant protection against stress conditions in the field?
Abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, flooding, heat, cold, freezing, excess light, UV radiation and heavy metal toxicity have a significant impact on plant growth and crop yield worldwide. Climate change continues to exacerbate the detrimental effects
Essential biological pathways modulate many different aspects of cell biology
High throughput screening is the most common way to discover novel drugs as well as new ways in which drugs could act. Screening chemicals for drug discovery has identified a group of molecules which are able to
Help for breastfeeding mothers and babies with shared care
The World Health Organisation and the UK Department of Health advise all mothers to totally breastfeed for the first six months of a baby’s life and to continue to breastfeed along with other foods until the child
Channels in artificial membranes
Proteins come in a variety of shapes and sizes but two major classes exist: soluble proteins and those reside in membranes. 20-30% of all the proteins found in cells are membrane proteins. Many membrane proteins such as
The key key to open the door of iPSCs clinical therapy for patients
The discovery of iPSCs is probably one of the most astonishing accomplishments in the beginning of 21st century. This is by 4 early protein factors, the differentiated cells–such as fibroblasts, T and B cells—can return to pluripotent
Contraception by Essure: FDA’s gift to women comes in a new “Black Box”?
Worldwide, at least 750,000 women have had the Essure® procedure, which is the only method on hysteroscopic sterilization (HS) currently available. Efficacy data provided by the device manufacturer claims that HS is 99.83% effective at preventing pregnancy
Red ochre and early humans
Already 200.000 to 100.000 years ago Neanderthal people in Europe as well as early modern humans in Africa painted their body with red ochre mixed with fat. They did it long before modern man developed significant artistic
Prompt resolution of essential drug intolerance
The gut is nowadays seen as a site of cross-talk and interchange between the inner body (supposed to be sterile, namely free of viable harmful bugs) and the outer contaminated world, mainly entering the digestive tract through
Optimization of non-nutritional factors for enhancement of nisin production
Nisin, has been used as a food biopreservative for over forty years in more than 80 countries including the United States and Europe and is produced by Lactococcus lactis, a bacterium used widely for industrial production of
When shoulder replacement fails, what happens next?
Shoulder replacement for arthritis is becoming more common, and is growing at twice the rate of knee replacement. The shoulder consists of a ball (the head of the humerus) and a socket on the shoulder blade (the
Flattering innovation: a popular method to test new devices is often misunderstood and misused
How do we test a new method to measure something? Is it as good as a tried and tested method? It may be quicker and easier to use, but is the result equivalent to the old, clunky
