Yearly Archives: 2016
Protecting titanium implants from infection
Certain microorganisms are capable of growing in layers, forming biofilms on medical surfaces, like implants, heart valves, etc… Biofilm-associated infections on implants are responsible for 15-25 % of implant failures as biofilms are resistant to most of the
Eco-friendly and cost-efficient large-scale energy storage using seawater
Due to the steadily increasing worldwide demand for energy and the limited resources of fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas, renewable and green energy sources are gathering increasing attention by scientific researchers and
Chronic radiation proctitis: prevention better than cure?
Radiation therapy (RT) is common used in treatments for pelvic malignancies (prostate, urinary bladder, cervix, uterus, and anus). A feared complication of RT is called Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP). This is a relatively frequent late (3-6 months
Girls should know whether they experienced a first menstruation after birth
Within a few days of birth in approximately 5% of neonates a vaginal bleeding appears lasting 1-3 days. This Neonatal Menstrual-like Bleeding is described in the lay literature as an unusual, but physiological direct consequence of the
Curcumin, from Indian spice to a molecular model in drug discovery?
Nature has provided a large variety of molecules, with different degrees of complexity and therapeutic applications. Curcumin (Fig. 1) is an example of such molecules. Curcumin is a natural compound isolated from the rhizomes of the plant
The autonomous glycosylation of Giant, but sweet, viruses
The most of proteins carry sugars on them, which significantly modify their properties such as biological activity, solubility and resistance to protein-degrading enzymes. The sugars on proteins drive several fundamental biological mechanisms, such as hormones response, immune
“Good kids in bad neighborhoods” – the role of bone marrow microenvironment in the development of acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common and aggressive blood cancer in adults and is associated with a high rate of mortality due to cancer therapy resistance and disease relapse. AML is characterized by severe deficiency
What predicts clinician dropout of a state-sponsored training program on best practices for improving children’s mental health?
In the U.S. , 1 in 5 children currently have or will have a serious mental disorder. State mental health systems care for many of these youth and are increasingly looking for ways to both improve the
Blockade of estrogen receptor alpha mitigates alcohol-evoked myocardial dysfunction in female rats
Recent evidence challenges the longstanding view that light-to-moderate alcohol drinking might confer cardioprotection, and the latter is mostly based on population studies in men or in male experimental animals. However, while the reduction in blood pressure caused
Cortisol levels as index for vulnerability to stress
Stress exposure is known to precipitate psychological disorders. However, large differences exist in how individuals respond to stress; whereas some people thrive under stressful situations, others break down and are at risk to develop psychopathology. One important
Routine brain MRIs may not be needed after meningioma surgery
A meningioma is a very common form of a brain tumor that tends to affect elderly patients and women. Most patients with meningiomas do not need any treatment, however, certain groups undergo surgical removal of the tumor.
Mixing Insulin with phospholipids at the air/water interface
The Insulin monomer is unstable and tends to macroscopically aggregate in aqueous solutions during storage. This is a consequence of solid fibers formed by aggregation of monomers and dimers under low pH conditions; and causes loss of
Humans become morning people with higher age
Sleep timing of humans can be classified alongside a continuum from early to late sleepers. Morning people or Larks get up early, have an early activity, and go to bed early bed. Evening types or Owls are
Digital model of the cancer cell
We are postulating that human cells should be analyzed as analog/digital systems (biological computers) capable of digitalizing the analog information from the environment, processing that information in digital form and producing a programmed action according to that
Moral considerations and in-utero babies
As life-saving technology increases, we must ensure that moral decision-making keeps up. Consider a baby in-utero, who has a large tumour likely to make normal birth difficult and dangerous, for mother and child. Attempts to deliver the
Human motor neurones: so well-known or still unknown?
Movements, the fundamental base of normal human life, are produced when our skeletal muscles contract and relax, submitting to control by special nervous cells, the so-called motor neurones (motoneurones) placed in the spinal cord. It is surprising
Revisiting NMDA receptor inhibitors that work differently hoping to treat brain injury and stroke
Over-activation of NMDA receptors, a subtype of glutamate receptors, has long been suspected to contribute to the development of the penumbral zone of damage that develops hours after a traumatic brain injury or stroke occurs. This area
What situations breed ingroup favouritism?
When we meet strangers, we are often nicer towards those that look like they belong to our own group – a behaviour often termed ingroup favouritism. Examples of what constitutes a group may have to do with
Sperm DNA damage and its role in fertility
One way or another, it takes two people to make a baby. Under normal circumstances, a sperm and an egg fuse to make an embryo however there are numerous occasions under which this process needs a little
