Yearly Archives: 2016
Crystalline solids towards enzymatic behaviour
Flexibility is the essence of many naturally developed self-assembled systems which drives several key biological processes. This attribute is reflected precisely in the specific function of an enzyme. An enzyme does have flexible pocket which helps to
Novel presenilin 1 mutation in familial late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive dementia, affecting over 20 million people worldwide, mainly adult subjects in advanced age characterized by loss of neurons and the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. Several families have been
Generation of a microbial factory for direct biofuel production from plant cellulose waste
Biofuels have attracted increasing interest due to economic, geopolitical and environmental concerns caused by fossil fuels. It has been proposed as a renewable, sustainable and environmental-friendly fuel to replace fossil fuel or be used as fuel additive.
A simple calculation using routine blood test results can identify eosinophilic asthma patients
Complete blood count (CBC) with differential, a standard test that enumerates different types of white cells in peripheral blood, is often performed during routine patient visits in clinics and hospitals. The test can be used to differentiate
CAD/CAM-fabricated fixed dental prostheses made from acrylic resin as long-term temporaries
CAD/CAM technology made great strides within the last 15 years. Not only software and hardware of the computers, but also the integration in milling machines drives manufacturers to provide continuously improved systems to the market. These fabrication
A sound understanding of inner ear balance organs
Sound is normally conducted to the inner ear where it excites receptors within the cochlea and produces the sensation of hearing. The inner ear consists of two main receptor types – the cochlea and the five vestibular
Cell vacuum: measuring micro-newton cell adhesion forces using micropipette suction
The force with which cells adhere to their substrate is of interest in the study of various diseases. For example, in the case of atherosclerosis, the disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes, the “leakiness” of
Does humour undervalue the importance of safety information contained in pre-flight safety briefings?
Most readers would agree they experience variations in mood from time to time. In some circumstances, the trigger or origins of this change in mood is difficult to determine. What research has revealed, is that mood is
With a little help from friends: how plastids aid the ER to deal with misfolded proteins
Almost a third of all proteins in eukaryotic cells are synthesized and folded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) before being secreted and redistributed to other organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and the plasma membrane. To
Heart disease in cancer patients (onco-cardiology / cardio-oncology)
In the United States, heart disease and cancer have been the 2 leading causes of death from 1935 through 2013. In 2010, both diseases accounted for almost half of all deaths in the U.S. Notwithstanding, much success
Plasmid-mediated carbapenem and colistin resistance in E. coli – toward a dead end
The increasing trend in antibiotic resistance continues to threaten global health. Presently, multidrug resistance (MDR) in gram-negative rods is frequently observed not only with the occurrence of extended-spectrum ß – lactamase but also with producers of enzymes
Sensory deprivation early in life has lasting impacts
What happens to a brain area when it is underutilized when a person or animal is growing up? Does this kind of deprivation of experiences lead to negative effects for brain development? For a long time, the
Parkinson disease and duodenal levodopa infusion: why patients withdraw the treatment?
Parkinson disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder associated to degeneration of neurons in the brain, particularly in a region called substantia nigra. These neurons produce dopamine, a neural transmitter that is involved in the control
Does traffic noise increase the risk of obesity?
There is an association between road traffic noise and the risk of obesity among people who are particularly sensitive to noise, according to a study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Previously, a Swedish study reported
Identification of drusen characteristics in age-related macular degeneration
In this study, we investigated the morphologic characteristics of drusen in order to determine their composition, using an in-vivo technique, the optical coherence tomography (OCT). The development of drusen is an important characteristic of age-related macular degeneration
Making drug discovery more efficient: predicting drug side effects in early screening efforts
Drug research and development is a complex and expensive process that begins with initial screening steps of candidate chemical compounds. Compounds that appear to have the desired potency against a specific cellular target or pathway are further
An algal infection (protothecosis) in a cat
This case report describes a cat with inflammation caused by an infection with a particular type of algae named Prototheca. The evoked clinical disease is called protothecosis. Prototheca species and their occurrence in the environment. Prototheca species
In silico prediction of ebolavirus RNA polymerase inhibition
A virus at work: Let us assume that you are a virus that just infected a cell (the HOST CELL) of an individual (the PATIENT). What is your vicious objective? You want to make copies of yourself
Treatment of toenail fungus with tavaborole topical antifungal solution
Fungal infection of the nails affects up to 14% of North Americans, particularly older people and those with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Toenails are affected more often than fingernails, with symptoms that include separation of the nail
The origin of the HIV-1 epidemic
The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of AIDS, is one of the world’s major public health problems, with around 37 million people currently infected with this virus. The HIV-1 epidemic originated
