Yearly Archives: 2017
How to characterize best the genetic content of small supernumerary marker chromosomes
An inborn genetic defect can be found prenatally or postnatally. The best known and most frequently observed reason for such developmental delay and/or mental retardation is Down-syndrome, also known as trisomy 21. I.e. besides the normally present
High-performance polymer solar cells via Al-doped ZnO cathode interlayer
Recently accomplished landmark power conversion efficiency (PCE) over 10% of polymer solar cells (PSCs) presents promising potential for the practical application of the printable photovoltaics. However, for achieving the top-level performances, particular design and huge effort have
Alcohol and prostate cancer risk
In a large follow-up study, we found that heavy regular alcohol consumption and binge drinking during midlife were associated with a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer risk. Specifically, men who were heavy drinkers (>14 drinks/week) were
Patterns of mutation in cancer genes
In most cancers, the majority of the changes to the DNA (termed mutations), acquired during the disease process are inconsequential in terms of driving the cancer, however a few of the changes in a small set of
Rating perceived exertion using facial expressions for children
Workload or exercise level can be subjectively or objectively assessed. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake, and blood lactate level are often used to objectively assess workload or exercise level. These physiological responses can be measured using instruments.
Kinase inhibitors and new treatments for asthma and COPD
Kinases are enzymes that phosphorylate proteins, leading to their activation within cells. Over 500 kinases have now been identified in human cells and they activate many processes in the cells, including the production of inflammatory mediators. Kinases
Do we hallucinate when we sleep?
By definition, hallucinations occur only when we are fully awake state. Yet the similarities to experiences that occur during the transition between sleep and wakefulness; dreams; and incubus phenomena have been known for a long time. In
How sugar and fat affect our brain leading to a high blood pressure?
Obesity is a serious, chronic and pandemic disease that can have a negative effect on many systems in our body. People who are overweight or obese have a much greater risk of developing serious diseases including hypertension.
Assessment of cognitive and emotional function in humans: insight from simultaneous scalp and deep brain recording techniques
There are several techniques for monitoring and recording brain activity that do not require cutting tissue or putting devices inside the brain. For example electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography and the functional magnetic resonance imaging are all non-invasive techniques to
Stress, sex, and sunlight – a different perspective on vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood have been associated with a high risk of developing several diseases, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Our study group has been working on the role
TRIM32 and alpha-synuclein: a novel interplay in the neuronal system
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease mainly characterised by the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, resulting in a series of motors symptoms and the formation of intracellular inclusions within the cells, known
Enzymes digestible nanoparticles: a new generation of biodegradable drug delivery nanosystem
Pathologies with high death rates such as cancers may well have found their solutions with the rise of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a newly coined word encompassing the application of nanoparticles for all kinds of technological challenges. A
The impact of erythrocyte-derived microvesicles on hemostatis disorder during burn injury
Microparticles or microvesicles (MVs) are closed fragments of cell membranes, released into the blood flow by different types of cells, such as: erythrocytes, platelets, white blood cells and endothelial cells. It has been proved that MVs play
Novel perspectives for the Alzheimer´s disease therapy in a multitargeted approach
Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is the most wide-spread neurodegenerative disease and develops to a main problem for a society in which the people get older and older as a result of improved drug developments and therapies. The benefit
Pre-market chemical risk assessment is controlled entirely by industry
A chemical’s manufacturer provides essentially all the data for most (pre-market) chemical risk assessments (RA); academics study a chemical only once it is marketed. For two randomly-chosen high production chemicals, despite new European Union mandates to evaluate
Seeing the world in three dimensions, fast-but-rough and slow-but-accurate
When we perform a task, there is generally the tradeoff between the time taken to achieve the goal and the quality of the attained result. For example, when we solve a mathematical problem, we can quickly perform
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnostics better to do in cultivated than native cells
Cancer is an age associated disease. In Western countries with people having longer life expectancies than e.g. 100 years ago, this means at present that 1-2% of those individuals are confronted with the diagnosis of leukemia during
ACTH deficiency in patients with suspected hypopituitarism: Choosing the right diagnostic test
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. Often termed the “master-gland”, it secretes hormones which control growth, metabolism and fertility. Hypopituitarism is a clinical syndrome of deficiencies in one or
Treating nonsense may be a cure for the blinding disease Choroideremia
Choroideremia (CHM) is a blinding genetic eye disease, where male children as early as 5 years old develop night-blindness, followed by loss of their peripheral field of vision in adolescence, culminating in complete blindness in late adulthood.
Nitrogen limitation of CO2 fertilization: relief from fungal partners
New research shows that the stimulatory effect of atmospheric CO2 on plants depends on soil nitrogen and on the microbes that can help plants get it. It’s common knowledge in horticulture that pumping extra carbon dioxide into
