Monthly Archives: February 2018
Prolactin regulates neurovascular coupling in male psychotic patients
Recent studies indicated that increased prolactin levels have negative effects on cognitive function in non-psychiatric populations and impair processing speed in patients with psychosis. According to the basic research, prolactin induces regional vasoconstriction via the inhibition of
‘DNA Fossils’, ancient mtDNA preserved in the nuclear genome: witnesses of human evolution milestones
Fragments of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are known to get inserted into the DNA of the cell nucleus (i.e., our main genome) and to form NUMTs, i.e. dysfunctional sequences, nuclear pseudogenes of the mtDNA. Hundreds of NUMTs have
Human protein phosphatases: Proteomic insights
Protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, carried-out by kinase and phosphatases respectively, serves as major regulatory switch for controlling nearly all signaling processes. So far, the kinases remained a centerpiece in driving the functional response to signaling changes. However, more recently,
When the butterflies in the stomach prevail over the rationality: the case of alexithymia in intertemporal decision making
We are frequently faced with choices differing in the timing of their consequences, also called intertemporal choices. An example might be the following: should I spend my money now in an expensive holiday or put it into
The looming peril of neglected indigenous arbovirus infections to population expansion in Northern Australia
Viruses that are transmitted between vertebrate hosts by biting, blood-feeding arthropods (principally mosquitoes and ticks but also sandflies and midges) are called arthropod-borne viruses or, for short, arboviruses. The transmission of arboviruses to humans poses a significant and
CMR in pediatric HOCM: correlation with LV function, echocardiography and demographic parameters
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inheritable cardiac disorder, with an estimated prevalence of 1:500. Although the disease is compatible with normal life expectancy, it is associated with premature death from ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure, and
Lessons from the Global Fund’s fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
At the beginning of this century, developing countries – particularly in Africa – experienced rapidly rising illness and death from AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The three diseases caused massive suffering and economic damage. Treatment and interventions to
Transmitted sound wave mammography
This study was designed to look at a new type of totally harmless breast imaging called whole-breast transmission ultrasound to see if it could do something mammography cannot do – that is to diagnose the presence of
The eye gets stronger after seeing the world in chaos
Resembling the fact that some people are left-handed while some are right-handed, our two eyes are not functioning equally. Usually, our brain has a preference to the input signals from one of the two eyes, which is
A novel PET radiotracer for molecular imaging of the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast synaptic transmission in the brain. These receptors are homo- or hetero-pentameric combinations of the α and the β subunits which each subtypes
What it takes to survive a transplant
Many patients with blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma, leukemia, or lymphoma, have radiation treatment or chemotherapy to destroy their tumor cells and diseased bone marrow. Unfortunately the treatment damages their immune system leaving them immunocompromised. To
Overproduction of membrane-integral undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase from Vibrio vulnificus
In the cytoplasm, undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (C55-PP) is synthesized by undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UppS) through consecutive condensation reactions of eight molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (Ipp) with farnesyl pyrophosphate (Fpp). The product C55-PP is then dephosphorylated to monophosphate undecaprenyl phosphate
RKIP and YY1: The ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ shields in the protection of cancer spreading and resistance to therapies
Cancer originates from all of the uncorrected mutations occurring in the DNA of the cell that lead to abnormal cell growth. Accordingly, the accumulation of these mutations transforms a normal cell into an “immortal” cancer cell with
Mind-wandering plus mindfulness: say ‘no’ to negative mood or depression
Mind wandering and its equivalent concepts such as self-generated thought, stimulus independent thought, task-unrelated thought, and spontaneous thought refer to a mental phenomenon that occupies considerable time in everyday life. The high frequency of the occurrence of
The aptamer BC007: for the treatment of “functional autoantibody diseases”. First developed for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Autoimmunity is accepted as the origin or amplifier of various diseases. In the mid-1970s, a new class of “so-called” functional autoantibodies that bind to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-AABs) was identified for downstream pathologies. The related “functional autoantibody diseases”
Chagas disease a neglected ills without treatment
Chagas disease (CD) is transmitted by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and was discovered in 1909 by the Brazilian medical doctor named Carlos Chagas. Until today, CD remains a serious public health problem, with more than 7 million
Trace metal contamination in the surface sediment of south east coast of India
Sediments are the most important reservoir of trace metals, thus, serve as vital indicator to intercept the mechanism of transportation and accumulation of trace metals in the coastal environment. Sediment texture, mineralogical composition and physical transformation influence
Mitochondrial gene discontinuity that translates into fragmented functional proteins
The majority of protein-coding genes in nuclear genomes are interrupted by spliceosomal introns or, less often, by inteins. These intervening sequences are spliced at the RNA or protein level, respectively, so that intact proteins become reconstituted. In
Pharma Chem Congress 2018. Dublin, Ireland. June 28-29, 2018
Pharmaceutical Chemistry 2018 extended its warm welcome the theme of: “Exploring the Recent Trends & Advances in the Field of Pharma and Chemistry”. It is a platform for Pharmaceutical and Chemistry experts and scientific professionals to explore
Bacterial melanin in dark-colored sponges: Ecological significance and biomedical applications
Sponges are second dominant to corals in terms of biomass in many coral reef ecosystems. They play a significant role in maintaining the health of reef ecosystems through processing of waste generated in the system by continuous
