Author Archives: karen
Increasing the cells adhesion to silk meshes: first step towards cell-based therapy for hernia repair
Recent studies in the field of tissue engineering have demonstrated that combining cells with meshes prior to implantation successfully enhanced hernia repair. The idea is to create a biologic coating surrounding the prostheses with autologous cells, before
Multiple tasks for the c-ring of the F1FO-ATP synthase
The F1FO-ATP synthase is the only enzyme in nature endowed with bi-functional catalytic mechanism of synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP. The enzyme complex is hosted in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes and in the plasma-membrane in
Heart and blood pressure adverse effects of phenytoin
Phenytoin is an effective antiepileptic drug which is used for many years in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Whereas its oral form is used for the long-term treatment of epilepsy, the intravenous form – the injection into
Tapping neurotransmitters from neurons to investigate their involvement in brain function
To tap neurotransmitters and neuromodulators from brain neurons of anaesthetised rodents, a guide cannula is stereoractically inserted. Into a distinct brain structure. Few days after surgery the stylet of the guide cannula is replaced by a double-walled
Research from animal learning studies may help the elderly to follow medical recommendations
Adherence to treatment is how clinicians refer to the degree to which patients follow medical recommendations, and it is fundamental to improving health and quality of life. Lack of adherence to treatment may have dramatic consequences not
Belching: How does it work?
The belch seems like a simple rapid act with no clinical significance, but many studies suggest otherwise. Although most of the belch response occurs over a period of less than two seconds, the belch is actually composed
What are new traits of Si-rhodamine self-assembly in the excited state?
‘In unity there is strength!’ This is also true in the molecular world. Nowadays, “self-assembly”, composed of a large number of one or multiple kinds of small molecules, has attracted considerable attention. That is because special traits
Salt marsh restoration reduces mercury methylation
In this paper we describe analysis of mercury in sediment cores collected from an area of land behind a dyke one year before, and one year after, it was intentionally breached as part of a managed retreat
Look after your compost—it’s more than garden fertiliser
Biologists look upon a pile of compost first of all as an extraordinary habitat of a wide range of different organisms: a microcosm of its own within the garden landscape. Gardeners in Europe are proud of “their”
Hormetic use of stress in gerontological interventions requires a cautious approach
Hormesis is a biphasic dose-response pattern in which the response at low doses is opposite to that at higher doses. According to the hormesis concept, a small dose of a potentially harmful agent can exert a beneficial
How plant virus hides from the host cellular degradation machinery
The main goal of obligatory viral parasites is to create the perfect environment for its multiplication. Therefore, the first step is to avoid degradation by the host cellular degradation. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is not
Melatonin and serotonin in psychiatric and brain disorders
Melatonin is well known as a treatment for jet lag, being naturally released by the brain when we close our eyes to go to sleep. However, recent research shows that melatonin is released by many, if not
Postgraduate studies (1978-1985) at the Medical School, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Medical School (Medicinski fakultet) in Tuzla, founded in 1976, initiated post-graduate studies program in 1978. The aim was to train future medical faculty for scientific research in pre-clinical and clinical disciplines. Most participants were physicians who
Towards a nuclear weapons free world
The dream of a world without nuclear weapons has come a little closer to reality over the past three years, thanks to a renewed focus on the catastrophic humanitarian impacts of these worst of all weapons. Beginning
Another prince awakened Sleeping Beauty?
Tumor suppressor genes are one of the body’s defenses against uncontrolled growth of tumor cells. When these genes are ‘silenced,’ or prevented from doing their work, the abnormal cells grow unchecked, usually with fatal consequences to the
Recovery after brachial plexus surgery continues for longer than previously thought
Brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) are severely debilitating injuries in which the nerves exiting the spinal cord at the level of the cervical and upper thoracic spine are damaged. Because these nerves power the musculature of the upper
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
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
