Author Archives: karen
Chloroquine inhibits the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, is characterized by excessive growth and infiltration of the normal brain which prevents the complete surgical resection. These tumors also are refractory to standard treatment strategies, which
Another beneficial role for insulin in the brain: keeping the brain immune responses in check
Brain disease is an umbrella term, which is used to describe a broad variety of diseases ranging from epilepsy to Alzheimer’s disease to multiple sclerosis and everything in between. Brain diseases differ from each other at the
Uncovering mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease pathology
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a severely debilitating motor disorder characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons and an increase of α-synuclein in a brain region known as the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Although much progress has been
What is the quality of our river ecosystems? The new emerging stressors
An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit (e.g. coral reefs, wetlands, rainforests, boreal forests, cultivated farmlands). The Ecosystem services are the benefits that
Electrocardiogram screening in athletes:
A Good Return on Investment? In Austin, Texas, a bill requiring an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) as part of high-school athletes almost passed. An ECG is a non-evasive electrical tracing of the heart, which can reveal underlying heart conditions
AMPK: Common mechanism of action linking HIV-1 latency and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
Although any connection between HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that exhibits symptoms of accelerated aging in children, would appear unlikely, splicing of the latent ( i. e. dormant)
Natural history of multiple system atrophy in USA
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, fatal brain disorder exhibiting a combination of parkinsonism and/or cerebellar gait unsteadiness and autonomic failure. Autonomic failure, manifest as orthostatic hypotension, severe constipation and urinary incontinence or retention, as well
Phospholipases have a second job, regulating their G proteins
Can we make a weak heart healthy? Can we prevent decline in memory and cognitive ability? The answer may depend on a class of enzymes, phospholipase C (PLC), and their under-investigated ability to directly regulate their specific
Chip-based microacoustic aerosols generators
Aerosols consist of a large quantity of either liquid droplets (fog, mist) or solid particles (dust, smoke) dispersed in a surrounding gas (e.g. air). They occur naturally and they can as well be generated artificially, e.g. by
Ergothioneine prevent UVA – induced skin damage through its potent antioxidant property
It is well – known that continuous exposure to ultraviolet ( UV ) radiation from sunlight can cause mild to severe skin damage, characterized by wrinkles, inflammation, photoaging, pigmentation, photo – carcinogenesis, photo – dermatoses etc. Most
Nanocarrier-based antioxidant therapy: promise or delusion?
It has been well established that the damage produced by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are highly reactive molecules with an unpaired electron, plays an important role in a large number of human diseases. Because of this
A disease of younger women
Cramp or pain during menstruation is very common, but telling a young woman that this is ‘normal’ without full assessment can be wrong as this can lead to many years of unnecessary suffering. There are many conditions
Antimicrobial resistance – what’s needed but how to get the resources to the innovators?
Antibiotic resistance is at a crisis point, nay a “tipping point”. There are several major programs which offer what sound like large sums of money to make new antibiotics, but to get these monies takes a lot
What is really driving our need for food, besides the pleasure of taste?
We all know that this need is related, in some way, with life sustainability, but just how, exactly? The task of converting food into energy –and back again into organic compounds– is carried out by our metabolism,
Hybridisation masks speciation in marine iguanas
The Galápagos archipelago is an isolated group of islands which serve as a natural laboratory for the study of evolution. The islands are home to the marine iguana – a highly specialised sea-going lizard which is found
The role of the Amazonian forest in removing atmospheric mercury
Mercury (Hg) is a naturally-occurring chemical element found in rock in the earth’s crust, including in deposits of coal and oil. Nevertheless, it is considered by the Word Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals of
Effects of dietary peppermint on fry Caspian white fish
Traditional medicines usually involve the use of plant extracts. Among these plants, mint species have been exploited by man since more than two thousand years. Mentha piperita (also known as peppermint) is one of the world’s oldest
Palpable melanoma groin lymph node metastases
Melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer. In 2012 232,130 persons were diagnosed worldwide, and 55,488 estimated deaths occurred due to melanoma. Patients who present with a palpable lymph node metastasis in the groin area
High blood pressure is controlled more effectively by two drugs in one pill
Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is a major global public health problem, both because of how common it is and its correlation with cardiovascular disease. It has been identified as one of the major risk factors
Are mindfulness apps good enough?
My mind tricks me. I either ruminate about the things I always wanted to do but never did or worry about something that’s yet to happen. I’m lost in meaningless thoughts, empowering them, ignoring the present moment.
