Author Archives: Tigran Dadalyan
How fungi chew the fat: Fatty acid ester production in pathogenic filamentous fungi
Fungi are nature’s paradox. They are both good and bad for humans. They are good because they provide a treasure trove of medicines used to fight bacterial infections and lower cholesterol. They are also good because when
Telling people there is no free will makes them behave unethically, but only temporarily
Making people believe there is no such thing as free will can be a dangerous thing. Previous research has shown that if people believe there is no free will, they are more likely to cheat and behave
Simple Hepatic Cysts : Percutaneous treatment
Cysts are fluid filled cavities that can be found anywhere in the body as well as in liver. Simple hepatic cysts are common in general population and pose no risk for malignancy. Although they usually cause no
Peptides (small proteins) sharing an active nerve cell protecting site
Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), essential for brain formation, is frequently mutated in children on the autism spectrum. This protein, together with Activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) are two proteins that were discovered in the laboratory of Prof. Illana
Use of valproic acid during postoperative chemoradiotherapy for glioblastoma may improve survival outcome
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain neoplasm. The standard therapy for GBM consists of surgical resection to the extent that is safely feasible, followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with temozolomide. The prognosis is still poor; the
Vitamin D and T cells in multiple sclerosis: how to measure an effect?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the brain, leading to disability in patients suffering from this disease. A type of white blood cells, T cells, are important pathogenic cells which drive this inflammation in early
Mobile phones support palliative care services in Africa
The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) are a pan-Africa advocacy and research organisation working to expand palliative care services in the Africa region. APCA have been working with Honexus, a software development company, to create an electronic
Metabolic imaging is new a tool to investigate blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer disease
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. AD is characterized by progressive decline in cognitive functions. In the initial stages, deterioration of memory and loss of other intellectual abilities start to interfere with
Alcohol sports sponsorship and harmful drinking
There is strong and consistent evidence to show exposure to alcohol advertising increases the likelihood that young people start drinking at an earlier age, and to drink more if they already use alcohol. The Organisation for Economic
Comparison of anesthetic vaporizers
In many research laboratories that use small animals, anesthesia is used for a variety of procedures. The most common and widely used anesthetic gas is isoflurane because it can be easily adjusted to control how “deep” under
High blood pressure: does it matter to know your disease condition and prescribed medicines well?
High blood pressure is a disease condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is perpetually high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. If you have been
When the physician may identify microscopic tissue architecture in real time
Diagnosis of disease is the fundamental goal of medicine as treatment and prognosis rely on it. The diagnostic process ends eventually with tissue sampling (biopsy) for microscopic evaluation. The paradigm “tissue is the issue” reflects the modern trend
Gene wiring keeps bacteria cooperating
A bacterial cell can cooperate with its neighbours by producing molecules that allow them to grow better. These molecules may for example be enzymes that break down complex nutrients into digestible components. Because making these enzymes is
Two kinds of novel osmoregulation pathways in Escherichia coli
To cope with severe environmental changes, cell is equipped with various stress response pathways. Osmotic upshift (hyperosmotic shock) triggers water efflux from bacterial cell, and the resulting cell shrinkage is sensed by osmosensors embedded in the cytoplasmic
Diamonds – The doctors’s best friend?!
Most people know about diamonds as jewelry and as the hardest material that can cut nearly everything. It is also known that what makes diamonds unique is the crystalline structure, which is brought about primarily with high
The tiny riders
Nematodes have evolved tremendously to occupy diverse niches while inhabiting all possible habitats on earth. Besides being usually categorised as parasitic or free-living forms they can further show diverse types of feeding guilds and associations. Diplogastrids represent
Facial fractures among Sudanese children
Trauma to the face in children can result fractures to the facial bones and jaw are less frequent compared to adults but result in special complications affecting the growth, function and esthetics. The study aimed at assessing
Normal mouth fungus changes after admission to the intensive care unit
The mouth is an important entry point into the body. Under normal conditions the mouth has many kinds of fungus, called the oral mycobiome, that help the body maintain health and resist infections. Several factors contribute to
Cancer and blood vessels: an old ridlle resolved
As any other organ of the human body, cancer needs a blood supply to provide oxygen and nutrients and to eliminate wastes. Although already the ancient Greeks had realized that there is a close relationship between tumours
Do you have pain on the lateral side of your knee (often diagnosed as iliotibial Band Syndrome)?
Runners, bicyclists, and many other active individuals who experience pain along the lateral side of their knee joint are often diagnosed as having iliotibial band syndrome or iliotibial band friction syndrome. This problem is attributed to a
