Category Archives: Research
Satiated macrophages produce interferon-beta to orchestrate the resolution of bacterial infection
Acute inflammation is a localized, self-limited host defense mechanism against invading microorganism and tissue injury. Rapid recruitment of white blood cells called neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes) from the blood to the site of infection or injury is
Reuse of third generation industrial waste
As global consumption of finite raw materials continues to rise, so too does the amount of waste produced. In Europe for example, each citizen consumes an average of 15 tonnes of raw materials and produces on average
Duloxetine: a promising perioperative analgesic
Duloxetine is a dual serotonin-norepinephrine receptor inhibitor that is commonly used as an antidepressant. This drug has traditionally been used for chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and back pain, showing positive recovery outcomes. Given these analgesic
Turning on neuronal gene programs in prostate cancer cells
Cancer of the prostate gland is a common malignancy afflicting males worldwide. This cancer is the second deadliest amongst male in United States, with most of the mortality resulting from aggressive, advanced stage, metastatic disease. Prostate cancer
Mesenchymal stem cells for treating knee osteoarthritis
Cartilage in the knee does not heal very well nor very quickly, so continued use of the leg when walking for example can result in further damage, bony projections (osteophytes), stiffening and swelling of the joint (Fig.
How to choose excitation wavelength for quantum-dot-converted light-emitting diodes?
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are fundamental devices for backlights and displays. Nowadays, three different-color epitaxial chips are mainly applied in an RGB pixel: Blue, green, and red LED chips. However, it is difficult to further improve the color
Exploring the potential of a pneumococcal vaccine to target oxidized LDL in metabolic disease patients
Lipid metabolism involves a wide range of processes in which lipids are processed and used as energy sources, signaling molecules and structural elements of cells. Given its importance, dysfunctions in lipid metabolism, both small and large, can
A tale of pesticide use, resistance and the urge for One-Health
Edible olives and the production of olive oil dates to 5000 BC and, nowadays, it is estimated to occupy an area of 10.2 million hectares. More than 90% of the total area is in the Mediterranean Basin.
Siloxanes in consumer products affect energy recovery costs at biogas-to-energy facilities
Volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) are man-made compounds containing silicon and oxygen with organic side groups (typically methyl groups) attached to the silicon atoms. Siloxanes can have linear (denoted by L or M nomenclature) and cyclic (denoted by
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor transition to KIT-independence is enabled by a Cyclin D1 dependent proliferation program
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs generally contain oncogenic gain-of-function KIT (~85%) or PDGFRA (~5-10%) mutations which are crucial for GIST proliferation and survival, as underscored by the
In vivo 2-color multiphoton imaging of genetic reporter fibroblasts in the skin
Fibroblasts are cells that synthesize collagen and support the maintenance of connective tissue in the skin, tendons, and joints. They maintain a critical role in the immune system’s response to tissue injury by promoting wound healing at
Protein structure detection in intermediate-resolution cryo-EM maps using deep learning
Cryo-EM has established its position in structural biology as an indispensable method of choice for determining macromolecular structures due to recent technological breakthroughs. The recent years have observed a steep increase of biomolecular structures solved by cryo-EM,
Prediction of thermal damage of three-dimensional bio-tissues in moving laser therapy
The thermotherapy is a useful approach in medical field, such as hyperthermia, laser soldering, laser ablation, laser surgery and other thermal treatment methods. In order to maximize the therapeutic efficiency while ensuring the patients’ safety, the thermal
Bayesian sparse neural networks for biomarker discovery with omics data
Recent advances in high-throughput biotechnologies, such as microarray and sequencing technologies, have provided an unprecedented opportunity for biomarker discovery, which potentially enhances the development of precision medicine. From a statistical point of view, the discovery of biomarkers
Preventing over-treatment in euthyroid patients with thyroid hormone abnormalities
Up to 12% of the U.S. population will be diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Because thyroid hormones affect every cell in the body, hypo- (low) and hyper-(high) thyroidism can be difficult to distinguish from other medical conditions.
Using AI to improve the quality and quantity of hand washing in hospitals
Poor quality hand hygiene has been identified as the main contributor to the spread of hospital acquired infections. In the USA, they affect 2 million patients of which nearly 90,000 die. The cost of these infections is
The noxious effects of benthic diatoms on marine invertebrates
Diatoms dominate various marine and freshwater environments, at any latitude, and are responsible for up to 25% of primary production. They may be either free-living in the water column or produce benthic biofilms. Studies on the chemical
Carica papaya loaded PVA-Gelatin nanofibrous scaffold: a wound dressing material
Every year millions of people worldwide encounter mishaps that may arise from burns, surgery, accidents, or chronic diseases compromising the skin’s integrity. These incidents can either result in lifelong functional impairment of the affected part of the
Aflatoxin exposure: pending regulation for vulnerable people
Mycotoxins are toxins produced by filamentous fungi in food, especially because of water stress in the field or inadequate humidity and temperature in storage. Mycotoxins produce a toxic effect on animals and humans, from acute effects to
Mesalamine for the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis?
Recurrent diverticulitis represents a relevant clinical problem, involving up to a quarter of patients after the first episode of diverticulitis. Unfortunately, there are no evidence-based data that indicate a targeted therapeutic approach for the prevention of recurrent
