Category Archives: Research
It is time to stop screening all women with mammography based on age alone
The early detection of breast cancer by mammography has been promoted in the Western world for decades, usually for all women 40-70+. Mammography involves an x-ray of the breasts while under compression. While mammography screening was once
Genes are read backwards to restructure our DNA
In English, we read in one direction – from left to right across the page. We need to read words in a certain order, so that the information makes sense to us. In the cells of our
Stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Its main symptoms are motor disturbances such as tremors, rigidity and slowing of movements; although patients may also suffer from sleep disorders,
Albuminuria and cognitive decline
People with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have a 50-100% increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia as compared to people without T2DM. The reasons for this decline are not yet clearly defined but are likely to
Radiation therapy for nerve pain when cancer spreads to bones
One of the hallmarks of cancer is its ability to spread from the primary site of origin to other places in the body. Such secondary sites are called “metastases”. One of the commonest sites for cancer secondaries
Disregarded drivers of diversity within tumors
The past decades of cancer research have uncovered the staggering extent and widespread prevalence of intratumor heterogeneity, which refers to the differences between the genomes of cells in a tumor. In theory, each cancer arises from a
An important new tool to assess chemotherapy response in cancer patients
Although chemotherapy agents are widely used in the treatment of cancer, it is not widely known that for many patients with solid tumours, only a fraction receive a survival benefit from chemotherapy. This is particularly the case
The effect of a hydrogen sulfide releasing molecule on the cold storage of livers from dead donor rats
The liver is the largest organ inside our body and, as long as it keeps healthy, it will be in charge of a wide range of mechanisms that are essential for life. Liver will filter the blood
VIRTUOSO: Virtual clinical trials concept to help identify resistant tumors
The use of anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy) is one of the standard-of-care therapeutic treatments routinely applied in clinics. However, a significant portion of patients who show a good initial response to the chemotherapeutic treatment become unresponsive to the
A novel approach to identify primitive CD34+ stem cells
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons, as they are capable of renewing themselves as well as to expand to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Adult stem cells exist throughout the body after embryonic
Sponge toxin kills lung and breast cancer cells in mice
Peloruside A is a potent toxin that was isolated from a New Zealand marine sponge. It has a similar mechanism of action to the commonly used taxane-type anticancer drugs, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, that block the action
Embedding etiquette skills in science course assists undergraduate career preparation
In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the age-old custom and etiquette of writing a thank-you note may often be forgotten. Educators often assume undergraduates have mastered the art of crafting a thoughtful and articulate thank-you note by the
Rust proofing the humble oat: wild cousins to the rescue
Crown rust is a disease caused by the fungus Puccinia coronata (Pc) that leads to a reduction in grain-yield of the oat crop and other cereals. Rust diseases of oat and cereals like wheat and barley result
Crab shells to value-added chemicals by combining chemical and physical forces
Shells of crabs and shrimps are a great resource for producing a variety of valuable chemicals. The exoskeleton of these animals is made up of a polymer chitin, which is the most abundant marine biomass on our
Estimation of the ground bearing capacity by means of VIS-NIR, SWIR and LWIR imagery
The indiscriminate use of agricultural and forestry machines cause compaction and rutting, producing severe soil damage. When soil is compacted and/or rutted, its porosity decreases, and consequently, the amount of oxygen that is required for a healthy
Generation and incorporation of electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes in triacylglycerides
Electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes (NO2-FA) are compounds formed in our body that induce protective programs in cells and tissues and reduce inflammation. Beneficial effects have been proven in various diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart attack, lung
Epstein–Barr virus in peripheral blood predicts response to rituximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints that may cause permanent cartilage and bone damage. The cause of RA is unknown. It is, however, believed that a combination of genes
Water-saving microfilm has minimal algal impact
Technologies that reduce evaporation are attractive to water managers, as the annual amount of water evaporating from water storages can be more than the annual consumption of water for domestic and industrial purposes combined. The application of
Hair shedding in women: how much is too much?
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in women and reduces quality of life for sufferers. It is characterised macroscopically by hair loss and balding on the mid-frontal scalp and microscopically
Sex, salt, and the central nervous system: estrogen and body sodium balance
Historically, research about reproductive hormones like estrogen has focused on reproduction and reproductive behaviors. Certainly, this focus is understandable; however, it is becoming increasingly obvious that estrogen plays a broader role . In fact , estrogen profoundly
