Category Archives: Research
Discovery and mutation of a novel enzyme for the removal of environmental pollutants
Environmental pollution is one of the biggest challenges in the world today, as society faces the consequences of intense industrial development. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture leads to high quality products, while minimizing losses in
An open journey approach to spiritual care education
“Life is a Journey” is a common metaphor used around the world. While this is a true picture of life, the journey theme can be useful to express a variety of processes. In healthcare, we talk about
Altered methylation in Breast Cancer in very young women
Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate of all cancers in women worldwide. Although early breast cancer generally has an excellent prognosis, breast cancer in young women (under the age of 35) is associated with a high
Just a click away: smartphone apps can improve mental health
Within the past decade, smartphones have been assimilated into the personal, social, and occupational routines of a significant proportion of people around the globe. In fact, previous reports show that more than half of the Western population
May polystyrene microplastics be ingested by marine organisms, affecting survival, growth and behavior?
World plastic production has increased steadily over the past 50 years, reaching over 350 million tonnes in 2018. Most of the plastic waste ends up in the oceans and it is constituted not only by large plastic
Secular trend in growth status in a sample of girls from Serbia aged 7-9 years
Human growth is influenced by genetic factors, but the genetic potential will be expressed if socio-economic and environmental conditions allow it. Anthropometric indicators like height and weight are used to characterize growth and development of children and
A role of characteristics of hospitals in the prevalence of childhood undernutrition on admission
Undernutrition in children is one of the important global health issues. In the developing countries, the main cause of undernutrition is an inadequate nutritional intake due to the poverty. On the other hand, in developed countries, dieting
Wrestling with the alligator’s brain
When some individuals stand up quickly from a sitting or crouched posture, the blood flow to their brain is temporarily reduced. In response to the reduced blood flow, their brain will enter a short period of neural
Dramatic effects of Sn addition on Ge crystallization
Research on novel materials to replace Si has been actively pursued for sustainable improvement of electronic devices. Ge has attracted attention as the most promising candidate for next-generation material because it has a higher carrier mobility than
Mitophagy in health and disease
Mitochondria are cellular organelles specialized for energy production, and critically influence several features of cellular metabolism and physiology. Maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial pool is a prerequisite for cellular and tissue homeostasis. Compromised mitochondrial function results in
How changes in our genes impact outcome after stroke
An ischemic stroke is the sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen and glucose, which is caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain. Stroke is a leading cause of death around the
Washed platelet concentrates prevent recurrent transfusion reactions
Platelet transfusion is commonly used to prevent or treat bleeding in people with thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction. Among transfusable blood products, however, platelet concentrates (PCs), which also contain plasma, have a higher frequency of transfusion reactions than
The reliability and validity of the Figure of 8 Walk test in older people with knee replacement
The Figure of 8 Walk (F8W) test looks at walking in straight and curved paths in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions (Fig. 1). The time taken to carry out the test is recorded along with the number
Kelp extracts and their pharmaceutical properties
Kelps are a specific type of large brown seaweeds that generally grow on rocky, shallow, nutrient-rich ocean water. The most common examples of kelps found in the South African coastlines include Ecklonia maxima (sea bamboo) (Fig. 1), Ecklonia
When toxicity goes circular: Isoprostanes as markers and effectors of oxidative stress
In normal conditions, there is a dynamic equilibrium between oxidants and antioxidants in the human body; however, when there is an unbalance in this redox state, oxidative stress occurs. In an unbalanced state, the peroxidation of polyunsaturated
A new link between oxidant stress and lung cancer
DNA repair protects our cells from conditions that cause damage to the genome, which can become a threat to the maintenance and function of our tissues. Our cells have a variety of DNA repair systems. Most frequent
Enlightening the importance of the NDRGs in the (cancerous) gut
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the most complex organs of the human body. With its approximate 5m length, a diversity of specialized epithelial cell types (the ‘lining’ of the GI tract), about 80% of our
Physiological brainwashing
There is a barrier in the brain, known as the blood-brain barrier, which strictly regulates the exchange of substances between the blood and this organ. The blood-brain barrier restricts the passage of drugs into the brain and
Hydrogen storage in lithium-terminated boron chains
Hydrogen can be used as alternative energy source because of many advantages. Despite the high energy content by mass, hydrogen has low density, and it is necessary to develop an efficient storage medium to use this technology
Zinc promotes myoblast differentiation activating Zip7 transporter and Akt signalling pathway
Skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous, dynamic and plastic tissue, which comprises 40% of adult human body mass. Through contraction and relaxation, skeletal muscles provide movement and stability to the body. Besides the mechanical function, muscle tissue also
