Category Archives: Research
Temporo-mandibular dysfunctions and injections
Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is a recurrent pathology and classical treatment only relieves some patients. Botulinum Toxin type A (BoNTA) injections, both intra-muscular and intra-articular, and intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate or hyaluronic acid (HA) are precious
The effect of motherhood and work on women’s time pressure
Deadlines, time pressure, stress, and hustle: Who has not experienced the mad rush of a hectic day? Time pressure ─ also referred to as time crunch, time squeeze, or time deprivation ─ is a widespread phenomenon in
Host factors, the “Simon Says” for microbial biofilms
Microbes change their behavior, i.e., phenotype, in response to environmental clues. Since microbes, e.g. normal flora and pathogens evolved with their respective hosts, being able to recognize host-derived chemical signals provides a distinctive advantage. This is particularly
Arabidopsis ACYL-COA-BINDING PROTEIN6: a lipid-binding protein in the phloem
Plants utilize long-distance transport systems via their vascular tissues. The xylem is used for water and mineral transport, while the phloem translocates various macromolecules. Although lipids have been detected in the phloem sap, their movement is not
Stolen innocence: the rapes of little girls during Jim Crow
During the period of legally sanctioned segregation in the U.S., known as the Jim Crow era(roughly 1865 to 1965), the public discussion of “rape” focused on assaults of white women. However, a much more common problem was
Design and build your own integrated microfluidic systems using magnetic interconnects
Microfluidic technology involves the miniaturization and integration of complex systems that enable low volumes (microliters, μL; 1 μL = 1×10-6 liter, L) of fluids to be manipulated and controlled in micron-sized (1 micron/micrometer, μm = 0.001 mm)
International consensus on definition and management of postoperative ileus
Postoperative ileus (POI) refers to a pathologic pattern of gastrointestinal motility occurring after any type of major surgery. It prevents sufficient food intake, causes abdominal discomfort and increases the length of stay. It also imposes a significant
New coordination between F-actin and microtubules
Cells maintain vesicles transportation, cell migration, cell polarity, mitosis, cell shape and even cell signaling through cytoskeleton, which is the most conservative and essential structures in diverse organism. F-actin and microtubule, two components of the cytoskeleton, have
Memory process in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction
Heart failure is a complex syndrome characterized by hemodynamic and neuro-hormonal alterations. In recent literature a relationship between heart failure and the presence of cognitive disorders, in particular in the domain of the attentional-executive functions, was reported
Alkene synthesis – any way you want it
An alkene is a molecule containing two carbon atoms connected by a double bond, C=C (Fig. 1A). Alkenes are very common but their proper preparation requires careful attention to the placement of the four groups (Ri, i
Getting health allies from agriculture enemies
In recent years, research in nanotechnologies has demonstrated that nanometer-sized particles constructed using a wide array of materials (e.g. metals, lipids, polymers, proteins) can offer answers to unmet questions concerning drug/vaccine delivery. Ideally, these systems should prevent
Can environmental factors influence amphibian’s skin bacterial shield?
Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to environmental perturbations. Its ecology and life cycle potentiates its exposure to aquatic and terrestrial pressures and its naked skin provides free flow of water and other substances across it. However, amphibian’s skin
The mind and mouth of a predatory worm
Nematodes (roundworms) are some of the most abundant and successful animals on the planet and are found in nearly every environment capable of supporting life. In order to exploit these hugely diverse habitats, different nematode species have
Osthole: a natural approach to speed up bone fracture healing
Bone fractures are among the most common orthopedic problems happen to many of us. Although our body will naturally repair broken bone, the healing process takes weeks, months, or even years depending on severity of injury and
New insights into the cause of Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare obesity-related genetic disorder
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genomic imprinting disorder caused by the loss of paternally expressed genes in the 15q11-q13 region usually due to a chromosome 15q11-q13 deletion seen in about 70 percent of those affected with
Significant effect of polyoxometalates on the molecular structures of phosphanegold cluster cations
Gold(I) cluster complexes have attracted much attention owing to their excellent catalytic activity in a broad range of organic reactions. We recently discovered that polyoxometalate (POM ) – mediated clusterization of monomeric phosphanegold(I) complexes results in the
Our future selves, unprecedented opportunities
Life expectancy in the United States in the early 1900s was 47 years. Not so long ago, when someone had arthritis of the knee or hands at age 60, physicians would tell them to take NSAIDS and
Sleep quality in adult population
Sleep quality is related to relevant aspects of human life, such as health, cognitive functioning or quality of life. Sleep quality is a global measure; it not only includes sleep duration but other important features of this
Forensic differentiation of human and animal hair via ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and chemometrics
The difference between a human hair and an animal hair may not be obvious to the naked eye, until it is scrutinized underneath the microscope or by other means. Although it may be rather easy for a
