Monthly Archives:October 2015
Infections in wild primates
Some of the most common parasitic infections in wildlife are caused by intestinal worms. Unlike bacterial or viral infections, however, worm infections rarely lead to death, and may not even cause overt clinical symptoms. In this research,
Good long-term employment outcomes after epilepsy surgery in Sweden
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurologic disorders and affects all domains of life. About one third of people with epilepsy still have seizures despite antiepileptic drug treatment. Drug resistant epilepsy strongly impairs quality of
Serum potassium decline associated with increased mortality in acute heart failure
Acute heart failure (HF) is the most important reason for hospitalization in the United States and Europe. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality, most conspicuously in the first months after discharge. As HF progresses, and
Sanitation and disease: it’s time to cut the crap!
Even if we don’t talk about it, most of us will experience diarrhea in our lifetime, suffering little more than temporary discomfort and embarrassment. Except for the approximately 1.5 million people — over 350,000 of whom are
The fossil viruses from within that shape evolution
Our genome contains a colossal amount of virus-related sequences. Over 4 million fragments of our DNA derive from mobile genetic elements, some of which once were viruses that infected the germ line (egg or sperm cells) of
People and companies who do harm are dehumanized, not typecasted
It is clear that people who do harm are disliked and often find themselves the targets of severe condemnation. They may be shunned, actively avoided, or at times even harshly punished. Remember the outrage directed at Bernie
Mitochondrial activity is different in different sub-regions of the human amniotic membrane
What is the first image a human being probably sees? Provided a fetus could see, it would see the inner lining of the uterus, the so called amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane consists of two layers, the
Interaction of boron nitride nanotubes with living cells
Over the past decade, nanomaterials gained significant interest in medical and biomedical research due to their unique properties such as optical, magnetic, electronic and mechanical. These unusual properties make them particularly attractive for their investigation in biomedical
Getting time to decide about dying
Cells experience numerous challenges that jeopardize normal functions; many are routine physiologic fluctuations that require minor adaptations. However, some assaults disrupt cell metabolism so significantly that cell survival is at risk if major adjustments are not made
Tests for biochemical detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
Multidrug resistance (MDR) to antibiotic in bacteria is becoming now a major issue worldwide. Its development worldwide may comprise the efficacy of the modern medicine such as transplantation, heavy surgery or hospitalization in intensive care units. Therefore,
Connecting neural and communication processes during teamwork
Teamwork is fundamental to accomplishing a variety of human tasks and occurs in a variety of contexts such as medical, sports, and military settings, because when people work as a team, they can accomplish more than when
Yeasts have a toolbox for modification of hyaluronan
Hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid, is a high molecular weight polysaccharide, which is abundant in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues, and is an important constituent of humans’ body. Molecules of hyaluronan play many biological roles. Enzymes,
Mixed effects of electronic health records on low income adults with diabetes
Since the passage of major acts by Congress, the federal government has offered large financial incentives for healthcare providers practicing in office clinics to increase their use of electronic health records (EHR) when caring for patients. Although
The potential in your pond
First described over 300 years ago, Euglena gracilis, is a single celled algae found in puddles and ponds around the world. This little organism is finding uses from foods to fuels and is even scheduled to be
Increased microbial butanol tolerance
One exciting frontier in biofuel research is boosting production yields. Biofuels are produced using biological processes, usually from agricultural raw materials such as sugar, starch or oil. Currently the biofuel industry is dominated by ethanol production, but
Smart tumor suppression via intracellularly delivered drug
With the rapid metabolism of tumor cells, the microenvironments of tumor tissue and cells present acidity, while the pH maintains at about 7.4 in normal extracellular matrices and blood. In detail, the extracellular pH in tumor tissue
Selectively killing T-cells in multiple sclerosis: A brainy approach
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that often afflicts young people. The nerve fibres in the brain, which transmit the electrical impulses that control many of the common functions of the
Simulation in marine and medical training: Less medical error – and more lives saved.
When a medical emergency strikes in a remote location, or on a ship or oil rig, the doctor on board might end up performing a life-or-death procedure that they haven’t performed in years – or ever. As
Granules of a bone substitute biomaterial have a 3D arrangement mimicking bone microarchitecture
Bone is a naturally rigid and porous tissue of the body. The pores allow the circulation of blood vessels and the creeping of bone-forming cells at the surface of the tissue. Bone loss can occur systemically, for
Serendipitous detection of rare hemoglobin variants
The centralization of laboratory activities optimizes the resources and improves the expertise of the staff that can observe with a higher probability rare and exceptional cases. In the recent months, the Area Vasta Romagna’s laboratory, which provides
