Monthly Archives:June 2017

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

心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

氏综合症(PWS)是一个复杂的基因组mprinting 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

Physician barriers to evidence-based medicine

In the era of new genetic tests and advanced imaging, much is written on the future of precision medicine, the concept of delivering personalized, evidence-based treatment based on patients’ individual characteristics. Risk prediction models are an excellent

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

Stanford scholars analyze children’s ability to detect ‘sins of omission’

Stanford researchers found that children as young as 4 years old, under certain conditions, can discern “sins of omission” – misleading but technically accurate information. The researchers found that the order in which information is presented makes

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