tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378919001231799062024-03-13T11:36:17.747+01:00Beta BlogInteresting bits about the universe and the biological phenomenon we call life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.comBlogger604125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-22890519364791822372013-04-21T17:57:00.000+02:002013-04-21T17:57:05.041+02:00Fat-forming cells found important for muscle repair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The body contains many different highly specialized cells that all have their own function in the various organs we have. Constant renewal is necessary to keep tissues healthy: so-called progenitor cells help replenish tissues and organs by replicating themselves and forming new highly specialized cells, depending on the context they find themselves in. For example, we have progenitor cells that help form fat cells. Despite the fact that most people do not require additional formation of fat, scientists <a href="http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/04/105241/muscle-repair-after-injury-helped-fat-forming-cells" target="_blank">have</a> discovered that such progenitor cells can also help restoring damaged muscles.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/04/fat-forming-cells-found-important-for.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-87257602478529028322013-04-15T20:25:00.001+02:002013-04-15T20:25:09.281+02:00Taste of beer is enough to get brain chemicals flowing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For most of us, beer is a convivial drink, but for some, it can be addicting. Alcoholism is an affliction in which a person has become physically dependent on an alcohol-containing drink, of which beer is an example. To understand alcoholism, one has to study the brain and its chemistry. For those that have become addicted to beer, the release of a brain chemical known as dopamine plays a large role in creating a physical dependency. Scientists from the Indiana University have studied what happens to the brain if people drink alcohol, and <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/iu-tob041113.php" target="_blank">found</a> that the act of drinking by itself is enough to trigger the release of dopamine.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/04/taste-of-beer-is-enough-to-get-brain.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-69938284479141698452013-04-09T21:30:00.003+02:002013-04-09T21:31:58.089+02:00Artificial immune cells used to destroy tumours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our immune system is tasked with guarding our body against foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses. Less commonly known is that immune cells also keep a close eye on the way our body functions. Cells that go haywire are swiftly removed from the tissues and are consequently replaced by healthy cells. However, the immune system does not always recognize those cells that need to be cleared, and in such cases a tumour may arise: cancer cells have <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/uops-etc040213.php" target="_blank">found</a> a way to escape detection and can therefore proliferate and endanger our health. Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have found a way to modify immune cells in such a way that they recognize and destroy tumours.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/04/artificial-immune-cells-used-to-destroy.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-29863779223195675622013-04-03T21:30:00.000+02:002013-04-03T21:30:06.497+02:00Dark matter may be detectable on ISS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A large proportion of the matter in our universe cannot be detected by conventional means. It is called dark matter because it does not reflect any light, but we can detect its presence due to gravitational influence. Dark matter is actually much more prevalent than conventional matter, and over the years several theories have been proposed about what it actually is. We already saw that astronomers <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/04/scientists-close-in-on-identify-of-dark.html" target="_blank">are closing in</a> on the identity of dark matter, but it has not officially been detected yet. Measurements on board of the International Space Station have <a href="http://science.energy.gov/news/in-the-news/2013/04-03-13/" target="_blank">revealed</a> traces of something that could help us find dark matter.<div>
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Stem cell therapies are as controversial as they are experimental. So far, it has been proven difficult to develop treatments that are beneficial for a patients' health, although improvements have been made with the use of stem cells to repair <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/01/stem-cell-therapy-to-repair-damaged.html" target="_blank">blood vessels</a>, <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/stem-cells-shown-to-repair-liver-after.html" target="_blank">liver tissue</a> and <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/01/stem-cell-treatment-restores-vision-in.html" target="_blank">visual impairment</a>, for example. It will take a while before such therapies become a commodity. In Italy, a new stem cell treatment has been given the green light, and is <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/stem-cell-ruling-riles-researchers-1.12678" target="_blank">aimed</a> at treating terminally ill children. The sole reason for the approval is the high unmet clinical need, as this novel treatment has no proven track record.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/04/highly-experimental-stem-cell-therapy.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-9932587292926194942013-03-27T19:49:00.000+01:002013-03-27T19:49:00.084+01:00A saliva test to predict agressive behaviour in boys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A lot of behavioural patterns are hard to discern by simply looking at the biological level, which is why we have invented a field of science called psychology. Linking biology and psychology has proven to be hard because our knowledge of the brain is still lacking. Often exaggerated claims are made regarding the way biological parameters affect things such as behaviour, but then again, it is a discipline that has not yet received the scientific attention it deserves. A novel study by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center <a href="http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/news/release/2013/saliva-testing-agression-boys-03-21-2013/" target="_blank">raises</a> an eyebrow as it claims to have found a relationship between hormonal components in saliva and the frequency of aggressive behaviour in boys. Could aggressive behaviour be something we can detect and 'treat' before it actually occurs?<br>
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</div></div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-saliva-test-to-predict-agressive.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-31044672592461401032013-03-24T17:40:00.000+01:002013-03-24T17:40:09.573+01:00Scientists claim they can predict disease outbreaks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever so often viruses manage to successfully infect human beings and spread throughout the population. In the past, viral outbreaks could lead to high death tolls, the influenza outbreak of 1918 being a famous example with 500 million infections and between 50 and 100 million deaths. Nowadays, viral outbreaks are less pronounced, but we have to remain cautious, as the 'swine flu' and 'bird flu' have taught us. In order to cope with future viral outbreaks, scientists have <a href="http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/pressreleases/2013/130320.asp" target="_blank">developed</a> a model that can predict outbreaks before they occur. The method will mainly be used for viral spread in Africa.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/scientists-claim-they-can-predict.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-62237748592445555552013-03-21T18:34:00.000+01:002013-03-21T18:34:04.794+01:00Better imaging to improve cancer detection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the most important parts of clinical oncology is to find the cancer before it does any real harm to the body. Speedy diagnosis significantly improves the chances for survival, and for that, we need proper imaging tools. At the University of California in San Diego, scientists have found a better way to detect so-called sentinel lymph nodes, which are important in cancer metastasis. A novel, radioactive molecule was shown capable of <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/uoc--nia032013.php" target="_blank">improving</a> the detection of the spread of a tumour throughout the body, indicating that our ways of cancer detection can be improved, thus promoting survival.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/better-imaging-to-improve-cancer.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-33589323517016612502013-03-17T13:31:00.002+01:002013-03-17T13:33:40.781+01:00Device keeps donor livers alive for over 24 hours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is commonly known that there are not enough organs being donated to supply all patients in need of a replacement. Another factor that contributes to scarcity is the fact that it is not always easy to get a harvested organ to the site of transplantation in time. Organs can deteriorate in quality during transit, accounting for a loss of over 2000 livers each year, for example. To counter this, scientists have developed a device that can <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23281-donor-livers-kept-alive-outside-the-body-for-24-hours.html?cmpid=RSS|NSNS|2012-GLOBAL|online-news" target="_blank">keep</a> a donor liver alive for over 24 hours, much longer than what is currently possible with existing techniques.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/device-keeps-donor-livers-alive-for.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-22942784078558072582013-03-11T17:19:00.000+01:002013-03-11T17:19:56.359+01:00Oxidative stress turns helpful proteins into killers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oxygen is one of the most important compounds needed in order to facilitate life. It helps us to burn our fuel and turn it into energy that we use for all our bodily functions. There are also forms of oxygen that are a little less beneficial. Some chemical variants of oxygen are not entirely stable and readily react with anything they encounter. We call this reactive oxygen species (ROS) and this forms the center component to oxidative stress. While ROS are used by the immune system to kill invading microbes, oxidative stress can also damage our body. Researchers have now <a href="http://today.ucf.edu/executioner-protein-opens-door-to-new-options-for-stroke-als-spinal-cord-injury/" target="_blank">found</a> a mechanism by which oxidative stress kills cells, providing new insights into novel therapeutic options for a wide range of diseases.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/oxidative-stress-turns-helpful-proteins.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-24215732446149836282013-03-05T23:09:00.001+01:002013-03-05T23:09:40.634+01:00The first documented cure of an HIV infected baby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When AIDS was first discovered it was a disease that eventually kills the patient. With new antiviral therapies, AIDS, and the corresponding HIV infection, is now a disease that is manageable. Nevertheless, HIV remains a big problem because the virus cannot be eradicated completely and it is still readily spreading around the globe, especially because it can be transferred from the mother to the unborn child. But now, for the first time, doctors have reported to have cured a baby infected with HIV, an incredible milestone. The patient <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/health/for-first-time-baby-cured-of-hiv-doctors-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">was</a> a newborn that was 'aggressively' treated with antiviral drugs.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-first-documented-cure-of-hiv.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-2400621721842322472013-03-04T21:45:00.001+01:002013-03-04T21:55:41.813+01:00A wireless chip to control robot limbs with the mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Using your thoughts to control robot arms and robot legs are the next big thing currently in development for paraplegics. Proof of concepts have already shown that it is possible to read a person's thoughts and translate that to movement. For example, clinical studies with 'brain chips' show that we can translate thoughts to movement of <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2011/10/man-controls-robot-arm-with-his-mind.html" target="_blank">robot arms</a>, or <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/11/man-walks-with-robot-leg-using-only-his.html" target="_blank">robot legs</a>, and even the fine <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/02/brain-implant-simulates-finger.html" target="_blank">movements of the finger</a> can be simulated. Downside is that people have to be hooked up to computers in order to derive one's thoughts from the brain, but scientists have now created a chip that transmits brain activity wirelessly, which means thoughts can be read with no strings attached.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-wireless-chip-to-control-robot-limbs.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-20945831072613366022013-03-01T19:35:00.000+01:002013-03-01T19:35:00.088+01:00Thoughts electrically transferred between brains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Organ transplantations are nothing new nowadays, as hospitals are readily replacing various organs, including lungs, heart, kidneys and others. There is one organ that remains elusive, and that is the brain. It is obviously impossible to put the brain of one person in another body and make it work. It is also unclear what would happen: is it possible to transfer a personality from one body to another? While brain transplants remain impossible, several interesting studies revealed it is possible to <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.nl/2012/11/first-steps-to-functioning-brain.html" target="_blank">partially replace brain</a> tissue. Scientists from the Duke University School of Medicine <a href="http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/brain-to-brain-interface-allows-transmission-of-tactile-and-motor-information-between-rats" target="_blank">have</a> now found a way to transfer thoughts, in the form of behavioural patterns, from one rat to another by means of electrical stimulation.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/03/thoughts-electrically-transferred.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-24051110574609363132013-02-26T19:34:00.000+01:002013-02-26T19:34:00.656+01:00Stem cells shown to repair liver after transplantation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Theoretically, stem cells should be able to regenerate all damaged tissues in our body. Basically every organ has its own mature stem cells that are able to produce new cells when needed, although some are more active than others. So far, we have seen limited success with the use of stem cells. A prime example was the generation of an artificial kidney based on stem cells, which was <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/10/lab-grown-kidney-appears-functional-in.html" target="_blank">successfully transplanted</a>. Now, scientists have <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2013/02-25-ohsu-doernbecher-scienti.cfm" target="_blank">shown</a> capable of growing liver cells out of specific stem cells, and also transplanted them successfully, paving the way for a cure for liver disease.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/stem-cells-shown-to-repair-liver-after.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-56261647975737849302013-02-23T13:19:00.000+01:002013-02-23T13:19:50.179+01:00Cold genes promote longer life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been known for quite some time that cold blooded animals live longer when they are in a cold environment. Apparently, a cold temperature changes the behaviour of genes and preserves the body, promoting longevity. Scientists have <a href="http://www.ns.umich.edu/new/releases/21202-stay-cool-and-live-longer" target="_blank">found</a> the genetic program that responds to cold temperatures and correspondingly helps animals to live longer. And the best part is that the temperature sensitive genes found in cold blooded animals are also present in warm blooded animals like ourselves. That means that manipulating these genes may help us live longer.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/cold-genes-promote-longer-life.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-10439885425665517302013-02-23T11:10:00.001+01:002013-02-23T11:10:25.834+01:00Higgs boson to explain why universe may collapse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In order to understand the unimaginable vastness of the universe and its mysterious behaviour, it is necessary to study the smallest entities we know to exist. Particles are the foundation of all of physics, and can be used to explain all phenomena we encounter. Recently, scientists <a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2012/07/cern-sees-shades-of-higgs-boson.html" target="_blank">discovered the Higgs boson</a>, a particle that is, among other things, expected to explain us why other particles have mass. Astronomers now also believe that the existence of the Higgs boson gives rise to a theory that <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21499765" target="_blank">may</a> eventually result in the universe collapsing in on itself.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/higgs-boson-to-explain-why-universe-may.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-72710807636401861272013-02-22T19:09:00.000+01:002013-02-22T19:09:00.574+01:00Engineers make functional human ears with 3D printer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3D printers have rapidly gained interest from both scientists as well as the general public. Hailed as machines that can make everything, they are especially of interest to researchers in the field of regenerative medicine. Because 3D printers are capable of printing biological material as well, it is possible to create artificial tissues and organs in the lab, and use those for transplantation. In a recent study, scientists from the Cornell University <a href="http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Feb13/earPrint.html" target="_blank">managed </a>to print a complete human ear.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/engineers-make-functional-human-ears.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-5945262865850898282013-02-16T10:58:00.000+01:002013-02-16T10:58:53.285+01:00Tuning gene expression up and down in individual cells<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Control of biological mechanisms starts with modifying the action of genes. Genetics provides the blueprint for the production of all the cell's molecules and therefore determines cellular behaviour to a great extent. Scientists have found ways to shut genes off, or to make them more active. By doing that, we are able to treat diseases, or modify stem cells to behave the way we want them to. But sometimes, this is not enough; it would be handy if we had a mechanism that allowed us to precisely tune how much of an individual gene needs to be expressed in a particular cell. Such a refined piece of equipment has now been <a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/599101/" target="_blank">made</a> available for human cells.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/tuning-gene-expression-up-and-down-in.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-42211743135093004912013-02-10T19:36:00.001+01:002013-02-10T19:36:11.098+01:00First bionic eye now available for sale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Blindness has been impossible to cure for a very long time. More recently, we have begun to understand how the eye turns light into the electrical signals that stimulate the nerves leading to the brain. Because the brain is where our eye sight is actually formed, it is necessary to copy the necessary electrical pulses, should we wish to restore blindness in cases where the normal conduction system in the eye is no longer functional. An implant from the company Second Sight is now <a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/10/world/we-have-the-technology-bionic-eye-makes-debut/#.UReqp6V9KaU" target="_blank">available</a> in Europe, and has been shown to restore vision at least partly in transplanted patients.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/first-bionic-eye-now-available-for-sale.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-49066205038130661212013-02-10T17:58:00.002+01:002013-02-10T17:58:11.783+01:00Creating organs by printing stem cells<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Because of a lack of donors it is highly necessary to find an alternative source of organs that can be used for transplantation. Recent studies have shown the success of using stem cells for lab-grown organs, but it is still troublesome to produce such tissues in high quantities. 3D-printing technologies appear to be the solution for this problem, as scientists have shown that such printers can be used for biological material as well. So far, however, stem cells could not be printed because they are too delicate and would die in the process. Researchers have now found a <a href="http://www.hw.ac.uk/news-events/news/printed-human-organs-testing-transplantation-11075.htm" target="_blank">solution</a> for this problem as well, paving the way for 3D-printed organs based on stem cells.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/creating-organs-by-printing-stem-cells.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-72152080008458870832013-02-09T12:37:00.001+01:002013-02-09T12:37:09.880+01:00Olive oil helps to keep the blood flowing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Olive oil is popular for cooking, as it is supposedly the most healthy when it comes to oils. While scientific evidence has shown beneficial effects of olive oil consumption, there is a lot of work left to be done to investigate whether the health claims are actually valid. A recent study conducted by the University of Messina revealed that a certain compound that is present in olive oil may <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/foas-ooc020513.php" target="_blank">help</a> prevent damage to the organs caused by faulty blood supply.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/olive-oil-helps-to-keep-blood-flowing.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-65202928593369363172013-02-06T17:37:00.001+01:002013-02-06T17:37:45.412+01:00Creating enzymes with artificial evolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is impossible to create a functional multicellular organism from ordinary 'dead' matter without having the right set of molecules that allow for chemical reactions in the body, which is called metabolism. In order to be able to convert one product into the other, for example turning food into energy, bodies need enzymes. Because the required chemistry in the body is unlikely to happen by chance alone, enzymes are there to speed up the process, by favouring the conditions for a chemical reaction between specific compounds. Enzymes are therefore important and were created very early in evolution, as without them, it is very hard to produce something that is alive. Scientists have great interest in the artificial production of enzymes, something that would allow us to produce things of our own choice. A group of researchers has <a href="http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/2013/UR_CONTENT_429344.html" target="_blank">found</a> a way to let evolution run its course in the artificial production of enzymes.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/creating-enzymes-with-artificial.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-16046029527914651542013-02-05T19:05:00.002+01:002013-02-05T19:05:51.389+01:00Doctors perform a double arm transplant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
War can leave devastating scars on the bodies of soldiers, and the loss of arms and legs is frequent. As we are unable to regrow organs or limbs, doctors have resorted to transplants from donors. Getting an arm or leg to function again, however, is extremely difficult. Transplanted limbs need to be connected to the brain in order for the recipient to be able to use it. Doctors from the John Hopkins Hospital attempted to give two new arms to an Iraqi war veteran, an operation that has only been attempted a couple of times. The recipient, a 26-year-old, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/us-iraq-war-vet-brendan-marrocco-receives-double/story?id=18343642" target="_blank">says</a> he can already able to feel his 'new' arms a little bit.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/doctors-perform-double-arm-transplant.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-32354086663534036212013-02-03T15:00:00.000+01:002013-02-03T15:00:16.521+01:00Finding new drugs on the bottom of the ocean<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the search of new drugs to treat diseases, scientists often resort to nature in order to find new compounds with useful biological activity. We have found a lot of medicinal compounds in plants, and used them as the foundation for new drugs by modifications and enhancements through chemistry. As we are constantly looking for novel, interesting compounds, the search sometimes takes us to peculiar places. Such is the case with scientists from the Oregon Health & Science University, who <a href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2013/01-24-two-new-breakthroughs-de.cfm?WT_rank=2" target="_blank">proposed</a> to go look for new drugs on the bottom of the ocean.<br>
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</div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/02/finding-new-drugs-on-bottom-of-ocean.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-537891900123179906.post-53933524641582258362013-01-31T19:18:00.001+01:002013-01-31T19:18:23.350+01:00LED bandage is a personal treatment for skin cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Cancer treatment is intense and often results in severe side effects because anti-cancer drugs or radiotherapy can be quite toxic. For skin cancer, scientists discovered that treatment, in some cases, with light can be highly beneficial. Basically, that means skin cancer patients can be treated by prolonged exposure to a big lamp. This concept sparked the interest of some engineers that consequently developed a LED-based device that patients can use to provide themselves with a personal form of treatment.<br>
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</div></div><a href="http://betastuffs.blogspot.com/2013/01/led-bandage-is-personal-treatment-for.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02412376771016462146noreply@blogger.com3