Category Health/Medical

(a) Schematic representation of HPSE biogenesis and the coexpression strategy used in this study. (b) Front view of apo-HPSE in ribbon representation. Subunits are colored yellow (8 kDa) and blue (50 kDa). Five sites of N-glycosylation are shown in green. (c) Side view of HPSE showing a binding cleft in the (β/α)8 domain in which the catalytic residues (green) reside.

Human heparanase, a sugar-degrading enzyme has received significant attention as a key target in anti-cancer treatments. Though naturally regulated in a healthy organism, heparanase is an enzyme which is produced in excessive quantities in a cancer situation...

MCP-1 released by smooth muscle and endothelial cells promotes the recruitment of monocytes and macrophages to the subendothelial cell layer. Deposition of lipids within these monocytes and macrophages then leads to development of atherosclerotic lesions.

This is one of the 1st studies to demonstrate the effect of red blood cells on the disease and could also affect the way patients with other health conditions, like cancer, who are prone to developing cardiovascular issues, are diagnosed and treated. “White blood cells play a key role in fueling adipose tissue (fat) inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity and also promote the clogging of arteries, or atherosclerosis, setting the stage for heart attack and stroke...

The researchers are currently experimenting with carbon-based self-healing composites and self-healing transistors. (Stock image) Credit: © praisaeng / Fotolia

Flexible sensors have been developed for use in electronics, robotics, health care, and space flight. Future possible applications could include the creation of ‘electronic skin’ and prosthetic limbs that allow wearers to ‘feel’ changes in their environments.

One problem with current flexible sensors they can be easily scratched and otherwise damaged, potentially destroying functionality. Researchers in the Dept of Chemical Engineering at the Technion, Israel, who were inspired by the healing properties in human skin, have developed materials that can be integrated into flexible devices to “heal” incidental scratches or cuts...

People who regularly drank moderate amounts of coffee daily –less than 5 cups per day — experienced a lower risk of deaths from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, Type 2 diabetes and suicide. The benefit held true for drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting it’s not just the caffeine providing health perks but possibly the naturally occurring chemical compounds in the coffee beans. Credit: Copyright American Heart Association

Drinking a second or third cup of coffee may do more than get you through a long day – it may also reduce your risk of death from heart disease and other illnesses.