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    Category Health/Medical

    Dietary Iron Intake, equivalent to Heavy Red Meat consumption, Suppresses Leptin, a hormone that regulates Appetite

    August 25, 2015, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Serum leptin and adipocyte leptin mRNA levels decrease with dietary iron...

    Serum leptin and adipocyte leptin mRNA levels decrease with dietary iron overload. (A) Iron levels measured by ferrozine-based colorimetric assay in mice fed low normal– and high-iron diet (n = 4 mice/group). (B) Tfrc mRNA levels quantified by qPCR and normalized to cyclophilin A in adipose tissue from mice fed different levels of dietary iron (n = 6 mice/group). (C) Serum leptin levels from the mice (n = 6 mice/group). (D) Intracellular leptin levels by Western blotting. Data are representative of 3 experiments with n = 4 per replicate. (E) Quantification of leptin protein levels from D normalized to tubulin (n = 4 mice/group). (F) Leptin mRNA levels quantified by qPCR and normalized to cyclophilin A in adipose tissue from mice fed different dietary iron (n = 6 mice/group)...

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    Genetic Study finds Association between Reduced Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis Risk

    August 25, 2015, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Vitamin D pathway. In blue are the genes containing, or in proximity to, SNPs that were genome-wide significant for 25OHD level in SUNLIGHT (n = 33,996). The p-values for the association with 25OHD level were 1.9 × 10−109 for GC, 2.1 × 10−27 for DHCR7, 3.3 × 10−20 for CYP2R1, and 6.0 × 10−10 for CYP24A1. Note that each gene plays an independent role in modulating the level of 25OHD. Kidney and liver images credit: https://openclipart.org/. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001866.g002

    Vitamin D pathway. In blue are the genes containing, or in proximity to, SNPs that were genome-wide significant for 25OHD level in SUNLIGHT (n = 33,996). The p-values for the association with 25OHD level were 1.9 × 10−109 for GC, 2.1 × 10−27 for DHCR7, 3.3 × 10−20 for CYP2R1, and 6.0 × 10−10 for CYP24A1. Note that each gene plays an independent role in modulating the level of 25OHD. Kidney and liver images credit: https://openclipart.org/. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001866.g002

    Genetic findings support observational evidence that lower vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis...

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    A Glue that Hardens when Voltage applied opens a plethora of promising Advances

    August 25, 2015, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Health/Medical, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Concept of electrocuring adhesive.

    Concept of electrocuring adhesive.

    Inspired by limitations of biomimetic glues in wet environments Voltaglue has many apps incl:
    – gluing metal panels under water eg underwater pipe repairs;
    – Replacing sutures when there is a need to join body tissues together during surgery;
    – Tailoring the properties of the adhesive to be more gel-like or rubber-like which would work well in vibrating or damp environments

    In future, surgeons could use biocompatible glue patches to join 2 pieces of internal body tissue together in 1-2 minutes, instead of sutures which often require 15 to 20 minutes of careful stitching. Assistant Professor Terry Steele said it took them over a year to develop an adhesive that could work under wet conditions such as in the human body or underwater.

    Diazirine electrochemistry and aryl-carbene formation.

    Diazirine electrochemis...

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    New Optical Raman Spectra Blood Test for Colon Cancer improves colonoscopy screening results

    August 24, 2015, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    A novel test shows a difference in the Raman spectra of the blood plasma of people without colon cancer compared to those with precancerous or cancerous polyps. Credit: Haishan Zeng, BC Cancer Agency

    A novel test shows a difference in the Raman spectra of the blood plasma of people without colon cancer compared to those with precancerous or cancerous polyps. Credit: Haishan Zeng, BC Cancer Agency

    It shows the simple fingerprint for cancerous growth and precancerous polyps. It may yield a cheaper and less invasive initial screening test for colon cancer that could complement colonoscopy, though further clinical trials will need to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the blood test before it is routinely used.

    “This is a screening technology you can use on anybody,” said Haishan Zeng, BC Cancer Agency, who led the study...

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