2008-Mar-31 - New Method For Directing And Filming Blood Vessels Developed
Health & Medicine
Brain Tumor
Lymphoma
Immune System
Plants & Animals
Biology
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Reference
Lymph node
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Formation of new blood cells and lymph vessels takes place with a number of different diseases. Formation of new cells is sometimes desirable, e.g. in the event of wound healing, when new tissue must be formed. Undesirable vessel formation takes place in the event of tumour growth. The tumour receives nutrition from the new blood vessels and can also spread via newly formed lymph vessels, thus prevention of vessel growth is desirable in this situation.
A major challenge in the field of medicine is understanding the signals governing the way vessels are formed. It has been proposed that targeted signals -- so-called gradients -- from growth factors instruct the vessels as to the direction in which they are to grow.
"Our study shows that a simple gradient from a signal protein is sufficient to tell the blood vessel cell in which direction it is to move. We have also been able to show that the form of the gradient governs the way in which the cell moves," says Irmeli Barkefors, a postgraduate student at Uppsala University.
The research group is now going to develop the method further. The aim is to be able to study targeted migration in complicated organ culture systems, whereby interaction between different cell types can be studied.
"The method can basically be adapted to facilitate study of all types of cells. It is particularly important to study the mechanisms that determine whether or not cancer cells spread," says researchers Johan Kreuger, who has been heading the project.
The study was published on 17 March in the Internet edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. (http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/M704917200v1)
Adapted from materials provided by Uppsala University.
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2008-Mar-30 - Microdermabrasion Treatment for Acne Scars Removal
Microdermabrasion is increasingly being seen as a primary treatment for reducing and eliminating acne scars. Acne scarring is generally caused by more severe cases of acne. Nodules under the skin??painful lumps or puss-filled cysts??are generally what create the worst cases of acne scars. These nodules are more likely to scar than other types of acne.
Microdermabrasion is a simple noninvasive healing process which is mainly applied to aid mild surface acne scar. Microdermabrasion works by exfoliating the top layer of the damaged scarred skin thereby allowing the fresh skin layer to appear from below. This hand held system sprays a stream of aluminum oxide microcrystals onto the surface of the acne scar. This gently abrades the top layer of the skin leaving a brand new fresh layer underneath. This nonsurgical cosmetic method removes the very surface cells of the skin and therefore never causes any wound to the skin. This treatment process takes about twenty to thirty minutes and the mostly a gap of two weeks is preferred between two treatment sessions.
In microdermabrasion acne, fine aluminum crystals use to light the skin of affected area. It gives amazing results while applying it in each one or two weeks.
Growth in sebaceous gland of neck helps to filling with insects, bacteria during the formation of acne cyst. So, this treatment is good for preventing sebum and cells of the skin. Acne cyst may be erupted by releasing matter into the dermis, that can rapidly attack by blood cells in white color and fighting against the bacterial infection.
Although there is no firm evidence in support of any adverse impact caused by long-term aluminum oxide exposure; however, WHO has listed elemental aluminum as hazardous dust. Nevertheless experts believe that due to the hardness and sharp edges of the crystals they might cause corneal abrasion and respiratory problems in the patient as well as in the clinical staff.
Microdermabrasion results are effective; however, it??s important to understand the basic limitation of microdermabrasion treatment. Because, microdermabrasion only treats the outermost layer of skin it can have no effect on skin conditions that exist at deeper levels of skin. Microdermabrasion cannot produce great results against deeply pitted acne scars or old white stretch marks. However, there are some cases where microdermabrasion works in conjunction with other treatments to produce a synergistic effect with excellent results against even deep skin conditions.
Read more on makeup tips. Check out for blackheads treatment and home remedies.
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2008-Mar-19 - On The Trail Of Rogue Genetically Modified Pathogens
Health & Medicine
Human Biology
Genes
Gene Therapy
Plants & Animals
Genetically Modified
Biochemistry Research
Biotechnology
Reference
Vector (biology)
Computational genomics
DNA microarray
Genetically modified organism
Jonathan Allen, Shea Gardner and Tom Slezak of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, US, designed new computational tools that identify a set of DNA markers that can distinguish between artificial vector sequences and natural DNA sequences. Natural plasmids and artificial vector sequences have much in common, but these new tools show the potential to achieve high sensitivity and specificity, even when detecting previously unsequenced vectors in microarray-based bioassays.
A new computational genomics tool was developed to compare all available sequenced artificial vectors with available natural sequences, including plasmids and chromosomes, from bacteria and viruses. The tool clusters the artificial vector sequences into different subgroups based on shared sequence; these shared sequences were then compared with the natural plasmid and chromosomal sequence information so as to find regions that are unique to the artificial vectors.
Nearly all the artificial vector sequences had one or more unique regions. Short stretches of these unique regions are termed 'candidate DNA signatures' and can be used as probes for detecting an artificial vector sequence in the presence of natural sequences using a microarray. Further tests showed that subgroups of candidate DNA signatures are far more likely to match unseen artificial than natural sequences.
The authors say that the next step is to see whether a bioassay design using DNA signatures on microarrays can spot genetically modified DNA in a sample containing a mixture of natural and modified bacteria. The scientific community will need to cooperate with computational experts to sequence and track available vector sequences if DNA signatures are to be used successfully to support detection and deterrence against malicious genetic engineering applications. Scientists would be able to maintain an expanding database of DNA signatures to track all sequenced vectors.
"As with any attempt to counter malicious use of technology, detecting genetic engineering in microbes will be an immense challenge that requires many different tools and continual effort," says Allen.
Journal reference: Jonathan E Allen, Shea N Gardner and Tom R Slezak. DNA signatures for detecting genetic engineering in bacteria. Genome Biology (in press)
Adapted from materials provided by BioMed Central/Genome Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
2008-Mar-18 - Christian Science Monitor Examines Efforts To End Genital Cutting In Kenya
The Christian Science Monitor on Thursday examined challenges faced by advocates attempting to curb female genital cutting, also known as female genital mutilation and female circumcision, as well as adolescents attempting to avoid the practice in places where it is common. According to the Monitor, changing the cultural practice -- which is still prevalent in some countries in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa -- "can be a difficult process, even in a fairly well-off and well-educated country like Kenya."
The Monitor recounts the story of Millicent, a member of the Masai tribe in Kenya, who left her village at age 13 to escape the practice. At age 18, she is living at the Tasaru Girls Rescue Center, which offers girls who have left their villages an opportunity to continue schooling and avoid genital cutting by receiving an "alternative right of passage" that includes traditional rituals and health information, according to the Monitor. Agnes Paraiyo, founder of the center, said the program is slowly reducing the number of girls who undergo genital cutting but added that some families will not reconcile with girls who left for the center.
Kenya banned genital cutting in 1982 and again in 1989, but a 1998 Ministry of Health survey found that more than half of women over age 35 and about 38% of young women between the ages of 15 and 19 had undergone genital cutting. Among the Masai, the practice is even more common -- at 89%. Although research shows that genital cutting contributes to thousands of miscarriages and maternal deaths annually worldwide, many Kenyans believe the practice has health benefits and teaches young women about pregnancy, raising children, relations with husbands and "proper behavior within the clans," the Monitor reports.
Advocates are focusing on ways to involve those who find meaning in the practice. "You cannot do this by force," Ben Ole Koissaba, advocate and chair of the Masai Civil Society Forum in Kenya, said, adding, "Culture is dynamic, culture can adapt, but good sustainable cultural change comes from within." Florence Gachanja, country representative for the United Nations Population Fund, said the solution to end the practice in areas where it is "deeply rooted" is to "come up with something that is accepted by the community, to use culturally accepted practice, involve the elders and maybe the religious leaders. And then if you can use a role model ... who has not undergone circumcision, then people can say, 'Wow, she's normal'" (Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 3/13).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
