Articles
MicroRNAs as promising biomarkers and therapeutic tools in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder that results in potentially fatal blood vessel abnormalities. Currently, there is no cure or universally effective treatment for the condition, which remains underfunded and underdiagnosed. MicroRNAs have emerged as new biomarkers for human diseases and hold great promise for the improved diagnosis and treatment of HHT. A recent review publication by Anthony […]
When the body turns against itself: Amyloid-based diseases
Often, the body is its own worst enemy. Diseases such as cancer are caused by faults in the natural replication processes of our own cells. It is thought that both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease may be caused by amyloids – aggregates of our own proteins that can disrupt nerve signalling and other functions. Dr H. Robert Guy of Amyloid Research […]
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Protecting bottlenose dolphins from coastal construction
Professor Ann Weaver of Good-Natured Statistics Consulting, USA, has studied dolphins living free at sea for 20 years. Her numerous scientific discoveries about dolphin behaviour yield ample evidence of intelligence and of sophisticated social behaviour at sea. Drawing from many years of intensive studies in primates, she undertook an impressive 18-year ethological study of the social behaviour and impact of […]
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Moisture regulation in finger pad ridges can ensure optimal grip
The ridges on the pads of our fingers, and the fingerprints we produce, have several benefits, including identification purposes. However, this was not the evolutionary purpose of ridged skin on the finger pad, and it is more likely to have evolved to optimise grip and touch. Professor Gun-Sik Park, Seoul National University, has explored how the finger pad has its […]
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Trypan blue venography: Evaluation and treatment of glaucoma
Glaucoma is linked to a build up of pressure in the eye as a result of impaired aqueous humour fluid outflow. However, there are limited options to evaluate aqueous outflow systems. Patrick Gooi, University of Calgary and Gavin Docherty, of the University of British Columbia, Canada, have developed a technique known as trypan blue venography, allowing simultaneous surgical intervention and […]
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Covid-19 highlights the importance of defibrillation in in-hospital resuscitation
Many aspects of the healthcare system have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the response to cardiac arrests both outside and within hospitals. Early recognition of cardiopulmonary arrest, early defibrillation when indicated, and early advanced life support (ALS) are some of the common practices that fall under in-hospital resuscitation. John A. Stewart, an independent researcher and retired […]
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The role of values in social innovation transfer
What role do values play in knowledge transfer between social enterprises, and what are the factors which facilitate or inhibit the exchange of innovative practice? Those are the questions behind new research by Imran Chowdhury of Wheaton College in Massachusetts, USA. Looking at social entrepreneurship through the lens of a partnership to transfer a model of affordable eye-care services from […]
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Cilia, asymmetry, and genetic disease
The length and movement of motile cilia – microscopic hair-like organelles on the outside of our cells – have a remarkable effect on the asymmetric development of embryos, allowing organs to grow in the correct places in our bodies. Dr Susana Lopes and her team at the LYSOCIL project are investigating rare genetic diseases affecting the cilia, and how these […]
The dangers of labels: English as a Second Language
According to the US Census, one-fifth of the American population speaks English as a Second Language (ESL) and speaks another language at home. Professor Lee Gunderson of the University of British Columbia in Canada investigates the negative consequences for people labelled as ESL or English Language Learner (ELL) in the United States. Having first raised these concerns more than 20 […]
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The troubling allure of predatory publishing
Predatory publishing has become increasingly ubiquitous across the sciences and beyond. Importantly, Dr Nicola Alberto Valente, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, compiled and studied the barrage of invitations he received over the course of an academic year. He then attempted to quantitatively assess the impact these invitations had on him and his work. […]
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