Magnets Can Manipulate Morality

Scientists at MIT have developed a device that utilizes powerful magnetic fields to scramble the moral center of the brain, making it harder for people to distinguish between morally right from wrong. Liane Young, a co-author of the paper and a scientist at MIT first had to use magnetic resonance imaging to locate the area of the brain associated with moral judgment. Her colleagues and she discovered that the right temporo-pariental junction (RTPJ) was largely responsible for this. After developing their device to scramble the moral center of the brain, they conducted experiments in which subjects read several different stories about people with good or bad intentions that resulted in a variety of outcomes. For example, in some stories, a boyfriend leads his girlfriend across a bridge. However, sometimes he has no ill intentions and other times he has the intention to of leading her along so that she breaks her ankle. After reading the story, subjects were instructed to grade the story based on a seven point scale, with one point being forbidden and seven being completely permissible. As the subjects read the story, scientists applied magnetic fields via the device through a method known as transcranial-magnetic stimulation. The magnetic fields create confusion in the neurons that make up RTPI and cause them to quickly and chaotically fire off electrical pulses. This made it more difficult for the subjects interpret the boyfriend’s intent and focus more on the bad outcome. The effect of the magnetic field is not permament. In other cases, scientists did not apply a magnetic field, allowing the subjects to focus more on the boyfriends good intentions. Scientists hope this technology will better able not only neuroscientists, but also jurors of the court as well.

Source: http://news.discovery.com/tech/magnet-brain-morality.html

This is a re-post for Nathan Poon

VTPP 435-501

Breakthrough on Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Breakthrough on Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease


A critical imbalance of the regulatory cells required to control the immune system has been revealed among people suffering inflammatory bowel disease.
In a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology this month, Pathology researcher Dr Nicola Eastaff-Leung reveals that people suffering Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have fewer numbers of regulatory cells and more "attack" cells that cause inflammation.
"All the food that we eat is foreign to our body," Dr Eastaff-Leung says. "In healthy people the immune system has a mechanism to tolerate these foods and not react. But some people do not have enough of these regulatory cells and their body overreacts and goes into attack mode. That is where the inflammation occurs," she says.
Dr Eastaff-Leung says the results of her recently completed PhD at the University of Adelaide could help provide a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal diseases, reducing the need for colonoscopies in future.
"If we can establish that all people suffering Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have an imbalance of these regulatory cells, we may be able to develop a blood test that confirms suspected cases of these diseases.
"The second, bigger challenge is to work out a treatment that can restore the balance of these cells and also to find out why this imbalance is happening in the first place."
Dr Eastaff-Leung, who has qualifications in both Pathology and Chinese medicine, says there is evidence to show that diet and lifestyle play a significant role in the development of gastrointestinal disease.
"Inflammatory bowel diseases and a lot of other autoimmune diseases are common in Western cultures but are rarely found in the developing or Third World countries.
"We need to look at our diet and also the obsession in Western countries with cleanliness and antibacterial disinfectants, which has gone overboard. Children need to be exposed to bacteria as they are developing in order to build their immune system naturally," Dr Eastaff-Leung says.
PhD supervisors Associate Professor Simon Barry, from the Discipline of Paediatrics at the University of Adelaide, and Dr Adrian Cummins from the Department of Gastroenterology at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, believe the ongoing study of regulatory immune cells could help pinpoint the causes of a range of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes and even asthma.
"In all autoimmune diseases, the immune system accidentally starts to attack tissues and organs that it should normally leave alone. The regulatory cells are obviously not doing their job and we need to understand why," Dr Barry says.
Dr Eastaff-Leung will spend the next 12 months working with Assoc. Prof. Barry developing a novel biomarker for these regulatory immune cells in collaboration with Professor Heddy Zola from the Cooperative Research Centre for Biomarker Translation.
"We are going to see if we can add a new layer of sophistication to this research," Assoc. Prof. Barry says. "If the new biomarker is a protein that plays an important functional role we can work on that to restore the balance in the immune system."
Approximately 61,000 individuals are living with inflammatory bowel disease in Australia, costing the country about $500 million per year in health fees and productivity loss, according to a 2007 Access Economics report.
Dr Eastaff-Leung's research was funded by The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Foundation and the Australian Crohn's and Colitis Association. Her other supervisor was Dr Angela Barbour from the University of Adelaide.
University of Adelaide. "Breakthrough on Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease."ScienceDaily 18 December 2009. 11 April 2010 /releases/2009/12/091217094905.htm>.

I thought this article was very interesting because we talked about Crohn's disease in class and this is a direct hypothesis and simplification of how the disease basically affects the human body. As the article further explains they believe that if they are able to prove an imbalance of regulatory cells, they would be able to design a blood test which could give them an easy indicator of Crohn's disease and and even new tools to be able to cure it. Lastly I thought it was interesting that this article also talked about exposing little children to bacteria as they are developing is actually beneficial to build up their immune system naturally.David Figueroa 716 00 1385

Nanoscale “Stealth” Probe Slides Into Cell Walls Seamlessly

Saturday, April 03, 2010
Nanoscale “Stealth” Probe Slides Into Cell Walls Seamlessly
The ability to probe inside of a cell is of practical interest to bioengineers. Electrical and chemical signals would be easy to observe. In the past, the hydrophobic portion of cell membranes has provided problems to probing inside the cell. Brute force techniques that use suction and voltage have punched holes into the membrane, but these cells are unable to survive for more than a few days. Stanford engineers have designed a probe that can fit seamlessly into the membrane without any apparent problems.

The stealth probe is 600 nm in length and is composed of metal coated silicon. The flawless fusing of the probe with the membrane is due to its design, which aims to emulate natural gateways within the cell membrane. The team modeled the probe after gatekeeper proteins, which choose which molecules move in and out of the cell. Consequently, these proteins are found tightly bound to the cell membrane. The design works so well that the probe will not come out. The membrane will continue to deform when attempting to remove the probe.

This new probe has great advantages over patch clamping (the current technique). The patch clamping method can only be performed on one cell at a time, and the hole it creates renders the cell useless after an hour. The stealth probe could function as a long-term patch clamp, allowing researchers to monitor electrical signals, insert materials in, and take materials out of the cell.

This technology caught my interest because such a technique has wide applications to problems in bioengineering. Bioengineers and biologists have much to gain from more knowledge surrounding the inner workings of the cell. With continued research, this technology may enable us to insert and remove materials from the cell. This is an invaluable opportunity to take full control of applying stimuli to a given cell type.

Jason George
Vtpp 435-502

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100401143123.htm
posted by Jason George at 3:04 PM

New medical techniques attributed to nano-technology

A new nano-technique was used along with scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) in order to study the minute details of the heart cells and the connection to heart failure. Chemical probes were inserted that fluoresce when certain beta-receptors are active in the heart tissue. Using this form of microscopy, researchers were able to see the surface of the cells and even observe the state of the t-tubules, which isn’t possible using other forms of microscopy.

It was discovered that when the cells are damaged, certain beta-receptors, located by the t-tubules, that usually protect the cell move towards a more degenerative form of beta receptor and have a decreased ability to protect the cell. This discovery could lead to improved beta-receptor blocking drugs, which is the normal treatment at the moment. Being able to only block the degenerative forms of a beta-receptor, while leaving the protective receptors could lead to prolonged life and decrease a need for transplants in the near future.

I found this really interesting because it combines aspects that we have talked about in class this semester with concepts from last semester. This is just another example of how nano technology is immediately improving the health industry by creating new methods and techniques. I also found it interesting that in the long term, beta receptors, which are influenced by the sympathetic nervous system, can be potentially inducing cell damage. Of course, when healthy, the body counteracts this with receptors that have protective properties, limiting these negative effects.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100225142449.htm

Smart Orthopedic Implants and Self-Fitting Tissue Scaffolding

The synthetic grafts used by orthopedic surgeons in surgery today have many issues. The grafts are made of materials that are not conducive to forming the irregular shapes needed to be implanted in the body. Therefore the synthetic grafts don’t always conform correctly to the shape they need to be. Also, two surgeries are required: one for the implanting of the tissue scaffold and another for the removal of the implant.

Fortunately, research is being done to improve upon the grafts used in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Jie Song and Jianwen Xu are two of many people who have been doing research on these tissue scaffolds. They have come up with a bone scaffolding polymer that addresses many of the current problems associated with the grafts used today. The main obstacle this new polymer overcomes is that it uses “heat activated smart materials” in order to incorporate itself with surrounding tissue.

Dr. Song's long term goal for this involves “physicians using CT scans and MRI imaging,” so that the polymer can be shaped into the desired form/mold needed while in the lab before surgery. It will be formed into the irregular shape needed at the site of the injury. Then using heat activation the polymer will be deformed and compressed into a shape more conducive to entering the human body for surgery (this part is also done pre-surgery when the polymer is outside the body). Then, upon arrival at the injury site inside the body, the polymer will be “thermally re-activate[d]” to its “original, pre-molded shape.”

I thought this article was interesting because I have been fascinated with orthopedic surgery, ever since I tore my ACL and had to have it repaired. Even though the graft used in my surgery was from my hamstring, I find it interesting to learn about other grafting materials/technology. This new polymer and heat activation technique would be a huge improvement for orthopedic surgeons and patients. It is made of biodegradable material that can dissolve in the body once it has fulfilled its purpose. This is advantageous in that there does not need to be an additional surgery for the patient in order for the implant to be removed. Also this bone scaffolding polymer is said to “promote tissue growth and integration.” A problem with some of the implants used today is that they are made of materials not conducive to integrating with the surrounding tissue. The capability of the implant being able to reshape itself due to heat activation and smart memory is a great advantage.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100405152553.htm

Gold nanosensors can be implanted in the body to continuously monitor for blood clots and trace proteins

Gold nanosensors can be implanted in the body to continuously monitor for blood clots and trace proteins

The ability of blood to clot is essential for our well being; however, blood clots, called thrombosis, that float freely in the blood steam can be deadly if they block a blood vessel. “In the UK alone, blood clots claim 25,000 lives a year.” Currently, the blood clots can be tested for with fluorescent tagging, but the test is expensive, time consuming, and inaccurate.

These new gold nanosensors offer a solution to this problem. The sensor is made of a silica core that is approximately 120 nanometers in diameter covered in gold nanoparticles with aptamers on the outside. Aptamers are “strands of nucleic acids that bind to specific molecules.” These nanosensors harmlessly flow through the bloodstream in search of the biomarker thrombin. When the aptamers detect this marker, they bind to it causing a change in its own composition. Physicians can tell if clots are present by shining a laser on the sensors, the gold amplifies the signal from the aptamers so that the doctors can detect it. The aptamers admit different spectrums if they have a protein bound to them. A large advantage of the nanosensors is that they can remain in the bloodstream to provide continuous monitoring.

I found this article interesting because clot formation due to turbulent blood flow was a concern in both of our device design projects. This research is also fascinating because there are numerous other uses for these sensors such as virus detection.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-04/gold-nanosensors-continuously-monitor-blood-clots

Brian Cancer Vaccine

Vaccines are the new and different approach to treating cancers. Doctors and researchers at Duke and Johns Hopkins have developed a vaccine called CDX-110 to treat glioblastoma (GBM). The CDX-110 vaccine is different from most vaccines because it’s reactive not proactive. CDX-110 can’t prevent diseases; instead it tells the immune system to attack the “intruding” cancer cells. It does this by targeting EGFR factor three which is a protein produced by forty percent of cancer cells. So far, at least one patient has made it over six years with out a relapse.

The University of California in San Francisco is currently researching a similar vaccine. They consider their vaccine “ultimately personalized medicine” because each vaccine is custom made for each GBM patient. UCSF’s vaccine works by targeting heat-shock protein that is mass-produced by tumor cells. This vaccine is currently in the early trail stages; information about its first multicellular trial will be released later this spring.

If the vaccines are successful, they will be a better treatment option then chemotherapy or radiation because they allow the immune system to precisely attack the cancer cells. This means fewer side affects for the patients.

I think that cancer vaccines are an exciting and promising area of research. I appreciate how difficult it is to find cell targets because we did a lot of research of them for our nanobot project last semester. But, I feel that hope for effective cancer treatments through continued research of vaccines that target cancer cells.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/04/vaccine.brain.cancer/index.html

If Want to Do Well On Your Finals Then Don't Stress Out

Final exams have been stressing me out all week, so I read an article about the physiological stress responses of the body. The article says that the stress reposes are the body’s way to cope with the stress. However, after reading the article, I realized the stress responses are detrimental if the stress is caused by finals. The article says once your internal homeostasis, or Milieu Interior is disturbed, the stress responses are activated. The stress responses divert blood from less vital to more vital organs, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, increase respiratory rate, breakdown of glycogen stores in the liver and muscle to get more glucose, and forms more glucose from non carbohydrate substances. In the brain, stress causes the release of hormones on the limbic system which causes mood swings, anxiety, and depression, and hormones are released on the frontal lobe which causes short term memory disturbances. Blood pressure and heart rate are increased because the release of adrenaline. The blood diversion from less vital organs causes poor digestion, dry throat and mouth, loose stool, and clammy skin. And to top it all off, the hormone cortisol, which is an immunosuppressant steroid, is released making it more likely for the body to get infected. Therefore, if you stress out about finals then you are going to be in a terrible mood, forget things you just studied, look horrible (due to the clammy skin), have to go to the bathroom all the time (due to the loose stood), and are more likely to get sick. Moral of the story is to not stress about finals.

Article: http://www.stressfocus.com/stress_focus_article/biological-effects-of-stress.htm

Black light could help diagnose parasites

A special dye that can be made to help diagnose very deadly parasites. Its main selling point beyond its function is its cost. It is very cheap to produce so that any person use regardless of economic status. It reacts with trypanosomes. They are responsible for chagas disease and sleeping sickness. Infection causes the dye to shine florescent green that can be seen under a black light.“Early diagnosis is the key to improving treatment of these diseases,” said Ellen Beaulieu. Trypanosomes infects millions and death rate only seconds to malaria in terms of parasites. The current tests for the parasites are expensive and require technicians and equipment. The dye can be used by anyone and the dye is cheap. Strips coated with the dye are used by health care workers. Using a reducing agent and serum, they dunk the the strip into a mixture and it glows florescent green the person is infected. Drugs are administered as needed. Leishmaniasis is a disease seen in the developing world but recently soldiers in Iraq have been infected causing a scare. It is not ready for the field but it the research is promising.
This was an interesting article. Anything to make medical care simpler and cheaper for everyone is always good. It give better access and less hassle for those using it. Hopefully it will be out in the field in soon.

Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/trypanosometest/#ixzz0nHTFN6FD

Eating Broccoli Could Cure Breast Cancer

Do you remember when your mom told you to eat your vegetables because they make you healthy and strong? Well, maybe she was on to something. There was a recent study tested on mice, that a compound found in broccoli could help prevent and even treat breast cancer according to researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The miraculous compound is sulforaphane, which was studied before but in this study the compound was extracted and targeted the cancer stem cells which showed to actually inhibit the cancer stem cells from growing.

To test this study, different concentrations of sulforaphane were injected into the mice to test whether the number of cancer cells had decreased using different methods to count the number of cancerous cells in the tumors. What was shown was that the number of cancerous cells was reduced, and not only that, but the cells were also unable to grow new tumor cells and sulforaphane had little negative effects on normal cells. So the experiment was moved to test sulforaphane on human breast cancer cell cultures which had the same result.

So the best way to defer the onset and potentially avoid cancer is to eat more broccoli, right? The only downfall to this study is that the concentration of sulforaphane used is much higher than what we, as humans can eat from broccoli but the concentration needed to affect cancer cells can be absorbed but the side effects are uncertain and are available as supplements. This test hasn’t been tested in patients with cancer but researchers are developing a way to preserve sulforaphane and create a clinical trial to test this compound to help prevent and treat breast cancer.

This article was very interesting because almost everybody has access to broccoli, which is inexpensive and readily available, but the possibility that it has the potential to be a cure for breast cancer is quite astounding.

Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/187475.php

Alternative Source of Insulin

Researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland may have found an alternative source of insulin for diabetics. It appears that alpha cell in the pancreas of Type I diabetics are able to redifferentiate into insulin producing beta cells. The study, led by Pedro Herrera, consisted of killing pancreatic beta cells in mice, then giving them insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. After a while, it was found that the mice no longer needed external insulin to function normally. Scientists then found that insulin was still being produced in the pancreas. Originally, researchers thought that the restored insulin production was caused by beta cells that had survived attacks by the immune system. Dr. Herrera concluded that the aforementioned situation was highly improbably because the immune system is “very efficient.” Therefore, the hypothesis was made that pancreatic alpha cells must be converting into insulin producing beta cells. In order to test this hypothesis, many alpha cells were marked with special radioactive isotopes. After a while, it was observed that several pancreatic beta cells contained the markers as wells, thus confirming the hypothesis. Herrera and his colleagues suggested that around 17% of the original amount of beta cells regenerates. Although this numbers seems low, this number of beta cells is sufficient to maintain almost normal blood sugar levels. The cell’s ability to respond to the needs of the body appears to be an intrinsic property of the cells. That is, no outside intervention is needed to convert alpha cells into beta cells. Although the mechanism that drives the conversion is unknown, researchers are fairly certain that this process begins once nearly all the beta cells have been destroyed. Furthermore, researchers do not if all alpha cells have the ability to redifferentiate. Also, the immune system would have to be somehow suppressed so that the newly created beta cells are not attacked. Although there are many obstacles to overcome, this discovery may eventually lead to new treatments for Type I diabetics. Herrera stated that even a 1% increase of insulin production can radically alter the lifestyle of patients.

This article can be found at http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docid=637708
Oscar Carrasco-Zevallos

Cat brain inspires computer

The computer is one step closer to mimicking the human brain. Researcher Wei Lu, a computer engineer at the University of Michigan, is using memristors in the place of the usual transistors in the development of a smaller and faster supercomputer. These memristors not only transmit data in ones and zeros, but they also remember how much voltage was applied beforehand and for how long. This characteristic of the memristors make them behave much like the synapses in the brain. Lu believes that connecting two electronic circuits with a memristor will allow it to take on the capability of a "spike timing dependent plasticity" memory and learning process. This refers to the capacity of the “connections between neurons to become stronger when they are stimulated in relation to each other, and is thought to be the basis for memory and learning in mammalian brains.”

In conventional computers, the elements for logic and memory are located in different parts of the circuit. For this reason conventional computers work in a linear manner, making them great at executing relatively simple jobs. Research has already shown that memristors could carry out computations. This means that logic functions could take place in chips where data is stored. This insinuates that future increase in computing power might not come from an increase from processing power, but rather from an increase in processing efficiency.

It is always fun to read how far behind Mother Nature we truly are.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36605027/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

Surgeons Offering New Procedure for Acid Reflux, GERD

There is a new procedure known as EsophyX TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundaplication) that can repair the valve between the esophagus and stomach and effectively stop GERD. There were two other alternatives to stop GERD. One is laparoscopic surgical repair, which can be invasive and may be associated with side effects such as gas bloat and difficulty swallowing. The other alternative is an older procedure, which is even more invasive, Nissen Fundoplication. Recovery time is longer and more side effects are possible such as difficulty in emesis. It is the most effective procedure but involves making an incision across the patient's abdomen.

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is the only place that offers this new procedure to treat GERD. Using the EsophyX TIF procedure, surgeons are able to pass surgical instruments through a patients mouth and tighten or repair the weakened valve without making any incision to the skin. Miguel Burch MD, Co-Director of Esophageal and Acid Reflux Disorder, Center of Digestive Disorders at BMC, explained how significant this new procedure is when he said, "Compared to laparoscopic or traditional surgery, patient's treated via endoscope have required less anesthesia and experienced less complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery, reduced patient discomfort, and no need for incisions. Patients are typically able to return home and to normal activities the day following the procedure."

Complications of untreated GERD are well documented and can affect the quality of life. Some complications include esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and in a small percentage of patients, esophageal cancer can develop. According to the BMC surgeons, because of the complications of treating GERD, less than 1 percent of patients with GERD currently choose to have invasive surgical therapy to treat their condition.

This article is very interesting to me because I was diagnosed with GERD and I had Nissen Fundoplication. Because I had Nissen Fundoplication, I had a longer hospital stay and longer recovery period, but it treated my GERD. I know this procedure will make a difference especially in the complications after the procedure. I am fascinated by how much progress they have made in treating GERD and that there are now three successful procedures to treat GERD.

The article can be accessed at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026103846.htm

Bacteria Promotes Obesity

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Up to 67% of adults (20+) are overweight or obese according to the CDC. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles, California presented data linking bacteria to the likelihood of being obese at Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The investigation was led by Dr. Mark Pimentel, director of the GI Motility Program at Cedars-Sinai. The study discovered that the existance of bacteria that produce methane in the stomach was indicative of obese subjects. Their methods involved giving a breath test to subjects with Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) between 30 and 60 (30+ is considered obese), looking for the presence of methane in their exhalation. The results of these tests were that 20% of the patients were “methane-positive”, and that these patients had a BMI up to 7 points greater than the methane-negatives.

The explanation as to why methane gas would contribute to the obesity of the patient is that the methane has the ability to slow the gut down; increasing the "calorie harvest" and ultimately leading to a higher BMI.

The findings of this study are important because they can lead to novel medical techniques and strategies in helping to treat obesity. Furthermore, they further our understanding of the complexities involved in this growing problem.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100506090937.htm

Alcohol during pregnancy may cause childhood leukemia

Researchers in the UK have found from studies that when a mother drinking alcoholic beverages during term it can increase the chances of the baby developing leukemia sometime during childhood. This is supposed to be linked to a type rare type of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia, AML. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, without known causes. Tests were done using meta-analysis showing that maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with a significant increased risk of AML in young children. Leukemia affects 20 to 60 cases per million, with more affluent countries generally having higher rates than less developed countries. In a statement made by Dr. Julie Ross, director of pediatric epidemiology and clinical research at U of Minnesota, there are around 700 childhood cases of AML a year in the US. Although, in the US, the alcohol consumption during pregnancy is below the average with 12 percent where Sweden is 30, France is 52, Australia is 59 and Russia is 60 percent.

I thought this post was interesting because will all the information that is available and given to mothers it is crazy to think that they just don't listen and put their children at a risk in such ways. Not only is a risk of AML, there are a countless number of ways that children can be affected by such actions. Its preposterous.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188000.php

Good news about olive oil

The use of olive oil instead may help to reduce coronary heart disease. The Food and Drug Administration stated replacing foods high in saturated fat with the monounsaturated fat in olive oil will be a healthier choice in diet. American fast food overall contains too much of high cholestrol contents, which is an issue to be concern with. Because of such unhealthy diet, coronary hear disease is the number one killer disease, and diet plays a big part of it. If consumers take two tablespoons of olive oil in their meal, the chance of getting chd will be reduced. Some studies have shown olive oil can decrease in LDL cholestrol. Like Dr Wasser had said in class, young people these consume too much high fat diet, I believe a change in diet may need to be concerned with.

http://www.jr.co.il/articles/olive-oil.txt

Research Could Lead to Development of "Cancer Traps"

"Physicists in the US are the first to show that E. coli bacteria can work together to swim through a tiny ratchet that would normally block individual organisms."

Researchers at Princeton University constructed an obstacle course, if you will, for E. coli to navigate through. The course was about 13mm long and 100microns wide, and it was divided into 85 channels separated by "ratcheted" walls. As the illustration in the link suggests, the ratchets were like funnels which allowed the bacteria to cross in one direction but blocked them from traveling in the other direction.

A population of E. coli was placed in one end of the chamber in such a fashion that it would be blocked from reaching the other end; the ratchets were oriented against them. When fewer than 200 of the bacteria were in the first channel, none of them could make their way through the ratchet to reach the next channel. Their movement forward was successfully blocked by the wall.

However, when the number of bacterium in the initial chamber increased to about 1000, the majority of the population was about to make its way to the end of the entire course within about two hours.

To understand this, the physicists had to understand the mechanism which allows the micro-organisms to move. E. coli utilize chemicals in their immediate environment to move their flagella, a process known as chemotaxis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotaxis). Basically, the organisms consume certain chemicals in order to mechanically propel themselves forward.

When a mass amount of E. coli gets together, they consume relatively massive amounts of this chemical. This creates a concentration gradient of said chemical and therefore has a compounding effect on their movement, giving them an extra "boost" along the chemical gradient. So when the population of organisms is large, they are able to move through barriers that they normally wouldn't be able to move through individually (in this example, the reverse-bias ratchets). This is exactly the collective behavior predicted by the Keller-Segel equations, which were formulated many many moons ago.

This research could lead to the development of "cancer traps", which would be placed inside the body in order to prevent the spreading of cancerous cells. The idea is that instead of cancerous cells being able to freely travel throughout the body, the ratchets could be placed in such a fashion that would require the cells to achieve massive densities before escaping their immediate surroundings; densities that would most likely not be achievable. Another implication is the better overall understanding of how E. coli traverses within our large intestine.

-Trevor Lancon

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/42541

Drug Induced Genes
In a recent study, scientists looked at the effects of habit-forming drugs on the genomic level in mice. The compared the effects of nicotine, methamphetamine, ethanol, cocaine, morphine, and heroin on gene expression. The reason for such a study is that these are among the substances that activate intracellular pathways in the brain reward system. The gave minor amounts of each drug to the mice and applied whole-genome microarray over various time periods of 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours. Through this study, they were able to identify 42 different drug responsive genes that could be grouped into two groups: activity-dependent transcripts like those seen through subjection of psychostimulants and opioids, and those controlled by the release of steroid hormones such as ethanol and opioids. The study revealed that although these drugs that are often abused are very different substances they display a lot of the same genomic markers for addiction.
This means that we are beginning to understand the addiction process better and better with each study, and that we are getting more information that can help guide physicians toward information such as who might be more predisposed to addiction than another person. Also, with such information, we can combat the effects of addition more effectively. If we can understand that specific genomic markers are "turned on" when an addictive substance is allowed into the body, we can help minimized the effects by dialing down the effects. This is very beneficial toward a disease than many people suffer with, whether by their own choices or post-operative medicinal addiction, or any other reason that a person might become addicted to a certain substance. Because we are getting closer to truly understanding this process, we can help all of these people deal with their addiction, and break them of the habit.

http://genomebiology.com/2010/11/5/R47

Endometrial cells restore brain dopamine levels - a possible cure for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease results from a loss of brain cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine, which aids the transmission of brain signals that coordinate movement. Implanting stem cells into the brain provides it with new cells that would produce dopamine, thus increasing the amount of this missing messenger. Throughout the years, the relevant and pressing issue has been that it is complicated and invasive to obtain stem cells to be implanted into the brain. However, recent studies on mice have shown that stem cells obtained from the endometrial can be implanted into the brain. These stem cells are shown to adapt to the brain environment and start producing dopamine. The advantage of obtaining these endometrial stem cells is that they are readily available, given that women generate new endometrial tissue every month with each menstrual cycle. In addition, it provides an increased number of donors since women can be their own donors and even males can receive these stem cells if the tissue types match.

Furthermore, according to researchers, stem cells derived from endometrial tissue appear to be less likely to be rejected than stem cells from different parts of the body. This reduces the chances of the immune system trying to fight the foreign cells that would be injected into the brain. When the study was conducted, it was expected to see that the endometrial stem cells generated dopamine producing cells when transplanted into the brains of the mice with compromised immune systems. However, when implanted into the brains of mice with normal immune systems, the stem cells also gave rise to dopamine producing cells. Plus, since women can be their own donors, the chances of the brain rejecting the implanted cells are slim to none, which represents a huge medical advance since immune system reactions are usually a big concern when implanting cells.

This makes endometrial tissue the most readily available, safest, and most easily attainable (with a simple office procedure) source of stem cells currently existing. This discovery provides a new approach to curing (reversing) Parkinson’s disease and probably some other types of diseases caused by the malfunctioning of brain cells.

The article can be found at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100506141608.htm

Geraldine Pena-Galea

A Molecular Signal of Cognitive Decline

Scientists are on the verge of discovering the specifics about genetic effects age has on memory-loss. German neuroscientist Andre Fischer and his colleagues are conducting a study using old and young mice. They test the mice's memory by fixing chambers with shockers and other obstacles. They hypothesized that the aging of the mice cause the histones to associate with the DNA differently, causing modified gene expression. After the mice had been trained for an hour in the chamber, over 2000 genes in the hippocampus became more active in the younger mice compared to only six in the older mice. The reason for the staggering results seems to be that younger mice undergo acetylation at a specific spot on the histone protein (H4K12).

In order to test if indeed the acetylation is the cause of the memory enhancement, a drug was administered to the older mice to help restore the acetylation effects in the hippocampus. The result was similar gene expression to the younger mice AND an increased memory of the shock locations of the chamber.

I thought it was interesting how researchers can tell a mouse has memorized a shock placement in the chamber. When a mouse sees the familiar location of a shock, they do a "fearful freezing behavior" and hesitate before they continue through the chamber. Hopefully someday the information gained from these experiments can be applied to drugs that thwart dementia and other cognitive difficulties associated with old age.

T Cells improving learning

The old school of thought dealing with inflammatory response and the brain states that inflmmation hampers thinking and can decline cognitive activty and lead to disorders such as multiple schelroris. However new studies have shown that T cells can help leanring and memory functions. Using mice as a test animal, Noel Derecki(Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.), noticed that mice with T cell deficiencies preformed much worse on the maze test than other mice. To test this theory, Derecki did a test with mice which had a IL-4 protein knocked out, and mice with normal T cell function. The results observed saw mice with IL-4 gene knocked out had more myeloid cells which spurred inflammation and inhibited learning. Upon injection of T cells, these mice preformed much better. What this study makes light on is the importance of T cell and inflammatory balance. Current treatments for alot of cognitive disorders involve removal of T-cells to prevent more inflammaiton and degradaiton, but this could now infact be counter productive to a patient. A fine balance with a body's system and cells is a lesson in physiology learned with each new research

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=how-the-immune-systems-t-cells-seem-2010-05-03

Luis Dlouhy

New Atherosclerosis Vaccine

Cholesterol is transported through the blood by little fat drops called LDL particles, also known as "bad" cholesterol. Sometimes, the T-cells in the body's immune system may then attack these LDL particles, causing an inflammation that can lead to atherosclerosis. The fat droplets can accumulate in the vessels and cause plaque to build up on the vessel walls. When the plaque ruptures, it creates a clot that can cause a stroke or heart attack. Researchers in Sweden have developed a vaccine that inhibits the T-cell receptors, therefore reducing the risk of atherosclerosis-causing inflammation. Blocking this immune reaction decreases the severity of the disease by 60 to 70 percent. The vaccine has been successfully tested on animals, and researchers are eagerly awaiting approval to begin clinical trials.
I found this article interesting because we just talked about heart disease in class. This vaccine may possibly be extremely helpful because of how common heart disease is.

Eloura Durkee
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100506090935.htm

MS patients treated with their own stem cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease where the myelin sheaths around axons of CNS neurons are damaged, causing neural dysfunction. There is no cure for this degenerative disease.

Injecting stem cells into the patient has been proposed as a treatment, since they might differentiate into oligodendrocyte progenitors to repair the myelin sheaths. The use of embryonic stem cells is controversial, so if adult human stem cells could be used that would be preferable.

A research team based at the University of Bristol recently completed a study where they treated MS patients by extracting bone marrow from their pelvis, filtering out the stem cells from bone and fat cells and injecting the stem cells back into the patient's arms on the same day. The patients were monitored and given brain scans for a year.

The results were promising; tests showed increased effectiveness in transmitting electrical impulses in damaged neurons, and there were no serious side effects from the relatively short procedure. The team is planning a larger study to confirm these results.

I think this result is very exciting because it demonstrates a way to use the healing properties of stem cells to cure degenerative diseases without dealing with the ethical dilemmas of using human embryos. Curing patients with cells from their own body is an interesting idea, and could probably apply to many different diseases.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7682055/Stem-cells-raise-hope-for-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis-patients.html

Caleb Davis VTPP 435-502

Gene Linked to Schizophrenia

Researchers at the Universite de Montreal have found that mutations in the Shank3 gene cause a significant number of the cases of schizophrenia. The Shank3 gene is involved in maintaining the structure of nerve cells, and mutations in the gene cause abnormal cell shapes. The gene is also associated with autism, which suggests that these two diseases may be linked. The researchers are convinced that further research will confirm that Shank3 can be used as a marker for schizophrenia.

This article was very interesting because the mind and neurological disorders are fascinating to me. The brain is one of the least understood things in the body, so it is exciting to think of all the things we still can learn about it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100412151825.htm

New drug found to inhibit bleeding in spinal injuries

Scientists have found a way to inhibit progressive hemorrhagic necrosis, a secondary condition that occurs in victims with spinal trauma and aids in the development of paralysis. By using a drug, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), that targets a specific gene, the bleeding that usually follows damage to the area can be inhibited. ODN is a single strand of DNA that inhibits the Sur1 protein, which is released after injury. Normally, the Sur1 protein acts as a defensive mechanism by preventing cell death through calcium ion entry, but in the case of a spinal injury, the entry of calcium is coupled with the entry of sodium, causing the cell to swell and lyse.

The study was conducted on rats, however high levels of the Sur1 protein and sodium have been found in humans that have obtained spinal injuries. The drug currently has trouble targeting the correct tissue and has been shown to have negative long term affects. The advantage of the treatment is that it is quick, usually only lasting about twenty-four hours, leaving the drug minimal time to cause any negative side effects and adequately controlling the bleeding. Furthermore, the drug could be administered on the scene of the accident, increasing the chances of avoiding paralysis.

This study is a major development for this area of medicine and could have wide applications if a safe, reliable form of the drug can be created.

http://healthmadeeasy.com/health-news/3103-gene-targeted-treatment-might-play-a-role-in-preventing-paralysis

Too Little, Too Much Sleep Linked to Premature Death

A recent study by the University of Warwick in the UK and the Federico II University in Naples, Italy has discovered that abnormal sleep levels, that is those that are more or less than 6-8 hours, are linked to premature death. The researchers simply studied the connection between these abnormal sleep levels and the increased chance of death. The study found that people who got too little sleep had a 12 percent higher chance of premature death, while those who got too much had a 30 percent higher chance of premature death. One of the leaders of the study, Cappuccio stated that, "Whilst short sleep may represent a cause of ill-health, long sleep is believed to represent more and indicator of ill-health." Thus sleeping too long usually means health is deteriorating and the premature death will be caused by some other factor not linked to sleep.

This study interests me because in our current world, sleep deprivation due to long work hours or increased time spent studying or doing activities is very common, especially in college. It worries me that a lack of sleep in my college years could possibly effect my health in a way that would cause premature death. I also know that having a full-time job and other responsibilities once I leave college will also leave the possibility of a lack of sleep open. After reading this study, I will try to control my sleeping hours so that they are more normal as to eliminate the negative effects this study has found.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/187689.php

Brain Machine Interface Learns Along wth Patient

A Brain Machine Interface is a device that interprets signals from the brain and then routes them to a robotic hand or limb. Up until recently, these devices have only been able to interpret brain signals and serve as a bridge between the biological and the mechanical. But researchers at the University of Florida have taken this concept further and developed Brain Machine Interfaces that not only translate brain signals into mechanical movement, but also evolve with the brain as it learns.

These devices would have the ability to adapt to a person's behavior over time, and with that knowledge, would assist the user in completing a task more efficiently. So rather than simply taking orders from the brain, the device is actually aware of the goal that is trying to be accomplished, and will assist the brain in accomplishing the task more efficiently.

To test these devices, the UF researchers put three of them into three different lab rats. The rats were then taught how to move a robotic arm towards a target using just their thoughts. Whenever the robotic arm hit the target (which was the rat's goal), the rat was rewarded with water.

The device's goal on the other hand was to earn as many points as possible. The closer the robotic arm moved to the target, the more points it would receive. Thus the device was able to "learn" which brain signals from the rat led to the most points, which made the process more efficient for the rat.

Justin Sanchez, the UF study's lead author, said that he and the other researchers think that this dialogue involving a goal is how they are going to be able to make these systems that evolve over time.

I found this very interesting because I had no idea that research was going on that would allow a mechanical device to "dialogue" with the brain and actually assist the brain in accomplishing tasks. Obviously, this kind of technology has the potential to work wonders for amputee patients.

The article can be found at http://www.physorg.com/news133535377.html

Daniel Verona

Anti-Obesity Pill Swells in Your Stomach

Researchers from a company called Gelesis has created a new treatment for obesity in the form of a pill called Attiva. Their plan is unique in that it is one of the simplest and least invasive ways of combating such an important problem. Their product works by the principles discussed in class including the feeling of satiety. You take the pill and it swells to over 100x its normal size. This causes you to feel full quicker than you ordinarily would. In addition, the new “gel” in your stomach mixes with the food prolonging the time it is in your stomach. It also prolongs time spent in the small intestine and more importantly fills up space in the intestine which inhibits absorption of fats and carbohydrates. It is flushed out of your system afterwards. The important message about this drug is its unique and simple approach to a very complicated problem. I decided to post on this since obesity is considered a major dilemma facing not just the future of our country but the future of the world.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-04/obesity-pill-swells-your-stomach-making-you-full-you-even-start-eating

Vegetables may keep brains young

Vegetables may keep brains young

Dr. Mom always tell us to eat more veggies while we were kids.
We all know that veggies contain a lot of vitamin long with other nutrients.
Suprisingly, having a daily habit of eating vegetables can help people to become younger and slow down the mental decline.
Several tests were performed on some elders, and showed that the ones who ate more than two servings of vegetables daily appeared about five years younger at the end of the six-year study than those who ate few or no vegetables. Scientists have not yet found the exact origin of such behavior, but they suspect the healthy oil used for the vegetables may have some impact on such behavior.
Incredible as it sounds, various of test were performed on a group of people. The test result showed that 40% less of mental decline were found on the people with consumption of at least two vegetable servings a day. These results convinced me to have a healthier diet, so I guess we should eat less fast food and eat more veggies.

Sai Yan Cheng

Drinking Coffee Reduces Cancer Risk

A study was conducted on the relationship between drinking coffee regularly and what its effects are on prostate cancer. The study was done on data that was collected from almost 50,000 men from the years 1986 to 2006. From this group they found that men who drink six or more cups of coffee per day are about 60% less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer and 19% less likely to develop any form of prostate cancer. This study didn’t find what exactly it was in coffee that reduced the risk of developing cancer but just said that there is a correlation between the two. For example some of the benefits of coffee are caused by the levels of caffeine in it but the study didn’t look at if the coffee was decaf or regular. Also the study didn’t analyze the effects the coffee had on the men’s insulin, glucose or other hormone levels. The study points out it is too early to say the a cup of coffee a day will for sure decrease the risk of cancer but shows it could be a contributing factor.

This study was interesting to me because I am an avid coffee drinker. I drink about 1-2 cups of coffee each day so when I saw that coffee could reduce my risk of prostate cancer I was interested in this article. I certainly don’t drink six cups a day but the thought of reduced cancer was very interesting.

Andrew Ritchey
VTPP 435-502

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/mens-health/regular-coffee-consumption-can-reduce-risk-of-prostate-cancer-3944.html