A research team at the University of Colorado Cancer Center identified a enzyme could be the key to stopping cancer. Colon cancer is the third most popular cancer with Americans. This enzyme helps physicians to find more colon cancers.
The research team was led by a Cancer Center investigator, Vasilis Vasiliou. A PhD, professor of molecular toxicology at\ the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. Vasiliou’s lab specialized in understanding aldehyde dehydrogenases in drug metabolism.
Vasiliou’s research team examined from 40 patients, colon cancers. They found a form of this enzyme known as ALDH1B1 which is present in every colon cancer cell 39 times out of 40 cases. This enzyme was detected at extraordinary high levels.
It appears that ALDH1B1 helps the development of cancer cells, because it presents in every cancer cell at such high levels. Ying Chen is the lead author and assistant professor of molecular toxicology at the CU School of Pharmacy.
The research team is currently studying how this enzyme is up-regulated into colon cancer cells. The team is also looking to comprehend the substrate, inhibitors and activators of ALDH1B1.
Vasiliou’s research team is now working with multiple labs such as the National Cancer Institute, Scripps Research Institute in California, University of Melbourne in Australia, University of Heidelberg in Germany and Oxford University in the UK.
Wolbachia bacteria infect many bugs, including (mosquitoes that carry malaria). Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers discovered that a fake strain of the bacteria can kill theses disease spreading mosquitoes and reduce their numbers. Jason Ragson, Harry Feinstone and colleagues conducted a study blood-feeding Anopheles mosquitoes two faulty versions of the bacteria and found that it attacked the mosquitoes diverse tissues and organs killing it in a single day.
"These experiments show that Wolbachia could be used in multiple ways to control malaria, perhaps by blocking transmission or by killing infected mosquitoes," -Jason Rasgon. PhD
Pluto it seems has become like that old candy we’ve all come to know and love: Razzles. First its candy now its gum! First it’s a planet, then it’s a dwarf star and now, it might be a comet? Scientist says that there is a small wisp in Pluto’s atmosphere resmbling a comets tail. The atoms gasses and such seem to be caught up in the solar wind, just like a comets tail. So what is it? Only time will tell.
The Cordyseps fungus has to be one of the creepiest fungi you will ever hear about. It reproduces by sending out spores to its specified host (in most if not all cases, will be an insect), slowly killing its body and mind then after death the fruiting body will emerge out of the host body within three weeks. What makes it even creepier is that it makes the host become more of a zombie, usually getting the host to go “nuts” and trail off somewhere to cling onto a branch and die. What this study shows is that nine out of sixteen “zombie ants” or infected ants stuck their mandibles into a leaf, and didn’t move at all after that. One theory is that the ants muscles broke down so it couldn’t pry’em back out.
New study warns on coral reef diversity By: Matthew Knight
Recently researchers published a study in the PlosBiology journal that said diverse fish reef systems are the systems being most damaged by human populations. Before, biologists thought that diversity was “insurance” against the nearby human populations, but from this study they have concluded that the diversity of the coral reef systems is a weak point. In this study, researchers from 49 different countries collected data from nearly 2,000 reef sites all around the world, for two years. They compared the biomass of the reef system to the demographic data of the area. They found that many of the reefs with the most biodiversity were severely damaged. The loss of diversity has been “considerably underestimated”. Although they are not quite sure exactly what is causing damage, they suspect it is because of the reduction of larger fish species. In addition the diversity is threatened by more human expansion. 75% of all coral reefs are located near rapidly growing human populations. It is good that scientists discovered this, because now we can develop ways to conserver coral reefs and the organisms that live in them.
Stuart Levy and Bonnie Marshall conducted experiments on saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and trumpets. They found that instruments with reeds in them carried bacteria and other microbes far longer than instruments that do not use reeds. Reeds are a small piece of wood that make the sounds that clarinets, saxophone, oboes, and most other woodwind instruments. The wood retains the saliva from the player. Levy and Marshall applied streptococcus, staphylococcus, and tuberculosis to reeds. They found that the bacteria stayed on the reeds for up to two weeks. The best way to avoid these infections is to use your own instrument, clean your instruments immediately after using, and wash your hands often. Levy and Marshall’s findings will be published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. This discovery will prevent me from ever trying to use anyone else’s instrument. If I ever do choose to learn an instrument it probably wont be a woodwind.
Deepwater Horizon Spill Threatens More Species Than Legally Protected, Study Finds
Until today, the organisms living in the gulf coast is still feeling the effects of the horrendous, hazardous BP oil spill. A recent study done by University of New Hampshire professor Fred Short states that 39 marine species have been harmed, that is 25 more than the 14 protected by federal law.These species, which range from whale sharks to seagrass, should receive priority for protection and restoration effort. We humans dont realize it but we take everything for granted. we need to understand that even the smallest bacteria is esential to the survival of our society. They keep the ecosystem in balance.
There's No Magic Number for Saving Endangered Species
Recently in a study done by UK-US research teams we have learned that it is not hopeless to save organisms that are only down to countable numbers. Society has a set mindset to give up after only a few organisms are left, but a recent study shows otherwise.This study has helped change the guideline to save endangered species. I think that this is a big step that mankind has taken to save the planet, OUR planet. Even though not all organisms live in harmony we need to do our part to help OUR planet.
Reforestation Research in Latin America Helps Build Better Forests
Many people waste paper on a daily basis. The act of using more paper has created a greater demand for the resource. A logger after seing that the demand is greater for paper would try hard to increase his supply. Its a natural human reaction to be greedy. Trees play a vital role in keeping our society in line.Trees keep water clean, control soil erosion, store carbon, shelter animals and provide plants that offer pharmacological benefits. Trees also contribute to global-scale economic activity in the form of ecosystem services. If anything, wee need to be thankful for trees, they are the reason we are alive, not cut them down.Without them it would be impossible to survive. Every breath that we take, we are inhaling the product of a tree.
Christian Arroyo
ReplyDelete4th Quarter Biowatch
3/26/11
Pubished: by Health & Medicine
A research team at the University of Colorado Cancer Center identified a enzyme could be the key to stopping cancer. Colon cancer is the third most popular cancer with Americans. This enzyme helps physicians to find more colon cancers.
The research team was led by a Cancer Center investigator, Vasilis Vasiliou. A PhD, professor of molecular toxicology at\ the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. Vasiliou’s lab specialized in understanding aldehyde dehydrogenases in drug metabolism.
Vasiliou’s research team examined from 40 patients, colon cancers. They found a form of this enzyme known as ALDH1B1 which is present in every colon cancer cell 39 times out of 40 cases. This enzyme was detected at extraordinary high levels.
It appears that ALDH1B1 helps the development of cancer cells, because it presents in every cancer cell at such high levels. Ying Chen is the lead author and assistant professor of molecular toxicology at the CU School of Pharmacy.
The research team is currently studying how this enzyme is up-regulated into colon cancer cells. The team is also looking to comprehend the substrate, inhibitors and activators of ALDH1B1.
Vasiliou’s research team is now working with multiple labs such as the National Cancer Institute, Scripps Research Institute in California, University of Melbourne in Australia, University of Heidelberg in Germany and Oxford University in the UK.
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/03/25/university.colorado.team.identifies.new.colon.cancer.marker
Wolbachia bacteria infect many bugs, including (mosquitoes that carry malaria). Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers discovered that a fake strain of the bacteria can kill theses disease spreading mosquitoes and reduce their numbers. Jason Ragson, Harry Feinstone and colleagues conducted a study blood-feeding Anopheles mosquitoes two faulty versions of the bacteria and found that it attacked the mosquitoes diverse tissues and organs killing it in a single day.
ReplyDelete"These experiments show that Wolbachia could be used in multiple ways to control malaria, perhaps by blocking transmission or by killing infected mosquitoes,"
-Jason Rasgon. PhD
Pluto it seems has become like that old candy we’ve all come to know and love: Razzles. First its candy now its gum! First it’s a planet, then it’s a dwarf star and now, it might be a comet? Scientist says that there is a small wisp in Pluto’s atmosphere resmbling a comets tail. The atoms gasses and such seem to be caught up in the solar wind, just like a comets tail. So what is it? Only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteThe Cordyseps fungus has to be one of the creepiest fungi you will ever hear about. It reproduces by sending out spores to its specified host (in most if not all cases, will be an insect), slowly killing its body and mind then after death the fruiting body will emerge out of the host body within three weeks. What makes it even creepier is that it makes the host become more of a zombie, usually getting the host to go “nuts” and trail off somewhere to cling onto a branch and die. What this study shows is that nine out of sixteen “zombie ants” or infected ants stuck their mandibles into a leaf, and didn’t move at all after that. One theory is that the ants muscles broke down so it couldn’t pry’em back out.
ReplyDeletemy links:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/74386/title/Daytime_bites_for_zombie_ants
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/04/29/pluto-may-have-grown-a-tail
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110519172915.htm
New study warns on coral reef diversity
ReplyDeleteBy: Matthew Knight
Recently researchers published a study in the PlosBiology journal that said diverse fish reef systems are the systems being most damaged by human populations. Before, biologists thought that diversity was “insurance” against the nearby human populations, but from this study they have concluded that the diversity of the coral reef systems is a weak point. In this study, researchers from 49 different countries collected data from nearly 2,000 reef sites all around the world, for two years. They compared the biomass of the reef system to the demographic data of the area. They found that many of the reefs with the most biodiversity were severely damaged. The loss of diversity has been “considerably underestimated”. Although they are not quite sure exactly what is causing damage, they suspect it is because of the reduction of larger fish species. In addition the diversity is threatened by more human expansion. 75% of all coral reefs are located near rapidly growing human populations. It is good that scientists discovered this, because now we can develop ways to conserver coral reefs and the organisms that live in them.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/04/05/coral.reef.destruction.study/index.html
Don't Share that Clarinet
ReplyDeleteBy: Nathan Seppa
Stuart Levy and Bonnie Marshall conducted experiments on saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and trumpets. They found that instruments with reeds in them carried bacteria and other microbes far longer than instruments that do not use reeds. Reeds are a small piece of wood that make the sounds that clarinets, saxophone, oboes, and most other woodwind instruments. The wood retains the saliva from the player. Levy and Marshall applied streptococcus, staphylococcus, and tuberculosis to reeds. They found that the bacteria stayed on the reeds for up to two weeks. The best way to avoid these infections is to use your own instrument, clean your instruments immediately after using, and wash your hands often. Levy and Marshall’s findings will be published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. This discovery will prevent me from ever trying to use anyone else’s instrument. If I ever do choose to learn an instrument it probably wont be a woodwind.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/74546/title/Dont_share_that_clarinet__
Deepwater Horizon Spill Threatens More Species Than Legally Protected, Study Finds
ReplyDeleteUntil today, the organisms living in the gulf coast is still feeling the effects of the horrendous, hazardous BP oil spill. A recent study done by University of New Hampshire professor Fred Short states that 39 marine species have been harmed, that is 25 more than the 14 protected by federal law.These species, which range from whale sharks to seagrass, should receive priority for protection and restoration effort. We humans dont realize it but we take everything for granted. we need to understand that even the smallest bacteria is esential to the survival of our society. They keep the ecosystem in balance.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110511134221.htm
There's No Magic Number for Saving Endangered Species
ReplyDeleteRecently in a study done by UK-US research teams we have learned that it is not hopeless to save organisms that are only down to countable numbers. Society has a set mindset to give up after only a few organisms are left, but a recent study shows otherwise.This study has helped change the guideline to save endangered species. I think that this is a big step that mankind has taken to save the planet, OUR planet. Even though not all organisms live in harmony we need to do our part to help OUR planet.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516201101.htm
Reforestation Research in Latin America Helps Build Better Forests
ReplyDeleteMany people waste paper on a daily basis. The act of using more paper has created a greater demand for the resource. A logger after seing that the demand is greater for paper would try hard to increase his supply. Its a natural human reaction to be greedy. Trees play a vital role in keeping our society in line.Trees keep water clean, control soil erosion, store carbon, shelter animals and provide plants that offer pharmacological benefits. Trees also contribute to global-scale economic activity in the form of ecosystem services. If anything, wee need to be thankful for trees, they are the reason we are alive, not cut them down.Without them it would be impossible to survive. Every breath that we take, we are inhaling the product of a tree.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517132642.htm
No more!
ReplyDelete