Category Archives: Science in the News

Stem cells used after cataract surgery for regenerating functional human lenses

Posted on March 13, 2016 by | 1 comment

Congenital cataracts are a significant cause of blindness in children. Congenital cataracts are the clouding of lens, which usually occurs at birth or shortly later; they do not allow any light to the retina or visual information to the brain, which results in a visual impairment. The function of the retina is to convert light energy into signals that are carried to the brain and processed as visual information in the brain.

Human eye schematic

This is a schematic of a human eye done by Rhcastilhos

This is a cataract in a human eye taken by Dr. Rakesh Ahuja.

This is a cataract in a human eye taken by Dr. Rakesh Ahuja.

Humans are born with cells in their eyes called lens epithelial stem cells (LEC); the function of these LECs are to create replacement lens cells throughout their lifetime. Currently, cataract surgeries remove, in an attempt to remove the cataracts, almost all the LECs too. The problem, with these current surgeries, is that the LECs regenerate in a way that doesn’t heal or reconstruct the actual lens properly.

A new study addresses these issues exactly. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Shiley Eye Institute, with colleagues in China, have discovered a new surgical technique that retains the shape of the lens, with a therapy that stimulates the LECs to grow. The first part of the surgery has the same method of removing congenital cataracts, however it is the latter part that makes the difference. The second part is a therapy that permits the remaining stem cells to regrow into functional lenses.

This video by wochit News on youtube.com describes the new study and the use of the new surgery technique in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeHIlKEs8_s

This technique was tried on animals first, followed by a small human trial that involved 12 infants under the age of 2. There was a control group of 25 infants (also under the age of 2) that received the original cataract surgery (the one without the therapy). At the end of the study, the infants of the control group had higher inflammation, more hypertension and increased lens clouding relative to the treatment group.

This proves that this new is a safer and more effective cataract surgery technique that is showing positive results and will potentially be the future of cataract surgery. The patients, particularly infants, will have now have healthier lenses forming after having their cataracts removed and will allow them to live a life with healthy eyes and proper vision.

 

Done by: Karanvir Gill

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News

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The Resurrection of the Antibiotic?

Posted on March 13, 2016 by | 2 comments

Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are bacteria-killing drugs that either inhibit the growth of bacterial cell walls (the protective wall surrounding the bacteria) or stop bacteria from replicating by manipulating bacterial DNA. Evidence of the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline

tetracycline, Source: wikimedia commons

tetracycline, Source: Wikimedia Commons

have been found in fossils dating back to 350 Common Era and has since evolved alongside human technology to become more effective and accessible to the everyday consumer. Common uses of antibiotics include disinfecting wounds, mediating safe child birth and curing food poisoning. Using antibiotics, countless lives have been saved in human history especially in major historical events such as World War II. The following link demonstrates the effects of the drug Penicillin on the outcome of World War II which was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 (http://classroom.synonym.com/did-invention-penicillin-affect-world-war-ii-8709.html).

Bacteria vs. Antibiotic?

But, antibiotics are double-edged swords. Bacteria has been slowly adapting to various antibiotics and evolved so that some antibiotics are no longer effective. This is due to mainly two reasons:

  1. People have been misusing and overusing antibiotics for the last couple of decades which allowed bacteria to have an easier time adapting and building resistance to the antibiotics.
  2. Bacteria is a very flexible life from in the aspect that it adapts quickly and have quick mutation cycles.

Dangerous cases have resulted where Super Bugs which are bacteria resistant to antibiotics have started to grow in hospitals infecting patients receiving various treatments. These cases have often resulted in mortality in these patients. The following illustration demonstrates the quick adaptability of a bacteria cell to an antibiotic.

512px-Artificial_Bacterial_Transformation.svg

Bacteria/ Antibiotics, Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Battle is Won?

The information presented above must be shocking to some but rest assured because scientists believe that they have found an antibiotic that does not induce bacterial resistance. Teixobactin

Teixobactin, Source: Wikimedia Commons

Teixobactin, Source: Wikimedia Commons

discovered  earlier last year appears to successfully combat the development of bacterial resistance. The key in why this antibiotic is so effective in prohibiting bacterial resistance is the fact that it is able to inhibit bacterial growth in two methods as opposed to the normal one method attack of alternative antibiotics. Teixobactin prohibits the formation of both lipid II and lipid III in a bacteria which are detrimental in the formation of bacteria cells walls. Even if the bacteria is able to adapt by restoring the ability to produce of one of these lipids, the other lipid would still be inhibited.

The following is a YouTube video provided by Newsy Science which outlines the basics of what this new antibiotic can do and the mechanism behind it.

Hopefully, this new antibiotic marks the oncoming of a new age of drug use where antibiotic will no longer induce bacterial resistance.

By: Ming Lun (Allan) Zhu

 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News, Uncategorized

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What are the foods that can help you burn your belly fat.

Posted on March 7, 2016 by | 4 comments

Getting rid of belly fat is important not only for having a sexually attractive body but also for staying healthy. A lot of diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer are caused by the fat around our middle. However, many people have no idea how to reduce their belly fat. Here are some tips for reducing fat around middle in an efficient and healthy way.

YouTube Preview Image

Try to Eat Foods that Increase Metabolism.

Many scientists say that If one has a fast metabolism, he will be likely to burn his fat faster than other people who have a normal metabolism. The foods that can boost our metabolism are green tea and vinegar, and we can easily buy them at any grocery stores near us. In addition, any food that is highly in protein, such as egg whites, extra lean beef, and chicken breasts is also helpful for increasing metabolism.

lose-belly-fat_1

Credit: www.womenshealthmag.com

The Heathy Habits for Reducing Belly Fat.

First, it is important that you limit your sugar and carbohydrates consumption as much as you can. Instead of eating them, you should try to eat foods that are high in fiber and protein.

Second, you should not always overeat. It is important to eat healthy foods, but eating too much of anything is bad for health.

Lastly, you should be active as possibly as you can because not only you can lose your fat but also you can reduce stress by exercising.

excess-bellyfat-risks-416x314

Credit: www.institutefornaturalhealing.com

Belly fat is something that we should get rid of in order to live a healthy life. Thus, it is important to know the efficient and healthy ways to reduce belly fat. 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science in the News

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Skin Cells Transformed into Cancer-Fighting Cells

Posted on March 6, 2016 by | 3 comments

Researchers receive inspiration from a variety of sources, this post follows an innovation which was inspired from Yamanaka’s Nobel Prize on cellular reprogramming.

The advancements made in the cancer research field have been extraordinary. However, there still remain certain types of cancer that reduce a patients life expectancy greatly. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a tumour that arises from supportive tissue in the brain which is located in the cerebral hemisphere (Figure 1). Once diagnosed this disease leaves a patient with a life expectancy of one to two years. Glioblastoma tumours are often very cancerous because the cells can reproduce rather quickly. One of the main reasons this disease has a low life expectancy is because though a surgeon may operate and remove the main cancer; the possibility of parts of the cancerous tumour moving deeper into the brain and reforming are high. Therefore,  glioblastoma cannot be completely rid of just by surgery.

The following image shows three types of brain cancer and their respective locations, this innovation focuses on glioblastoma.

EF5008

Figure 1. Location of the glioblastoma – Credit: Stockmedicalalert.com

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have been working on transforming ordinary skin cells into cancer-hunting stem cells that can get rid of glioblastoma. The work of these individuals was posted in Nature Communications and the idea was to transform stem cells into cells that can actively act as cancer fighting cells.

The ability to reprogram fibroblast (cells which produce collagen and connective tissue) cells into induced neural stem cells, which are self-renewing cells, is how these researchers aim to kill cancer cells. The induced neural stem cells also contain an extra additive, a killing protein, making it more effective at killing the cancerous cells.

This innovation been tested using mice. This showed how the neural stem cells can actively move through the brain and find and kill any remaining cancer cells that surgery may have been unable to get rid of. In the tested mice the survival rate increased from 160 to 220 percent due to this innovation.

The following video gives a brief overview of the research described in this post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjK5HJKj7f8

Credit: NewsBeat Social

This innovation is of much interest to individuals who battle glioblastoma. However, this study needs to undergo many safety checks before it can be administered to individuals. The researchers believe there is about one year until they reach clinical trials.

Although this research has the potential to be life-changing for individuals battling glioblastoma, it is important to question the practicality of the research. For example, will this innovation increase the life expectancy slightly or will this eliminate all of the leftover cancer cells in the brain. Unfortunately, this cannot be answered at such early stages in the research, however the results do look promising and it seems to be headed in the right direction.

-Vanessa

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Posted in Science Communicators, Science in the News

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Banana Lovers Beware: Some “Unap-peel-ing” News

Posted on March 6, 2016 by | 6 comments

The world’s most popular fruit, the banana, is at risk of dying out due to a fungus that is destroying crops in almost every country it’s grown in. The fungus causes the incurable Panama disease, which is currently killing off the popular species sold across North America and Europe known as the Cavendish banana. Scientists from Wageningen University have traced this fungus for decades, and their most recent findings show that it has spread dangerously fast across the globe.

Bananas

The Cavendish Banana. Source: wikipedia

The fungus is known as Tropical Race 4 (TR4), and is the fourth type of fungus found capable of spreading the Panama disease. So far TR4 has been found in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, and most recently in Jordan, Pakistan, and Lebanon. The fungus targets banana plants through the soil, where it can enter the plant’s roots and block off it’s water source until it wilts and ultimately dies. TR4 spreads by releasing spores, which can live in the soil for up to 30 years after the crops die off.

TR4 is especially dangerous because each spore is a clone of the very first TR4 fungus, meaning every spore has the exact same genetic material. This means every fungus is equally as powerful in killing banana plants, and there is no chance of any fungus having a mutation and being defective. Even worse, banana plants are extremely susceptible to this disease. You may have noticed that bananas don’t have seeds. The reason why is that the Cavendish Banana is sterile, and can only be reproduced from offshoots of adult plants or by growing cells in a nutrient bath. In turn, they are all genetically identical, meaning these bananas are also clones of each other. They are all equally vulnerable to the Panama disease, therefore it spreads very quickly through crops.

Panama_disease_Banana_2

A banana plant killed by the Panama disease carried by TR4 fungus. Source: Wikimedia Commons

This isn’t the first time bananas have been threatened by the Panama disease. In the 1960s, it drove another type of banana, the Gros-Michel, into near-extinction. It was after this devastation that farmers started growing the Cavendish banana. It was originally thought that Cavendish bananas were resistant to the Panama disease, that is until a new strain of the Panama disease carried by the TR4 fungus was found to infect them.

The biggest exporters of bananas in the world, Central and South America, have not yet been hit with the Panama disease. However if we want to stop the bananas we know and love from going extinct, drastic strategy changes in the way we currently grow bananas will need to be made, including finding a new variety of banana that is immune to the deadly effects of the TR4 fungus. Time is running out, and it will take a global effort and commitment in order to stop the increasing spread of TR4 and save the banana.

The following video presented by SciShow gives a great summary of the Panama disease and the extinction of banana plants:

YouTube Preview Image

 

  • Emma Peachey, March 6, 2016

 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science in the News

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Oral Bacteria May Lead to Better Detection of Esophageal Cancer

Posted on March 5, 2016 by | 2 comments

Your future visits to the dentist might have you sitting in the chair longer and wishing you had taken the extra time to floss and brush your teeth. This is because dentists may be examining the plaque in your mouth for a specific type of bacteria that may be linked to cancer of the esophagus.

Brush teeth

Image Source: The Clear Communication People, Flickr

A recent study illustrates that scientists have possibly found an association between a specific species of oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and esophageal cancer. Researchers found that in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 61% contained this bacterial species. Within cancerous esophageal cells, they discovered a unique enzyme produced by P. gingivalis as well as bacterial DNA. With this discovery, researchers are hoping to use this bacterial species as a biomarker for esophageal cancer.

Although there are many types of esophageal cancer, P. gingivalis has been associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). ESCC occurs in the flat, thin cells lining the esophagus. These cells undergo uncontrolled growth and form malignant tumors. This results in the formation of a lump on the inner surface of the esophagus. The most common symptom of ESCC is difficulty swallowing, which can be extremely painful for individuals with this disease.

-Credit: Blausen Medical

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 2,200 Canadians died from esophageal cancer in the past year. This is due in part to the fact that most cases of esophageal cancers are not detected until the later stages of cancer development.

Although researchers are optimistic about using this bacterial species as an early indicator for esophageal cancer, further studies need to be conducted. It is still unclear whether or not P. gingivalis prefers to live within cancerous esophageal cells, or whether this species of bacteria is responsible for the development of esophageal cancer. Researchers believe that if indeed this species of bacteria could cause ESCC, improved oral hygiene and antibiotics could be an effective treatment for ESCC. With this new correlation found between P. gingivalis and esophageal cancer, researchers are confident that early detection will decrease the mortality rate and increase chances of survival.

– Brian Infanti

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Science in the News

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Reverse alkane combustion

Posted on March 4, 2016 by | 1 comment

Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington have discovered how to convert carbon dioxide and water into liquid hydrocarbon fuels in a one-step, simple and inexpensive process. Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs between carbon and oxygen, liberating carbon dioxide and water. The equation for combustion can be shown as: CH4 + O2 –> CO2 + H20. The researchers have determined how to drive the reaction in the opposite direction by using high light intensity, concentrated heat and high pressure. The reaction takes place in a photothermalcatalytic flow reactor, operating optimally at 180-200°C and at 6 atm pressure. During the reaction, carbon dioxide and steam flow over the catalyst bed which is heated by an internal electric heater and simultaneously irradiated with UV light using lamps. The researchers used titanium dioxide as the catalyst which is advantageous because it is a cheap and abundant earth metal.

combustion reaction

Source: Wikimedia Commons combustion reaction

The current process produces small branched aromatics and branched linear hydrocarbons which are useful molecules for gasoline products. However, the best reaction run achieved an efficiency of 13%. Consequently, the current system is not commercially viable. Molecular oxygen is a major by-product of the reaction, detected in yields between 64-150%. Although the efficiency of the process isn’t spectacular, this is a new process and hopefully further research will result in effective modifications.

Future theoretical uses of this technology involve using solar energy to produce liquid hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water. Parabolic (U-shaped) mirrors can be used to concentrate the sunlight onto the catalyst. Indeed, sunlight can provide both thermal energy and photons to drive the reaction forward. However, finding an effective photo-catalyst that can absorb photons from the sun is a challenge as the current catalyst, titanium dioxide, is not able to absorb the entire visible light spectrum. The researchers argue that this process, referred to as the solar photothermalchemical alkane combustion process (SPARC) is inexpensive compared to solar biomass gasification and other related processes which produce synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas). Compressing synthesis gas into usable fuels is very costly.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons Parabolic mirror

The results of this research have huge implications for the future of hydrocarbon fuels. As mentioned in the original research article, producing and consuming fossil fuels using this method could lead to a carbon-neutral fuel cycle. If the efficiency of this process is improved and optimized for large-scale production, arguably the greatest advantage would be that the current automotive and fuel distribution infrastructure would not have to change. However, I believe that a combination of technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, wind power, solar energy and photovoltaic cells should be utilized appropriately to decrease global carbon dioxide emissions. For example, in certain parts of the world that have low solar insolation, solar energy is not a viable alternative but alkane reverse combustion may be a potential solution.

-Rachel Carr

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science in the News

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From the Ocean to Our Faucets

Posted on February 29, 2016 by | 3 comments

With climate change being a very real problem in society, we are realizing that our freshwater resources are slowly diminishing. In the past, society has focused on recycling water and being mindful of our freshwater use. Although many of these solutions have been helpful, the problem is still evident; pretty soon there will not be enough clean drinking water to supply the world. This fear has began the push to find new technology to sustain clean drinking water. With the oceans containing about 97% of the water on earth, researchers are now finding ways to purify salt water. Conventional methods such as reverse osmosis to remove the salt in sea water have been used but they are found to be very expensive alternatives.

Drinking water availability is decreasing. Via wikimedia commons.

Up-and-coming research has found new technology that can revolutionize salt water purification. This new technology uses shock electrodialysis (ED) to desalinate, filter and disinfect sea water. Shock electrodialysis is a system in which salt water flows through a porous material in-between an anode (negatively charged) and a cathode (positively charged). The theory behind this process is that when a current runs through the system at high voltage, the salt ions as well as bacteria will be attracted to the anode side of the system and the freshwater will pass through the porous membrane to the cathode side. This process will effectively separate the purified water from salt and bacteria. After going through this process multiple times to ensure the water is clean, the purified water can be extracted and transported into reservoirs. This technology has been found to be fairly inexpensive and could possibly be used on a global scale to solve our drinking water shortage problem.

Map showing drinking water shortages. Via google images.

New technology like shock ED can not only solve our drinking water shortage but it can also be used to disinfect water to ensure it is safe and healthy to drink. Although society as a whole should be mindful of their water use, we know there is technology being produced that can keep the international community out of a crisis.

Author, Parvin Pabla

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science in the News

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