In the 1980's, William Coley, a surgeon at New York Memorial ( now known as Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center) observed that some patients infected during surgery could reject their tumors. He noted that killed Strep. pyogenes and Serratia Marcescens (which he named Coley's Toxin) could lead to similar rejection of tumor cells. He famously [...]
As you are probably aware, antisense oligonucleotides are synthetic single-stranded chains of nucleic acids that bind to RNA (ribonucleic acid) ; and in doing so alter the or reduce the expression of the target RNA. They reduce expression of mutant proteins and restore expression of wild type proteins. Anti-sense oligonucleotides also are known to interfere [...]
Transcatheter valves are actually in the majority of recent valve replacement procedures today. This can be achieved without open heart surgery. Coronary intervention involves opening the coronary arteries on the the surface of the heart, which has been done for years. Two-thirds of the arteries open after receiving various pharmaceuticals, leaving a third of the [...]
Small cell lung cancer looks like oats under the microscope. It begins in the bronchi; and then quickly grows and spreads to other parts of the body; including the lymph nodes. Small cell lung cancer occurs as less than 20% of all lung cancers; and is typically caused by tobacco smoking. Small cell lung cancer [...]
The linear accelerator was developed by Henry Kaplan at Stanford University. The treatment of malignant and non-malignant conditions was limited by skin toxicities. Linear accelerators generate high energy treatment regimens. The physician must examine the patient and determine if the cancer patient should be treated with radiation therapy. He must work up a good case [...]
Alzheimer's disease is a slow , fatal disease of the brain affecting 1 out of 10 people over the age of 65. No one is immune. The disease come on gradually. As two normal protein fragments, called plaques and tangles accumulate in the brain, and kill brain cells. They start in the hippocampus; the part [...]
There are two types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are able to generate all the cell types of the human body. Adult stem cells are only able to produce a limited number of human cell types. In other words, in the case of adult stem cells, an adult muscle stem cell would be able [...]
It has been predicted that biofuels will become the next essential fuel source to power the planet. The population of earth is growing; and the fossil fuel supplies are becoming depleted. Some sort of biology-based fuels will be needed to become the new energy leader of the fuel market. Ethanol has been criticized as becoming [...]
When harnessing energy from the sun, photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity. The excess electricity can go back to your grid or be directed back to your energy company. The direct current from the sun is converted into alternating current for use in the home by the photovoltaic cells. Solar power in the United States [...]
Ever since the Apollo project at NASA had been completed, scientists and engineers have been seeking support for a Mars program which would first provide manned space travel to Mars from Earth; and subsequently even provide living quarters on the planet Mars. It has been projected that these living quarters be archetected similar to domes [...]
