Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Credit: Rost9/Shutterstock.com SMA is a neuromuscular disease that has the following clinical characteristics: Degeneration of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord motor (anterior horn neurons) and the brain nuclei Skeletal muscle atrophy due to loss of innervation, mostly proximal limb muscles Generalized symmetrical […]
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Baculoviruses, which belong to the family Baculoviridae, are a group of DNA viruses that infect insects. These viruses are very small, rod-shaped structures, alli derivative of composing of a protein coat containing a small amount of DNA which encodes components for further viral reproduction. Colorhype | Shutterstock The term baculovirus comes from the latin baculum, meaning cane or walking stick, […]
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Calcium is essential for the correct functioning of the cell and requires regulation to avoid high concentrations causing cell death. Calcium ions are important for cell signaling as the binding of Ca2+ to proteins leads to changes in their activity. Many eukaryotes maintain low calcium ion concentrations by isolating Ca2+ within intracellular compartments. The mechanism by which the malaria parasite, […]
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It is imperative to seek dental treatment following the onset of dental pain. However, some home care treatments can soothe dental pain till professional treatment is available. Damir Khabirov | Shutterstock Why am I experiencing toothache? Statistics reveal that worldwide 60-90% of school children suffer from dental caries; the most common infective human disease. Untreated tooth caries is one of […]
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Prediabetes is a state in which the blood glucose levels are not high enough to qualify as hyperglycemia but are well above the normal parameters. By WHO parameters, prediabetes is defined as a fasting plasma glucose of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L and impaired glucose tolerance as a 2-hour plasma glucose of 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L after a 75g oral glucose […]
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The first symptoms of a head injury such as confusion, memory loss and changes in speech and vision can resemble those seen in dementia. Image Credit: Rocketclips,Inc/Shutterstock.com Depending on how severe the injury is, such symptoms may resolve quickly, last a long time or never completely go away. The symptoms that arise immediately after a head injury do not generally […]
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Currently, the two most popular methods of DNA sequencing are Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing (NGS). Whilst NGS has largely overtaken Sanger sequencing, it is still used by researchers today due to its simplicity and ease of use. Credit: ktsdesign/Shutterstock Sanger sequencing was developed in the 1970s by Frederick Sanger and was the original DNA sequencing method. In Sanger […]
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NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. MINIMS® TROPICAMIDE Tropicamide Eye Drops Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about Minims Tropicamide, including how to use the eye drops. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your […]
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It was in 1949 that a report was published, which was to reinforce obstetric starvation for hundreds of thousands of women for more than 60 years. Credit: g-stockstudiophoto/Shutterstock.com Mendelson’s description of gastric aspiration in laboring women who were given general anesthesia for C-section (the eponymous Mendelson’s syndrome) became a powerful tool to withhold oral nutrition from women during labor and […]
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To maintain a healthy brain – and therefore healthy memory, efforts should be made to maintain a healthy body overall. By promoting healthier brain and body aging, there is a real chance that you can reduce your risk of dementia and cognitive decline. This article discusses what can be done to ensure that you allow your brain to age healthily […]
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