Bacteria don't like getting poked

ScienceDaily (2010-03-15) -- For two decades, scientists have been pursuing a potential new way to treat bacterial infections, using naturally occurring proteins known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Now, scientists have recorded the first microscopic images showing the deadly effects of AMPs, most of which kill by poking holes in bacterial cell membranes.

I love gooooold. But cancer sure doesn't

ScienceDaily (2010-03-16)
-"Magic Bullets" are highly targeted medical treatments which are the ultimate goal for drug development.
-Cancer has evaded these so-called bullets because of drastic changes in tumors between (1) different stages of cancer development, (2) different organs/tissues of the body, and (3) different patients.
-A new treatment developed at Washington University in St. Louis may be able to target cancer cells and selectively kill them with minimal damage to healthy cells.
-The technique is called 'Photothermal Therapy' and involves injecting gold nanocages into a patient's bloodstream (gold is inert and therefore nontoxic at low levels).
-Some of these 'golden bullet' nanocages accumulate at the tumor site (~6%) through leaky blood vessels (a commonality between tumor).
-A laser is then shone on the tumor site and the nanocages present convert light into heat which leads to the death of the tumor cells and has little/no effect on the surrounding healthy cells.
-This treatment was shown to work in a mouse model, but with the way things are currently for translating developments from the lab-to-clinic, this technology should be available in 100 years or so.
-This treatment isn't perfect yet, more research has begun on actively targeting cancer cells so fewer particles need to be injected, but is a huge tool in treating cancer which could be effective right now!

Frogs, foam and fuel: Solar energy converted to sugars

ScienceDaily (2010-03-17) -- In natural photosynthesis, plants take in solar energy and carbon dioxide and then convert it to oxygen and sugars. The oxygen is released to the air and the sugars are dispersed throughout the plant -- like that sweet corn we look for in the summer. Unfortunately, the allocation of light energy into products we use is not as efficient as we would like. Now engineering researchers are doing something about that.

Splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, sort of like the Moses of chemistry

ScienceDaily (2010-03-18) -- Chemists have developed the most potent homogeneous catalyst known for water oxidation, considered a crucial component for generating clean hydrogen fuel using only water and sunlight.

Laser-ignited nanoparticles, oh the possibilites

ScienceDaily (2010-03-19)
-By hitting carbon nanoparticles with a relatively weak laser, University of Florida engineers could release their stored energy causing light, heat, or burning depending on the conditions.

-Potential uses:

1. Identification and specific-killing of cancer cells without damaging normal cells.
2. Ignition of powerful explosives used by mining, tunneling, or demolition crews instead of time-consuming and expensive electrical lines currently used.
3. Replacing traditional sparkplugs for more efficient gasoline burning in cars.
4. More than a dozen other potential applications.

'Glow-in-the-dark' sperm

ScienceDaily (2010-03-19) -- By genetically altering fruit flies so that the heads of their sperm were fluorescent green or red, biologists were able to observe in striking detail what happens to live sperm inside the female. The findings may have huge implications for the fields of reproductive biology, sexual selection and speciation.

Frozen boobies

ScienceDaily (2010-03-20)
-Once again, an article that hits close to home since my mom was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer over 2 years ago.
-Women (and some men) diagnosed with breast cancer have many treatment options which usually involve invasive surgery to remove the tumor(s) and chemotherapy to ensure the death of any remaning cancerous cells.
-Unfortunately, these treatments can be expensive, uncomfortable, and long-lasting as well as resulting in drastic physical changes after a mastectomy (breast removal) most often leading to further plastic surgery.
-A new technique called 'image-guided multiprobe cryotherapy' solves most/all of those complications.
-Needles small enough to be inserted into the body through a small skin nick instead of a surgical operation are guided to the tumor site using ultrasound, CT, or MR imaging before releasing "ice balls" which selectively destroy tumor cells.

What's wrong with my heart doc? Too much fat

ScienceDaily (2010-03-20)
-This article is particularly relevant to me because some of the research my lab is doing involves studying adipose(fat) tissue in mice and the immune/inflammatory cells associated with different fat pads.
-By measuring the layer of fat around the heart with CT scanning or MRI, doctors are able to better predict ischemia, diminished blood flow in the heart.
-One hypothesis for this correlation is that the fat cells release certain inflammatory molecules/chemicals which results in the build-up of 'atherosclerotic plaques', specifically non-calcified plaques, believed by cardiologists to carry increased risks of heart problems.

World's Most Useful Tree

• ~1 billion people worldwide drink untreated surface water
• 2 million of this population (mostly children <5 yrs old) die from disease caused by contaminated water.

• Moringa oleifera is a vegetable tree commonly grown in the developing world.
• "One of the world's most useful trees"
• Drought resistant
• Provides oil for cooking & lighting
• Soil fertilizer
• Pods, leaves, seeds, & flowers are edible and highly nutritious
• *Simple, low-cost, natural water treatment uses seeds from the tree*
• Reduces water-borne bacteria by 90-99%
• Reduces water turbidity (cloudiness due to suspended debris) by 80-99.5%
• The most significant part of this is not the purification technique itself, but the public access granted by the researchers at Clearinghouse. http://www.currentprotocols.com/protocol/mc01g02

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100303082804.htm