Cheater gene explains multicellular evolution

By TONY WU | November 20, 2014

The first lifeforms that appeared on earth were composed of single-celled organisms, and after millions of years, they evolved into multicellular entities. Cells cooperate to form organs, and systems of organs combine to form beings, from trees to whales. Though many aspects of organismal evolution are well-understood, scientists have struggled to discover the exact process by which single cells developed into multicellular organisms. Recently, a research team from New Zealand Institute and the Max Planck Institute have found a possible theory for the development of multicellular life.

China takes drastic measures to clean up for APEC

By SUNNY CAI | November 20, 2014

Countries often aim to present the best version of themselves to the world when hosting major international events. Some countries have taken drastic measures to ensure that visitors see as much of the nation’s good side and as little of its bad side as possible.

Koala genes used to study human genome

By ELSHEBA ABRAHAM | November 20, 2014

Scientists are constantly finding ways to better understand the intricacies of human DNA. A recent study has investigated the presence of endogenous retroviruses present in the human genome.

Science News editor speaks on communication

By ALIZAY JALISI | November 20, 2014

Usually you might find my name next to yet another Ebola article naming the umpteenth person to be infected by the deadly virus, or perhaps relaying Hopkins students’ cynicism toward the request of Americans to U.S. President Barack Obama to ban all air travel to high prevalence countries, but for this issue of The News-Letter, I have prepared something different. I have decided to address the anti-climactic underlying question that serves as the backbone for the DNA of this section, and as a dedicated reader, I ask you to push yourself to answer it as well.

Mushroom hallucinogen could help smokers quit

By Catie Paul | November 13, 2014

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, often used as recreational drugs, could soon be used in medicine as well. A recent preliminary study has found that a combination of hallucinogen injections and therapy had an 80 percent success rate at getting smokers to stop smoking. This could become a treatment for smokers who are unable to quit through traditional methods.

Scratching an itch makes it worse, study finds

By TONY WU | November 13, 2014

Advances in science have enabled scientists to debunk a lot of household myths that persist over the centuries. Recently, another household myth has proven to be based in science. Zhou-Feng Chen, the director of the Study of Itch at Washington University in St. Louis, investigated the effect of scratching on itches and found that itches get worse if scratched.

Mice have different genetic responses to Ebola

By SUNNY CAI | November 13, 2014

Just as the severity of the Ebola epidemic has varied from country to country, the severity of the disease when contracted varies from person to person. Some people who contract the virus are able to completely resist the disease; some suffer varying severities of illness and eventually recover, while others succumb to internal bleeding, organ failure and death. A new study led by systems biologists and virologists Angela Rasmussen and Michael Katze at the University of Washington Department of Microbiology suggests that genetic factors may cause the wide range of responses to the Ebola virus.

Climate change report urges leaders to act

By VICTOR DADFAR | November 13, 2014

A new 175-page report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), part of the United Nations, warns of serious consequences to the planet if nothing is done to prevent climate change.

Hopkins students design protective gear for Ebola

By SARAH SUKARDI | November 13, 2014

From Oct. 24 to 26, the Hopkins Center for Biomedical Innovation and Design (CBID) and Jhpiego, a non-profit organization associated with Hopkins that works to bring healthcare to poorer areas of the world, hosted the first Emergency Ebola Design Challenge at Hopkins. The Design Challenge was focused on creating better personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers fighting Ebola in West Africa.

The Brain Wave: Angiogenesis is key to sustaining cancer cells

By DUY PHAN | November 13, 2014

Cancer is a highly complex disease, characterized by impairments in various biological pathways. Each of these pathways constitutes a potential therapeutic target in which manipulation of the pathway may halt disease progression. One key player in the development and metastasis of cancer is the blood vessel, which scientists believe feeds cancer cells with necessary nutrients as well as providing them with a way to spread throughout the body. Published in Developmental Cell, a new study by Hopkins researchers elucidates the molecular pathways by which brain blood vessel growth is regulated, setting the stage for development of more effective anti-cancer treatments.

The need to fit in may be unique to humans

By ELLI TIAN | November 13, 2014

If given the choice, would you decide to stand out as an individual or fit in with your peers? Society may value individuality and uniqueness among people, but history suggests that conformity has often been more crucial to our species’ survival. A recent study has found that the need to fit in is present in human children but not in chimpanzees or orangutans.

Children influence grocery purchases

By JOAN YEA | November 6, 2014

A simple grocery list of necessities, some caregivers find, has the potential to undergo drastic changes as children point to and threaten to throw tantrums about attractively advertised sweets. For caregivers who do not have the luxury of leaving their children at home while shopping for groceries, the easier option is to give in to demands for junk food instead of battling their children over sugary trifles.

The Brain Wave: Epilepsy treatment focuses on symptoms

By DUY PHAN | November 6, 2014

A seizure is a sustained elevation in the brain’s electrical activity that clinically manifests itself in a variety of ways depending on the part of the brain affected, including loss of consciousness and convulsions. Many different factors can lead to seizures, including metabolism, acute infections, drug overdose and alcohol withdrawal.

Hopkins scientists find new calmodulin mechanism

By SARAH SUKARDI | November 6, 2014

Imagine falling down and getting a wound that won’t heal, or eating and not being able to digest your food, or even not being able to remember events that have just occurred. These processes are only a few of the many that we take for granted but are so vital that without them, our standard of living would be severely compromised. And each of them is partly contingent upon a single 148 amino acid-long protein, calmodulin, which modulates the chains of signals within our cells to allow us to digest, remember and heal.

Scientists develop vein transplant procedure

By MARU GARZA | November 6, 2014

More than 25 million people in Western societies are currently affected by vascular diseases, diseases that affect the body’s blood vessel network, but current treatment options are limited and often include lifelong supervision and immunosuppression. A team of scientists and doctors at the University of Gothenburg has discovered a possible solution: a transplantable vascular graft created from the patient’s own blood to assure that their body accepts the graft.

Bangladesh has high rates of birth complications

By SUNNY CAI | November 6, 2014

In developed nations home births, or “natural births,” are a growing trend among middle-class moms-to-be who choose not to give birth in a hospital. However, in many areas of developing nations, poor rural women have no choice but to give birth at home, often with adverse medical consequences. Researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) found that more than one quarter of all women in rural Bangladesh experienced complications during pregnancy and/or childbirth.

Targeted cancer therapy utilizes molecular tagging

By ELLI TIAN | November 6, 2014

One of the greatest challenges in treating cancer is figuring out how to eradicate tumor cells without harming healthy ones. This is particularly true for cancers that affect major organs such as the lungs, the liver or the brain. A study conducted by a team of neuroscientists at Harvard University and led by Khalid Shah, a professor at Harvard Medical School, poses a potential solution to the problem of distinguishing between cancer cells and normal, healthy ones.

Researchers find a new way to fight superbugs

By TONY WU | November 6, 2014

Bacterial infections are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Even in hospitals, patients often contract infections from the bacteria-filled surroundings. Recently, researchers at the Hopkins School of Medicine have developed a diagnostic system that has the potential of pinpointing superbug infection sites within patients, helping doctors combat their spread.

Video modules train on Ebola protection

By ALIZAY JALISI | November 6, 2014

After the fourth Ebola patient was diagnosed in the U.S., fears of sending American citizens to high-risk countries have escalated. Many healthcare institutions have recently developed standardized procedures for handling contagious bodily fluids of Ebola patients. On Oct. 24, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced the pending release of an Ebola training module for nurses and doctors.

Government to reassess funding for viral research

By TONY WU | October 30, 2014

While dangerous, the study of infectious viruses and bacteria captivates scientists.The interaction between viruses and the human body are critical to the understanding of the spread of diseases. Furthermore, by studying the mechanisms through which virus interacts with the body, researchers are better armed to develop treatments. However, the White House is temporarily halting such studies, worried that labs aren’t taking enough precautions to prevent disease outbreaks.

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