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Science & Technology

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.

The Brain Wave: Research shows insight into learning and memory

By DUY PHAN | October 30, 2014

Learning and memory comprise a fundamental part of our lives, allowing us to keep up with changes in the environment and acquire new information about the world. It is well established that a brain region known as the hippocampus is important for such abilities. However, the mechanism governing hippocampal-dependent cognitive function remains elusive. Recently published in Neuron, a study has shown that the hippocampus retrieves memory by activating networks in the cerebral cortex, providing an insight into the biological basis of learning and memory.

Fourth Ebola Patient Admitted to New York Hospital

By ALIZAY JALISI | October 30, 2014

A fourth case of Ebola has emerged in the U.S. Dr. Craig Spencer, a physician working for Doctors Without Borders, returned to New York from Guinea on October 17th, but did not exhibit symptoms until Thursday (note: the virus has an incubation period of three weeks). Spencer is being treated at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital Center, one of the eight statewide hospitals designated by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to be fully equipped with an Ebola preparedness plan. As part of his treatment, Spencer has received a blood transfusion from nurse Nancy Writebol, a survivor of Ebola who shares his blood type.

New study looks into correcting sleep cycles

By ELIZABETH LIU | October 30, 2014

At Hopkins, seeing students studying into the early hours of the morning isn’t uncommon, but it’s probably unhealthy. All organisms, from bacteria to humans, have internal clocks to help them synchronize their behaviors to the time of day. A study just recently published in Cell suggests that the biological clocks in gut microbes living in mice and humans are controlled by their host’s circadian rhythms, and when hosts disrupt their circadian rhythms it can lead to health problems like obesity.

Sulforaphane from broccoli helps autism

By REGINA PALATINI | October 30, 2014

Health-food expert or not, you are probably aware that eating broccoli is pretty good for you.  A recent study has found yet another reason to like broccoli: a chemical in it may have a beneficial effect on autism. This chemical could become a part of treating autism in the future.

Brain patterns found in vegetative patients

By ELSHEBA ABRAHAM | October 30, 2014

How conscious are people in a vegetative state? Although the answer may seem obvious, in actuality it isn’t. A recent study found that some patients who appear unconscious still have hidden brain network patterns that support a level of cognition. This indicates that even though the patients seem outwardly unresponsive, they may be aware of their surroundings and be capable of thought processing.

Disorders derive from common molecular causes

By ELLI TIAN | October 23, 2014

There are a wide variety of diseases that impair the growth of the brain and nervous system, ranging from autism spectrum disorders to schizophrenia. With this large number of disorders comes an even larger number of treatments, from medications to therapies to surgeries. However, many of these seemingly different neurodevelopmental disorders may share a common cause. One treatment could be developed that would be effective for many different disorders.

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