For that which is relating or is of the topic of Medicine
Cover Image: This image displays the differences between a normal brain and the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease on a PET scan. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, NIH) Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most prevalent degenerative neurological diseases within the human population. It is one of the most common causes of dementia and involves a …
Cover Image: Blood sample of a patient infected by the Ebola virus. (Source: Public Domains Pictures, ChiccoDodiFC) Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often lethal infection caused by Ebola virus. Ebola victims present with symptoms such as an acute hemorrhagic fever, severe headache, weakness, and fatigue (Jacob et al., 2020). EVD epidemics typically start …
Figure: The image above, created by the National Institutes of Health, helps demonstrate how important a role junk DNA can play. The picture displays a stem cell culture, within which green dots represent viral envelope proteins resulting from the transcription and subsequent translation of junk DNA. When these proteins interact with certain immune cell proteins, …
Rethinking ‘Junk’ DNA: The Vital Role DNA Repeats Play in Cancer and Aging Read More »
Figure: An illustration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. When it comes to SARS-CoV-2 infections, a new study suggests that genetics may play a role in both susceptibility and severity. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Author: We Are Covert Ltd) In the past, genome-wide association studies have found correlations between specific forms of certain genes and individual susceptibility to …
Why Your Genes Might Impact Your COVID-19 Experience Read More »
Figure: Blood samples ready to be tested. Addison’s disease is diagnosed by analysis of ACTH levels via a blood test. (Source: Unsplash, Testalize.me) In 1855 Thomas Addison described symptoms for an illness now known as Addison’s disease, a chronic condition caused by damage to the adrenal glands (Yamamoto, 2018). Addison’s is an incredibly rare disease affecting …
Addison’s Disease: Why Does it Take an Adrenal Crisis for a Correct Diagnosis? Read More »
Lead Author: Jillian Troth1 Co-Authors (alphabetical order): Roxanna Attar2, Julia Gainski3, Vincent Lai4, Grace Lee5, Callie Moody1, Megan Nelson6 1Dartmouth College, 2University of Texas at Austin, 3University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 4Rice University, 5Williams College, 6Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University Cover Image: A fluorescently-stained image of a three-dimensional culture of human breast cancer cells. …
Considering the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Axis in Cancer Research Read More »
Figure 1: Researchers have shown that tumor cells are a mixture of cancer cells and normal cells. Distinguishing malignant cells and nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment is critical for understanding tumor cell gene expression (Source: Flickr, NIH Image Gallery). Single Cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), a transcriptomic analysis tool, has become important in cancer research …
Single Cell RNA Sequencing Enhances Understanding of Tumor Genetic Diversity Read More »
Figure 1: Researchers have found viral genetic materials within the human genome which are the result of retroviruses that infected our ancestors millions of years ago. Scientists refer to these viruses as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). HERVs have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). (Source: Public Domain Pictures, Виталий Смолыгин) Viral …
Figure: Diagram of Mucin Structure. Mucins are glycosylated membrane proteins with complex o-glycans on their extracellular TR region, which provide identifying information for interactions with microbes (Source: Jcastr07, Wikimedia Commons). While the microbiome has been receiving increasing attention as a key physiological player, the mucinome, or mucus composition in the body, may be the gateway …
Figure: A young girl sleeps with a teddy bear in her arms after receiving medical treatment at Gheskio Field Hospital (Joshua Lee Kelsey, Wikimedia Commons). For many children, stuffed animals are loyal and comforting companions. A fluffy friend can make a trip to the doctor or sleeping in the dark seem a little less daunting. …
The Positives of Plushies: Stuffed Animals Have Benefits for Children and Adults Read More »