Important steps toward developing a blood test to catch pancreatic cancer early

 

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States and has a 5-year survival rate of only 6 percent, which is the lowest rate of all types of cancer according to the American Cancer Society. This low survival rate is partially attributed to the difficulty in detecting pancreatic cancer at an early stage. According to a new 'proof of principle' study published in Aug. 27 issue of Cancer Prevention Research, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers hope to improve pancreatic cancer survival rates by identifying markers in the blood that can pinpoint patients with premalignant pancreatic lesions called intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). "One promising strategy to reduce the number of people affected by pancreatic cancer is to identify and treat premalignant pancreatic lesions," said first author Jennifer Permuth-Wey, Ph.D., M.S., assistant member in the Departments of Cancer Epidemiology and Gastrointestinal Oncology at Moffitt. "IPMNs are established precursor lesions to pancreatic cancer that account for approximately half of all asymptomatic pancreatic cysts incidentally detected by computerized tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the U.S. each year." IPMNs can be characterized as either low- or high-risk for the development of pancreatic cancer; however, the only way to accurately characterize the severity of IPMNs is by their surgical removal that is in itself associated with a risk of complications, such as long-term diabetes and death. Alternatively, not removing the IPMN(s) could lead to a missed opportunity to prevent high-risk lesions from developing into invasive pancreatic cancer. Moffitt researchers want to develop a fast, cost-effective blood test that can accurately differentiate low-risk IPMNs that can be monitored from high-risk IPMNs that need to be surgically removed by studying microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small molecules that regulate key genes involved in the development and progression of cancer. "Using new digital technology, we compared the expression patterns of miRNAs in the blood and discovered a set of 30 miRNAs that differentiated between IPMN patients and healthy volunteers. We also identified five miRNAs that could distinguish between high-risk IPMNs and low-risk IPMNs," said senior author Mokenge Malafa, M.D, F.A.C.S., department chair and program leader for Moffitt's Gastrointestinal Oncology Program. "We are excited about our preliminary findings, but much more research is needed before such a blood test could be made available in the clinical setting." "The hope is that in the not-so-distant future a miRNA-based blood test can be used in conjunction with imaging features and other factors to aid the medical team in accurately predicting disease severity of IPMNs and other pancreatic cysts at the time of diagnosis or follow-up so that more informed personalized medical management decisions can be made," explained Permuth-Wey. The authors believe that the incorporation of such a blood test into routine clinical practice could provide a prime opportunity for intervention during the pre-cancerous phase before the development of pancreatic malignancy. Through funding from the State of Florida and the newly established Florida Academic Cancer Center Alliance, Moffitt researchers plan to further their research on IPMNs by partnering with researchers from the University of Florida Health Cancer Center and the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. This new partnership, called the Florida Pancreas Collaborative, represents the first state-wide multi-cancer center collaboration dedicated to conducting research on IPMNs with the ultimate goal of promoting the prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer. "Considering that Florida ranks second in the number of pancreatic cancer deaths that occur each year and the fact that pancreatic cancer is projected to surpass breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer and become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030, we are thrilled that our state is committed to investing in pancreatic cancer research now," said Permuth-Wey. "Early detection and screening are the most effective ways for 'at-risk' individuals to minimize the potential for developing pancreatic cancer," said Malafa. Screening and diagnostic procedures for pancreatic cysts and other gastrointestinal conditions can be performed at Moffitt's state-of-the-art endoscopy clinic. This research was made possible by patients who were treated at Moffitt and generously donated blood and tissue samples to the Total Cancer Care® Program and was supported in part by grants from the American Cancer Society (93-032-16) and the National Cancer Institute. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Moffitt Cancer Center.Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Moffitt Cancer Center. "Important steps toward developing a blood test to catch pancreatic cancer early." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150828102339.htm>.

Medicinal marijuana: Patients battle stigma and misunderstanding

 

Research recently published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (Routledge) examines the experiences of California residents who have been prescribed medical marijuana and the stigma they experience from public opinion. The findings indicate that the stigma of using medical marijuana may contribute to the under-treatment of those who might benefit from medical marijuana. Medical marijuana -- a controversial topic in recent years -- is now legal in 23 US states, the District of Columbia, and has been legal in the state of California since 1996. It has been noted scientifically as a viable form of treatment for medical complications like migraines, depression, chemotherapy and radiation treatment effects, chronic pain and asthma. Using interview research with 18 participants, a team of American researchers were able to better understand how patients handle this stigma and how it affects health care as well as day-to-day life. "There was obviously that kind of negative stigma of using marijuana that I'd be looked upon as kind of an addict or a drug user more than a patient," explained a participant. Almost every patient mentioned being labeled a stoner looking to take advantage of the law. Many patients felt uncomfortable discussing the matter with their primary health care providers because of embarrassment. A major norm among all of the patients is concealing their marijuana usage from family and close friends. "It's sad, it really is," said one patient. "Most people seem to be misinformed, and this includes the lawmakers. They see it as black and white. Marijuana is bad. Drugs are bad. Yet, they have no problem drinking their scotch, smoking cigars. They have no idea how incredibly beneficial cannabis can be," said a participant. "This study underscores the need for further research as well as updating the training and education of physicians and healthcare providers in order to expand the knowledge and skill base as it relates to medical marijuana treatment," wrote the researchers. "As it becomes a viable treatment option for more and more patients across the United States, studies like these will be instrumental in ensuring that medical marijuana meets its full therapeutic potential." Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Taylor & Francis. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Travis D. Satterlund, Juliet P. Lee, Roland S. Moore. Stigma among California’s Medical Marijuana Patients. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2015; 47 (1): 10 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2014.991858 Taylor & Francis. "Medicinal marijuana: Patients battle stigma and misunderstanding." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150828113011.htm>.

Oysters harbor, transmit human norovirus: Avoid raw ones

 

Oysters not only transmit human norovirus; they also serve as a major reservoir for these pathogens, according to research published August 28 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. "More than 80 percent of human norovirus genotypes were detected in oyster samples or oyster-related outbreaks," said corresponding author Yongjie Wang, PhD. "The results highlight oysters' important role in the persistence of norovirus in the environment, and its transmission to humans, and they demonstrate the need for surveillance of human norovirus in oyster samples," said Wang, who is Professor in the College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. In the study, the investigators downloaded all oyster-related norovirus sequences deposited during 1983-2014 into the National Center for Biotechnology's GenBank database, and into the Noronet outbreak database. They conducted genotyping and phylogenic analyses, and mapped the norovirus's genetic diversity and geographic distribution over time. In earlier research, the investigators found that 90 percent of human norovirus sequences in China came from coastal regions. The current research showed that the same is true all over the world, except in tropical regions, from which sequences are absent. Oysters's status as reservoirs and vectors for human norovirus transmission is likely abetted by their presence in coastal waters, which are frequently contaminated by human waste, said Wang. Previous research suggests that noroviruses can persist for weeks in oyster tissues, and commercial depuration fails to expunge them. Norovirus causes stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. It is extremely contagious, and infects more than 6 percent of the US population, annually, resulting in around 20 million cases, including 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even touching a contaminated surface can result in infection. Wang advised that people who eat oysters and other shellfish should eat them fully cooked, and never raw. He also urged development of a reliable method for detecting noroviruses in oysters, and a worldwide oyster-related norovirus outbreak surveillance network. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by American Society for Microbiology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Yongxin Yu, Hui Cai, Linghao Hu, Rongwei Lei, Yingjie Pan, Shuling Yan, and Yongjie Wang. Molecular epidemiology of oyster-related human noroviruses: Global genetic diversity and temporal-geographical distribution from 1983 to 2014. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 2015 DOI:10.1128/AEM.01729-15 American Society for Microbiology. "Oysters harbor, transmit human norovirus: Avoid raw ones." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150828135213.htm>.

Popular medical dramas make resuscitation look twice as effective as in real life

 

If you think that performing CPR on a person whose heart has stopped is a surefire way to save their life, you may be watching too much TV. The truth is more depressing than fiction, according to a new study by University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology researchers. While medical dramas Grey's Anatomy and House show cardiopulmonary resuscitation saving a patient's life nearly 70 percent of the time, the real immediate survival rate is nearly half that -- around 37 percent. Researchers also found another discrepancy between reality and TV: Half of the characters who received CPR made enough of a recovery to eventually leave the hospital, but in reality, only 13 percent of patients given CPR survive in the long-term, said senior author and Davis School Associate Professor Susan Enguidanos, an expert in end-of-life care. "Most people have no knowledge of actual CPR survival and thus make medical care decisions for themselves and family members based on inaccurate assumptions," Enguidanos said. Some people think it's a no-brainer that fiction sometimes distorts the truth, but research has shown that 42 percent of older adults report that their health knowledge comes from TV. Many are likely basing their care preferences on inaccurate ideas of what risks they face and how survivable a heart attack is, Enguidanos said. For the study, the research team watched episodes of both shows that aired during 2010 and 2011, and found 46 separate depictions of CPR--involving either chest compressions or defibrillation. Investigators recorded not only whether the patients lived or died but also the cause of cardiac arrest and the apparent backgrounds and ages of those receiving CPR. In addition to inaccurate survival rates, researchers found a number of other discrepancies. The depictions show CPR mostly being performed on adults age 18 to 65, when in reality more than 60 percent of CPR recipients are older adults over 65, Enguidanos said. Also, trauma was behind nearly 40 percent of the CPR instances in the shows, even though traumatic injury cases only account for 2 percent of all CPR usage in real life. When comparing these results to a similar study conducted in 1996, accuracy rates of television CPR depictions appear to not be improving. And though they seem like harmless entertainment, widespread inaccuracies in medical dramas could have real-life consequences. Compounding the issue is the fact that the shows also largely fail to depict advance care planning and conversations about end-of-life choices. Among 91 episodes analyzed, only five patients and/or their families discussed care preferences with their doctors. "The findings from this study emphasize the need for improved physician-patient communication and discussions around advance care planning decisions, such as CPR," said Jaclyn Portanova, Davis School Ph.D. in Gerontology student and first author of the study. "Without these discussions, patients may rely on misinformation from TV in their decision-making." Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Southern California. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Jaclyn Portanova, Irvine Krystle, Yi Jae Yoon, Susan Enguidanos. It isn’t like this on TV: Revisiting CPR survival rates depicted on popular TV shows. Resuscitation, 2015; DOI:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.08.002

Pregnant? Get Tdap in Your Third Trimester

 

Only you can give your baby protection against whooping cough before your little one is even born. Talk to your doctor or midwife about getting the Tdap vaccine during your third trimester. Whooping cough is a serious disease that can be deadly for babies. Unfortunately, babies can't get vaccinated and start building protection against whooping cough until they are two months old. The good news is that you can avoid this gap in protection by getting the whooping cough vaccine (called Tdap) during the third trimester of your pregnancy. By doing so, you pass antibodies to your baby before birth. These antibodies help protect your baby in the first few months of life. You Need a Whooping Cough Vaccine during Each Pregnancy If you are pregnant, you'll need the whooping cough vaccine in your third trimester. CDC recommends pregnant women get the whooping cough vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. This recommendation is supported by theAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Nurse-Midwives, healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for pregnant women. The goal is to give babies some short-term protection against whooping cough in early life. The amount of antibodies you have from the whooping cough vaccine will decrease over time. That is why it's important for pregnant women to get a whooping cough vaccine during each pregnancy so that each baby has the benefit of getting the greatest number of protective antibodies. Getting the whooping cough vaccine while pregnant is the best way to help protect your baby from whooping cough in the first few months of life. Whooping Cough Vaccine during Pregnancy Is Safe for Your Baby Getting the whooping cough vaccine while you are pregnant is very safe for you and your unborn baby. The most common side effects include redness, swelling, pain, and tenderness where the shot is given, body-ache, fatigue, or fever. Severe side effects are extremely rare. You cannot get whooping cough from the whooping cough vaccine. Learn more about safety and side effects. Young Babies Are at Highest Risk When babies—even healthy babies—catch whooping cough, the symptoms can be very serious because their immune systems are still developing. They can get pneumonia (a lung infection), and many have trouble breathing. About half of babies who get whooping cough end up in the hospital. The younger the baby is when he gets whooping cough, the more likely it is that he will need to be treated in the hospital.   http://www.cdc.gov/features/tdap-in-pregnancy/index.html

Laminectomy

 

Laminectomy is surgery that creates space by removing the lamina — the back part of the vertebra that covers your spinal canal. Also known as decompression surgery, laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This pressure is most commonly caused by bony overgrowths within the spinal canal, which can occur in people who have arthritis in their spines. Laminectomy is generally used only when more-conservative treatments — such as medication, physical therapy or injections — have failed to relieve symptoms. Laminectomy may also be recommended if symptoms are severe or worsening dramatically. Bony overgrowths within the spinal canal can narrow the space available in your spinal cord and nerves. This pressure can cause pain, weakness or numbness that can radiate down your arms or legs. Laminectomy is usually better at relieving these types of radiating symptoms than it is at relieving actual back pain. Your doctor may recommend laminectomy if: Conservative treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, fails to improve your symptoms You have muscle weakness or numbness that makes standing or walking difficult You experience loss of bowel or bladder control In some cases, laminectomy may be necessary as part of surgery to treat a herniated spinal disk. Your surgeon may need to remove part of the lamina to gain access to the damaged disk. Laminectomy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, laminectomy carries a risk of complications. Potential complications include: Bleeding Infection Blood clots Nerve injury Spinal fluid leak You'll need to avoid eating and drinking for a certain amount of time before surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about the types of medications you should and shouldn't take before your surgery. What you can expect By Mayo Clinic Staff During laminectomy Surgeons usually perform laminectomy using general anesthesia, so you're unconscious during the procedure. The surgical team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen throughout the procedure with a blood pressure cuff on your arm and heart-monitor leads attached to your chest. After you're unconscious: The surgeon makes an incision in your back over the affected vertebrae and moves the muscles away from your spine as needed. Small instruments are used to remove the appropriate lamina. If laminectomy is being performed as part of surgical treatment for a herniated disk, the surgeon also removes the herniated portion of the disk and any pieces that have broken loose (diskectomy). If one of your vertebrae has slipped over another or if you have curvature of the spine, spinal fusion may be necessary to stabilize your spine. During spinal fusion, the surgeon permanently connects two or more of your vertebrae together using bone grafts and, if necessary, metal rods and screws. Depending on your condition and individual needs, the surgeon may use a minimally invasive incision and a special surgical microscope to perform the operation. The incision is closed using staples or stitches. After laminectomy After surgery, you're moved to a recovery room where the health care team watches for complications from the surgery and anesthesia. You may also be asked to move your arms and legs. Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve pain at the incision site. You might go home the same day as the surgery, although in some cases you may need a short hospital stay. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy after a laminectomy to improve your strength and flexibility. Limit activities that involve lifting, bending and stooping for several months after laminectomy. Depending on the amount of lifting, walking and sitting your job involves, you may be able to return to work within a few weeks. If you also had spinal fusion, your recovery time may be longer. In some cases after laminectomy and spinal fusion, it may be six months before you can return to your normal activities. Most people report measurable improvement in their symptoms after laminectomy, but the benefit may lessen over time as the spine continues to age or if there is a recurrence of arthritis. Laminectomy is more likely to improve leg pain caused by a compressed nerve than back pain. Because laminectomy can't stop the buildup from osteoarthritis that caused the nerve compression in the first place from happening again, symptoms may come back over time. source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laminectomy/basics/results/prc-20009521

Antibiotic use linked to type 2 diabetes diagnosis

 

Antibiotics may contribute to or serve as early signal of developing condition   People who developed Type 2 diabetes tended to take more antibiotics in the years leading up to the diagnosis than people who did not have the condition, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. A person develops diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar levels, when the individual cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin or insulin does not work properly to clear sugar from the bloodstream. More than 29 million people in the USA have diabetes, according to the Society's Endocrine Facts and Figures report. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the condition, accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all cases. "In our research, we found people who have Type 2 diabetes used significantly more antibiotics up to 15 years prior to diagnosis compared to healthy controls," said one of the study's authors, Kristian Hallundbæk Mikkelsen, MD, of Gentofte Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark. "Although we cannot infer causality from this study, the findings raise the possibility that antibiotics could raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Another equally compelling explanation may be that people develop Type 2 diabetes over the course of years and face a greater risk of infection during that time." As part of the population-based case-control study, researchers tracked antibiotic prescriptions for 170,504 people who had Type 2 diabetes and for 1.3 million people who did not have diabetes. The researchers identified the subjects using records from three national health registries in Denmark. People who had Type 2 diabetes filled 0.8 prescriptions a year, on average. The rate was only 0.5 prescriptions a year among the study's control subjects. Individuals who filled more prescriptions were more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Many types of antibiotics were associated with a higher risk of diabetes, but there was a stronger link with the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin V. Past research has shown that antibiotic treatments can alter the bacteria in an individual's gut. Studies suggest certain gut bacteria may contribute to the impaired ability to metabolize sugar seen in people with diabetes. This may explain why higher rates of antibiotic use are associated with the development of Type 2 diabetes, but more research is needed to explain the findings, Mikkelsen said. "Diabetes is one of the greatest challenges facing modern health care, with a globally increasing incidence" he said. "Further investigation into long-term effect of antibiotic use on sugar metabolism and gut bacteria composition could reveal valuable answers about how to address this public health crisis. Patterns in antibiotic use may offer an opportunity to prevent the development of the disease or to diagnose it early."   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150827141859.htm

To slow the spread of infectious diseases, NSF, NIH, USDA support new research

 

Press Release 15-095 To slow the spread of infectious diseases, NSF, NIH, USDA support new research Scientists will study how diseases are transmitted among humans, other animals and the environment EEID scientists will study the effects of temperature on vector-borne disease transmission. Credit and Larger Version August 26, 2015 Emerging pandemic disease outbreaks such as Ebola increasingly threaten global public health and world economies, scientists say. We can expect five such new diseases to emerge each year--and spread. The tropical disease dengue fever, for example, has made its way to Florida and Texas, seemingly to stay. Is our interaction with the environment somehow responsible for the increase in incidence of these diseases? A joint program of the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking answers. The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program supports efforts to understand the underlying ecological and biological mechanisms behind human-induced environmental changes and the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. A complex process The EEID program is also co-funded by the U.K.'s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This year, the program has awarded eight new grants totaling $18 million. Disease transmission is a complex process that involves disease organisms, disease vectors, disease hosts and the predators that consume those hosts. It links relatively pristine areas with human habitations and human-dominated areas. Projects supported through the EEID program allow scientists to study how large-scale environmental events--such as habitat destruction, invasions of non-native species and pollution--alter the risks of emergence of viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases in humans and other animals. Researchers supported through the EEID program are advancing basic theory related to infectious diseases, and applying that knowledge to improve our understanding of how pathogens spread through populations at a time of increasing global change. EEID research benefits The benefits of research on the ecology of infectious diseases include development of theories of how diseases are transmitted; improved understanding of unintended health effects of development projects; increased capacity to forecast disease outbreaks; and knowledge of how infectious diseases emerge and reemerge. "As demonstrated by the Ebola crisis, infectious diseases are an ongoing threat," says Sam Scheiner of NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences and EEID program officer at NSF. "The fundamental research from these projects will help prepare us for the next outbreak, wherever it might come from." Adds Christine Jessup of NIH's Fogarty International Center, "Infectious diseases are an ongoing global health challenge, often with devastating consequences. Environmental change, population mobility, and complex socio-ecological systems underlie many infectious disease threats. Our ability to prevent and control emerging and re-emerging diseases hinges on enhanced understanding of these diseases in their ecological and evolutionary contexts." New awards to address current and future threats This year's EEID awardees will conduct research on such topics as: group living as a possible explanation for infectious disease vulnerability in social species; vector behavior in transmission ecology; effects of agricultural expansion and intensification on infections; long-distance dispersal and disease outbreaks; and effects of temperature on vector-borne disease transmission. "As we learn more about the ecology of pathogens that cause infectious diseases, we see clear links among public health, animal health, plant health, and the environment, with agriculture playing a significant role," says Sonny Ramaswamy, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture director. "Through our partnership with the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program, we are able to support agriculturally-relevant research on topics of global concern, and help ensure the safety and security of our food supply." Adds Melanie Welham, BBSRC's science director, "Global uncertainties can present new challenges, and scientific research helps us to prepare for our future. The health of our livestock, plants and crops is dependent on improved knowledge of infectious diseases. This new funding will help us respond more rapidly and effectively to emerging threats, and to safeguard health and food security." 2015 NSF-NIH-USDA-BBSRC Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Awards Kathleen Alexander, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Can group living and the influence of Allee Effects explain infectious disease vulnerability in social species? Emergence of M. mungi in the cooperative breeding banded mongoose Jason Blackburn, University of Florida: Spatio-temporally explicit estimation of R0 for pathogens with environmentally-mediated transmission Sonia Hernandez, University of Georgia: Consequences of Anthropogenic Resources for the Cross-Scale Dynamics of an Enteric Pathogen in an Avian Host Leah Johnson, University of South Florida: US-UK Collab: RCN: Vector Behavior in Transmission Ecology (VectorBiTE) Cristina Lanzas, North Carolina State University-Raleigh: Exposure heterogeneity and environmental transmission dynamics of Escherichia coli Erin Mordecai, Stanford University: Effects of temperature on vector-borne disease transmission: integrating theory with empirical data Christopher Mundt, Oregon State University: Long-Distance Dispersal and Disease Outbreaks: Effects of Initial Prevalence, Basic Reproduction Number, and Control Tactics Jason Rohr, University of South Florida: Effects of Agricultural Expansion and Intensification on Infections -NSF- Media Contacts Cheryl Dybas, NSF, (703) 292-7734, cdybas@nsf.gov Related Websites NSF Special Report: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases:http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/ecoinf/ NSF Discovery Article Series: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases:http://nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=134947 NSF News (2014 EEID Awards): Racing ahead of disease outbreaks: $12 million in new research grants:http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=132570 NSF News (2013 EEID Awards): Outbreak: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease grants support research on disease transmission:http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=129280 NSF News (2012 EEID Awards): Controlling the Spread of Diseases Among Humans, Other Animals and the Environment:http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125496

Lemon juice disinfects against human norovirus

 

Noroviruses are the predominant cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks in community settings such as hospitals, cruise ships, and schools. The virus is extremely contagious and is mostly transmitted via "fecal-oral-route," i.e., through contaminated hands or contaminated food. Symptoms include violent and sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. "It is therefore important to provide a safe and harmless disinfectant against human norovirus," explains Grant Hansman, head of CHS junior research group at the German Cancer Research Center noroviruses and the University of Heidelberg. The group is funded by the CHS Foundation. Some older observations found that fruit extracts, such as orange or pomegranate juice, could reduce the infectivity of surrogate noroviruses. This current study was a continuation of an earlier project conducted at the National Institutes of Health in the United States, where they discovered that citrate from a commercial company could bind to the norovirus capsid protein. "However, it was only by chance that this discovery was made, like a lot of scientific research, but it turns out to be very interesting." Dr Hansman explains. Human noroviruses does not grow in cell culture, so they tested the effects of increasing concentrations of citric buffer on the so called norovirus virus-like particles, which have the same surface characteristics as real viruses. Dr Hansman and his staff show that the virus particles change their shape after citrate binding. X-ray crystal structures revealed that the citrate -- from lemon juice or citrate disinfectants -- precisely interacts at the binding pocket on the particle that is involved in attaching to host ligands -- the so-called histo-blood group antigens. These new results may explain why citrate reduces the infectivity of noroviruses. "Maybe a few drops of lemon juice on contaminated food or surfaces may prevent the transmission of these viruses," speculates Hansman. With his staff, he now plans to investigate if citric acid could reduce symptoms in those already infected with noroviruses. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Anna D. Koromyslova, Peter A. White, Grant S. Hansman. Treatment of norovirus particles with citrate. Virology, 2015; 485: 199 DOI:10.1016/j.virol.2015.07.009

Top 30 Most Beautiful and Eye-capturing Earth Photographs of 2015

 

 

Everyone loves nature and natural photographs as well. People travel everywhere and capture the most beautiful and perfect photographs for their collection or projects. Some of our friends click some amazing photographs of natural beauty which attracts deeply and we want to visit that place.

These photographs are taken by different people at different places, but the one thing which is common on these is the originality and beauty of nature.
Today we collect some stunning and beautiful photographs of Natural Beauty of Earth, you must enjoy them.

Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, Norway

Mt. McKinley completely visible with a reflection!

Antelope Canyon

Ice on Lake Baikal

Twelve Apostles, Australia

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

View of Sedona from End of the World, Flagstaff, AZ

Sun sets over the Fitz Roy, Patagonia, Chile

Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Belgium by Chung Hu

Piscinas Naturales De Garachico in Tenerife, Spain

Antelope Canyon

Taos Gorge in New Mexico

Delta Lake, WY

Summer in England

East Greenland Coast

Dolomites.

Owl Creek Pass, Colorado

A forbidden hill in Ireland

Mt. Fuji, Japan

Corinth, Greece.

The Coeur d'Alene River

Grand Canyon, North Rim

El Capitan just after sunrise Guadalupe Mountains

South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Morning on the Lost Coast

A perfect morning in Big Sur.

Lake Limedes, under the Lagazuoi in the Dolomites

 

http://www.topntoday.co/2015/07/top-30-most-beautiful-and-eye-capturing.html