Monthly Archives: May 2017

Another form of fraud and corruption in science: This time it has to do with fake data in drug trials

Posted on May 30, 2017 by DWN

We’ve shared articles on “predatory online open-access” journals (at least 15,000 of them having popped up in the past 6-8 years) and recently fake research reagents being sold to scientists. Here [see attached article] is yet another form of fraud … Continue reading →

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Male sex hormones inhibit development of key immune cells involved in asthma and other allergic response

Posted on May 30, 2017 by DWN

Type-2 immune responses are characterized by secretion of IL4, IL5, IL9, and IL13. This specific “cytokine signature” is essential to control parasitic infections, but is also associated with allergic reactions; these responses involve the coordinated action of group-2 innate lymphoid … Continue reading →

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Another form of fraud and corruption in sciene: AT least one country has a highly profitable market for fake research reagents

Posted on May 26, 2017 by DWN

We’ve shared many stories of the “predatory open-access online journals”, more than 15,000 having appeared during these past 5-10 years, which profit by quick-publications and little or no legitimate peer review processes. Another type of fraud and corruption, at least … Continue reading →

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Detecting mitochondrial DNA from Neaderthal and Denisoain DNA in “cave sediments”

Posted on May 26, 2017 by DWN

Today, modern humans are called Homo sapiens sapiens, which have survived from earlier tribes of hominins such as Homo sapiens neaderthaliensis that had lived in various regions of the planet at least 25,000 years ago. Scientists can now discover what … Continue reading →

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Reply Reply All Forward Move Delete Close Previous Item Next Item Close HSP gene products appear to directly affect individual patient’s phenotype for complex diseases / multifactorial traits

Posted on May 20, 2017 by DWN

The function of heat shock protein genes (HSP) and their gene products (HSP) is a very complicated genetics/genomics issue, but directly relevant to ‘gene-enviroment interactions’ and ‘personalized medicine’. These two [attached] publications (combined), plus the editorial, describe even further the … Continue reading →

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Potentially a HUGE breakthrough !!! Liquid biopsies for lung cancer parients improves treatment (of tumors that are constantly changing their phenotype)

Posted on May 17, 2017 by DWN

The “evolution” of tumor formation (carcinogenesis) symbolizes the quintessence of gene-environment interactions. The “biggest obstacle” (to the survival of a cancer cell) is how it can mutate and undergo epigenetic changes –– in order to survive chemotherapy and any other … Continue reading →

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Wax moth caterpillars, which normally live in bee hives feeding on honey and wax, can digest plastic

Posted on May 16, 2017 by DWN

Plastics are synthetic polymers derived from fossil oil and mostly resistant to biodegradation. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) represent ~92% of total plastic production. PE is largely used in packaging –– representing ~40% of total demand for plastic products, with … Continue reading →

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Genetic basis of inheritance for the phenotype of monogamy and child-caring …???

Posted on May 15, 2017 by DWN

Peromyscus is a diverse North American genus of mouse, with habitats ranging from arid deserts to mountainous cloud forests. Along with these tremendously disparate habitats come compa­rably variable behaviors. For example, shar­ing of parental care and social monogamy are rare … Continue reading →

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Glutathione transferase enzymes moderate Methyl-Mercury toxicity during Drosophila development

Posted on May 14, 2017 by DWN

Glutathione in its reduced form, GSH, is on the forefront of a cell’s defense against oxidative stress damage including reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. GSH is a peptide containing three amino acids (glutamic acid, glycine, cysteine) with the complete chemically … Continue reading →

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Evidence (not surprising) to show that gut bacteria do metabolize drugs

Posted on May 13, 2017 by DWN

There was a time (not long ago) that many pharmacologists were insisting that the DNA sequence of one, or just a few, genes would be able to predict that patient’s response to a drug; or, to many drugs. Then came … Continue reading →

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