SargeantLobes - Slashdot User

Feed Rapid, One-step, Ultra-sensitive Detection Of Food Poisoning Bacteria And Biothr (sciencedaily.com)

From feed by sdfeed on Monday April 16, 2007 @10:13AM

A new mosquito-sized biosensor can detect amazingly small amounts of disease-causing E. coli bacteria in food in a single-step process that takes only minutes, compared to hours required with conventional tests for that common food poisoning agent.

Feed Diseased Brain Cells More Involved In ALS-associated Motor Neuron Death (sciencedaily.com)

From feed by sdfeed on Monday April 16, 2007 @10:12AM

Researchers report for the first time that astrocytes -- the most abundant non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system, which carry a mutated gene known to cause some cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease) -- induce motor neuron death. This indicates that astrocytes may contribute to ALS by releasing a toxic factor that damages neurons.

Comment This explains alot (Score 1) 92

by SargeantLobes on Monday April 16, 2007 @10:02AM (#18749829) Attached to: Brain Connection To Hypertension?

Hypertension has always been associated with a higer risk for Ischemic Stroke (CVA). Whereas high cholesterol has been associated with corornary infarctions (because of artherscelerosis).

This article suggests that the underlying principle underlying both, is the same (clogging of arteries). Which for me as a med-student is pretty damn cool to read, since the hypertension-CVA connection is pretty poorly understood.

P.S. Artherosclerosis is caused by white bloodcells being absorbed into the blood wall and consequently absorbing cholesterol (thereby getting trapped). So it's actually very similar.

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