MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'biochemistry'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:59 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036227&cid=t_97599_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcurious-about-herbal-medicine%2F2011.07.17 So, you’re curious about herbal medicine. Is there any truth to this stuff? Uncle Howie tells you that he read in the National Enquirer about an herb that has better antibacterial effects on cuts and scrapes than Neosporin ointment — never mind that Neosporin is composed of three different antibiotics that come originally from bacteria themselves. So you set out on a quest to purchase some of this herb, known colloquially as goldenseal. When you go to your local Whole Hippie Dump-a-Load-of-Cash Emporium you find goldenseal alright, in about twenty different forms. On one side of the aisle are containers with loose, crushed up leaves and roots that look like medical marijuana. On a shelf, you find see-through capsules that seem to contain a powdered version of the herb. Down the aisle a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036227 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:00:14 +0100 5036227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893759&cid=t_97599_132_f&fid=35006&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnsaunders.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2Ffinding-the-truth-is-a-waste-of-time-scientists-say%2F Before bioinformatics, I worked in both biochemistry and microbiology labs, including a stint in the field of extremophile biology. So like many other people, I’ve been following the “arsenic life” story with great interest. It seems that far more has been written about the publication, the manner of its announcement, the ensuing online debate and the personalities involved than about the principal scientific question: can arsenate substitute for phosphate in biological molecules? My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that the Science paper presented no compelling evidence for covalently-bound As in DNA and that the editors should have asked the authors either to do better experiments or tone it down. Now, Nature News reports that the criticisms are in, the authors ha... What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893759 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:29:42 +0100 4893759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771076&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.com%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fcan-hobbyists-and-hackers-transform-biotechnology%2F For most of us, managing our health means visiting a doctor. The more serious our concerns, the more specialized a medical expert we seek. Our bodies often feel like foreign and frightening lands, and we are happy to let someone with an MD serve as our tour guide. For most of us, our own DNA [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771076 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:21:06 +0100 4771076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455409&cid=t_97599_132_f&fid=35006&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnsaunders.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fconservative-with-a-small-c-research%2F This is really interesting. I’m reading it at work so I can’t tell you if it’s behind the paywall, but I sincerely hope not; it deserves to be read widely: Edwards, A.M. et al. (2011) Too many roads not taken. Nature 470: 163–165 doi:10.1038/470163a Most protein research focuses on those known before the human genome was mapped. Work on the slew discovered since, urge Aled M. Edwards and his colleagues. The article includes some nicely-done bibliometric analysis. I’ve lifted a few quotes that illustrate some of the key points. More than 75% of protein research still focuses on the 10% of proteins that were known before the genome was mapped Around 65% of the 20,000 kinase papers published in 2009 focused on the 50 proteins that were the ‘hottest’ in... What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455409 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:02:48 +0100 4455409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300551&cid=t_97599_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fremembering-gene-goldwasser-discoverer-of-epo-a-cure-for-anemia%2F2010.12.30 Gene Goldwasser died last week. He was 88, and he was my friend. I wrote previously about a series of conversations I conducted with Gene and Rabbi A.J. Wolf a few years ago. I met Gene one spring day after calling to invite him to sit in on a class I was teaching to a small group of medical students about social issues in healthcare. I’d read about him in a book called “The $800 Million Pill,” by Merrill Goozner. In the book, Goozner writes the story of Gene’s two-decade hunt to isolate the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Part of the story relates how Gene tried to interest traditional big pharma companies in his discovery, only to be brushed aside. Instead, Gene wound up sharing his discovery with what became Amgen. The company went on to make a windfall from recomb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300551 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4300551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045094&cid=t_97599_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealth-benefits-of-green-tea-omega-3-combo%2F2010.10.08 We have know for some time that there are health benefits from drinking green tea. Research also shows that Omega 3 fatty acids have beneficial effects on a number of organs in the body, including the cardiovascular system, the brain, and even depression. Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi, research professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, is hoping to show that green tea polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may also prevent colon cancer and even have anti-viral effects when combined with certain Omega 3 fatty acids. “We know from experience that green tea is not well absorbed by the body,” Dr. Shahidi said. “Our premise was to see if by adding something to it that has its own benefits, like Omega 3 fatty acids, we might g... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045094 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4045094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976499&cid=t_97599_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchronic-fatigue-syndrome-plenty-of-speculation%2F2010.09.16 Humans love to find patterns in the world. Sometimes patterns exist, sometimes they are imaginary. Sometimes you can see a pattern that may be interesting and ignore its significance. As a resident I used to say that anyone who smokes three packs of cigarettes a day has to be schizophrenic. It was meant more as a joke when, in fact, it was later discovered that tobacco helps ameliorate the symptoms of schizophrenia. I need to pay more attention. Part of my job is to look for patterns as a key to the patients diagnosis. Diseases and pathogens tend to (more or less) cause reproducible signs and symptoms and looking for that pattern is often the most helpful clue towards finding the diagnosis. Of course things are never as easy as one would like, as you have to consider whether you are seeing... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976499 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3976499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742403&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Ffree-usmle-downloads.html Are you looking for free USMLE downloads?I suggest you take a look here:http://usmlestep.com/usmle-torrent.htmlWhat you can find:Step 1 Kaplan Video Lectures - Biochemistry SectionStep 2 Kaplan Video Lectures - Cardiology SectionStep 2 Surgery Recall in Mp3and many other USMLE stuffpowered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742403 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:56:00 +0100 3742403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529832&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Falchemist-chemistry-news.html The Alchemist travels back billions of years to the dawn of life this week to learn how aspartic acid may be the crystal Eve, the mother of all chirality while heading back to the future also discovers how biology and nanotechnology might be fused to produce new metamaterials for a range of medical and analytical technologies. Banned scent compounds turn up in childrens toys, we hear while US chemists have built a molecule that bites its own tail to trap smaller molecules within. In environmental news, the recent volcanic activity that grounded thousands of travelers to and from Northern Europe may not have the environmental impact some observers have suggested. Finally, chemistry is the word as Microsoft launches a CML, chemical markup language, add-in for its well-known word processing a... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529832 Tue, 04 May 2010 06:50:25 +0100 3529832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3316243&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fstep-1-kaplan-lectures-2007-edition.html Do you want to check the quality of Step 1 2007 Video Lectures?Now you can do this here:Download Step 1 Kaplan Biochemistry lecturespowered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3316243 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:18:00 +0100 3316243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3246712&cid=t_97599_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2010%2F02%2Fconference-update-new-zealand.html November 30 - December 3, 2010 New Zealand Microbiological Society and New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology joint meetingAuckland, New Zealand Further informationThis is a multidisciplinary conference generally attracting 200-300 delegates. Most participants are New Zealand-based, although the conference also has a range of renowned international plenary speakers, encompassing diverse fields such as medical microbiology, wine science, food microbiology, industrial microbiology, microbial ecology, systems biology and molecular evolution.Suggested reading: Molecular Microbiology BooksFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3246712 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:40:00 +0100 3246712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3156429&cid=t_97599_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F08%2Fannals-of-clinical-biochemistry-2010-volume-47-number-1%2F Contents Page Title: Apolipoproteins in diabetes dyslipidaemia in South Asians with young adult-onset diabetes: distribution, associations and patterns Fade Skinny: Apolipoproteins B (apoB) and AI (apoAI) are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Describes apolipoprotein distributions and their associations with lipids and diabetes subtype in diabetic young adult South Asians. It finds a large proportion of young adult Sri Lankan patients with type 2 diabetes has a low LDLC:apoB and high apoB and/or TG, suggesting that these patients are at increased risk of CVD. (Requires NHS Athens Password) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Apolipoproteins, Athens Password, Biochemistry, Current Awareness, Diabetes, E-Journals, Ethnic Groups, Heart Diseases... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3156429 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:02:41 +0100 3156429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249298&cid=t_97599_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F03%2F07%2Fdaily-fun-biochemical-puzzles%2F Just a short post about a blog where you can find biochemical puzzles and quizzes. Let’s start with an amino acid crossword. Further reading: Dance Your Ph.D. Contest! Medical Slang: Bury the Hatchet, Freud Squad and Hasselhoff! Calling 911? Sing this! Monday Video: Amateur Transplants Breathe: Doctors with Microphone (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249298 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:40:08 +0100 2249298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2223659&cid=t_97599_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2F4NxwMMu_U%2F Here you have the February edition of our monthly newsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, simply by submitting your email at the top of this page. Cognitive training (or structured mental exercise) definitely seems to work - as long as we define properly what "work" means, don't expect magic cures, and help navigate options. Please keep reading... Interview: Baycrest Interview with Baycrest's CEO Dr. William Reichman: Discussing the recent Centre for Brain Fitness at Baycrest, Dr. Reichman suggests that "we have an opportunity to make major progress in Brain Health in the XXI century, similar to what happened with Cardiovascular Health in the XXth, and technology will play a c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2223659 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:56:02 +0100 2223659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207025&cid=t_97599_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F545523544%2F I wanted to alert you to a very interesting finding published in a recent issue of Science, one of the world's leading scientific journals. The study was led by Dr. Torkel Klingberg and his colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The goal was to learn whether Working Memory Training is associated with changes in brain biochemistry, thus suggesting a mechanism by which training may lead to enhanced working memory capacity and a reduction in attention problems. Thus, although Working Memory Training has previously shown promising results as a treatment for working memory and attention difficulties, this was a basic science study rather than a treatment study. The major finding was that increased working memory capacity following training was associated with changes in brain bioch... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207025 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:50:52 +0100 2207025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116475&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Ftransplant-spectroscopy.html Yellow and black bile were considered by the ancients as two of the four vital humours of the human body along with phlegm and blood. Ancient and mediaeval Greco-Roman alternative medicine. Imbalances in these humours caused illness. The Greek names for the terms gave rise to the words “choler” (bile) [the prefix in cholesterol, of course] and “melancholia” (black bile). Excessive bile was supposed to produce an aggressive temperament, known as “choleric” and cause “biliousness.” Depression and other mental illnesses (melancholia) were ascribed to a bodily surplus of black bile. We now know that bile is far more complex than that. The liver secretes bile into the gall bladder, which concentrates it and releases it into the duodenum. It is mai... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116475 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:14 +0100 2116475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999115&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F469567831%2Fdangerous_chemistry_explosive_1.php It's a long, long, weekend; perfect for going outside and doing a few loud, messy experiments. Cooking-intensive holidays always remind me how much fun it is to do a bit of chemistry, especially when it comes to food. If you watched the video that I posted on Thanksgiving, you've probably been itching to try one of these experiments yourself. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999115 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:21:44 +0100 1999115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996374&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F467557766%2Ffun_experiments_for_thanksgivi.php If you're not cooking today, why not experiment? Here's something fun you can do with Mentos and Diet Coke - and for those of you who think these experiments are too messy, you can still watch the movie. Enjoy the music in the video, then go outside, and enjoy the show. Later, go to EepyBird.com and learn about the science behind the fountain effect. technorati tags: Mentos and Diet Coke, chemistry, science you can do at home Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996374 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:20:53 +0100 1996374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996375&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F465734037%2Fhow_are_you_going_to_spend_tha.php Our household is very excited about Thanksgiving. That's because this Thanksgiving, my husband is cooking a turkey in an egg. A big green egg. Check back later today, about 5:30 pm, Pacific Standard Time, to see a picture of the turkey. In the meantime, here are some other items that were cooked in the egg. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996375 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:00:29 +0100 1996375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990880&cid=t_97599_122_f&fid=35068&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainwindows.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F26%2Fnotes-structural-biochemistry%2F I TA’ed a course in structural biochemistry at UCSD.  I spent a lot of time making cool handouts for the students (at least until the last 2 weeks when my own finals sapped all my time and energy).  Found these buried online.  Nothing too mind-blowing, but I figured I’d post them to preserve them. Handout 1 - Aqueous Solutions, Amino Acids & Secondary Protein Structure Handout 2 - Protein, DNA & RNA Structure Handout 3 - RNA continued, Mono- & Polysaccharides Handout 4 - Cell Membrane Components and Structure Determination Handout 5 - Enzyme Kinetics & Serine Proteases including Chymotrypsin Handout 7 - Ion Channels Handout 8 - Bacterial Recation Center & Molecular Dynamics        (Source: Brain Windows) Brain Windows blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990880 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:03:54 +0100 1990880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991425&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fbiochemistry-questions-posted-on-4usmle.html :http://www.4usmle.net/biochemistry/1713-juvenile-diabetes-mellitus-best-described-what-type-disorder.htmlhttp://www.4usmle.net/biochemistry/1712-following-most-likely-diagnosis.htmlhttp://www.4usmle.net/biochemistry/1711-following-appropriate-patient-renal-failure.htmlhttp://www.4usmle.net/biochemistry/1710-following-enzyme-activities-will-remain-homogenate.htmlhttp://www.4usmle.net/biochemistry/1709-following-pathways-most-correctly-considered-amphibolic.htmlpowered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991425 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:18:00 +0100 1991425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726396&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F372220332%2Fits_elemental_chemistry_movies.php The Periodic Table of Videos from the University of Nottingham has 118 short YouTube clips about the elements. Wired Campus recommended the Sodium clip (below). I liked it, too. It's not quite as funny as Mentos in Diet Coke, and but it's still cute and the narrator has a haircut like Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. H/T: Wired Campus. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726396 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:00:19 +0100 1726396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668810&cid=t_97599_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myelomablog.com%2F2008%2F07%2F30%2Fhow-molecules-out-of-balance-lead-to-human-multiple-myeloma-and-other-cancers%2F ScienceDaily (2008-07-28) — An international team of scientists has identified processes that are heavily implicated in human multiple myeloma and other B cell cancers, moving us closer to developing quick tests and readouts that could help in the tailored treatment of patients. “We already know that the over-expression or mutation of molecules known as NIK and TRAF3 in B cells is associated with human multiple myeloma,” said Professor Mackay. “Our collaborative research uncovered two distinct processes involving these molecules that help explain why.” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080729133616.htm (Source: beth's myeloma blog) beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668810 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:16:09 +0100 1668810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1491960&cid=t_97599_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F04%2Fnew-location-for-rsm-journals-and-new-access-to-journal-of-integrated-care-pathways%2F RSM Journals have just got a whole lot easier to use, you can now find all of them on one page at http://www.rsmjournals.com. Key link to look for is the Sign In via User Name/Password which is where you type your Athens (you can get one here if you work for a PCT in the North West and view the Getting an NHS Athens Password Flash Video 2.21 min here) password to get access. Alternatively you can go straight to each journal’s individual archive: Annals of Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Ethics Clinical Risk He@lth Information on the Internet Health Services Management Research International Journal of STD & AIDS Journal of Health Services Research & Policy Journal of Integrated Care Pathways Journal of Medical Biography Journal of Medical Screening Journal of the Royal Soci... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1491960 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:09:59 +0100 1491960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1248940&cid=t_97599_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F239190302%2F The American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology is published by Science Publications, which is a self-described “international publishing company having regional offices all over the world” that (in somewhat ungrammatical language) provides “a forum for scientists to get knowledge of recent developments in all areas of science and actively pursue ways to keep you informed about our activities.” Issue 2, Volume 4 of 2008 contains a number of articles about autism, including a study on “evolution of autism” by S. Hossein Fatemi, M.D., Ph.D.; studies linking autism to oxidative stress; a study suggesting that “some autistic children have a significant increase in the frequency” of a polymorphism of a certain gene, the ALAD 2 variant allel... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1248940 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:10:44 +0100 1248940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1070249&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F195000760%2Fphysical_chemistry_in_the_kitc.php How do you use science outside of the lab? People say that transferring knowledge and skills from one subject to another represents one of the highest levels of learning. They also say that it hardly ever happens. Perhaps this explains some of the more astounding things that we hear from Nobel Prize winners, like when Francis Crick proposed that Earth was settled by sperm from outer space, or when Watson, well, we'll leave that subject alone for now. I admit, I don't always think to apply my scientific training to things that happen outside of the lab. When those moments do happen, I relish them. It's always good to feel that you have some permanent bit of knowledge from a class in physical chemistry. Yesterday I got to trot it out and apply it in my kitchen. Read the rest of this po... Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070249 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:22:16 +0100 1070249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=994994&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fdigitalbio%2F%7E3%2F177750709%2Fspontaneous_human_combustion_a.php When purified, it glows with an unearthly light. You can't go "chemical free" and try to escape it. It's part of our bones and it forms the backbone of our DNA. A tool for good, a tool of war, essential for gardening, and infamous as a pesticide; phosphorus is truly an amazing element. Amazing too, are the stories about it's discovery and our history with using it. Many of the stories in The 13th Element by John Emsley (2000, John Wiley & Sons), from the alchemist's bench to the murderer's kitchen, are well-suited to reading on a Halloween eve. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=994994 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:14:51 +0100 994994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=950848&cid=t_97599_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2Fhealing-unbound-the-promise-of-advancing-computational-power.html Laptop-attached ultrasound units that produce startlingly clear internal images for five dollars in the field. Organs that re-generate inside scaffolds.  Drugs tailored to an individual’s biology. Micro-images of cancerous cells lit up by bio-chemical markers. Decision support tools that scan the physiological values in electronic health records for patterns too complex to be detected by an unaided clinician.The advances available from dramatic improvements in computational capabilities were a recurring theme at the Aspen Health Forum, with experts from each discipline describing where the technology was leading us. I attended two sessions featuring Star Trek clips that predicted realities now within at least theoretical reach. (Prescient and corny, audiences nodded nostalgicall... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=950848 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:24:57 +0100 950848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=817556&cid=t_97599_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F8%2F23%2Fselenium-supplementanother-myth-debunked.html  By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.D The theory that selenium is ‘good for you’ has just suffered a body blow—supplementation actually causes an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Why is selenium a food supplement? The theories range from the sublime to the ridiculous. I still remember that runners swore by selenium as a performance enhancer. It didn’t do it for me, so I asked for the evidence. In a word: there was none. Another ‘theory’ is that selenium is important in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Evidence? Sub Saharan Africa has a low selenium content in the soil, and a high incidence of HIV. The exception is Senegal , where the soil content is high and, wouldn’t you guess, HIV incidence is lower. Enough said. A more serious theory is that i... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=817556 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:38:28 +0100 817556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=802195&cid=t_97599_132_f&fid=35006&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnsaunders.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F16%2Fbioinformaticians-take-heart%2F It’s difficult for bioinformaticians to publish in so-called “high impact” journals at all, never mind as first author. Many of us are not group leaders with tightly-defined research programs; we are the “go to” guys, happy to apply our skills to any dataset that comes our way. In academia at least, we’re caught somewhere between research scientist and IT support. It can be a frustrating life. So it’s good to see that Nature, a journal not renowned for publishing articles with a strong computational biology component, has seen fit to publish this: Structure-based activity prediction for an enzyme of unknown function Hermann, JC et al. (2007) Nature 448: 775-779. Abstract | Full text | N & V It’s a fascinating piece of work. The authors ... What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=802195 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:20:42 +0100 802195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=792966&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F08%2Fhearts.gif Here's a lovely DNA structure from our friend, human immunodeficiency virus I. I especially like the way that two heart-like shapes appear in the structure. tags: DNA structure, DNA , molecular structure, biochemistry Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=792966 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:36:35 +0100 792966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=780682&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F08%2Fgeosmin.gif It could be geosmin. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=780682 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 19:20:50 +0100 780682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=777749&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F07%2Fdna_odd2.gif Last Friday, we had another in the series of weird DNA structures. (You can see the first here). I asked the audience to identify the unusual feature in this molecule. Here's the first picture: tags: DNA structure, DNA , molecular structure, biochemistry Here's the answer: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=777749 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:19:01 +0100 777749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=763034&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F07%2Fdna_odd.gif I've had some requests for some more molecular puzzles since the last one that I posted (see A DNA puzzle ). One person liked it so much he even blogged about it. So, here's one for you to chew on over the weekend. This puzzle is a variation of an activity in Exploring DNA Structure, a CD/lab book that I made (with funding from the NSF) and used for some educational research. tags: DNA structure, DNA , molecular structure, biochemistry Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=763034 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:17:38 +0100 763034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=733798&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F07%2Fparallel_DNA.gif Although, I didn't believe it when I first saw it. With all the years that I've heard (or taught) that all DNA is antiparallel, it was hard to believe my eyes. Yet here is parallel DNA, with both strands oriented in the same direction, right here on your monitor. And the commenters were correct. tags: DNA structure, DNA , molecular structure, biochemistry Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=733798 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:18:05 +0100 733798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=726302&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2Fupload%2F2007%2F07%2Fbasepair_puzzle.gif Okay, all of you biochemists and molecular biology types. I have a puzzle for you that I found by accident during a lecture. Yes, I was the one lecturing and the notes will be posted soon. In the meantime, here's your puzzle: What's unusual about this pair of bases? tags: DNA structure, DNA , molecular structure, biochemistry Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Discovering Biology in a Digital World) Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=726302 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:54:30 +0100 726302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682485&cid=t_97599_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F20%2Fa-newly-discovered-cause-of-diabetes-depression.html I recently came across an article in the April 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (vol. 167, pp. 802-807; 2007) describing a newly-discovered connection between depression and diabetes type 2 in older adults. The study enrolled 4,681 non-diabetic men and women over age 65, and followed them for 10 years. The participants filled out every year a questionnaire to measure their depressive symptoms, and every 2-4 years had their blood pressure measured. After removing confounding factors that are well known to increase the incidence of diabetes, like increased body mass index, alcohol consumption, and smoking, they discovered that even a single report of high depressive symptoms is highly associated with increased risk of diabetes type 2. In fact, there was a 60% increased chance of... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682485 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:59:50 +0100 682485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674818&cid=t_97599_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2Fmusings-on-billie-jean-king-tennis-and-dopamine.html  We were watching tonight a great program on PBS about Billie Jean King and her wonderful tennis career. Her 1973 match, or dare I say grudge match, against Bobby Riggs, was a delight to the eyes and the soul. We relished her strategy of running ragged this aging fool from one end of the court to the other. There she was: a skilled, rebellious young woman facing a male chauvinist who taunted her to test her mettle against his. But the match had a much larger meaning; it was emblematic of the new generation, of a new world upending the old order and its tired prejudices, not in a bloody revolution fought in the streets—but in a fair, civilized match on the tennis court. How many of you remember a single feminist demonstration? but we all remember this historic... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674818 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:42:17 +0100 674818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=638228&cid=t_97599_122_f&fid=35077&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurophilosophy.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F05%2F24%2F50-years-of-dopamine%2F Today’s issue of Nature contains a news feature about Arvid Carlsson, the Swedish pharmacologist who in the 1950s discovered dopamine and established that it acts as a neurochemical transmitter in the brain. When Carlsson discovered dopamine in 1952, other pharmacologists were skeptical about his findings, and believed that dopamine was merely a metabolite of another transmitter. [...] (Source: Neurophilosophy) Neurophilosophy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=638228 Thu, 24 May 2007 08:49:21 +0100 638228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651618&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fvitamin-k-is-high-yield-for-usmle-step.html Vit. K is needed for the γ-carboxylation of clotting factors 2, 7, 9 and 10This gives them a Ca binding siteThis explains why the vit. K dependent factors are the same factors that are dependent on calciumDeficiency: o Primary problem is an inability to γ-carboxylate factors 2, 7, 9 and 10 therefore, factors ARE made but can NOT be activated by CaInvolves several factors, including factor 7 which: has the shortest t½ of all the clotting factorstherefore, factor 7 is the first factor unable to be activated Since factor 7 is specific to the extrinsic pathway the extrinsic pathway is affected firstSince the prothrombin time (PT) is a measure of the extrinsic pathway, it is the value expected to be elevated firstLeads to ↑↑PT (AND eventually ↑PTT... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651618 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:14:00 +0100 651618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651619&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Ftestable-anemias-that-do-not-always.html Here are some anemias that aren't always thought of in the same breath as many other anemias.Vitamin C deficiency - since vitamin C enhances non-heme iron absorption in the gut, a vitamin C deficiency can cause a iron deficiency (microcytic and hypochromic) anemia.Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) deficiency - Vit. E prevents the peroxidation of lipid cell membranes by free oxygen radicals since vit. E is an anti-oxidant. When deficient in vit. E, one sign is acanthocytes in the peripheral blood smear. When these spiny RBCs burst it causes a hemolytic anemiaSimilarly, in abetalipoprotinemia, an autosomal recessive disorder of lipid absorption may manifest with acanthocytosis in part because vitamin E (a fat soluble vitamin) is also not being absorbed.Orotic Aciduria - megaloblastic anemia unres... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651619 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:49:00 +0100 651619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651620&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Flymphatic-drainage-is-high-yield-for.html Here's some basic information about lymphatic drainage:Pretty simple, which is how I like it. Apo B48 is on chylomicrons which carry the dietary lipids. I remember this by its the apolipoprotein that is in the food before (B4) you ate (8). Okay, its not really before you ate it its after you ate it, but I think it gets the point across that ApoB48 is for the lipids that you eat and so is therefore found on chylomicrons. Since lipid soluble vitamins are absorbed with your dietary lipids, chylomicrons also contain fat soluble vitamins.The right lymphatic duct also drains into venous blood but instead of the left internal jugular/subclavian vein, its into the right ones.So it was just a quick doodle and explanation today about these straight forward points. I'm sure you can think of a lot of ... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651620 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:06:00 +0100 651620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651624&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fthiamine-is-hy-for-usmle-step-1.html THIAMINE aka Vitamin B1Active form: Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP)Main reactions in which thiamine is a cofactor:These dehydrogenase reactions generate NADH in the mitochondria which enter the electron transport chain to generate ATP, therefore the patient has a problem making ATP.Cofactors required by the above 2 enzymes areThiamineLipoic acidCO2FolateNAD+Which can be remembered by the phrase, "Tender Love and Care for Nancy"(Thiamine is also a cofactor for transketolase which catalyzes 2 Carbon transfers in the HMP shunt (pentose phosphate pathway) - required to make Ribose 5 phosphate for nucleotide synthesis)Classic patient is a Malnourished AlcoholicSigns and symptoms of deficiency:Wernicke's EncephalopathyPeripheral neuropathydue to Wallerian degeneration; not drawn (source: Boards and... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651624 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:36:00 +0100 651624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=538563&cid=t_97599_107_f&fid=35009&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsciencesque.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F04%2F11%2Finner-life-of-the-cell-video%2F This video rocks my inner world! All those molecules, proteins, genes, etc. that molecular biologist go now and now about are put into context in this 3 minute journey inside a computer-generated cell. A longer version with descriptive narration is also available for your viewing pleasure. Via Science Blog. Tags: science, biology, molecular biology, cell, biochemistry, video, YouTube, education (Source: Sciencesque) Sciencesque blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=538563 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:06:23 +0100 538563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651635&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Furea-cycle.html Urea contains 2 molecules of nitrogen derived from:NH3**Aspartate**Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase is the rate limiting enzymelocated in the mitochondriaactivated by N-acetylglutamateThe above was an excerpt from Mike’s High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 (Source: Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1) Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651635 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:23:00 +0100 651635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651634&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fglucagon-for-beta-blocker-overdose.html Here's a great board question that I don't know if its ever been asked, but can you think why you would want to give glucagon for a beta blocker overdose? Hint: It’s all about cAMP Beta blockers at toxic doses would dangerously ↓ HR. The heart has β1 receptors which act through a Gs to raise intracellular cAMPGlucagon, via its own receptor can ↑ cAMP independently of the blocked β1 receptorAlso note, that this is an example of physiologic antagonismGiving a β1 agonist to overcome the β-block would be an example of competitive antagonismCan you say, "Gunner Level?"The above was an excerpt from Mike’s High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 (Source: Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1) Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651634 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:49:00 +0100 651634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513106&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2F2nd-messangers.html bangledoc writes:Thanks miky.It will hep greatly every one taking step 1.could u write more about other 2nd messenger with application (as cGMP).As this are highly asked in exam. Thanks again I agree, 2nd messengers are very HY and therefore should be in any blog called HY for the USMLELets start with this:For the USMLE Step 1, it is more important to understand how each different 2nd messenger system works individually then to memorize if alpha 1 is a cAMP or cGMP or Gs or Gi. It happens to be cAMP and Gs.I overlooked this point and placed greater emphasis on which receptor goes with which 2nd messenger system. The basic mnemonics in First Aid should suffice for the exam but there is a little more I would add, and since it is so late it will have to wait for tomorrow. (It involves the reg... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513106 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:02:00 +0100 2513106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651636&cid=t_97599_145_f&fid=35718&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhy4theusmle.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fcgmp-is-high-yield.html Know that the drugs acting via cGMP areNitrates (Nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate)Increases production of cGMPActivation (denitration) to NO occurs within the smooth muscle cells enwrapped around vascular endothelium.NO activates guanylyl cyclase → ↑cGMP → dephosphorylates myosin light chain kinase → smooth muscle relaxation Note, tolerance develops rapidlyAddressed by telling pt to take a break from the particular drug or Rx w/ a different anginal drugOccupation exposure → Monday DiseaseNitroprussideRx: Hypertensive emergencies Same mechanism as nitratesAE: Cyanide toxicity (rx: sodium thiosulfate)SildenafilDecreased breakdown of cGMPInhibits 5’-phosphodiesteraseThe enzyme that breaksdown cGMPDo not give a pt on a nitrat... Mike's High Yield Blog for the USMLE Step 1 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651636 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100 651636