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 'expression'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139878&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2F5-quick-facts-about-art-therapy%2F The very words “art therapy” can sound abstract (no pun intended!), and many people have little understanding about its origins, principles and purpose. That can easily create myriad misconceptions. Here, we lay out five facts about art therapy. 1. Art therapy has many uses. According to Cathy Malchiodi in her book The Art Therapy Sourcebook, art therapy is “a modality for self-understanding, emotional change and personal growth.” A vast field, art therapy has been used on a variety of populations, with everyone from young kids to the elderly, war veterans to prisoners and people with physical disabilities to those with psychological disorders. In her own practice, Malchiodi helps clients with everything from processing emotions to gaining personal growth. In her book, she explai... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139878 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:36:16 +0100 5139878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862627&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2F8-tips-for-writing-a-love-letter-to-your-spouse%2F In my post, “Getting the Love You Want … Over and Over Again,” I mention one of the most powerful intimacy tools in my marriage, which is writing a love letter. I write one every day to my husband. Now mind you, these are not lengthy missives. Some of them are just a few sentences. But I do think the brief expression of affection has made our connection much stronger. On some days, it is the only substantial communication between us, because our kids have an uncanny knack of interrupting all of our conversations. But how do you go about writing a love letter? I found these eight tips on the site, Song of Marriage. This following suggestions are part of a husband’s guide. But I think they work for a wife’s as well. Rule Number One: Make It Positively Personal Anything put into w... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862627 Wed, 25 May 2011 19:31:33 +0100 4862627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495250&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-february-18-2011%2F This article looks at the big D (as in denial), when it can be good for us and when it can be hazardous to our health. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495250 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:09:02 +0100 4495250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477815&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F15%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-february-15-2011%2F You can come out from your hiding place. Valentine’s Day is officially over! Yes, a surprising amount of our Facebook friends said they hated the holiday. Some found it to be too commercial. Others found it to be lonely for singles. There were also many who thought it was a good excuse to celebrate love. In general, while everyone had their own reasons for loving or hating the holiday, I thought it was a great discussion about love and an opportunity to reflect on the four letter word itself. Our bloggers were no exception. Everyone had their own take on love. One blogger talked about how Valentine’s Day can bring up unexpected pain and sorrow in our lives. Another discussed the various stages of a romantic relationship (a perfect post for couples). A third mentioned the import... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477815 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:53:34 +0100 4477815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433136&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F03%2F10-blogs-to-spark-your-creativity%2F Recently, I’ve talked quite a bit about connecting to our creative selves. (Yes, everyone is creative!) One way to access our creativity, I believe, is through inspiration from other amazing minds. In honor of that, I wanted to share 10 blogs that help me get creative (this is by no means an exhaustive list), find tons of right answers and most importantly, get super-excited about the world and all there is to see. In no particular order, they are: 1. Scoutie Girl. This blog features interesting independent craft and design work. As their about page states, “Simply put, Scoutie Girl is the blog with a penchant for the passionately handmade.” The posts are always a lovely surprise. Topics include creative living and mindful spending. 2. Susannah Conway Susannah is a writer and ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433136 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:53:54 +0100 4433136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405824&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F26%2Fdont-fall-for-infidelity%2F I’m annoyed by infidelity. What’s gotten me so annoyed to write about it are radio advertisements I hear for a website that encourages people to cheat on their spouse or significant other, acting as though it were a common or even normal experience. Infidelity — or cheating, as people often refer to it — is neither common nor normal. If you’ve come to the fork in the road where you’ve cheated or are considering cheating on your partner, it’s time to acknowledge another reality — your primary romantic relationship is in trouble. Serious trouble. You can go down the easy road and cheat — because, after all, somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of people in relationships do. Or you can acknowledge something is going on with your relationshi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405824 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:23:36 +0100 4405824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172113&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F16%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-16-2010%2F Do you remember the first time you began thinking about yourself as your own person, separate from mom and dad? I think for me it began when I was a child and saw that I could choose what I wanted to wear for school, what I wanted to eat and what I liked to do. But not only that. My tastes, sense of style and opinions were different too. Yet, this sense of, “Who am I?” definitely did not stop as a child. It grew in my twenties and continues to grow for me as an adult. The more I am able to step out of my family’s shoes and develop my own sense of me, the further along the path I walk toward authenticity and self-identity. It’s a road less traveled especially if you come from a family-centered culture like mine. If you are an artist, writer or any creative person, th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172113 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:59:46 +0100 4172113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060650&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F12%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-october-12-2010%2F I am an only child. Growing up, I didn’t have siblings, but friends and family to play with. And when it came time to the hard parts of my young life, I found comfort in books. Books can provide a space for fun, escape, and information. And I soaked them all in. They also worked as mentors, heroes and teachers to me. No matter what was going on in life, I could always count on the excitement, fantasy and often hope in the tattered pages of my favorite book. That’s why this week’s posts are so meaningful to me. We’ve got posts on healing through books and one on how narcissism and the  ego can negatively effect creative people. If you’re a book lover or a creative person, you’ll love these posts. We’ve also got posts on body image, the importance o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060650 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:08:23 +0100 4060650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013264&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F21000927%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EHoly-Branding-Religion-Gives-Brand-Immunity.htm Most marketers don’t count religious affiliation or degree of religiosity as key demographics, but a new study suggests perhaps they should. Makers of branded “self expression” items (such as logo apparel or designer sunglasses) in particular may find this segmentation useful. According to a paper by Ron Shachar (Tel Aviv University and Duke) and co-authors [...] (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013264 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:57:01 +0100 4013264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911740&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F27%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-27-2010%2F The other day I was driving when I heard a familiar song playing on the radio. It was Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldier. In fact, as I type this I can hear it playing in my head. The funny thing is that the sound automatically took me back to my childhood. My cousins and I were sitting in someone’s living room. The radio was playing. That song was on. And my older cousin was sitting on this huge comfy chair while the rest of us kids were sitting on the ground. Why do I remember this seemingly mundane event? My cousin spontaneously began belting out the song, dancing to the beat and being as silly as a kid can be. We rolled on the floor and laughed until our sides hurt. It was a memorable moment. We were young, spontaneous and free. How does this relate to this week’s top post... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911740 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:25:50 +0100 3911740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780339&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRMQg-O5v8k4%2F By David RittgersLouisiana has a new law on the books that outlaws “any electronic textual, visual, written, or oral communication with the malicious and willful intent to coerce, abuse, torment, or intimidate a person under the age of eighteen.” This is a statute aimed at “cyberbullying,” the increasingly common use of text messages and social media as a vehicle for teenage taunting. The issue caught its first big headlines with the Lori Drew case. The case against the Missouri woman hailed into court in California for suicide-inducing internet harassment was a stretch of an existing federal statute that was ultimately thrown out. The government continues to contend that violating a website’s terms of service is a federal crime. The federal cyberbullying statute proposed last ye... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780339 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:26:01 +0100 3780339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718107&cid=t_114080_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2Ffiles%2Fplant-viral-vectors.html%23unique-entry-id-152 for Protein Expressionfrom Yuri Y. Gleba and Anatoli Giritch writing in Recent Advances in Plant VirologyPlant-virus-driven transient expression of heterologous proteins is the basis of several mature manufacturing processes that are currently being used for the production of multiple proteins including vaccine antigens and antibodies. Viral vectors have also become useful tools for research. In recent years, advances have been made both in the development of first-generation vectors (those that employ the 'full virus' strategy) as well as second-generation vectors designed using the 'deconstructed virus' approach. This second strategy relies on Agrobacterium as a vector to deliver DNA copies of one or more viral RNA replicons. Among the most often used viral backbones are those of Tobacc... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718107 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3718107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648598&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F10%2Fintroducing-the-creative-mind%2F We were sorry to see Susan K. Perry of our Writer’s Mind blog leave after only a few short months blogging with us. By all accounts, people enjoyed her blog and I know I learned something about writing from her insights. But producing new and interesting blog entries week after week can sometimes be more work than people realize. (Trust me, I understand!) But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens. With that, I’m pleased to introduce our new blog on psychology and creativity, The Creative Mind, with Douglas Eby. The Creative Mind will explore some of the main emotional and psychological topics that can affect how well or how freely creative people are able to express themselves. Douglas hopes to cater this blog to both professionals and to anyone who may want to f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648598 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:30:41 +0100 3648598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515071&cid=t_114080_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2Ffiles%2Fsensory-mechanisms-bacteria.html%23unique-entry-id-58 from Sensory Mechanisms in Bacteria: Molecular Aspects of Signal RecognitionBacteria have evolved extraordinary abilities to detect physical and chemical signals, both within their own cells and in the extracellular environment. The interaction of a signal with its receptor (usually a protein or RNA molecule) triggers a series of events that lead to reprogramming of cellular physiology, typically as a consequence of altered patterns of gene expression. In this way, the bacterial cell is able to mount appropriate and effective responses to changing physical and/or chemical environments. The versatility with which many bacteria adapt to environmental change underlies many important aspects of microbiology. For example, pathogens encounter multiple environments as they invade a host from the ... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515071 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3515071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515070&cid=t_114080_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2Ffiles%2Fthiol-based-sensory-factors%2520.html%23unique-entry-id-59 from Haike Antelmann and Peter Zuber in Sensory Mechanisms in Bacteria: Molecular Aspects of Signal Recognition Bacteria regularly encounter Reactive Oxygen, Nitrogen and Electrophilic Species (ROS, RNS, RES) that are generated inside the cells by incomplete reduction of molecular oxygen, imbalanced metabolic processes or applied externally by toxic or antimicrobial compounds. The response to such reactive agents is mediated by redox-sensitive transcription factors that exploit the unique chemistry of cysteine thiol groups. Redox-sensitive regulatory proteins bear cysteine residues that can undergo post-translational modification, leading to either activation or inactivation of the transcription factors. This in turn results in responses that are aimed to detoxify the reactive species or a... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515070 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3515070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487040&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Ft-LG2mluQe0%2F By Ilya ShapiroA northern Texas school district attempted to banish all religious expression from its schools by prohibiting virtually all non-verbal student speech in any school-related context.  Officials used this broad policy to promote an anti-religious orthodoxy and root out any and all religious speech. The Supreme Court made clear, however, in its seminal school speech case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, that students enjoy First Amendment rights, and that core political and religious speech cannot be suppressed without showing that the speech will “materially and substantially disrupt” the educational process. Here, the Fifth Circuit upheld all of the district’s regulations and found that Tinker did not supply the relevant legal standar... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487040 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:11:33 +0100 3487040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480934&cid=t_114080_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FcbTAXhrqxDY%2F Diffused nebula in Sagittarius; courtesy NASA Many people with newfound sobriety from addiction, alcoholism, gambling and codependency are challenged by philosophical questions such as posed here. My life is… a mystery which I do not attempt to understand, as though I were led by the hand in a night where I see nothing, but can fully depend on the Love and Protection of Him Who guides me.     – Thomas Merton – When I laugh, God laughs.  When I weep, God weeps.  When I need, God says, “Yes.” I have come to know that there are many different ways to express spirituality and  know that the Universe is showing me my way.  Spirituality is not defined only as religion.  Spirituality is the yearning of the heart toward something larger than ourselves and the desire to leap the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480934 Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:11:36 +0100 3480934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460323&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.discovermagazine.com%2Fgnxp%2F2010%2F04%2Fwhen-a-trait-isnt-a-trait-isnt-a-trait%2F One of the great things about evolutionary theory is that it is a formal abstraction of specific concrete aspects of reality and dynamics. It allows us to squeeze inferential juice from incomplete prior knowledge of the state of nature. In other words, you can make predictions and models instead of having to observe every last detail of the natural world. But abstractions, models and formalisms often leave out extraneous details. Sometimes those details turn out not to be so extraneous. Charles Darwin’s original theory of evolution had no coherent or plausible mechanism of inheritance. R. A. Fisher and others imported the empirical reality of Mendelism into the logic of evolutionary theory, to produce the framework of 20th century population genetics. Though accepting the genetic inh... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460323 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:15:19 +0100 3460323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3456669&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FnkONjUE--qc%2F By Timothy B. LeeI’m saddened to hear of the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. Whatever you might say about his jurisprudence in other areas, one place where Justice Stevens really shined was in his defense of high-tech freedom. Justice Stevens wrote the majority opinion in some of the most important high-tech cases of the last four decades. In other cases, he wrote important (and in some cases prescient) dissents. Through it all, he was a consistent voice for freedom of expression and the freedom to innovate. His accomplishments include: Free speech: Justice Stevens wrote the majority decision in ACLU v. Reno, the decision that struck down the infamous Communications Decency Act and clearly established that the First Amendment applies to the Internet. In the 13 years since t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3456669 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:57:19 +0100 3456669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448916&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F08%2Fmoebius-syndrome-facial-paralysis%2F Moebius syndrome is the name given to facial paralysis, and is characterized by an individual who is incapable of expressing their emotions or any kind of reaction through their face because of it. It is a rare congenital condition that only affects about 1 in 100,000 children at birth. Moebius syndrome typically results in total or near total paralysis of the face, including eyes that don’t blink. The New York Times has the story of researcher Kathleen Bogart, who was disappointed to learn of the dearth of psychological research into this condition. Having it herself, she decided to help fill the gap, and began researching people with Moebius syndrome. In a new study, the largest to date of Moebius syndrome, Ms. Bogart and David Matsumoto, a psychologist at San Francisco State, foun... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448916 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:46:10 +0100 3448916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350439&cid=t_114080_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwisdom-from-the-ages-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F If there’s one thing we need as we chug along with this life of pain everyday, it’s wisdom. Many of our founding fathers were full of profundity and wisdom which sure could come in handy in today’s fast-paced world. Thomas Jefferson said, “Take care of your change; dollars will take care of themselves.” Certainly, many of us have discovered the same truth applies to minutes. Take care of your minutes; your hours and yes days, will take care of themselves. If you have to scoot, push, pull or crawl toward that goal, surely, you and I can do it one minute at a time. My goodness, Jefferson and a handful of other independent thinkers founded a whole new country. They did it one act, one township and one battle at a time. So often we look down this road of chronic pain and it appea... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350439 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:34:30 +0100 3350439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239551&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYgDEqrpv3mE%2F By Ilya ShapiroHastings College of the Law, a public law school in California, has a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of “race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disabilities, age, sex or sexual orientation.” In 2004, the Christian Legal Society, a religious student organization at the school, applied to become a “recognized student organization” — a designation that would have allowed CLS to receive a variety of benefits afforded to about 60 other Hastings groups. While all are welcome to attend CLS meetings, CLS’s charter requires that its officers and voting members abide by key tenets of the Christian faith and comport themselves in ways consistent with its fundamental mission, which includes a prohibition on “unrepentan... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239551 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:40:19 +0100 3239551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092892&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fprinceton-scientists-find-way-to-catalog-all-that-goes-wrong-in-a-cancer-cell%2F A team of Princeton University scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has “gone wrong,” giving researchers a powerful tool that eventually could make possible new, more targeted therapies for patients. A team of Princeton University scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092892 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:53:24 +0100 3092892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071433&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F08%2Fmagp2-gene-expression-signature-a-potential-ovarian-cancer-personalized-treatment-target%2F A multi-institutional study has identified a potential personalized treatment target for the most common form of ovarian cancer. In the December 8 issue of Cancer Cell, the research team describes finding that a gene called MAGP2 – not previously associated with any type of cancer – was overexpressed in papillary serous ovarian tumors of patients [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071433 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:17:59 +0100 3071433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999508&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FA4DDT0pXBF4%2F In a new Policy Analysis, Cato Research Fellow Jason Kuznicki examines the ongoing threats to free speech both at home and around the world, from hate-speech laws in the United Kingdom and Canada and university speech codes in the United States, to the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam: The result is not more happiness, but a race to the bottom, in which aggrieved groups compete endlessly with one another for a slice of government power. Philosopher Robert Nozick once observed that utilitarianism is hard-pressed to banish what he termed utility monsters—that is, individuals who take inordinate satisfaction from acts that displease others. Arguing about who hurt whose feelings worse, and about who needs more soothing than whom, seems designed to discover—or create—utility mon... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999508 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:26:33 +0100 2999508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2962859&cid=t_114080_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F11%2Fgene-expression-in-entamoeba.html Our knowledge of the functions of different structural proteins and virulence factors in the cellular organization and pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica has significantly increased following the introduction of various molecular techniques that enable the manipulation of gene expression. Unfortunately, to date, all the attempts to integrate exogenous DNA into the parasite's genome have failed and most methods for up- and down-regulation of gene expression have been based on the transfection of stably maintained plasmids. Down-regulation has been achieved by plasmids encoding: (i) antisense RNA, (ii) truncated or mutated genes that exert dominant-negative effects, and (iii) inverted loops that generate double stranded RNA molecules. Small interfering RNA oligonucleotides incorporated di... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2962859 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0100 2962859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851968&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fd0tjpkB_Oss%2F Music and cancer do not go together, and I mean that in the context of this new technology: A project at Harvard Medical School created a program to translate the signals from cells into musical notes. Normal signals will sound harmonious, abnormal signals like those coming from cancer cells will sound awful. Listen to this –     Using date from a pre-existing colon cancer study, bioinformatician Gil Alterovitz and his team created a program that transforms complex genomic information into musical notes, so that abnormal data will sound discordant. “When things go awry, such as in the case of p53-null mutant colon cancer cells under inflammatory stress conditions, gene expression varies slightly, and inharmonious chord progressions result. Listening to the result... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851968 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:11:20 +0100 2851968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774595&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fpumping-expression-breastfeeding-a-poll%2F The implication of the Medela Breast Milk Commercial that women will need a breast pump if they plan to breastfeed got me wondering — in the last two months, have you used a pump? Was it electric or manual, or do you prefer to hand express? Medela Swing Breast PumpDid you not require a pump or hand expression in the last two months? What is your opinion on whether a breast pump is necessary? As a stay-at-home mother, I used a manual pump with my first child but quickly found that my baby would not take a bottle and I only needed to express milk to relieve engorgement or get rid of a plugged duct. I preferred hand-expression for those tasks. #MicroPollDiv_201565 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3 (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774595 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:02:30 +0100 2774595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2703805&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fwinner-of-the-hands-free-pumping-bra%2F Thanks again to Easy Expression Products for the Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bra giveaway! Many people expressed (pun intended!) positive things about the hands-free pumping bra and it’s fun to be giving away a product that breastfeeding and pumping mothers find so helpful! Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bustier Bra It’s especially fun when Random.org happens to pick a winner who can really benefit from the prize — and that winner is commenter #20 Jennifer B, who said: I am pregnant with my second child, and I would sooo love having one of these. I thought about getting one when I was nursing my 2 year old, but I wasn’t working at the time, and we didn’t have the money for one. I had a lot of issues with insufficient supply, and needed to pump, pump, pump ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2703805 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:34:11 +0100 2703805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688866&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F10%2Fnovel-targeted-gene-therapies-use-diphtheria-toxin-to-fight-ovarian-cancer-future-clinical-trials-anticipated%2F Two separate research teams reported promising results last week based upon preclinical studies involving the use of diphtheria toxin to fight ovarian cancer. … A targeted gene therapy was utilized in both studies, wherein a gene fragment capable of producing diptheria toxin was combined with a nanoparticle which was [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688866 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:16:33 +0100 2688866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685166&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fhands-free-pumping-bra-giveaway%2F Now is your chance to win an Easy Expression™ Hands-Free Pumping Bra compliments of Easy Expression Products! In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, Easy Expression Products is giving one lucky Breastfeeding 1-2-3 reader an Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bra which has a suggested retail value of $34.00! Easy Expression Hands-Free Bustier Pumping Bra The Product The Easy Expression™ Hands-Free Pumping Bra started as a way for mother Gretchen Penny to more efficiently pump while at work because it enabled her to multi-task while she pumped. Now the bra is available in all Pea in the Pod and Destination Maternity stores and through other retailers found on the Easy Expression Products website. You can read a great review from a guest blogger here at Breastfeeding 1-2-... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685166 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:30:40 +0100 2685166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2682082&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F08%2Fgenome-more-than-coding.php Evolutionary Processes Acting on Candidate cis-Regulatory Regions in Humans Inferred from Patterns of Polymorphism and Divergence. Let me just jump to the final paragraph since that's probably what most readers are curious about:Our analysis of human polymorphism and divergence in conserved non-coding sites suggests that the evolution of candidate cis-regulatory regions is often driven by both positive and negative selection. Our findings reinforce the idea that the non-coding portion of our genome has an important functional and evolutionary role, and suggest that patterns of natural selection in non-coding DNA are often distinct from that of protein-coding regions. Many of the adaptive changes in candidate cis-regulatory regions might have occurred near genes expressed in the fetal brain... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2682082 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:12:00 +0100 2682082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649203&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FJq8P_-8o38w%2F Do you remember that TV ad for a weed-killer where two men face each other at their front lawns (ala-fastest draw in the west)? Well, that scene was brought to mind when I read this report on atrazine, a popular weed-killer in the U.S.. As one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S., atrazine easily runs off into surrounding fields and groundwater. It is banned in Europe because the concentrations of the herbicide in underground water supply systems can not be contained at safe levels. Recently, a study reported that atrazine lowers the production of the male hormone androgen by changing the genes that make them. The study was done on male rats which were fed with higher doses of atrazine. The herbicide also lowered testosterone levels and decreased the size of the prostate in rat... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649203 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:16:12 +0100 2649203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405418&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F12%2Fyour-facebook-page-is-a-mirror-reflection-of-how-well-liked%2F Can the Internet offer a mirror into your personality? Apparently, the answer is yes, according to recently published research. The researchers conducted the experiment on 37 undergraduate students who were interviewed and rated on how likable they were. Their Facebook pages were also independently rated on how likable they were. The key finding was that participants rated as more likable in the flesh also tended to be rated as more likable based on their Facebook page. Moreover, an analysis of the cues used to make these judgments also showed parallels between the two mediums. Video-recordings of the face-to-face contacts suggested it was participants who were more non-verbally expressive (through facial expression and tone of voice) who tended to be rated as more likable. Similarly, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405418 Tue, 12 May 2009 13:36:38 +0100 2405418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365323&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrgTtU-dDDJs%2F Often, finding the gene(s) that cause a disease is like the proverbial needle in a haystack. And in very rare cases, it’s Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare childhood lung cancer where cysts and/or solid tumors grow in the lungs of children anytime from birth to about 7-8 years of age. Malignant cancer cells. Image: Newscom Only about 50% of patients with PPB are successfully cured of the cancer, and the prognosis becomes better with early diagnosis. One fourth of children with PPB have other types of cancers in their bodies (personal history) or in other family members, so there is a clear genetic factor involved. A recent study found very interesting results that could help scientists understand how cancers develop. Results from a molecular study found that that a master controll... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365323 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:10:00 +0100 2365323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353884&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F21%2Fnurturing-my-soul-stadium-therapy%2F Everyone has a few places on this earth they consider special. People get a certain feeling when they are there, like putting on a pair of old comfortable shoes or being plugged into a charge of energy. Memories, emotions, physical sensations - these places stir them all up, creating a divine craving to return often. For me, it’s an old football stadium. This past weekend I went to the football stadium of my alma mater. It’s just a spring scrimmage, but it’s a Huge Deal every year. This thing is more than just a sporting event. It’s an excuse to “be there”, to bask in the aura and the atmosphere, to get lost inside the experience. I went to college there, so did my husband, my dad, and so many other people in my family. I was in the marching band, and I... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353884 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:37:08 +0100 2353884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2326620&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F04%2Fjohns-hopkins-discovers-a-protein-that-contributes-to-ovarian-cancer-recurrence-by-causing-chemoresistance%2F ” … Ground-breaking work on an ovarian cancer-related protein in the lab of Ie-Ming Shih at the [Johns Hopkins] School of Medicine is leading to new insights into cancer biology. … They have revealed a novel protein that creates cancer cells that are resistant to traditional cancer chemotherapies and partially revealed its mechanism of action. [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2326620 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:57:57 +0100 2326620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2299064&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F24%2Fovarian-cancers-detected-early-may-be-less-aggressive%2F “The biology of ovarian cancers discovered at an early stage may render them slower growing and less likely to spread than more aggressive cancers, which typically are discovered in an advanced stage, according to a study led by investigators in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.  This finding has implications for the question of whether screening [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2299064 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:27:59 +0100 2299064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232541&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F04%2Fis-morality-a-basic-instinct%2F Many people assume that morality — our sense of what is “right” and just in this world versus what is wrong — is something we formulate through a process of time, experience and thinking. We equate morality with higher reasoning and not a base instinct like hunger or the need for shelter. New research out from the University of Toronto suggests that perhaps such thinking is wrong. In the study, the scientists examined facial movements when participants tasted unpleasant liquids and looked at photographs of disgusting objects such as dirty toilets or injuries. They compared these to their facial movements when they were subjected to unfair treatment in a laboratory game. The U of T team found that people make similar facial movements in response to both primitive ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232541 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:33:15 +0100 2232541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2222636&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F02%2Fepigenetics-and-gene-structures.php Following up on this previous post on epigentics, I thought I'd point to a couple nice examples of using epigenetic information to obtain insight into basic biology. The first is, I think it's fair to say, a landmark paper identifying a set of over a thousand likely functional non-coding RNAs in mouse cell lines. The approach used here was epigenetic: the authors generated genome-wide maps of chromatin modifications known to mark promoters and transcribed regions, and screened out all the regions of the genome already known to be transcriptionally active. This left them with a set of putatively functional transcripts, which tended to be highly evolutionarily conserved (indicating function), and many of which they confirmed via other means to be novel long non-coding RNAs. The second is a n... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2222636 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:40:00 +0100 2222636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056101&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F12%2Ftranscription-around-promoters.php A number of papers out this week (summarized here) notice, using various technologies, the presence of extensive transcription off both DNA strands around active promoters. A figure from one of the papers is above--note the peak in transcription from the sense strand just downstream of the transcription start site (TSS), and the peak in anti-sense transcription just upstream of the TSS. This is an interesting observation, and an example of the unexpected things you can see with new technologies, but no one is exactly sure what to make of it--it could just be the transcriptional machinery being a bit sloppy. (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056101 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:38:00 +0100 2056101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999417&cid=t_114080_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F29%2Fagainst-freedom-of-commercial-expression-abstract%2F Tamara Piety has an interesting new article, titled “Against Freedom of Commercial Expression,” in 29 Cardozo Law Review 2583 (2008), which you can download on SSRN.  Here’s the abstract. * * * Preservation of freedom of expression is properly understood as one of the bulwarks of our constitutional liberty. Yet the prohibition on government regulation of expression has never been considered absolute. One area of less than absolute protection is found in the commercial speech doctrine. Government may regulate commercial speech for its truth where such regulation advances a substantial governmental interest which is advanced by the regulation and there is a good fit between regulation’s aims and the regulation itself. Some argue that even this intermediate level of ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999417 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:54:10 +0100 1999417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964598&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2FBQ-_S2aYqZQ%2F Conclusion Well, what do you think? Have you made a decision? We’ve moved through each of the different attributes: needs, preferences, values and emotions. Did you find the articles interesting? Did you learn anything new? Was this a successful edition of Encephalon? I really enjoyed reading through each of the articles and learned quite a lot. My thanks to everyone that contributed articles — it’s been great hosting this edition of Encephalon. Be sure to take a moment and let your fellow bloggers know this issue is available so that everyone’s hard work can be appreciated and enjoyed by all. You can find both the hosting schedule and past editions at the Encephalon Archives & Calendar. The next edition of Encephalon will be at Ionian Enchantment on November 24th.... Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964598 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:20:10 +0100 1964598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939181&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwnOW4GD6YfQ%2F Early-onset type 1 diabetes may have less to do with certain genes causing inborn genetic errors, and more to do with normal genes behaving differently for those with the disease. To find out how certain twins get diabetes while the other does not, Stanford University scientists studied two types of mice models: Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with the gene variants that closely resembles a predisposing gene complex in humans (MHC), and another group of non-diabetic mice without the predisposing genes. The group found that clusters of genes were consistently expressed in the NOD mice in specific tissues at certain times. What is even more interesting is the gene expression "signatures" occurred before certain signs of diabetes were noticed, such as hyperglycemia. So if these pre-... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939181 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:00:35 +0100 1939181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1816188&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2F399892651%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Other Articles You May LikeNovel Gene Suppresses Tumor Growth in Multiple CancersTumor Suppressors and OncogenesThe Promise of Stem Cells to Repair the HeartMapping Connections in the Human BrainIncreased Coffee Consumption Associated with Lower Risk of Liver Cancer (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1816188 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:46:49 +0100 1816188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1791969&cid=t_114080_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F15%2Fthe-art-of-chronic-pain%2F Pain is invisible - and people with pain often find it difficult to express exactly what their pain is like in words… BUT art can express so much that words can’t and the art of chronic pain can be found in all sorts of places. Today I was given a pamphlet from a nonprofit organisation called PAIN Exhibit in the US.  The organiser and creator of this group is Mark Collen, who has experienced chronic pain for over ten years.  If you go to the website PainExhibit.com, you’ll find some incredibly powerful images created by people who have chronic pain.  Some of the images are hard to look at, they’re so evocative. Mark has published a brief pamphlet about chronic pain, and the website also has some information about chronic pain, but the main purpose of the site is ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791969 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:06:38 +0100 1791969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779860&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2FQ4cX9wkdeK4%2F Remember when I interviewed Dr. Jane Morton about breastfeeding education for medical professionals? Remember when I mentioned her free online video on hand expression of breast milk? Well today I learned from About.com Breastfeeding that Dr. Morton has another fascinating free video online, this time about increasing breast milk supply when it is necessary to pump for a baby in the NICU or any baby not nursing well at the breast. It is called “Maximizing Milk Production” and in 9 minutes 35 seconds, it explains how to increase milk supply without medication. Dr. Morton recommends and demonstrates such techniques as skin-to-skin contact, breast massage, “hands-on pumping,” breast compressions, and hand expression after pumping. What was really amazing to me was to s... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779860 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:09:27 +0100 1779860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1754687&cid=t_114080_132_f&fid=35028&url=http%3A%2F%2Flurena.vox.com%2Flibrary%2Fpost%2Ftwo-strategies-for-gene-regulation-by-promoter-nucleosome.html%3F_c%3Dfeed-rss Naama Barkai Keynote Talk, Morning Session, 3 September (11th MGED Meeting, 1-4 September, 2008) Want to try to understand what drives phenotypic diversity. There are two aspects to this answer: changes in the gene sequence and changes in the ge... Read and post comments | Send to a friend (Source: Systems Biology & Bioinformatics) Systems Biology & Bioinformatics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754687 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:02:26 +0100 1754687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750136&cid=t_114080_132_f&fid=35028&url=http%3A%2F%2Flurena.vox.com%2Flibrary%2Fpost%2Fmolecular-characterization-of-clonal-interference-during-adaptive-evolution-in-asexual-populations.html%3F_c%3Dfeed-rss ..of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gavin Sherlock Afternoon Session, 1 September (11th MGED Meeting, 1-4 September, 2008) The population structure in the presence of clonal interference is markedly different from that in a classic model. They needed a... Read and post comments | Send to a friend (Source: Systems Biology & Bioinformatics) Systems Biology & Bioinformatics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750136 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:20:42 +0100 1750136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709108&cid=t_114080_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fa-meditation-on-individual-expression%2F A couple of weeks ago, I posted a meditation on censorship. In light of all the recent discussion surrounding the film Tropic Thunder, I thought I should post this companion meditation on individual expression: Emperors uphold censorship, But extreme repression leads to extreme reaction. Individualists believe in freedom, But extreme expression leads to extreme reaction. To answer the question I posed in my last post, “No, I don’t believe the creators of pop-culture have a responsibility for limiting their content to what is ‘acceptable’.” The nature of art is individual expression, and in that the ‘artist’ is responsible only to himself. As the meditation above states, though, this unlimited expression might result in “extreme reaction.&#822... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709108 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:02:25 +0100 1709108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1627065&cid=t_114080_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2008%2F07%2Frna-book-review.html Writing in the journal Microbiology Today (Society for General Microbiology, UK), John McCarthy of the University of Manchester, UK, reviews a new book on RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression published by Caister Academic Press: "the contributions in this book do provide informative and well-structured overviews of current understanding of the roles of non-coding RNAs, short interfering RNAs, microRNAs and retrotransposons in eukaryotic organisms ... cutting edge studies on the potential role of RNA species in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and on the existence of previously unidentified classes of intergenic and intronic short regulatory RNAs (pyknons) ... a useful purchase for specialist workers in the field as well as for many institutional libraries."For full details... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1627065 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:44:00 +0100 1627065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536779&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F317597089%2F Welcome to the June Carnival of Breastfeeding: Pumping It Up! Check out all the contributions on the topic of pumping and hand expression at the end of this post. Here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 I am pleased to share this guest post from Holly, whose son has benefited from her exclusive pumping over the last 10 months! Breastfeeding, Pumping, and Cleft Palate, by Holly The breastfeeding relationship I share with my son is nothing like I expected it would be. He was born last August, healthy in every way but one–he had a cleft palate. Nine days after his birth, we ended up in the Emergency Room of the local Children’s Hospital because he was dehydrated. That’s how we learned that try as we might, DS couldn’t nurse. (It’s like drinking through a straw with a hole ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536779 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:40:10 +0100 1536779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1494616&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F304650217%2F For the June Carnival of Breastfeeding we’re calling for submissions on the topics of pumping and hand expression. I am hoping this will be our biggest carnival yet, because I know there a lot of mommy bloggers out there who have experience and advice to share on many subjects relating to pumping or hand expression. Potential subjects include: - Buying or renting a pump - Pumping while in the hospital - Going back to work - Pumping while traveling - Hand expression as an economical and effective alternative to pumping - Pump reviews - Exclusively pumping - How to get a baby to take a bottle - Nipple confusion (a.k.a. nipple or flow preference) - Your experience and advice on pumping or hand expression If you would like to submit your own post about pumping or hand expression, email ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1494616 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:18:01 +0100 1494616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488322&cid=t_114080_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F303052211%2F Mutations in the MeCP2 gene are known to cause Rett Syndrome, which causes impairments in language and cognitive and fine motor skills; according to the International Rett’s Syndrome Foundation, Rett Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as autism. Scientists have previously thought that the MeCP2 gene repressed other genes—switching them “off”; a study published in the June 1st Science shows that it also activates—-turns “on”—-a number of other genes. While Rett Syndrome occurs almost exclusively in girls, duplications of the MeCP2 gene cause Rett-like symptoms in boys along with (in some cases) severe mental retardation. The lead author of the study is Huda Zoghbi, M.D., a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and an investigator of t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488322 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:44:46 +0100 1488322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1467131&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2F297549151%2F Conclusion That concludes the 32nd edition of Gene Genie. My thanks to everyone who submitted an article. You can find more information about the carnival as well as the hosting schedule and past editions at the Gene Genie Website. The next edition will be hosted at Neurophilosophy on June 8th. References Google Backs Harvard Scientist’s 100,000-Genome Quest (Update2). Bloomberg.com 2008 Feb 29. Pearson H. Genetics: what is a gene? Nature. 2006 May 25;441(7092):398-401. View abstract Gotlib et al. HPA axis reactivity: a mechanism underlying the associations among 5-HTTLPR, stress, and depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 May 1;63(9):847-51. Epub 2007 Nov 19. View abstract McGowan et al. Promoter-wide hypermethylation of the ribosomal RNA gene promoter in the suicide brain. PLoS ... Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1467131 Sun, 25 May 2008 04:01:35 +0100 1467131 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1436793&cid=t_114080_132_f&fid=35006&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnsaunders.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F12%2Fproteomics-discussion-from-the-science-streamosphere%2F We find ourselves wondering why codon adaptation index (CAI) is used as a measure of protein expression level in this article. One answer is that CAI does correlate well with protein expression in many proteomics studies; but surely these same studies contain raw data with protein expression level? On reflection, I bet the answer is that it’s too difficult and laborious to access this type of data. There are plenty of papers that describe large-scale analysis of protein expression using proteomics, but the data are locked up in the articles or as inappropriate supplementary files. Note to self: look into open-source software and standard data formats for proteomic data. (Source: What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate) What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1436793 Mon, 12 May 2008 01:27:45 +0100 1436793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1429356&cid=t_114080_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F285937094%2F A product of Pathwork Diagnostics, The Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test is designed to increase diagnostic certainty for hard-to-identify tumors. The Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test measures the expression of more than 1500 genes present in a tissue sample and generates the tumor’s gene expression profile. This profile is then compared to those of 15 known tissues, representing more than 60 morphologies. An objective, probability-based Similarity Score is provided for each of the 15 potential tissue types, enabling each tissue type to be ruled in or ruled out. What do patients need to know about The Pathwork® Tissue of Origin Test? If a patient has hard to identify cancer, the doctor may recommend this test in order to fully determine the best treatment plan for the patient. The P... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1429356 Thu, 08 May 2008 08:20:56 +0100 1429356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1332722&cid=t_114080_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F259632331%2F Anyone familiar with involuntary emotional expression disorder? This is another way of saying uncontrollable laughing or crying, and a little drugmaker called Avanir Pharmaceuticals hopes to market a pill for this “distinct neurological disorder.” Also known as pseudobulbar affect, the affliction has gotten talked up in recent years and investors are buying into the concept. Earlier this week, Avanir received commitments for $40 million in funding from a group of venture capital firms, including ProQuest Investments, whose scientific advisors include Howard Scher, a noted oncologist caught up in the conflicts-of-interest scandal engulfing the FDA over the Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine. The proceeds will be used to complete a Phase III test of its Zenvia pill, which used to b... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1332722 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:49:44 +0100 1332722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1288932&cid=t_114080_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F3%2F9%2Fpaul-ekman-and-the-human-face.html by Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DWhen I went to medical school at UCSF I had a hard time garnering much respect for the ”soft science” of psychiatry. I must hasten to add, this was almost 40 years ago, and the discipline today bears little resemblance to psychiatry of yesteryear. I still remember my psychiatry instructor berating me for suggesting that schizophrenia, in my humble opinion, must be first and foremost a biochemical disorder in the brain; environmental influences may modulate the disease, but could not cause it. This was blasphamy! Freud was God, and psychoanalysis was the Torah he brought down from Mount Sinai . But there was one professor in the department whose work and writings absolutely fascinated me. Paul Ekman, a psychologist (not a psychiatrist!), studied faci... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288932 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:13:26 +0100 1288932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015035&cid=t_114080_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F181939294%2F Endorphins and other morphine-like substances known as opioids, which are released during exercise, don’t just make you feel good — they may also protect you from heart attacks, according to University of Iowa researchers. That good ol’ “runner’s high” is caused by natural opioids that are released during exercise and they are super duper (that is a word from my kids) good! If we can harness exactly how these altered gene expression patterns work, we can reveal specific cardio-protective pathways and viola… we can mimic these same properties of exercise into treatments for heart disease. And that is that. Read more here Share This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015035 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:39:46 +0100 1015035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1005424&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F180280997%2F Think hand expression is unnecessary or too difficult? Dr. Jane Morton offers a free video that demonstrates how to teach mothers (or how to learn for oneself) the technique for hand expression of breast milk. When I interviewed Dr. Morton last March, she mentioned new research that suggests that hand expression used in conjunction with pumping in the first three days is much more effective in promoting subsequent milk production than pumping alone. She said if women were taught to hand express in the first three days after giving birth, their milk production could be boosted significantly and fewer women would experience problems (or unnecessary worries) over low milk supply. In the video, Dr. Morton explains that mothers separated from their babies have been shown to produce 80% more mil... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1005424 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:34:57 +0100 1005424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=993229&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F177540541%2F A paper in PLoS Biology from Sandy Johnson's lab entitled "Interlocking Transcriptional Feedback Loops Control White-Opaque Switching in Candida albicans" discusses phenotype switching in the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Why is the important? "White-opaque switching is an epigenetic phenomenon, where genetically identical cells can exist in two distinctive cell types, white and opaque. Each cell type is stably inherited for many generations, and switching between the two types of cells occurs stochastically and rarely—roughly one switch in 10^4 cell divisions" There is also a review by Kira O'Day to discuss the implications of the findings.  Understanding this sort of developmental and epigenetic signaling is important to better know how fungi adjust and interact with their... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=993229 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:08:28 +0100 993229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=956186&cid=t_114080_134_f&fid=36052&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.daily-diabetic.com%2F50226711%2Felliot_yamin_is_global_ambassador_of_the_inspired_by_diabetes.php In an older post, I wrote about InspiredbyDiabetes.com campaign and its Creative Expression Competition for diabetics. Recently, I received an email from one of the individuals from the said campaign and told me that the Global Ambassador of the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition is Elliot Yamin - most famous for finishing third (behind Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee) in the fifth season of American Idol. Yamin, 29, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 16, commented: "I'm thrilled to be joining this important campaign to help children with diabetes around the world. Children in developing nations often lack the medicines, supplies, education and basic care they need to survive and thrive. Even here in the U.S., there are kids who want to attend a diabete... Daily Diabetic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=956186 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:00:00 +0100 956186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966607&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F160625653%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966607 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:23:18 +0100 966607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=809997&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=36045&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbayblab.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fhiding-from-noise-essential-genes.html We've previously discussed on the bayblab how the same transgene can provoke different murine phenotypes depending on which genomic locus it is expressed from. We've also discussed work demonstrating how noisy gene expression seems to be caused by stochastic bursts of mRNA transcription. A new paper in Nature Genetics ties together these ideas with the observation that essential genes tend to physically cluster within specific regions of genomes.Based on the reasoning that transcriptional noise arises from the stochastic relaxation of otherwise closed chromatin, Batada and Hurst argue that essential eukaryotic genes tend to cluster within regions of open chromatin because these regions are relatively free from transcriptional noise. This would minimize the possibility of random fluctuation... Bayblab blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=809997 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:11:00 +0100 809997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623617&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=35025&url=http%3A%2F%2Frrresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fwhat-next-turning-on-sxy-in-e-coli.html OK, the fusion of the ppdA promoter to lacZ produces 100-fold more beta-gal when Sxy is overexpressed. What are the important things to do with it?1. Find out how sensitive the ppdA promoter is to Sxy: The pASKAsxy plasmid produces a great deal of Sxy when its promoter is induced with IPTG, but we know that most of this Sxy aggregates into insoluble and probably nonfunctional 'inclusion bodies'. So I could try inducing with decreasing concentrations of IPTG, and measure the effect on beta-gal production. It may be that only very slight induction of Sxy will give a big induction of the ppdA promoter. Ideally the amount of Sxy would be measured too, but we don't (yet) have the antibody to E. coli Sxy that would let us easily make these measurements. The beta-gal vs IPTG assay will be easy. I... RRResearch blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623617 Sat, 19 May 2007 13:49:00 +0100 623617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=558432&cid=t_114080_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F21%2Fcisplatin-works-for-triple-nagative-breast-cancer%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Chemotherapy, Research, Daily newsIt's called triple-negative breast cancer and it manifests itself in the lack of expression of two cell surface proteins -- estrogen and progesterone receptors -- and also the protein HER2. It's a disease that does not typically respond to treatment with standard chemotherapy drugs and therefore, diagnosis can come with a poor prognosis. But a new study out of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston indicates this type of disease is sensitive to the drug cisplatin. The study, appearing online in the April 19 Journal of Clinical Investigation and in the journal's May print issue, shows that triple-negative breast cancer expresses larger amounts of two proteins, delta-Np63 and TAp73. Delta-Np63 binds to TAp73 ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=558432 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 558432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=514727&cid=t_114080_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F105766658%2F Organ transplants save lives but even after the difficult task of finding a donor match, there’s still the possibility of the recipient’s body rejecting the organ. Dutch researchers have developed a technique of coating organs with DNA to improve the chances of a transplant’s success. The coating of DNA is applied by layers and has thus far proven successful in cell cultures and animal experiments. Coating organs with DNA helps to: Reduce the immune response leading to organ rejection Specific to bone implants, phosphate groups found in DNA can speed up the attachment to bone tissue. DNA can be enriched with biologically active factors such as those that promote the formation of bone tissue and blood vessels. In related news, a gene expression profiling (GEP) test, Allo... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=514727 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 10:12:27 +0100 514727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486278&cid=t_114080_107_f&fid=35025&url=http%3A%2F%2Frrresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fpolishing-sxy-manuscript.html We're fixing the final details on the Sxy manuscript; I'm hoping to have it submitted in the next 24 hours. Below I'll try to summarize what it says, in less technical terms than the Abstract uses.We already know that the Sxy protein regulates expression of competence genes; here we're examining how Sxy itself is regulated. Our most powerful tools are regulatory mutations that turn Sxy on when it would otherwise be off. The paper starts by describing new mutations that, taken all together, strongly suggest that expression is controlled by changes in RNA folding. We conclude this because all of the mutations change how RNA can fold, but only one of them changes the Sxy protein sequence (and that in a trivial way).The paper then presents data showing that the RNA folding changes don't affect... RRResearch blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486278 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:38:00 +0100 486278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=471539&cid=t_114080_122_f&fid=34757&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbraintechsci.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Fpaul-allen-brain-atlas-misconceptions.html I had noticed last Tuesday a blip on the visitor activity site statistics for this blog, and when I looked into it further, saw that increasing numbers of people were coming to this blog by searching for the Allen Brain Atlas. Apparently, this visitor activity 'blip' corresponded to a publicity campaign launched by the Paul Allen marketing department on that same day to publicize that all the genes in the mouse brain had been mapped. I have posted some things that were critical of the Allen Brain Project, but not unrightly so. I want to see the project succeed and not merely create illusions and spread disinformation through the media. With this in mind, I would like to correct some the media hype and falsehoods about the Allen Brain Project that have been widely circulated.Common Allen Br... BrainTechSci blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=471539 Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:12:00 +0100 471539