Tag: cancer

HeLa cell cultures – Cellular biology record

HeLa cell cultures - Multiphoton fluorescence image of HeLa cellsHeLa cell cultures - Multiphoton fluorescence image of HeLa cells with cytoskeletal microtubules and DNAHeLa cell - Scanning electron micrographHeLa cell cultures - 6.10.2015HeLa cells stained

 

HeLa cells - Scanning electron micrograph of just divided cellsMulticolor fluorescence image of living HeLa cell - 1.10.2014Multicolor fluorescence image of living HeLa cells - 1.10.2014HeLa cells - 27.11.2011Multiphoton fluorescence image of HeLa cells

HeLa cell cultures – Cellular biology record

HeLa cell cultures – They are the record of cellular biology. They have been used by scientists around the world for nearly seven decades. They come from Henrietta Lacks, a patient who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Cancer cells that were taken from without her consent and knowledge. George Otto Gey, a researcher at Johns Hopkins Hospital, examined them.
He discovered that cells divide extremely efficiently and do not die. Science had no such material at its disposal before.

Immortal cells are used to research new drugs and vaccines.

They were sent into space (to check if low gravity would damage human tissues) and helped in gene mapping. It is estimated that all HeLa cells that have been produced in laboratories weigh a few dozen thousand tons in total.
Much more than Henrietta Lacks, who has almost been forgotten for many decades.

Naked mole – rat – Heterocephalus glaber

Naked mole-rat - Heterocephalus glaber - EatingNaked mole-rat - Heterocephalus glaberHeterocephalus glaber - Louisville-ZooHeterocephalus glaber - Museum of Natural History - Genova, Italy

Naked mole-rat – Heterocephalus glaber

Naked mole-rat – Heterocephalus glaber – Is practically blind and has no pain. This rodent lives in East Africa. It is digging underground corridors in search of tubers and roots. For this he uses the incisors that are in front of the lips, so that the soil does not get into the mouth.
Mole-rats spend almost their entire lives underground without going to the surface. They are unusual for many reasons. Not only are they the only cold-blooded mammals, they are also resistant to cancer, aging, hypoxia and pain.
Their almost completely hairless, thick and wrinkled skin. It is insensitive to abrasions or scratches. Because Mole-rats do not have the key neurotransmitter for pain conduction (substance P).

Naked mole-rats are the longest-living rodents (they live to 30 years)

And their risk of death doesn’t increase with age. These animals have very active mechanisms repair DNA.
They also tolerate extreme hypoxia, which often occurs in narrow and stuffy underground tunnels. When there is a lack of air, mole-rats reduce life activity. They change the energy supply process (break down fructose instead of glucose). In this way they avoid brain damage.
The equally interesting is structure Social. Which resembles swarms of bees or ant colonies. Flocks of these rodents count from several dozen to 300 individuals. At the same time, only the queen and prolific male breeds. The rest are sterile and conscientiously work for the herd.

Colchicum autumnale – Protected and very poisonous

Colchicum autumnale - Jena, Germany (16-09-2007)Colchicum autumnale (1)Colchicum autumnale (2)Colchicum autumnale (3)

Colchicum autumnale – Protected and very poisonous

Colchicum autumnale – It belongs to protected as well as very poisonous plants.

  • Deadly dose: 20 – 40 mg (5 – 10 seeds)
  • Death: to 4 days
  • Poison: colchicine
  • Aftermath: paralysis, pulmonary edema, renal failure
  • Where it grows: Southern and Western Europe
  • Occurrence in Poland: yes

One flower contains more than 20 alkaloids, the most dangerous of which is colchicine and its derivatives. Thanks to the appropriate dosage, they can be used for treatments of cancers. Medicinal products for rheumatism, ascites and kidney diseases are produced from wintering seeds. However, if you carelessly handle (for example when confusing with wild garlic leaves), poisoning may occur. Fowl and goat’s milk may also be dangerous. The first symptoms of taking harmful substances appear after 2 – 6 hours after ingestion. At the beginning you can observe mouth burning, vomiting or cramps. Without proper help, a man can die.

Chips threat – Health risk caused regular consumption

Chips threat - health risks caused regular consumption - potato-chips

Chips threat – Health risk caused regular consumption

Chips threat – Health risk caused regular consumption – Polish scientists from the Institute of
Food and Nutrition demonstrated health risks, which carries regular consumption of chips.
Chips contain unhealthy fats, high in salt and acrylamide, which is toxic to the nervous system.
Induces chronic inflammation of the body and increases the risk of cancer. The study was conducted
on a group of 14 persons who at the 4 weeks after every packet of potato chips (160 g).
It turned out that after this time in their increased blood levels of acrylamide compounds responsible
for inflammation in the body (CRP, IL-6) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Further demonstrated that
acrylamide bound to hemoglobin, so that it can not be efficiently removed from the body.

Quick cancer detection – Mobilizes the body to defend

Quick cancer detection - mobilizes the body to defend - Dendritic cell

Quick cancer detection – Mobilizes the body to defend

Quick cancer detection – Mobilizes the body to defend – British scientists have discovered
a receptor actuating an immune response to the emergence of cancer. It captures the body’s
signals of tissue damage or cancer and mobilizes the body to defend. It was found in dendritic cells (DC),
located in the immune system.

Pierre Curie – French physicist

Pierre Curie - French physicist

Pierre Curie – French physicist

Pierre Curie – French physicist – In 05.15.1859 was born French physicist Pierre Curie,
husband of Maria Curie-Sklodowska. He studied crystals and radioactivity.
He found with his wife elements radium and polonium. The first experience of
the use of radium in the fight against cancer conducted on himself.
In 1903 he received the Nobel Prize.

Valuable properties omega-3

Valuable properties omega-3 - DHA, omega-3 molecule

Valuable properties omega-3

Valuable properties omega-3 – Omega-3 fatty acid must be constantly supplied to our body with food, because it can not synthesize them itself. Omega-3 has a lot of valuable properties, including reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular, diabetes or cancer. Among the many vegetable oils, omega-3 contains linseed oil which is fragile. Second place is rapeseed oil, which has 10 times more of these valuable fatty acids than olive oil.

Sharks also not immune

Sharks also not immune - Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Sharks also not immune

Sharks also not immune – Researchers at the George Washington University in the US have discovered that sharks however suffer from cancer. Previously regarded as completely resistant – their cartilage was sold as a cure for cancer. Recorded dozens of cases of different types of cancer, especially kidney and lymph nodes.

Expenditure on esotericism

Expenditure on esotericism - Tao symbol

Expenditure on esotericism

Expenditure on esotericism – In 2010. Poles spent approx. 2 billion zl for the esoteric and the occult – talismans, horoscopes, fortune-telling or curse. Charitable foundation “Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy” has collected in the same year “only” 43 million zl for the early detection of cancer in children – indicates Club Skeptics Polish. These data indicate that still do not understand what it really means the end of the world. In fact, each of us is the death.

When established chemotherapy

When established chemotherapy - Sidney Farber (1903 - 1973)

When established chemotherapy

When established chemotherapy – During World War II, anti-cancer effect (cytostatic) discovered gas in combat, so-called. nitrogen mustard gas. Already in the early 40s he began to be used as the first cytostatic (under the name Mustargen). After the Second World War began further research cytostatics. This time is associated primarily with the activities of the “father of chemotherapy”, a doctor from Harvard, Sidney Farber (1903-1973).