Holoprosencephaly
Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that infect many vertebrate hosts, including humans and nonhuman primates. Here we identify a novel AdV species, provisionally named “simian adenovirus C (SAdV-C),” associated with a 1997 outbreak of acute respiratory illness in captive baboons (4 of 9) at a primate research facility in Texas. None of the six AdVs recovered from baboons (BaAdVs) during the outbreak, including the two baboons who died from pneumonia, were typeable. Since clinical samples from the two fatal cases were not available, whole-genome sequencing of nasal isolates from one sick baboon and three asymptomatic baboons during the outbreak was performed. Three AdVs were members of species SAdV-C (BaAdV-2 and BaAdV-4 were genetically identical, and BaAdV-3), while one (BaAdV-1) was a member of the recently described SAdV-B species. BaAdV-3 was the only AdV among the 4 isolated from a sick baboon, and thus was deemed to be the cause of the outbreak. Significant divergence (<58% amino acid identity) was found in one of the fiber proteins of BaAdV-3 relative to BaAdV-2 and -4, suggesting that BaAdV-3 may be a rare SAdV-C recombinant. Neutralizing antibodies to the other 3 AdVs, but not BaAdV-3, were detected in healthy baboons from 1996 to 2003 and staff personnel from 1997. These results implicate a novel adenovirus species (SAdV-C) in an acute respiratory outbreak in a baboon colony and underscore the potential for cross-species transmission of AdVs between humans and nonhuman primates.
Source: mBio
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Human Papillomavirus
Shown in this electron micrograph from 1986 is a single, negatively stained human papilloma virus (HPV), the primary culprit of skin warts and cervical cancer.
Note how the papillomavirus is non-enveloped, meaning that its outer protein coat, or capsid, is not covered by a lipid bilayer membrane. The HPV capsid looks roughly spherical, but, in fact, it has an icosahedral symmetry with a triangulation number equal to 7. Rather than a structure based on pentamers mixed with hexamers (like that of the soccer ball), the HPV capsid is composed of 72 L1 pentamers of two different types: 60 hexavalent pentamers and 12 pentavalent pentamers.
References: Visual Science / Wikipedia.
Photo Credit: Laboratory of Tumor Virus Biology / National Cancer Institute.
The Nuss Procedure is a corrective surgery for a disorder called Pectus Excavatum, in which a patient’s breastbone is sunken into the chest, possibly interfering with the functioning of the heart and lungs, in addition to creating a visual “dent” in the chest.
Developed by Dr. Donald Nuss of Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, VA, this procedure inserts a curved metal bar underneath the sternum, for a period of about two to four years, to reposition the bones.
Side Note/inspiration for this post: I have known two people to have gone through this surgery, including my brother, and due to our location, they both were patients of Dr. Nuss himself. (And, no, my brother had no trouble going through airport security, but we had a doctor’s note just in case!)
The Superficial Lymphatics and Glands of the Head, Face and Neck.
Drawn by Henry Vandyke Carter, for Henry Gray’s Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical.
(This is the kind of post about which I am inferring. I found a million of these, and I actually just set out and bought a physical copy of Gray’s Anatomy)
Enlarged Heart
The differences between a normal human heart and one enlarged by alcoholism and high blood pressure. Covered in scar tissue, the enlarged organ is nearly twice the normal size. Such alcoholic cardiomyopathy weakens the heart so that it is unable to pump blood adequately
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
As submitted by barelytherebutforeverhere:
Hey, I’m trying to raise awareness about CLL, a type of cancer that my Pop Pop was recently diagnosed with. If you and your followers could please take 2 seconds to check out my website it would mean the world to me <3 It’s the first post on my blog. I’m sorry it wouldn’t let me post the url in your ask :(
Any way that I can help! I checked it out myself and I’ve been planning on donating my hair as soon as it’s long enough. Thank you for the link and I hope your Pop Pop does well in chemo!
Check it out guys!
Trazodone, a common antidepressant, at 100x magnification, by Lars Bech of Naarden, The Netherlands.
Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, as seen on cultures of cotton-tail rabbit epithelium cells. (Via the CDC)
Some very important things we need to know about cancer
For the last two days I have had the pleasure and honor of meeting and listening to some of the most talented doctors talk about their research in developments in oncology at MD Anderson, the largest cancer center in the world. Just to sum up what they said: “mind blowing!” I wish I could translate it here for you, but it’s unbelievably complex and lengthy. Plus, I still don’t understand it all.
Dr. Ron DePinho, the new President of MD Anderson, offered us some very important insight I believe we all should carry with us daily:
The immune system doesn’t recognize cancer as foreign.
We don’t feel it and tumors continue to grow in our bodies. Therefore, it’s important to be screened regularly for all types of cancer.
Melanoma is caused by childhood sun exposure.
Seriously. That’s it. And that’s why we see it in 30 and 40 year-olds. UV rays are an environmental hazard we can control, and we should be vigilant with sunscreen. Good parents will demand their kids wear sunscreen EVERYDAY all the time. In Australia, kids aren’t allowed to go to school without a hat. Screening for melanoma has proven to decrease the mortality rate by 50%. Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer for women next to lung cancer.
Hopefully they will start a campaign so that the safety of sunscreen is engrained in our culture. Think about seat belts. Everyone hated them and refused to put them on. Now they’re mandatory and second nature for most of us.
The risk factors for cancer:
- Age. The longer we live, the more at risk we are to develop cancers.
- Environmental factors. UV rays are the most harmful. Pollution in the US is not as bad as you would think.
- Obesity. (More below)
- Smoking. Kids are born now with receptors that breed their addiction.
- Chronic stress.
“It is an embarrassment we aren’t more aggressive with tobacco control,”
stated Dr. DePinho, who pledges to lobby for legislation in Texas.
“It is unethical not to give your children the HPV vaccine,“
said the father of 2 and doctor who has seen a rapid increase in head and throat cancers from the virus. Thankfully pap smears allow doctors catch cervical cancer (caused by HPV) at an early stage so it can be treated.
Obesity will surpass smoking as a cause of cancer by 2020.
From what I gathered, the consumption of too many calories and processed sugars overloads your circuits, deactivating important mechanisms of your body. MD Anderson will launch an online cookbook and has already made major efforts to educate the public on the importance of nutrition.
Ways you can prevent cancer:
- “Do what your mother told you.” - Eat write, exercise, get enough rest.
- Control the things you can, like UV exposure, smoking, etc. Household chemicals and pollution are not as bad as you would think, but keep in mind what you need and don’t.
- Get enough Vitamin D. You need a 1000 units/day, which generally can be 10-20 minutes outside without sunscreen. (More here.)
- Get screened regularly. Don’t neglect going to see the doctor. Your visit is pennies on the dollar in relationship to what you will pay for treatment.
MD Anderson services adults and children in so many ways we don’t realize!
They have entire buildings dedicated to prevention. You can get your regular checkups here so they will also include screening in your assessment.
MD Anderson is making major strides for kids in their Children’s Hospital. THEY WILL SEE ANY CHILD DIAGNOSED OR SUSPECTED OF HAVING CANCER WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CALLING. (No matter where it was discovered or when it was diagnosed). Their new “hospital within a hospital” will centralize all of the treatments needed to make care more efficient and provides a fully accredited school that can give high school diplomas.
The mission of MD Anderson is: “Making Cancer History,” meaning eliminating the disease so our children read about it in books and never know the pain of it. Although they are the best in the world, they are working towards this goal everyday. It’s inspiring and I’m so happy to be a part of their team to educate the public and support their efforts.
EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS AFFECTED BY CANCER IN SOME WAY.
We might have it or our loved ones do. There is never an effort - financial or otherwise - that is wasted in the fight against this disease.
(Via MTM)
Drug Discovery Lab to Open in 2014
Purdue Univ. will take another step forward as a leader in pharmaceutical development efforts with construction of the new Drug Discovery Building. The $25 million facility, which is scheduled to open in 2014, was celebrated during an event in the university’s Stewart Center.
“Purdue research has been at the forefront of drug discovery, and this building is another step in assuring that we attract top scientists to further our efforts in finding solutions to real-world problems,” says Purdue President France Córdova. “Purdue is committed to becoming one of the top destinations for drug discovery.”
Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Drug-Discovery-Lab-Under-Construction-042012.aspx
I’m experiencing a sudden, unexplained desire to move to the midwest…
Anatomy of the Ear by Victor P. Eroschenko.
Mitomycin, an anti-cancer drug, at 10x magnification. By Margaret Oechsli, of Jewish Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky. Won 7th place in the 2008 Nikon Small World Competition.
