Many stroke survivors are left with residual movement impairments. Treating these impairments has proven difficult, because it is often unclear which mechanisms drive movement impairment. While the exact mechanisms are still uncertain, at present, evidence suggests that neuromuscular function is disrupted in two key domains following stroke: muscle biomechanics, and...
The expanding use of nanomaterials in consumer products challenges scientists to understand the impact of these materials before their inevitable release into the environment. In the same way that the widespread use of DDT and asbestos has caused unforeseen negative impacts on both the environment and on human health, the...
Eosinophils are major effector cells in diseases including asthma, rhinitis, certain gastrointestinal disorders and atopic dermatitis. Current treatments include mediator antagonists and anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce allergic cell numbers and inhibit mediator release, but they are not fully effective or curative. On their surface, eosinophils selectively express Siglec-8 (sialic acid-binding...
Psychosocial stress is part of everyday life, and while ubiquitous, stress plays a huge role disease development and treatment. Though the stressor’s intensity, predictability, and frequency (acute vs chronic) are important determinants of disease development, interactions with one’s genetic and epigenetic make-up also play a causal role. Major Depressive Disorder...
Many species have lost their natural habitat due to anthropogenic land use change. Ecologists are increasingly looking at habitat in cities to bolster efforts to conserve biodiversity. Green roofs are examples of urban habitats that are becoming more common globally. Green roofs can provide resources to support life in an...
The Bcl-2 family is considered the guardian of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. While there are numerous endogenous Bcl-2 antagonists that share similar homology, structure, topology, and expression pattern, only the loss of Bim in mice is sufficient to lead to the development of a systemic autoimmunity. Even loss of both...