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latest publication - Mini-Review
Periodontal disease and systemic amyloidosis: From inflammation to amyloidosis — a troubling connection
Abstract It has become increasingly clear in recent years that periodontal disease can cause dramatic increases in the levels of markers of systemic inflammation and can also result in reductions in the levels of these markers. It is also known that amyloid fibril deposits derived from circulating acute-phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA) lead to ...
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Editorial
The origin and future of modern humans
Earlier this year, we published an article describing an exciting hypothesis that explains how two important observations, that on the surface appear incompatible, come together to provide insight into the evolution of modern man (1). Recent evidence demonstrates that modern humans share some genomic DNA with Neanderthals (2), yet decade-old analyses clearly demonstrate that modern human ...
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Mini-Review
The role of microRNAs in the formation of cancer stem cells: Future directions for miRNAs
Abstract The scientific investigation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and cancer stem cells is of considerable interest. Cancer stem cells are a small subpopulation of cells identified in a variety of tumors and capable of self-renewal, differentiation, chemoresistance and tumorigenesis. MiRNAs are small (18-24 nucleotide) RNAs that regulate expression of genes at the post-transcriptional level. Recently, many ...
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Hypothesis
Secretory carbonic anhydrase II – Finding the evolutionary key to the symbiosis of animal hosts and their cellulose-fermenting bacteria
Abstract Grasses, leaves and wood contain large amounts of structural carbohydrates such as cellulose, which in animals are digested with the help of symbiotic, cellulolytic microorganisms living in fermentative chambers in the stomach or gut. Although we find the identical relationship in grass eaters (ruminants), in leave-eaters (Colobus monkeys) and in wood-eaters (termites), still little ...
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Hypothesis
Neanderthal-human Hybrids
Abstract Evidence from studies of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA extracted from Neanderthal fossils and humans points to fascinating hypotheses concerning the types of interbreeding that occurred between these two species. Humans and Neanderthals share a small percentage of nuclear DNA. However, humans and Neanderthals do not possess the same mitochondrial DNA. In mammals, mitochondrial DNA ...
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Opinion
Mismanagement of tuberculosis in India: Causes, consequences, and the way forward
Abstract India leads the world in its burden of tuberculosis (TB) due to the neglect of TB as a public health problem, and mismanagement of TB patients in both public and private sectors. The original National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) failed because of low rates of case detection and cure. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program ...
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Hypothesis
Novel stapling device for open and thoracoscopic esophageal anastomosis in congenital esophageal atresia
Abstract Esophageal atresia, with or without trachea-esophageal fistula, are relatively common congenital anomalies. The surgical correction requires placement of anastomotic sutures, which are considered technically demanding, relatively imprecise and are associated with a steep learning curve. The need for a mechanical device for anastomosis has been stressed, as conventional stapling devices have their own limitations ...