Honey bees on cocaine dance more, changing ideas about the insect brain

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a study that challenges current ideas about the insect brain, researchers have found that honey bees on cocaine tend to exaggerate.

Normally, foraging honey bees alert their comrades to potential food sources only when they've found high quality nectar or pollen, and only when the hive is in need. They do this by performing a dance, called a "round" or "waggle" dance, on a specialized "dance floor" in the hive. The dance gives specific instructions that help the other bees find the food.

Molecular events involved in liver regeneration

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The ability to regenerate after major tissue damage or surgical intervention is an important property of the liver. Since liver resection is an established therapeutic measure for severe liver diseases, it would be of importance to know which molecular events underly the regenerative process and if they depend on the extent of resection, as indicated in previous studies.

A potential drug for ischemia/reperfusion related liver injury

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Hepatic injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) has been proposed as a key clinical problem associated with liver transplantation and major liver surgery. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical, has been demonstrated in reperfusion injury. Resveratrol has been reported to have several biologic effects such as a potent antioxidative effect via prevention of lipid peroxidation.

A new light on tumor immunotherapy for gastric cancer

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Bioreactors might solve blood-platelet supply problems

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – It might be possible to grow human blood platelets in the laboratory for transfusion, according to a new study at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

The findings, published in the January 1, 2009 issue of the journal Experimental Hematology, might one day enable blood banks to grow platelets continuously and in quantities that can ease the chronically tight supply of these critical blood components.

Researchers make breakthrough in the production of double-walled carbon nanotubes

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In recent years, the possible applications for double-walled carbon nanotubes have excited scientists and engineers, particularly those working on developing renewable energy technologies. These tiny tubes, just two carbon atoms thick, are thin enough to be transparent, yet can still conduct electricity. This combination makes them well-suited for advanced solar panels, sensors and a host of other applications.

College students find comfort in their pets during hard times

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study suggests that college students may handle stressful situations better if they have a pet.

Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. But researchers at Ohio State University recently found that many college students may also benefit from owning a cat or a dog.

A breakthrough in diagnosis of enteric lesions

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Capsule endoscopy (CE), which is virtually a micro-camera, is a revolutionary diagnostic tool in diagnosing small bowel diseases, and CE can obtain 40-60 thousand images of the GI tract, though the number of the images for the lesions is smaller than 500 in most of the patients. The CE reader still has to scan ten thousands of the images one by one because the reader cannot make sure which images the lesions are in. So, it may be a big burden on the CE reader's eyes and energy.

What is the effect of fluoxetine on mast cell?

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Study first to pinpoint why analgesic drugs may be less potent in females than in males

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ATLANTA -- Investigators at Georgia State University's Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience are the first to identify the most likely reason analgesic drug treatment is usually less potent in females than males. This discovery is a major step toward finding more effective treatments for females suffering from persistent pain.