Detritivores – the ultimate recyclers
These marvelous morsels of nature’s cleanup crew are the ultimate recyclers, turning yesterday’s trash into tomorrow’s treasure. Let’s dive into the delightfully dirty world of detritus dining! Imagine a world where your leftovers never go to waste. Well, in nature, that̵
Diagenesis (the Petrologic principle)
Diagenesis is the process that describes physical and chemical changes in sediments first caused by water-rock interactions, microbial activity, and compaction after their deposition. Increased pressure and temperature only start to play a role as sediments become buried much deeper in the E
Flame Test
A flame test is relatively quick test for the presence of some elements in a sample. The technique is archaic and of questionable reliability, but once was a component of qualitative inorganic analysis. The phenomenon is related to pyrotechnics and atomic emission spectroscopy. The color of t
Delta endotoxins (δ-endotoxins) are pore-forming toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis species of bacteria. They are useful for their insecticidal action and are the primary toxin produced by Bt maize/corn.
Bt maize/Bt corn is a variant of maize that has been genetically altered to express one or more proteins from the bacteriumBacillus thuringiensis including Delta endotoxins. During spore formation the bacteria produce crystals of such proteins (hence the name Cry toxins) that are also
Ovalbumin
Ovalbumin (abbreviated OVA) is the main protein found in egg white, making up approximately 55% of the total protein. Ovalbumin displays sequence and three-dimensional homology to the serpin superfamily, but unlike most serpins it is not a serine protease inhibitor. The function of oval
Tobacco-derived 4R-cembranoid confers neuroprotection against LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation in mice (decreases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines; improves memory function; activates STAT3, Akt1, and CREB phosphorylation; and upregulates the mRNA levels of ORM2, GDNF, and C3) independent of the Îą7 nicotinic receptor
Rojas-ColĂłn, L.A., Dash, P.K., Morales-VĂas, F.A. et al. 4R-cembranoid confers neuroprotection against LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation in mice. J Neuroinflammation 18, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02136-9 LPS: Lipopolysaccharide “4R protects the hippocampus against
Tobacco-derived 4R-cembranoid protects neuronal cells from oxygen-glucose deprivation by modulating microglial cell activation
Fu, Hefei et al. â4R-cembranoid protects neuronal cells from oxygen-glucose deprivation by modulating microglial cell activation.â Brain research bulletin vol. 179 (2022): 74-82. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.12.007 In the search for novel compounds to treat neurodegenerative diseases, we fo
Patent for protecting and treating organophosphate-induced neuronal injury with tobacco-derived cembranoids and analogues
Ford, Byron, Ferchmin Peter, Eterovic, Vesna, Methods and compositions for protecting and treating neuroinjury (Patent), United States Grant US-8530525-B2 Assignee: Central University of the Caribbean, Morehouse School of Medicine, Status: Active, Expires 2031-05-19, Document history 2013-09-10
Identification of cembratriene-4,6-diol as antitumor-promoting agent from cigarette smoke condensate
Yutaka Saito, Haruo Takizawa, Sumie Konishi, Daisuke Yoshida, Shigenobu Mizusaki, Identification of cembratriene-4,6-diol as antitumor-promoting agent from cigarette smoke condensate, Carcinogenesis, Volume 6, Issue 8, August 1985, Pages 1189â1194, https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/6.8.1189
Tobacco use is negatively associated with the risk of developing skin cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, endometrial carcinoma, or breast cancer (negatively associated with means less disease associated with)
Impact of tobacco smoking on the risk of developing 25 different cancers in the UK: a retrospective study of 422,010 patients followed for up to 30 years. Jacob L, Freyn M, Kalder M et al (2018) Impact of tobacco smoking on the risk of developing 25 different cancers in the UK: a retrospective study
Evidence of the protective effect of smoking against thyroid cancer
Cigarette smoking and the risk of thyroid cancer. Kreiger N, Parkes R. Cigarette smoking and the risk of thyroid cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2000 Oct;36(15):1969-73. doi: 10.1016/s0959-8049(00)00198-2. PMID: 11000579. Thyroid cancer risk and smoking status: a meta-analysis. Cancer Causes Control Cho YA, K
Cigarette smoking significantly reduces risk of endometrial cancer especially among postmenopausal women
Cigarette smoking and the risk of endometrial cancer: a meta-analysis. Zhou B, Yang L, Sun Q, Cong R, Gu H, Tang N, Zhu H, Wang B. Cigarette smoking and the risk of endometrial cancer: a meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2008 Jun;121(6):501-508.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.01.044. PMID: 18501231.
Smoking is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension during pregnancy
The puzzling association between smoking and hypertension during pregnancy Zhang J, Klebanoff MA, Levine RJ, Puri M, Moyer P. The puzzling association between smoking and hypertension during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Dec;181(6):1407-13. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(99)70384-4. PMID: 10601921.
Evidence that cigarette smoking is associated with lower uterine leiomyomata incidence
A prospective ultrasound study of cigarette smoking and uterine leiomyomata incidence and growth Wesselink AK, Wegienka G, Coleman CM, Geller RJ, Harmon QE, Upson K, Lovett SM, Claus Henn B, Marsh EE, Noel NL, Baird DD, Wise LA. A prospective ultrasound study of cigarette smoking and uterine leiomyo
Pharmacologically, nicotine acts on cholinergic (nicotinic-specific) receptors which are depleted in AD and PD. Nicotinic receptors also interact closely with several neurotransmitters including dopamine, which is implicated in both PD and Gilles de la Tourettes’s syndrome
Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases? Birtwistle J, Hall K. Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases? Br J Nurs. 1996 Oct 24-Nov 13;5(19):1195-202. doi: 10.12968/bjon.1996.5.19.1195. PMID: 9006184.
Three mechanisms predominate for beneficial effects of smoking: the ‘anti-estrogenic effect’ of smoking; alterations in prostaglandin production; and stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the central nervous system
Beneficial effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking: the real, the possible and the spurious Baron JA. Beneficial effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking: the real, the possible and the spurious. Br Med Bull. 1996 Jan;52(1):58-73. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a011533. PMID: 8746297.