Sports are encouraged more than ever before and people who do sports are fitter, healthier and can even live longer than those who don’t exercise regularly.[1] In fact, in a study observing almost 20,000 men and women from Copenhagen, Denmark, researchers found that light to moderate jogging was associated with an increase in survival: 6.2 […]
“A scientific discovery, invention or advance that still affects the world today” ABSTRACT This article discusses the impact of Watson and Crick’s model of DNA structure as published in the journal, ‘Nature’ in April 1953. Discussed is the significance for personalised and genomic medicine, as the future of the field and progress in prophylaxis. Reflection […]
Abstract In vivo or animal testing has been relied on for years in drug development for studying drug dosages, therapeutic indices, contraindications, mechanisms of action and adverse reactions of drugs undergoing various levels of testing. This article aims to review the importance and basis of in vivo models in drug development and discuss the ethical […]
Earth is home to over 7 billion humans and 8.7 million different forms of life. Despite this rich biodiversity, from space our planet is merely a blue marble with swirls of green, white and brown. In the same way, although not visible to the naked eye, humans consist of multiple ecosystems, each ecosystem consisting of […]
The purpose of this article is to review Annemarie Mol’s paper “Pathology and the clinic: An ethnographic presentation of two atheroscleroses,” and discuss its implications in medicine. Mol is a philosopher and ethnographer (i.e., person who researches social and cultural relations1), and her paper describes her study in a hospital in the Netherlands examining the […]
Abstract Certain personality traits can affect healthcare decision-making. Personality traits such as neuroticism, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience can influence the patients’ perception of their health status and treatment plans. This paper explores how the aforementioned personality traits help to determine patients’ willingness to participate in making decisions concerning their healthcare. Introduction Personality […]
Abstract The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that has affected 65 countries since 2015. There are currently no cures for the virus, so at-risk populations rely solely on preventative methods such as nets and insecticide sprays, with limited effectiveness. COBWEB, a computer simulation software, was used to determine the effectiveness of an introduction of […]
Since their conception, vaccinations have contributed tremendously to society by allowing populations to build immunity to deadly diseases. For example, this technology eradicated smallpox worldwide by 1980[1] and decreased incidences of polio by more than 99% in the United States since 1988.[2] However, confidence in vaccination’s ability to prevent disease contraction seems to have decreased […]
Abstract Adrenaline is commonly used in the treatment of anaphylaxis and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, its use in CPR may cause adverse neurological effects. Moreover, adrenaline overdose and overexposure to adrenaline may both lead to fatality. This is a literature review on the mechanism of action of adrenaline, its uses, and its effects. Adrenaline is […]
Biomedical evidence is the foundation for Western medicine and research. It helps with the creation of pharmacologic therapy. It can prove the success of treatment and elucidate the relationship between variables. It can validate scientific claims and inform future directions for research. It helps with deciding funding for different health policies and programs. It also […]
Although the scientific revelation between the causal correlation between smoking and lung cancer has now arguably become “common knowledge, many people seem unaware that lung cancer is not the only cancer that smokers become susceptible to. Smoking is known to cause at least 15 different types of cancer: lung, larynx, oesophagus, oral cavity, nasopharynx, pharynx, […]
ABSTRACT Abundant tissue-to-tissue interfaces, present between bone, tendon and muscle, demonstrate mechanical and structural gradients from soft tissue to hard tissue, which permits cellular communication and load transfer. These allow joint motion and stabilisation and are susceptible to damage through abnormal activity or trauma. A major concern in the field of orthopaedic tissue engineering is […]
Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population of the developed world. Presently, detecting DR is a manual, time-consuming process that requires a trained ophthalmologist to examine and evaluate digital fundus photographs of the retina. Computer machine learning technologies such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have emerged as an […]
Abstract It is known that a single error in someone’s DNA can cause the development of diseases and genetic disorders, but can this be prevented? In this article, the gene-editing instrument is described in a simple way for all readers to understand, after many disputed questions are raised. The main section of the article is […]
Abstract Willow bark has been used in medicine for centuries, most notably by Hippocrates (460 B.C. to 377 B.C.), who is now known as the ‘father of modern medicine’.[1] Today the painkiller industry is much more advanced, and aspirin, whose origins began with willow bark, is now a common medication used to treat a variety […]
Genes are the instruction code for all of an individual’s features.[[1]] Genetic modification (i.e., altering the genes of an organism[[2]]) has been debated about for centuries. It can be used to treat medical conditions and to shape how a person develops[[3]]. The movie “Gattaca” depicts a world where characteristics can be selected before birth. Some […]
Abstract: According to Global Cancer Statistics, there were approximately 32.6 million cancer patients reported in 2015, making it one of the world’s most imminent health threats.[1] Currently, chemotherapy is the leading treatment given to cancer patients. Chemotherapy involves one or more drugs that interfere with mitosis using non-specific intracellular toxins. Almost all of the side […]
Abstract: Porphyria is a rare group of genetic diseases involving the malfunction or reduced production of heme biosynthetic enzymes. This results in the accumulation of toxic precursors (substances that form the following substance during metabolic pathways) during metabolism, which if not cleared can lead to a variety of symptoms depending on the type of precursor. […]
Abstract The purpose of this research was to analyse the effects of studying music on brain waves. The beta wave data was most closely examined because of the correspondence with attention. This is because of the theory that a musician’s intelligence increases partly because of attention’s role as a mediating executive function. An electroencephalogram (EEG) […]
Introduction (Sona Popat) The day is July 20th, 1969. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (Figure 1), the crew of the Apollo 11, land on the moon, and people around the world turn their eyes to the universe. A whole generation vividly remember the moment, with over half a billion people[1] gathering around their […]