Dr. Dana Brooks, an internist at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland, answers this week's question. Dr. Dana Brooks, an internist at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland, reports an increased number of dogs and cats being treated at its emergency clinic -- in one case the dog died -- from eating xylitol, an artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute in foods, including sugar-free gum, sugar-free mints, chewable vitamins, tooth paste and oral-care products. Xylitol is also available in a granulated form at your local grocery store for baking and beverage sweeteners. Question: Why is xylitol so dangerous for dogs and cats? Answer: Ingestion of xylitol primarily affects insulin release throughout the body. Insulin causes an increase of glucose (blood sugar) uptake into the liver, muscle, and fat cells resulting in decreasing blood glucose levels. Xylitol strongly promotes the release of insulin from the pancreas into circulation leading to a rapid decrease of blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can occur within 30 to 60 minutes of xylitol ingestion with levels as low as 0.1g xylitol /kg body weight. Hypoglycemia may compound further into liver toxicity, liver damage, and ultimately liver failure. Ingesting amounts of xylitol greater than 0.5 g … Continue reading →

That painful sunburn on your shoulder is actually a complex volley of genetically encoded counterattacks buried deep under your skin. According to a study published in Medicine, the sun is scorching your RNA. In some ways, it was a surprise, said Dr. Richard Gallo, chief of the dermatology division at the University of California San Diego. We know a sunburn will damage DNA. What we didnt suspect is that it is also damaging the RNA. DNA stores genetic code; RNA transmits it. The study found that ultraviolet UVB rays from the sun bore through the skin to fracture and tangle a specific type of RNA that does not make proteins. Sunburned cells release that non-coding micro-RNA, setting off an alarm in healthy surrounding cells that something weird and dangerous is going on. That alarm turns into inflammation which turns into sunburn We were interested in how the injury is recognized by our body, Gallo said on Monday. Those cells that are injured are dead. How can their neighbours detect that? In fact, the inflammation is the skin trying to heal itself, releasing a cocktail of antibodies and anti-inflammatories that could be beneficial. It may help us remove cells that might … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/t2whtl/stem_cell_research) has announced the addition of the "Stem Cell Research in India 2012" report to their offering. The stem cell research in India is in its nascent stage and is gradually on a growth path of acceptance by people. The market is still in a phase of conducting research to establish itself as one of the best therapies for the widely prevalent incurable lifestyle diseases. Awareness campaigns and doctors are playing a key role educating people and especially would-be parents about the benefits associated with preserving stem cells. The report begins with the introduction section which offers a brief insight of the concept of stem cell therapy and banking, the conventional sources of stem cells and the current and future therapeutic solutions for the most risky diseases. It then moves to the market overview section which provides an insight of the Indian stem cell therapy market, with highlight on the market size and growth. It also covers the market size and growth prospect of the stem cell banking market in India. In addition to these, the report gives a snapshot of the current and expected stem cell banking customers. An analysis of the drivers explains … Continue reading →

GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- North Carolinas Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering, the Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN), the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association (NanoBCA), and the North Carolina Aerospace Alliance have joined forces to bring global technology and business leaders together for the Nanomanufacturing Conference on August 15, 2012 in Greensboro, NC. Nanotechnology is rapidly transforming industries from medicine to energy to manufacturing. Since the passage of the 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act, the U.S. has spent $24 billion in the science of nanotechnology. The science is rapidly becoming the business of nanotechnology, creating thousands of new start-ups, bolstering nearly every industry across the globe, and bringing life changing innovations to market that already improve lives around the world. "North Carolina is a national leader in nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing, noted Griffith Kundahl, Executive Director of COIN. We are already seeing its steady impact on the manufacturing sector, creating jobs in clean energy, aerospace, medicine and biotech, materials and other areas. Topics to be addressed during the conference sessions include: Nano Particle Manufacturing, NanoManufacturing for Aerospace Applications, Manufacturing for NanoBiotechnology Applications, NanoManufacturing for Energy, Materials and Other Applications. Along with our partners at North Carolinas Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering, we … Continue reading →