A Bit About Concussion

Just thought this was interesting, concussion is becoming a big problem in sports that I play.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35369991

Drug Synthesising Process to be Sped Up in US

Recent developments in Brigham Young University. Their idea is to produce the drugs in huge quantities, freeze them and then distribute them around the US. It might one day be possible to take any drugs off a shelf and then have it ready to be used the very next day. This could benefit millions of people here in the UK and Ireland if the system goes ahead and is successful.

Read more here: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20151120/Researchers-devise-system-to-accelerate-the-process-of-making-life-saving-vaccines.aspx

Dementia Drug Helping Parkinson's Symptoms

Haven't posted in a while, sorry about that...

But I'm here with some good news. You may well know someone suffering from Parkinson's disease. Drugs trials have revealed that symptoms can be reduced through the use of a drug called rivastigmine which prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter substance that helps us to concentrate. As you've probably figured out higher levels of this in the CNS (Central Nervous System) will help with movement. Hopefully there will be a significant decrease in the number of people with Parkinson's injuring themselves due to falling over and things like that. This advancement could greatly relieve the pressures on health systems. Not bad eh...

http://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-dementia-neuropharmacology-3419/

Alternative Energy, Pee Power Technology...

Not what you might expect from the world of biochemistry but here we are. Basically a wearable device has been developed containing MFCs or microbial fuel cells. The bacteria convert the biochemical energy from microbial growth to electricity without the need for any fossil fuels. Thankfully, devices that do not need to be worn are also feasible. Uses have already been found with Oxfam using pee-power to light up refugee camps.

Credit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151211130103.htm

By the way, please share and comment anything you want to say/ask!

USA Gay Blood Ban Lifted

Well would you look at that...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-overturns-30-year-ban-on-blood-donations-by-gay-men/

Nanoparticles to Provide Possible Treatment for Parkinson's

I read recently about the blood-brain barrier being crossed and the article expressed hope that the discovery would help many people suffering from all kinds of neurological disorders. After having read this article, it seems that there is a possibility for curing these seemingly incurable diseases.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/292848.php?trendmd-shared=0

Multiple Sclerosis Summary (with link)

In A2 Biology we study the structure and functions of neurones but not much focus is placed on illness or how the problems associated with neurones affect real people.

Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a neurological disorder which affects about 100,000 people in the UK. About three times more women are affected than men, the reasons behind this are not clear. Nerve cells are surrounded by a protein called myelin, if someone has MS this becomes damaged when the immune system mistakes the self-myelin as foreign and attacks it.This affects the transmission of impulses along the nerve cells.

The symptoms caused by MS are highly varied, some people for example can become blind, others find that their speech is impaired. Unfortunately almost all people suffering with MS experience ranging magnitudes and types of pain.

There are also several different recognised types of MS, these include: relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, primary progressive MS, benign MS and occasinally MS in children. PPMS is said to be the worst type with symptoms becoming progressively worse with little relief as time goes on.

There is currently no cure for MS although Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) are used to reduce the amount of relapses a person with MS experience, most of these are only suitable for SPMS.

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/treatments-and-therapies/licensed-disease-modifying-drugs

image - http://medlicker.com/pictures/article_editor/2014/02/24/multiple-sclerosis-diagram-1393224523-8f6ff986.jpg