News by Subject Biology

Some chemical alternatives to plastic bisphenol-a (BPA), which is still commonly used in medical settings such as operating rooms and intensive care units, may be less disruptive to heart electrical function than BPA, according to a pre-clinical study that explored how the structural analogues bisphenol-s (BPS) and bisphenol-f (BPF) interact with the chemical and electrical functions of heart cells.

New research shows that early life exposure to a commonly used flame-retardant mixture increases anxiety and affects socioemotional behaviors in prairie voles, particularly in females.

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences used genetic analysis to reveal how two different strains of a single species of flesh-eating bacteria worked in concert to become more dangerous than either one strain alone. The work suggests that other difficult-to-treat infections may be polymicrobial and treating only one organism in a polymicrobial infection could be the cause of many secondary infections and chronic infections that resist treatment.

Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore uncovered an enzyme which could serve as a potential biomarker for 'natural killer T cell lymphoma' and could lead to new targeting routes for treatment.

Scientists say a failure of Australian management means excessive amounts of harmful chemicals -- many now banned in countries such as the EU, USA and Canada -- are damaging the country's waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.

Science hasn't yet caught up with electronic cigarettes, leaving health care providers and users with many unknowns. But a new review of the research so far finds growing evidence that vaping can harm the heart and blood vessels.

Cooking spoons, spatulas or whisks: polyamide (PA) kitchen utensils provide valuable baking, roasting and cooking assistance. However, components of this plastic can migrate from the utensils into the food and consequently be ingested by consumers.

'Vapers' should avoid mixing e-liquids for their electronic (e-) cigarettes themselves. This applies especially when consumers do not possess sufficient knowledge and experience. DIY mixing, for example, involves the risk of mineral and vegetable oils being used. Liquids should never contain fatty oils, which may lead to serious respiratory disorders if inhaled. E-cigarettes and mixtures (e-liquids) of uncertain origin and composition should also be avoided.