recent posts
- The connection between Malaria and Multiple Sclerosis in Sardia, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis and the Anti-Plasmodium falciparum Innate Immune Response
- Not all vaping is the same: differential pulmonary effects of vaping cannabidiol (CBD) versus nicotine
- Junk DNA: From Genomic Graveyard to Regulatory Gold
- Epigenetic Variation & Human Disease
about
Category: Blog
-
By Kestrel Williamson You’ve probably been told many times to get a full night’s sleep before an exam, and it’s generally explained to be important because sleep is important for memory consolidation. Neuroscientists agree that there is in fact a well-supported connection between sleep and memory, however, the mechanism explaining how sleep contributes to memory…
-
By Abigail Clemo We all know that a healthy lifestyle is essential to live long and prosper. Boring, but necessary nonetheless. Unhealthy habits can exacerbate the natural reduction in brain volume that occurs with ageing. Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity and short sleep are risk factors for health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, increased…
-
By Athianda Bukula Who would have thought that the microscopic world of bacteria could offer new hope in the fight against cancer? As cancer research continues to explore many approaches, one unexpected candidate has emerged from bacterial systems: the MazF-MazE toxin -antitoxin system. At the heart of this mechanism is MazF. A bacterial toxin that…
-
By Boniwe Ncethelo Have you ever watched a heist movie and funny how most times we side with the criminals because we admire how smart they are, for instance in the series that was popular in 2017: Money heist. I was on the criminal side. I know it sounds bad, but they were just so…
-
By Thompho Mathoni Depression during pregnancy is more prevalent than often thought, impacting approximately 6-20% of pregnant women. Even mild depressive symptoms can affect a child’s brain development, especially in regions related to emotions and behaviour. Studies have found links between prenatal depression and changes in brain regions like the limbic system and prefrontal cortex,…
-
By Fiza Abdul Saleem Finding remains on the less-travelled parts of Table Mountain has become an alarmingly common event in Cape Town, reflecting a harsh reality across the entire city. Each year, between 7 and 10% of autopsied deceased remain unidentified and must be given a state burial. While forensic pathologists lack training to handle…
-
By Michaela Enrich Do forensic practitioners remain unbiased in their respective practices? Several studies that have been conducted within different forensic fields, have shown that there is an increase in the capacity for bias. Since forensic practitioners rely mostly on interpretations, they can be subject to cognitive bias and result in a loss of objectivity.…
-
By Samukelisiwe Ndimande Vaccines work by training the immune system to fight infections before they happen. Theyprevent millions of deaths each year, yet not all vaccines are created equal. Some offerlifelong protection, while others require boosters. When it comes to fighting viruses anddesigning effective vaccines, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells is the unsung hero. While…
-
By Ayanda Mandlana Diabetes not only affects blood sugar, but it also silently destroys vision through a diseaseknown as diabetic retinopathy. It is the major cause of preventable blindness worldwide andis expected to affect over 191 million by 2030 [1]. The vision-stealing disease begins with aleaky blood-retinal barrier (BRB), the eye’s very defence against harmful…
-
by Edward Nguni Imagine falling ill with recurring fever, joint pain, and night sweats, only to be told it mightbe flu, malaria, or even tuberculosis. What if none of these were the cause, but rathersomething often overlooked? Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted from animals to humans, typicallythrough the consumption of unpasteurized milk…
Health Science Reviews 