Presenting GC-MS Results in a Publication

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a tool that is used to separate, quantify, and analyze organic compounds that are naturally volatile. This article describes how to interpret and present GC-MS results in a publication, for all purposes. HPLC chromatogram of common food additives. Chromatos | Shutterstock. Understanding GC-MS Gas chromatography is used to separate the

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a psychological condition characterized by depressive symptoms that occur during certain months of the year. Research has highlighted several potential causes of SAD, all of which tend to stem from a biological condition. Susilyn | Shutterstock What is SAD? Seasonal affective disorder is a type of recurring major depressive disorder

Functions of Tonsils

Tonsils are tiny organs located at the back of our throat. They are part of the lymphatic system and play a key role in our overall health. Tonsils were earlier thought to have no function and were considered an obsolete part of the human body. When they get infected, they are usually removed by surgery.

What are Decellularized Myocardial Matrix Hydrogels?

Several decellularized materials have recently been synthesized that have previously demonstrated significant potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, therefore improving the understanding of cardiac muscle growth. Image Credits: Jose Luis Calvo / Shutterstock.com Out of these new biomaterials, decellularized myocardial matrix hydrogels have recently shown great potential for synthesizing cellular microenvironments that are representative

How Can Affinity Chromatography be Used to Manufacture Vaccines?

Despite the numerous advantages associated with worldwide vaccination, there remains a significant disparity in the availability of vaccines throughout the world. Image Credit: KiattisakCh/Shutterstock.com This limited availability is often due to the complex processes and high cost associated with producing a sustainable amount of vaccines. Recent research on the advancing technology of affinity chromatography shows

Biomarkers for Prediction of Stroke

Skip to: Stroke and its Pathways Biomarkers and Risk Scores What are the Benefits of Using Biomarkers? Stroke, a complication of atrial fibrillation, can be fatal. Identification of biomarkers to predict stroke may help treat those at highest risk. Given the association between atrial fibrillation and other poor disease outcomes, biomarker identification has applications for

Fifth Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Clinical Diagnosis Fifth disease is often diagnosed by the clinical signs and symptoms, most commonly the slapped cheek appearance due to the facial rash, and acute polyarthropathy, especially in adults. If necessary, laboratory testing is performed to distinguish recent from past infection, as well as to test the immune status. The rash from fifth disease

Unapproved Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance

Prescription medicines such as antibiotics require regulatory approval in the countries in which they are sold, but recent evidence indicates unapproved antibiotics are being distributed and are associated with increasing antibiotic resistance. Credit: Fahroni/Shutterstock.com The central issue Antibiotic resistance is on the rise globally, and can be of serious health concern. Since antibiotic introduction in

Cluster Headaches: Treatment and Prevention

A cluster headache is a rare type of headache that occurs suddenly and causes pain in one side of the head, often in the eye area. The name cluster headache comes from the tendency of these headaches to come in clusters lasting for weeks or even months. Image Credit: jaojormami / Shutterstock.com Cluster headache is

Pyrosequencing and Microbial Identification

Multiple fields of microbiology rely on techniques of microbial identification, such as in food microbiology for detecting contaminants, and in microbial ecology to characterize biodiversity. Image Credit: Parilov / Shutterstock.com Traditionally, microbial identification techniques have used staining, culturing, and biochemical tests to conduct phenotypic identification. However, recent years have seen progress in the methods available

The Naming System Behind SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It is a virus that causes respiratory illness in humans. It passed from animals to humans in a mutated form and was first reported in December 2019 in an outbreak occurring in Wuhan, China. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com This virus has since rapidly spread throughout the

Spectroscopy in Britain Through the Ages

Spectroscopy is the study of the interactions of light and electromagnetic radiation with matter. Over several decades the field has matured into a range of sophisticated analytical techniques with a wide range of applications, from the minute and detailed study of the structure and composition of materials at an atomic scale, to determining the chemical

The Stages of Early Embryonic Development

Fertilization is defined as a process where gametes (an egg and sperm) join together to form a full zygote. Both the sperm and egg contain a single set of 23 chromosomes, coming together to form 46 in the final zygote. To make sure that the resulting embryo only ends up with a single set of

Microbiology and Quality Assurance of Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented drink (also known as ‘Kombucha Tea’) that is thought to have originated in China and was first recorded as being a beverage in 221BC. P-fotography | Shutterstock Kombucha is thought to have a variety of health benefits and has had a recent surge in popularity. It is sweet and slightly acidic

What is Hyperglycemia?

Skip to: What is hyperglycemia? What causes hyperglycemia? What are the symptoms? How to prevent hyperglycemia? Hyperglycemia is a medical condition characterized by high blood glucose levels. The condition is primarily caused by significantly lower blood insulin levels or improper functioning of insulin. What is hyperglycemia? Hyperglycemia is characterized by fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood

Best and Worst Foods to Eat on the Ketogenic Diet

As a society, Westernized people are increasingly conscious of the types of food we consume and the effect they have on weight and health. More and more people are following diet plans to manage their weight. The ketogenic or keto diet is one commonly followed plan which shares some features with other well-known diets such

Can Pets Get COVID-19?

A novel coronavirus that was first reported in China in December 2019 quickly led to a global pandemic. Named COVID-19, the virus has had a devastating effect on economies and healthcare systems worldwide. Whilst highly contagious between humans, evidence of transmission from animals to humans is limited, although human to animal transmission is possible. The

What is Dual-Energy Computed Tomography?

Diagnostic imaging has been a widely used tool in the detection and treatment of various diseases. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an emerging imaging technique that combines information collected with various x-ray energy fields. Doctor and patient in the room of computed tomography at hospital. Image Credit: Romaset / Shutterstock What is computed tomography? Computed

What is a Microbalance?

How does a microbalance work? A microbalance is a tool used in laboratories and in scientific research with the capacity to make accurate measurements of the weight of very small objects, with a resolution in the order of a millionth of a gram. Image Credits: daniel jack lee / Shutterstock.com The instrument is considered to

Improving Chromatography Quality and Efficiency

In chromatography, the components of a mixture are separated. This is made possible because different components interact with the mobile and solid phases differently, thus either being retained on the column (if it binds strongly to the solid phase) or not interacting with the column at all. Image Credit: hotsum / Shutterstock These factors can