Cancer treatment: New nanodevice defeats drug resistance

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has discovered a new nanodevice that blocks the gene that gives drug resistance to tumors. Then tumors will be debilitated and would be easier to cemotherapy to combat cancer. 

The device, which consists of gold nanoparticles embedded in a hydrogel that can be injected or implanted at a tumor site, could also be used in any gene involved in cancer.

Nataly Artzi used the new device and implanted it in mice with a type of human breast tumor. It blocks the gene MRP1, that gives drug resistance, and then apply the chemotherapy drug and the researchers removed tumors by 90 percent in two weeks, proving its effectiveness.

"Drug resistance is a huge hurdle in cancer therapy and the reason why chemotherapy, in many cases, is not very effective," says João Conde. To overcome this, the researchers created gold nanoparticles coated with strands of DNA complementary to the sequence of MRP1 messenger RNA.

When the DNA encounters the correct mRNA sequence inside a cancer cell, it unfolds and binds to the mRNA, preventing the generation of more molecules of the MRP1 protein. So the device silences the gene that synthesise the MRP1 and now the cell is no longer resistant to that drug, proving its efficacy. The device emits fluorescence allowing the researchers to visualize what is happening inside the cells. Because of this, the particles could also be used for diagnosis -- specifically, determining if a certain cancer-related gene is activated in tumor cells.

The DNA-coated gold nanoparticles are embedded in an adhesive gel that stays in place and coats the tumor after being implanted, so this protects them from degradation and also enables sustained drug release, Artzi says.

This approach could be adapted to deliver any kind of drug or gene therapy targeted to a specific gene involved in cancer, the researchers say. 

Jeffrey Karp, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, who was not involved in the research says that "Hopefully this approach will perform in studies beyond 14 days and be translatable to patients, who are desperate for new and more effective treatment regimens."

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It is a very interesting article that informs us of an important scientific research advance. Cancer is a disease very difficult to combat with any drug, so this are good news for patients who have it. Now there is a little more hope for them and luckily in a few month will be used with them.

Biodegradable Plastic Option From Shrimp Shells

The scientific Javier Fernández, doctor in Nanobiotechnologyat the University of Barcelona, a Harvard researcher and a professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design is the discoverer of new utilities that can be attributed to this amazing material: chitosan.

It is a biodegradable material that brings hope to the fields of industry and medicine. Aims to reduce plastic consumption. The scientist discovered this substance studying shells of insects and crustaceans and because of that, failed to understand why it was necessary to create the shrilk, a mixture of chitosan (material from the shells of crustaceans and insects) and fibroin (a silk protein), which has a greater force than plastic and it also has the advantage of being biodegradable.

Thanks to publications that talk about this material, medical and industry companies were interested with this material. But there was a problem: silk is too much expensive  and raise the industrial process, and because of that, Javier Fernández and his team managed to remove the silk off the composition.

The researcher emphasizes that different techniques have been used to design the structure and the properties of chitosan, and have been reoriented to other applications. Therefore it is a material that has already existed. It is very easy to obtain because it is the second most abundant organic material on Earth, and is a material that normally ends up in the trash.

Unfortunately, it has not been well studied until now because, after it was discovered, the plastic was created and the research stopped. But when the concern for sustainable materials emerged, their study was resumed.

The scientist says that will soon the production of chitosan can be very high. But while the plastic is present, it will be difficult to introduce it. Meanwhile Javier Fernández will continue to develop applications of the material to give reasons for the generational change.

Link1                                                     Link2
This is a great advance and discover to ecologist worried about environment. Personaly I think it is good to depend less of plastic and keep some petrol to the future. Because unfortunately, plastic is not recyclable and it is very prejudicial to the ecosystem. but now with this biodegradable material, we can start saving our environment.

Teixobactin

A team of scientists (from the US biotechnology company NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals) reveals the results of his research on antibiotic called teixobactina. It is created from the soil where there are bacteria. The drug kills gram-positive bacteria and they do not cause an immediate resistance.

There has always been the problem that bacteria are "immunized" of antibiotics as microorganisms have evolved to resist them. So the teixobactina is a breakthrough for medicine because to bacteria it will be difficult to combat it.

It used to be impossible to grow bacteria out of their environment, but these researchers developed a membrane that 'cheated' bacteria and made them believe that they were in their natural environment when they were in a laboratory. This can lead to complicated natural ways to cure diseases like cancer.

It has not yet been tested in humans yet (it has been tested on mice and is effective), and it is too early to make it available.

It is expected that bacteria take more than 30 years to create genetic resistance to teixobactina . It is due because it inhibits the synthesis of peptidoglycan of the cell wall . That is why, researchers thought that the target could be a lipid, because when Teixobactine links up to lipids, bacteria can not continue to form the wall, and finally debilitate the organism and dies.

The drawback is that Teixobactine only works on gram-negative bacteria, which have an additional cell wall on the membrane and make them resistant to this antibiotic. But after overcome the obstacle of growing microorganisms in laboratories, it is possible that appear an effective compound against these bacteria and help to find future cures.

News link

I've been looking for articles about biology and medicine and I found this very interesting story. I was surprised because it is a recent discovery and that means that the field of medicine continues advancing and providing much help to present and future illnesses (although it is true that it passed a lot of time since the last injection of medicine to society) .

Review The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I read this book last year in Catalan as an optative reading. I was interested in this book because lots of people had recommended to me I wanted to see if it talked about the WWII (it does, but very summarized, with no much details) .

Since the start we know that the narrator is Death. Liesel Meminger, a nine-year-old German girl was given up by her mother because she couldn't take care property of her daughter. Hans and Rosa Hubermann adopted the girl in Molching. On their way to Molching, Liesel's brother died, and she get very traumatized. Hans was very kind brought her comfort and helps her learn to read. Her first book was about burials. Liesel met Rudy Steiner, who fell in love with her. When she went to a book burning, realized that her parents were killed for being Communists. Then she stole a book from there but the mayor's wife saw her and later invited Liesel to read in her library.

Hans hid a Jew named Max in his basement. Liesel and Max became close friends, and he wrote Liesel two stories about their friendship reproduced in the story. Then Hans was drafted into the military when the war was very hard, and soon Max marched towards the concentration camp at Dachau. Liesel lost hope and began to disdain the written word, and learnt that Hitler's propaganda was blame for the war and the Holocaust and the death of her family, but Ilsa encourages her to write. Liesel wrote her life story in the Hubermann’s basement, and fortunatelly she survived an air raid that killed everyone on her block. Liesel and Max survived the war. She continued her life since she died at an old age. 

I like the plot of the story but in my opinion the historical part is missing in the novel so I recommend the book only to people who want to move, because it is a quite hard story.

An impressing trombone loop of "Happy"

I was searching songs on Youtube to play with the trombone and suddenly I found this video. When I saw the title of the video, I wanted to listen to that song because I dindn't know what a trombone loop was. When it started, I thought it wouldn't be interesting because when I saw the computer I was sure that it would be a playback. Then, I get a bit jealous and angry with myself while I was watching and listening to the video. I couldn't believe that only one persone could do that. But it was really and Mr. Cristopher Bill was playing alone and as well as the video showed. I was such impressed that I searched for some information about this great musician. He is musician since he was 6. He plays the piano, but since he was 10, he plays the trombone.He has a Bachelor of Music for classical trombone performance at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music in New York. He is best known for his all-trombone arrangements of popular songs. And thanks to that and his great hability for music, now he participates in many events.
Someday I really want to play that well but I know it is impossible. So I can only keep studying to become the best I can.

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One of the best movies I've ever seen: Dead Poets Society

I have seen lots of films and many were very good. The Dead Poets Society is a great film. I've seen it twice: first I think it was when I was 13; the second time was this past year. When I was 13 I understood, more or less, the plot. Then last year, I saw it with other eyes: I mean, I could understand more aspects of the film than the first time (for example, the ethical values). I really enjoyed it because it is a film that you can see it lots of times and you will not get bored and you will learn new things every time. A little summary of the film would be like this:

The film is set in Welton University, the best private school in the UK. In the beginning of the course came a new teacher, Mr. Keating. Most of the teachers are very disciplinary and authoritarian, but Mr. Keating made dynamic classes with the only goal that said: we have little time in our life and we must make the most of every moment (Carpe diem). But this way to teach didn't like to the other teachers, and therefore they had a conflict of interests. Even the principal told him that is an unorthodox system; and that there is already established a system at the university. 

A group of Mr. Keating students, after researching its history, discovered "The Dead Poets Society ", founded by Mr. Keating (a former student of the school); they asked on this subject and the professor explained them the whole story. Then these students wanted to refound this club and they loved more and more poetry (another Professor Keating's objective).

Through the force with which Mr. Keating taught them and showed them that in this life we must fight for what one wants to, Neil (one of the students) decided to confront his father at the decision to become an actor. He denies it, and he even pulled out of school. Finally, Neil commits suicide. That is why Professor Keating was dismissed from the university, because the case was investigated and investigators found that Neil, belonged to the new Dead Poets Society.

Finally, when Mr. Keating gathered his things in the classroom and when he was crossing the door, he turned over and saw how his students stood up on the tables and increasingly raising the voice, they were saying "Oh captain, my captain." Students pretended to show that they had not betrayed him, but simply had been forced to lie when they were questioned one by one about the "Dead Poets Club".

Some of the arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos.

Today I will talk about zoos: are they good or bad to animals? Do animals are comfortable in zoos or not? Zoos are a great way to show some of the animals that you can't see them elsewhere. It's good to learn a little about these animals and know them.
Pros
It's a good system to protect animals that have to face extinction, that are abandoned or that will be used in medical experiments. Zoos are the only chance that these animals have to survive.
Zoos pretend to simulate the real habitat of animals.
Now zookeepers have specialist knowledge and often are specialised in a particular animal. This helps to the animals being comfortable.
Also zoos offer scientists to find the benefit of each animal.
Cons
Zoos can't simulate the appropriate conditions for every species of animal. For example, some animals need to run a lot, in a free habitat, but they can't because of the little place where they are.
Some anti-zoo supporters think that zoos are a benefit for people more than for animals.
The animals are living in habitats smaller than they are used to, the animals haven't much privacy. This can cause depression in the animals.
They think that living in captivity is prejudicial to animals more than a benefit.

I can't take place in any position because both pros and con have good arguments, so it's difficult to talk about this topic. I think that the only that really matters is the wellbeing of animals.

Frankenstein Summary

Capitain Robert Walton is on an expedition to the North Pole. He wrote letters to his sister Magaret informing his family of his situation with every detail. One day when the ship was trapped by ice, a man in bad condition was taken aboard. His name was Victor Frankenstein. When he recovered he told Walton the story of his life.

He grew up in Geneva as the eldest son of a higher-class family. He grew up with an orphan, Elizabeth and he also had two younger brothers. His only friend was Henry Clerval. At the age of nineteen, Frankenstein became interested in science. When his mother died Frankenstein went to Ingolstadt to go to university. There, his interest in natural philosophy obsessioned him. After four years of studying, without any contact with his family, he pretended to create an animated species from dead and created a gigantic monster from body parts. At the moment that the creature opened his eyes Frankenstein realised he made a mistake in creating this monster and rejected him. The next day, the monster had disappeared. Victor had a nervous fever during the next months and was nursed by his friend Clerval. The day he wanted to return at home, he received a letter because his youngest brother had been murdered. Frankenstein saw the monster and knew that he is the responsible for his brother’s death. Frankenstein didn't say anithing to anyone keeping the secret. As he arrived home, he was informed that the murderer of his brother had been found. Authorities accused Justine, a good friend of the family, of having murdered his little brother. He couldn't bear his guilty and hid in the alpine valleys. There, Frankenstein found his creation that tells him his life story.

When he ran away from Frankenstein's laboratory, he went to the village where he was insulted and attacked by the frightened villagers. He found refuge next to a small house inhabited by an old, blind man and his two children. The monster, by observing the family and by reading their books, learnt to speak and read. He decided to meet his hosts. He first had a conversation with the blind man but when children returned attacked him. Very upset, the monster was filled with rage and decided to find his creator. By chance he met Frankenstein's younger brother and murdered him.

The monster only wanted from Frankenstein a female to accompany him. If Frankenstein accepts, he and his bride will be happy for ever and they wouldn't see them anymore. Frankenstein agreed to the daemon's request, but when he finally created the female, he destroyed her. The monster swore revenge and promised to be with him on his wedding night. The next day Henry Clerval's body was found and Frankenstein was accused of murder. Frankenstein married Elizabeth and he was convinced that the monster would kill him. However the monster killed Elizabeth instead. Whith a lot of rage, he followed the monster everywhere and arrived to the Arctic region, where he was taken aboard Walton's ship.

Victor asked to the capitain to kill the monster if he died before he can do it himself. Victor's health was very deteriorated and he died. After his death, Walton found the monster with Victor's body. The daemon told to Walton his sufferings and that he will burn himself. Then the monster leaft the ship and disappeared in the darkness.

Chinese new year

This year is the goat's year. Chinese believe in astrology and every year is represented by an animal.

I was born in 1998 so the animal that represents me is the tiger. 

According to the chinese zodiac:

The lucky colours are blue, grey and orange. I don't like any of these colours. My favourite one is red, but if I have to choose one, I'll say blue.

The lucky numbers are 1, 3 and 4. I agree because I like these numbers.

The personality that characterizes the tiger are brave, confident, adventurous, expansive, open and independent. People say that the adjectives thatdescribes me better are all except expansive but I would say that only confident and indepentdent define me.

The best-suited careers for tigers are advertising agent, office manager, travel agent, actor, writer, artist, pilot and musician. Obviusly I want to be musician, but science careers (like Biology) are not in this list so I'm a bit wooried about that...

A definition about tigers is: tigers are energetic and have great enthusiasm at work. Then when they feel exhausted after extendid work, they need some relaxation to refresh themselves. I agree with these sentences becuase I usually do that.

Also it is said that people born in the year of the Tiger are brave, competitive, unpredictable, and self-confident. They are very charming and well-liked by others. But sometimes they are likely to be impetuous, irritable, and overindulged.

They are authoritative and never go back on what they have said. They can be competent leaders. They will not make preparations for anything, but they can handle anything that comes along.

While they are not motivated by money or power.

Tigers love be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means important value to them, and they do not like to obey others. 

I thing that these are the right adjectives and personality that describes me ;)

My opinion about gap years

These past weeks, we've been studying gap years: Will we take a gap year? After Batxillerat? After the end of our studies in the University? It's a good and interesting topic to talk about.

Taking a gap year could be interesting to know yourself. Also you can be open-minded, I mean, you can learn to see the world with other eyes. You can mature and learn new cultures and ways of life, too.

However, a gap year has to be productive and it has to gratify the person who takes it. People musn't thing in gap years as taking a year resting on the sofa, watching TV or doing nothing.

Another negative thing of taking a gap year is the back to the "real life". It seems to be hard to return to study after a gap year (in case you have taken it after Batxillerat) because you have accostummed to spend your time with other people, having fun and relax.

So, in conclusion, getting a gap year in general is a good thing because it has lots of advantages, more than negative things. So, would I take one?

Describing a person (with podcast)

I decided to describe a closer friend because I think it is easier and I can be sincere because I know that it won't be any problem with the contain of this post.
I will describe Andrea. She is 17 years old. She lives in Castelló d'Empúries. She studies at INS Castelló d'Empúries and she's cursing 1st Batxillerat. She loves music and dance. I've known her since I've arrived to Spain. We only studied together during ESO (at school and now in Batxillerat we are in differents classes), but we've always been friends.

She is very crazy, she is always happy and laughing. She has got a strong character (better you don't make she angry if you don't wanna die). She is very extroverted but when she has a problem, she tries not to share her fellings (however it's easy to detect it when you know her very well). She is a little moody. She is emotional and sensitive, too. However, she is not resentful that I think it is an important fact that only have a little people. (I have to say good things about her, too.)

She is not very tall. Actually she is quite short. She has long dark-brown straigh hair. She has dark brown eyes. She wears piercings in the ears and on her nose. (I don't like them but if she does, I accept it too). She likes to wear quite flashy clothes and she is a fashion victim.

She is a very good person and she is a very good, loyal and true friend. From my perspective, she complements me because she is very crazy and I'm very calmed and relaxed (although I sometimes get crazy too). We both are a bit moody and because of that we argue quite often. But then, with a joke she forgives me. She sometimes makes me get crazy or angry with whatever she says. But I think we are good friend because I make she angry, and she makes me angry. "Sino, para que están los amigos?"

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Audio recording software >>

Describing a photo of the place I want to go (podcast)

Since I studied Australia at the school, I have been interested in travel to this country. Australia has lots of places to visit and they are very good. But I have always wanted to vistit the Great Barrier Reef. So I decided to put a little information on this post. The Great Barrier Reef has many generations of coral that have built a habitat discovered and then later settled by humans.

The Great Barrier Reef is an extremely ancient, enormous host of living things, composed of living coral growing on dead coral. It is composed by thousands of species of plants and animals. It is amazing and very large, so I prefer to watch it by helicopter. It has a natural beauty that attracts lots of visitors because of the diversity of the seabed life (corals, fishes and shellfish). It is the only living thing on earth visible from space, so it is a very important fact for Australia.

In the photo you can see how large it is. The water is very clear and helps to show better the Barrier. 

At the back you can see that takes up a great quantity of sea. And both back and front of the image you can observe that when coral touch together, makes a kind of picture in the water. And in the center of the corals, there is a path without it.

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Audio recording software >>

Shakespeare's Biography

Shakespeare was born the 23rd of April of 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and he died the 23rd of April of 1616. He was the greatest poem and play writer of ever in the English language. 

His family was well-off. His father was John Shakespeare, aglovemaker, a shop keeper, land owner a the mayor of Stratford. His mother Mary Arden was inherited land wich was bequeathed to William. William had 7 borthers and sisters. He probably attended the free grammar school until 15, mainly studying Latin. Read much mythology, Ovid, Plutarch's lives, etc., wich he used as sources. 

William married with Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582. She was 8 years older. And the had 3 children: Susanna, and the twins, Hamnet & Judith. 

He lived in London most of his life and had little to do with Stratford, although he became its thrid largest landowner, and eventually retired there. 

By 1592, he was recognized as a successful actor on  the London stage-as well as a leading poet. He was a member of a repertory group- Chamberlain's Men. He wrote at least 38 plays as well as sonnets (154) and other poems like The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, etc. 

He revolutionized the English stage with his dramatic and poetic genius. In 1599 built the Globe Theatre in London. He retired from the theatre his native Stratford sometime between 1611 and 1613- having bought a large house called "New Place". 

He died on his 52nd birthday April 23, 1616 in Stratford and was buried in the chancel of the Church of Holy trinity.

Businesses loving Valentine's Day ever more

Summary

This notice is about that the Americans had spent $13.7 billion this year on Valentine's Day, up 22 percent from just five years ago. Only on Christmas and on the back-to-school season, people spend more money. The traditional methods are used to donate to the most nearby and dear persons. The most select gifts are  love cards. According to some journalists,  In theory everyday should be like Valentine’s Day. And every Valentine’s Day should be about whom you spend it with, not how much was spent. 

I think that it is not necessary to spend so much money to demonstrate the love towards a person.

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Vocabulary

infatuation

heartfelt
revenues
aiming
boost
despite
purchasing
co-opts
hype
households
acknowledges

A love quote and a love film

Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.

Bruce Lee.

Translation:

El amor es como una amistad a la que se prendió fuego. En un principio una llama, muy bonita, a menudo caliente y feroz, pero aún así solo luz y parpadeo. A medida que crece el amor, nuestros corazones maduran y nuestro amor se convierte en carbón, cala hondo y es inextinguible.

Bruce Lee.

Pretty Woman

I don't like love stories or films, but this one is not a bad love film. This film is starrig by Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. It is about a rich businessman that met a prostitute, when the man ask the girl to guide him. At first, the girl had act as an ordinary person. Graduatelly, the couple was falling in love. Finally, the girl achieved to act as a "normal woman", with good manners. Unfortunatelly, both couldn't stay together because the businessman had to work and the girl wanted to have a better life.

Trailer

Romeo and Juliet's Summary

The Montagues and the Capulets were two families who lived in Verona. They hated each other. One day two Capulet servants met two Montague servants, they started to fight. Benvolio, who liked peace, told them to stop but Tybalt, who loved fighting, told them to continue. Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet arrived and started to fight, too. The Prince of Verona arrived and was very angry. He told them "If you fight again you will be punished with death".

Lord and Lady Montague were very worried about Romeo because he was very sad. Benvolio asked Romeo why he was sad, Romeo explained he was in love with Rosaline.

Lord Capulet decided to have a party. He wanted Juliet and Paris to get married. Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio go secretely to the party, it was a masked party. At the party Tybalt recognised Romeo's voice but Lord Capulet told him he must not fight. Romeo saw Juliet and he fell in love. They kissed and later they meet on the balcony, decided to get married. 

Romeo went to see Friar Laurence and organised a secret wedding. Mercutio and Benvolio were walking in the street when they met Tybalt. Tybalt wanted to fight Romeo but Romeo did not want to fight Juliet's cousin. Mercutio was angry with Romeo and started to fight Tybalt. Romeo tried to stop them but at that moment Tybalt killed Mercutio. Then Romeo killed Tybalt. The Prince of Verona punished Romeo with banish from Verona. Romeo and Juliet spend a night together and then Romeo left to Mantua.

Lord Capulet told Juliet that in a few days she will marry with Paris but Friar Laurence gave Juliet a potion that she will apear dead. Then the family put her in the family tomb. Friar Laurence sent Friar John to tell Romeo to take Juliet from the tomb. Friar John didn't find Romeo and he heard that Juliet was dead. Romeo bought some poison. He went to the tomb, killed Paris and drank the poison netx to Juliet. At that moment Juliiet Wake up and she saw that Romeo was dead. She took his knife and killed herself.

(363 words)

New Year's Resolutions

This year I will...

1. Improve in my instruments, particulary with the fiscorn and the trombone. I hope this summer I can go to a profesional cobla. To acomplish it, I need more time outside school.
2. Get better in my English by practising grammar and vocabulary, talking, watching series with subtitles and listening to music with lyrics .
3. Read more books (in Spanish, Catalan and easy English).
4. Go to the gym and do exercise.
5. Learn Italian to speak with my family.

What's Christmas for me?

For me Christmas is a good time to relax and spend time with my family. I really enjoy presents too. I can also practice my instruments during holidays. Unfortunately I have to do some homework that spoil them. Every year we celebrate Christmas on the 24th at night and open presents at midnight. Then the 25th have a familiar lunch (only my parents, my sister and me) and enjoy our presents. We always eat a typical Venezuelan food: hallacas, pan de jamón, pernil (a kind of meat) and ensalada de gallina. It's delicious!! Then the 31st we get together again and eat the same food. And then stand waiting for  next Christmas.