Links between household chemicals and birth defects

Common household chemicals are air freshener, deodorant, disinfectant, laundry detergent and fabric softener.

Birth defects occur when both parents were exposed, as well as when one parent was exposed.

Exposure to these common household chemicals can affect the embryonic development and cause permanent deformation to the fetus.

A common ingredient of household products, known as quaternary ammonium compounds or 'quats', is responsible for the harmful effects.

It may affect sperm count, ovulation and cause miscarriage in some cases. Couple planning to have children should use these chemicals with caution.

Pregnant women must be very careful while using these chemicals or minimize exposure to avoid having children with neural tube defects.
 
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How cancer spreads

A research study led by University of Minnesota engineers gives new method of how cancer cells move based on their ability to sense their environment.

The researchers discovered that cells have the ability to sense the stiffness of their environment and their ability to move is depend on their environment ranging from bone tissue to fatty tissue and muscle tissue.

Researchers compared cells from human brain cancer to mobile but normal cells from embryonic chick brains. They did five different experiments that included environments with six different stiffnesses.

The researchers slowed the cancer cells down in a petri dish in the lab by following the predictions of their computer models, which were based on an understanding the mechanics of the cancer cell movement.

Cells are like cars, they have motors that generate force, and a clutch to transfer that force to structures that grip the tissue along which they move. When the environment is good like a paved road, they can move into higher gear, with the engine spinning faster and the clutch transferring more force to the parts that, like wheels, get more grip.

They discovered that the combination of the two drugs they tested inhibit the motor and clutch functions of cancer cells and therefore hindered their movement.

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Where does blood come from?

Sweden scientists have discovered how the first blood cells form during human development as they change from endothelial cells to hematopoietic.

A laboratory model of human stem cell was developed, observing the expression of blood cell and endothelial cell genes in each individual cell, a progression from an endothelial state was found.

 Niel-Bjarne Woods, was in charge of the study, he said understanding how the first human blood cells develop will provide more information on how to generate blood stem cells for treatment of blood disorder.

Human blood is composed of several specialized cells for different purposes like providing oxygen and immune response against viruses and bacteria.

During embryonic development, the first stem cells form and leads to production of all the blood cells you will produce in your lifetime.

The cells changing to blood in the embryo begin as endothelial cells that make up the walls of the developing arteries. After sometime, it developed into tightly packed spindle shaped endothelial cells and later detach to form round cells of the blood and released into circulation.