This themed issue summarizes significant efforts aimed at using "biological language" to discern between "friends" and "foes" in the context of theranostics for true clinical application. It is expected that the success of theranostics depends on multidisciplinary efforts, combined to expedite our understanding of host responses to "customized" theranostic agents and formulating individualized ...

Nanomaterials have unique physical and chemical properties that are useful for various consumer and industrial applications, but these very same properties may give rise to unique biological reactivity. This has led to mounting concerns over the safety of nanomaterials, and pressure to control the potential risks. The toxicological properties of metal, metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, f...

As a potential founder population of MS, the Scandinavian ethnic group is of special interest in MS genetics. Project in these countries have recently led to several reports, including associations with HLA class I, CTLA-4 and suggestive linkage to several chromosomal candidate loci. The analysis of isolated populations within Scandinavia may also prove to be rewarding.

Longevity is a blessing as long as good health is not lost. However, the tendency to have a decline on normal physiological activities is inevitable because of the natural processes of degeneration at all levels: molecular, cellular and organic. Hence, the elderly people frequently suffer from cardiovascular problems and skeletal deteriorations that gradually develop to disabilities. Awareness ...

Noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and are recognized as the foremost cause of foodborne illness. Despite numerous efforts, routine cell cultures have failed to yield replicating NoV. This paper describes methods used to try to grow NoV in vitro in two laboratories. Cells (A549, AGS, Caco-2, CCD-18, CRFK, CR-PEC, Detroit 551, Detroit 562, FRhK-4, HCT-8, HeLa, HE...