For The Better

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal disease characterized by muscle dysfunction resulting from motor neuron degradation, was first described in 1824 by the Scottish scientist Sir Charles Bell.1 At the time, Bell and contemporary neurologists had not yet named the disease, nor had they clearly defined its diagnostic and clinical boundaries. It wasn’t until 1874 …

Although cancer treatment has come a long way in recent years, prognosis for patients with brain cancer still remains poor. For the most prevalent and aggressive form, glioblastoma, there is currently no curative treatment available. One of the major challenges to treating brain cancers is the inability of drugs to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) …

A conversation with Dr. Scott Coffin, California State Water Resources Control Board Recently, the State of California announced its intention to require microplastics testing be done to protect its drinking water supplies. California often plays the Canary-in-a-Coal-Mine role on environmental issues – bringing critical questions to the forefront that impact all testing labs, not just …

Infrared spectroscopy is routinely used for identification of materials, whether known or unknown. Additionally, this technique provides other detailed insights into the environment of the material under investigation. The speed, accuracy and convenience of IR spectroscopy has made it a key technology in the contemporary analytical laboratory. Learn more as we discover the effect of …

While dual biomarker tests are more established, additional evidence is now confirming that PIGF as a stand-alone marker could be as effective as the established sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for managing preeclampsia. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic protein synthesized by the placenta. A low concentration has been strongly correlated with preeclampsia. There is proof that …

The potential to harness an individual’s immune system to treat cancer has revolutionized the oncology field. Coined immunotherapy, this umbrella term describes several types of treatment, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune system modulators, and adoptive cell therapies. Each triggers the immune system in a different way to fight cancer. One approach currently being explored involves …

Our endocrine glands send out chemical signals and hormones that direct almost all aspects of development, from formation of eggs and sperm onward. A significant part of hormone signaling is the turning on and off of genes, plus more physiological processes. This process is essential for all aspects of human life. An endocrine disruptor is …

Navigating educational and industry events during the global pandemic is an agile undertaking. Here is a list of the top events PerkinElmer is hosting or participating in. We look forward to answering your questions, either online or SAFELY in-person. We will update this during the month, if in-person events are cancelled. Date Topic Title Location …

Detection of cell death is one of the most recognized flow cytometry applications. Combined with various death detection dyes, flow cytometry can be used to determine if cells are undergoing death processes. Although it is already informative to know if a cell is dying or has been dead, revealing details in cell death processes might …

Flow cytometry integrates principles from electronics, fluidics, and optics to measure a variety of physical characteristics of a particle, typically a cell or cellular component. Since its initial design in 1968, flow cytometry has been an integral analytical tool in the life science industry. Advances in design and performance have led to a rapidly expanding …