Science Vs Healthy Boundaries – Why Laurel, MD Residents May Feel Conflicted About Mice
The relationship between mice and humans is certainly a two-sided coin. On the one hand, mice have made it possible for scientists to make significant breakthroughs in delivering treatment for various ailments in humans. Ongoing scientific studies involving mice today probably number in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.
One example is a recent study in which a new treatment for psoriasis was given to mice. The researchers found that the symptoms of the disease significantly reduced in rodents.
“Topical creams have been used to treat skin conditions for hundreds of years, but the skin is a very effective barrier against most substances, which limits their effectiveness. Being able to bridge that barrier to deliver nucleic acid therapeutics directly to skin cells is a huge accomplishment in the quest for targeted, effective therapeutics,” said corresponding author Samir Mitragotri, who is a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute and the Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at SEAS. Read more at The Harvard Gazette…
If successful, this treatment would be great news for the 8 million Americans and 125 million people in the world suffering from the disease. It is especially important because existing forms of treatment have had unpleasant side effects for patients.
Another group of researchers has been able to create the very first mouse model of the two different types of pancreatic cancer. The models would help better understand how cancer cells inside the pancreas behave as a result of the effects of the surrounding tissues.
The first mouse model of pancreatic cancer that recreates two subtypes of the human disease, has been created by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). Their model will help researchers investigate why some pancreatic cancers are more aggressive, and what causes them to progress. Their model may lead the way to targeted therapies. Read more at GenEng News…
One of the biggest challenges of cancer treatment is the fact that treatments such as chemotherapy are destructive to the harmful cancer cells, but they also destroy healthy cells. These models will go a long way in allowing the researchers to understand these cancers. The hope is that therapeutic strategies specifically targeting the cancers can be developed.
No doubt mice have made a huge contribution to the medical world. Unfortunately, we can only get these benefits from mice in the lab. House mice, on the other hand, can create a variety of problems for the human beings they cross paths with.
Not only is the presence of mice distressing, they can be very unhygienic.
The small animals can carry and spread serious diseases such as salmonella and listeria through their urine.
When moving around a property, mice can carry and spread dirt and bacteria to different areas.
Nibbling mice may also cause havoc by chewing through wires, pipes and packaging. Read more at Express…
We in Howard County definitely have a lot to be thankful for where mice are concerned. However, it doesn’t make sense to trade in the benefits of the lab mice for the trouble that accompanies house mice. Call us today to make your home a mouse-free zone. Our perimeter rodent control services ensure that your home is protected from rodent invasions, thus keeping your family safe and healthy.