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Study finds body composition impacts neurodegenerative disease risk

Research reveals body composition patterns can influence the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, with certain patterns linked to increased risk due to cardiovascular disease.

28 Jul 2024

Scientists explore early life factors contributing to SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurological disease for which there is presently no cure, although current therapies can alleviate symptoms. In the search for better treatment options, scientists at DZNE and the Dresden University of Technology are now drawing attention to previously unnoticed abnormalities in embryonic development. They base their argument on studies of so-called organoids: Laboratory-grown tissue cultures that can reconstruct disease processes. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

27 Jul 2024

New study examines educational disruptions for children

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often face significant disruptions in their education due to extended hospitalizations. A recent study published online in Disability and Rehabilitation on July 1, 2024, by a multidisciplinary team of Kessler Foundation and Children Specialized Hospital.

27 Jul 2024

Breakthrough therapy heals spinal cord injuries

In November 2021, Northwestern University researchers introduced an injectable new therapy, which harnessed fast-moving "dancing molecules," to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries.

27 Jul 2024

Innovative dual-drug strategy for colorectal cancer treatment

A combination of two drugs was capable of suppressing tumors in a non-conventional manner. Instead of inhibiting tumor cell division, as the most widely used medications do, the strategy consisted of hyperactivating oncogenic signaling by these cells to the point where they became stressed.

27 Jul 2024

New biomarker helps determine the optimal treatment for colon cancer

Many people with stage II or III colon cancer receive additional, or adjuvant, chemotherapy following surgery. However, clinical trials have shown that this treatment doesn't improve the chances of survival for every patient. A study published July 25th, 2024 in Cell Reports Medicine identifies and validates a 10-gene biomarker that potentially predicts whether a stage II or III colon cancer patient will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

27 Jul 2024

Inflammation may not be key to fighting liver fibrosis in MAFLD

Researchers at UCLA Health uncovered new information about the role inflammation plays in mitigating liver fibrosis, which is associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), one of the most common diseases in the world affecting up to 40 percent of U.S. adults. While inflammation in the liver has long been considered a prerequisite to developing liver fibrosis, the scarring and thickening of tissue that can impair the liver's ability to function, this new research suggests that reducing inflammation may not influence the extent of fibrosis.

27 Jul 2024

Unraveling the microbial dynamics of spontaneous fermentation

Shibazuke is a traditional Japanese eggplant pickle produced by the process of fermentation using lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB which is commonly present in vegetables causes the spontaneous fermentation of vegetables, resulting in the distinctive acidic flavor of pickles. While LAB is beneficial, other species of bacteria and microbes that may be present in the food source can affect the food quality and safety. Advancements in the areas of food technology and nutrition have allowed the large-scale fermentation of pickles via industrial fermenters, where conditions that affect fermentation like temperature, pH-acid levels, and salt content are closely monitored.

27 Jul 2024

New study highlights paternal influence on child's T1D risk

New research to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) (Madrid, 9-13 September) shows that a child is almost twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes (T1D) if their father has the condition than if their mother has the condition.

27 Jul 2024

New guidelines expand BRCA testing and screening for men

More and more studies show that men face risks of cancer from BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that are most often associated with breast and ovarian cancers in women.

27 Jul 2024

Study finds stark differences in stroke center access by income

Low-income communities are up to 42% less likely to obtain stroke center certification.

27 Jul 2024

Moffitt study identifies predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive form of skin cancer known for its rapid growth and tendency to metastasize. Despite the promise of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which can boost the body's immune response against cancer cells, nearly half of patients do not respond to this treatment.

26 Jul 2024

UCLA scientists awarded $300,000 grant to study glioblastoma microenvironment

Scientist Dr. Aparna Bhaduri, assistant professor of medicine and biological chemistry, and neurosurgeon Dr. Kunal Patel, assistant professor of neurosurgery, both part of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, have received the 2024 Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award from the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience, which supports innovative research by U.S. scientists who are studying neurological and psychiatric diseases.

26 Jul 2024

Physician posture impacts patient experience and outcomes

A new study suggests that getting at a patient's eye level when talking with them about their diagnosis or care can really make a difference. Sitting or crouching at a hospitalized patient's bedside was associated with more trust, satisfaction and even better clinical outcomes than standing, according to the new review of evidence.

26 Jul 2024

Cellular competition determines X chromosome usage in female bodies

A new study published in Nature Genetics by the Lymphoid Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences has reveals that the contribution of cells expressing maternal or paternal X chromosomes can be selectively skewed in different parts of the body. The study leverages human data from the 1000 Genomes Project combined with mouse models of human X chromosome-linked DNA sequence variation to advance our fundamental understanding of development in biologically female individuals who have two X chromosomes.

26 Jul 2024

Anxiety’s Long-Term Impact on Dementia Development

The longitudinal relationship between chronic, resolved, and new onset anxiety and the risk of all-cause dementia (Progressive cognitive decline affecting memory and thinking).

26 Jul 2024

INTEGRA Biosciences and Parse Biosciences offer affordable, automated single cell RNA sequencing

INTEGRA Biosciences and Parse Biosciences have partnered to automate single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

From INTEGRA Biosciences 26 Jul 2024

Study reveals enhanced electron transport in folded peptides

What puts the electronic pep in peptides? A folded structure, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

26 Jul 2024

Alarming spread of H5N1 bird flu in US dairy cattle reveals cross-species transmission dangers

Researchers discovered that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has spilled over into dairy cattle in the US, posing significant cross-species transmission risks. Their multidisciplinary study reveals the virus's evolution and its zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for heightened biosecurity measures.

25 Jul 2024

COVID pandemic accelerated brain aging, especially in males and deprived groups

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated brain aging, particularly in males and those from deprived backgrounds, with significant cognitive performance decline in infected individuals. This impact was observed regardless of COVID-19 infection status, highlighting the role of psychosocial stressors.

25 Jul 2024