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Exercise boosts hormone levels: New research shows increased oxytocin and cortisol in urine and saliva

Research shows that both urine and saliva samples effectively capture oxytocin and cortisol fluctuations in response to physical exercise, highlighting the robustness of these non-invasive methods.

22 Jul 2024

Study: Danger circuit relies on neuropeptides, not neurotransmitters

In the split second as you accidentally touch the hot handle of a cast iron skillet, pain and a sense of danger rush in.

22 Jul 2024

USC scientists transform B cells into cancer and HIV destroyers

USC scientists have discovered a way to turn the body's B cells into tiny surveillance machines and antibody factories that can pump out specially designed antibodies to destroy cancer cells or HIV, two of medicine's most formidable foes.

22 Jul 2024

Innovative genetic approaches to rare disease diagnosis

The majority of rare diseases have a genetic cause. The underlying genetic alteration can be found more and more easily, for example by means of exome sequencing (ES), leading to a molecular genetic diagnosis.

22 Jul 2024

CD5 knockout using CRISPR boosts CAR T cell therapy efficacy

The effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy against a variety of cancers, including solid tumors, could be boosted greatly by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to knock out the gene for CD5, a protein found on the surface of T cells, according to a preclinical study from investigators at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center.

19 Jul 2024

New microscopy technique unveils dynamic structure of amyloid-beta

Amyloid-beta (A-beta) aggregates are tangles of proteins most notably associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

19 Jul 2024

Unraveling the rhythmic gene expression in legume-rhizobia symbiosis

Legumes thrive in low-nitrogen environments by partnering with rhizobia, soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a usable form for the plants.

19 Jul 2024

Study reveals a promising approach to developing universal influenza vaccine

New research led by Oregon Health & Science University reveals a promising approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine -; a so-called "one and done" vaccine that confers lifetime immunity against an evolving virus.

19 Jul 2024

Expanding genetic Horizons: GWAS insights from the VA Million Veterans Program

A large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) using data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Million Veterans Program (MVP) – one of the largest US-based biobanks – fills crucial gaps in our knowledge of the relationships between genes, traits, and disease across diverse populations, according to a new study.

19 Jul 2024

Ginseng genome unlocks secrets of medicinal benefits

A landmark study has successfully decoded the complete ginseng genome, unveiling the genetic mechanisms that govern saponin biosynthesis. This detailed genetic map illuminates the evolutionary and metabolic pathways of Panax ginseng, a staple in traditional medicine. This pivotal discovery promises to drive forward breeding initiatives and augment the plant's medicinal qualities, unlocking new possibilities for therapeutic applications.

19 Jul 2024

New insights into modified nucleoside synthesis

The genetic information on DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and translated to the amino acid sequence by transfer RNA (tRNA) on the ribosome. Modified nucleosides within RNA are involved in maintaining and regulating the protein synthesis system.

19 Jul 2024

Museum flies and wild specimens help fill gaps in fruit fly evolution

A multitude of new genomic sequence data fills major gaps in the fruit fly tree of life, Bernard Kim from Stanford University, US, and colleagues report in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, publishing July 18th.

19 Jul 2024

Study examines brain activity and time perception over minutes and hours

Ever hear the old adage that time flies when you're having fun? A new study by a team of UNLV researchers suggests that there's a lot of truth to the trope.

19 Jul 2024

Diverse genetic data illuminates health disparities across populations

The majority of genetic studies focus on people of European descent, which limits the understanding of how genes influence health in other populations.

18 Jul 2024

Blocking IL-11 protein extends lifespan and health in mice by 25%, study shows

Scientists at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science and Imperial College London have discovered that 'switching off' a protein called IL-11 can significantly increase the healthy lifespan of mice by almost 25%.

18 Jul 2024

Insights into megakaryopoiesis regulation by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Platelets play an essential role in wound healing. Underproduction can cause devastating bleeding, while overproduction increases the deadly risk of thromboses.

18 Jul 2024

Porcine study reveals meurotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of microplastics on enteric nervous system

Researchers investigates the effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the neuronal population in the porcine jejunum.

18 Jul 2024

Discovery of over 1,000 undetected proteins in metabolite samples

Van Andel Institute scientists have identified more than 1,000 previously undetected proteins in common metabolite samples, which persist despite extraction methods designed to weed them out.

18 Jul 2024

Flu viruses can use a second entry pathway to infect cells

Most influenza viruses enter human or animal cells through specific pathways on the cells' surface. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now discovered that certain human flu viruses and avian flu viruses can also use a second entry pathway, a protein complex of the immune system, to infect cells.

18 Jul 2024