Male hypogonadism is a condition that diminishes testosterone levels in approximately 30% of older men, but currently available therapies can produce serious side effects. In a study published December 22 in Stem Cell Reports, researchers developed an alternative approach involving the direct conversion of adult skin cells into functional testosterone-producing cells. When transplanted into male rodents...
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Scientists reprogram embryonic stem cells to expand their potential cell fates
miR-34a-deficient embryonic stem cell culture is enriched with cells with expanded developmental potential as shown by their strong MuERV-L induction (red). These cells are distinct from the classic embryonic stem cells shown by the Oct4 staining (green). MuERV-L are the family of murine endogenous retroviruses activated in the very early embryo. Researchers from the University...
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Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of chronic headache
Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of chronic headache, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, KIHD, analysed the serum vitamin D levels and occurrence of headache in approximately 2,600 men aged between 42 and 60...
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New drug could help prevent artery disease in high-risk patients
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 2,200 Americans die each day from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. The most common cause is blocked blood vessels that can no longer supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart and brain. A recent study by researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine has...
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PROMISING NEW DRUG STOPS SPREAD OF MELANOMA BY 90 PERCENT
Michigan State University researchers have discovered that a chemical compound, and potential new drug, reduces the spread of melanoma cells by up to 90 percent. The man-made, small-molecule drug compound goes after a gene’s ability to produce RNA molecules and certain proteins in melanoma tumors. This gene activity, or transcription process, causes the disease to...
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Scripps Florida Scientists Uncover New Way to Defeat Therapy-Resistant Prostate Cancer
JUPITER, FL – December 29, 2016 – A new study led by scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) sheds light on a signaling circuit in cells that drives therapy resistance in prostate cancer. The researchers found that targeting the components of this circuit suppresses advanced prostate cancer development. The study,...
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Commentary: I made my autistic son cannabis cookies. They saved him.
It took me awhile to perfect the cookie recipe. I experimented with ingredients: Blueberry, Strawberry, Sour Diesel, White Widow, Bubba Kush, AK-47 — all strains of cannabis, which I stored, mixed with glycerin, in meticulously labeled jars on a kitchen shelf. After the cookies finished baking, I’d taste a few crumbs and annotate the effects in...
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Antioxidant found in breast milk prevents liver disease, study finds
Antioxidants are believed to prevent some chronic illnesses – such as cardiovascular disease and cancer – due to their ability to protect against cell damage. New research suggests that a common antioxidant may also protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A new study suggests that an antioxidant commonly found in breast milk could help...
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Small increase in dietary zinc stops DNA from deteriorating
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports human growth and development, as well as helps to keep the body’s immune system healthy. New research suggests that even a small increase in daily zinc intake can help the body to protect its DNA. As little as 4 milligrams of supplementary zinc every day could prevent DNA...
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Chemically modified insulin is available more quickly
Binding of the insulin analog (green) to the receptor (light blue). The receptor’s surface is shown in transparent gray. Replacing a hydrogen atom by an iodine atom in insulin, the hormone retains its efficacy but is available more rapidly to the organism. Researchers at the University of Basel were able to predict this effect based...