The new chemical composition of the legal high ‘poppers’ is linked to retinal damage at the back of the eye, finds a small study published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The findings prompt the researchers to call for a reassessment of the harms associated with these recreational drugs. Poppers are colourless liquids with strong...
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Intestinal bacteria may protect against diabetes
A high concentration of indolepropionic acid in the serum protects against type 2 diabetes, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Indolepropionic acid is a metabolite produced by intestinal bacteria, and its production is boosted by a fibre-rich diet. According to the researchers, the discovery provides additional insight into the role of...
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From skin to brain: Stem cells without genetic modification
Summary: A discovery, several years in the making, demonstrates that adult skin cells can be converted into neural crest cells (a type of stem cell) without any genetic modification, and that these stem cells can yield other cells that are present in the spinal cord and the brain. The applications could be significant, from studying...
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Researchers identify new target for abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes
Fundus photograph of the left eye in a patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. A team led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers has identified a novel therapeutic target for retinal neovascularization, or abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, a hallmark of advanced diabetic eye disease (proliferative diabetic retinopathy). According to a report published...
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Graphene, electricity used to change stem cells for nerve regrowth
Summary: Scientists are combining their expertise to change stem cells for nerve regrowth. Researchers trying to regenerate nerve cells might face a hard time. For example: Schwann cells. They form sheaths around axons, the tail-like part of nerve cells that carry electrical impulses. They promote regeneration of those axons. And they secrete substances that promote...
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The gene that turns epilepsy treatment deadly
Drug responses are known to vary based on the genetic profiles of patients. This is why personalized medicine is highly desirable to prevent adverse effects. Drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions (DIHRs) are serious and life threatening. A common example is the use of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, but the mechanisms that trigger it are unclear. Current...
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Research uncovers potential new treatment to treat and stop progression of cystic fibrosis
Rescuing CFTR by Thymosin α1(T α1) acting as a corrector of the misfolded protein (p.Phe508del-CFTR) and potentiator of normal chloride channel activity. EC, epithelial cells. CFTR, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein. WT, …more Researchers from the George Washington University (GW), the University of Perugia, and the University of Rome have discovered a potential new drug...
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Rescue protein gives doomed cells a stay of ‘execution’
A research team led by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital immunologists has discovered how a set of proteins delays the “executioner” machinery that kills damaged or infected cells in a process called necroptosis. The scientists believe the finding may have wide clinical implications if researchers can develop drugs to control the cellular rescue machinery. Rescue...
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A Scientist is 3D Printing Blood Vessels for Sick Children
IN BRIEF Scientists are developing flexible materials to 3D print blood vessels for treating vascular defects in children. The team has been awarded a grant totaling $211,000 from the NIH for their cause. 3D-PRINTED MEDICAL MAGIC Since it was introduced, 3D-printing technology has taken the world by storm. From disrupting the fashion industry to shaking up traditional home...
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Coeliac disease could be triggered by common strain of reovirus, research finds
Could a seemingly harmless virus you had as a baby be behind coeliac disease? New research suggests an infection with a common strain of reovirus, which is often symptomless, could be behind why some people’s immune systems react to gluten as if it were a dangerous pathogen instead of a harmless food protein. The research, published...