Like whites, Hispanic and black people who have had mononucleosis, commonly known as mono, which is caused by Epstein-Barr virus, may have an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study published in the August 30, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. While being infected...
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Study highlights new link between gene fusion and bladder and brain cancer
• Previously overlooked section of fusion found to worsen cancer cells • Scientists find section acts like a vacuum cleaner ‘hoovering up’ healthy parts of cell • Preventing’ signalling’ in cells may not stop cancer in studied gene fusion A study by the University of Warwick sheds new light on gene fusion in bladder and...
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LSUHealthNO discovery may be key to obesity, Diabetes Rx
New Orleans, LA – Research led by Suresh Alahari, PhD, Fred Brazda Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has demonstrated the potential of a protein to treat or prevent metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes. The findings are published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry as a Paper...
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Mysterious protein-folding molecule could trigger metabolic disorders
The cell’s response to unfolded or misfolded proteins could be a cause, rather than a consequence, of metabolic disorders, report researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in an article published online ahead of print on September 4, 2017 by Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. The researchers identified a little-known molecule as the trigger...
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New genetic risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder identified
Autism spectrum disorder affects approximately one out of every 68 children in the United States. Despite expansive study, the origin and risk factors of the complex condition are not fully understood. To better understand the root causes, an international team led by researchers at OHSU in Portland, Oregon has applied a new systematic analysis to...
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Pilot study shows that neurofeedback may help treatment-resistant depression
A small pilot study has indicated that neurofeedback – where patients concentrate on modifying their own brainwave patterns – has potential to treat many of the 100m people worldwide who suffer from Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). This is the first time that neurofeedback has been shown to improve both individual symptoms and overall recovery in TRD....
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Identification of a key molecule for the neurotransmitter release in synapses
The contact areas between nerve cells are called synapses. What happens there lies at the heart of communication between nerve cells. Communication starts with the release of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters at these synapses. Neurotransmitter-containing synaptic vesicles are involved in this release process, and these vesicles fuse with the cell membrane. This fusion occurs...