RNA-based therapeutics that prevent a key metabolic enzyme from being expressed in tumor-initiating cells (TIC) hold promise for the treatment of lung cancer, an A*STAR team has shown. As implied by their name, TIC – also known as cancer stem cells – are a subset of tumor cells with the capacity to self-renew and start new tumors. Abnormal metabolism is...
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6 actions to keep your brain healthy at any age
If you are in your early to mid-30s, you are lucky. Those are the ages when your brain is at its best. During that time of your life, you can retain the most information at once, you can learn better than at any other time and you can recall details more accurately than you will...
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The brain learns completely differently than we’ve assumed since the 20th century
Image representing the old synaptic (red) and new dendritic (green) learning scenarios of the brain. In the center a neuron with two dendritic trees collects incoming signals via many thousands of tiny adjustable learning parameters, the …more The brain is a complex network containing billions of neurons, where each of these neurons communicates simultaneously with...
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These plant-based fats could help you live longer
A diet that is rich in plant-based monounsaturated fats is linked to a lower risk of death from heart disease and other causes. In contrast, if the monounsaturated fats come from animal sources, the link is to a higher risk of death from heart disease and other causes. Opt for plant-based monounsaturated fats instead of...
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Hydrochlorothiazide tied to non-melanoma skin cancer risk
(HealthDay)—Use of the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide is associated with a substantially increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Sidsel Arnspang Pedersen, M.D., from Odense University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined the association between hydrochlorothiazide use and the risk of basal...
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Women’s antibiotic use linked to higher risk of death from heart disease, other causes
Women who take antibiotics for long periods, especially in late adulthood, appear to have a higher risk of death from heart disease and in general, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2018, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in...
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Breakthrough article on mechanistic features of microRNA targeting and activity
Confocal microscopy image of worms carrying fluorescent reporters that allow monitoring of miRNA activity in vivo. Giovanna Brancati and Helge Grosshans from the FMI have described target specialization of miRNAs of the let-7 family. They identified target site features that determine specificity, and revealed that specificity can be modulated in a manner that allows cells...
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Metazoan MicroRNAs
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ∼22 nt RNAs that direct posttranscriptional repression of mRNA targets in diverse eukaryotic lineages. In humans and other mammals, these small RNAs help sculpt the expression of most mRNAs. This article reviews advances in our understanding of the defining features of metazoan miRNAs and their biogenesis, genomics, and evolution. It then reviews...
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Non-psychoactive cannabis ingredient could help addicts stay clean
A preclinical study in rats has shown that there might be value in using a non-psychoactive and non-addictive ingredient of the Cannabis sativa plant to reduce the risk of relapse among recovering drug and alcohol addicts. The study’s findings inform the ongoing debate about the possible medical benefits of non-psychoactive cannabinoids, and the way that...
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Helping older adults discontinue using sedatives
Older adults, especially those who are admitted to hospitals, are at risk for potentially dangerous side effects if they are taking multiple medicines. Taking several medications at the same time is called polypharmacy. Of special concern are benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics. These medications, which include lorazepam, clonazepam, zopiclone, and others, are often prescribed for sleep–despite the...