by University of Turku Contrary to prior belief, white blood cells enter the spleen primarily via vessels in the red pulp. The research results contradict ideas regarding how the spleen produces antibodies vital for the human body. The spleen is our largest lymphoid organ. Its function is to eliminate outdated red blood cells and to produce antibodies against pathogens. Outdated red blood cells...
Post
Lung disease bronchiectasis associated with high frequency of allergy
NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY An international research team led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has found that patients with the lung disease bronchiectasis also often display sensitivity to airborne allergens, and has highlighted the particular role that fungi appear to play. Their discovery suggests that doctors should examine bronchiectasis patients for a range of allergies, since the treatment for allergies...
Post
Men are fooled by placebo more often than women
It was not until the 1990s that researchers fully began to include both genders in health research. Sara Magelssen Vambheim has contributed with valuable new insights in her study of gender differences in pain experiences. Sara Magelssen Vambheim recently submitted her Ph.D. thesis on gender differences in experiences of pain, fear of pain and placebo...
Post
Researchers report a new targetable vulnerability in breast cancer cells
by University of Helsinki New study reveals that FGFR4 phosphorylates the essential proteins (MST1/2) of Hippo tumor suppressor pathway preventing their activation and induction of programmed cell death in breast cancer cells. Cell death program can be reactivated by blocking FGFR4 function with a speficic inhibitor. These findings suggest new options for eradicating cancer cells...
Post
Lab-grown blood vessels provide hope for dialysis patients
By Kate Bass, B.Sc.Reviewed by Kate Anderton, B.Sc. Research published this week describes how lab-grown blood vessels were transformed into living tissue when grafted into dialysis patients needing replacement blood vessels. The recipients’ cells effectively infiltrated the artificial blood vessels, so they became like the patients’ native blood vessels. There are many conditions for which...
Post
Virtual reality could be used to recalibrate the perception of time
Posted Today Virtual Reality (VR) has a million different uses. For some it is a perfect gaming media and for others – simulation tool or even a system helping perfecting car assembly process. Now scientists from the University of Waterloo say that VR could help treating people with neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Time perception is very...
Post
Hope for two million cancer patients: New Immunotherapy is the first to shrink lung, breast and mesothelioma tumors
Immunotherapy is the most cutting edge treatment in cancer therapies The treatment reprograms patient’s immune cells to attack cancer cells So far, one of the leading forms is CAR T therapy, but it only works against blood cancers like non-Hodkins lymphoma But in a world-first, Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists have developed a version of CAR T therapy that can treat...
Post
How the brain fights off fears that return to haunt us
by University of Texas at Austin Neuroscientists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a group of cells in the brain that are responsible when a frightening memory re-emerges unexpectedly, like Michael Myers in every “Halloween” movie. The finding could lead to new recommendations about when and how often certain therapies are deployed for the treatment...
Post
Scientists locate brain circuit that curbs overeating
By Catharine Paddock PhD Fact checked by Jasmin Collier The brain has complex circuitry that locks appetite to memories of finding and enjoying food. This drives the feeding behaviors necessary for survival. New research reveals that the circuits include one mechanism that does the opposite: curbing the compulsion to eat in response to food. Once, scientists...
Post
Liver, colon cancer cells thwarted by compounds derived from hops
by Oregon State University The plant that adds flavor, color and bitterness to beer also produces a primary compound that thwarts cancer cells, and two important derivatives of the compound do as well, new research at Oregon State University shows. Unlike the primary compound, xanthohumol, known as XN, the derivatives don’t metabolize into phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-based chemicals...