Helping the immune system clear away old cells in aging mice helped restore youthful characteristics WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE If only we could keep our bodies young, healthy and energetic, even as we attain the wisdom of our years. New research at the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests this dream could be at least partly...
Year: <span>2019</span>
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From a molecule of natural origin new therapeutic opportunities against hypertension
A peptide extracted from the cyanobacterium ‘spirulina’ may contrast high blood pressure by dilating blood vessels ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO MEDITERRANEO NEUROMED I.R.C.C.S Spirulina is more and more celebrated as a “superfood” because of its possible beneficial properties, albeit its mechanism of action is still subjected to investigation. With the scientific name of Arthrospira platensis, spirulina is...
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Thriving on teamwork: New research shows how brain cells filter information in groups
When we perceive the world around us, certain objects appear to be more noticeable than others, depending on what we do. For example, when we view a forest-covered mountain from a distance, the forest looks like a large green carpet. But as we get closer, we start noticing the individual trees, and the forest fades...
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A new ‘atlas’ of genetic influences on osteoporosis
A ground-breaking new study led by researchers from the Lady Davis Institute (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) has succeeded in compiling an atlas of genetic factors associated with estimated bone mineral density (BMD), one of the most clinically relevant factors in diagnosing osteoporosis. The paper, published in Nature Genetics, identifies 518 genome-wide loci,...
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Wireless ‘pacemaker for the brain’ could offer new treatment for neurological disorders
A new neurostimulator developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, can listen to and stimulate electric current in the brain at the same time, potentially delivering fine-tuned treatments to patients with diseases like epilepsy and Parkinson’s. The device, named the WAND, works like a “pacemaker for the brain,” monitoring the brain’s electrical activity...
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Smelling in tiny houses: how ciliary electric currents keep olfaction reliable
Model provides new insight into the biological design and function of cilia, dendrites, and other small spaces within the nervous system MONELL CHEMICAL SENSES CENTER PHILADELPHIA (December 31, 2018) – Imagine trying to figure out how something works when that something takes place in a space smaller than a femtoliter: one quadrillionith of a liter....
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Unmuting large silent genes lets bacteria produce new molecules, potential drug candidates
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — By enticing away, the repressors dampening unexpressed, silent genes in Streptomyces bacteria, researchers at the University of Illinois have unlocked several large gene clusters for new natural products, according to a study published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Since many antibiotics, anti-cancer agents and other drugs have been derived from genes...
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Gingko Biloba
What is Ginkgo Biloba? Ginkgo biloba is a tree that is native to China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine for centuries. Extracts of Ginkgo biloba are often sold as food supplements with potential medicinal uses ranging from treating high blood pressure to altitude sickness. The efficacy of Ginkgo extracts for...