JANUARY 11, 2022 by University College London Micrograph showing emphysema (left – large empty spaces) and lung tissue with relative preservation of the alveoli (right). Credit: Wikipedia The global burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a group of common lung conditions that affects more than 300 million people, could be significantly reduced with a simple...
JANUARY 11, 2022 by Center for Genomic Regulation A keratinocyte undergoing cell division surrounded by senescent keratinocytes. The overall size of the cells and their nucleus are a typical characteristic of senescence, which play an important role in tumour suppression. Credit: Annagiulia Ciocia/CRG A study published today in Cell Reports reveals important insights into the molecular mechanisms...
by Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology This image depicts a tumor right after treatment with alum-bound IL12. The pink dye shows IL-12, and the yellow shows alum. Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stimulating the body’s immune system to attack tumors is a promising way to treat cancer. Scientists are working on two complementary strategies...
By Joelle Hanson-Baiden, BScReviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. Repressed memories are memories that we unconsciously avoid thinking about, usually because of a traumatic experience. These memories are thought to be unconsciously blocked for several years and are recovered later, often from a trigger. The concept of repressed memories was developed by the psychoanalytic scholar Sigmund Freud, who...
Interview conducted by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. Jan 11 2022 Thought Leaders Dr. Cynthia McMurray Senior ScientistLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Cynthia McMurray about her latest research into Alzheimer’s disease and how she has developed a ‘fingerprinting’ technique that may help to diagnose Alzheimer’s before symptoms begin to appear. Alzheimer’s...
Every once in a while the thing you’re looking for can be found right under your nose. Or in your medicine cabinet. Pathologist Paul Mischel, MD, has spent years studying glioblastoma — a difficult to treat, often deadly brain cancer. Recently, he and postdoctoral scholar Junfeng Bi, Ph.D., made a surprising discovery — a common antidepressant,...
The bacteria inside our guts are fine-tuning our metabolism, depending on our diet, and new research suggests how they accomplish it. Emory researchers have identified an obesity-promoting chemical produced by intestinal bacteria. The chemical, called delta-valerobetaine, suppresses the liver’s capacity to oxidize fatty acids. The findings were recently published in Nature Metabolism. Image credit: Emory University...
The blood-brain barrier wraps blood vessels where they pass through the central nervous system, controlling the passage of cells and molecules into and out of the brain. The blood-brain barrier becomes disrupted with age, allowing unwanted molecules into the brain, where they can spur chronic inflammation and dysfunction contributing to neurodegeneration. Researchers here investigate the response of astrocytes and microglia, supporting...
Boosting levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine with atomoxetine, a repurposed ADHD medication, may be able to stall neurodegeneration in people with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, a study conducted at Emory Brain Health Center suggests. The results were published in the journal Brain. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter produced mainly by the locus coerueus, part of the...
JANUARY 11TH, 2022 CONN HASTINGS MATERIALS Scientists at RIKEN research institute in Japan have developed a new method to bind gold electrodes to each other within flexible electronics. The technique, which does not require adhesives or high temperatures that can damage delicate electronic components, allows for extremely thin and flexible electronics and could lead to new types...
