by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Axial CT image with i.v. contrast. Macrocystic adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Credit: public domainOlder people may be at greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer and have poorer prognoses because of age-related changes in cells in the pancreas called fibroblasts, according to research led by investigators from the Johns...
Month: <span>February 2024</span>
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This Small Wearable Device Reduces Parkinson’s Symptoms
People with Parkinson’s have fewer tremors when they receive rhythmic physical stimulation—so a UK startup has created a coin-sized vibrating device to help patients move more easily. PHOTOGRAPH: CHARCO NEUROTECH IN 2015, LUCY Jung was a young industrial designer working on assistive devices for stroke victims, people with multiple sclerosis, and those with other conditions...
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Scientists discover new target for reversible, non-hormonal male birth control
by Salk Institute Sperm, pictured inside each round cell, were not generated while mice took the HDAC inhibitor drug (top right), but after 60 days off the drug, spermatogenesis was recovered (bottom right). The left column shows sperm at the same time points in a mouse that did not receive the drug. Credit: Salk InstituteSurveys show...
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Terahertz biosensor detects skin cancer with remarkable accuracy, advancing new era of early detection
by Queen Mary, University of London Credit: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (2024). DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2024.3364386Researchers have developed a revolutionary biosensor using terahertz (THz) waves that can detect skin cancer with exceptional sensitivity, potentially paving the way for earlier and easier diagnoses. Published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, the study presents a significant advancement in early...
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Little-known devices restore vision to people who can’t be helped by regular glasses
by Katy Read, Star Tribune Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainDick Bramer, 76, likes to watch birds flock outside the window of his home in Scandia. But for two years he couldn’t see them well enough to identify the various species. In July 2021 Bramer suffered what doctors diagnosed as an ocular stroke (they said a small...
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Encephalitis: Expert explains why early treatment is important
by Mayo Clinic Credit: CC0 Public DomainEncephalitis is a disease that involves the inflammation or swelling of the brain. It can happen because of infections or immune system problems, and early treatment is important. That’s why Sarosh Irani, B.M.B.Ch., a neurologist and researcher at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, says it’s essential to raise awareness. “A...
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Common hair loss and prostate drug may also cut heart disease risk
by Lauren Quinn, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Finasteride decreases plaque size and macrophage content in Ldlr-/- mice. Four-week-old male Ldlr-/- mice were fed Western diet with increasing doses of finasteride for 12 weeks. Two days before tissue harvesting, mice were injected with EdU to track monocyte trafficking into the atherosclerotic lesions. (A) En face visualization...
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Fixing rogue brain cells may hold key to preventing neurodegeneration
by Case Western Reserve University Phenotypic screen identifies HDAC3 as a regulator of pathological reactive astrocytes. a, Scatter plot of primary screen results displayed as percent GBP2 positive, normalized to reactive astrocyte plus vehicle controls for all nontoxic chemicals. Validated hit chemicals colored in blue. The dashed blue line represents the hit cut-off at a ≥90%...
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New insight into old IBD drug could improve treatments
by Jim Schnabel, Cornell University Graphical Abstract. Credit: Cell Reports Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101431Although it is one of the oldest medications used to treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and an effective treatment for an associated arthritis condition called spondyloarthritis (SpA), sulfasalazine’s mechanism of action has been unclear. Now, researchers at the Jill Roberts Center...
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Study shows blood test can predict functional outcome after ischemic stroke
by University of Gothenburg Credit: CC0 Public DomainResearchers from from the University of Gothenburg have developed an ultra-sensitive blood test that reflects brain damage after acute ischemic stroke—and also predicts functional outcome. This is a discovery that is expected to be of great significance in the future. The findings are described in the journal Neurology. The...