Emerging protein-design competitions aim to sift out the functional from the fantastical. But researchers hope that the real prize will be a revolution for the field. Illustration: Ibrahim Arafath On a Saturday morning in mid-August, Alex Naka embarked on what he describes as “a little hackathon” in his girlfriend’s kitchen. Powered by his laptop, some...
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Siloxane-Enhanced Nanoparticles Chart a New Path in Precision mRNA Medicine
Penn Engineers have discovered a novel means of directing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the revolutionary molecules that delivered the COVID-19 vaccines, to target specific tissues, presaging a new era in personalized medicine and gene therapy. While past research — including at Penn Engineering — has screened “libraries” of LNPs to find specific variants that target organs like the lungs,...
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Turning brain cells on using the power of light
University of Rochester researchers have demonstrated a noninvasive method using BL-OG, or bioluminescent optogenetics, that harnesses light to activate neurons in the brain. The ability to regulate brain activation could transform invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: Study coauthor Aniya Means spent summer...
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In beer yeast, scientists find potential path to starving cancer
University of Virginia Health System image: The unexpected findings could lead to new strategies for making cancer cells more vulnerable to starvation and easier to treat, said researcher Ahmad Jomaa, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics. Credit: Courtesy Jomaa lab The discovery of a surprising...
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Experimental cancer drug eliminates bone metastases caused by breast cancer in lab models
The drug, RK-33, also prevented cancer cells in the bone from spreading to other body parts Peer-Reviewed Publication Johns Hopkins Medicine In a new study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine, the drug RK-33 has demonstrated promise in treating breast cancer that has spread to the bone (breast cancer bone metastasis). RK-33 was previously shown to...
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Certain women may need mammograms before age 40: An expert explains why
Women typically are urged to start receiving regular mammograms at age 40, but some might need to start even sooner, experts say. Specific risk factors that increase risk of early breast cancer might prompt young women to consider getting screened earlier, said Dr. Michele Blackwood, director of breast surgery and women’s oncologic health at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer...
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Promising treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors
An active substance binds to its cellular target structure. Credit: Daniel Rauh About 1,200 Germans are diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumors every year—a rare type of cancer in which the tumors develop in the walls of the digestive organs and quickly develop resistance to common precision drugs. Scientists at TU Dortmund University, the West German...
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Video: Understanding whooping cough
Credit: Mayo Clinic Cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, continue to rise in the U.S. New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show nearly 18,000 cases through Oct. 5. While that is somewhat in line with pre-pandemic numbers, it’s a large increase from the same period last year when...
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Researchers find co-occurrence of depression and concussions amplify symptoms of both conditions
Graphical abstract. Credit: Brain Research (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149200 Depression and sports-related concussion are neurological conditions that have many overlapping symptoms and uncertain recovery timelines. A study led by researchers at the Penn State Department of Kinesiology demonstrated that the co-occurrence of depression and concussion was associated with significantly worse symptoms for both conditions. Additionally, the researchers found that electrical signals in...
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Simple smell and memory test could effectively predict Alzheimer’s
Survival probability for cognitive decline of BIMCT, BSIT, and PIB dichotomized variable combinations. Credit: Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.14261 A new study from Columbia University shows that combining a brief smell test with a short memory exam can predict cognitive decline as accurately as costly brain imaging, offering a more affordable and accessible way to assess...