Mice fed water with vitamin B3 had healthier eyes for longer, reducing their risk This may offer an inexpensive and safe treatment for glaucoma sufferers Researchers also found a single gene therapy may offer a one-off treatment Adding vitamin B3 to water may protect you against glaucoma, a study reveals. In a study on mice,...
Category: <span>Miscellaneous</span>
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Ethicists advise caution in applying CRISPR gene editing to humans
An artist’s rendering of the powerful genome editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9. Ethicists have been working overtime to figure out how to handle CRISPR, the revolutionary gene-editing technique that could potentially prevent congenital diseases but could also be used for cosmetic enhancements and lead to permanent, heritable changes in the human species. The latest iteration of this...
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Elon Musk: If Humans Are to Survive, We Must Merge With Machines
IN BRIEF Elon Musk thinks that, as AI technology and automation continue to replace jobs and more traditional technology, humans will become obsolete and need to merge with machines Since computers can communicate at speeds well beyond an organic organisms’ capacity, Musk thinks that creating a symbiotic relationship between us and our tech will give...
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One Country Has Eliminated HIV Transmission to Newborns
IN BRIEF Thailand has become the first Asian country to completely eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV Since HIV is still a global pandemic, it is important for other countries to take note of the enormous success that Thailand has found through government support of health guidelines MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION While the virus existed earlier,...
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PTSD Symptoms May Be Prevented With Ketamine
Study in mice shows drug’s potential to prevent PTSD in soldiers and others likely to experience psychological trauma NEW YORK, NY (Feb. 8, 2017)—Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have found that a single dose of ketamine, given one week before a stressful event, can buffer against a heightened fear response. The study, conducted in...
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That's not hard to swallow! Daily aspirin could stop cancer in its tracks by shutting down blood clot enzyme
The popular pain-killer disrupts the way blood platelets react with growths Specifically, it switches off down the enzyme COX-1, reducing their activity This, in turn, denies the malignant masses the ‘nutrients’ needed to expand It has already been credited with helping to reduce heart attack risk, but now it seems that daily doses of...
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A quarter of adults in the U.S. have hearing loss because of noise
Forty million American adults have lost some hearing because of noise, and half of them suffered the damage outside the workplace, from everyday exposure to leaf blowers, sirens, rock concerts and other loud sounds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. A quarter of people ages 20 to 69 were suffering some hearing deficits,...
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Scientists Have Created Genetically Modified Cows That Are Resistant to Deadly Disease
IN BRIEF Using a new version of CRISPR, researchers were able to genetically engineer cows, making them resistant to bovine tuberculosis. This innovation could dramatically reduce the overuse of antibiotics in livestock, and have a great impact on developing countries. CRISPR COWS Bovine tuberculosis is a disease that affects cows, but can also be transmitted...
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How breaks in DNA are repaired
The results are significant for gene therapy procedures and for our understanding of cell transformation. A team of researchers from the biology department at TU Darmstadt has discovered that the processes for repairing DNA damage are far more complex than previously assumed. The ends of breaks in the double helix are not just joined, they...
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Tailored treatment? 107 genes found linked to high blood pressure
Identifying the genetic markers for hypertension early could allow patients to keep the pressure low as they age In the US and the UK, high blood pressure (hypertension) affects approximately one in every three adults and is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Efforts to combat the condition through customized treatments might have...