Mice, like any other animal, do not age gracefully—they lose weight, move less, and their coats become patchy. But mice of a particular strain in Daniel Kalman’s lab at Emory University School of Medicine ward off these declines. The secret, Kalman has found, is in the animals’ guts. In a study published in PNAS this week, Kalman and...
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Scientists unravel role of glutamine synthetase in the spread of cancer
Scientists have discovered an essential mechanism in the spread of cancer. A team led by professor Massimiliano Mazzone (VIB-KU Leuven) and professor Alessandra Castegna (University of Bari) has demonstrated a way to alter the metabolism of macrophages, a particular type of white blood cell often responsible for supporting tumor growth. They found that reducing the...
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It’s not probiotics you need, it’s SYNBIOTICS: Expert reveals why we’ve been taking the wrong supplement for good gut health
Supplements do not provide enough ‘good’ bacteria to replace the ‘bad’ bacteria That’s according to a professor of microbiology at Colorado State University Only 43 reach the gut and cannot ‘politely ask the million or so’ bad strains to go Studies suggest synbiotics – probiotics combined with prebiotics – are beneficial Taking probiotic supplements has...
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Liquid nutrition may benefit children with Crohn’s disease
An analysis of published studies indicates that exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) — when individuals receive only liquid nutrition — may be an effective treatment for children with Crohn’s disease. The findings are published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Crohn’s disease — a chronic inflammatory bowel disease — is often treated with steroids, which are associated with...
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Clear link between heavy vitamin B intake and lung cancer
New research suggests long-term, high-dose supplementation with vitamins B6 and B12 — long touted by the vitamin industry for increasing energy and improving metabolism — is associated with a two- to four-fold increased lung cancer risk in men relative to non-users. Risk was further elevated in male smokers taking more than 20 mg of B6...
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‘Good’ cholesterol might actually be bad
Traditionally, we have been told by physicians not to worry about “good” cholesterol, which is scientifically known as high-density lipoprotein. New research, however, finds an alarming association between high levels of this cholesterol type and excessive mortality. A new study suggests that ‘good’ cholesterol, also known as high-density lipoprotein, may increase the risk of premature...
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Higher coffee consumption associated with lower risk of death
Higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of death, according to research presented today at ESC Congress. The observational study in nearly 20 000 participants suggests that coffee can be part of a healthy diet in healthy people. “Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world,” said Dr Adela...
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Metal simplifies synthesis of antibody drugs
HOUSTON – (Aug. 24, 2017) – Rice University scientists have developed a method to efficiently modify natural antibodies that can deliver drugs to target cells. Adding a little extra metal is the key. Rice chemist Zachary Ball and graduate student and lead author Jun Ohata discovered that rhodium, a rare transition metal, can be a...
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USC researcher identifies a new potential way to treat HIV
Targeting human proteins may be a more effective treatment than using “HIV cocktails” to maintain health Medical treatment that boosts the immune system rather than attacking ever-mutating viruses may one day help HIV-positive people whose bodies have built a resistance to anti-HIV cocktails, according to a Keck School of Medicine of USC researcher. I-Chueh Huang has...
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Existing drugs could treat chikungunya
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection could be treated with autoimmune therapies currently used for other conditions, according to research led by A*STAR scientists. When transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, CHIKV causes high fever, headaches, joint inflammation and debilitating joint pain. Since 2004 there have been major outbreaks in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. There...