UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO Otago scientists have made an important discovery in understanding the role a particular protein plays to impair memory in Alzheimer’s disease, which could lead to more effective treatment in future. Professor Cliff Abraham and Dr Anurag Singh from the Department of Psychology have identified that a protein in the brain – tumor...
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Unexpected role of mTORC2 protein in colorectal cancer
by Johannes Angerer, Medical University of Vienna New results from researchers at MedUni Vienna’s Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics show that a protein called mTORC2, which is the target of newly developed cancer drugs, is not even active in colorectal cancer. mTORC2 activity was only found in certain immune cells, which actually need this protein...
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Novel agent flips on garbage disposal in neurons, eliminating toxic brain proteins in mice
by Georgetown University Medical Center Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center say they have developed and tested an agent that reduces the buildup of toxic proteins in animal models of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and improves cognitive and motor behavior. The team will present their findings about the agent, CM101 (also known as BK40143),...
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A powerful cell-protection system prevents cell death by ferroptosis
The discovery of a mechanism that guards against a type of cell death celled ferroptosis reveals a system that regenerates a ubiquitous protective component of biological membranes, and might offer a target for anticancer drugs. Brent R. Stockwell On 3 December 1956, the biochemist Frederick Crane detected, for the first time ever, a yellow substance...
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Brain-to-pancreas signalling axis links nicotine and diabetes
The discovery of a signalling axis that connects nicotine responses in the brain with glucose metabolism by the pancreas sheds light on why cigarette smoking increases the risk of diabetes. One of the many dangers of smoking is an increased risk of diabetes, because nicotine uptake leads to altered glucose metabolism and increased blood sugar...
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How Stem Cells Make Decisions
Posted Today This news or article is intended for readers with certain scientific or professional knowledge in the field. Pluripotency is a feature of stem cell populations in which individual cells must know a great deal about their surroundings. If you’re a human embryonic stem cell — and who among us hasn’t been — the G1 (“Gap 1”) phase of development is...
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Stressing cancer with spice
by Nara Institute of Science and Technology A new study by scientists in Japan and Indonesia reports how an experimental drug agent stops cancer cells from growing. A little over a decade ago, Indonesian scientists first reported pentagamavumon-1 (PGV-1), an analogue of a molecule found in turmeric and that has been since discovered to have...
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Optoacoustic imaging shows potential for noninvasive diagnostics for thyroid disorders
by Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging A combination of multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) and ultrasound has been used to noninvasively characterize a range of thyroid disorders, according to new research published in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. By providing a semiquantitative analysis of functional parameters and tissue characterization, the...
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Just one dose of ‘hugely exciting’ eczema jab ‘improves the skin of patients within a month’
Oxford University scientists found the jab improved the skin of 12 patients Charities said the results of the study on etokimab were ‘hugely exciting’ Researchers are now planning to trial the treatment on 300 eczema sufferers By STEPHEN MATTHEWS HEALTH EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 14:00 EDT, 23 October 2019 | UPDATED: 15:42 EDT, 23 October 2019 Millions of eczema patients may benefit from...
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Brain studies show chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War illness are distinct conditions
by Georgetown University Medical Center Gulf War Illness (GWI) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) share symptoms of disabling fatigue, pain, systemic hyperalgesia (tenderness), negative emotion, sleep and cognitive dysfunction that are made worse after mild exertion (postexertional malaise). Now, neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have evidence, derived from human brain studies, that GWI and...