Structure of a double-bridged peptide that is not degraded by enzymes in the stomach and intestines. The two stabilizing chemical bridges are shown in red. Credit: C. Heinis (EPFL) Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur in our body, in plants or bacteria to control diverse functions. Several peptides are used as drugs...
Month: <span>May 2020</span>
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Game-changing blood test accurately detects Alzheimer’s disease
A simple blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been discovered and validated in a joint effort by a McGill team and researchers in Sweden. Their results are published in the May issue of The Lancet Neurology. An accompanying commentary calls the discovery “transformative.” The blood test accurately measures one of the proteins...
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Promising study by Texas A&M scientists offers hope for Menkes disease patients
A Texas A&M AgriLife Research team has good news for patients with copper-deficiency disorders, especially young children diagnosed with Menkes disease. A team led by James Sacchettini, Ph.D. professor and Welch Chair of Science, and Vishal Gohil, Ph.D., associate professor, both from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&M University, published a paper...
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The groundbreaking way to search lungs for signs of Covid-19
By Chris Baraniuk Technology of Business reporter When Covid-19 was at its height in China, doctors in the city of Wuhan were able to use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to scan the lungs of thousands of patients. The algorithm in question, developed by Axial AI, analyses CT imagery in seconds. It declares, for example, whether...
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Physics team provides novel swab design, free of charge, to augment COVID-19 testing
by Tracey Regan, New Jersey Institute of Technology A team of NJIT physicists has developed a novel test swab that can be 3-D printed using inexpensive, widely available materials and speedily assembled in a range of fabrication settings. To augment the nation’s testing capabilities, the inventors are making the swab’s design publicly available to large...
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Vaccine orders plummet amid coronavirus outbreak: CDC
Orders for vaccines against diseases such as measles have declined since a national emergency was declared in the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The number of vaccine doses ordered around the country has fallen sharply since mid-March, the CDC said, citing data from...
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Enhancement of bitter taste sensor reduces salt intake and improves cardiovascular dysfunction
by Science China Press High salt intake is a well-known risk factor of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Reducing salt intake can significantly lower blood pressure and ameliorate target organ damage caused by hypertension. However, in the past three decades, several strategies have failed to decrease daily salt intake to an optimal level. Therefore, it is...
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Repurposed Drug for Brain Protection
Drug that reduces swelling may help protect against brain and spinal cord injury. Every year, millions of people around the world suffer brain and spinal cord injuries resulting from trauma, accidents, infections, or stroke. These injuries trigger swelling that can lead to death or long-lasting disabilities, but current treatment options are limited and can be...
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Scientists call for urgent research on potential for mouthwash to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
A group of scientists has called for urgent research into whether readily-available mouthwash could be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The group carried out a review of scientific research in this area, published in the journal Function, to assess whether mouthwash could have the potential to reduce transmission in the early stages of infection. The...
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Combination of chemo and immunotherapy is shown to work against metastatic bladder cancer
by The Mount Sinai Hospital A clinical trial led by Mount Sinai researchers has showed for the first time that combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy can slow down metastatic bladder cancer. The trial also showed that immunotherapy alone may be an option for a subset of patients with metastatic bladder cancer if their tumor expresses a...