Context and Significance Respiratory viral diseases, such as seasonal influenza or COVID-19, are deadly scourges on society. Immunometabolic therapies may be important tools to reduce the burden of death and long-term disability caused by pandemic viruses. Here, we describe the biological effects of ketone bodies, natural metabolites produced during fasting or carbohydrate restriction, that maintain...
Breakthrough image shows how “super-ager” brains resist cognitive decline
By Rich Haridy July 15, 2020 New research is illustrating the differences in toxic protein accumulations in the brains of older subjects suffering cognitive decline compared to older subjects with unexpectedly strong cognitive abilities. An image compiled from PET scans of these so-called “super-agers” has won Image of the Year from the Society of Nuclear...
MicroRNA-34a Promotes Vascular Cellular Senescence and Consequent Calcification
With the growing interest in the accumulation of senescent cells as an important cause of aging, and more funding flowing into this part of the field, researchers are uncovering numerous direct links between cellular senescence and age-related conditions. Senescent cells cause harm to tissues via their inflammatory secretions, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP...
Blood iron levels could be key to slowing ageing, gene study shows
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Genes linked to ageing that could help explain why some people age at different rates to others have been identified by scientists. The international study using genetic data from more than a million people suggests that maintaining healthy levels of iron in the blood could be a key to ageing better and...
A simple laboratory test can aid in early recognition of COVID-19 in patients
The eosinophil count, part of complete blood cell count test, also provides prognostic information AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION CHICAGO–July 16, 2020–A rapid laboratory test, the eosinophil count, readily obtained from a routine complete blood cell count (CBC) can aid in the early recognition of COVID-19 in patients, as well as provide prognostic information, according to new...
A “feeling” for dementia?
New findings on subjectively perceived memory problems DZNE – GERMAN CENTER FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES A research team led by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) concludes that personal perception can be an important indicator for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. In a new study involving 449 older adults, published in Neurology®, the medical...
Widely used blood test could advance heart failure treatment
NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Biomedical experts believe that half of heart failure patients likely have low levels of the thyroid hormone T3 in their cardiac tissue. While heart failure symptoms are commonly attributed to cardiovascular conditions like coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, a growing number of studies suggest that low cardiac T3...
CBD may help avert lung destruction in COVID-19
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY DRS. JACK YU AND BABAK BABAN view more CREDIT: PHIL JONES, SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER, AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY Cannabidiol, or CBD, may help reduce the cytokine storm and excessive lung inflammation that is killing many patients with COVID-19, researchers say. While more work, including clinical trials to determine optimal dosage and...
Researchers find three distinct immune responses for sicker COVID-19 patients
by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Researchers from the Penn Institute of Immunology discovered three distinct immune responses to the SARS-CoV2 infection that could help predict the trajectory of disease in severe COVID-19 patients and may ultimately inform how to best treat them. The findings were published in Science. “For patients...
New antiplatelet drug shows promise for treating heart attack
by University of Illinois at Chicago UIC’s Xiaoping Du oversees Ph.D. student Yaping Zhanga enter a sample in an aggregometer in his lab at the College of Medicine Research Building Credit: Joshua Clark/University of Illinois at Chicago Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a new drug that prevents blood clots without...