by Delthia Ricks , Medical Xpress Many rheumatic conditions develop slowly and initially have inflammatory arthritis as the first sign that something is amiss. The trouble with such close similarity is the difficulty that clinicians have differentiating one condition from another in the early stages of the disease process. Dr. Rachel Knevel and colleagues at...
New infectious disease test accurately diagnoses infection in minutes
by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Melbourne researchers have developed a fast, new test for infections and infectious diseases that could transform Australia’s ability to provide targeted clinical care and respond to pandemics and biosecurity threats. Called c-FIND, the test has the potential to rapidly and accurately detect multiple viral, bacterial or...
Effects of Cell Death on Neurodegeneration
By Christy Cheung, MRes Neuronal cell death in the nervous system is a major contribution to neurodegenerative diseases. Despite occasional neuronal deaths during the process of aging, extensive neuronal cell death is rare in adults with a mature central nervous system (CNS). Nevertheless, there is an increased neuronal loss in patients with neurodegenerative diseases compared...
Novel potassium channel activator which acts as a potential anticonvulsant discovered
THE MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL / MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FIGURES: IDENTIFICATION OF A G PROTEIN-INDEPENDENT ACTIVATOR (GIGA1) OF GIRK CHANNELS view more CREDIT: PAUL SLESINGER, PHD Bottom Line: Potassium channels play an important role in controlling the electrical activity of neurons in the brain. We identified and characterized a new compound, called GiGA1, that...
New vaccination strategy targets toxic molecules released by all Staphylococcal bacteria
Experiments in mice have shown early success in vaccinating them against potentially deadly bacterial infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus, or MRSA, the strain resistant to most drug treatments. The new vaccination strategy, developed by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, targets toxic molecules released by all Staphylococcal bacteria, called leukocidins, rather than directly...
CRISPR Gene Editing in Human Embryos Wreaks Chromosome Mayhem
By Heidi Ledford, Nature magazine on June 25, 2020 A suite of experiments that use the gene-editing tool CRISPR–Cas9 to modify human embryos have revealed how the process can make large, unwanted changes to the genome at or near the target site. The studies were published this month on the preprint server bioRxiv, and have...
Fat check: Yale researchers find explanation for stress’ damage in brown fat
In their search for what triggers the damaging side-effects caused by acute psychological stress, Yale researchers found an answer by doing a fat check. In the face of psychological stress, an immune system response that can significantly worsen inflammatory responses originates in brown fat cells, the Yale team reports June 30 in the journal Cell....
3D ultrasound enables accurate, noninvasive measurements of blood flow
OAK BROOK, Ill. – A 3D ultrasound system provides an effective, noninvasive way to estimate blood flow that retains its accuracy across different equipment, operators and facilities, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. Measures of blood flow are important in helping clinicians determine how much oxygen and nutrient-carrying blood is reaching organs...
Solving the CNL6 mystery in Batten disease
by Baylor College of Medicine Batten disease is a family of 13 rare, genetically distinct conditions. Collectively, they are the most prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disease in children, affecting 1 in 12,500 live births in the U.S. One of the Batten disease genes is CLN6. How mutations in this gene lead to the disease has...
Discovery of key protein behind cancer relapse and progression can lead to new therapies
by James L. Manley, Duke-NUS Medical School Reports show that cancer is the second-highest leading cause of death globally, with the possibility that every one in four to five people in Singapore may develop cancer in their lifetime. A recent study by scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School provides new evidence supporting the presence of a...