An ancient protein found in all human tissues enhances gene activation and may be involved in diseases such as cancer. For many years, scientists have sought to understand what happens when our genes are flipped to the “on” position. Now, scientists at the University of California San Diego and Rutgers University have identified a new...
Month: <span>March 2022</span>
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Ultrathin Conductive Films for Wearables are Flexible and Durable
MARCH 10TH, 2022 CONN HASTINGS MATERIALS Researchers at UCLA created ultrathin films that are just 10 nanometers thick, but which can maintain electrical conductivity, flexibility, and strength. The molecules within the films are held together by non-bonding van der Waals forces, making them highly pliable, and the numerous sheets within the films are able to slide over...
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New study confirms bioengineered RSV protein vaccine evokes protective immune response
by University of California – Santa Cruz The engineered RSV G protein, with the RSV G antigen in orange and the human antibody in grey. The arrow points to the place where the researchers engineered the antigen, doing so while not affecting its ability to bind to the antibody. Credit: Rebecca DuBois Close interactions with...
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Cellular therapy improves signs and symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
by UC Davis Histopathology of gastrocnemius muscle from patient who died of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy, Duchenne type. Cross section of muscle shows extensive replacement of muscle fibers by adipose cells. Credit: Public Domain A clinical trial at UC Davis Health and six other sites showed that a cellular therapy offers promise for patients with late-stage...
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Suppression of Fli-1 protects against pericyte loss, could be new therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s
by Kimberly McGhee, Medical University of South Carolina Graphical abstract. Credit: Molecular Therapy (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.023 Alzheimer’s disease is an enormous problem that, with an aging population, will only become bigger. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and 1 in 3 seniors will die of it, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By 2050,...
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Study shows human induced pluripotent stem cells improve visual acuity, vascular health
by Indiana University School of Medicine Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and five other institutions, are investigating novel regenerative medicine approaches to better manage vascular health complications from type 2 diabetes that could someday support blood vessel repair in the...
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Lack of cellular prion protein might cause symptoms of epilepsy and learning deficits
by University of Barcelona Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The cellular prion protein (PrPC), a protein in the surface of the neuronal cells, is imbalanced in human patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. However, the knowledge on the participation of PrPC in these pathologies contrasts with many reported data on its natural...
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Exercise may treat long COVID-induced diabetes, depression
by Pennington Biomedical Research Center The development of hyperglycemia arising from disruption of immune metabolic homeostasis in COVID-19. High glucose levels induced by psychological stress, lingering inflammation, and β-cell dysfunction can lead to activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in pancreatic β cells. As a result, pro–IL-1β is processed to the biologically active IL-1β. IL-1β released...
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New discovery could lead to fewer side effects from diabetes treatment
by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain By uncovering the subtle difference between two varieties of a protein, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania may have discovered how to eliminate the risk of weight gain from a certain type of diabetes medications....
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Study finds treatment that may help older people with dry eyes due to loss of sex steroid hormones
by Kyoto University Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Health issues for people over age 60 commonly involve the heart and other vital organs. So do eye-related conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma, but dry eyes don’t often come to mind. Or do they? In fact, more than 70% of people in this age group are believed...