by Houston Methodist HDL-free cholesterol (FC)spontaneously transfers to other phospholipid surfaces on a time scale of minutes. This schematic illustrates the consequences of FC transfer from FC-poor (Top) and FC-rich HDL (Bottom). The latter transfers more FC to than the former to other lipoproteins and the plasma membranes of cells, including macrophages. This difference may explain...
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CRISPR study silences gene mutations that drive aggressive cancers
by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Molecular principles of CRISPR-Cas13 mismatch intolerance enable selective silencing of point-mutated oncogenic RNA with single-base precision. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0731 Peter Mac scientists have found a way to use the powerful gene editing tool CRISPR to silence cancer-causing gene mutations which, up to now, have remained off-limits to targeted drugs. ADVERTISING...
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How and why music can reduce distress in people with dementia: A blueprint for personalized music therapy
by Anglia Ruskin University Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels A new study has demonstrated for the first time how and why music can reduce distress and agitation for people with advanced dementia. There are an estimated 1 million people living with dementia in the U.K., and more than half are diagnosed with advanced dementia, which can...
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Antibody leads to enhanced motor function in spinal cord injury patients: Clinical trial
by Kurt Bodenmüller, University of Zurich New nerve connections form. Credit: The Lancet Neurology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00447-2 Antibodies can improve the rehabilitation of people with acute spinal cord injury. Researchers at 13 clinics in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Spain have investigated this with promising results. For the first time, it was possible to identify patient groups...
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Shiitake-derived functional food shows suppression of liver fibrosis progression
by Osaka Metropolitan University Graphical abstract. Credit: American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology (2024). DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00134.2024 Chronic liver damage can lead to hepatitis, which causes fibrosis of the liver. This buildup of collagen and other fibrous tissue accelerates when hepatic stellate cells become activated during hepatitis, often resulting in liver cancer or cirrhosis, both of which can...
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Nucleic acid drug iSN40 shows promise for osteoporosis treatment
by Shinshu University In a new study, researchers from Japan reveal that iSN40 suppresses osteoclast differentiation and bone matrix resorption, offering a potential therapeutic approach for osteoporosis by restoring the balance between bone formation and resorption. Credit: Dr. Tomohide Takaya, Shinshu University, Japan Osteoporosis, characterized by an imbalance in bone remodeling, is a growing health concern...
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Reducing dose of popular blood thinners may limit risk of future bleeding, study finds
by University of Michigan Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For people taking popular blood thinners after having a blood clot, a reduced dose may limit the future risk of bleeding as well as hospital visits, a Michigan Medicine-led study suggests. The research team focused the study on the two most prescribed direct oral anticoagulants, or DOACs, rivaroxaban...
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MRI-first strategy for prostate cancer detection proves deemed safe and effective
by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin An MRI scanner like this one can be used to take images showing whether a patient has aggressive prostate cancer. Credit: Charité | Rafael Poschmann There are several strategies for the early detection of prostate cancer. The first step is often a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). If PSA levels...
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What are pharmacy benefit managers? A health economist explains how lack of competition drives up drug prices
by James B. Rebitzer, The Conversation Credit: Pietro Jeng from Pexels Wegovy and Ozempic are weight loss drugs that promise to transform the treatment of obesity, heart disease and other chronic conditions that afflict millions of Americans. But while everyone agrees these drugs have the potential to transform lives, no one can agree on how best...
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Carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, and it’s killing people
by Michael Cole, The Conversation Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Drug overdose deaths in the US have finally begun to abate. Between June 2023 and June 2024, they fell by 14%. However, deaths from a drug used to sedate large animals, called carfentanil, rose by at least 720% between the first half of 2023 and the first half...