by Stephanie Dutchen, Harvard Medical School Researchers revealed which neurons in a mouse brain, shown in red, connect to a human glioma, shown in green. Image: Annie Hsieh. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2417420121 Every week, Harvard Medical School neuro-oncologist Annie Hsieh treats patients with gliomas—the most common type of brain cancer, including...
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Scientists discover new receptor for nerve growth factor—a promising target for treating pain
by New York University Nerve growth factor receptor TrkA (in green) and co-receptor NRP1 (in purple) are coexpressed in the same nerve cells in mice. Credit: Bunnett Lab Researchers at the NYU Pain Research Center have found a new receptor for nerve growth factor that plays an important role in pain signaling, even though it does...
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Clinical trial tests new drug to reduce side effect of ‘half-matched’ stem cell transplants
by Julia Evangelou Strait, Washington University School of Medicine Credit: CC0 Public Domain Adding a new drug to standard care for stem cell transplant recipients may reduce a life-threatening side effect, according to an early-stage clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The trial showed that patients being treated for various...
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Opioids interfere with cancer immunotherapy, but another type of drug could help
by University of Pittsburgh Credit: Etatics Inc. from Pexels Opioids are often first-line treatments for cancer-related pain, but they can suppress the immune system and reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy. New research from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center found that a type of drug called peripherally restricted OPRM1 antagonists (PAMORAs) blocked opioid-induced...
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Primate study sheds light on a neural mechanism that separates signal from noise in the brain
by University of Tokyo Mesoscale functional imaging revealed patchy spatial patterns of spontaneous activity throughout the marmoset neocortex. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54322-x When the brain is observed through imaging, there is a lot of “noise,” which is spontaneous electrical activity that comes from a resting brain. This appears to be different from brain activity that comes...
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CYBER SECURITY
Breaches on the rise2024 was another record year for health data breaches, according to a STAT analysis of records from the federal health department’s Office for Civil Rights. As many as 172 million people may have been impacted, and 532 of the 656 breaches reported resulted from hacks and ransomware attacks. The reports include the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, the UnitedHealth...
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4 Ways to Get Rid of Bruises Fast
Written by Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP | Reviewed by Christine Giordano, MD Published on October 2, 2024print_outlinedemail_outlined Key takeaways: Table of contents Ice Compression Elevation Warm compress Getting care Bottom line References nito100/iStock via Getty Images Plus If you’ve ever stumbled into something trying to get to the bathroom during the night, you may have gotten up...
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4 Early Signs of Hearing Loss You Don’t Want to Ignore
Written by Caroline Amin, MD | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH Published on October 1, 2024print_outlinedemail_outlined Key takeaways: pocketlight/E+ via Getty Images It’s normal to develop trouble hearing as you get older. In fact, about 1 in 3 adults over 65 years old have trouble hearing. But people can start developing hearing changes as early as their mid-40s. Age-related hearing loss,...
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Minipigs get stem cell transplants to treat blindness
Peer-Reviewed Publication The Company of Biologists Millions of people around the world are affected by retinal degenerative diseases. In most cases, loss of vision is caused by damage to the macula, a region in the centre of the retina. The macula is rich in cone photoreceptors – cells important for perceiving colour and seeing finer...
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Researchers discover new neurons that suppress food intake
A previously unknown population of neurons in the hypothalamus could lead to new obesity treatmentsPeer-Reviewed Publication University of Maryland School of Medicine BALTIMORE, Dec. 5, 2024: Obesity affects a staggering 40 percent of adults and 20 percent of children in the United States. While some new popular therapies are helping to tackle the epidemic of obesity,...