Posted Yesterday The autonomic nervous system orchestrates the functions of internal organ such as the heart and gut, serving as a connection between the brain and the rest of the body. It is classified in two divisions—the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, often described as the body’s accelerator and brake, respectively. For example, the sympathetic nervous system activates the...
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How Cells Habituate
Posted Yesterday A dog learns to sit on command, a person hears and eventually tunes out the hum of a washing machine while reading … The capacity to learn and adapt is central to evolution and, indeed, survival. A Stentor ciliate under a microscope. Image credit: Alexander Klepnev/CC BY-SA 4.0 Habituation — adaptation’s less-glamorous sibling —...
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Critical relationship between stem cells and mechanical signals unveiled
Peer-Reviewed Publication The Hospital for Sick Children A new study from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Institut Curie reveals how stem cells sense and respond to their environment, with implications for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Stem cells constantly adapt to their environment to maintain organ and tissue health, informed by chemical signals and physical forces. When they do not function as intended, stem cells can...
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Sleep deprivation in dementia: Heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, and thyroid disorders
“Sleep disturbances are a significant concern in individuals with dementia, affecting their overall health and quality of life, as well as that of their family members and caregivers.”Peer-Reviewed Publication Impact Journals LLC image: Figure 3. Managing sleep problems in dementia. Managing sleep problems in dementia is essential for improving overall well-being and cognitive function. Interventions may include...
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Researchers create a new organoid with all key pancreas cells
Peer-Reviewed Publication Hubrecht Institute image: Microscopic image of the pancreas organoid. The magenta shows the cell nuclei, and the cyan highlights the acinar cells that secrete digestive enzymes.view more Credit: Amanda Andersson Rolf and Kelvin Groot Researchers from the Organoid group (previously Clevers group) at the Hubrecht Institute have developed a new organoid that mimics the human fetal...
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Stimulating hypothalamus restores walking in paralyzed patients
Peer-Reviewed Publication Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Researchers at EPFL and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), led by professors Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, have achieved a major milestone in the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI). By applying deep brain stimulation (DBS) to an unexpected region in the brain—the lateral hypothalamus (LH)—the team has improved the recovery of lower limb movements in...
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Research reveals hidden visual deficits and neural pathway alterations in mild TBI patients
by Justin Jackson , Medical Xpress Credit: public domain Vanderbilt University Medical Center-led research reveals subtle changes in the visual pathways of individuals with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), even when standard eye examinations show no abnormalities. These findings include structural and functional deficits despite participants showing normal visual acuity during clinical examination. Mild...
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How to avoid eye infections—and what to do if you get one
by Charlotte Codina, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Sir Elton John recently revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America that he lost the sight in his right eye after suffering from an eye infection. With poor vision in his left eye too, John said. “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see.” Reassuringly, the...
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Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home—here’s how to get accurate readings
by Niamh Chapman, Dean Picone and Eleanor Clapham, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Measuring your blood pressure at home means you can take readings over several days to get a better picture of your health, instead of one-off measurements at the doctor’s clinic. It’s important you follow specific steps to get an accurate reading. But our...
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New clinical pathway supports cancer recurrence anxiety
by Thomas Hobson, University of Sydney Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Researchers have developed a three-step plan to support those burdened by the intense fear of cancer recurrence. This plan offers a consistent, streamlined approach to managing recurrence anxiety, empowering patients to regain confidence and move forward with their lives. The multidisciplinary team, led by researchers from...