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...
Category: <span>Research Updates</span>
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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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A New Weight Loss Drug With No Side Effects? Yes…So Far
Christina Szalinski December 18, 2024 1237 Added to Email Alert For people with obesity or type 2 diabetes, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists (including Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic) have been labeled miracle drugs. But they aren’t miraculous for everyone. Research indicates a significant portion of people discontinue using them within a year. The main problems with GLP-1...
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Study supports taVNS for chronic insomnia, but questions on its legitimacy remain
by Justin Jackson , Medical Xpress Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS) researchers at the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital have conducted a study showing that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves sleep quality in patients with chronic insomnia. Insomnia is a prevalent global health issue, impacting approximately one-third of adults,...
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Engineered CAR-NK cells offer an alternative approach to fighting leukemia
by Markus Bernards, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Generation process and evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 knockout for CAR33-KLRC1ko-NK cells. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52388-1 Various forms of blood cancer exist—all of which are grouped together under the term leukemia. One common form of leukemia is acute myeloid leukemia (AML), characterized by a degradation of early blood cell precursors,...
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Common cough syrup ingredient offers hope for lung fibrosis patients
by Andreia Pinho, European Molecular Biology Laboratory A new study has explored the potential of Dextromethorphan, an FDA-approved drug, in the treatment of lung fibrosis. Lung fibrosis occurs after accumulation of scar tissue in the lung (left image shows a mice lung with scarring tissue) which was reduced after treatment with Dextromethorphan (right image). Credit: Muzamil...
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Scientists uncover protein that helps cancer cells dodge CAR T cell therapy
by City of Hope National Medical Center Structure showing the targetable sites of the City of Hope-discovered YTHDF2 protein. Credit: Dr. Jianjun Chen’s Lab / City of Hope Scientists at City of Hope have collared a tricky culprit that helps cancer cells evade CAR T cell therapy. CAR T cell therapy harnesses the immune system to...
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‘Chance Finding’ a True Breakthrough for Spinal Cord Injury?
Pauline Anderson December 13, 2024 0132 Added to Email Alert Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) improves walking and promotes recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), new research showed. This intervention excites glutamatergic neurons in the LH, which appear to be key to restoring movement. The results represent a shift...
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Exploring role of understudied dysfunctional immune cells in severe COVID-19
by Trinity College Dublin Credit: JCI Insight (2024). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.171659 At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous studies had shown that COVID-19 patients with high levels of neutrophils, a key immune cell, presented with more severe disease and poor clinical outcomes. It was not clearly understood how or why this was happening. A recently published study from...