Researchers have now discovered “tiny channels” that allow the injured brain to communicate with bone marrow in the process of inflammation. These “tunnels” are key to ensuring a quick immune response. Inflammation occurs as an immune response to instances of infection or injury within the body. ‘Tiny channels’ in the skull allow injured brain tissue to...
Category: <span>Research Updates</span>
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Bladder control via gene therapy?
What are the limits of gene therapy? “There are no currently available FDA-approved gene therapy treatments for overactive bladder,” reads this press release. And that’s true. But is it, like, a problem? Urovant Sciences believes so, which is why it licensed just such a gene therapy for overactive bladder. It’s called hMaxi-K, and it targets...
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Stem Cells from Baby Teeth Regenerate Dental Pulp after Implantation into Injured Teeth
Going to the dentist is usually not anyone’s idea of fun. In particular, root canals are no fun. However, if you have an abscessed tooth that hurts like the dickens, then a root canal may be your best bet for resuming normalcy. In younger patients, the innermost part of the tooth, the pulp, may die...
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Blood-borne cancer detection receives gold-plated boost
UNSW researchers have discovered a new way to detect ultralow levels of microRNA in a blood sample which could make a diagnosis of cancer and other illnesses quicker and more efficient. A computer representation of the gold-coated nanoparticles that make up the dispersible electrodes. These are modified with DNA that gives an electrochemical signal. When microRNA binds,...
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Researchers find elusive source of most abundant immune cell
Neutrophils—short-lived, highly mobile and versatile—outnumber all other immune cells circulating through the bloodstream. Yet, despite the cells’ abundance, the progenitor cell that only gives rise to neutrophils had eluded all efforts to track it down. Now, researchers at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology identified a progenitor of neutrophils in the bone marrow of...
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Synthetic peptide helps repair myelin damaged by MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the sheaths protecting neurons in the nervous system. Like exposed electrical wires, this effectively short-circuits the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and the body that leads to impaired motor skills and cognition. Now, researchers at Melbourne University have developed a synthetic peptide...
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Primary tumors found to “freeze” spread of secondary cancers
Cancer is bad enough in one spot, but the disease gets especially dangerous once it starts migrating throughout the body. Finding ways to stop this process, known as metastasis, is a key way to improve survival rates for patients. Now researchers have found that primary tumors have their own mechanism for slowing the growth of secondary cancers, which...
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Protein modifications pointing to cancer
Cells use different signals to react to stress and to inform other body cells. Triggers are, for example, cancer or inflammatory diseases. A central signaling pathway of stress response is the modification of proteins called ADP-ribosylation. Small molecules (ADP ribose) are added to precisely defined protein sites to control protein function. IMAGE: THE ENZYME ARTC1 (RED)...
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Scientists find a new way to attack herpesviruses
New study uncovers how the viruses bypass your body’s defense mechanisms SAN FRANCISCO, CA–August 28, 2018–Human cytomegalovirus is a leading cause of birth defects and transplant failures. As it’s evolved over time, this virus from the herpes family has found a way to bypass the body’s defense mechanisms that usually guards against viral infections. Until...
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Study provides new insights for ways to use cell metabolism to treat cancer
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER CINCINNATI–Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine have discovered that cell metabolism plays an important role in the ability of cells to start a survival program called autophagy, an unwanted side effect of some anti-cancer drugs that helps some tumor cells dodge treatment and eventually regrow into...