Category: 4. Health

A study led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego sheds new light on how a type of heart valve disease, called aortic valve stenosis, progresses differently in males and females. The research reveals that this sex-based difference can be traced to a gene on the Y chromosome.

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

The study, which involved 28 researchers from 18 institutions across Europe and the United States, highlights the placenta as a key element in neuropsychiatric development. The research has demonstrated that specific epigenetic modifications in the placenta, particularly DNA methylation, can influence the expression of genes associated with psychiatric disorders. These findings suggest that genetic risk may already manifest during the prenatal stage.

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Our skin and mucous membranes are protected by epithelial cells. This “barrier” tissue performs its function thanks to specialized structures called “junctions.” They ensure cell cohesion and regulate exchanges across the space between cells. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC) in Göttingen, have studied the role of a specific protein, gamma-actin, in the organization…

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Advances in the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 over the past 15 years have yielded important new insights into the roles that specific genes play in many diseases. But to date this technology — which allows scientists to use a “guide” RNA to modify DNA sequences and evaluate the effects — is able to target, delete, replace, or modify only single gene sequences with a single guide RNA and has limited ability to assess multiple genetic changes simultaneously.

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

The research field of “cellular IRESes” lay dormant for decades, as there was no uniform standard of reliable methods for the clear characterization of these starting points for the ribosome-mediated control of gene expression. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in collaboration with Stanford University in California (USA), have now developed a toolbox as a new gold standard for this field. They hope to discover strong IRES elements that are…

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

A long-term Switzerland-wide study has found that neighbourhoods with numerous, well-arranged trees exhibit lower mortality risks than other areas. The reasons behind this, and the factors that play a role, will require further research.

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News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

The lymphatic system plays a key role in maintaining the body’s fluid balance and supporting immune defences. Lymphatic vessels are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells, allowing the transfer of fluids, cells and large molecules from surrounding tissues into the vessels. These vessels must be highly permeable to efficiently absorb and transport fluid, while also being flexible enough to withstand sudden changes in tissue fluid volume, such as swelling, without rupture.