Category: 4. Health

  • New AI tool reveals single-cell structure of chromosomes — in 3D

    New AI tool reveals single-cell structure of chromosomes — in 3D

    In a major leap forward for genetic and biomedical research, two scientists at the University of Missouri have developed a powerful new artificial intelligence tool that can predict the 3D shape of chromosomes inside individual cells — helping researchers gain a new view of how our genes work.

    Chromosomes are the tiny storage boxes that hold our DNA. Since each cell has about six feet of DNA packed inside it, it must be folded up tightly to fit. This folding not only saves space — it also…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Timing, consistency of activity linked to better fitness

    Timing, consistency of activity linked to better fitness

    Some people spring into action at dawn, while others prefer a slower start to their day. Whether you rise with a grin or a groan, scientists say your internal clock — known as the circadian rhythm — might influence that behavior and much more.

    These biological clocks regulate not only sleep-wake cycles but also a wide range of daily physiological and metabolic functions. A growing body of research suggests that circadian rhythms are fundamental contributors to health and resilience.

    Now, a…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Gene editing disrupts Huntington’s mutation in mice

    Gene editing disrupts Huntington’s mutation in mice

    Broad Institute researchers have developed a way to edit the genetic sequences at the root of Huntington’s disease and Friedreich’s ataxia.

    The conditions are two of more than 40 severe neurological disorders caused by three-letter stretches of DNA that repeat consecutively. If longer than a certain threshold length, these sequences grow in length uncontrollably and lead to brain cell death in Huntington’s disease, and the breakdown of nerve fibers in Friedreich’s ataxia. There are no…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Green hydrogen: MXene boosts the effectiveness of catalysts

    Green hydrogen: MXene boosts the effectiveness of catalysts

    MXenes are adept at hosting catalytically active particles. This property can be exploited to create more potent catalyst materials that significantly accelerate and enhance the oxygen evolution reaction, which is one of the bottlenecks in the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis using solar or wind power. A detailed study by an international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne shows the potential of these new materials for future large-scale applications. The study is published…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • A high-fat diet sets off metabolic dysfunction in cells, leading to weight gain

    A high-fat diet sets off metabolic dysfunction in cells, leading to weight gain

    Consuming a high-fat diet can lead to a variety of health problems — not only weight gain but also an increased risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

    At the cellular level, hundreds of changes take place in response to a high-fat diet. MIT researchers have now mapped out some of those changes, with a focus on metabolic enzyme dysregulation that is associated with weight gain.

    Their study, conducted in mice, revealed that hundreds of enzymes involved in sugar, lipid, and protein…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • A switchboard with precision: How the brain licenses movements

    A switchboard with precision: How the brain licenses movements

    Neurons deep in the brain not only help to initiate movement — they also actively suppress it, and with astonishing precision. This is the conclusion of a new study by researchers at the University of Basel and the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), published in the journal Nature. The findings are especially relevant for better understanding neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

    Reaching for an apple or bringing a spoon to the mouth — these seemingly…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Intestinal bacteria influence aging of blood vessels

    Intestinal bacteria influence aging of blood vessels

    Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide. Even if known traditional risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure are treated, the disease worsens in half of all cases, especially in older patients. Researchers at UZH have now shown for the first time that intestinal bacteria and their metabolites can accelerate the ageing of blood vessels and trigger cardiovascular disease.

    Phenylacetic acid triggers cell aging

    The human body consists of around 30 to 100…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Research untangles role of stress granules in neurodegenerative disease

    Research untangles role of stress granules in neurodegenerative disease

    Scientists from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis report mechanistic insights into the role of biomolecular condensation in the development of neurodegenerative disease. The collaborative research, published in Molecular Cell, focused on the interactions that drive the formation of condensates versus the formation of amyloid fibrils and how these relate to stress granules. Stress granules are biomolecular condensates that form under conditions of…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Whether it’s smoking or edibles, marijuana can be bad for your heart, study suggests

    Whether it’s smoking or edibles, marijuana can be bad for your heart, study suggests

    A new study led by UC San Francisco researchers finds that chronic cannabis use — whether it’s smoked or consumed in edible form — is associated with significant cardiovascular risks.

    The report, published May 28 in JAMA Cardiology, found that people who regularly used marijuana in either form had reduced blood vessel function that was comparable to tobacco smokers. Vascular function in those who used cannabis by either means was reduced roughly by half compared to those who did not use…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • New injection could help millions with high blood pressure

    New injection could help millions with high blood pressure

    Results from a clinical trial led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, published today in JAMA, show that giving people with high blood pressure an injection every six months can lead to a meaningful, sustained reduction in their blood pressure.

    The global trial, KARDIA-2, involved 663 people with high blood pressure whose condition wasn’t being well managed with their standard treatment.

    In the trial, patients were given an injection of a new medication zilebesiran,…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com