Category: 4. Health

  • Marfan syndrome increases risk of brain alterations

    Marfan syndrome increases risk of brain alterations

    A study by the Institut de Neurociències of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) reveals that inflammation associated with Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to neurological diseases and complications following strokes, as demonstrated in animal models.

    Published in Redox Biology, the research highlights that Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 people and primarily known for its cardiovascular complications, also has an impact on brain…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • The long pathway to cell organization and growth

    The long pathway to cell organization and growth

    Sterols, such as cholesterol in our bodies or ergosterol in yeast cells, are among the most abundant lipids in eukaryotic cells, yet are synthesized through notoriously long, complex metabolic pathways. Researchers from UC San Diego and the NIH have used a novel combination of cell biology, in vitro biochemistry and molecular computer simulations to show that in yeast, this pathway shapes the ergosterol to balance its interactions with other lipids. This balancing act allows for the…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Patients with glioblastoma who received gabapentin lived longer, study suggests

    Patients with glioblastoma who received gabapentin lived longer, study suggests

    A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham suggests that gabapentin, a relatively common anti-seizure/pain medication, is linked to improved survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) — the most common and deadly form of brain cancer in adults. The findings, published in Nature Communications, are based on a retrospective analysis and add new evidence to help patients with this devastating disease.

    “This study is an exciting step forward,” said lead author Joshua Bernstock,…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Cyberbullying in any form can be traumatizing for kids

    Cyberbullying in any form can be traumatizing for kids

    As concern grows over adolescent mental health, a new national study adds to the growing body of research showing that cyberbullying should be considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE) — a category of childhood trauma linked to long-term emotional, psychological and physical harm.

    While many assume that only extreme forms of online harassment — like threats or identity-based attacks — can cause significant harm, the findings suggest a more troubling reality: even less visible or…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions

    Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions

    A new, incision-free technique developed at UVA Health to treat debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations, or cavernomas, has shown great promise in early testing, halting the growth of the lesions almost entirely.

    The new approach could represent a paradigm shift in how the malformations, commonly called CCMs, are treated, the researchers say. The technique uses tiny, gas-filled “microbubbles” propelled by focused sound waves to open the brain’s protective barrier…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • South African study identifies two new breast cancer genes in black women

    South African study identifies two new breast cancer genes in black women

    Genetic factors contribute to some 30% of breast cancer cases in SA, necessitating investment in genomic research in African contexts.

    A seminal genetic study published in Nature Communication has discovered two genetic variants linked to breast cancer in black South African women, deepening knowledge about the genetic basis for this disease in African populations.

    The genome-wide association study (GWAS) of breast cancer is the first to have been done in African women living on the…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Improved model system allows researchers to study embryo development

    Improved model system allows researchers to study embryo development

    Research from Ph.D. candidate Bohan Chen in the lab of Idse Heemskerk of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan Medical School and their colleagues improves upon a popular experimental model and in doing so, reveals more of the inner workings of a critical period during the formation of an embryo.

    Scientists study development in part to understand what can go wrong as the body’s structures are formed.

    The ultimate hope is to be able to prevent birth…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • New stem cell model sheds light on human amniotic sac development

    New stem cell model sheds light on human amniotic sac development

    Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilisation. This is the first model of amniotic sac development after two weeks.

    As described in research published today in Cell, the new model can be used to study the origin and function of the human amnion and help identify previously unknown ways the amniotic sac might support…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Shorter radiation therapy after prostate surgery safe, study finds

    Shorter radiation therapy after prostate surgery safe, study finds

    For men who undergo a radical prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate cancer, post-surgery radiation therapy can play a vital role in reducing the risk of recurrence. Despite its benefits, many patients decline or defer radiation because it requires daily sessions for several weeks.

    Now, a new study published in JAMA Oncology and led by UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators suggests there may be a faster option. Researchers found that stereotactic body…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Infant with rare, incurable disease is first to successfully receive personalized gene therapy treatment

    Infant with rare, incurable disease is first to successfully receive personalized gene therapy treatment

    A research team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed and safely delivered a personalized gene editing therapy to treat an infant with a life-threatening, incurable genetic disease. The infant, who was diagnosed with the rare condition carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency shortly after birth, has responded positively to the treatment. The process, from diagnosis to treatment, took only six months and marks the first time the technology has been…

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    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com