Ever wanted to read up on interesting developments in science and medicine but found the content too monotonous or difficult to comprehend?
These articles break down new studies into concise, easy-to-understand language.
These articles break down new studies into concise, easy-to-understand language.
A Potential Target for Preventing Insulin Dependence in DiabetesArthur Huang, January 6 2021
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) plagues over 30 million Americans. The relationship between the body and the hormone insulin governs T2D. Patients with T2D are characterized by diminished insulin secretion by beta cells in the pancreas or increased insulin resistance, which is when cells stop responding to insulin. Loss of beta cell function drives T2D patients toward dependence on insulin, thus requiring expensive, daily insulin injections. In order to pinpoint potential targets for treating and preventing T2D, a joint team from Harvard University and Cornell University investigated adipsin, a protein that promotes insulin secretion from beta cells.
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Activating the Killer in Stem Cells to Improve Cancer ImmunotherapyAnjali Roy, January 6 2021
“You have cancer” is one of the most frightening diagnoses one can hear today. Caused by uncontrolled cell growth leading to the formation of malignant tumors, cancers of various kinds are diagnosed in approximately 1.8 million people in the U.S alone every year, and millions more worldwide. Oncology researchers are working around the clock to develop better treatments, and one day perhaps even produce a cure. For now, one kind of treatment plan available involves cancer inhibition therapy, which works by manipulating the immune system response.
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The Potential of Nanotubes in Immunotherapy for AtherosclerosisCatherine Beaudin, January 6 2021
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of arterial plaque over an extended period of time, which can lead to clogged arteries. Atherosclerosis may result in a heart attack or stroke if the accumulated plaque blocks an artery that supplies blood and oxygen to the heart or brain respectively. In the United States, someone suffers a heart attack every 40 seconds, and cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death worldwide. Recently, a team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine investigated a potential therapeutic strategy to combat plaque buildup by decreasing the persistent inflammation in atherosclerotic arteries.
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A Monoclonal Antibody Against SARS-CoV-2Olivia Zhou, January 6 2021
There is a dire need for powerful therapies to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, researchers led by Dr. Wei Li from the University of Pittsburgh discovered IgG1 ab1, a monoclonal antibody that may be beneficial in the battle against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are natural proteins produced by the body in response to antigens, or the immune-reacting parts of pathogens. They serve important defensive functions, such as binding antigens and activating other immune cells to neutralize pathogens. Scientists can improve these abilities by enhancing or engineering antibodies with amplified properties against a single antigen, producing what are called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
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Hearts Revived: Avoiding Permanent Injury From Heart AttacksJenny Forest Lee, January 6 2021
Myocardial infarctions, otherwise known as heart attacks, affect approximately 805,000 Americans every year, with one occurring every 40 seconds within the United States. Heart attacks stem from plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Breakage of the buildup initiates blood clot formation at the site, which in turn causes ischemia, a lack of oxygen and blood flow to body tissues. Although getting blood flow back to the affected tissue is the ideal method of treatment for myocardial infarctions, this may result in an even greater extent of tissue damage. Another method of reducing tissue injury caused by ischemia uses vascular endothelial cells, which are located in the inner lining of blood vessels.
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The Importance of Sleep Quality On Preventing Heart DiseaseAnnie Liang, January 6 2021
In light of cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in the world, there has been an increasing demand for uncovering potential causes to decrease future mortality. Recently, one study discovered a relationship between sleep fragmentation and atherosclerosis, representing a critical step in the right direction for preventing further development of heart disease.
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Turning Copper into a Superbug Bacteria KillerJessica Lutz, July 14 2020
Although hospitals are supposed to be a place of treatment and recovery, many infections actually begin in hospitals, termed hospital-acquired infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at any moment, one in thirty-one hospital patients has at least one hospital-acquired infection. Recently, researchers at Purdue University have responded to this need with the introduction of a new laser-treatment method that can transform copper surfaces into bacteria killers.
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Air Pollution's Effect on DementiaYea-Lyn Pak, July 14 2020
As the number of dementia cases continue to increase, researchers have been attempting to find the causes behind this currently incurable disease. Recent studies have found a link between air pollution and brain function as well as a connection between air pollution and cardiovascular health. A group of researchers from Sweden have taken a closer look to test their hypothesis, which states that exposure to air pollution is associated with higher rates of dementia, and increased cardiovascular disease strengthens that link.
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The Spice of Life: TurmericWilliam Lan, July 14 2020
One of curry’s main spices, known as turmeric, gives curry its slight bitter taste and yellow color due to the presence of a compound known as curcumin. This compound is also well known in the medical field for its anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers from the University of South Australia, McMaster University of Canada, and Texas A&M University sought to determine the effectiveness of curcumin in suppressing the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) infections due to these anti-inflammatory properties.
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Getting Physical in the Fight Against Antibiotic ResistanceAnthony Wong, July 14 2020
As antibiotic treatments become more routine in hospitals around the world, strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like those of Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis have also become more common. According to a 2014 UK study, the death rate from antibiotic-resistant pathogens is projected to outpace that of cancer in 30 years. and alternatives to antibiotic treatments. Now more than ever, it is essential for new innovations in and alternatives to antibiotic treatments.Fortunately, in a study published this past January, researchers from RMIT University have uncovered a new angle in the fight against superbugs.
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Modifications to CRISPR-Cas9: Gene Editing in the BrainKatelyn Li, July 14 2020
The brain is the most complex organ in the body, serving as the control center for the nervous system. As such, much research is devoted to understanding the brain and what modifications can be made to alter brain function. Much of the mystery lies in determining what genes are tied to certain neuronal activities and behaviors. CRISPR-Cas9 stands as a powerful tool that can modify genes for our benefit, but it still runs into difficulties targeting specific areas in groups of neurons as they often divide into several subpopulations. In response to these problems, researchers developed a new system that uses a Cas9 ortholog from Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9).
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Personalized Nanorobots in Targeted Drug DeliveryOlivia Zhou, July 14 2020
Conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy are non-specific and inaccurate, resulting in side effects from damaged healthy cells. However, a new approach called theranostics, which combines therapy and diagnostics, can potentially revolutionize personalized cancer medicine. It utilizes nanotechnology to more accurately target tumor cells for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment without damaging other cells. In regards to drug delivery, “biohybrid microswimmers,” or motile microbes engineered with cargo carriers, are excellent candidates because of their ability to respond to environmental signals and to navigate complex, hard-to-reach places.
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Applying 2-1-1 to Pediatrics: Reinventing Primary Care CoordinationArina Nisanova, July 14 2020
Approximately one in eight children in the United States has developmental disabilities. Early childhood development is one of the primary determinants of physical and mental health throughout the life course. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that primary care providers administer developmental and behavioral screenings during well-child visits, many providers struggle with the implementation of the validated screening tools, early identification of developmental delays, and referring patients to interventions and additional services. Researchers at UCLA have attempted to enhance the existing care model and investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based care coordination system developed by 2-1-1, a part of a nationwide 2-1-1 call center that serves 93% of the U.S.
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A Novel Technology to Monitor Cardiopulmonary DiseaseLekha Yaramada, July 14 2020
Over 80 million Americans have some type of cardiopulmonary disease, and over 65% of people aged 60-79 years old have cardiopulmonary disease, which refers to any disease affecting either the heart or the lungs. The heart and lungs are closely connected, so any disruption in the function of either of the vital organs is detrimental. One of the most important steps in managing cardiac diseases is monitoring patients.This is typically done in the form of an electrocardiogram (EKG), but this would require the patient to regularly visit a clinic. An alternative is the Holter monitor, which can be worn around a patient's neck. However, these are often bulky and uncomfortable and require a skilled technician to place. As a result, a group of scientists at Georgia Tech have come up with a more convenient solution: the acceleratometer contact microphone.
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A Central Sentry: Enhancing the Brain's Tumor Surveillance AbilityAnanta Wadhwa, Apr 8 2020
While the global medical community has made great strides in preventing and treating many types of cancers, brain cancers still remain extremely difficult to treat and almost impossible to survey using traditional medical equipment. As a result, the cancers’ functional invisibility makes them acutely deadly. The brain is extremely dense, complex, and well-protected from outside invaders. Unfortunately, tumors, a cancerous cluster of tissues growing uncontrollably to form illness-inducing masses, are well-masked by these brain structures. Thus, it is especially challenging to peer into the brain (as one might look at the heart) and effectively identify, process, and treat brain tumors. In response, researchers have now managed to both work around and employ the brain’s protective layers to specifically target otherwise-hidden tumors.
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Plastic Replaced: New Bioengineering Solutions for DialysisSabeeca Vadakkan, Apr 8 2020
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common long-term medical condition affecting 37 million people in the United States and looming over millions of at-risk others. People with this disease have impaired kidneys, the organs in charge of filtering blood and excreting waste as urine, that gradually lose function over time. Once CKD progresses to end-stage renal disease, where the kidney is only working at 10-15% of its normal function, patients are confronted with only two options: a kidney transplant or kidney dialysis. Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis and involves routing blood from the body into an artificial “kidney” machine using a fistula or prosthetic tube, the later of which presents new risks. To solve this issue, scientists have bioengineered a new solution: human acellular vessels.
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The Emergence of "Superbugs": Are We Doomed Forever?William Lan, Apr 8 2020
Ever since the first antibiotic was discovered in 1928, hundreds of millions of lives have been saved from deadly bacterial infections. Yet, the drug type’s newfound ubiquity now leads to an increasing amount of inappropriate uses. Whether it be a sore throat or common cold, people needlessly take antibiotics in the hopes that it will rid them of discomfort. Unfortunately, this leads to the development of multidrug resistant bacteria, largely unfightable microbial strains that are predicted to kill over 10 million people by 2050. Presented with these problems, researchers recently developed a “molecular drill” that burrows through these layers once activated by light, allowing antibiotics to more easily pass through.
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Gut Enzymes May Help Solve the Blood Shortage CrisisJessica Lutz, Apr 8 2020
Blood transfusions, the process of introducing the donated blood of one person into the bloodstream of another, are a common and life-saving medical practice first developed during World War 2. The need for blood is widespread, as it is used for treating anything from chronic diseases to acute traumas. The Red Cross currently currently estimates that blood is required by a US patient every 2 seconds, making it critical for hospitals to ensure an adequate supply at all times. Yet despite this need, donated blood cannot immediately be given to every person who might need it due to the importance of preventing hemolytic reactions due to blood type mismatching. Understanding this problem, researchers sought an efficient enzyme that could remove the type-defining antigen from blood cells.
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3D Bioprinting for Organ Transplant PatientsMelody Zaki, Apr 8 2020
Patients waiting for organ transplants are often left waiting for death: either their own or that of a donor who can give them a second chance at life. Even if lucky enough to receive an organ transplant, patients still risk their body rejecting the organ or facing serious and chronic complications. Despite the scarcity of organs, transplants are often seen as the only aspect of the healthcare system where everyone has equal opportunity regardless of class, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. However, this may not be true. Faced with organ scarcity, 3D organ printing now represents a new potential remedy within the United States. Researchers have recently developed a new technique that prints the support vessels of a living tissue rather than the entire organ itself.
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Psilocybin Improves Psychological Well-Being in Cancer PatientsAnthony Wong, Apr 8 2020
Approximately 18 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2018 alone. Statistics like these only begin to describe a palpable emotional toll where rates of anxiety and depression reach as high as 40% in hospital environments. This distress is detrimental to care outcomes: increasing noncompliance with prescribed treatment regimens drains medical resources, decreases survival rates, and increases the risk of suicide and other methods of self-harm. Traditional antidepressants have proved inadequate in bettering the mental health of cancer patients. To fill the need for a more effective pharmacological psychotherapy, a new study investigated the potential long-term benefits of single-use psilocybin.
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The Potentially Hidden Dangers of PlasticEmily Zheng, Apr 8 2020
Plastic is an incredibly abundant material used to make everything from pipes to clothing. As a result of its ubiquity, people often come in contact with plastics in ways that are largely safe and beneficial. However, certain plastic products contain chemicals that could present a danger to human health. One such toxin, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), has previously been associated with negative reproductive effects in both sexes. Researchers recently studied the effects of DEHP on a multicellular organism model to uncover how the chemical adversely affects reproduction. Previous research on the effects of DEHP in mice concluded that male mice exposed before birth had hormonal changes and decreased sperm count and fertility. In female mice, it was found that DEHP caused hormonal imbalance and disrupted reproductive cycles.
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The New Frontier: Early Development of Living RobotsKatelyn Li, Apr 8 2020
We are constantly surrounded by a human-built environment complete with skyscrapers, highways, computers, and more. Whether it be laying bricks, arranging gears, or programming circuits, humanity has fine-tuned its ability to shape the natural world. Recently, researchers from the University of Vermont investigated whether they could extend humanity’s reach by using embryonic stem cells to generate living machines. Their study aimed to design living organisms that would mimic certain cell behaviors: movement, object manipulation, storage, and communal interaction. To start, the researchers used an evolutionary computer algorithm to virtually design biomaterials composed of locomotive cardiomyocytes, which undergo coordinated movement, and structural epidermal cells from frogs.
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Transplanting Acutely Damaged Kidneys to Treat Kidney DiseaseLekha Yaramada, Apr 8 2020
Chronic kidney disease affects over 37 million people in the US alone, including more than half of seniors over the age of 75. It is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function and can cause many serious physical symptoms. Patients with kidney disease suffer as fluids, electrolytes (salts in the bloodstream), and waste build up in the body. This leads to kidney disease presenting as anemia, weak bones, general weakness, and nerve damage. While kidney transplants are currently the most comprehensive solution to severe kidney disease, a major shortage of kidneys have resulted from strict donation regulations, including rejection of all donors with acute kidney injuries (AKI).
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How Traumatic Brain Injuries can Contribute to Social IsolationKyra Benowitz, Jan 5 2020
People who are recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) frequently report feeling socially isolated following their injury. When areas of the brain responsible for processing information are damaged, it becomes a challenge for patients to relate to others, maintain relationships, and adhere to rehabilitative treatments. These challenges can negatively impact community integration, how a patient feels connected to their community, leading to feelings of social isolation. A common impairment caused by TBI that impacts community integration is diminished facial affect recognition (FAR), which is the ability to recognize and perceive facial affects and emotions expressed through facial expressions. To address this challenge, researchers at Rutgers University studied the relationship in TBI individuals between impairments in facial affect recognition and community integration.
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Using Seasonal Vaccines to Fight CancerYea-Lyn Pak, Apr 8 2020
In recent years, there has been a promising rise of cancer treatments. Immunotherapy treats cancer by strengthening the patient’s own immune response system, either by helping the body target existing cancer cells or preventing cancer cells from replicating as quickly. Immunotherapy has already proven effective against “hot tumors”, those detected by the body’s immune system. Together, the presence of antigens “educate” the body to produce tumor-specific T Cells that can actively work against the current cancer threat. Most patients, however, have “cold” tumors, which have not been immune-infiltrated and thus don’t have antigens or tumor-specific T Cells. Given the otherwise-promising outlook of immunotherapy, researchers at the Rutgers Cancer Institute have found a possible method of turning cold tumors into hot tumors by injecting the seasonal flu vaccine directly into tumor sites.
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Zapping Microbes: An Electrochemical Treatment for Infections in Titanium ImplantsAnanta Wadhwa, Jan 5 2020
A silver metal with a low density and high strength, titanium can be found in airplanes, jewelry, and now the human body. Researchers have discovered that using titanium, they are able to create highly effective metal implants for dental and medical purposes. Metal implants are used to help ease orthopedic, oral, and neural sicknesses, monitor body functions, and/or replace missing body parts. These implants have been successful and contributed greatly to improving the lives of the people who have them. However, there are some complications that arise from inserting an unfamiliar material like titanium into the human body. Metal implants, especially titanium implants, easily become infected by foreign microbes and invaders that cause illness and other serious discomforts and diseases.
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A New Predictive Model for Detecting Metastatic CancerKatelyn Li, Jan 5 2020
Endometrial cancer is among the most common of gynecological cancers in industrialized countries, with incidence rates steadily rising throughout recent years. Due to its noninvasive and painless nature, doctors rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as one of the standard diagnostic tools for visualizing cancerous conditions in patients. One important area of examination are the lymph nodes, where the metastasis of cancer cells may indicate a more aggressive tumor. However, lymph node metastasis (LNM) rates are low in early stage endometrial cancer. Additionally, MRI only provides a 25–50% sensitivity in detecting LNM. To counteract these problems, researchers in China have developed a predictive model to help doctors forecast the presence of LNM in normal-sized lymph nodes.
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Chlamydia's Far-Reaching Impact on Fertility, Regardless of GenderPearl Doan, Jan 5 2020
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the world. While this STI seems relatively harmless at first, there is one frightening aspect: long-term infection with chlamydia can lead to permanent infertility in women. As a result, women around the world are taught about the health risks about chlamydia. Yet there is less education about this disease’s impact on men, who do not receive the same encouragement to get regularly tested. However, a recent study has shown that the permanent, long-lasting effects of chlamydia may not discriminate based on sex.
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How Measles Can Erase Our DefensesSabeeca Vadakkan, Jan 5 2020
Despite the continued advancements of scientific discoveries, humans are still not completely protected from infectious diseases. One such notorious affliction are the measles, currently a hot topic within western media. Measles has become the poster child for the anti-vaxxer movement, a grassroots rebellion against the notions of “big pharma”. This pushback has since allowed an additional 695 measles cases as of April, 2019. This development, combined with the disease’s 15% fatality rate, is only overshadowed by new research indicating that infection can subsequently lead to the development of a serious condition called “immune amnesia”.
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Behavioral Effects of MicrobiotaYea-Lyn Pak, Jan 5 2020
The human gut microbiota, the collection of bacteria that live in the human gut and help with digestion, regulating the immune system, and more, has a largely unknown impact on the human nervous system and human behavior. More research, however, is being carried out to shed light on the potential effects the microbiota can have on people’s behavior and brain function. Recently, a team of researchers at Cornell University published their findings from a study that explored how the microbiota affects psychological behavior in mice.
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Novel Drug Treatment Developed for Cystic FibrosisAnthony Wong, Jan 5 2020
In October 2019, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved a groundbreaking therapy against cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease that gradually shuts down the lungs and pancreas. Researchers conducting an international clinical trial, which included patients and faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, found that administration of a cocktail drug, one combining elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacafto, was highly effective in neutralizing symptoms associated with the disease.
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Approaching Immunotherapy with Helper T CellsEmily Zheng, Jan 5 2020
In their search for a cure to cancer, scientists have turned to the immune system as an invaluable tool. Cancer cells are different from normal cells since they multiply uncontrollably. This difference could theoretically allow for immune cells to identify and kill them, as the role of the immune system is to rid the body of foreign pathogens and mutated cells. Development of this idea led to the expansion of immunotherapy, a form of cancer therapy that uses the immune system to fight cancer, throughout the 20th century. New research from the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis continues to improve upon immunotherapy approaches, specifically in how Helper T cells can be used.
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Developing a Vaccine for Clostridium DifficileLekha Yaramada, Jan 5 2020
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) bacteria is one of the primary sources of sepsis, which is a life-threatening complication of an infection. After a patient has taken antibiotics to stop the growth of the bacteria causing their primary infection, most of the beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestines are wiped out as well. C. difficile is then able to colonize the intestines and spread throughout the rest of the body. Hence, it typically causes secondary infections. Currently, vaccines that would help prevent the infection of C. difficile are being tested, and phase II trials have recently been completed. This vaccine contains weakened versions of toxins A and B normally produced by C. difficile to disrupt human cell structure.
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The Powerful Influence of Exercise on Mental HealthRyan Cerny, Jan 5 2020
It is no secret that those who regularly engage in physical activity have a much lower risk for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Exercise has long been associated with a plethora of physical health benefits that both promote longevity and strengthen overall heart health. Furthermore, the engagement in activities such as aerobics, biking, team sports, and weight training are effective in building muscle and increasing long term energy levels. However, less commonly understood is the impact of physical activity on improving one’s mental health.
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The Fountain of Youth: Brain Excitation Linked to LongevityAngela Wang, Jan 5 2020
Modern medicine, having successfully constrained the threat posed to humans by most parasitic diseases, is now commonly faced with questions on how to improve human life expectancy. Why do some people live longer than others? How do certain brain disorders develop? While common reasons include lifestyle choices like diet and exercise or socioeconomic factors such as income, recent research conducted by the Harvard Medical School indicates a possible link between brain activity and a person’s lifespan. Researchers have identified a transcription factor called REST, whose presence or absence leads to higher or lower levels of neuron activity.
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Avocados: Cholesterol's Worst Enemy?William Lan, Jan 5 2020
Ever since the early 1900s, the cholesterol problem has baffled many scientists in the United States. The increased consumption of highly processed foods has led to alarmingly high rates of heart disease and diabetes. Cholesterol is a waxy oil that combines with proteins to form low density lipoprotein (LDL). Free radicals in the body often oxidize LDL, destabilizing them which makes them more reactive and harmful. To solve this problem, scientists at Penn State University decided to research the effects of avocado on oxidized LDL.
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New Treatment May Help Eliminate Chronic Myeloid LeukemiaJessica Lutz, Jan 5 2020
Every year, around 60,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer affecting blood-forming tissues. Although it is often considered a childhood cancer, adults are actually diagnosed with leukemia ten times more often than children. Yet despite its prevalence, there are limited treatments and no permanent cures. The current standard treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that target a protein that CML cells produce to allow rapid and unchecked growth. However, this treatment does not get rid of the cancer but just forces it into remission. Understanding these risks, researchers in UCLA’s Chute Laboratory announced the identification of the protein that CML cells need to reproduce: pleiotrophin (PTN). They went on to find an antibody that prevents PTN from binding to CML cells and tested this new treatment on mice infected with CML.
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Oral Microbes Linked to Alzheimer's DiseaseMalavika Theophilus, Jul 14 2019
Researchers have recently made significant advances in the ongoing search for effective treatments against Alzheimer's Disease (AD). While the causes of AD are still not fully known, recent findings have reported evidence of microbial involvement in the neurodegeneration associated with the disease. This new data reveals the presence of an oral microbe known as Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of patients suffering from AD, indicating that this infection is an early event that affects middle-aged people rather than one that occurs after the onset of dementia.
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