Researchers found that mice lacking NKT cells remained resistant to asthma-inducing stimuli, while those with NKT cells developed airway hyper-reactivity and symptoms. The study suggests NKT cells play a key role in asthma development and may be targeted for treatment.
A new study reports remarkable improvements in motor skills and dopamine storage in five Parkinson's patients. The treatment, which administered GDNF directly into the brain, showed a 39% improvement in motor skills and 61% improvement in daily living activities.
Adolescents who viewed religion as meaningful and a way to cope with problems were half as likely to use drugs. The effect was consistent across different ethnic groups, suggesting that religiosity provides a buffering impact against substance use.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that consuming more saturated fats can lead to higher amounts of visceral fat, which is linked to a stronger risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A diet low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated fat, such as the Mediterranean diet, may help reduce visceral fat.
Researchers examined 945 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and found that social support levels had little impact on rehab participation. Patients who participated in rehab were younger, better educated, more often worked, and less financially strained, but these factors alone could explain the difference.
Scientists have discovered that bone marrow-derived stem cells can fuse with liver cells to form healthy, functional cells. This process, called cell fusion, reverses liver damage in mice with a genetic disease, paving the way for potential human treatments.