Researchers have discovered two enzymes involved in DNA demethylation, which could lead to targeted therapies aimed at slowing or preventing cancer. The enzymes control an 'on-and-off switch' for critical genes that trigger cancer and other diseases.
A study investigates the impact of femtosecond laser-induced damages on olfactory ensheathing cells, revealing that cellular activity can be controlled easily. The research suggests four reasons for the formation of femtosecond laser-induced calcium waves and proposes cell damage and recovery mechanisms.
Researchers at USC have successfully derived authentic embryonic stem cells from rats, which will facilitate the creation of animal models for studying human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This breakthrough finding represents a major advancement in stem cell research.
Researchers discovered that nerves connecting to flexor muscles are guided by a protein family called ephrin-B, which is closely related to the previously identified ephrin-A protein. This finding provides insights into how nerves form and could lead to new strategies for treating disorders such as epilepsy and mental retardation.
Up to 20% of children and adolescents experience anxiety disorders, which can lead to educational underachievement and increased rates of depression and substance abuse later in life. Effective treatments include antidepressant medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a combination of both, with partial treatment not being adequate.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that humans make optimal decisions when their unconscious brain processes information. A test revealed that people's brains subconsciously gather data and reach a confidence threshold before reporting a decision to the conscious mind.
Researchers identified impaired energy metabolism as a key factor in the initiation of amyloid beta plaques in Alzheimer's disease. This discovery provides new insights into the pathogenesis of AD and highlights the potential for developing new preventative and therapeutic approaches.
Scientists have developed a cocktail that can capture and maintain indefinitely the most fundamental of embryonic stem cells from essentially any mammal. The discovery allows researchers to produce genetically altered strains of rats with conditions mimicking human disease in a targeted way, making it easier to study human diseases.
A recent study by Charles Drew University found that gay and bisexual black men have the lowest use of prostate cancer testing. The percentage of gay and bisexual black men who received the PSA test was 12-28% lower than heterosexual blacks and 15-28% lower than gay and bisexual whites.
Researchers have identified apolipoprotein(a) as a natural regulator of inflammation, inhibiting neutrophil recruitment in vivo and reducing inflammatory responses. This novel function of apo(a) is independent of its molecular mimicry of plasminogen.
A recent study published in Neurology reveals that patients with REM sleep behaviour disorder are at a high risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The study found that nearly half of patients with this condition develop a neurodegenerative disease within 12 years of diagnosis.
A new study suggests that brain starvation as we age can lead to the production of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Regular exercise, managing cholesterol and hypertension, and improving blood flow to the brain may help prevent or treat the disease.
Researchers found that the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) is necessary to resolve word competition during speech. This brain region, including Broca's area, is responsible for aspects of speech production and language processing.
Despite increased emphasis on patient safety, little progress has been made, with physicians' autonomy and lack of standardization identified as key culprits. An average hospitalized adult receives recommended therapy only 53% of the time, leading to nearly 100,000 annual deaths due to hospital error.
The study reveals that small changes in nucleotide sequences near splice points can lead to significant changes in splice site choice and protein production. The discovery suggests that curing most genetic diseases will take longer than expected due to the complexity of alternative splicing mechanisms.
Research reveals how value influences visual processing, with early regions of the visual cortex activated by more valuable stimuli. Frontal and parietal cortex areas track value differences to guide decision making.
New brain-imaging research from UC San Diego finds that visual areas respond more strongly to objects of value, altering neural activation in the human visual system. This altered processing affects not only high-level cognitive function but also early stages of information processing.
Biologists have discovered the atomic structure of a powerful molecular motor that packages DNA into viral heads during assembly. The motor consists of two ring-like structures with five segments, progressively drawing genetic material into the virus's capsid.
A study published in Neurology found that people with REM sleep behavior disorder have an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson's. The five-year risk was estimated to be 18%, while the 10-year and 12-year risks were 41% and 52%, respectively.