A team of researchers has identified how the protein perforin kills rogue cells, which could lead to new treatments for cancer, malaria, and diabetes. The study reveals that perforin assembles to punch holes in cell membranes, allowing toxic enzymes to destroy infected cells.
Researchers have created a novel 'on-off switch' using a plant's light-activated proteins to control cell functions. The blue-light switch has been successfully tested in yeast, mammalian cells and cultured rodent brain tissue, offering a new approach for controlling cell growth, death and delivering medication directly to diseased cells.
A comprehensive ocean observation system is needed to track changes in acidification, water temperature, sea level, and polar ice cover. The system would provide critical information for human needs, including climate regulation and oxygen production.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a new epitope-mapping laboratory test that can pinpoint the unique binding site for disease-causing pathogens within three weeks. The test uses five essential proteins involved in antigen processing by immune system cells, speeding up the development of cancer vaccines and diagnostic...
A team of researchers at Brown University discovered a mineral deposit on Mars that speaks of a warm and wet past, potentially preserving evidence of microbial life. The deposit, located in the Syrtis Major volcanic zone, is believed to have formed in a hydrothermal environment.
Researchers have successfully visualized the human immune system's assassin protein perforin, revealing how it punches holes in cancerous or infected cells. The study provides insights into the protein's structure and function, which could lead to new ways of fighting cancer, malaria, and diabetes.
A team of researchers has created a technology to extract complex membrane proteins without distorting their shape, enabling scientists to better understand the properties and functions of these proteins. This breakthrough could facilitate research at the biomedical frontier.
The University of Guam has received a five-year $1.3M grant from the US Department of Education to increase retention and academic success among first-year Pacific Islander freshmen. The Kubre program will focus on providing quality support services such as tutoring, mentoring, and career exploration to help students succeed in math.
Scientists have successfully engineered miniature human livers that function like real ones in a laboratory setting. The next step is to test their function after transplantation in animal models, with the ultimate goal of providing a solution to the liver transplant shortage.
A recent study by Henry Ford Hospital found that the race of liver donors may impact recurrent hepatitis C in patients after liver transplant. Patients receiving white cadaveric donor grafts had significantly more aggressive recurrent hepatitis C than those receiving grafts from African-American donors, regardless of recipient race. Th...
W. Jason Niedermeyer, a high school biology teacher in Oregon, received the 2010 Evolution Education Award for his innovative approaches to teaching evolution. His curriculum focuses on inquiry-based learning and utilizes hands-on labs, class discussions, and student activities to promote accurate understanding of biological evolution.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that precisely targeted radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for paranasal sinus cancer, controlling the disease with fewer serious side effects. The study used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Eliminating malaria will cost more than controlling the disease, with only moderate cost savings expected in one country. The authors suggest a paradigm shift in international funding is needed to support elimination efforts.
Countries seeking to eliminate malaria must adopt a new approach, prioritizing proactive case detection, treatment with effective drugs like primaquine, and preventive measures. Effective elimination strategies are needed despite operational challenges and high costs.
The Lancet Series on Malaria Elimination concludes that a vaccine is crucial for successful elimination, but current efforts are hindered by high transmission rates, poor health systems, and lack of leadership. The series highlights the need for balance, humility, and rigorous analysis to pursue malaria elimination.
Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis are developing an interactive computer simulation framework to improve watershed management practices. The new $410,000 grant will enable community members to participate in restoring ecological balance and make informed decisions about water management alternatives.
Researchers have found significant regional variations in the western Antarctic ice sheet due to El Nino fluctuations, affecting global sea levels. The study suggests that precipitation patterns play a crucial role in mass balance changes, with the Antarctic Peninsula experiencing increased snowfall during La Nina years.
Countries with low risk and stable health systems have higher feasibility for malaria elimination. Latin America is in the best position to achieve this, while sub-Saharan African countries face substantial difficulties due to political instability, weak health systems, and high transmission rates.
The 'malaria map' has shrunk by over 150 years, with 32 countries nearing elimination and many more in controlled low-endemic states. The fight against malaria involves two main parasite species, <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> and <i>Plasmodium vivax</i>, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic tests and radical treatment options.
A new study links the rise of early animals to a spike in ancient marine phosphorus concentrations during the mid-Neoproterozoic period. High phosphorus levels facilitated an oxygen-rich ocean-atmosphere system, paving the way for animal diversification and ecological evolution.
New experiments confirm dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen, but cockroaches don't. Fossilized insects may serve as proxies for ancient oxygen levels.
The Lancet authors emphasize the need for a three-part strategy to achieve malaria eradication, including aggressive control in high-risk areas, elimination from the margins inward, and research and development. They also highlight the importance of strengthening guidance and support for countries aiming to eliminate malaria.
Discus fish exhibit unusual parental care by secreting a nutrient-rich mucus that their young feed on. After three weeks, the parents stop providing food and let the fry fend for themselves.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that hypofractionated radiation therapy does not increase urinary or gastrointestinal problems. This new treatment approach delivers a higher total dose of radiation in fewer sessions, without compromising quality of life.
A special issue of Ecopsychology explores how women's interactions with nature affect their sense of self, body image, and environmental drive. Women who spend time in natural settings tend to have better body images and distance themselves from societal beauty standards.
A Saint Louis University study found that curcumin eliminated the effects of leptin on activating hepatic stellate cells, which short-circuited the development of liver damage. The researchers discovered a potential therapy for treating and preventing liver fibrosis associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
The National Resource for Network Biology (NRNB) center will provide researchers with access to advanced tools to study human systems and diseases. The center aims to develop sophisticated models of how human systems function or fail, ultimately leading to new treatments and therapies.
Researchers used mathematical models and maps to estimate malaria elimination feasibility in countries with the deadliest form of the disease. The data suggest that Plasmodium falciparum malaria could be eliminated in most areas in 10-15 years if transmission is reduced by 90%.
A Scripps Research team has successfully imaged the formation of cells' protein factories using a novel technique. The breakthrough could lead to new antibiotic development and treatments for diseases tied to ribosome errors. The study offers insights into cellular processes and may uncover new targets for therapeutic interventions.
The study reveals how Dracula orchids masquerade as mushrooms to lure flies, while goblin spiders, small and secretive, are redefined in their taxonomy. New species discoveries provide insights into pollination and conservation efforts.
Women with dense breasts and no lobular involution are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. A study of 2666 women found that mammographic breast density and extent of lobular involution are independent risk factors for breast cancer.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded approximately $16.5 million in grants to 43 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Young Investigator Research Program. The selected recipients will conduct basic research in various areas of science and engineering.
A recent study found that more than half of surrogate decision makers prefer to have full authority over the choice of life-support for incapacitated patients. However, a significant portion want to share or cede power to physicians. The extent of control varies based on trust in the physician overseeing care.
Cancer Discovery is a new peer-reviewed journal from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), featuring game-changing research and review articles. The journal combines expertise from founding Editors-in-Chief Lewis C. Cantley and José Baselga, with executive editor Mark W. Landis.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a high-performance metal-insulator-metal diode, solving decades-old material science challenges. The discovery has the potential to transform electronic products, enabling faster speeds and lower costs.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to be an effective treatment option for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients, slowing disease progression by almost six months. SBRT provides a highly targeted cancer radiation therapy with minimal side effects.
Researchers have identified a new agouti family gene that regulates pigmentation and body weight in fish. The protein enables fish to dramatically change color to match their environment, a phenomenon also observed in mammals such as the arctic hare.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute found that the three-dimensional structure of a genome exposes genes to regulation and chromosomal crosstalk. This structure positions groups of related genes near each other, allowing for efficient operation of genetic processes.
A fungal infection caused by Fusarium solani has been found to be a major contributor to the decline of Atlantic sea turtles. The fungus can infect turtle eggs, causing high hatching failure rates and driving population numbers down.
Researchers study Chandeleur Islands' geological history via peat layers beneath the marshes, predicting their potential disappearance in decades due to sea level rise and local subsidence. On Grand Isle, a project documents beach changes since 2008, including effects of hurricanes and BP oil clean-up operations.
A new study by the University of Leicester found that parents' efforts are more important for a child's educational attainment than the school's effort or the child's own effort. The researchers also discovered that socio-economic background affects not only a child's education but also the school's effort.
Scientists at Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine identified a key transcription factor, Grhl2, that regulates the expression of cell junctional molecules E-cadherin and claudin 4. This discovery sheds light on the development of diseases such as spina bifida and potentially impacts kidney function.
The University of Houston is developing new technologies for the alternative energy industry with a $1.2 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. Researchers will focus on improving thin-film solar cell efficiency and developing nanosensors for wind turbine blades to monitor structural health.
The OHSU Doernbecher team is conducting a second phase of a landmark clinical trial to assess the safety and preliminary effectiveness of purified human neural stem cells as a potential treatment for infantile or late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a rare and currently fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The trial aims to eval...
A team of scientists will investigate how spaceflight affects the immune system, particularly in response to viruses like RSV, which can cause severe respiratory illness. The study aims to protect astronauts and vulnerable populations on Earth from increased infection susceptibility.
Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, affects millions in Africa and South America. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are developing a new oral treatment to tackle the disease.
Women with anorexia nervosa more likely to experience unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions due to misconceptions about their fertility. Healthcare providers must be aware of this increased risk and provide proper care, including prenatal screening for eating disorders.
Researchers at U of M Medical School and Minneapolis VA Medical Center discovered a correlation between increased circuit activity in the right side of the brain and involuntary flashbacks triggered by PTSD. The magnetic test, called Magnetoencephalography (MEG), reveals differences in brain activity among those with PTSD compared to h...
A team of researchers at Brown University found that the size of prion protein aggregates, not their number, determines their efficiency in spreading in yeast cells. The study suggests that controlling aggregate size may be a more effective strategy for developing treatments for prion infection and potentially other neurodegenerative d...
Scientists from Queen's University Belfast are developing a new technology using wearable sensors to create ultra-high bandwidth mobile internet infrastructures. This innovation has the potential to reduce the density of mobile phone base stations and bring significant social benefits, including improved healthcare and remote gaming.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to harness the power of a 2-sided immune cell to shrink tumors. The study found that targeting a specific protein pathway could lead to improved treatment outcomes for cancer and some autoimmune diseases.
A study of smokers and non-smokers found that smokers have a thinner cerebral cortex, specifically in the medial orbito-frontal region. This region is crucial for reward, impulse control, and decision-making. Further research is needed to determine if smoking causes or contributes to this brain structure change.
Researchers found that the DUX4 gene is normally expressed only in early development but its suppression is inefficient in FSHD patients. This leads to toxic bursts of protein causing muscle cell death and muscular dystrophy.
Researchers found a microRNA binding variant linked to improved survival rates in early-stage colorectal cancer patients, particularly those with KRAS mutations. The variant, previously associated with poor outcomes, was unexpectedly beneficial due to an unidentified compensatory pathway controlling the gene.
A team of researchers has generated 100 new lines of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis and emphysema. The new stem cell lines could lead to new treatments for these debilitating diseases.
Research from Vanderbilt University found that expert typists' hands can detect errors even when their conscious brain is unaware of them. In experiments, skilled typists were fooled by computer programs inserting or correcting errors, but their fingers slowed down only after making real mistakes.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over half of patients with a specific type of lung cancer responded well to a new targeted treatment called crizotinib. The medication targets the gene driving the cancer and has been shown to improve patient outcomes, including reduced tumor growth and improved qualit...
Research reveals that immigrant Latino mothers in rural areas need culturally sensitive, affordable, and flexible child care options. Many struggle to communicate with English-speaking providers due to language barriers, hindering their ability to work outside the home.
Kidney failure affects nearly half a million US individuals, with 48% being 60 years or older. Elderly patients are now more likely to receive a kidney transplant due to increased access to organs from living and deceased donors, as well as improved survival rates while waiting.
The Georgia Tech-led Nanomedicine Center plans to pursue a clinically viable gene correction technology for single-gene disorders, including sickle cell disease. The team aims to deliver engineered zinc finger nucleases and DNA correction templates into hematopoietic stem cells to produce healthy red blood cells.