Research shows that intestinal bacteria can contribute to human obesity and metabolic disease by influencing appetite and metabolism. TLR5-deficient mice exhibit metabolic syndrome, a cluster of disorders increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Belatacept, a new transplant drug, preserves kidney function while avoiding toxicity in patients, with similar graft survival rates to standard immunosuppressive drugs. The drug's side effect profile is more favorable, with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
An editorial in NEJM suggests that norepinephrine is a safer option than dopamine for stabilizing blood pressure in shock patients, citing a European clinical trial. The study found no overall difference in death rates between the two treatments, but higher mortality rates in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with dopamine.
Biophysicist Ilya Nemenman has identified parameters for several biochemical networks, simplifying the research models and potentially streamlining the development of drugs and diagnostic tools. The discovery applies to complex biological systems, such as cellular networks involving hundreds or thousands of variables.
Researchers have discovered that aphids lack critical immune genes, instead relying on reproduction to protect themselves. This finding could lead to new methods for controlling these pests and better understanding human health.
A randomized, double-blind Phase III clinical trial will enroll approximately 1,140 people to test the safety and efficacy of progesterone in treating traumatic brain injuries. The trial aims to reduce mortality and long-term disability, building on promising laboratory testing and previous clinical trial results.
Emory neuroscientist Lori Marino raises concerns about dolphin captivity citing complex brain structures and self-awareness. She advocates for reevaluation of industry practices due to potential psychological harm to dolphins.
Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine discovered a set of bacteria-killing proteins that recognize human blood type molecules on bacterial surfaces. These proteins, galectin-4 and galectin-8, can kill certain strains of E.coli within minutes.
Researchers found that cells' DNA-reading machinery can bypass certain types of damaged DNA, leading to mutagenesis and potential antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This discovery has important implications for understanding how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics.
Researchers discovered that N-acetylserotonin, a melatonin precursor, activates the same brain growth factor circuits as BDNF, potentially explaining its antidepressant activity. This finding suggests new targets for depression treatment and may also shed light on neurodegenerative diseases.
The study found that tooth enamel defects in ancient humans were associated with shortened lifespans, suggesting a link between early life stress and adult diseases. The research supports the Barker hypothesis, which proposes that many adult diseases originate during fetal development and early childhood.
Scientists have discovered a molecule that determines which T cells become memory cells just days after a viral infection starts. This finding could lead to more effective vaccines for diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer.
Researchers have extended the fear map to include the prelimbic cortex, revealing its importance in emotional regulation. The study found that mice lacking a critical growth factor in the prelimbic cortex struggle to remember to fear electric shocks, suggesting a potential link to anxiety disorders.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a novel compound, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, that mimics the brain's growth factor and protects against neurological disease damage. The flavonoid compound shows potential as a new class of brain-protecting drugs with low chronic toxicity.
Researchers at Emory University have developed the Prokopack mosquito aspirator, a low-cost, efficient tool for monitoring adult mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. The device outperforms current gold standards in field and lab tests, providing insights into mosquito ecology and behavior.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have determined the structures of two enzymes that customize histones, revealing insights into how DNA's packaging is crucial for gene regulation. The discovery may help doctors better understand or prevent inherited mental retardation.
Researchers have successfully created the first transgenic prairie voles, allowing them to investigate the genetic mechanisms of social bonding and its impact on psychiatric disorders. This advancement may lead to new treatments for impairments in social behavior.
Researchers at Winship Cancer Institute have discovered a common switch governing cancer cells' glucose usage, which could lead to new treatments.
A study led by Sandra Dunbar found that educating family members of heart failure patients about healthy eating habits can significantly reduce their sodium intake. The intervention, which combined patient and family education with support communication skills, resulted in a significant decrease in urinary sodium excretion.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a substance in the blood that may predict an individual's risk for heart disease. High levels of cystine, an oxidized form of the amino acid cysteine, were found to be twice as likely to result in a heart attack or death over a few years.
Scientists have found that odor-detecting tools in the nose, specifically MOR23, aid muscle cells' repair process. The receptor regulates cell migration and adhesion to form long fibers, offering potential new treatments for muscular dystrophies.
Researchers developed microscopic polymer beads that can deliver an antioxidant enzyme into the heart, reducing dying cells and improving heart function after a simulated heart attack. The enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), soaks up toxic free radicals produced during a heart attack.
Researchers found that employees participating in a large-scale worksite wellness program had significantly reduced absenteeism days due to illness. The study also estimated cost savings of $414.90 per employee per year.
A team of researchers from Emory University, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Georgia Tech has developed a novel continuous renal replacement therapy device designed specifically for children. The device addresses safety concerns and size limitations associated with adult kidney dialysis equipment, which can lead to dehydration an...
A recent study found that only 30% of chest pain patients were seen within the recommended 10-minute timeframe, with African Americans facing longer wait times. Caregiver support and discipline also played a significant role in reducing adolescents' risk-taking behaviors.
A recent study found that hospital mortality after a heart attack has declined significantly for younger women, particularly those under 55 years old, over the past 12 years. The researchers attribute this improvement to changes in patient characteristics and treatments.
Researchers are optimizing progesterone for treating traumatic brain injuries by combining it with vitamin D and developing more water-soluble analogues. These compounds showed equivalent ability to reduce brain swelling in animal models, suggesting potential for improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers from Yerkes National Primate Research Center are presenting on various topics, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and memory function. The study aims to improve human health by understanding the evolutionary specializations of the human brain and its relationship with neurological disorders.
Researchers at Emory University have identified the first fish species to switch from ultraviolet to violet vision, a significant find in understanding natural selection. The scabbardfish's ability to detect blue light is linked to environmental factors and molecular evolution.
Researchers have visualized the ribosome's assembly line gears, capturing the intricate interactions between elongation factor G and the ribosome. The study reveals new insights into how EF-G moves the assembly line forward, paving the way for understanding viral hijacking and antibiotic resistance.
A study by Emory University sociologist Dennis Condron found that racial segregation in schools is a strong factor in learning disparities between black and white children. The study revealed that black students' reading and math skills fall behind those of their white peers due to school segregation.
Researchers found that HIV can mutate its outer proteins to disguise itself from neutralizing antibodies, allowing it to escape the immune system. In two patients, viruses mutated parts of their outer proteins, interfering with antibody attack or targeting a different protein.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center studied the impact of early social experience on adult bonding behaviors in prairie voles. They found that pups raised by single mothers or both parents exhibited different levels of care and social behavior, with significant influences on long-term relationships.
A new study suggests that adolescents who engage in high-risk activities have more adult-like white matter tracts than their peers. This finding challenges the assumption that delayed brain maturation is the cause of impulsive and dangerous decisions during adolescence.
The National Cancer Institute has named Emory University's Chemical Biology Discovery Center as part of an 11-member national consortium aiming to develop innovative targeted cancer therapies. The consortium will focus on unmet medical needs, including drugs with significant clinical promise.
A study found that pre-transplant platelet transfusions may increase the likelihood of bone marrow transplant rejection, according to Emory University researchers. The team used a mouse model to simulate human conditions and found that platelets can trigger an immune response that leads to graft rejection.
Researchers have made the crystal/liquid interface visible for the first time using tiny plastic balls to model states of matter. The study reveals a narrow region known as the 'zone of confusion' where the boundary between solid and liquid states fluctuates rapidly, contradicting previous theories.
Emory Health Sciences has received $10 million in NIH ARRA grants to advance research in areas like organ transplantation, pulmonary diseases, and addiction. The funding also supports students and teachers through summer research positions.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center propose alternative approaches to developing an effective AIDS vaccine, including making infected individuals resistant to disease progression or reducing the number of cells the virus can infect. They draw inspiration from African nonhuman primates that adapt to HIV-like viruses i...
A new class of HIV antiretroviral drugs has been shown to be effective for patients beginning treatment, with raltegravir demonstrating faster action and lower side effects than efavirenz. The study found that half the raltegravir group reached viral suppression by week four, compared to less than 20% of the efavirenz group.
Researchers found SIV-infected African wild chimpanzees died prematurely and developed hallmarks of HIV-1 infection, contradicting previous assumption that infected primates wouldn't develop AIDS. Yerkes contributed key comparative data on SIV-infected and uninfected sooty mangabeys, shedding light on mechanisms behind natural immunity.
Paleontologist Anthony Martin's discovery of dinosaur burrows in Victoria, Australia, suggests that burrowing behaviors were shared by different species across hemispheres and spanned millions of years. The findings indicate that small ornithopod dinosaurs may have dug into river banks to survive extreme environments.
Researchers at Emory Transplant Center developed a combination therapy that replaces calcineurin inhibitors with costimulation blockers and alefacept, reducing rejection rates in monkey transplants. The new regimen allows for less-toxic post-transplant treatment, potentially administered once a week.
Emory researchers are using DNA sequencing technology to study the genomics of agricultural ant societies, which could lead to breakthroughs in waste processing and agriculture. The project aims to understand how ants have evolved to process huge amounts of organic material over millions of years.
Researchers found that amitriptyline can directly stimulate molecules that help neurons grow and resist toxins, suggesting a separate mechanism for its antidepressant effects. The study suggests that this property may be the key to understanding how some antidepressants work.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center found that humans and rhesus monkeys share a specific perceptual mechanism, configural perception, for discriminating among faces. This study suggests the human ability to distinguish faces evolved around 30 million years ago.
The glucose challenge test is an accurate, convenient, and inexpensive way to screen the general population for unrecognized diabetes and prediabetes. The study screened 1,573 participants and found that 4.6% had previously unrecognized diabetes and 18.7% had prediabetes.
The ProTECT III study aims to enroll 1,140 patients across 15 states to confirm preliminary findings on progesterone's effectiveness in reducing mortality and disability in acute traumatic-brain-injured patients. Researchers believe progesterone's neuroprotective properties could lead to life-saving benefits.
A genetically engineered mouse reproduces many of the non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, including digestive problems and loss of sense of smell. The mice have delayed emptying of the stomach, fall asleep more quickly, and display signs of depression in tests.
Scientists discovered rapamycin's paradoxical effect on immune cells, stimulating memory CD8 T cells to respond faster and stronger to infections. This finding may lead to developing new vaccines with drugs similar to rapamycin.