Researchers identified calcium channel blockers and antibodies blocking IL-17A as potential treatments for parathyroid hormone-driven bone loss. Elevated levels of IL-17A are seen in autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease, which sometimes involve bone loss as a secondary symptom.
Researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech have developed inhibitory luminopsins that can modulate neuronal firing in culture and in vivo, enabling the study of ways to halt or prevent seizure activity. The tools use a glowing protein from coral as a light source, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional optogenetics.
The African clawed frog's evolution to violet vision involved rapid and controlled molecular changes, with five classes of opsin genes playing a crucial role. The study identified 12 mutations, including site 113, which shifted from glutamic acid to aspartic acid, leading to the frog's unique visual adaptation.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded an Emory-led research consortium $15 million to improve human immune responses to vaccination. Researchers will focus on two primary projects: varicella zoster virus and pneumococcal vaccines in transplant patients.
A study of extremely preterm infants found changes in maternal and infant care practices resulting in improved survival rates. Survival without major health problems increased significantly for infants born at 25-28 weeks.
Researchers create economic model to assess life expectancy, management of adverse effects, and quality of life for new oncology drugs like necitumumab. The study finds that the value-based price for necitumumab ranges between $563 and $1,309 per three-week cycle.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics, called retromutagenesis. This process involves mutations occurring in RNA first, allowing cells to grow and replicate before subsequent DNA mutations can take effect.
Researchers have created an algorithm that can efficiently search for the laws underlying complex dynamical systems, including biological processes. The algorithm, dubbed 'Sir Issac', was tested on artificial and real-world systems, demonstrating its ability to infer universal gravitational force and model chemical transformations.
Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine found that alpha lipoic acid can stimulate telomerase, the enzyme that lengthens telomeres, with positive effects in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. The discovery highlights a potential avenue for treating chronic diseases.
Researchers have discovered a chestnut leaf extract that blocks Staphlococcus aureus virulence and pathogenesis without detectable resistance. The extract, rich in ursene and oleanene derivatives, shuts down the ability of the bacteria to create toxins by taking away its weapons.
Researchers have identified a protective mechanism used by beneficial bacteria to safeguard intestinal cells from stress and damage. By stimulating the Nrf2 pathway, these bacteria can help prevent weight loss and death after radiation exposure, as well as protect against toxic herbicides like paraquat.
A study analyzing over 4,000 fossil bones from the Dikika site in Ethiopia confirms that marks on two 3.4 million-year-old animal bones were caused by butchery with stone tools, not trampling. The findings support a previous interpretation published in Nature in 2010 and provide new evidence for human evolution.
A new study found that only one in four patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Georgia was referred to a transplant center for evaluation within one year of starting dialysis. The study also revealed substantial variation in referral rates among dialysis facilities.
Researchers found that vaccinated monkeys infected with SIV develop high levels of neutralizing antibodies in their blood but are still susceptible to infection. The study's findings challenge the long-held assumption that a protective vaccine only needs moderate antibody levels to neutralize the virus.
Researchers have found a way to capture high-energy electrons from plasmonic metals, opening a new pathway to efficient solar energy conversion. By coupling nano-rods of cadmium selenide with gold nanoparticles, they can harness the energy and use it to fuel chemical reactions.
Researchers identified a protein produced by white blood cells that puts the brakes on muscle repair. Removing CD163 from mice boosted muscle repair and recovery of blood flow after ischemic injury. The findings point to a target for potential treatments aiming to enhance muscle regeneration.
A recent study has identified a face-selective region in the temporal cortex of dogs, which responds significantly to human and dog faces. The research suggests that this ability is hard-wired through cognitive evolution and may help explain dogs' sensitivity to human social cues.
The new guideline provides a comprehensive framework for clinicians to manage gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders. It highlights the importance of nutrition management in addressing feeding and GI concerns, and recommends a standard manual of care for clinicians worldwide.
Researchers have discovered a subset of plasma cells in the bone marrow that serve as an immune archive, preserving a catalog of how the body responded to measles and mumps viruses in childhood. These long-lived cells can provide valuable insights for vaccine designers aiming to create long-lasting antibodies.
Researchers have mapped dolphin brain circuitry for the first time, revealing multiple areas associated with auditory information. The study used diffusion tensor imaging on preserved dolphin brains and found neural pathways similar to those of bats.
Researchers found that coronary artery calcification scans can accurately predict all-cause mortality up to 15 years in asymptomatic patients. The study's findings suggest that CAC scanning could help physicians identify patients at risk for early death and advise them to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Scientists found that abnormal growth in fruit fly tumors depends on ecdysone, a steroid hormone similar to estrogen. This discovery may have implications for studying cancer stem cells and proliferative mechanisms in human cancers.
Researchers discovered that a melanoma mutation activates ketogenesis enzyme HMG-CoA lyase, turning on fat breakdown in cancer cells. This rewiring of metabolism may explain why V600E mutation is common in melanomas and provide alternative strategies to existing drugs targeting the mutation.
Researchers analyzed U.S. flu cases from 2003-2013 and found correlations between genetic distance of flu subtypes and geographic distance using transportation data. The study suggests that mobility patterns, rather than geographic proximity, play a key role in predicting the spread of influenza epidemics.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have updated Penfield's motor homunculus by showing the neck's motor control region in the brain is between the shoulders and trunk. This finding may help guide future studies and medical interventions for cervical dystonia and other disorders involving abnormal head movements.
A study by Emory University researchers found that large barges in the Amazon River are heavily infested with disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever and other diseases, highlighting the need for mosquito control programs on aquatic transportation.
The discovery of stone tools from Mughr el-Hamamah cave in Jordan provides evidence for the emergence of division of labor in early Upper Paleolithic humans. The tools, dating back to 40,000-45,000 years ago, show a mix of techniques and suggest that individuals were starting to live, work, and form families in larger social networks.
A groundbreaking study reclassifies brain tumors using molecular diagnostics, surpassing traditional microscopic classification. The findings will enable more consistent diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas, guiding patient management and informing chemotherapy strategies.
Virologists discovered that a small section of the envelope protein, located on its 'tail', is required for it to be sorted into viral particles. This finding could help researchers design more effective vaccines and target HIV with antiviral drugs.
Researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered a novel strategy to exploit apoptosis in lung cancer treatment by inhibiting the Bcl-2 protein. A new class of compounds has been identified that bind to the BH4 domain of Bcl-2, promoting cancer cell death.
Co-infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may make a survivable malaria parasite infection lethal, according to experimental results with mice. EBV infection can suppress the immune system, allowing malaria parasites to take hold.
A study found that physical contact during social grooming increases the risk of gastrointestinal parasites in brown spider monkeys. The researchers analyzed data from 12 individual monkeys and found a strong correlation between grooming interactions and parasite infections, particularly with roundworms Strongyloides and Trichostrongylus.
A new transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntington's disease has been developed, showing similarity to humans in progressive neurodegeneration and motor control decline. The study reveals cognitive and motor impairments emerging at 16 months of age, and dystonia and signs of neurodegeneration on brain imaging at 24 months.
Emory scientists have adapted the CRISPR genetic defense system to target the RNA of the hepatitis C virus in human cells. This approach could potentially prevent viral infections and has implications for biotechnology applications, including the prevention of viral infections in transgenic animals and plants.
Researchers suggest that targeting PI3 kinase could improve learning and behavioral flexibility in people with fragile X syndrome. Genetic tools can alleviate cognitive deficits and behavioral alterations observed in a mouse model, providing a potential treatment strategy.
A multi-site study found that parent training reduced disruptive behavior by 48% compared to 32% for parent education. Parent training provided specific strategies for managing serious behavioral problems such as tantrums and aggression.
A new study reveals that making a Lower Paleolithic hand axe requires complex cognitive control by the prefrontal cortex, including working memory and strategic thinking. The skill of making a hand axe is more complicated than previously thought, involving nuanced technological judgments.
A clinical trial is enrolling children and adults with graft-versus-host-disease using their own immune cells to target inflammation and reduce organ damage. The personalized cells are derived from the patient's own bone marrow, making them more likely to be effective.
Low doses of Imatinib can stimulate the bone marrow to produce more innate immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, to combat bacterial infections. This finding suggests that Imatinib or related drugs may be useful in treating a variety of infections in patients with weakened immune systems.
Researchers have identified blood-based biomarkers that accurately diagnose active tuberculosis (TB) disease, monitor treatment response, and predict cure. These markers differentiate between latent TB infection and active TB with high specificity and sensitivity.
A Gombe Stream National Park study reveals that people are likely exposing endangered primates to Cryptosporidium, a parasite that may be contributing to their decline. The researchers found that some chimpanzees are infected with a species of Cryptosporidium associated with pigs, suggesting cross-species contamination.
Researchers analyzed T and B cells from four Ebola survivors, finding surprisingly high levels of immune activation. The findings contradict previous research suggesting impaired immune responses and have implications for developing vaccines against Ebola.
Researchers developed a non-invasive method to image SIV replication in real-time, allowing capture of viral dynamics and identification of novel sites of replication. The approach has broad application to studying immunodeficiency virus pathogenesis and potential use in human patients to identify viral reservoirs.
Researchers have discovered a multifunctional protein called BAI1, which is involved in limiting the growth of brain tumors but also critical for spatial learning and memory. Mice lacking BAI1 exhibit changes in neural responses and structure, leading to impaired spatial memory acquisition.
A molecule found in some plants, 7,8-DHF, has been shown to mimic the effects of a growth factor induced by exercise in female mice. It increases energy expenditure without suppressing appetite, helping them maintain a healthy weight on a high-fat diet. In contrast, male mice still develop obesity and diabetes.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center have shown that inducing oxytocin release can activate the social brain and create bonds. A new drug candidate has been identified to stimulate oxytocin cells, leading to enhanced attention to and learning from social information in people with social disorders.
Researchers have discovered a neuroprotective compound that limits brain damage during ischemia associated with stroke and other brain injuries while minimizing side effects. The pH-dependent NMDA receptor antagonist, 93-31, reduces damaged brain tissue by over half in mouse models.
Despite being discredited, interventions like Facilitated Communication remain widely used in the autism community due to emotional appeal and a desire for quick fixes. Experts emphasize the need for better education on effective treatments and caution against false hope.
A new study found that fast-replicating HIV strains lead to more signs of acute inflammation and faster disease progression. The strain's replicative capacity affects immune system disruption and can inform vaccine development and eradication strategies.
Scientists discuss alternative chemistries of life, exploring possibilities beyond Earth, at the AAAS 2015 Panel. Researchers aim to unravel complex interplay of planetary and biological evolutionary networks.