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People can survive organ failure, a review explores how

A review explores how two cell populations respond to organ failure, with one type relying on endoreplication and the other on cell regeneration. This cooperative response allows organs to recover from failure, but also presents tradeoffs that can impact long-term health.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine·DateMar 29, 2019

'Inflamm-aging' causes loss of bone healing ability in the elderly

Chronic inflammation, not aging, is the main reason why bones heal more slowly with age. Researchers found that exposure to older mice's blood serum reduces stem cell multiplication and increases inflammation. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs restored skeletal stem cell function and bone healing ability in aged mice.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2019

Starving leukemia cells by targeting amino acids

Scientists have discovered that deleting the gene encoding ASCT2, a transporter enzyme responsible for bringing amino acids into cells, prolongs survival of mice with aggressive leukemia. The study found that ASCT2 is required for leukemia development and progression but dispensable for normal blood cell development.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Metabolism·DateMar 12, 2019

Breast milk as drug-delivery device

Scientists are working on modifying human breast milk cells to produce specific proteins, such as vaccines, for premature babies. These engineered cells could potentially address birth defects, provide necessary proteins, or even treat certain diseases.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMar 6, 2019

New therapeutic targets for kidney fibrosis emerge

A new study identifies key factors involved in cell cycle arrest and illuminates a novel intracellular structure, paving the way for new therapeutic targets to treat kidney fibrosis. The research team found that blocking the formation of TASCCs reduced the severity of kidney fibrotic disease progression in preclinical models.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 28, 2019

Muscle memory discovery ends 'use it or lose it' dogma

Researchers have found that nuclei gained during training persist even when muscle cells shrink due to disuse or disease, allowing for rapid growth when retrained. This discovery has important implications for public health policy and suggests that exercise in early life can help prevent frailty in old age.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateJan 25, 2019

New hope for stem cell approach to treating diabetes

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have developed a new method for producing insulin-producing beta cells from human stem cells, which are more responsive to fluctuating glucose levels. The resulting cells were transplanted into diabetic mice and effectively controlled blood sugar for several months.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJan 17, 2019

Stem cell signal drives new bone building

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a cellular protein signal that drives both bone and fat formation in stem cells. Harnessing this signal, WISP-1, could help fractures heal faster, speed surgical recovery and prevent bone loss due to aging or injury.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 7, 2019

Heart cell defect identified as possible cause of heart failure in pregnancy

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that a functional heart cell defect may be the underlying cause of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare form of heart failure. The research found that levels of STAT3 protein were higher in PPCM patients' heart cells than in healthy women, and that a defect in releasing growth factors was ...

Don't go breaking my heart

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed an ultra-soft electronic sensor that can closely monitor beating heart cells without affecting their behavior. This breakthrough device uses a nanomesh sensor to study cardiomyocytes in a more faithful way, paving the way for future embedded medical devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 31, 2018

Protein involved in nematode stress response identified

The discovery of protein DEX-1 in the roundworm C. elegans sheds light on the molecular trigger for structural remodeling in response to stress, allowing animals to better withstand challenging conditions. This research has implications for understanding nematode biology and its impact on parasitic species affecting crops.

Citrate-based biomaterial fuels bone healing with less rejection

Researchers at Penn State have discovered that citrate, a natural product found in bones and citrus fruit, can fuel bone healing by providing extra energy for stem cells. This understanding will help develop slow-release biomaterials to speed up bone repair and reduce inflammation.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 26, 2018

Reproducing pediatric kidney disease from human iPS cells

Researchers have successfully developed kidney tissue that exhibits the early stages of congenital kidney disease using iPS cells from a patient with a nephrin mutation. The study found that repairing the nephrin mutation can normalize abnormalities and may lead to the development of effective drugs for kidney disease.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 31, 2018

A new environment for repairing eyes

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new environment for repairing eyes using hyaluronic acid. By creating an ideal substrate layer with high concentrations of hyaluronic acid, they aim to improve the treatment of patients with limbal stem cell deficiency, which can lead to opaque corneas.

The fine print

Researchers have developed a method to 3D-print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons, eliminating the need for additional surgeries and reducing reliance on harvested tissue. The technique involves printing stem cells on hydrogel to form tissue that can grow in vitro before implantation.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine·DateOct 10, 2018

New technique uses umbilical cord stem cells for early repair of cleft palate

A new approach using umbilical cord blood stem cells has shown promising results in repairing cleft palates in infants. The procedure, performed as part of reconstructive surgery when the infant is a few months old, provides good results in growing new bone to close the upper jaw cleft and may avoid the need for later bone graft surgery.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Craniofacial Surgery·DateOct 2, 2018

The gene code of growing limbs

Researchers identified six main combinations of five Hoxd genes involved in digit development in mice, providing a higher resolution and clarity in understanding how architect genes orchestrate the rhythm of development. This study offers a new perspective on limb patterning motifs and could pave the way for future genetic work.