A recent trial funded by Cancer Research UK found that patients who take capecitabine after surgery for bile duct cancer live for almost a year and a half longer than those not given the drug. Three-year survival improved by almost a quarter in these patients.
A study demonstrated that A4250 reduced levels of blood bile acids and improved pruritus in 74% of patients with cholestatic liver diseases. The therapy was well-tolerated, with mostly mild side effects.
Researchers have discovered a key protein involved in photorespiration, a process that wastes energy and fixed carbon in plants. The Bile Acid Sodium Symporter 6 (BASS6) protein could be manipulated to increase plant productivity by reducing losses from this process.
Researchers found that activating CARs reduced biliary cholesterol levels, preventing stone formation. The study suggests CARs may play a role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis, potentially offering a novel approach to prevent or treat cholesterol gallstone disease.
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A new discovery by researchers at the University of Queensland reveals that beta glucans in oats actually reduce circulating bile, leading to lower and slower absorption of fat. This finding could lead to ways of boosting the cholesterol-fighting properties of other cereals like wheat.
A new test has identified a gene signature related to the immune response in liver tissue of patients with high-risk Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), a rare autoimmune condition. The test allows for early intervention with alternative treatments, increasing chances of success and potentially staving off the need for a liver transplant.
Researchers found that genetic background affects response to antibiotics on gut microbiome, insulin sensitivity, tissue inflammation, and metabolic functions in mice. This study suggests that genetic susceptibility plays a role in predicting the usefulness of microbiome therapies for obesity and metabolic disease.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have identified Notch 3 as a key driver of bile duct cancer. The molecule triggers a pathway that drives cells in tumours to reproduce uncontrollably, offering potential for new treatments.
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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have successfully grown human noroviruses in laboratory cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells by adding bile to the cultures. This breakthrough allows researchers to explore and develop procedures to prevent and treat infection, as well as better understand norovirus biology.
A Canadian study discovered that a specific kind of bile acid can prevent cardiac fibrosis, a condition leading to heart failure. Researchers are now exploring the therapeutic effect in humans and aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this breakthrough.
Regular aspirin use was linked to a significantly reduced risk of developing bile duct cancer, according to a recent study. The findings suggest that additional research on the potential of aspirin for preventing bile duct cancer is warranted.
A Mayo-led study found that aspirin use is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing bile duct cancer. The study showed that individuals who took aspirin had a more than two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half-fold lesser chance of developing the disease compared to those who did not take aspirin.
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A new study presents Norursodeoxycholic acid as a viable treatment option for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare condition characterized by inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts. The treatment significantly reduced levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and had similar rates of adverse events compared to placebo.
Research from North Carolina State University finds that antibiotics kill off bacteria that alter bile acids, allowing C. diff to germinate and grow in the large intestine. The study sheds light on how antibiotics can promote C. diff infections by disrupting the gut microbiota.
Researchers have found a compound that can prevent and reverse fatty liver disease and obesity in mice by targeting the farnesoid X receptor. The compound, Gly-MCA, was tested in obese and diabetic mice fed with a high-fat diet and showed significantly less fat and insulin resistance compared to untreated control groups.
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A liver pathway controlled by BAF60a stimulates the production of bile, leading to increased cholesterol absorption. Mice with disabled BAF60a had lower cholesterol levels, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for reducing atherosclerosis.
Researchers found high concentrations of endocrine-disrupting compounds in fish caught near wastewater treatment plants in the Basque Country, posing a risk to human health. The study suggests that improved treatment technologies are needed to mitigate this issue.
Researchers have found that two bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, can slow the progression of prion disease when given early in the disease process. These compounds bind to proteins causing disease and prevent them from spreading.
A new study suggests that exogenous glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) treatment can improve the excretion of toxic bile acids and stimulate liver growth in neonatal pigs with parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease. This finding supports a beneficial role for GLP-2 as a novel therapy in PNALD.
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A new review article analyzes five interventional approaches to gallbladder disease, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy, NOTES, and endoscopic transmural drainage. The authors highlight the potential benefits of these minimally invasive procedures, which offer alternatives to traditional surgery and can improve patient outcomes.
Researchers found that KLF15 helps maintain metabolic balance by controlling the availability of nutrients in the body. The discovery may also contribute to understanding diseases characterized by excessive bile acid production.
A plant toxin has been found to cause biliary atresia, a rare and debilitating liver disease, in animal models. The toxin, isolated from Australian plants, selectively destroys the bile ducts outside the liver, leading to scarring and preventing bile flow.
Dr. David Lim's research advances the science of parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (PNALD) in infants, finding that GLP-2 therapy improves bile flow and serum markers of cholestasis. The study also reveals alterations in FXR signaling and key bile acid transporters with GLP-2 treatment.
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Researchers discovered a key pathway driving tumour growth in bile duct cancer and found that blocking it can prevent cancer cell growth and shrink tumours. The treatment is already being tested in patients with other cancers and shows promise as a potential breakthrough for this devastating disease.
David Lim's research on parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (PNALD) in infants has provided insight into the effects of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) therapy, improving bile flow and serum markers of cholestasis. The study suggests that GLP-2 treatment alters bile acid metabolic pathways, which are beneficial in PNALD.
Researchers observed a crucial protective role for farnesoid-X receptor in cholestatic liver injury, with oral FXR-agonist INT-747 normalizing dysfunctional intestinal FXR-signaling and changing in intestinal permeability, inflammation, and bacterial translocation. The study suggests potential new therapeutic avenues for liver disease.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have identified the genetic pathway of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a rare form of liver cancer that disproportionately affects people in Asian countries. The study's findings could lead to earlier diagnosis and increased survival rates for patients.
Researchers found that blocking excessive mitochondrial fission reduced reactive oxygen species production and liver cell death in cholestasis. The study suggests novel therapies targeting this process could prevent liver damage.
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Researchers have discovered a receptor that can be activated by bile acids to reduce inflammation in fat tissue, which is associated with type-2 diabetes. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new anti-diabetes drugs.
A pilot study testing a new type of drug for patients with chronic diarrhoea found that the drug obeticholic acid showed promising effects on reducing symptoms. The treatment was generally well tolerated and improved symptoms in primary BAD patients and some secondary BAD patients, but not those with other causes of chronic diarrhoea.
A study published in JAMA found that an endoscopic procedure did not reduce disability due to pain following gallbladder removal. Patients with abdominal pain after cholecystectomy underwent either sphincterotomy or a placebo treatment, and the results showed no significant difference in successful outcomes between the two groups.
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A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that steroids after surgery do not improve bile flow in infants with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease. The study also revealed that survival rates were nearly the same for both groups, but infants on steroids experienced more serious adverse events.
Infants with biliary atresia who received high-dose steroid therapy following surgery showed a small clinical benefit, while those without steroids experienced improved survival and reduced serious adverse events
A study published in JAMA found that corticosteroids do not improve bile flow in infants with biliary atresia six months after surgery. Infants who received steroids experienced more surgical complications and infections than those receiving a placebo.
Researchers found that bariatric surgery increases levels of bile acids in the blood, improving glucose metabolism and weight loss. The study suggests a new target for treating obesity and diabetes, offering a potential future therapeutic approach.
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Researchers found that vertical sleeve gastrectomy alters bile acids binding to nuclear receptor FXR, leading to weight loss and improved diabetes outcomes. Gut bacteria also change, with certain groups linked to Type 2 diabetes risk.
New research reveals that sea lampreys utilize bile salts as pheromones to entice mates, akin to humans' evolution of perfume. This scent has evolved to serve as the invasive species' primary sex signal, distinguishing it from native fauna.
A Texas A&M University biologist is working on a potential drug to combat the deadliest form of gut bacteria, C. difficile, which causes 14,000 deaths annually in America. The researcher aims to develop an inhibitor that prevents the spores from growing and causing disease.
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A rare metabolic complication during pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), is found to program babies to be overweight and more prone to type 2 diabetes in later life. The study suggests that the environment in the womb plays a major role in metabolic diseases in adults.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have successfully tested a catheter-based procedure that diverts bile into the small intestine, producing significant weight loss and metabolic benefits in obese rats. The study suggests manipulation of bile acids may be sufficient to recreate the effects of bariatric surgery.
New data from clinical trials demonstrate substantial improvements in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) using urinary metabolite profiles. The tests show higher sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods, offering hope for early detection and improved survival rates.
A multi-center analysis shows fully covered self-expanding metal stents can effectively resolve painful and potentially life-threatening benign biliary strictures. The study found that 91.6% of patients had symptom relief after metal stent removal, with successful stricture resolution rates varying by patient group.
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A new technology is being used to diagnose illnesses in hard-to-reach areas of the body, but specialists need standardized guidelines to improve accuracy. The study found poor agreement among doctors on the clinical significance of images from the tiny microscope, highlighting the need for improved training and standardization.
Researchers discovered that silencing miR-33 reduces bile transporters and improves liver toxicity caused by statins. This breakthrough may lead to treatment options for those with BRIC and statin side effects, including improved bile metabolism and reduced cholestasis.
Researchers have identified a biomarker for advanced bile duct fibrosis and bile duct cancer caused by the Asian Liver Fluke, allowing for earlier detection and potentially saving lives. The Thai Ministry of Health has implemented testing for this biomarker in endemic regions to identify individuals at risk.
A new study finds that bile plays a critical role in the development of Barrett's esophagus, a precursor to rare and deadly esophageal cancer. Bile shuts off genes responsible for normal esophageal lining and turns on genes producing intestine-like tissue.
The study reveals that gut microbiota modulates bile acid synthesis by altering the bile acid pool composition, reducing FXR inhibition in the small intestine.
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Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center discovered genetic signatures associated with bile duct cancer, which may account for nearly a quarter of tumors. The findings suggest that growth-enhancing mutations in two genes could be treated with targeted therapies.
INT-777 prevents atherosclerosis by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect, stimulating insulin secretion and reducing plaque formation in arteries. The compound activates TGR5 receptor in gut cells, enhancing Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, providing a promising treatment for metabolic syndrome and its associated conditions.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a new molecular signature for biliary atresia, a devastating pediatric liver disease. The study found that some children with the condition exhibit high levels of Th2 immune system activity, providing a potential target for new therapies.
Researchers discovered three bile acids produced by gut bacteria that influence statin effectiveness in lowering cholesterol. This finding supports the role of the gut microbiome in drug response and metabolism, opening new avenues for targeted therapies and diagnostics.
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Researchers found that a bear bile-derived compound, UDCA, can alter the electrical properties of myofibroblasts to prevent arrhythmia in both fetal hearts and adult hearts after a heart attack. This could lead to new treatments for obstetric cholestasis and post-heart-attack complications.
Research found that cortisol controls the recycling of bile acids, which are crucial for fat digestion. Without cortisol, mice lose weight and develop gallstones due to reduced bile acid levels. In humans with Addison's disease, cortisol deficiency also disrupts bile acid recycling.
Researchers will use a quantitative proteomics approach to identify biomarkers for bile duct cancer in patients infected with Opisthorchis viverrini. The study aims to develop early diagnostic tools for this deadly disease, which affects over 40 million people in Southeast Asia.
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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that a natural product called DLPC stimulates LRH-1 activity, improving regulation of glucose and fat within the liver. In mice with insulin resistance, DLPC decreased fatty livers and lowered glucose levels, suggesting it may provide a treatment for prediabetes.
A3309, a new medication, targets bile acid recycling to promote bowel movements and relieve constipation symptoms. In a Phase II study, patients with constipation reported significantly less straining and softer stool after taking A3309.
A double-blind parallel group study of 59 patients showed significant reductions in alkaline phosphatase levels with Obeticholic Acid, a novel bile acid receptor agonist. The results suggest that OCA may be an effective treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis, particularly at the 10mg dose.
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Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered a hormone pathway that could lead to new ways of treating type 1 diabetes independent of insulin. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has insulin-like characteristics and may offer an alternative treatment for diabetes.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Lipidology shows that soy protein significantly lowers total and non-HDL cholesterol levels compared to milk protein. The results suggest a novel mechanism for soy protein's cholesterol-lowering effects, which do not involve increased bile acid excretion.
A new report reveals a key mechanism linking cellular energy state with whole-body energy state, optimizing fat absorption. Researchers found that the AMPK-SRC-2 pathway plays a crucial role in regulating fat uptake and storage.
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