Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Fats help tag medical implants as friend or foe

Researchers discovered that lipid deposition on medical implant surfaces can signal to the immune system whether to attack or ignore the implant. This knowledge could help develop biomaterials that deflect host immune aggression, reducing malfunction rates for devices like pacemakers and surgical mesh.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

High cholesterol leads to long-term liver scarring and immune cell dysfunction in lab study

A lab study found that high cholesterol intake worsens fatty liver disease progression by driving inflammation and scarring. The researchers also discovered long-lasting dysfunction in immune cells responsible for fighting liver damage. Moderation is key to maintaining a healthy diet, according to the study's findings.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2022

UCLA surgeons develop new technique to reduce Adam’s apple without neck scar

A new study by UCLA surgeons has developed a technique to remove the Adam's apple with minimal scarring, offering a welcome solution for transgender women and nonbinary people who often face stigma due to neck scars. The procedure, called 'scarless' tracheal shave, is effective and can be performed in 90 minutes with minimal equipment.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalFacial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine·DateJun 22, 2022

Fewer and weaker offspring – snare injuries decrease reproductive performance of female hyenas in the Serengeti

Debilitating snare injuries in female spotted hyenas of the Serengeti delayed their age at first reproduction and reduced litter size, while also decreasing offspring survival rates. This long-term decrease in reproductive performance may result from increased inflammatory and immune responses to snare injuries.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)·JournalAnimal Conservation·TypeObservational study·DateJun 2, 2022

Visceral surgery: Gut bacteria aggravate adhesions after abdominal surgery

Researchers have discovered that intestinal bacteria can lead to more severe adhesions after abdominal surgery. The study found that mesothelial cells and EGFR signaling play a crucial role in the formation of these adhesions. The findings suggest that targeting EGFR may be a potential approach to reducing adhesion risk.

SourceInselspital, Bern University Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 16, 2021

3D printing of blood plasma may speed up wound healing

Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a new method to enhance wound healing using 3D printing of platelet-rich plasma. The technique showed promising results in improving vascularisation and reducing fibrosis, leading to faster and more successful wound healing.

SourceRCSI·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateNov 30, 2021

Spiny mice regenerate damaged kidneys without scarring

Researchers discovered that spiny mice can regenerate severely damaged kidneys without scarring, a process triggered by unique transcriptional programs in their genome. This finding offers new hope for treatments of end-stage kidney disease and fibrotic diseases.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Study may show why MS patients develop progressive disability

Researchers studied inflammation's role in scarring of the central nervous system in three diseases: multiple sclerosis, aquaporin-4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disorder. In MS, scars lead to nerve fiber degeneration and slow worsening of disabili...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNeurology·DateJul 19, 2021

UQ research finds new way to reduce scarring

Researchers at University of Queensland develop gene therapy to block scar formation by targeting SOX9 gene, promising benefits for burn patients and others with significant scarring. The study uses siRNA technology to reduce scarring in animal models, paving the way for potential human treatment.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 11, 2021

Controlled scar formation in the brain

Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have identified a new role for the protein drebrin in controlling scar formation and astrocyte reactivity following brain injury. This mechanism, which regulates membrane trafficking, may hold promise for treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2021

Stressed-out young oysters may grow less meat on their shells

A study found that early exposure to heat and low oxygen can leave lasting scars on oysters' ability to grow tissue. Oysters invested more in growing their shells than tissue when exposed to the double punch of low oxygen and warmer waters. This could pose a problem for anyone involved in the seafood industry.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalEcological Applications·DateMar 1, 2021

New state of matter in one-dimensional quantum gas

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a quantum Archimedes' screw that hails fragile gas atoms to higher energy states without collapsing. The discovery reveals the existence of scar states, rare trajectories in chaotic quantum systems offering protected refuge for information encoded in quantum systems.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJan 14, 2021

Reversal of glial scar tissue back to neuronal tissue through neuroregenerative gene therapy

Researchers have developed a novel neuroregenerative gene therapy that converts glial cells back into functional neurons, reversing glial scar tissue. This treatment also promotes brain recovery in mouse models of ischemic stroke and Huntington's disease, offering a promising solution to the glial scar problem.