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Did sabertooth tigers purr or roar?

A new study from North Carolina State University found that the shape of small bones in the throat, called hyoid bones, may be key to determining whether sabertooth tigers purred or roared. The researchers compared the anatomy of modern roaring cats and purring cats to find that the missing bones in saber-toothed tigers' hyoid structur...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Morphology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 21, 2023

Unveiling cellular composition and zpatial architecture of tumor microenvironment in multiple primary lung cancers

A study published in Cell Death & Disease has characterized the cellular composition and spatial architecture of tumor microenvironment in human multiple primary lung cancers. The researchers identified a previously undescribed sub-population of epithelial cells, CLDN2+ alveolar type II (AT2), specifically enriched in MPLCs.

How the evolution of tooth enamel tissue unfolded

A recent study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that the Notch signaling pathway plays a crucial role in shaping and varying tooth enamel. The team used genetically modified mouse models to analyze the effects of the Notch-ligands on teeth, revealing that their absence affected tooth morphology and enamel formation.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2023

Malaria in the Medici era

Researchers detected Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of malaria, in mummified tissues from Medici family members. The parasite was identified through microscopic and molecular analyses, revealing characteristic ring-shaped structures and Maurer's clefts.

SourceEurac Research·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 12, 2023

3D 'bio-printing' inside hydrogels

Researchers achieve 3D printing within mini-organs growing in hydrogels, allowing for precise control over shape, activity, and tissue growth. This breakthrough enables the creation of realistic models of organs and disease, with potential applications in cancer research and treatment.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 9, 2023

Simultaneous multi-material embedded printing for 3D heterogeneous structures

Researchers developed a novel printing method that controls the precise deposition of bioink in embedding medium, achieving accurate and homogeneous structures. The method enables the creation of complex three-dimensional structures with multiple materials, which has potential applications in manufacturing heterogeneous tissue models.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJun 5, 2023

Scientists identify how some angiogenic drugs used to treat cancer and heart disease cause vascular disease

Researchers discovered that vascular toxicity linked to these drugs is unrelated to angiogenesis-related genes, but rather due to changes in vascular architecture. This new understanding will help select the most effective and safe way to modulate angiogenesis in ischemic tissues or cancer.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2023

The Mathematics of Cell Boundary 'Ruggedness'

The study, led by Professor Takashi Miura of Kyushu University, has discovered that interdigitated cell boundaries have a mathematically scaling pattern with self-similarity. The team used the Edwards-Wilkinson model to simulate and understand the molecular mechanism responsible for these dynamics.

SourceKyushu University·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2023

Embedding aligned nanofibrous architectures within 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds for directed cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration

Scientists create hybrid composite scaffolds with aligned nanofibrous architectures to improve cell seeding efficiency, proliferation rates, and morphogenesis. The findings have potential applications in tissue repairing and regenerative medicine.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMar 14, 2023

Stem cell-derived organoids mimic human parathyroid tissue

Researchers have successfully isolated parathyroid stem cells and maintained them in lab as organoids for an extended period. These patient-derived parathyroid organoids (PTOs) closely mimic human parathyroid tissue, enabling the study of parathyroid diseases and drug development.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2022

Flatworm-inspired medical adhesives stop blood loss

Researchers from McGill University developed a medical adhesive inspired by flatworms that uses suction to absorb blood and promote blood coagulation. The adhesive can be removed without causing re-bleeding, making it a potential replacement for wound sutures or delivering drugs.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2022

Immunotherapy reduces lung and liver fibrosis in mice

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a new immunotherapy strategy to eliminate fibroblasts in targeted manner, reducing lung and liver fibrosis in mice. The treatment triggers an immune response via cytotoxic T-cells, eliminating activated connective tissue cells while leaving resting cells undamaged.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 15, 2022

The locked library: Disease causes cells to reorder their DNA incorrectly

Researchers found that cells in diseased connective tissue lose their ability to reorder DNA information correctly, leading to cell dysfunction. The study suggests that epigenetic treatments could restore healthy genome organization and may be effective treatments for conditions affecting dense tissues.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2022

Quantum light clarifies bioimaging

Researchers at Texas A&M University created a device that harnesses quantum fluctuations to enhance spectroscopy results in Brillouin microscopy, increasing image clarity and accuracy. The new source significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for better visualization of biological structures and properties.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalOptica·DateAug 20, 2022

In new study in The Crop Journal, scientists develop cutting edge vascular system image analysis pipeline for crops

A team of researchers developed a deep learning pipeline to analyze vascular system images of plants with high accuracy. The pipeline can detect vascular bundles, identify specific zones, and perform statistical analysis of traits in different stem internodes. This study has the potential to improve crop resilience and food security.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalThe Crop Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2022

Reverse engineering the heart: University of Toronto Engineering team creates bioartificial left ventricle

University of Toronto researchers develop a lab-grown model of the human left heart ventricle made with living heart cells. The bioartificial tissue construct beats strongly enough to pump fluid inside a bioreactor and offers new possibilities for studying heart diseases and testing potential therapies. Future work aims to increase the...

Fishing for new source of proteoglycans, an important health food ingredient

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science discovered that bony fish head cartilage contains abundant proteoglycans, including aggrecan, with similar CS structures to salmon nasal cartilage. This finding reveals the potential of sturgeon as an alternative source of CSPGs for health food formulations.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2022

New method melds data to make a 3-D map of cells’ activities

Researchers developed PASTE, a method to analyze spatial transcriptomics data in three dimensions, enabling biologists to better understand cell environments and identify rare cell types. The technique can integrate information from multiple tissue slices, providing a more complete picture of gene expression within tissues.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2022

Our cells take their ease in the curves

A UNIGE team discovered that cells in curved tissues swell by 50% before returning to normal, opening avenues for in vitro organ culture. This active phenomenon can be harnessed to control spontaneous growth of organoids and develop new materials with volume increase upon folding.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeNews article·DateMay 13, 2022

Investigators uncover small molecule to engineer intestinal cell types

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered a tissue-modifying molecule that can target intestinal stem cells and signal them to create Paneth cells, a rare but important cell type. This could represent a new therapeutic pathway for diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 22, 2022

Press release: Pre-clinical assessment of tobacco-free nicotine pouches demonstrates reduced in-vitro toxicity compared to combustible cigarette smoke in recent study

A recent study published in Applied In Vitro Toxicology found that tobacco-free nicotine pouches exhibit reduced levels of toxicants and biological activity compared to combustible cigarette smoke. The products, manufactured by Imperial Brands, showed substantially reduced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in three toxicological assays.

SourceImperial Brands·JournalApplied In Vitro Toxicology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022