2021

The human brain is the most interesting object in neuroscience. Recently, researchers from Harvard University and Google released a 1.4-petabyte dataset of a small sample of the human cerebral cortex (a surface layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions). The sample has been imaged at 4nm-resolution using electron […]

About a third of the corneal transplant surgeries in the United States involve people with diabetes who donate their corneas after death. The number of corneal transplants has grown over the last decade, but through continuous research, the medical community has learned that not all corneal tissue from diabetics may […]

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered a new genetic disease that causes a severe form of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, a rapid drop in blood pressure upon standing that can cause fainting. The rare condition, which they named familial autonomic ganglionopathy, is caused by variations in the CHRNA3 gene, […]

By studying guppies, scientists at the University of Toronto and Florida State University found that behaviours affected by methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) – the active ingredient in stimulants such as Ritalin and Concerta used to treat ADHD – can be passed along to several generations of descendants. “We exposed male and female Trinidadian […]

A new model by University of Manchester researchers has proposed a way to prevent hearing loss in older people by addressing socioeconomic inequalities encountered while young. Published in Trends in Hearing the team hope the model could impact the estimated 466 million people worldwide who have disabling hearing loss, mostly affecting […]

Women may have a stronger immune response to a common form of skin cancer than men, according to early research on mice and human cells. Led by University of Manchester scientists at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, the team publish their findings in Clinical Cancer Research. The study is funded by The Wellcome […]

Neurons result from a highly complex and unique series of cell divisions. For example, in fruit flies, the process starts with stem cells that divide into mother cells (progenitor cells), which then divide into precursor cells that eventually become neurons. A team from the University of Michigan, spearheaded by graduate […]

The University of Michigan is one of eight sites around the country that will enroll patients in a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a technology that uses ultrasound to treat liver tumors. The #HOPE4LIVER trial will employ the noninvasive technique to mechanically destroy primary and metastatic liver tumors. […]

It’s long been known that people living with HIV experience a loss of white matter in their brains. As opposed to grey matter, which is composed of the cell bodies of neurons, white matter is made up of a fatty substance called myelin that coats neurons, offering protection and helping […]

A lot of people are trying to lose some weight. Some just want to look better for the summer, others are fighting for better health and well-being. Losing weight is not easy and many people find themselves gaining weight soon after losing it. What makes it difficult to maintain a […]

Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor. Found in the meninges– or the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, meningiomas are often benign. However, some can behave more aggressively and recur. These tumors can affect critical neurovascular structures, such as arteries and cranial nerves, impacting […]

While some people find it unsightly, scarring is actually quite an interesting thing. Scar tissue is harder and more resilient and its formation is one of the body’s natural functions. However, scars can also be quite uncomfortable or even painful. Now scientists at the University of Queensland have found a […]