April 20, 2021

Supplement treats schizophrenia in mice, restores healthy “dance” and structure of neurons

A simple dietary supplement reduces behavioral symptoms in mice with a genetic mutation that causes schizophrenia. After additional experiments, including visualizing the fluorescently stained dancing edge of immature brain cells, researchers concluded that the supplement likely protects proteins that build neurons’ cellular skeletons. The supplement betaine was first isolated from […]
April 20, 2021

New Algorithm Uses Online Learning for Massive Cell Data Sets

The method enables researchers to analyze millions of cells with the amount of memory found on a standard computer. The fact that the human body is made up of cells is a basic, well-understood concept. Yet amazingly, scientists are still trying to determine the various types of cells that make […]
April 20, 2021

Specialized technique captures unique protein structures in neuropathy disorders

Charcot Marie Tooth and Dejerine-Sottas syndrome are groups of diseases that involve the breakdown of the myelin sheath covering nerve axons. As this myelin sheath breaks down, people who have these disorders suffer nerve damage in the arms and legs—those with Dejerine-Sottas disease may never walk or may lose the […]
April 20, 2021

Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress

A high daily dose of an omega-3 supplement may help slow the effects of ageing by suppressing damage and boosting protection at the cellular level during and after a stressful event, new research suggests. Researchers at Ohio State University found that daily supplements that contained 2.5 grams of omega-3 polyunsaturated […]
April 20, 2021

COVID-19 Data Shows the Importance of Thymic Atrophy in Aging

The decline of the immune system is of great importance in aging. Vulnerability to infection, a decreased surveillance of senescent cells and cancerous cells, and growing chronic inflammation all take their toll. A sizable fraction of this problem stems from the diminished supply of new T cells of the adaptive […]
April 20, 2021

Crew-2 Astronauts Head to Space Station to Conduct Microgravity Science

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission is set to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon on Earth Day, April 22. The four include NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur and, a first for the Commercial Crew Program, two international partners, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and […]
April 19, 2021

Cancer cells may evade chemotherapy by going dormant

Cancer cells can dodge chemotherapy by entering a state that bears similarity to certain kinds of senescence, a type of “active hibernation” that enables them to weather the stress induced by aggressive treatments aimed at destroying them, according to a new study by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine. These findings […]
April 19, 2021

Excess blood sugar promotes clogging of arteries: study

Excess sugar in the blood, the central feature of diabetes, can react with immune proteins to cause myriad changes in the immune system, including inflammatory changes that promote atherosclerosis, according to a new study from scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine and University of Massachusetts Medical School. The study, published in […]
April 19, 2021

Radiation may contribute to personalized cancer vaccine

Radiation therapy appears to increase the expression of genes with mutations that induce an immune response to malignant cells, according to preclinical research by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators. The findings suggest that radiation treatment directed to tumors in mice may help to improve a form of immunotherapy that […]
April 19, 2021

Sweet rewards valued more, may contribute to obesity

Next time you reward a child with a treat, consider offering fruit, nuts or a cereal bar instead of ice cream or candy, a Cornell economist suggests. Research by an international team including Michèle Belot, professor in the Department of Economics, found that children valued a sweet food more after receiving […]
April 19, 2021

Dietary cocoa improves health of obese mice; likely has implications for humans

Supplementation of cocoa powder in the diet of high-fat-fed mice with liver disease markedly reduced the severity of their condition, according to a new study by Penn State researchers, who suggest the results have implications for people. Cocoa powder, a popular food ingredient most commonly used in the production of […]
April 19, 2021

„Fat Jam“ in the Cell

In the journal “Nature Communications”, scientists of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) report new findings on the mechanisms of “Niemann-Pick type C disease” (NPC). This rare brain disorder mainly manifests in childhood and includes severe neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Researchers led by Dr. Sabina Tahirovic have now found […]