Related Science News – Page 231 – Innovita Research

Related Science News

May 14, 2019

Study will test pot’s effects on infants’ brain development

UW Medicine researchers are recruiting pregnant women to study whether prenatal marijuana use – in the absence of alcohol, tobacco, and any illicit drug consumption – affects their infants’ brain development, cognitive and motor development, medical health, and social behavior. The “Moms + Marijuana” study is co-led by Drs. Natalia Kleinhans and Stephen […]
May 14, 2019

Study Seeks to Better Understand Causes of Autism

U-M is looking for families with a child or children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder to take part in a national study aimed at speeding up research and insight into the disorder. Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is associated with a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, […]
May 13, 2019

Everyday stress may boost blood vessel dysfunction in people with depression

Long-term stress has been linked with cardiovascular disease, but for people with depression, researchers say small, everyday stressors may be enough to diminish blood vessel function in otherwise healthy adults. A team of researchers led by Penn State found that among adults with depression, those who had experienced stress in […]
May 13, 2019

Structure of T cell epitopes a decisive factor in natural HIV control, study finds

In 2017, nearly 37 million people were living with HIV worldwide, according to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Current treatments for the virus, which becomes AIDS in its most advanced stage, involve a combination of drugs known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). For those who know they have […]
May 13, 2019

Personalized “Eye-in-a-Dish” Models Reveal Genetic Underpinnings of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over age 65. The exact cause is unknown, but the fact that a family history of AMD increases a person’s risk for the condition suggests genetics play an important role. Using stem cells derived […]
May 13, 2019

Merging cell datasets, panorama style

A new algorithm developed by MIT researchers takes cues from panoramic photography to merge massive, diverse cell datasets into a single source that can be used for medical and biological studies. Single-cell datasets profile the gene expressions of human cells — such as a neurons, muscles, and immune cells — to […]
May 13, 2019

A link between mitochondrial damage and osteoporosis

Some risk factors for osteoporosis such as being older and female or having a family history of the condition cannot be avoided. But others can, like smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, taking certain medications, or being exposed to environmental pollutants. But until now researchers haven’t gained a firm picture of how […]
May 13, 2019

On the Safe Side

A common chronic skin condition affecting 125 million people worldwide, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, a class of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells. In recent years, new medications—known as biologics, which inhibit the overactive immune system by targeting specific inflammatory pathways—have revolutionized the […]
May 13, 2019

Stem cells provide information about neuron resilience in ALS

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed a stem cell based model in order to study the resilience and vulnerability of neurons in the neurodegenerative disease ALS. The results are published in the journal Stem Cell Reports and can aid in the identification of new genetic targets for treatments protecting sensitive […]
May 13, 2019

Major shift: A 3D “mini-gut” advances understanding of celiac disease

In pursuit of a novel tool for the research and treatment of celiac disease, Harvard Medical School scientists at the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center (MIBRC) at Massachusetts General Hospital have validated the use of intestinal organoids. These three-dimensional tissue cultures are miniature, simplified versions of the intestine produced in vitro. […]
May 13, 2019

How mutations lead to neurodegenerative disease

Scientists have discovered how mutations in DNA can cause neurodegenerative disease. The discovery is an important step towards better treatment to slow the progression or delay onset in a range of incurable diseases such as Huntington’s and motor neurone disease – possibly through the use, in new ways, of existing […]
May 13, 2019

Fluoride reduces dental risk from minimal and extended breastfeeding

Cavity-conscious mothers can rest assured their children will not be at increased risk of tooth decay if they can’t breastfeed or they want to breastfeed their children for longer – as long as they have access to fluoridated water, research from the University of Adelaide has found. The new research, […]
May 10, 2019

Stem cell scientists clear another hurdle in creating transplant arteries

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death worldwide, and treating it isn’t easy.  The disease wreaks havoc on patients’ blood vessels and can require complex bypass surgery. Scientists at the Morgridge Institute for Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are working toward a dream of creating artery banks — […]
May 10, 2019

Inflamed monkey guts produce Parkinson’s-related proteins

The intestinal linings of monkeys with inflamed bowels show chemical alterations similar to abnormal protein deposits in the brains of Parkinson’s patients, lending support to the idea that inflammation may play a key role in the development of the degenerative neurological disorder. A study published by University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers […]
May 10, 2019

Fooling nerve cells into acting normal

Nerve cells, or neurons — specifically the “workhorse cells” involved in walking, breathing and chewing — can adjust to changes in the body, but they never stop working unless there is an fatal injury. What exactly signals neurons to keep acting and operating normally has not been known until now. […]
May 10, 2019

‘Bad guy’ fibrocytes could help rebuild damaged tissue

Could a blood cell type responsible for scarring and diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis be repurposed to help engineer healthy tissue? A new study by a University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health researcher shows that someday, fibrocytes may be used for regenerative therapies for people who need […]
May 10, 2019

Adverse Childhood Experiences Negatively Impact Adults with Lupus

Adults with lupus who report having had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect and household challenges, report higher disease activity, depression and poorer overall health compared to those without such experiences, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco. “Our results support the notion that stress […]
May 10, 2019

Pokémon activates a unique part of the brain, offering insights into its structure

Penn doctoral student Michael Barnett admits he was “obsessed” with Pokémon as a child, spending hours with Pikachu and the gang. So, as he and former Stanford colleague Jesse Gomez discussed a paper about which brain regions light up when young macaques view letters, cartoons, and Tetris pieces, they had an idea. “We […]
May 10, 2019

Studying DNA Breaks to Protect Future Space Travelers

Earth’s atmosphere shields life on the ground from cosmic radiation that can damage DNA.  Astronauts in space have no such protection, and that puts them at risk. An investigation on the International Space Station examines DNA damage and repair in space in order to help protect the long-term health of […]
May 9, 2019

Women perceive the potential benefits of mammograms to be more important than the potential harms

In 2009, disagreement in the health community arose following a recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) against routine mammogram screening for women ages 40-49 who are at average risk for breast cancer. Then, in 2015, the American Cancer Society (ACS) updated its 2003 breast cancer screening […]
May 9, 2019

Red Light, Green Light: Protein Signaling Illuminated

Technology reveals previously undetectable protein signaling activity in diabetes, cancer Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. Their activity is often controlled by adding or removing chemicals called phosphates, like switching an electrical current on or off. Measuring how many proteins are phosphorylated, or turned on, has been a roadblock […]
May 9, 2019

Fat fruit flies: High-sugar diet deadens sweet tooth; promotes overeating, obesity in flies

Some research suggests that one reason people with obesity overeat is because they don’t enjoy food—especially sweets—as much as lean people. But it’s not understood if obesity itself or eating certain foods causes taste changes, or how those changes impact appetite and obesity. For clues, University of Michigan researchers turned […]
May 8, 2019

Why visual stimulation may work against Alzheimer’s

Several years ago, MIT neuroscientists showed that they could dramatically reduce the amyloid plaques seen in mice with Alzheimer’s disease simply by exposing the animals to light flickering at a specific frequency. In a new study, the researchers have found that this treatment has widespread effects at the cellular level, […]
May 8, 2019

A new approach to targeting tumors and tracking their spread

A new algorithm developed by MIT researchers takes cues from panoramic photography to merge massive, diverse cell datasets into a single source that can be used for medical and biological studies. Single-cell datasets profile the gene expressions of human cells — such as a neurons, muscles, and immune cells — to […]
May 8, 2019

A comprehensive map of how Alzheimer’s affects the brain

MIT researchers have performed the first comprehensive analysis of the genes that are expressed in individual brain cells of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The results allowed the team to identify distinctive cellular pathways that are affected in neurons and other types of brain cells. This analysis could offer many potential […]
May 8, 2019

Bacterial toxin research could improve pesticides and help treat cancer

Research into an intricate toxin delivery system found in bacteria could overcome the problem of pesticide resistance in insects, and might even lead to new cancer treatments. An international team led by Dr Michael Landsberg at The University of Queensland has revealed the detailed inner workings of the newest member of a […]
May 8, 2019

Research could lead to more precise diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer

Oncologists may soon have an accurate and inexpensive way of differentiating between types of ovarian cancer that will improve how patients are treated, thanks to findings from a national research study co-led out of the University of Alberta. “One of the issues with ovarian cancer is that we cannot fully decipher between […]
May 8, 2019

Research on repetitive worm behavior may have implications for understanding human disease

Repetition can be useful if you’re trying to memorize a poem, master a guitar riff, or just cultivate good habits. When this kind of behavior becomes compulsive, however, it can get in the way of normal life—an impediment sometimes observed in psychiatric illnesses like Tourette’s syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. […]
May 8, 2019

Chronic Disruptions to Circadian Rhythms Promote Tumor Growth, Reduce Efficacy of Cancer Therapy—But How?

While it’s reported that chronic disruptions of circadian rhythms, or internal body clocks, can lead to an increased risk of cancer, the underlying mechanisms by which the disturbances promote tumor growth had been largely unknown. In a study published in the journal PLOS Biology, researchers at Penn Medicine show circadian disruptions trigger […]
May 8, 2019

The Mystery Behind Cleft Palate and Lips: Study Shines a Light on Genetic Factors

Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is the second most common birth defect in the world, affecting 1 in 700 live born babies. While the exact cause of CL/P is not well understood, investigators think it could be the result of a combination of genetics and environment. Cleft lip and palate […]