Author Archives: Rocio Gallegos, MD

A protein in the immune system programmed to protect the body from fungal infections is also responsible for exacerbating the severity of certain autoimmune diseases such as irritable bowel disease (IBS), type 1 diabetes, eczema and other chronic disorders, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. The discovery could pave the way […]

MS is a progressive neurological disease that currently has no cure. It is associated with a wide-range of debilitating symptoms, including problems with coordination, cognition, muscle weakness and depression. CAMH-led pre-clinical studies using a small molecule drug have shown promise as a potential new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).  Expanding on Dr. Fang Liu’s earlier […]

Comparing PET scans of more than 90 adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say relatively lower levels of the so-called “happiness” chemical, serotonin, in parts of the brain of those with MCI may play a role in memory problems including Alzheimer’s disease. “The study shows that people with mild […]

A preclinical study shows that a specific human genetic variant of a receptor that stimulates insulin release may help individuals be more resistant to obesity.  The study provides new insight into how human genetic variations affect an individual’s susceptibility to weight gain. The researchers developed mice with a human genetic variant in the glucose-dependent insulinotropic […]

Microgels form a thin protective shell around a droplet until the temperature rises above 32 degrees. Then the microgels shrink and the droplet dissolves in the surrounding liquid. A study now reveals the underlying mechanism behind this process. The discovery could revolutionize methods of targeting medicines to specific locations within the body. Emulsions consist of […]

Researchers discovered distinct mechanisms controlling different types of immune cells, and found that, by precisely targeting these mechanisms, they could selectively eliminate ‘problematic cells’ and reshape the skin’s immune landscape. Our skin is packed with specialized immune cells that protect against infections and cancer and promote healing. These cells, called tissue-resident T cells or TRM […]

Researchers have developed a light-activatable prodrug nanomedicine for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy. Through the intravenous injection of the nanomedicine and application of light irradiation to diseased eyes, anti-angiogenic and photodynamic combination therapy can be activated, offering a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of AMD and other ocular disorders characterized by abnormal blood vessel […]

Aging is associated with chronic, nonresolving inflammation, or “inflammaging,” that can lead to tissue dysfunction. The resolution of inflammation is an active process that is governed by numerous factors, such as specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs). Recent studies suggest that inflammaging may persist due to an impairment in inflammation-resolution programs and that treatment with SPMs, […]

Want to avoid a root canal? In the future, you might be able to opt for tissue regeneration instead. ADA Forsyth scientists are testing a novel technology to treat endodontic diseases (diseases of the soft tissue or pulp in your teeth) more effectively. The study, “RvE1 Promotes Axin2+Cell Regeneration and Reduces Bacterial Invasion,” which appeared […]

The BASHIR™ Endovascular Catheter (THROMBOLEX, Inc.), recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is paving the way to more effective and safe treatment for acute pulmonary embolism.  The new study further showed a correlation between decreased numbers of blockages in the small lung arteries and functional recovery of the right ventricle of […]