Author Archives: Rocio Gallegos, MD

In an article published in the scientific journal Nature Chemical Biology, Biosynthesis of natural and halogenated plant monoterpene indole alkaloids in yeast, the researchers now present results with the artificial production of the naturally occurring substance, alstonine, which has shown promising results for use in treating mental disorders. “Development of medicines from natural plant substances […]

Traditionally, psychiatric disorders such as depression have been diagnosed based on symptoms according to subjective assessments. The identification of biomarkers to aid in diagnosis and treatment selection would greatly advance treatments. In the current study, the investigators used brain imaging data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study of nearly 12,000 children aged 9 […]

A drug currently in clinical trials as a cancer therapy can also stimulate pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin, revealing a previously unknown mechanism for insulin regulation in type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.  To search for new insulin-regulating mechanisms, Dr. Chen and her colleagues began by testing […]

Huntington’s disease causes involuntary movements and dementia, has no cure, and is fatal. For the first time, UC Riverside scientists have shown they can slow its progression in flies and worms, opening the door to human treatments. Key to understanding these advancements is the way that genetic information in cells is converted from DNA into […]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread mental health condition that for many is disabling. In a new study researchers identified a gene that interacted with stress to mediate aspects of treatment-resistant MDD in an animal model. Jing Zhang, PhD said, “Emerging evidence suggests that MDD is a consequence of the co-work of genetic risks […]

Atherosclerosis is considered a frequent cause of cardiovascular diseases and strokes. An international team has now identified a specific microRNA molecule as a promising starting point for the investigation of new therapies. Some time ago, the researchers had already demonstrated that the transmembrane protein CXCR4 plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. The […]