When we tear a muscle, stem cells within it repair the problem. Also when we age and become frail we lose much of our muscle and our stem cells don’t seem to be able to work as well as we age. These muscle stem cells are invisible engines that drive the tissue’s growth and repair […]
Researchers at the Salk Institute and UC San Diego have discovered how high-fat diets can change gut bacteria and alter digestive molecules called bile acids that are modified by those bacteria, predisposing mice to colorectal cancer. In the study, the team found increased levels of specific gut bacteria in mice fed high-fat diets. Those gut […]
To cure blood disorders, patients must undergo high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. This requires a match between the recipient and donor immune system, but ~30% of patients do not have a match. Even when they do, the donor immune system can attack the patient, graft versus host disease. Gene therapy corrects the mutation […]
A study discovered a new relationship between cancer cells and the immune system, and shows how cancer can selfishly hijack a normally helpful immune pathway. Usually, activation of this key immune pathway — called the STING pathway — triggers a strong inflammatory response that protects the body from foreign and unhealthy cells. But prolonged activation […]
People with a recent diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common irregular heart rhythm, have a modestly higher risk of developing dementia than people without the condition, according to new research. Atrial fibrillation, typically a very rapid heart rhythm, can spur blood clots in the heart, increasing someone’s risk for stroke and heart failure, […]
Gene therapy that induces the body to create microRNA-22 (miR-22), a naturally occurring molecule, successfully treated mice with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. MicroRNAs are small molecules that contain ribonucleic acid (RNA), a type of genetic material. MicroRNAs are widely found in plants and animals. They are “non-coding,” meaning they do […]
Traumatic brain injury is a significant cause of death worldwide and can cause long-lasting cognitive impairment and dementia in people who survive. While inflammation in other parts of the body can be addressed therapeutically, in the brain it is problematic due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which prevents common anti-inflammatory molecules from getting […]
As part of a larger study, researchers asked parents of 134 kids with ADHD symptoms to complete a detailed questionnaire about the typical foods the children ate, including portion sizes, over a 90-day period. Another questionnaire asked parents to rate symptoms of inattention in their kids, such as having trouble staying focused, not following instructions, […]
A first-in-human trial of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for post-stroke rehabilitation patients by Cleveland Clinic researchers has shown that using DBS to target the dentate nucleus — which regulates fine-control of voluntary movements, cognition, language, and sensory functions in the brain — is safe and feasible. The EDEN trial (Electrical Stimulation of the Dentate Nucleus […]
Previous research has shown that the majority of those who undergo surgery regain weight within five years of a gastric bypass operation. It has still not been established what happens to the metabolism of those who have had a bariatric procedure. In a new study the researchers studied the metabolism of overweight individuals before and […]