Scientists ID Genes Associated with Educational Attainment
May 12, 2024 11:02 am | by University of Southern California | News | CommentsAn international group of 253 scientists has conducted one of the largest genetic studies to date and identified 74 genetic variants that are associated with the years of formal education that an individual completes.
A Study Asks: Too Much Folic Acid a Cause of Autism?
May 12, 2024 10:53 am | by Mike Stobbe, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsFor decades, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant have been advised to take folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects. But a new study suggests it may be possible to get too much of a good thing - very high levels of the vitamin in mothers' blood at the time of childbirth was linked to higher risk of their children developing autism years later.
Brain Scans Find Protein a Marker of Alzheimer's Decline
May 12, 2024 10:45 am | by Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsScientists are peeking inside living brains to watch for the first time as a toxic duo of plaques and tangles interact to drive Alzheimer's disease - and those tangles may predict early symptoms, a finding with implications for better treatments.
New Technology Detects Blood Clots with Simple In-home Test
May 12, 2024 10:40 am | by University of Cincinnati | News | CommentsFor millions of Americans at risk for blood clots, strokes and hypertension, routine lab tests to monitor blood-thinning medications can be frequent, costly and painful. But researchers are developing materials and technology for a simple in-home screening that could be a game changer for patients with several life-threatening conditions.
New Research Connects Genetic Variations to Schizophrenia
May 12, 2024 10:22 am | by Rachel Jonas, UCLA, The Conversation | News | CommentsWe know that changes in our genetic code can be associated with an increased risk for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But how can a genetic mutation lead to complex psychiatric symptoms such as vivid hallucinations, manic episodes and bizarre delusions?
An Enzyme Enigma Discovered in the Abyss
May 12, 2024 10:15 am | by University of Bristol | News | CommentsScientists have uncovered the secret of the 'Mona Lisa of chemical reactions' - in a bacterium that lives at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It is hoped the discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics and other medical treatments.
New Technique Enhances Nanomedicine by Making Organs Transparent
May 12, 2024 9:43 am | by Bevin Fletcher, Associate Editor | Videos | CommentsOne of the hurdles of realizing the promise of nanoparticles is that scientists can’t view where they go or how the nanoparticles interact with structures once they are inside of the body. A new technique seeks to overcome that challenge.
The Gut-Brain Connection: Inflammation and MS
May 12, 2024 9:34 am | by Bevin Fletcher, Associate Editor | News | CommentsIn a new study researchers from Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital find a connection between gut bacteria and the activity of cells in the brain that influence inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Zika Virus Envelope (E) Protein Antibody
May 11, 2024 10:18 am | by Kerafast Inc. | Kerafast | Product Releases | CommentsThe new Zika Virus Envelope (E) Protein Antibody from Kerafast, Inc. is a human serum specimen containing polyclonal antibodies induced by natural infection with the Zika virus.
A Potential New Personalized Approach to Treating Diabetes
May 11, 2024 10:15 am | by Washington University in St. Louis | News | CommentsSignaling a potential new approach to treating diabetes, researchers have produced insulin-secreting cells from stem cells derived from patients with type 1 diabetes.
Performing Cellular Surgery with a Laser-powered Nanoblade
May 11, 2024 10:09 am | by Cell Press | News | CommentsTo study certain aspects of cells, researchers need the ability to take the innards out, manipulate them, and put them back. Options for this kind of work are limited, but researchers describe a 'nanoblade' that can slice through a cell's membrane to insert mitochondria.
New Approach to Genetic Analysis Yields Markers Linked to Complex Diseases
May 11, 2024 10:04 am | by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office | News | CommentsBy combining information on gene-disease associations with maps of chemical modifications known as epigenomic marks, which control what genes are turned on, researchers were able to identify additional genetic contributors to a heritable cardiac disorder that makes people more susceptible to heart failure. This strategy could also shed light on many other inherited diseases.
Urine Test Could Simplify Zika Virus Detection
May 11, 2024 9:58 am | by Mike Stobbe, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsA urine-based test for Zika virus infection has shown to be more effective than the common blood-based one for many patients, a development that could make testing for the infection easier.
Common Antacid Linked to Accelerated Vascular Aging
May 11, 2024 9:55 am | by Houston Methodist | News | CommentsChronic use of some drugs for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) speeds up the aging of blood vessels, according to a new paper. This accelerated aging in humans could lead to increased cardiovascular disease, vascular dementia and renal failure.
Streamlining Biomedical Research by Making Genetic Data More Searchable
May 11, 2024 9:49 am | by The Scripps Research Institute | News | CommentsA team of scientists is expanding web services to make biomedical research more efficient. With their free, public projects, MyGene.info and MyVariant.info, researchers around the world have a faster way to spot new connections between genes and disease.
