In the global quest for effective cancer treatments, researchers are uncovering promising strategies in the most unexpected of places: the very viruses we typically strive to avoid. Pathogens such as the common cold and influenza, once seen solely as threats to our health, are now being studied for their potential to target and destroy cancer … Read more
Pharmacology is a multifaceted scientific discipline that delves into the study of drugs, their actions within biological systems, and their interactions with living organisms. It is a field that intersects with various branches of biology, chemistry, medicine, and pharmacy, aiming to understand how drugs work, their therapeutic effects, potential side effects, and mechanisms of action. … Read more
Immunotherapy represents a revolutionary approach to disease treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system to combat various ailments, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and allergies. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery, which directly target the disease, immunotherapy works by stimulating or enhancing the body’s immune response to recognize and destroy … Read more
Scientists from Scripps Research have enhanced an existing immunotherapy by removing the sugar coating surrounding solid tumors—such as in melanoma, breast, and prostate cancer—so T cells can more effectively kill tumor cells. They report in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering that this tweak allows T cells to get closer to their targets, which dramatically improves T-cell killing of tumor … Read more
In a groundbreaking paper titled “Multimodal MRI reveals brainstem connections that sustain wakefulness in human consciousness,” published in Science Translational Medicine, a collaborative team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital has unveiled a critical brain network believed to be pivotal in human consciousness. Utilizing high-resolution scans that offered unprecedented submillimeter spatial … Read more
Psilocybin—the active ingredient in “magic” mushrooms—is a more effective treatment for symptoms of depression than controls, providing further support for its potential as an antidepressant, suggests a study published by The BMJ today. The researchers say the findings are encouraging but “further research is needed to clarify the factors that maximize psilocybin’s treatment potential for … Read more
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say that an experimental monoclonal antibody drug called mAb43 appears to prevent and reverse the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in mice, and in some cases, to lengthen the animals’ lifespan. The drug is unique, according to the researchers, because it targets insulin-making beta cells in the pancreas directly … Read more
Some families call it a trial of faith. Others just call it a curse. The progressive neurological disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4) is a rare condition, but its effects on patients and their families can be severe. For most people, the first sign is difficulty walking and balancing, which gets worse as time … Read more
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that the effectiveness of ADHD medication may be associated with an individual’s neuroanatomy. The research, published in Nature Mental Health, suggests that the development of clinical interventions for ADHD could benefit from identifying how the brain anatomy of treatment-resistant individuals … Read more
A study led by Daniel Spratt, M.D., Vincent K. Smith Chair in Radiation Oncology at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center demonstrates the safety and efficacy of a novel oral hormone therapy, relugolix, in conjunction with radiation therapy for treating men with localized and advanced prostate cancer. This work is published in JAMA Oncology. This research, encompassing an individual … Read more
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine performance as the virus continues to evolve. Published today as a research letter in The Lancet, their study compared the newer monovalent … Read more
A groundbreaking three-year investigation led by Australia’s Heart Research Institute (HRI) unveils a groundbreaking discovery poised to revolutionize stroke prevention and treatment strategies. This pioneering study, featured in the esteemed journal ACS Central Science, illuminates the potential of a ubiquitous cruciferous vegetable, a dietary staple for millions of Australians, in combating one of the nation’s … Read more
New discoveries emerging from UC San Francisco illuminate the persistent presence of the COVID-19 virus in patients’ blood and tissues long after the acute phase of the illness has passed, offering fresh insights into the enigmatic phenomenon of long COVID. In a groundbreaking investigation spearheaded by Dr. Michael Peluso of the UCSF School of Medicine, … Read more
High-intensity exercise induces brain-protective effects that have the potential to not just slow down but possibly reverse the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease, a new pilot study suggests. Prior research has shown that many forms of exercise are linked to improved symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. But there has been no evidence that hitting the gym … Read more
Recombinant protein vaccines, exemplified by the Novavax vaccine deployed in combating COVID-19, present a plethora of advantages over traditional vaccines. Their precise manufacturability, coupled with enhanced safety and potential efficacy, as well as the prospect of reduced dosage requirements, underscores their pivotal role in modern immunization strategies. Given these attributes, there is burgeoning interest in … Read more
Glucagon, recognized primarily for its role in stimulating blood sugar production in the liver, has emerged as a pivotal player in maintaining kidney health, according to recent research from UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, illuminates glucagon’s broader physiological functions and unveils its significance in combating chronic kidney disease (CKD), a … Read more
Successful immunotherapy for cancer involves activating a person’s own T cells to identify telltale proteins called antigens on the surface of a tumor and attack it. But some tumors have a trick: They hide themselves from the immune system by preventing their antigens from being displayed. A team led by Harvard Medical School researchers at … Read more
Scientists at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have built and demonstrated the potential efficacy of a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell-based immunotherapy specifically designed to treat patients with cutaneous and rare subtypes of melanoma. CAR T-cell therapy uses genetically engineered versions of a patient’s immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. … Read more
A new understanding of lung cancer cells’ “memories” suggests a new strategy for improving treatment, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) researchers have found. Research from the lab of cancer biologist Tuomas Tammela, MD, Ph.D. shows that some lung cancer cells retain a “memory” of the healthy cell where they came from—one that might be … Read more
A new biologic “patch” that is activated by a person’s natural motion could be the key to fixing herniated disks in people’s backs, according to researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the CMC VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC). Combining years of work from many different projects, the “tension-activated repair … Read more