Heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although modern surgical techniques, diagnostics and medications have greatly improved early survival from these events, many patients struggle with the long-term …
Signaling molecule may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
The main driver of Alzheimer’s disease is excessive inflammation in the brain that is triggered by cells called astrocytes and microglia in response to high levels of amyloid beta deposits and tau tangles. New research reveals that a subset of astrocyt…
Fungi that live in the gut influence health and disease
Bacteria’s role in gut health has received attention in recent years. But new research shows that fungi — another microorganism that lives within us — may be equally important in health and disease. Fungi thrive in the healthy gut, but when interacti…
Like priming a pump, cells damaged by chronic lung disease can result in severe COVID
New research suggests that the airway cells of patients with chronic lung diseases are ‘primed’ for infection by the COVID-19 virus, resulting in more severe symptoms, poorer outcomes and a greater likelihood of death.
Combining plant-based diet and healthy microbiome may protect against multiple sclerosis
A new study shows that a diet rich in isoflavone, a phytoestrogen or plant-based compound that resembles estrogen, protects against multiple sclerosis-like symptoms in a mouse model of the disease. Importantly, the isoflavone diet was only protective w…
‘Clock’ created to predict immunological health and chronic diseases of aging
Researchers have created an inflammatory clock of aging (iAge) which measures inflammatory load and predicts multi-morbidity, frailty, immune health, cardiovascular aging and is also associated with exceptional longevity in centenarians.
A fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity and lowers inflammation, study finds
A diet rich in fermented foods enhances the diversity of gut microbes and decreases molecular signs of inflammation, according to researchers.
Progress towards new treatments for tuberculosis
A new study has uncovered how cells infected with tuberculosis bacteria can die, and that using new medicines to enhance particular forms of cell death decreased the severity of the disease in a preclinical model.
Sensing ‘junk’ RNA after chemotherapy enhances blood regeneration
Scientists reveal that during hematopoietic regeneration, RNA expressed from a part of the genome considered ‘junk DNA’ is used by hematopoietic stem cells to get activated and proliferate. The study shows that these so-called transposable elements mak…
Scientists blueprint bacterial enzyme believed to ‘stealthily’ suppress immune response
Scientists have produced the first fine-detail molecular blueprints of a bacterial enzyme known as Lit, which is suspected to play a ‘stealthy’ role in the progression of infection by reducing the immune response. Blueprints such as these allow drug de…