| Short-term sleep deprivation affects heart function Posted: 02 Dec 2016 07:09 AM PST Too little sleep takes a toll on your heart, according to a new study. |
| Researcher develops mouse model for studying development of visual cortex Posted: 01 Dec 2016 07:18 AM PST A new mouse model has been established for the study of human fetal electrographic development. The mouse is an important preclinical model of disease and development; and this model will give key information for understanding cortical circuit development in humans. |
| Standing up may unmask cognitive deficits in patients with Parkinson's Posted: 01 Dec 2016 07:17 AM PST This study shows that when patients with PD experience a drop in blood pressure upon standing up – a condition known as orthostatic hypotension (OH) – they exhibit significant cognitive deficits. These deficits reverse when the individual lies down and their blood pressure returns to normal. As a result, these findings are important as clinical providers might miss an important target for intervention when not considering OH as a contributor to cognitive impairment. |
| Hallucinogenic drug psilocybin eases existential anxiety in people with life-threatening cancer Posted: 01 Dec 2016 06:44 AM PST A substantial majority of people suffering cancer-related anxiety or depression found considerable relief for up to six months from a single large dose of psilocybin -- the active compound in hallucinogenic "magic mushrooms" -- researchers report after a small double-blind study. |
| Patients with cancer history experiencing severe heart attacks benefit from cardiac treatment Posted: 01 Dec 2016 06:44 AM PST One in 10 patients who come to the hospital with the most severe type of heart attack have a history of cancer, showing that this is an emerging subgroup of heart patients, according to research. In addition, the study found that these patients have a three times higher risk of noncardiac death. Meanwhile, their risk of cardiac death is not higher -- both at the time of their acute heart attack and over long-term follow-up. |
| CRISPR editing in pancreatic cells reduced cell death, increased insulin secretion Posted: 01 Dec 2016 06:30 AM PST With the help of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors, researchers have managed to "turn off" an enzyme that proved to play a key role in the regulation of the diabetes-associated TXNIP gene. The results are decreased cell death and increased insulin production in the genetically modified pancreatic beta cells. |
| Correlates of overweight, obesity among adolescents with bipolar disorder in the national comorbidity survey Posted: 01 Dec 2016 06:28 AM PST Obesity among adolescents with bipolar disorder is linked to increased illness severity, outlines a new report. The researchers also found that although overweight is not more common among adolescents with bipolar disorder than other adolescents, overweight adolescents with bipolar disorder showed signs of increased illness severity, including more suicide attempts, psychiatric hospitalizations for depression, co-occurring conduct disorder and bulimia/binge-eating, and history of physical or sexual abuse. |
| New chemistry of life Posted: 01 Dec 2016 06:26 AM PST A novel ubiquitination mechanism explains pathogenic effects of Legionella infection, report scientists. Their first results hint towards a broader role in regulating many life processes. |
| Back to the start: Re-activation of embryonic genes leads to muscle aging Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:44 AM PST The development of the embryo during pregnancy is one of the most complex processes in life. Genes are strongly activated, and developmental pathways must do their job in a highly accurate and precisely timed manner. So-called Hox-genes play an important regulatory role in this process. Although remaining detectable in stem cells of adult tissues throughout life, after birth they are only rarely active. Now, however, researchers have shown that, in old age, one of these Hox-genes (Hoxa9) is strongly re-activated in murine muscle stem cells after injury, leading to a decline in the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle. |
| Maintaining immune cells in head and neck cancer Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:41 AM PST Inhibiting prostaglandin production slows the progression of premalignant lesions to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), researchers report. Preclinical studies showed that treatment of premalignant lesions with indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) similar to aspirin, increased the presence of immune cells and lessened tumor burden. |
| Tai Chi proves feasible and beneficial for vets with PTSD Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:13 AM PST Veterans with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who participated in in Tai Chi not only would recommend it to a friend, but also found the ancient Chinese tradition helped with their symptoms including managing intrusive thoughts, difficulties with concentration and physiological arousal. |
