Biology & Medicine News and Discussions

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Researchers develop method to engineer new cell functionalities on thin films
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-method-ce ... -thin.html
by Universitaet Mainz
Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a method to engineer new functionalities into cells. The results were published today in the journal Cell in the article "Dual film-like organelles enable spatial separation of orthogonal eukaryotic translation."

Numerous processes occur inside living cells, from DNA replication and repair to protein synthesis and recycling. In order to organize this plethora of reactions, they must be separated in three-dimensional space. One way eukaryotic cells do this is by extruding a piece of membrane to form a membrane-enclosed space—an organelle—in which specific functions can take place. Alternatively, the cell can also segregate molecules into distinct areas (so-called membraneless organelles) through phase separation, a phenomenon similar to the separation of vinegar and oil in a salad dressing. Such membraneless organelles have advantages: As they are not separated from the rest of the cell by a membrane barrier, large molecules can get in and out more easily. Membrane-enclosed organelles therefore operate like separate "rooms" in a cell, while membraneless organelles operate like different corners of the same room.
weatheriscool
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Brain tissue inflammation is key to Alzheimer's disease progression
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08- ... eimer.html
by University of Pittsburgh
Neuroinflammation is the key driver of the spread of pathologically misfolded proteins in the brain and causes cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine reveal in a paper published today in Nature Medicine.

For the first time ever, the researchers showed in living patients that neuroinflammation—or activation of the brain's resident immune cells, called microglial cells—is not merely a consequence of disease progression; rather, it is a key upstream mechanism that is indispensable for disease development.

"As a young resident neurologist in my home country of Brazil, I noticed that many patients with Alzheimer's disease are left neglected and without access to appropriate care," said lead author Tharick Pascoal, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at Pitt. "Our research suggests that combination therapy aimed to reduce amyloid plaque formation and limit neuroinflammation might be more effective than addressing each pathology individually."
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4 in 1 blood pressure pill: Safe and much more effective than usual hypertension treatment

by University of Sydney
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08- ... ctive.html
High blood pressure is the world's leading killer but poor rates of blood pressure control remain common. A new strategy where patients are started on a pill containing four medicines, each at a quarter of their usual doses, has been shown to be much more effective in getting blood pressure under control, compared to the common practice of monotherapy, where treatment commences with just one drug.

This first large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trial of starting this novel combination blood pressure medication brought blood pressure under control in 80 percent of participants in 12 weeks, compared to 60 percent in the control group who nonetheless had access to the best patient care.

Traditionally doctors have started with one drug and then follow up to consider adding or changing treatment—but this strategy is often not successful in practice and blood pressure control rates have remained stubbornly low for decades.
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Researchers discover way to switch on and speed up tendon healing
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-tendon.html
by National University of Ireland, Galway

Researchers at CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices based at NUI Galway, have shown how the simple act of walking can power an implantable stimulator device to speed up treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.

The results of have been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials.

The research establishes the engineering foundations for a new range of stimulator devices that enable control of musculoskeletal tissue regeneration to treat tendon damage and disease and sports injuries, without the use of drugs or external stimulation.

Lead researcher on the study, CÚRAM Investigator Dr. Manus Biggs, said, "One of the most exciting parts of our study is that these implantable devices may be tailored to individual patients or disorders and may show promise in accelerating the repair of sport-related tendon injuries, particularly in athletes."

The study investigated whether electrical therapy, coupled with exercise, would show promise in treating tendon disease or ruptures. It showed that tendon cell function and repair can be controlled through electrical stimulation from an implantable device which is powered by body movement.
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Drug cocktail reduces aging-associated disc degeneration

by Thomas Jefferson University
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09- ... ation.html
Chronic back pain affects upwards of 15 million adults in the US, racking up billions in healthcare costs and lost work days. Degeneration of the discs that cushion and support vertebrae, a common occurrence of aging, is a major contributor to low back pain. Although a widespread condition, few treatments are available. Now Jefferson's Makarand Risbud, Ph.D., James J. Maguire Jr. Professor of Spine Research in orthopedic surgery, division director of orthopedic research and co-director of the cell biology and regenerative medicine graduate program, and colleagues have shown that treating mice with a drug cocktail that removes aging cells reduces disc degeneration. The findings, reported in Nature Communications on September 3rd, show how a novel approach to preventing age-related disc degeneration may pave the way for treating chronic back pain.
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AI-powered system to diagnose glaucoma using eye images
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09- ... mages.html
by Nanyang Technological University

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), in collaboration with clinicians at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in Singapore have developed a novel method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to screen for glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness through damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye.

The AI-enabled method uses algorithms to differentiate optic nerves with glaucoma from those that are normal by analyzing stereo fundus images—multi-angle 2D images of the retina that are combined to form a 3D image.

When tested on stereo fundus images from TTSH patients undergoing expert examination, the AI method yielded an accuracy of 97 percent in diagnosing glaucoma.

Glaucoma is often called "the silent thief of sight" as it is usually asymptomatic until latter stages, when prognosis is poor. It is the principal cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and, in tandem with the rapid growth of the aging population, is expected to affect 111.8 million people globally by 2040, up from 76 million in 2020.
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Researchers developing smart dental implants that resist bacterial growth, generate their own electricity
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09- ... erial.html
by University of Pennsylvania
More than 3 million people in America have dental implants, used to replace a tooth lost to decay, gum disease, or injury. Implants represent a leap of progress over dentures or bridges, fitting much more securely and designed to last 20 years or more.

But often implants fall short of that expectation, instead needing replacement in five to 10 years due to local inflammation or gum disease, necessitating a repeat of a costly and invasive procedure for patients.

"We wanted to address this issue, and so we came up with an innovative new implant," says Geelsu Hwang, an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, who has a background in engineering that he brings to his research on oral health issues.
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Under the scanner: Scientists unravel the inner workings of DNA repair enzymes
https://phys.org/news/2021-09-scanner-s ... zymes.html
by GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)
DNA is the instruction manual for every living organism, guiding the development and functioning of all biological processes. In essence, it is a molecule with a double helix structure with each unit of a helix containing what are known as "DNA bases."

Maintenance of DNA is extremely important for smooth operation of all bodily functions. DNA may be damaged by cellular metabolism byproducts, such as reactive oxygen species, and ionizing radiation (UV and gamma rays). In such a scenario, a set of enzymes (proteins that act as catalysts for biochemical reactions) are activated to repair the damage. The sequence of processes undertaken by the enzymes to fix DNA damage is known as "base excision repair" (BER).

BER is mainly carried out by the exonuclease III (ExoIII) and polymerase I (Pol I) enzymes. Despite the importance of the functions of these enzymes, the mechanism underlying their coordination has not been elucidated in previous studies.

Now, scientists led by Dr. Gwangrog Lee from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in Korea have utilized the latest technology in single molecule detection to study enzymatic interactions and observe the mechanism of BER, filling the gap in our understanding of this coordination mechanism.
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Evidence of a possible link between herpes simplex and neurodegenerative diseases
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09- ... ative.html
by University of Illinois at Chicago

A new study by researchers at University of Illinois Chicago suggests that when the protein optineurin, or OPTN, is present in cells it restricts the spread of HSV-1, the herpes simplex virus type 1.

In a "first of its kind" study, researchers also found a potential direct connection between neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), glaucoma, and the herpesvirus, said Dr. Deepak Shukla, the Marion H. Schenk Esq. Professor in Ophthalmology for Research of the Aging Eye, and vice chair for research at UIC.

The research paper, "OPTN is a host intrinsic restriction factor against neuroinvasive HSV-1 infection," led by Shukla, was published recently in the journal Nature Communications.

Researchers sought to discover why HSV-1 can become fatal for individuals who are immunocompromised but not for healthy individuals. Herpesviruses naturally infect the central nervous system and can result in degenerative brain and eye disorders, as well as encephalitis. However, in most individuals, the virus is suppressed during a primary infection before it can significantly damage the central nervous system
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A new injectable hydrogel for cartilage repair

by Bob Yirka , Medical Xpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09- ... ilage.html
A team of researchers affiliated with a host of institutions in China has developed an injectable hydrogel for use in repairing damaged cartilage. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes how they made their hydrogel, how it can be applied and how well it worked when tested on mice and pigs.

Repair of torn or eroded cartilage has improved dramatically in recent years as scientists have learned to grow chondrocytes (cells that grow into cartilage) and to use them to encourage growth of new cartilage. They are typically grown on structures in patches which are then applied to the area in need of repair. One major drawback to such treatment, however, is the need to cut through the skin and lay open the area to be treated. Such treatment can lead to a painful recovery over several months. In this new effort, the researchers have developed a type of hydrogel that can be used for the same type of treatment without the need for surgery.
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