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Estrogen may increase the risk of certain types of arrhythmia

The sex hormone estrogen has a negative impact on heartbeat regulation, according to an experimental study from Linköping University, Sweden, published in Science Advances.

15 Mar 2023

Researchers identify a new genetic risk factor for age-related macular degeneration

Researchers at Tel Aviv University identified a new genetic risk factor for the complex eye disease AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), a leading cause for loss of eyesight at an advanced age.

6 Feb 2023

Atomic-level computer model of the H1N1 virus reveals new vulnerabilities

According to the World Health Organization, each year there are an estimated 1 billion cases of influenza, between 3-5 million severe cases and up to 650,000 influenza-related respiratory deaths globally.

25 Jan 2023

Combination of multiple maps uncovers new genetic risk factor for AMD

Combining a map of gene regulatory sites with disease-associated loci has uncovered a new genetic risk factor of adult-onset macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study publishing January 17th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Ran Elkon and Ruth Ashery-Padan of Tel Aviv University, Israel, and colleagues.

18 Jan 2023

Recent progress in the understanding of neuraminidase-specific antibodies for the development of universal influenza vaccines

A recent study published in Viruses reviewed the characteristics of neuraminidase with emphasis on the development of NA-based universal influenza vaccines.

12 Jan 2023

Targeting Piezo2 could provide new avenue for treating chronic pain related to gastrointestinal disorders

Targeting a receptor responsible for our sense of touch and temperature, which researchers have now found to be present in our colon, could provide a new avenue for treating chronic pain associated with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.

23 Dec 2022

New method uses light to change long-term behavior of neurons

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and MIT have developed a new method to target diseased neurons in the brain and change their long-term behavior using light, paving the way for potential new treatments for neurological conditions such as epilepsy and autism.

8 Dec 2022

Metrion Biosciences invests in new High Throughput Screening capability and expanded facilities

Metrion Biosciences Limited (“Metrion”), the specialist ion channel contract research and drug discovery company, today announced the launch of its High Throughput Screening (HTS) capability, as well as the expansion of its state-of-the-art lab and office facilities. Scott Maidment has been appointed as Head of HTS to lead the new service.

From Metrion Biosciences Limited 1 Dec 2022

Specific genetic variant linked to early-onset childhood epilepsy discovered

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have discovered a specific genetic variant in SCN1A, the most common genetic epilepsy, that leads to an earlier onset of epilepsy, with clinical features distinct from other epilepsies.

30 Nov 2022

Study uncovers a previously unknown propofol effect in neurons

Propofol is the most commonly used drug to induce general anesthesia. Despite its frequent clinical application, it is poorly understood how propofol causes anesthesia.

7 Nov 2022

Higher viscosity of extracellular fluid enhances cancer dissemination

New research findings show how higher viscosity, or resistance to flow, of the extracellular fluid that surrounds cells enables cancer cells to migrate more rapidly from a primary tumor to other sites in the body.

2 Nov 2022

New research lays the foundation for more effectively treating pediatric brain tumor

In a ground-breaking new study, scientists have uncovered the mechanics of the blood-tumor barrier, one of the most significant obstacles to improving treatment efficacy and preventing the return of cancerous cells.

1 Nov 2022

What is the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on HIV-1 infectivity?

In a new study, researchers assessed the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and SARS-CoV envelope (E) proteins on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity.

31 Oct 2022

SARS-CoV-2 envelope structural protein found to form voltage-activated and calcium-activated calcium channels

In a new study, researchers investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) envelope (E) protein activity in terms of calcium cations (Ca2+) cations.

14 Oct 2022

Researchers explore drug-repurposing candidates acting against nucleotide-binding pockets of multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins

In a new study, researchers pursued direct-acting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 drugs that compete for nucleotide-binding pockets (NBPs) of SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

11 Oct 2022

Study explores the long-term impact of telemedicine on child neurology care

Researchers from the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that across nearly 50,000 visits, patients continued to use telemedicine effectively even with the reopening of outpatient clinics a year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

16 Sep 2022

Experimental drug prolongs survival, improves muscle function in mice severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report that an experimental drug first developed to treat kidney disease prolongs survival and improves muscle function in mice genetically engineered to develop a severe form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

13 Sep 2022

Study establishes link between Piezo1 and intracellular cholesterol levels during neural development

A new University of California, Irvine-led study reveals how mechanical forces and tissue mechanics influence the morphology of the developing brain, and establishes a direct link in neural stem cells between Piezo1, a mechanically-activated ion channel, and intracellular cholesterol levels during neural development.

8 Sep 2022

Three genetic mutations seen in individuals with KCNMA1-linked channelopathy successfully mirrored in mice

Three genetic alterations associated with a rare seizure and a movement disorder primarily found in children were successfully mirrored in mice and their symptoms treated, in a new study from a University of Maryland School of Medicine researcher, Andrea Meredith, PhD, Professor of Physiology and her collaborators.

15 Aug 2022

Combination therapy regimen for cystic fibrosis is also beneficial to primary school-aged children

Cystic fibrosis remains an incurable genetic disorder which impairs lung function and significantly reduces life expectancy.

8 Aug 2022