Genes News and Research

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Anti-fibrotic drug shows promise in breast cancer

The most common breast cancer is HER2-negative, so called because it has low amounts of one of the proteins that contribute to tumor cell growth, HER2. Despite this common trait, the development of HER2-negative cancers varies among patients, so one goal is to be able to classify tumors in more detail and thus determine the best treatment for each case.

20 Sep 2024

Lipid metabolism plays a critical role in red blood cell recovery from acute anemia

Red blood cells are the most abundant cells in the body. It has long been known that when red blood cells break down or anemia occurs due to bleeding, the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) increases, leading to the proliferation of immature cells (erythroblasts) that eventually become red blood cells, thus restoring the red blood cell count.

20 Sep 2024

New tool spots drug-resistant bacteria before treatment

Penicillin was hailed as "the silver bullet" when it was discovered, as it had the unprecedented quality of being able to kill disease-causing bacteria without harming the human body. Since then, a multitude of other antibiotics have been developed that specifically target a wide range of bacteria; but the more often they are used, the greater the risk that antibiotic-resistant strains will arise.

19 Sep 2024

Do long genes hold the key to understanding the genetic underpinnings of aging?

Review highlights the growing evidence that aging is linked to reduced expression of long genes, offering insights into potential anti-aging therapies based on gene length.

19 Sep 2024

Genetic factors drive fussy eating from toddlerhood to adolescence

Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes and is a stable trait lasting from toddlerhood to early adolescence, finds a new study led by researchers from UCL (University College London), King's College London and the University of Leeds.

19 Sep 2024

Researchers identify bacterial strains to combat antibiotic-resistant gut infections

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections often occur in patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and in patients who have taken antibiotics for a long time.

19 Sep 2024

Cellular sludge around hunger neurons linked to worsening diabetes and obesity

Investigating ECM changes in the hypothalamus reveals mechanisms behind insulin resistance, offering insights into obesity and metabolic disease treatment.

19 Sep 2024

Hypoxia's hidden role in boosting anti-cancer immunity

In the complex landscape of cancer, tumors create their own microenvironment, often marked by low oxygen levels, a condition known as hypoxia.

19 Sep 2024

New biomarkers offer hope for early detection and prevention of Alzheimer's

The failure to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia in the elderly, at an early stage of molecular pathology is considered a major reason why treatments fail in clinical trials. Previous research to molecularly diagnose Alzheimer's disease yielded "A/T/N" central biomarkers based on the measurements of proteins, β-amyloid ("A") and tau ("T"), and "N" encompassing neurodegeneration. A/T/N can be measured in brain tissue, by in vivo brain imaging techniques, and by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.

18 Sep 2024

Researchers discover how rare cell type controls scar tissue formation in spinal cord injuries

After a spinal cord injury, nearby cells quickly rush to action, forming protective scar tissue around the damaged area to stabilize and protect it.

18 Sep 2024

Scientists pinpoint thousands of gene variants linked to breast and ovarian cancer risk

Scientists have pinpointed thousands of genetic changes in a gene that may increase a person's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, paving the way for better risk assessment and more personalised care.

18 Sep 2024

Study explores microglial response to chronic hyponatremia and rapid sodium correction

Low serum sodium concentrations in blood are called hyponatremia, a prevalent clinical electrolyte disorder.

18 Sep 2024

Discovery of 5-formylcytosine as an activating epigenetic switch

The team of Professor Christof Niehrs at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, Germany, has discovered that a DNA modification called 5-formylcytosine (5fC) functions as an activating epigenetic switch that kick-starts genes in early embryonic development.

18 Sep 2024

Impact of oxidative stress, gut, and diet on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder pathophysiology

Oxidative stress and gut microbiome interactions are key in ADHD pathogenesis, with diet playing a crucial role in managing symptoms and improving outcomes.

18 Sep 2024

Genome-wide association study identifies genetic risk factors for dementia

In landmark research, scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) have reported the largest-ever genome-wide association study of dementia from all causes, revealing an overlap of genetic risks including neurodegeneration, vascular factors and cerebral small-vessel disease.

18 Sep 2024

Lipid molecule fuels cancer growth

Cancer cells seldom start off stealthy. Quite to the contrary, they announce their presence to the immune system by planting chemical red flags right on their membranes. Once alerted, the body's defenses can swoop in, destroying rogue cells before they can do much damage. Lying at the heart of this early warning system are lipids, fatty compounds previously seen by cancer biologists primarily as a fuel source for burgeoning tumors.

18 Sep 2024

A novel approach to biomolecule engineering

Thanks to a serendipitous discovery and a lot of painstaking work, scientists can now build biohybrid molecules that combine the homing powers of DNA with the broad functional repertoire of proteins - without having to synthesize them one by one, researchers report in a new study. Using a naturally occurring process, laboratories can harness the existing molecule-building capacities of bacteria to generate vast libraries of potentially therapeutic DNA-protein hybrid molecules.

18 Sep 2024