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Northwestern scientists identify key genes behind Parkinson's development

A longstanding mystery in Parkinson's disease research has been why some individuals carrying pathogenic variants that increase their risk of PD go on to develop the disease, while others who also carry such variants do not.

11 Apr 2025

Decoding the enzymatic breakdown of alginates for green biotechnology

Every year, thousands of tonnes of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications.

11 Apr 2025

Epigenetic discovery offers hope for reducing addiction relapse

New research on the biological basis of addiction has found that the critical epigenetic enzyme histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) limits the expression of the gene Scn4b, regulating neuronal activity and thereby the formation of strong drug-related memories, which can trigger relapse in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).

10 Apr 2025

Breakthrough molecule offers hope for treating rare mitochondrial diseases

A medical breakthrough could result in the first treatment for rare but serious diseases in which genetic defects disrupt cellular energy production.

9 Apr 2025

Scientists stop long-COVID symptoms in mice using a new antiviral compound

Australian scientists developed a novel antiviral that targets the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzyme, showing strong preclinical efficacy in reducing both acute and long COVID symptoms in mice.

9 Apr 2025

New STITCHR tool offers a promising step forward for gene therapy

Investigators from Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have developed STITCHR, a new gene editing tool that can insert therapeutic genes into specific locations without causing unwanted mutations.

9 Apr 2025

Gum disease linked to worsening liver health

There is growing recognition in medicine that what happens in one part of the body can ripple through others.

9 Apr 2025

What happens if you significantly increase dietary folic acid intake?

Increased dietary folic acid intake may lead to adverse health effects, including inflammation and neurotoxicity, highlighting the need for optimal levels.

9 Apr 2025

Tolebrutinib shows promise for treating non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

A Cleveland Clinic-led clinical trial of tolebrutinib, an investigational oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a group of drugs originally developed to treat lymphomas and related blood disorders, demonstrated a 31% delay in the onset of six-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) in patients with non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

8 Apr 2025

Experimental drug NU-9 shows promise for Alzheimer's and ALS treatment

Experimental drug NU-9 - a small molecule compound approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - improves neuron health in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new Northwestern University study.

8 Apr 2025

Blocking an enzyme to overcome immunotherapy resistance in melanoma patients

About 65% of melanoma patients do not respond to immunotherapy. New work by the team of Prof. Max Mazzone (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology) discovered that an enzyme called HPGDS (expressed in a specific subset of macrophages), plays a key role in immunotherapy resistance.

7 Apr 2025

New guidelines aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma pneumoniae in children

The Chinese Medical Association has released new guidelines for diagnosing and treating Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children.

7 Apr 2025

Mpox virus poses rising global epidemic and pandemic threat

Insufficient research on mpox hinders effective control strategies, emphasizing the need to understand its transmission and immune response mechanisms.

7 Apr 2025

Cryo-EM reveals fine structural details of human chromatin remodeler in action

Chromatin remodeling plays a vital role in gene regulation, affecting how DNA is accessed. Disruptions in this process can also lead to cancer and other diseases.

4 Apr 2025

New drug shows neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in murine models of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is currently incurable. The current drugs available have very limited efficacy and only in mild stages of the disease.

2 Apr 2025

Senolytics offer hope for more precise Alzheimer's treatments

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on March 29, 2025, as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 3, titled "Differential senolytic inhibition of normal versus Aβ-associated cholinesterases: implications in aging and Alzheimer's disease."

1 Apr 2025

New approach speeds up personalized cancer treatment for young patients

A pan-Canadian team has developed a new way to quickly find personalized treatments for young cancer patients, by growing their tumors in chicken eggs and analyzing their proteins.

1 Apr 2025

Traditional Chinese medicine targets cholesterol metabolism for cancer treatment

Researchers explore how natural compounds in traditional Chinese medicine can modulate cholesterol metabolism to combat cancer.

31 Mar 2025

Can natural supplements backfire? Review explains how and why

A new review uncovers how common natural supplements can both protect and endanger health, depending on dose, duration, and delivery—and points to next-gen technologies as the key to unlocking their full therapeutic power.

31 Mar 2025

WARRIOR trial finds no impact of intensive therapy on heart events in women

An intensive three-drug regimen of heart medications did not significantly impact the rate of serious cardiovascular events at five years in women who experienced signs and symptoms of ischemia, or insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, but had no blockages in their heart's arteries, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

29 Mar 2025