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Dopamine and serotonin balance reward learning in opposing ways

If you've heard of two of the brain's chemical neurotransmitters, it's probably dopamine and serotonin. Never mind that glutamate and GABA do most of the work - it's the thrill of dopamine as the "pleasure chemical" and serotonin as tender mood-stabilizer that attract all the headlines.

25 Nov 2024

Machine learning identifies key genes linking rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease affecting an estimated 17 million people worldwide. The disease is caused by immune cells attacking the joints and can result in pain, swelling, and damage to the cartilage and bone.

5 Nov 2024

Surge in GLP-1 drug use for obesity coincides with drop in bariatric surgery

Researchers from Mass General Brigham and collaborators found that use of GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity more than doubled from 2022 to 2023 while rates of surgery dropped by one quarter.

26 Oct 2024

Researchers unlock potential of light-controlled cellular activities

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have succeeded in elucidating the structure of specific photoreceptors.

25 Oct 2024

Adenine base editors show potential to correct X-CGD-causing mutations

A collaborative effort between investigators at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, demonstrates the potential of precise genome editing technologies, called adenine base editors, to correct disease-causing mutations in stem cells from patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD), a rare genetic disorder characterized by high susceptibility to infections.

16 Oct 2024

Major donation fuels advances in ophthalmic artificial intelligence

The Icahn School of Medicine has announced a $5 million gift from the John and Daria Barry Foundation for the Center for Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Health.

16 Oct 2024

Distinct immune profiles linked to adverse reactions from immunotherapy

Distinct immune "signatures" in patients who develop adverse events while taking immunotherapy for cancer may help oncologists identify patients at risk and treat them early to prevent serious side effects, suggests a study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

15 Oct 2024

Scientists develop new method for relocating misplaced proteins

Cells are highly controlled spaces that rely on every protein being in the right place. Many diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, are associated with misplaced proteins.

20 Sep 2024

New dye technique allows for transparent skin imaging in live mice

Seeing what's going on inside a body is never easy. While technologies like CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and microscopy can provide insights, the images are rarely completely clear and can come with side effects like radiation exposure.

5 Sep 2024

Kynurenine pathway blockade shows promise for restoring brain metabolism in Alzheimer's

Among the many ways neuroscientists think Alzheimer's disease may strip away brain function is by disrupting the glucose metabolism needed to fuel the healthy brain.

22 Aug 2024

Understanding host immune responses through cell death pathways

A new review was published as the cover paper of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 15, entitled, "Types of cell death and their relations to host immunological pathways".

16 Aug 2024

Moffitt study identifies predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive form of skin cancer known for its rapid growth and tendency to metastasize. Despite the promise of immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which can boost the body's immune response against cancer cells, nearly half of patients do not respond to this treatment.

26 Jul 2024

Discovery of "unconventional" immune response opens new avenue in TB vaccine development

An "unconventional" immune response now identified by scientists from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) is a potential new pathway for developing new vaccines for tuberculosis (TB), according to a new publication.

15 Jul 2024

Stanford researchers uncover key to overcoming chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a particularly aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer, in part because it is often resistant to chemotherapy.

4 Jul 2024

Angiotensin receptor blockers found to lower epilepsy risk, new study reveals

A recent study published in JAMA Neurology shows that angiotensin receptor blockers, a class of blood pressure drugs, reduce the risk of developing epilepsy, especially in older adults and stroke survivors.

18 Jun 2024

Stanford study reveals link between adaptive myelination and drug addiction

Our brains, even in adulthood, continually adapt to what we do, strengthening or weakening neural pathways as we practice new skills or abandon old habits.

5 Jun 2024

Super-resolution microscopy offers high-resolution view of virus replication inside cells

A new, nano-scale look at how the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in cells may offer greater precision in drug development, a Stanford University team reports in Nature Communications.

31 May 2024

Newly discovered neuron type guides retinal blood vessel formation

Scientists have known for years that a lattice of blood vessels nourishes cells in the retina that allow us to see – but it's been a mystery how the intricate structure is created.

23 May 2024

Biological similarities found between "chemo brain" and brain fog after COVID-19

Brain fog after COVID-19 is biologically similar to cognitive impairment caused by cancer chemotherapy, something doctors often refer to as "chemo brain."

22 May 2024

Medicaid ‘unwinding’ decried as biased against disabled people

Jacqueline Saa has a genetic condition that leaves her unable to stand and walk on her own or hold a job. Every weekday for four years, Saa, 43, has relied on a home health aide to help her cook, bathe and dress, go to the doctor, pick up medications, and accomplish other daily tasks.

14 May 2024