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Targeted mRNA therapy shows promise for healing damaged lungs

A combination of mRNA and a new lipid nanoparticle could help heal damaged lungs, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

21 Feb 2025

Common antidepressant Fluoxetine protects from sepsis-induced death

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19 Feb 2025

New mechanism regulates the immune response against parasites

Researchers at the University of Liège (Belgium) have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that regulates the immune response against parasites.

8 Feb 2025

The diverse immunological functions of megakaryocytes

Megakaryocytes (MKs), known for their role in platelet production, have emerged as critical players in immune responses, showcasing versatility in both physiological and pathological contexts.

17 Jan 2025

Drug in breast cancer trials shows potential for treating blood cancers

Two new studies led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a possible way to block the progression of several forms of blood cancer using a drug already in clinical trials against breast cancer.

16 Jan 2025

Brazilian tree compound offers hope for visceral leishmaniasis treatment

A compound derived from Nectandra leucantha, a tree native to southern Brazil (local names canela-seca or canela-branca), has the potential to be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease associated with poverty, malnutrition, poor housing and lack of basic sanitation.

7 Jan 2025

Solving a decades-long puzzle in leishmaniasis drug development

A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 people around the world every year.

20 Dec 2024

Potential new mRNA-based therapy for pre-eclampsia

Lipid nanoparticles targeting VEGF mRNA show promise in treating pre-eclampsia, restoring maternal blood pressure and enhancing fetal health in murine models.

13 Dec 2024

Zinc deficiency linked to increased risk of lung infection

Dietary zinc deficiency promotes lung infection by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria - a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia, according to a new study published Nov. 15 in the journal Nature Microbiology.

15 Nov 2024

Review: The multifaceted roles of bilirubin in liver health and disease

Bilirubin, the byproduct of hemoprotein breakdown, particularly hemoglobin, is a critical marker in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing liver diseases.

6 Nov 2024

How a ketogenic diet could reduce autoimmune disease severity through host-microbiome interactions

This study uncovers the ketogenic diet's effects on the microbiome, revealing its potential to mitigate autoimmune diseases through metabolic pathways.

6 Nov 2024

Advances in neutropenia research could pave the way for better treatments

Neutropenia is a condition in which there are not enough neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, in the blood.

5 Nov 2024

Exercise temporarily improves muscle insulin resistance linked to genetic risk for type 2 diabetes

The study uncovers how acute exercise alleviates insulin resistance in TBC1D4 variant carriers, underscoring the need for personalized diabetes interventions.

4 Nov 2024

New single-chain mRNA vaccines offer enhanced immunity and protection against mpox

Study reveals single-chain mRNA vaccines confer 100% protection against lethal mpox challenge in mice, marking a significant advancement in vaccine technology.

22 Oct 2024

Study highlights rising rates of tick-borne parasitic disease in the United States

Rates of babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic disease, increased an average of 9% per year in the United States between 2015 and 2022 and four in 10 patients were found to be co-infected with another tick-borne illness such as Lyme disease, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine.

8 Oct 2024

Novel lipid nanoparticles enhance tissue-specific drug delivery

Penn Engineers have discovered a novel means of directing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the revolutionary molecules that delivered the COVID-19 vaccines, to target specific tissues, presaging a new era in personalized medicine and gene therapy.

1 Oct 2024

Traditional Chinese medicine shows potential in cancer treatment

Cancer, a pervasive global health concern, remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Current cancer treatment modalities encompass surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, all of which have significantly contributed to improving patient survival.

1 Oct 2024