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Maternal immune response to flu linked to fetal brain changes

A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.

29 Jul 2024

SARS-CoV-2 detected in common wildlife species

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published Monday (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications.

29 Jul 2024

Wearable, non-invasive device can measure activity in human cervical nerves in clinical settings

A research team led by UC San Diego has, for the first time, shown that a wearable, non-invasive device can measure activity in human cervical nerves in clinical settings.

29 Jul 2024

Overcoming cancer relapse with CAR-Enhancer therapy

Even as they have revolutionized the treatment of certain forms of cancer, CAR T-cell therapies have been shadowed by a significant limitation: many patients, including those whose cancer goes into full remission, eventually relapse. In a new study, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers report on a technique with the potential to eliminate that problem.

29 Jul 2024

How diet affects metabolism and the gut microbiome

In a recent review, researchers explored advances in molecular nutrition, focusing on pharmaceutical and dietary interventions for energy balance and their interactions with the gut microbiome. They also discussed emerging dietary patterns and the implications of microbiome research on nutrition.

28 Jul 2024

New zwitterionic polyion developed for effective plasmid DNA delivery in muscle cells

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new drug delivering molecule, a zwitterionic polymer complex that can help get plasmid DNA inside cells when injected into skeletal muscle, a crucial step in the expression of therapeutic RNA and proteins.

28 Jul 2024

Cytomegalovirus in breast milk linked to changes in infant growth and gut microbiome

Research shows human cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in breast milk affects milk composition, infant gut microbiome, and growth, with potential impacts on neonatal health.

28 Jul 2024

Innovative dual-drug strategy for colorectal cancer treatment

A combination of two drugs was capable of suppressing tumors in a non-conventional manner. Instead of inhibiting tumor cell division, as the most widely used medications do, the strategy consisted of hyperactivating oncogenic signaling by these cells to the point where they became stressed.

27 Jul 2024

Inflammation may not be key to fighting liver fibrosis in MAFLD

Researchers at UCLA Health uncovered new information about the role inflammation plays in mitigating liver fibrosis, which is associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), one of the most common diseases in the world affecting up to 40 percent of U.S. adults. While inflammation in the liver has long been considered a prerequisite to developing liver fibrosis, the scarring and thickening of tissue that can impair the liver's ability to function, this new research suggests that reducing inflammation may not influence the extent of fibrosis.

27 Jul 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

Researchers identify a potential therapeutic target for advanced multiple sclerosis

Researchers from Kyushu University have identified a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling condition associated with the central nervous system.

25 Jul 2024

Fecal microbiota transplants can boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancers

Findings from a small, proof-of-concept clinical trial have suggested that fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) can boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy in a range of gastrointestinal cancers.

25 Jul 2024

Study identifies genes increasing risk of severe COVID-19

Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in cooperation with other research teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, investigated a particularly large group of affected individuals.

25 Jul 2024

Ohio State leads multi-million dollar research on long COVID solutions

A 2022 study suggesting that blocking a single molecule could protect against severe illness in COVID-19 has led to a $15 million federal grant supporting a comprehensive effort to learn more – with finding a solution to long COVID at the center of the new research.

23 Jul 2024

More types of lung cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 than previously thought, scientists report

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys, University of California San Diego and their international collaborators have reported that more types of lung cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 than previously thought, including those without known viral receptors.

23 Jul 2024