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New therapeutic strategy designed to improve kidney function after lung transplantation

The Covid-19 pandemic shows the importance of medical research in the treatment of lung diseases. The Medical University of Vienna is renowned the world over in the field of lung transplantation medicine.

23 Dec 2020

New results challenge prevailing dogma regarding brain plasticity following limb loss

Advances in neuroscience and engineering have generated great hope for Luke Skywalker-like prosthetics: robotic devices that are almost indistinguishable from a human limb.

23 Dec 2020

Modulating BST2 expression on blood stem cells may help regulate cell activation during chronic infections

When a person has an infection, the body activates immune responses to fight it. IFNγ is an inflammatory molecule produced by the immune system that helps fight infections.

23 Dec 2020

Researchers uncover key regulation step that inhibits tumor growth

Most living things need oxygen to grow and thrive. Even cancerous tumors. That's why tumors will readily sprout new blood vessels if their oxygen is starved, creating new lifelines for survival.

22 Dec 2020

Research shows how colanic acid extends lifespan in C. elegans

Baylor College of Medicine researcher Meng Wang had already shown that bacteria that make a metabolite called colanic acid (CA) could extend the lifespan of worms in her lab by as much as 50%, but her collaboration with Rice University synthetic biologist Jeffrey Tabor is providing tools to answer the bigger question of how the metabolite imparts longer life.

22 Dec 2020

Study shows how the brain represents causally-controlled objects

We know that the brain can direct thoughts, but how this is achieved is difficult to determine. Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre have devised a brain machine interface (BMI) that allows mice to learn to guide a cursor using only their brain activity.

22 Dec 2020

First human clinical trial validates the practicality, accuracy of oxygen-sensing liquid bandage

In the first human clinical trial, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and surgeons at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have validated the practicality and accuracy of an oxygen-sensing liquid bandage that measures the concentration of oxygen in transplanted tissue

22 Dec 2020

Researchers evaluate self-administered 'scratch-and-sniff' tests for COVID-19

A self-administered 'scratch-and-sniff' test for COVID-19 may be around the corner, according to researchers at Penn State, the University of Florida and Arizona State University.

22 Dec 2020

Study finds significantly lower mother-to-newborn transfer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Pregnant women may be especially vulnerable to developing more severe cases of COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection, but little is known about their anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response or how it may affect their offspring.

22 Dec 2020

Researchers control cardiac waves with light to study abnormally rapid heart rhythms

Over 300,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to sudden cardiac death. In many cases, sudden cardiac death is caused by abnormally rapid heart rhythms called tachycardias, which means the heart cannot pump adequate blood to the body.

22 Dec 2020

Wearing masks may not be enough to prevent COVID-19 spread at close distances

Simply wearing a mask may not be enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 without social distancing.

22 Dec 2020

Novel tantalum-loaded hydrogel for rapid control of excessive bleeding

There are many different events which may lead to excessive and uncontrolled bleeding within the body. This can occur as a result of inflammation and ulcerations, abnormalities in the blood vessels or trauma-related injuries.

22 Dec 2020

Cannabis use dampens physiological response to stress in female rats

Female rats that inhaled vaporized cannabis daily for a month developed a blunted physiological response to stress, according to a new study by Washington State University researchers.

22 Dec 2020

Anti-diarrhea drug triggers cell death in glioblastoma cells

In cell culture, loperamide, a drug commonly used against diarrhea, proves effective against glioblastoma cells. A research team at Goethe University has now unraveled the drug’s mechanisms of action of cell death induction and – in doing so – has shown how this compound could help attack brain tumors that otherwise are difficult to treat.

22 Dec 2020

COVID-19 patients retain immunity against the virus for at least 8 months

Australian researchers have revealed - for the first time - that people who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus have immune memory to protect against reinfection for at least eight months.

22 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and types differ by disease severity, study finds

Researchers have measured the antibody levels and types in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with different disease severity. Their results suggest gut immune pathways could play a role in reducing virus-based inflammation and recovery.

22 Dec 2020

Trinity team uncovers mutations linked with early onset dementia

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin today announced a significant advance in our understanding of an early onset form of dementia that may also progress our understanding of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

22 Dec 2020

Scientists isolate anti-COVID-19 nanobodies produced by a llama

National Institutes of Health researchers have isolated a set of promising, tiny antibodies, or "nanobodies," against SARS-CoV-2 that were produced by a llama named Cormac.

22 Dec 2020

What are the potential benefits of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests?

A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins University, USA; Imperial College London, UK; and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Switzerland, recently compared the effectiveness of Ag-RDT, NAAT, and clinical judgment alone in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients.

22 Dec 2020

Large proportion of UK population hesitant over COVID-19 vaccine

Researcher Dr. Alex de Figueiredo from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has conducted a study showing that a significant proportion of people in the UK will probably be reluctant to receive a vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

22 Dec 2020