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Researchers gain new insights into pediatric tumors

Peripheral nervous system tumors are one of the most common types of childhood tumors. While some of these tumors, known as neuroblastoma, disappear on their own without treatment, others will continue to grow even despite intensive treatment.

10 Dec 2018

Study uncovers 11 new genes associated with epilepsy

The largest study of its kind, led by international researchers including scientists at RCSI, has discovered 11 new genes associated with epilepsy.

10 Dec 2018

High-intensity interval exercise could help combat cognitive dysfunction in obese people

It's fast-paced, takes less time to do, and burns a lot of calories. High-intensity interval exercise is widely recognized as the most time-efficient and effective way to exercise.

10 Dec 2018

Visual inspection alone is insufficient to diagnose skin cancer

A Cochrane review of the accuracy of skin cancer diagnostics has found that visual inspection of suspicious lesions is insufficient to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

10 Dec 2018

DDT in Alaskan fish shown to increase risk of cancer

A new study has found that children in Alaska who consume a lot of fish from rivers fed by the Eastern Alaska Mountain Range may be at an increased risk of cancer.

10 Dec 2018

Episodic memory tests help in predicting brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease

Use of two episodic memory tests help in predicting brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease, as indicated by a study carried out at the University of Helsinki and the University of California. Researchers suggest that comprehensive use of memory tests could improve the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.

10 Dec 2018

Genes play a role in physical activity and sleep

Time spent sitting, sleeping and moving is determined in part by our genes, University of Oxford researchers have shown.

10 Dec 2018

Novel nanowire memristor to artificially reproduce functions of biological synapses

Emulating and understanding the human brain is one of the most important challenges for modern technology: on the one hand, the ability to artificially reproduce the processing of brain signals is one of the cornerstones for the development of artificial intelligence, while on the other the understanding of the cognitive processes at the base of the human mind is still far away.

10 Dec 2018

HPV type 16 or 18 associated with cervical cancer risk in young women

The human papilloma virus can cause cervical cancer. According to new guidelines in Sweden, women over thirty therefore undergo initial screening for the virus rather than a smear test.

10 Dec 2018

Activating brain region could revive the urge to socialize among opioid addicts

One of the many painful and challenging aspects of the US opioid crisis is that people abusing opioids often isolate themselves from family and friends, making it difficult for loved ones to help people on a path towards recovery.

10 Dec 2018

Novel therapeutic targets based on biology of aging show promise for Alzheimer's disease

A scientific strategy that explores therapeutic targets based on the biology of aging is gaining ground as an effective approach to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the December 7, 2018 online issue of Neurology.

10 Dec 2018

Research advances offer hope for patient-tailored AML treatment

Advances in rapid screening of leukemia cells for drug susceptibility and resistance are bringing scientists closer to patient-tailored treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

10 Dec 2018

Neuronal activity in the brain allows prediction of risky or safe decisions

Full risk or preferably the safe option? Based on the neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, it is possible to predict what action will be chosen next: If the activity of specific neurons remains low, a risk will be taken again at the next opportunity.

9 Dec 2018

Failure of critical cellular energy sensor responsible for CKD progression, study finds

Chronic kidney disease, an affliction characterized by progressive loss of kidney function, affects millions of people worldwide and is associated with multi-organ damage, cardiovascular disease, and muscle wasting.

7 Dec 2018

MIT researchers develop antimicrobial peptides from South American wasp’s venom

The venom of insects such as wasps and bees is full of compounds that can kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are also toxic for humans, making it impossible to use them as antibiotic drugs.

7 Dec 2018

New book encompasses the vast history of reproduction

A new book is the first to encompass the vast history of how living things procreate, from the banks of the ancient Nile to the fertility clinics of today.

7 Dec 2018

Our brain senses angry voices in a flash, study shows

Sight and hearing are the two main sensory modalities allowing us to interact with our environment. But what happens within the brain when it perceives a threatening signal, such as an aggressive voice? How does it distinguish a threatening voice from the surrounding noise? How does it process this information? To answers these questions, researchers from the University of Geneva Switzerland, studied brain activity during the processing of various emotional voices.

7 Dec 2018

Scientists unravel how bacterial persister cells manipulate our immune cells

New research, from scientists at Imperial College London, unravels how so-called bacterial persister cells manipulate our immune cells, potentially opening new avenues to finding ways of clearing these bacterial cells from the body, and stopping recurrence of the bacterial infection.

7 Dec 2018

Study reveals possible link between hysterectomy and brain function

A new preclinical study has shown that in the short term, some types of memory are affected following a hysterectomy.

7 Dec 2018

New technology for profiling genetic makeup of myeloma tumor cells developed

Cancer arises when cells lose control. Deciphering the "blueprint" of cancer cells - outlining how cancer cells hijack specific pathways for uncontrolled proliferation - will lead to more efficient ways to fight it.

7 Dec 2018