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Research reviews role of protein tyrosine phosphatase in molecular biology

As the proteomics technology develops and human genomic analysis becomes easier to execute, molecules involved in the regulation of biochemical signaling pathways have become interesting subjects for researchers.

28 Dec 2018

Multi-database electronic research finds link between gene polymorphisms with zinc status

Zinc is one of the essential components in the diet of all living organisms. It is the second most abundant biological trace element after iron.

28 Dec 2018

Study finds how long-term memory encoded engram neurons are formed

While long-term memory is known to be encoded in specific neural cells, engram neurons, it has been unclear how these engram neurons are formed during training.

28 Dec 2018

Study suggests dopamine release in the brain occurs twice per meal

We know a good meal can stimulate the release of the feel-good hormone dopamine, and now a study in humans from the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Germany suggests that dopamine release in the brain occurs at two different times: at the time the food is first ingested and another once the food reaches the stomach.

28 Dec 2018

How physical activity decreases belly fat in humans

Some of you may have made a New Year's resolution to hit the gym to tackle that annoying belly fat. But have you ever wondered how physical activity produces this desired effect? A signaling molecule called interleukin-6 plays a critical role in this process, researchers report December 27 in the journal Cell Metabolism.

28 Dec 2018

Study explains effects of aging on endothelial health and vascular regenerative capacity

The endothelium plays an important role in cardiovascular regulation, from blood flow to platelet aggregation, immune cell infiltration and demargination.

28 Dec 2018

Ancient genomes reveal changes in genetic status of eastern gorillas

The critically endangered Grauer's gorilla has recently lost genetic diversity and has experienced an increase in harmful mutations. These conclusions were reached by an international team of researchers who sequenced eleven genomes from eastern gorilla specimens collected up to 100 years ago, and compared these with genomes from present-day individuals.

28 Dec 2018

Kanazawa University researchers unravel link between inflammation and cancer

Severe inflammation in tissues is often associated with the occurrence of cancer. The mechanism linking both these conditions is not clearly understood. Furthermore, inflamed and cancerous tissues contain a heterogenous mix of damaged and protective cells.

27 Dec 2018

Gently stroking babies could provide effective pain relief before medical procedures

Researchers found that gently stroking a baby seems to reduce activity in the infant brain associated with painful experiences. Their results, appearing December 17 in the journal Current Biology, suggest that lightly brushing an infant at a certain speed--of approximately 3 centimeters per second--could provide effective pain relief before clinically necessary medical procedures.

27 Dec 2018

Himalayan marmot genome offers clues to high-altitude adaptation

Himalayan marmots can survive at altitudes up to 5,000 meters in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and Pakistan and on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China, where many of them face extreme cold, little oxygen, and few other resources.

27 Dec 2018

White colonies on kimchi surface is not formed by molds but by yeasts, finds study

WiKim reported that the white colonies on the surface of kimchi is not formed by molds but by "yeasts" and that genomic data was acquired regarding the hygienic safety of the yeast strains.

27 Dec 2018

Surfer's ear reveals important clues to lives of ancient pearl divers in Panama

While examining a skull from an ancient burial ground in a pre-Columbian village in Panama, Nicole Smith-Guzmán, bioarchaeologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), was surprised to discover an example of surfers' ear: a small, bony bump in the ear canal common among surfers, kayakers and free divers in cold climates.

24 Dec 2018

Researchers identify hundreds of new genes linked to blindness in lab mice

Hundreds of new genes linked to blindness and other vision disorders have been identified in a screen of mouse strains. Many of these genes are likely important in human vision and the results could help identify new causes of hereditary blindness in patients.

24 Dec 2018

Cell-free DNA can be used to predict biological age, according to a new study

Scientists have found that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) within in the blood can reflect differences in the age and health of individuals.

21 Dec 2018

Simple protocol rescues stressed liver cells

Isolated human hepatocytes are essential tools in preclinical and clinical liver research, but cell quality is highly variable. Now, researchers from Uppsala University have devised a simple protocol that improves hepatocyte quality and enables cells from a wider quality spectrum to be used in standard and advanced cell culture. The findings are published in Archives of Toxicology.

21 Dec 2018

Scientists uncover direct link between brain cell size and IQ level

Scientists working within the Human Brain Project have for the first time uncovered a direct relation between brain cell size and IQ level.

21 Dec 2018

Moving from Glass Slides to Whole-Slide Digital Imaging

In this interview conducted at SfN 2018, Susan Tappan explains the benefits of whole slide imaging and how MBF have collaborated with Huron to achieve repeatable whole slide imaging workflows.

From MBF Bioscience 21 Dec 2018

Researchers reveal novel mechanism for sperm stem cell number control

The steady production of sperm relies on the number of sperm stem cells in the testis remaining constant. Researchers including Asst. Prof. Yu Kitadate and Prof. Shosei Yoshida and Prof. Benjamin Simons have revealed a novel mechanism for stem cell number control.

21 Dec 2018

Change in genome of Caucasians could explain higher rates of esophageal cancer

A change in the genome of Caucasians could explain much-higher rates of the most common type of esophageal cancer in this population, a new study finds.

21 Dec 2018

New project develops more efficient treatment approaches for cardiovascular diseases

Within the framework of a European collaborative research project, Oliver Müller, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Kiel University and Consultant at the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, will receive 1.4 million Euros for the project "CardioReGenix: Development of Next-Generation Gene Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease".

21 Dec 2018