New training approach could help AI agents perform better in uncertain conditions.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As humans age, we develop chronic inflammation in our blood and tissues that gradually decreases the function of blood stem cells in our bone marrow. These defects harm blood cell production and the immune system, often leading to a slew of complications and weakening responses to chemotherapy.
Now, UF Health Cancer Center researchers have discovered a way to prevent this inflammation, called “inflammaging,” by systemically targeting a protein. The findings in mice, published Jan. 3 in Science Immunology, could pave the way for therapies aimed at preserving an aging blood system, with implications for cancer treatments and aging-related diseases, including anemias, infections, and blood cancers.
“We set out to determine if we could fully preserve and rejuvenate blood stem cell function during the course of aging, a goal that had remained largely elusive so far,” said Jason Butler, Ph.D., a professor and vice chief of research in the UF Division of Hematology and Oncology and a member of the UF Health Cancer Center, who led the new study.
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women globally1. In the past decade, multimodal approaches and innovative therapies have transformed the outlook of this lethal disease, leading to gains in patient survival2. Despite these advances, nearly 685,000 women die of breast cancer each year worldwide1, largely due to the development of incurable distant metastases to vital organs3. In this context, a potentially critical factor may lie within the underlying principles of most anticancer drugs. Standard-of-care treatments are typically developed on the basis of their cytotoxic activity and are not necessarily designed to interfere with metastasis-relevant mechanisms4,5. Consequently, there is an intriguing yet uncharted opportunity for the development of metastasis-targeted agents that disrupt the causes of metastasis themselves4,5.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are living cells that are shed from both primary and metastatic lesions into the bloodstream, acting as metastatic pioneers6. The presence of CTCs has been firmly established to be predictive of poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer7. Recent studies by us and others demonstrated that clusters of CTCs, defined as multicellular aggregates of cancer cells alone (homotypic) or in liaison with immune cells (heterotypic), have a substantially higher metastatic capacity and a stronger association with a poor prognosis than single CTCs8,9,10. Preclinical studies further revealed unique biological properties and vulnerabilities of these clusters, such as stem-like and proliferation features dependent upon cell–cell adhesion integrity8,11. A screen with 2,486 US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs demonstrated that Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitors, such as cardiac glycosides, effectively dissolve CTC clusters into single cells, leading to metastasis suppression in mouse models of breast cancer11. Consequently, the Digoxin Induced Dissolution of CTC Clusters (DICCT) trial has been set up as a multicentric, prospective, first-in-human proof-of-concept, single-arm, therapeutic exploratory phase 1 study aimed to examine whether the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor digoxin could disrupt CTC clusters in patients with metastatic breast cancer at dose levels that are safe and well tolerated (NCT03928210; DICCT/Swiss-GO-07).
The primary objective of the study was to assess the effect of digoxin on CTC cluster size in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Of note, the size of CTC clusters, rather than their general abundance, best reflects cluster-dissolution properties. Secondary objectives included the effect of digoxin on the overall abundance of CTC clusters, the kinetics of CTC cluster dissolution and the dose–response relationship of the effect. Patients aged 18 years or older with locoregionally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer with progressive disease not amenable to treatments with curative intent were eligible for study inclusion. A total of 58 patients were screened by means of peripheral blood sampling and CTC cluster assessment. Of these, 11 patients resulted positive for CTC clusters at baseline, were enrolled in DICCT and received digoxin at 0.125–0.250 mg per day (intention-to-treat population) (Fig. 1a).
To design their improved materials, Serles and Filleter worked with Professor Seunghwa Ryu and PhD student Jinwook Yeo at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea. This partnership was initiated through U of T’s International Doctoral Clusters program, which supports doctoral training through research engagement with international collaborators.
The KAIST team employed the multi-objective Bayesian optimization machine learning algorithm. This algorithm learned from simulated geometries to predict the best possible geometries for enhancing stress distribution and improving the strength-to-weight ratio of nano-architected designs.
Serles then used a two-photon polymerization 3D printer housed in the Centre for Research and Application in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) to create prototypes for experimental validation. This additive manufacturing technology enables 3D printing at the micro and nano scale, creating optimized carbon nanolattices.
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Using human stem cells, they found compounds that lower cholesterol without relying on the usual pathways, providing a fresh approach to treating the condition.
A Hidden Clue in the Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. However, what many people don’t know is that it may also hold a clue to a medical condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Experts believe that the subtle fat deposits visible on her hands, known as xanthomas, could be early evidence of this genetic disorder.
A minor earthquake has hit Yellowstone National Park, and some people in the region experienced a tremor. The magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck near Norris Geyser Basin, which has a history of quakes.
In a monumental stride toward the realization of practical quantum computing and advanced quantum networks, researchers at the prestigious Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge have successfully crafted a fully operational quantum register utilizing the atomic properties within a semiconductor quantum dot. This innovative development could pave the way for pivotal advancements in quantum information technology, crucial for the anticipated future where quantum networking integrates into everyday digital communications.
This breakthrough is detailed in a publication in Nature Physics, where it reveals the introduction of an entirely new category of qubits that are optically interconnected. As the field of quantum networking progresses, the need for stable, scalable, and adaptable quantum nodes has become increasingly evident. The research team’s focus on quantum dots is particularly advantageous, as these nanoscale entities possess unique optical and electronic attributes intrinsic to quantum mechanical phenomena.
Quantum dots have demonstrated considerable potential in existing technologies, such as medical imaging and display screens, primarily due to their efficacy as bright single-photon sources. However, to create functional quantum networks, it is essential not only to emit single photons but also to establish reliable qubits that can effectively interact with these emitted photons. Moreover, these qubits must be capable of locally storing quantum information over extended periods. The researchers’ development enhances the inherent spins of the nuclear atoms within the quantum dots, optimizing them into a cohesive many-body quantum register.
Although Chinese AI, such as DeepSeek, might torpedo American megatech, the advent of vanishingly tiny costs might lead us further up that exponential curve to Superabundance.
S V3 model, DeepSeek-V2, triggered an AI model price war in China after it was released last May. ‘ + The fact that DeepSeek-V2 was open-source and unprecedentedly cheap, only 1 yuan.
⏩($0.14)⏪ per 1 million tokens👀 ‼️
S cloud unit announcing price cuts of up to 97% on a range of models. ‘.
Scientists have successfully achieved a quantum collective behavior of macroscopic mechanical oscillators, unlocking new possibilities in quantum technology.
Quantum technologies are radically transforming our understanding of the universe. One emerging technology are macroscopic mechanical oscillators, devices that are vital in quartz watches, mobile phones, and lasers used in telecommunications. In the quantum realm, macroscopic oscillators could enable ultra-sensitive sensors and components for quantum computing, opening new possibilities for innovation in various industries.
Controlling mechanical oscillators at the quantum level is essential for developing future technologies in quantum computing and ultra-precise sensing. But controlling them collectively is challenging, as it requires near-perfect units, i.e. identical.