Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: biotech/medical – Page 15

Researchers trace genetic code’s origins to early protein structures

Genes are the building blocks of life, and the genetic code provides the instructions for the complex processes that make organisms function. But how and why did it come to be the way it is?

A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sheds new light on the origin and evolution of the , providing valuable insights for genetic engineering and bioinformatics. The study is published in the Journal of Molecular Biology.

“We find the origin of the genetic code mysteriously linked to the dipeptide composition of a proteome, the collective of proteins in an organism,” said corresponding author Gustavo Caetano-Anollés, professor in the Department of Crop Sciences, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and Biomedical and Translation Sciences of Carle Illinois College of Medicine at U. of I.

‘Virtual clinical trials’ may predict success of heart failure drugs

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new way to predict whether existing drugs could be repurposed to treat heart failure, one of the world’s most pressing health challenges. By combining advanced computer modeling with real-world patient data, the team has created “virtual clinical trials” that may facilitate the discovery of effective therapies while reducing the time, cost, and risk of failed studies.

“We’ve shown that with our framework, we can predict the clinical effect of a drug without a . We can say with high confidence if a drug is likely to succeed or not,” says Nansu Zong, Ph.D., a biomedical informatician at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study, which was published in npj Digital Medicine.

New system dramatically speeds the search for polymer materials

MIT researchers developed a fully autonomous platform that can identify, mix, and characterize novel polymer blends until it finds the optimal blend. This system could streamline the design of new composite materials for sustainable biocatalysis, better batteries, cheaper solar panels, and safer drug-delivery materials.

AI-powered CRISPR could lead to faster gene therapies

Stanford Medicine researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool to help scientists better plan gene-editing experiments. The technology, CRISPR-GPT, acts as a gene-editing “copilot” supported by AI to help researchers—even those unfamiliar with gene editing—generate designs, analyze data and troubleshoot design flaws.

The model builds on a tool called CRISPR, a powerful gene-editing technology used to edit genomes and develop therapies for . But training on the tool to design an experiment is complicated and time-consuming—even for seasoned scientists. CRISPR-GPT speeds that process along, automating much of the experimental design and refinement. The goal, said Le Cong, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology and genetics, who led the technology’s development, is to help scientists produce lifesaving drugs faster.

The paper is published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Patients in least developed countries three times more likely to die after abdominal trauma surgery, study reveals

Mortality after emergency abdominal surgery is more than three times higher in the least developed countries compared to the most developed. Yet among those who undergo surgery, injuries tend to be less severe—raising concerns that those most critically injured are not even reaching the operating theater.

A study published in The Lancet Global Health has revealed stark global inequalities in survival after emergency for traumatic injuries. The research found that patients in the world’s least developed countries face a substantially higher risk of dying within 30 days of surgery than those in the most developed nations, as ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI).

Although overall mortality rates appeared similar across settings at 11%, risk-adjusted analysis showed that patients in the lowest-HDI countries faced more than three times the risk of death compared with those in the highest-HDI group, while the risk in middle-HDI countries was nearly double.

Nanobiotechnology Unveils the Power of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review on the Synergistic Role of Probiotics and Advanced Nanotechnology in Enhancing Geriatric Health

The geriatric population, comprising ages 65 and above, encounters distinct health obstacles because of physiological changes and heightened vulnerability to diseases. New technologies are being investigated to tackle the intricate health requirements of this population. Recent advancements in probiotics and nanotechnology offer promising strategies to enhance geriatric health by improving nutrient absorption, modulating gut microbiota, and delivering targeted therapeutic agents. Probiotics play a crucial role in maintaining gut homeostasis, reducing inflammation, and supporting metabolic functions. However, challenges such as limited viability and efficacy in harsh gastrointestinal conditions hinder their therapeutic potential. Advanced nanotechnology can overcome these constraints by enhancing the efficacy of probiotics through nano-encapsulation, controlled delivery, and improvement of bioavailability. This review explores the synergistic potential of probiotics and advanced nanotechnology in addressing age-related health concerns. It highlights key developments in probiotic formulations, nano-based delivery systems, and their combined impact on gut health, immunity, and neuroprotection. The convergence of probiotics and nanotechnology represents a novel and transformative approach to promoting healthy aging, paving the way for innovative therapeutic interventions.

Building capacity to beat cancer with a targeted radiopharmaceutical

The suite of powerful particle accelerators at RIKEN has a long history of dual-purpose use. As well as the central role these instruments play in fundamental nuclear physics research, they have also long been employed in the production of valuable radioisotopes.

Today, some of the strongest radioisotope demand comes from medicine, where they are used in imaging and increasingly, as cancer treatments. Currently, there is a rapidly growing interest in astatine-211, a promising radioisotope for the potential selective treatment of numerous cancers.

Fortunately, innovative new methods for producing astatine-211 in practical amounts have recently been pioneered at our facility. And, a recently launched human clinical trial at Osaka University Hospital of an astatine-211 based anticancer radiopharmaceutical, a first for Japan, is leveraging these new production abilities. (Circa 2024)

RIKEN’s particle accelerator facilities are producing astatine-211, a radioisotope with great promise for selective anti-tumor therapies, says Hiromitsu Haba.

Avatars for Astronaut Health to Fly on NASA’s Artemis II

NASA announced a trailblazing experiment that aims to take personalized medicine to new heights. The experiment is part of a strategic plan to gather valuable scientific data during the Artemis II mission, enabling NASA to “know before we go” back to the lunar surface and on to Mars.

The AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) investigation will use organ-on-a-chip devices, or organ chips, to study the effects of deep space radiation and microgravity on human health. The chips will contain cells from Artemis II astronauts and fly side-by-side with crew on their approximately 10-day journey around the Moon. This research, combined with other studies on the health and performance of Artemis II astronauts, will give NASA insight into how to best protect astronauts as exploration expands to the surface of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

/* */