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Category: biotech/medical – Page 189

Stimulation of hair regrowth in an animal model of androgenic alopecia using 2-deoxy-D-ribose

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) affects both men and women worldwide. New blood vessel formation can restore blood supply and stimulate the hair regrowth cycle. Recently, our group reported that 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) is 80%–90% as effective as VEGF in the stimulation of neovascularization in in vitro models and in a chick bioassay. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of 2dDR on hair growth. We prepared an alginate gel containing 2dDR, polypropylene glycol, and phenoxyethanol. AGA was developed in C57BL6 mice by intraperitoneally injecting testosterone (TE). A dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated group was used as a negative control, a minoxidil group was used as a positive control, and we included groups treated with 2dDR gel and a combination of 2dDR and minoxidil. Each treatment was applied for 20 days. Both groups treated with 2dDR gel and minoxidil stimulated the morphogenesis of hair follicles. H&E-stained skin sections of C57BL/6 mice demonstrated an increase in length, diameter, hair follicle density, anagen/telogen ratio, diameter of hair follicles, area of the hair bulb covered in melanin, and an increase in the number of blood vessels. Masson’s trichrome staining showed an increase in the area of the hair bulb covered in melanin. The effects of the FDA-approved drug (minoxidil) on hair growth were similar to those of 2dDR (80%–90%). No significant benefit were observed by applying a combination of minoxidil with 2dDR. We conclude that 2dDR gel has potential for the treatment of androgenic alopecia and possibly other alopecia conditions where stimulation of hair regrowth is desirable, such as after chemotherapy. The mechanism of activity of 2dDR remains to be established.

Alopecia can occur due to hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases. It can be induced by blood thinning medications, contraceptives, antidepressants, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta and calcium-channel blockers, retinoids, and chemotherapeutics (Vicky et al., 2018). Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA), is one of the most widespread hair loss conditions in the world (Yohei et al., 2018). In the pathophysiology of AGA, testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase. DHT then binds to androgen receptors in the dermal papilla cells (DPCs) of sensitive hair follicles and prolongs the telogen phase, causing hair loss before the growth of new hair (Izabela et al., 2014). AGA is said to affect 30% of Asian men by age 30 and 50% by age 50 (Yohei et al., 2018). It also affects 80% of White men and 40% of White women by age 70 (Pietro et al., 2019).

Wearable brain stimulation device could make on-the-go therapeutics a reality

Researchers at the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a compact, battery-powered brain stimulation device capable of delivering therapeutic magnetic pulses while a person is walking or performing everyday activities.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is used to treat conditions such as depression, stroke-related motor impairment, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. It is also used in cognitive and motor function research.

Existing systems need to be plugged into a power supply and have bulky designs meant for stationary use in . These limitations prevent stimulation during natural movement, such as standing and walking, making at-home or on-the-go treatments impractical.

Real-time analysis reveals a much higher proportion of harmful substances in particulate matter than assumed

People breathing contaminated air over the course of years are at greater risk of developing numerous diseases. This is thought to be due to highly reactive components in particulate matter, which affect biological processes in the body. However, researchers from the University of Basel, Switzerland, have now shown that precisely these components disappear within hours and that previous measurements therefore completely underestimate the quantities in which they are present.

From chronic respiratory problems to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and dementia, health damage caused by air pollution is wide-ranging and serious. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over six million deaths a year are caused by increased exposure to particulate matter.

The chemical composition of these tiny particles in the air, which come from a wide range of both anthropogenic and natural sources, is highly complex. Which particles trigger which reactions and long-term diseases in the body is the subject of intensive research.

A streaming brain-to-voice neuroprosthesis to restore naturalistic communication

Naturalistic communication is an aim for neuroprostheses. Here the authors present a neuroprosthesis that restores the voice of a paralyzed person simultaneously with their speaking attempts, enabling naturalistic communication.

Novel AI-powered imaging technique shows promise in evaluating patients for percutaneous coronary intervention

Patients with narrowing of at least 50% in three major coronary arteries did equally well when treated with a minimally invasive stent placement guided either by ultrasound-based imaging or by a novel, artificial-intelligence-powered (AI), non-invasive imaging technique derived from angiography, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) on March 30 in Chicago. The work was simultaneously published in The Lancet.

“This is the first such study to be conducted in patients with angiographically significant lesions,” said Jian’an Wang, MD, a professor in the Heart Center at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, and the study’s senior author. “Patients whose evaluation was non-invasively guided by the novel, AI-powered technique underwent approximately 10% fewer procedures, and their outcomes were comparable with those for patients whose evaluation was guided by a commonly used ultrasound-based imaging technique.”

The study, known as FLAVOUR II, met its primary endpoint, a composite of death, a heart attack or need for a repeat procedure at one year, Wang said.

Programmable pixels could advance infrared light applications

Without the ability to control infrared light waves, autonomous vehicles wouldn’t be able to quickly map their environment and keep “eyes” on the cars and pedestrians around them; augmented reality couldn’t display realistic 3D displays; doctors would lose an important tool for early cancer detection. Dynamic light control allows for upgrades to many existing systems, but complexities associated with fabricating programmable thermal devices hinder availability.

A new active metasurface, the electrically-programmable graphene field effect transistor (Gr-FET), from the labs of Sheng Shen and Xu Zhang in Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering, enables the control of mid-infrared states across a wide range of wavelengths, directions, and polarizations. This enhanced control enables advancements in applications ranging from infrared camouflage to personalized health monitoring.

“For the first time, our active metasurface devices exhibited the monolithic integration of the rapidly modulated temperature, addressable pixelated imaging, and resonant infrared spectrum,” said Xiu Liu, postdoctoral associate in mechanical engineering and lead author of the paper published in Nature Communications. “This breakthrough will be of great interest to a wide range of infrared photonics, , biophysics, and thermal engineering audiences.”

A breakthrough moment: Researchers discover new class of antibiotics

The last time a new class of antibiotics reached the market was nearly three decades ago—but that could soon change, thanks to a discovery by researchers at McMaster University.

A team led by researcher Gerry Wright has identified a strong candidate to challenge even some of the most drug-resistant bacteria on the planet: a called lariocidin. The findings were published in the journal Nature on March 26, 2025.

The discovery of the all-new class of antibiotics responds to a critical need for new antimicrobial medicines, as bacteria and other microorganisms evolve new ways to withstand existing drugs. This phenomenon is called antimicrobial resistance—or AMR—and it’s one of the top global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization.