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Category: biotech/medical – Page 19

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.

Visualizing Transporter Structure Creates Platform for Antidepressant Drug Design

Researchers at Oregon Health and Sciences University’s Vollum Institute have revealed the molecular structure of the serotonin transporter (SERT), providing new insight into the mechanism of antidepressant action of two widely prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly used to treat depression. In their Nature paper, authors Jonathan Coleman, Evan Green, and Eric Gouaux describe their use of X-ray crystallography to capture images of human SERT structures. They collected data at the Beamline 5.0.2 in the Berkeley Center for Structural Biology and used the Phenix software suite to build models and refine the structures. The resulting structures show antidepressants citalopram and paroxetine lock SERT in an outward-open conformation, directly blocking serotonin binding.

New Ultrasound Helmet Reaches Deep Inside The Brain Without Surgery

Deep-brain structures like the basal ganglia or the thalamus wield major influence on our behavior. If something goes awry, dysregulation in the deep brain may trigger neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or depression.

Despite the clear importance of these structures, our knowledge about them remains limited by their location, making them difficult to study and treat.

In a new study, researchers unveil a device that might offer an alternative to invasive procedures. Featuring a novel ultrasound helmet, it not only modulates deep-brain circuits without surgery, but reportedly can do so with unrivaled precision.

Sam Altman’s longevity startup is testing a pill for a younger brain

I’ve just hopped on a video call with the CEO of Retro Biosciences, the Sam Altman-backed longevity company, when I mention it’s quite hot.

Joe Betts-LaCroix takes my passing comment as a cue to muse on the wonders of air conditioning, and how energy and heat were once synonymous — until they weren’t.

As a multi-hyphenate scientist, entrepreneur, and once-inventor of the world’s smallest computer, Betts-LaCroix is excited by paradigm change.

At the helm of what is essentially Altman’s playground for experimenting with pushing the limits of the human lifespan, Betts-LaCroix is hoping to engineer the same shift that air conditioning brought to hot summer days for your brain and body. Ideally, one day, decouple aging from decline and disease.

The experimental memory pill works by clearing out “gunk in the cells” linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, Betts-LaCroix said. If the pill works, it will restart stalled autophagy processes in the body, cleaning up damage, “especially in the brain cells,” he said.

In contrast, other new Alzheimer’s drugs, like Eisai’s Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla, slow down cognitive decline by flushing out sticky amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of the disease.

Continue reading “Sam Altman’s longevity startup is testing a pill for a younger brain” | >

Increasing the level of the protein PI31 demonstrates neuroprotective effects in mice

One fundamental feature of neurodegenerative diseases is a breakdown in communication. Even before brain cells die, the delicate machinery that keeps neurons in touch—by clearing away protein waste at the synapses—starts to fail.

When the cleanup falters, the connections between are impaired and the flow of signals responsible for reasoning, language, memory, and even basic bodily functions are progressively disrupted.

Now, a new study identifies a novel strategy for preventing unwanted proteins from clogging synapses and ultimately congealing into protein plaques.

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