Genomic variation accounts for some of the differences among people, including important aspects of their health and susceptibility to diseases.
Category: biotech/medical – Page 209
Ligand-induced ubiquitination unleashes LAG3 immune checkpoint function by hindering membrane sequestration of signaling motifs
Now online!This study uncovers the molecular mechanism of LAG3 activation upon ligand engagement and its regulation by non-degradative polyubiquitination within the tumor microenvironment. The findings highlight LAG3/CBL coexpression as a promising biomarker for selecting suitable patients for LAG3-targeted immunotherapy.
Boosting brain’s waste removal system improves memory in old mice
As aging bodies decline, the brain loses the ability to cleanse itself of waste, a scenario that scientists think could be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found a way around that problem by targeting the network of vessels that drain waste from the brain. Rejuvenating those vessels, they have shown, improves memory in old mice.
The study, published online in the journal Cell, lays the groundwork to develop therapies for age-related cognitive decline that overcome the challenges faced by conventional medications that struggle to pass through the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain.
Impact of physical activity on physical function, mitochondrial energetics, ROS production, and Ca2+ handling across the adult lifespan in men
Cefis et al. show that mitochondrial respiration and ROS production are not affected during healthy muscle aging but identify altered mitochondrial calcium handling as a potential key driving mechanism. They also highlight physical activity as a powerful stimulus to enhance physical performance and mitochondrial energetics throughout the human adult lifespan.
Researchers Discover Longevity-Boosting Compounds in Traditional Rice Wine Waste
Filipino researchers have optimized the traditional method of producing Philippine rice wine, known as tapuy, to enhance its nutritional value, potentially making it a superfood rich in antioxidants and anti-aging compounds.
Edward Kevin B. Bragais of Ateneo de Manila University and Paul Mark B. Medina of the University of the Philippines investigated how different starter cultures, specific microorganisms used to initiate fermentation, locally called bubod, affect the solid byproducts of winemaking. These byproducts, known as lees, consist mainly of rice residues, yeast, and other microbial compounds and are typically discarded.
The researchers found that by optimizing the fermentation process with a well-defined microbial culture, tapuy lees could become a valuable source of natural compounds with potential medical and nutritional benefits.
Deadly bacteria have developed the ability to produce antimicrobials and wipe out competitors, scientists discover
A drug-resistant type of bacteria that has adapted to health care settings evolved in the past several years to weaponize an antimicrobial genetic tool, eliminating its cousins and replacing them as the dominant strain. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists made the discovery when combing through local hospital data—and then confirmed that it was a global phenomenon.
The finding, published in Nature Microbiology, may be the impetus for new approaches in developing therapeutics against some of the world’s deadliest bacteria. It also validates a new use for a system developed at Pitt and UPMC that couples genomic sequencing with computer algorithms to rapidly detect infectious disease outbreaks.
“Our lab has a front row seat to the parade of pathogens that move through the hospital setting,” said senior author Daria Van Tyne, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine in Pitt’s Division of Infectious Diseases. “And when we took a step back and zoomed out, it quickly became apparent that big changes were afoot with one of the world’s more difficult-to-treat bacteria.”
How AI is transforming medicine
Artificial intelligence in various forms has been used in medicine for decades — but not like this. Experts predict that the adoption of large language models will reshape medicine. Some compare the potential impact with the decoding of the human genome, even the rise of the internet. The impact is expected to show up in doctor-patient interactions, physicians’ paperwork load, hospital and physician practice administration, medical research, and medical education.
Most of these effects are likely to be positive, increasing efficiency, reducing mistakes, easing the nationwide crunch in primary care, bringing data to bear more fully on decision-making, reducing administrative burdens, and creating space for longer, deeper person-to-person interactions.
