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Category: biotech/medical – Page 690

Harnessing gravity to create a low-cost microfluidic device for rapid cell analysis

A team of researchers at the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice University has developed an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled, low-cost device that will make flow cytometry—a technique used to analyze cells or particles in a fluid using a laser beam—affordable and accessible.

The prototype identifies and counts cells from unpurified blood samples with similar accuracy as the more expensive and bulky conventional flow cytometers, provides results within minutes and is significantly cheaper and compact, making it highly attractive for point-of-care clinical applications, particularly in low-resource and rural areas.

Peter Lillehoj, the Leonard and Mary Elizabeth Shankle Associate Professor of Bioengineering, and Kevin McHugh, assistant professor of bioengineering and chemistry, led the development of this new device. The study was published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

THCV and CBD Strips Lead to Clinically Significant Weight Loss

This study helps to close the gap involving cannabis and weight loss.

Can cannabidiol (CBD) or other cannabis-related products help with weight loss? This is what a recent study published in the journal Cannabis hopes to address as a researcher from NeX Therapeutics investigated how two phytocannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabidiol (CBD), could be used to manage weight loss. This study has the potential to help researchers, legislators, and the public better understand the benefits of cannabis for weight loss compared to prescription drugs currently on the market.

The study was conducted by Dr. Gregory Smith, who is the Founder, CEO, and Scientific Advisor of NeX Therapeutics, and involved 44 participants (31 women and 13 men) with an average age of 51.75. For the study, the participants used consumed mucoadhesive oral strips, which are drug delivery strips that adhere to the inside of the mouth, over 90 days. They were split into Group A, Group B, and Group P which involved single dose, double dose, and placebo, respectively, with one dose equaling 8 mg THCV/10 mg CBD. In the end, Dr. Smith made some interesting findings regarding how the strips helped manage weight loss.

According to the study, “The 16mg/20mg daily dose was superior for weight loss compared to the 8mg/10mg daily dose; both sets of results differed from placebo in a way that was statistically significant. The results of this study were congruent with the prior unpublished studies of a hemp extract containing significant percentages of THCV, CBDV and CBD.”

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide replenishment rescues colon degeneration in aged mice

face_with_colon_three Year 2017 nad plus is essentially immortality of the colon which can reduce colon aging.

Boosting the level of a coenzyme regulating metabolism could help treat constipation and other aging-related intestinal problems. Researchers in Hangzhou, China, led by Qinsong Sheng from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and Zhenyu Ju from Hangzhou Normal University studied differences in colon function between young and old mice. They showed that older animals had more difficulty in defecation through the gastrointestinal tract and that this was associated with a lower level of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Treatment with an NAD precursor improved defecation ability, whereas administering a drug that blocks NAD synthesis led to worsened colon function in mice. These findings point to NAD as a key regulator of colon motility and suggest a therapeutic strategy for older individuals with bowel-movement problems.

Anti-Aging Treatment Breakthrough: Japanese Scientists’ Regenerative Gene Transfer Success

face_with_colon_three year 2024.

Genes from regenerative organisms rejuvenate intestinal stem cells in fruit flies.

In a groundbreaking experiment, Japanese researchers transferred regenerative genes to fruit flies, leading to improved intestinal health and enhanced stem cell activity. This discovery opens new possibilities for anti-aging strategies in higher organisms, including humans, through targeted gene therapy.

Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences transferred genes from simple organisms capable of regenerating their bodies into common fruit flies, more complex animals that cannot. They found the transferred gene suppressed an age-related intestinal issue in the flies. Their results suggest studying genes specific to animals with high regenerative capability may uncover new mechanisms for rejuvenating stem cell function and extending the healthy lifespan of unrelated organisms.

Apertura Gene Therapy Supports the Broad Institute in Development of Gene Therapy for Prion Disease Using Engineered AAV Capsid Targeting TfR1 for CNS Delivery

Two remarkable innovations coming together to tackle prion disease: AAVs that leverage human receptors to cross the blood-brain-barrier + a way of epigenetically silencing the gene encoding prions. I recall reading those cited papers and both are amazing!

BOSTON and NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Apertura Gene Therapy, a biotechnology company focused on innovative gene therapy solutions, supports the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the Whitehead Institute in advancing a gene therapy approach for the treatment of prion disease. The project is led by the Vallabh-Minikel lab at the Broad Institute which is focused on finding a cure for prion disease, and their approach leverages two cutting-edge technologies developed at the Institutes of both the Broad and Whitehead: the CHARM platform designed in Dr. Jonathan Weismann’s lab, and TfR1 capsid, an engineered AAV designed in the lab of Dr. Ben Deverman, Director of Vector Engineering at the Broad Institute and scientific founder of Apertura.

Prion disease is a rare, fatal, neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins. The new gene therapy aims to address the root cause by using CHARM (Coupled Histone tail for Autoinhibition Release of Methyltransferase) to target and silence the gene that codes for the disease-causing protein1. This payload will be combined with Apertura’s TfR1 capsid, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid engineered to efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier by binding to the human TfR1 receptor, which facilitates iron transport into brain cells2. Together, these technologies represent a transformative approach to tackling CNS diseases.

“We are thrilled to see the progress being made in the development of this innovative therapy for prion disease,” said Dr. Sonia Vallabh, co-leader of the group at the Broad working on preventative therapies for prion disease. “The collaborative efforts between Apertura, the Broad Institute and the Whitehead mark a significant milestone toward addressing unmet needs in neurodegenerative disorders.”

Bile Duct Cancer Treatment

Bile duct cancer, also called cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare disease in which cancer cells form in the bile ducts. Learn more about this cancer and treatment options.

External and internal radiation therapy are used to treat bile duct cancer and may also be used as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Learn more about Radiation Therapy to Treat Cancer and Radiation Therapy Side Effects.

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