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Dual-action nanoparticle therapy targets obesity by converting white fat and reducing inflammation

Scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, have developed a new nanoparticle therapy that tackles obesity through two complementary mechanisms: converting energy-storing white fat into calorie-burning beige fat while simultaneously reducing obesity-related inflammation.

Their findings, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, are detailed in an article titled “Apigenin-loaded nanoparticles for obesity intervention through immunomodulation and adipocyte browning.” This innovative approach addresses key limitations of current obesity treatments by precisely targeting adipose tissue with apigenin-loaded nanoparticles—enhancing therapeutic effects while minimizing potential side effects.

The research team, led by Dr. Alireza Hassani Najafabadi and Dr. Ryan M. Pearson, engineered specialized PLGA nanoparticles to deliver the natural compound apigenin directly to fat tissue. This targeted delivery system ensures optimal therapeutic effects while minimizing potential side effects throughout the body.

Probabilistic alignment of multiple networks

Network alignment is a fundamental problem in several domains that aims at mapping nodes across networks. Here, the authors develop a probabilistic approach that assumes that observed networks are errorful copies from a blueprint. The method samples the distribution of alignments, improving accuracy and enabling potential applications.

Smallest artificial heart implanted in young boy

Chinese doctors have successfully implanted the world’s smallest and lightest artificial heart that uses magnetic levitation technology into a 7-year-old boy, giving him more time to wait for a heart transplant.

Weighing 45 grams and measuring just 2.9 centimeters in diameter, this tiny device is the size of a regular plastic water bottle cap and is about half the weight of the smallest maglev-powered heart pump designed for adults.

The Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, said on Tuesday that the boy is now in stable condition and awaiting further treatment, following the operation which was carried out on March 30.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment helps cancer patients reclaim normal life after radiation side effects

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment provides long-term relief for patients suffering from late radiation-induced injuries after treatment of cancer in the lower abdominal area. Five years after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the positive effects remain. This has been shown in a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg.

Radiation therapy is a component of many cancer treatments in organs such as the prostate, colon, ovaries and cervix. While are destroyed, 5%–10% of patients experience severe side effects due to healthy tissue being affected by the radiation therapy.

Symptoms may include urinary incontinence, bleeding and severe pain in the lower abdomen that becomes both physically and socially disabling. These problems can occur several years after radiation therapy and cause chronic and increasing discomfort.