13 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Could Having Worms Help Prevent Diabetes?Industrialized nations might be too clean. The âhygiene hypothesisâ suggests that decreased exposure to microbes and certain worms in industrialized areas could lead to incompletely developed immune regulation that controls specific inflammatory responses. These uncontrolled inflammatory responses are the culprit in leading to autoimmune disorders such as type-1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,...... Read More
12 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Lupus Discovery May Hold Key to Better TreatmentScripps Institute scientists have identified a series of specific cellular events that appear to be integral to the way lupus develops. The findings suggest that blocking this cellular pathway may be the secret to developing a truly effective way to battle the disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is an autoimmune disorder that affects tens of millions of people worldwide. More common in...... Read More
11 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Lab-Grown Brains?Left mostly to their own devices, a group of intrepid human stem cells at Viennaâs Austrian Academy of Science knitted themselves into tissue with a variety of brain structures and specialized groups of neurons. In essence, they created a BB-sized neural ball reminiscent of a nine-week-old fetus brain. And while the clumps of tissue are still a far cry from the complexity of a fully developed human...... Read More
10 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Is Copper Causing Alzheimer’s?According to a recent study from the University of Rochester Medical Centerâs Neurosurgery Department, copper seems to be one of the main environmental factors to trigger the onset and progression of Alzheimerâs disease. The results of the study point to the accumulation of toxic proteins within the brain, which are prevented from escaping -- thanks, in large part, to the accumulation of copper. It...... Read More
06 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Brain Cancer Drugs Delivered by ‘Electrojet’Researchers at Penn State are figuring out a way to deliver drugs in uniform capsules as an easier and more controlled method of brain cancer treatment. Brain cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Typical treatment includes invasive tumor resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment targeting brain tumors is difficult because drugs donât easily cross the...... Read More
05 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Could a Blood Marker Predict Suicidal Tendencies?Deciding on those in most need for immediate help, when it comes to suicidal ideations, has been a difficult task for physicians. Knowing who needs the most assistance has always been dependent upon self-reported systems and concerned family members. All too often, patients are less than forthcoming about their emotional and mental states. But now, thanks to a study that discovered elevated levels...... Read More
04 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Can Bacteria Cause Pain?The common consensus on bacterial infections and pain has traditionally been that it is the bodyâs immune reaction that triggers a pain response, and not the bacteria themselves. But a new research study seems to be turning that idea on its head â stating that bacteria can trigger the bodyâs pain-sensing nerves. The news is causing quite a stir, especially after initial results showed that mice...... Read More
03 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
An Easier Way to Create Stem Cells?Creating a batch of stem cells may have just gotten a whole lot easier. A new recipe for creating pluripotent stem cells calls for adding just seven molecules to an existing adult stem cell. The method has been used on mature mouse cells, which were converted into the embryonic-type cells. These pluripotent cells can then be developed into virtually any kind of tissue from this stage. Traditionally,...... Read More
30 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
New Autism Link to DNA EnzymeInhibiting specific enzymes involved with the genetic machinery aiding in brain development could cause Autism. Researchers at the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina have shown the importance of topoisomerase dysfunction in brain, and specifically synapse, development. Topoisomerases are in all human cells and help to untangle tightly wound or overwound DNA, which can interfere with...... Read More
29 Aug, 2013 | by Labroots
Skin Germs and Immune System Help Each OtherEveryone has a diverse population of microbes living on their skin, known as the skin microbiome. Prior research done by University of Pennsylvania researchers highlighted the diversity of bacteria living on the skin with DNA-based sequence analysis of the bacterial genomes. Now, the group has been able to include the immune system and how it influences the bacterial populations and vice versa. The...... Read More