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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    Newly discovered subset of Brain Cells fight Inflammation with Instructions from the Gut

    January 28, 2021, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    This shows the outline of a head and a brain
    The researchers used refined gene- and protein-analysis tools to identify the novel astrocyte subset. Image is in the public domain

    Astrocytes are the most abundant type of cells within the central nervous system (CNS), but they remain poorly characterized. Researchers have long assumed that astrocytes’ primary function is to provide nutrients and support for the brain’s more closely scrutinized nerve cells; over the years, however, increasing evidence has shown that astrocytes can also actively promote neurodegeneration, inflammation, and neurological diseases...

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    First observation of the Early Link between Proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease

    January 27, 2021, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    State-of-the-art automatic brainstem segmentation methods were used to extract tau burden in its first aggregation site, that is, in the brainstem monoaminergic grey matter (bmGM). Beta-amyloid (Aβ) burden was extracted in the earliest cortical aggregation regions, i.e. in the bilateral medial superior frontal, inferior temporal, and fusiform areas.
    State-of-the-art automatic brainstem segmentation methods were used to extract tau burden in its first aggregation site, that is, in the brainstem monoaminergic grey matter (bmGM). Beta-amyloid (Aβ) burden was extracted in the earliest cortical aggregation regions, i.e. in the bilateral medial superior frontal, inferior temporal, and fusiform areas.

    Study conducted by researchers from the GIGA CRC In vivo Imaging laboratory at ULiège demonstrates, for the first time in humans, how the first deposits of tau proteins in the brainstem are associated with neurophysiological processes specific to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease development.

    During the pre-clinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease, i.e...

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    No more Needles for Diagnostic Tests?

    January 27, 2021, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Engineers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a microneedle patch that can be applied to the skin, capture a biomarker of interest from interstitial fluid and, thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity, allow clinicians to detect its presence.(Image: Sisi Cao)

    Nearly pain-free microneedle patch can test for antibodies and more in the fluid between cells. Medical researchers have developed a biosensing microneedle patch that can be applied to the skin, capture a biomarker of interest and, thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity, allow clinicians to detect its presence.

    Blood draws are no fun. They hurt. Veins can burst, or even roll — like they’re trying to avoid the needle, too...

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    Exercising Muscle combats Chronic Inflammation on its own

    January 25, 2021, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Four square images, three of detailed fibers stained red and green, one a line graph
    Long, thin, well-defined muscle fibers (top left) are in shambles after prolonged inflammation (top right), but maintain their structure (bottom left) and strength (bottom right) when exercised during the inflammation.

    Exercising lab-grown human muscle autonomously blocks the damaging effects of interferon gamma. Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that human muscle has an innate ability to ward off the damaging effects of chronic inflammation when exercised. The discovery was made possible through the use of lab-grown, engineered human muscle, demonstrating the potential power of the first-of-its-kind platform in such research endeavors.

    The results appear online on January 22 in the journal Science Advances.

    “Lots of processes are taking place throughout t...

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