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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    ‘Goldilocks’ Neurons promote REM Sleep

    June 20, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Using a technique called optogenetics, a laser light was used to turn off or on MCH neurons time locked with the temperature warming phases. It demonstrated the necessity of the MCH neurons to increase REM sleep during warming toward “just right” room temperature. Picture: Pascal Gugler for Insel Gruppe AG

    It has been a mystery why REM sleep, or dream sleep, increases when the room temperature is ‘just right’. Neuroscientists show that melanin-concentrating hormone neurons within the hypothalamus increase REM sleep when the need for body temperature defense is minimized, such as when sleeping in a warm and comfortable room temperature. These data have important implications for the function of REM sleep.

    Every night while sleeping, we cycle between two very different states of sleep...

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    Vest helps Athletes keep their Cool

    June 19, 2019, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Hasegawa and Yudai Chaen (lead author of the paper) measure the heart rate, sweat rate, muscle activity and temperature of the athlete while exercising in a hot and humid environment (35°C at 50% humidity).
    CREDIT
    Hiroshima University

    A new cooling vest for sports athletes may ensure everyone can compete safely in sweltering summer conditions such as the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics. Strategies to cope with body heat in sports is a pressing issue. The Tokyo Olympics will be held in the hot and muggy Japanese summer where the ambient temperature is expected to be above 33°C. Athletes have to worry about performing under pressure of the high-stakes competition but also now have to deal with a very hot and humid climate...

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    Key Protein: Lab solves HOIL-1 Mystery

    June 19, 2019, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology

    A hydroxylamine-sensitive modification on HOIL-1

    The mysterious function of a key protein has been revealed following a breakthrough by University of Dundee scientists. HOIL-1 is a component of the Linear Ubiquitin Assembly Complex (LUBAC) which lies at the heart of the mechanism that determines whether the cells of our body will survive or die. Now researchers working in the laboratory of Professor Sir Philip Cohen in the University’s Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit (MRC-PPU) have found that HOIL-1 operates in tandem with a second component of LUBAC to form ubiquitin chains.

    The research, which has just been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has also revealed that the ubiquitin chains are joined to other protein...

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    Topical Cream shows promise in Treatment of Skin Pigmentation disease, Vitiligo

    June 17, 2019, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Hands with vitiligo
    “Topical ruxolitinib has the potential to change the way vitiligo is treated. Not only is it effective at repigmenting the skin, but it has an excellent safety profile,” said Dr. Rosmarin.

    A nationwide phase II clinical trial, coordinated out of Tufts Medical Center in Boston, has found that a topical cream was extremely effective in reversing the effects of vitiligo, a relatively common autoimmune disease that causes loss of skin pigmentation. Topical application of the medicated cream, ruxolitinib, which is currently used as an oral treatment for certain blood disorders, resulted in substantial improvement of facial vitiligo symptoms in nearly half of the trial’s participants...

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