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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    Scientists have Identified Oxygen Sensor PHD1 Potential Target for Rx of brain Infarction (Ischemic stroke)

    January 7, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Highlights • Genetic loss of PHD1 provides substantial protection against brain ischemic injury • PHD1 loss reprograms glucose metabolism without vascular changes • Increased oxPPP flux, at the expense of glycolysis, enhances redox balance in neurons • Intracerebroventricular delivery of anti-PHD1 oligos protects against stroke

    Highlights • Genetic loss of PHD1 provides substantial protection against brain ischemic injury • PHD1 loss reprograms glucose metabolism without vascular changes • Increased oxPPP flux, at the expense of glycolysis, enhances redox balance in neurons • Intracerebroventricular delivery of anti-PHD1 oligos protects against stroke

    Despite (minor) improvements in stroke treatment, stroke remains the 4th leading cause of death and the most common reason of severe disability. Research led by Prof. Peter Carmeliet and Dr. Annelies Quaegebeur (VIB/KU Leuven) indicates inhibition of PHD1 offers protection against stroke, via an unexpected mechanism, raising hope for future stroke treatment.

    Brain cells rely on oxygen and glucose to generate energy, necessary to function normally...

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    Leaf-Mimicking Device Harnesses Light to Purify Water

    January 7, 2016, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Biology/Biotechnology

    Bioinspired Bifunctional Membrane for Efficient Clean Water Generation: a new approach that uses solar light for both water purification and clean water generation. A bifunctional membrane consisting of a top layer of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), a middle layer of Au NPs, and a bottom layer of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) was designed and fabricated through multiple filtration processes. Such a design enables both TiO2 NP-based photocatalytic function and Au NP-based solar-driven plasmonic evaporation. With the integration of these two functions into a single membrane, both the purification of contaminated water through photocatalytic degradation and the generation of clean water through evaporation were demonstrated using simulated solar illumination.

    Bioinspired Bifunctional Membrane for Efficient Clean Water Generation: a new approach that uses solar light for both water purification and clean water generation. A bifunctional membrane consisting of a top layer of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), a middle layer of Au NPs, and a bottom layer of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) was designed and fabricated through multiple filtration processes. Such a design enables both TiO2 NP-based photocatalytic function and Au NP-based solar-driven plasmonic evaporation. With the integration of these two functions into a single membrane, both the purification of contaminated water through photocatalytic degradation and the generation of clean water through evaporation were demonstrated using simulated solar illumination.

    For years, scientists have been pursuin...

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    Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Cells created from Human Skin Cells

    January 6, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Functioning human pancreatic cells after they've been transplanted into a mouse are shown. Credit: Saiyong Zhu

    Functioning human pancreatic cells after they’ve been transplanted into a mouse are shown. Credit: Saiyong Zhu

    When transplanted into mice, the cells protected them from developing diabetes in a mouse model of the disease by producing insulin in response to changes in glucose levels. The new study also presents significant advancements in cellular reprogramming technology, which will allow scientists to efficiently scale up pancreatic cell production and manufacture trillions of the target cells in a step-wise, controlled manner. This accomplishment opens the door for disease modeling and drug screening and brings personalized cell therapy a step closer.

    “Our results demonstrate for the first time that human adult skin cells can be used to efficiently and rapidly generate functional pancr...

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    Using Nanoparticles to Combat Arteriosclerosis

    January 6, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    On the left are fluorescence-labeled cells with nanoparticles: The cellular nuclei are shown in blue, the fluorescence labeling is shown in green and the nanoparticles in the cells are identified by arrows. The middle photo shows a blood vessel populated with these cells (green). On the right is a detailed image of a vascular wall with the eNOS protein identified (red). Credit: Dr. Sarah Rieck/Dr. Sarah Vosen/University of Bonn

    On the left are fluorescence-labeled cells with nanoparticles: The cellular nuclei are shown in blue, the fluorescence labeling is shown in green and the nanoparticles in the cells are identified by arrows. The middle photo shows a blood vessel populated with these cells (green). On the right is a detailed image of a vascular wall with the eNOS protein identified (red). Credit: Dr. Sarah Rieck/Dr. Sarah Vosen/University of Bonn

    A method for guiding replacement cells to diseased vascular segments using nanoparticles has been developed. Arteriosclerosis is common with fatal consequences. Deposits in the arteries lead to strokes and heart attacks. They demonstrated in mice that fresh cells actually exert their curative effect in these segments...

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