Category Health/Medical

What do “epigenetic clocks” actually measure? These lab tests have become popular tools for studying biological aging, or how the body’s cellular function changes at a faster or slower rate than expected. However, the underlying biology behind each of these measurements has remained largely unknown until now.

A recent USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology-led study published in npj Aging shows that five of the most widely used epigenetic clocks measure different aspects of biological aging. The research team also developed new gene expression-based clocks to complement existing epigenetic clocks, which show even stronger predictive power for age-related disease and mortality.

Biology versus the calendar
Scientists have long known that people ag...

Exposure to Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) that causes mild or no symptoms can trigger the body’s immune response and naturally build protection, potentially solving a nearly 100-year-old mystery of immunity.

New Griffith University research, with the help of clinical scientists from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), investigated how immunity developed over time as infection rates declined with age, suggesting progressive immune protection. The paper “Subclinical exposure to Streptococcus pyogenes drives the development of long-lived homologous immunity” has been published in Nature Communications.

Strep A is a common bacterium that can cause painful tonsillitis and impetigo in young children and teenagers...

A new study of sunscreens, baby lotions, shampoos, soaps and other everyday products found that nearly all contained chemicals not disclosed on their labels. Most contained at least one unlabeled chemical with known or suspected health hazards, and one in four contained a chemical that contradicted claims on the package, including “phthalate-free” products that contained phthalates. The research is published in Environment & Health.

“We found undisclosed harmful chemicals in products claiming to be free of them,” said Jenna Hua, senior author of the study and founder of the Million Marker Research Institute...

One of the crucial steps in cancer proliferation is evading killer immune cells. Cancer cells use a variety of signaling molecules to evade the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy interferes with some of these evasion tactics, improving the immune system’s ability to suppress tumors. However, the success of ICI therapy depends on the specific signals being secreted by the tumor.

Recent research has identified D-amino acids (...