Category Health/Medical

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex mechanism

For years, attempts have been made to understand the mechanism behind the proliferation of cancer cells. However, until now it was not known which metabolites cancer cells actually need. A team of researchers from the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) at the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences)has identified one of the mechanisms behind this process, as published in a recent article in the journal Nature Genetics.

From a theory dating back to the early 20th century by Nobel Prize laureate Otto Warburg, it has been believed that, in order to support their growth, cancer cells needed to increase their glucose consumption, without using mitochondrial metabolism...

A thermal image of a localized cooled heart. The dark spot at the bottom is the cooled part. Credit: Catharina Hospital Eindhoven

Cardiologists at the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven have succeeded in the localized cooling of the heart during a heart attack, a world first. By cooling part of the heart prior to and following angioplasty, the cardiologists believe that the damage from a heart attack can be limited. The innovative new procedure was co-developed with scientists of the university in Eindhoven and the company LifeTec Group, a university spin-off.

“We have demonstrated in 10 patients that it is technically possible to cool part of the heart safely during a heart attack,” says cardiologist/intensivist Luuk Otterspoor...

The esophagus-growing robotic implant. Credit: Damian et al., Sci. Robot. 3, eaaq0018 (2018)

Mechanical pull stimulates stunted hollow organs to grow; could help treat defects like esophageal atresia and short bowel syndrome. An implanted, programmable medical robot can gradually lengthen tubular organs by applying traction forces – stimulating tissue growth in stunted organs without interfering with organ function or causing apparent discomfort, report researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital.

The robotic system induced cell proliferation and lengthened part of the esophagus in a large animal by about 75% while the animal remained awake and mobile...

Bowl of muesli/oats is full of fiber which can be broken down by the microbiome in SCFAs. Short-chain fatty acids regulate systemic bone mass and protect from pathological bone loss. Nature Communications, 2018; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02490-4

Fiber affects Autoimmune diseases. It is well known that healthy eating increases our general sense of wellbeing. Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now discovered that a fibre-rich diet can have a positive influence on chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones. The key to the effect our diet has on our health are intestinal bacteria.

Every adult carries ~2kg of benign bacteria in their intestines...