Category Health/Medical

Different Sst interneurons, or type of nerve cell (colored red), in the outer shell, or cerebral cortex, of the mouse brain are shown. Credit: Courtesy of Science

Specialized nerve cells, somatostatin-expressing (Sst) interneurons, in the cerebral cortex – play a key role in controlling how information flows in the brain when it is awake and alert. In experiments in mice, they found that the activity of Sst interneurons changes when the animal goes from not moving its whiskers (in a resting state) to moving them (in an active state), a process known as whisking. Specifically, the team discovered that the cortex contains a diverse set of Sst interneuron subtypes that reach into different layers of the cortex. Some of the subtypes turn on while others turn off during whisking...

Probiotics ( Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) improve rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life in individuals with seasonal al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2017; 105 (3): 758 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.140012

New University of Florida research shows a probiotic combination might help reduce hay fever symptoms, if it’s taken during allergy season. Many published studies have shown a probiotic’s ab

ility to regulate the body’s immune response to allergies, but not all of the probiotics show a benefit. Scientists already know that the probiotic combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, sold as Kyo-Dophilus in stores, helps maintain digestive health and parts of the immune system...

Rats were exposed to room light and fitted with contact lenses, one shown here, that allowed the green spectrum wavelength to pass through the lenses. (Photo: Bob Demers/UANews)

Chronic pain afflicts over 100 million people across the US. But now researchers at the University of Arizona have found promise in a novel, non-pharmacological approach to managing chronic pain – treating it with green light-emitting diodes (LED). In the study, rats with neuropathic pain that were bathed in green LED showed more tolerance for thermal and tactile stimulus than rats that were not bathed in green LED. In both cases no side effects from the therapy were observed, nor was motor or visual performance impaired. The beneficial effects lasted for 4 days after the rats’ last exposure to the green LED...

Conceptual diagram showing a nanofiber mesh incorporating vitamin B12 and its application to treat a peripheral nerve injury. Credit: Image courtesy of National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

A NIMS-Osaka University joint team developed a mesh which can be wrapped around injured peripheral nerves to facilitate their regeneration and restore their functions. This mesh incorporates vitamin B12 – vital to the normal functioning of nervous systems – which is very soft and degrades in the body. When the mesh was applied to injured sciatic nerves in rats, it promoted nerve regeneration and recovery of motor and sensory functions. The team is currently considering clinical application of the mesh to treat peripheral nerve disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Artificial nerve co...