Category Health/Medical

This visual abstract depicts the findings of Quicke et al., who demonstrate that a contemporary ZIKV strain infects and replicates in primary human placental macrophages and cytotrophoblasts, suggesting a route for ZIKV to cross the placental barrier. CREDIT Quicke and Bowen et al./Cell Host & Microbe 2016

One of Zika’s mysteries is how the virus passes from an infected mother, through the placenta, to a developing fetus. The route may not be direct either – transmission via multiple cell types may be necessary. A study supports the possibility that placental immune cells called Hofbauer cells, which have direct access to fetal blood vessels, are one cell type involved.

“One group has recently discovered viral antigen in Hofbauer cells collected from placental tissue of a fetus that unfort...

Neuroprotective Activity of NR in DPN Can be Monitored by Corneal Confocal Microscopy.

A naturally occurring vitamin, nicotinamide riboside (NR), can lower BSL, reduce fatty liver, and prevent peripheral nerve damage in mouse models of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a new study. The findings provide a scientific rationale for conducting human trials to test the effects of NR on metabolic disorders including prediabetes and T2D, as well as obesity, fatty liver disease, and neuropathies.

NR is a vitamin precursor of NAD+, an important cellular metabolite that is required for cells to convert fuel into energy, but which declines with age. NR is currently attracting a great deal of attention for its potential role in improving metabolic health and healthy aging...

The drug tablet designed by the NUS team consists of 3 distinct components: a casing, a non-drug-containing polymer, and a polymer containing the drug in a specially designed shape (shown in photo) that determines the rate of release of the drug. The shape of the drug-containing polymer can be adjusted to allow drug release at any desired rate. Credit: Image courtesy of National University of Singapore

NUS researchers have found a way to make personalized medicine cheaper and easier...

This is Dr Ruth Kluck of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

The apoptosis pathway could lead to drugs to treat cancer and autoimmune disease. Failure of apoptosis can allow cancer cells to grow unchecked or immune cells to inappropriately attack the body. Protein Bak is central to apoptosis. In healthy cells Bak sits in an inert state but when a cell receives a signal to die, Bak transforms into a killer protein that destroys the cell. Melbourne researchers Dr Sweta Iyer, Dr Ruth Kluck and colleagues have discovered an antibody they had produced to study Bak actually bound to the Bak protein and triggered its activation.

The 7D10 antibody triggers mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization by binding to th...