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    Category Health/Medical

    Memory Suppressor Gene could hold key to new Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments

    April 14, 2016, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Authors of the new study included The Scripps Research Institute's (left to right) Research Associate Ze Liu, Research Associate Yunchao Gai and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience Ron Davis. Credit: Photo courtesy of The Scripps Research Institute.

    Authors of the new study included The Scripps Research Institute’s (left to right) Research Associate Ze Liu, Research Associate Yunchao Gai and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience Ron Davis. Credit: Photo courtesy of The Scripps Research Institute.

    While research has identified 100s of genes required for normal memory formation, genes that suppress memory are of special interest because they offer insights into how the brain prioritizes and manages all of the information, including memories, that it takes in every day. These genes also provide clues new treatments for cognitive disorders eg, Alzheimer’s disease. TSRI scientists have identified a unique memory suppressor gene in the brain cells of Drosophila fruit fly, a widely recognized substitute for human memory studies.

    Davis et a...

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    Scientist identifies Mechanism underlying Peripheral Neuropathy

    April 14, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    MMP-13 inhibition improves adult paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity. (A) Improved touch response upon coadministration of paclitaxel and either DB04760 or CL-82198 following four injections (n = 7, 7–12 fish per group) and complete rescue by day 14 in DB04760 coadministered animals (n = 2, 5 fish). (B and C) Axon branch density in distal caudal fin is rescued upon coadministration of paclitaxel and either DB04760 or CL-82198 when assessed 1 d (B) (n = 3, 7–12 fish per group) or 10 d (C) (n = 2, 5 fish per group) after the last injection. (D and E) MMP-13 immunofluorescence staining (red) 1 d after the last injection shows MMP-13 up-regulation specifically in basal keratinocytes (yellow arrowheads) of Tg(tp63:CAAX-GFP) fish injected with paclitaxel (E) and low MMP-13 expression in vehicle controls (D). Imaging was performed using identical settings. Dermal cells in both vehicle and paclitaxel-injected fish have similar MMP-13 expression levels. White arrowheads depict large distinctive MMP-13 clusters. (E) White arrows depict clusters of MMP-13–positive cellular debris at the skin surface, indicative of increased cell shedding. (Scale bar, 5 µm.) (F) MMP-13 staining (red) is adjacent to, but not within, DRG axons (green). (Scale bar, 10 µm.) *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. ac-tub, acetylated tubulin; Pctx, paclitaxel.

    MMP-13 inhibition improves adult paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity. (A) Improved touch response upon coadministration of paclitaxel and either DB04760 or CL-82198 following four injections (n = 7, 7–12 fish per group) and complete rescue by day 14 in DB04760 coadministered animals (n = 2, 5 fish). (B and C) Axon branch density in distal caudal fin is rescued upon coadministration of paclitaxel and either DB04760 or CL-82198 when assessed 1 d (B) (n = 3, 7–12 fish per group) or 10 d (C) (n = 2, 5 fish per group) after the last injection...

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    Vital Nutrient has key role in keeping Body Clocks Running on time

    April 13, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    9-magnesium-foods

    An essential mineral in our diets has an unexpected role in helping living things remain adapted to the rhythms of night and day. Mg – a nutrient found in many foods – helps control how cells keep their own form of time to cope with the natural environmental cycle of day and night. The discovery in cells is expected to be linked to whole body clocks which influence circadian rhythms – of sleeping and waking, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions in people.

    The surprising discovery may aid the development of chronotherapy – Rx scheduled according to time of day – in people, and development of new crop varieties with increased yields or adjustable harvesting seasons...

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    An Invisible System to Rescue the Heart

    April 12, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    The human lymphatic system © Inserm, Léa Lemierre

    The human lymphatic system © Inserm, Léa Lemierre

    In a new heart failure study, the blood system is being explored for the purpose of improving heart function. The study has revealed the potential of a secondary system that had previously received scant attention.

    The researchers analysed the heart lymphatic system in an animal model which was highly impaired following a myocardial infarction. Using a biotherapy based on the injection of innovative microparticles, they succeeded in regenerating lymphatic vessels in a targeted manner. This treatment promotes lymphatic drainage, thus limiting post-infarct oedema and inflammation. Heart function is thereby improved.

    Lymphatic vessels in the rat heart visible in red by immunofluorescence © Inserm, Ebba Brakenhielm

    Lymphatic vessels in the rat heart visible in red by immunofluorescence © Inserm, Ebba Brakenhielm

    When the heart is no longe...

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