Category Health/Medical

A new study suggests that the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life. Credit: © olyina / Fotolia

The LEAP-On study followed on from the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study, both led by Prof Gideon Lack at King’s, found the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life.

LEAP-On asked whether those infants who had consumed peanut in the LEAP study would remain protected against peanut allergy if they then stopped eating peanut for 12 months...

Highlights
d Loss of one Mcl-1 allele substantially delays
lymphomagenesis
d MCL-1 antagonizes BIM in lymphoma development
d Loss of p53 reduces requirement for MCL-1 during
lymphomagenesis

A protein that is key to the development of blood cancers caused by a common genetic error has been identified by researchers. The discovery is a missing piece in the puzzle of understanding how high levels of a protein called MYC drive cancer development, and may to lead to future strategies for early treatment or possibly even prevention of these cancers.

70% of human cancers have abnormally high levels of MYC, which forces cells into unusually rapid growth...

To understand human behaviors, it is crucial to understand the motives behind them. So far, there was no direct way to identify motives. Psychologist and neuroscientist Grit Hein, Ernst Fehr et al found that the way relevant brain regions communicate with each other is altered depending on the motives driving a specific behavioral choice. This interplay between brain regions allowed them to identify the underlying motives. These motives could not be uncovered by observing the person’s choices, or based on the brain regions that are activated during the decision-making.

Empathy-based altruism is primarily characterized by a positive connectivity from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to the anterior insula (AI), whereas reciprocity-based altruism additionally invokes strong positive conn...

These are multi-pixel electroluminescent displays fabricated via replica molding. The device measures 5 mm thick, with each of the 64 pixels measuring 4 mm. It can be deformed and stretched in various ways. Credit: Science, Organic Robotics Lab at Cornell University

Imagine a health care robot that could display the patient’s temperature and pulse, and even reacts to a patient’s mood. It sounds futuristic, but a team of Cornell grad students – led by Assistant Prof. Rob Shepherd- has developed an electroluminescent “skin” that stretches to more than 6X its original size while still emitting light. The discovery could lead to significant advances in health care, transportation, electronic communication and other areas.

“This material can stretch with the body of a soft robot, and that’s wha...