Promising Novel Treatment against Alzheimer’s Disease

Casp1 KO restores cognitive function in J20 mice. a−e Genotypes: J20−/−/Casp1−/− WT/WT (grey squares), J20−/−/Casp1+/− WT/Het (pink diamonds), J20−/−/Casp1−/− WT/KO (blue symbol), J20−/+/Casp1+/+ J20/WT (black circles), J20−/+/Casp1−/+ J20/Het (purple triangles), J20−/+/Casp1−/− J20/KO (blue triangles). Each mouse tested is represented by one symbol. Data represent mean and s.e.m. a NOR discrimination index (F(5,67) = 16.22, p < 0.0001) and b distance travelled during open field task (F(5,67) = 3.717, p = 0.005). c−e Barnes maze: c # of primary errors during learning acquisition (Genotype, F(5,263) = 6.469, p < 0.0001; Training day, F(3,263) = 29.44, p < 0.0001), d probe primary latency and errors (Primary errors, F(5,66) = 4.8, p = 0008) and e target preference. a, b, d ANOVA and c two-way ANOVA, Dunnett’s post-hoc versus WT/WT. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001

Casp1 KO restores cognitive function in J20 mice.

New research conducted at the Lady Davis Institute (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital reveals that a novel drug reverses memory deficits and stops Alzheimer disease pathology (AD) in an animal model. Importantly, this drug has already proven to be non-toxic for humans in a clinical setting and could, therefore, be brought quickly to trials in humans against AD. These findings are published today in Nature Communications.

For years, Dr. LeBlanc, Senior Investigator at the LDI and Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University, has strived to identify early neurodegenerative events responsible for age-related memory loss...

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Deciphering the Link between Skin Allergies and the Gut Microbiota

Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) is used to detect bacteria in the spleen of a normal mouse (left) and the spleen of a mouse with a MAVS deficiency (right). Spleen cells appear in blue; bacteria are stained red. Credit: Ana Hennino, David Bauché, Emilie Plantamura / CIRI

Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) is used to detect bacteria in the spleen of a normal mouse (left) and the spleen of a mouse with a MAVS deficiency (right). Spleen cells appear in blue; bacteria are stained red.
Credit: Ana Hennino, David Bauché, Emilie Plantamura / CIRI

Over the last few years, scientists have discovered connections between gut microbiota imbalances and various diseases. Now, in a study using mice, biologists from the CNRS, INSERM, and Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University – together with colleagues from the Institut Pasteur de Lille and the NIH (USA) – have revealed a surprising relationship between a viral detection system, the composition of the gut microbiota, and the development of skin allergies.

The number of microorganisms hosted in our digestive tracts is 10 ...

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Four Extremely Young Asteroid Families identified

Brazilian researchers dated the families using a numerical simulation method to process current data to go back in time to the asteroid formation era (image: NASA)

Brazilian researchers dated the families using a numerical simulation method to process current data to go back in time to the asteroid formation era (image: NASA)

Researchers dated the families using a numerical simulation method to process current data to go back in time to the asteroid formation era. Four families of extremely young asteroids have been identified by researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Guaratinguetá, Brazil. An article on the discovery has been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

“We identified the new families by means of numerical simulation using the backward integration method (BIM), which is much more precise than other methods for dating asteroid families...

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Technology and Therapy help individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries take Steps

Participant Kelly Thomas, trainer Katie Vogt. Credit: University of Louisville

Participant Kelly Thomas, trainer Katie Vogt.
Credit: University of Louisville

Of 4 research participants living with traumatic, motor complete spinal cord injury, 2 are able to walk over ground following epidural stimulation paired with daily locomotor training. In addition, all 4 participants achieved independent standing and trunk stability when using the stimulation and maintaining their mental focus. The study was conducted at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville (UofL) and is published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. The study was funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, University of Louisville Hospital and Medtronic plc.

This ground-breaking progress is the newest development in a string of outcomes at ...

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