The APOE gene—coding for a protein involved in lipid transport and implicated in the clearance of amyloid-beta, one of the proteins that builds up in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease—exists in three allelic forms: E4, E3, and E2. Researchers have strong evidence that the presence of E4 constitutes a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The […]
A lack of confidence in our abilities on a given task or activity seems to stem from overestimating the abilities of others, according to a University of Alberta study. The finding could offer leaders insights into how to counter self-doubt in the face of a difficult task. Previous research has shown that for many tasks […]
Italy, one of the European nations hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, on Thursday opened vaccinations for everybody over the age of 12. Each region can adapt the national rules but technically anyone registered with health authorities can sign up—including teenagers, after the European Medicines Agency approved the Pfizer/BioNTech jab for 12 to 15-year-olds last […]
For the 60 million people around the world suffering from heart failure, a heart transplant is most often not an option. While implantable pumps called left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are a promising new treatment option for this life-threatening condition, they have a high rate of associated complications. In fact, 4 out of 5 patients […]
On Wednesday, April 14, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified virtually before the Congressional subcommittee that determines funding levels for the USDA, including funding for important animal welfare programs. Members of Congress raised pressing animal welfare concerns—including enforcement issues regarding the Animal Welfare Act, the timeline for progress on animal welfare improvements under […]
One of the most significant genetic risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease is a gene called APOE4, which is carried by almost half of all Alzheimer’s patients. A new study from MIT shows that this gene has widespread effects on brain cells’ ability to metabolize lipids and respond to stress. In studies of human brain […]
Immunologists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered that tumors use a unique mechanism to switch on regulatory T cells to protect themselves from attack by the immune system. Surprisingly, the mechanism does not affect regulatory T cell function outside the tumor and may therefore limit the immune-associated toxicities of targeting regulatory T cells. […]
A first-of-its-kind contraceptive developed at the University of Illinois Chicago has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new contraceptive, called Phexxi, is a non-hormonal vaginal gel that can be used on-demand to prevent pregnancy. The contraceptive is the fourth drug developed by researchers at UIC to achieve FDA approval. This milestone […]
Many of the latest developments in the global coronavirus pandemic revolve around testing—for active infection and immunity. Diagnostic and antibody tests for COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 are flooding the market, as leaders and the public hope they might support safer strategies for re-opening. Ping Wang, an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, investigates diagnostics and […]
Researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) have developed tools to improve the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Tülay Adali, professor of computer science and electrical engineering and director of UMBC’s Machine Learning for Signal Processing Lab, and Qunfang Long, a Ph.D. candidate at UMBC in electrical engineering, have spearheaded […]
