The multicellular, 3-D structure of human pancreatic islets—the areas of the pancreas containing hormone-producing or endocrine cells—has presented challenges to researchers as they study and manipulate these cells’ function, but Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have now developed a pseudoislet system that allows for much easier study of islet function. A pancreatic islet is composed […]
In a joint letter, Research Fellow Francesca Cavallaro, Associate Professor Katie Harron (both UCL GOS Institute of Child Health) and their colleagues explain how the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an urgency to improve data access. The COVID-19 outbreak has sparked increased awareness of the importance of timely, system-wide data for examining trends and modeling different […]
University of Otago researchers have discovered some of the secrets to longevity with new research revealing not smoking and being social engaged throughout older age are common traits of New Zealand centenarians. Associate Professor Yoram Barak, a consultant psychogeriatrician, says the results show people can have some control over the ageing process. “Electing not to […]
A new, hair-sprouting dollop of human skin created in the lab might one day help prevent hair loss. Organoids are small, lab-grown cell groupings are designed to model real-world organs -in this case, skin. A paper published in Nature describes the hairy creation as the first hair-baring human skin organoid made with pluripotent stem cells, […]
Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by the human body’s immune response to infection, however if the body overreacts it can lead to death. Nearly 270,000 deaths occur in the United States annually related to sepsis. The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research scientists have discovered the development of novel antibody strategy to effectively prevent the […]
The race is on to find a vaccine against the new COVID-19 coronavirus. Professor Jonathan Heeney explains why a cautious approach is needed and how his team is using new technology developed for influenza and Ebola viruses to target the new infection. It is hard now to conceive that two months ago, few people had […]
New research from the University of Sheffield has discovered that switching to a rich diet after eating a restricted diet can decrease life expectancy and have negative effects on health. It has long been known that restricting food intake can extend lifespan however researchers have now provided new insight into why, as well as how […]
The ketogenic diet, popular among athletes seeking a performance edge and people hoping to lose weight, may harm bone health in the long term. Australian research has found that athletes on the keto diet showed impaired markers of bone health, possibly due to inflammation caused by low intake of carbohydrates. The ketogenic diet may not […]
Swansea University research into the threat posed by antifungal drug resistance has been highlighted in two prestigious international journals. Fungal disease now kills more people than malaria or TB and the Centre for Disease Control in the USA recognises emergence of multi-drug resistance in fungi as a high level threat. Dr. Josie Parker and Prof […]
Kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage kidney disease and is associated with an advantage over dialysis in both survival and quality of life. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are among the first to adopt genotyping that helps identify and predict the risk accompanying individuals wishing to donate a kidney. Those who […]
