Galectin-9: A new target for beating atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a chronic medical condition characterised by the accumulation of fat in the walls of blood vessels, which obstruct the normal flow of oxygen-rich blood and can have severe health consequences. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is
Naturally occurring peptide may tackle the “root cause” of obesity-related diseases
Obesity typically occurs when a person eats more calories than they need for their daily activity. It results in a build-up of fatty tissue around all organs. In lean people, fat tissues work closely with hormones to
Linking copper, tyrosines and protein aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia nowadays, is expected to increase within the coming years, representing a serious threat for society and the healthcare system. For this reason, a lot of
Improving assessment of arthritis models to better reflect human symptoms of disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease that is characterized by swelling and tenderness of multiple joints. The resulting pain and joint stiffness cause disability for patients and treatment to control the inflammation is required to
Systemic therapy in juvenile localized scleroderma
Juvenile localized scleroderma, also known as morphea, is an rare condition, it occurs around 1 in 5000 children, where the skin and the tissues underneath the skin like fat tissue, muscle, tendons, and bone, get inflamed and
Can we accurately diagnose different clinical variants of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy using IPMDS-PSP criteria?
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is the second most common degenerative parkinsonian syndrome after idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. PSP is a clinically heterogeneous disorder with several clinical variants. The two most common clinical variants are the Richardson (PSP-RS) and
Microbial community assembly and the microbiome revolution
Microbial communities (i.e. groups of potentially interacting microbial populations that co-exist in space and time) most commonly represent complex and highly diverse assortments of microbial populations, each possessing different genomic features that reflect on their specific life
Exploring gap junction networks required for zebrafish skin pattern formation
The study of pattern formation has advanced to a new phase involving channel molecules acting on bioelectric signals, with gap junctions being major relevant factors. Gap junctions are composed of connexin proteins: six connexins form hemichannels/connexons on
Social rank recognition is altered in autism spectrum disorder
Humans and many other animals spend their lives in social groups, along with constructing social hierarchy within the groups. Since social hierarchy is a principal determinant for allocation of limited resources for individuals in a group, assessments
Is that possible to prevent parasitic iatrogenic blood bank transmission?
Chagas disease (CD) is neglected tropical disease (NTD) that affects over 6 million people mainly in the poorest areas of Latin America. CD also represents a public health concern in non-endemic areas such as North America, Asia,
Waking a sleeping giant: How increasing Africa’s research output can benefit global cardiovascular health?
Africa is home to 1.4 billion people, of whom 55 million suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this, Africa contributes to only 1.7% of the world’s cardiovascular science. We studied 179 clinical trials led by African researchers
Lipid nanoparticles loaded with CpG oligonucleotides exert an antitumor effect via immunomodulation
Since the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer immunotherapy has dramatically developed. However, its drawback is the low overall response rate to its therapeutic effect. The efficacy of immunotherapy is suggested to depend on the immune
Sustainable solutions: Tamarind Seed Kernel powder (TKP) adhesive as a green alternative for lignocellulosic composites
The majority of petroleum-based adhesives applied in the wood industry today, particularly formaldehyde-based adhesives. Their application trend is increasing due to their wide availability, superior bonding, durability, and resistance to heat and moisture. However, formaldehyde-based adhesives continuously
Fatigue assessment strategy using Bayesian techniques
The fulfilment of the probabilistic fatigue characterization of materials based on the S-N field requires the definition of the statistical distribution of the percentile curves of the failure probability, interpreted as a simplification, by their confidence bands.
Starch fatty acid esters – versatile bio-based thermoplastics
The biopolymer starch is well-known in the kitchen for baking, cooking, and as a component of flour and is available in large quantities. This makes starch interesting as sustainable resource to convert it into biodegradable products to
From complexity to simplicity via microbial division of labor inspired by Nature
If someone were to put Nature under a microscope, it would become obvious that microbes are present in all environments on our planet. Microbes are often forced to interact within proximity and share resources as an important
Am I at risk of developing diabetes if exposed to insecticide?
The answer is: it depends. Of course, there is no trivial answer to an open question like that when referring to scientific investigation. But we can make you think better before exposure to certain pesticides like malathion.
Murburn concept explains why oxygen is acutely needed to sustain life
Murburn concept (from “mured burning”, signifying a restricted uncontrolled oxidative process) provides a tangible rationale why oxygen is so quintessential for immediate maintenance of life-order. It postulates that oxygen-centered diffusible reactive species (DRS, like superoxide radical) are
Mortality risk among cocaine users after and before economic recession
This study targeted residents in northern Italy who turned to a public treatment centre for primary cocaine use between 1982 and 2016. Its aims were to estimate mortality risk, and to examine mortality for subjects who have
Molecular classification of glioma stem cells
Comprehensive genetic analysis of glioblastomas by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) has proposed a new classification based on genetic abnormalities. The characteristic genetic abnormalities identified in the TCGA are promising candidates for novel molecularly targeted therapies, and
