Two studies published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens provide new evidence supporting an important role for the immune system in shaping the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These findings—and the novel technology behind them—improve understanding of…
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Skeletal muscles play a critical role in defense against septic infection
A team of investigators, led by Thomas Clanton, Ph.D. from the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, demonstrated for the first time that skeletal muscles do indeed play an important but poorly understood role…
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He Wanted to Be a Healthier Role Model for His Kids, So He Ran Off 190 Pounds
Name: Daniel HertelAge: 28Hometown: Buffalo Start Weight: 378 poundsEnd Weight: 188 poundsTime Running: 10 months Before I went on my weight-loss journey, I weighed nearly 400 pounds. Because of this, I was always out of breath and tired—not to mention…
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Insights into the role of DNA repair and Huntington’s disease gene mutation open new avenues for drug discovery
Recent genetic data from patients with Huntington’s disease (HD) show that DNA repair is an important factor that determines how early or late the disease occurs in individuals who carry the expanded CAG repeat in the HTT gene that causes…
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Scientists demonstrate the role of a protein called ADAMTS1 in rare eye cancer
Scientists from the University of Granada and GENYO (Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Government Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research), in a study led by Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Manzaneque, have demonstrated the significant role of a protein called ADAMTS1 in uveal melanoma, one…
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New insights on the role of the MLL4 gene in Kabuki syndrome
Scientists have known for years that mutations in the MLL4 gene can cause Kabuki syndrome, a rare developmental disorder. But a study published on Jan. 11 in Nature Communications illuminates new details regarding how this occurs. The research suggests that…
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Study reveals unexpected protective role for brain swelling after injury
Following a brain-injuring bump or blow to the head, brain cells and blood vessels typically swell. This can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase in pressure inside the skull, and managing swelling is critical for patients with traumatic brain injuries…
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Researchers identify key role of immune cells in brain infection
A new study has detailed the damaging role played by the immune system in a severe brain condition most commonly caused by the cold sore virus. Researchers have identified the specific type of immune cell that induces brain inflammation in…
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New clues from fruit flies about the critical role of sex hormones in stem cell control
In one of the first studies addressing the role of sex hormones’ impact on stem cells in the gut, scientists outline new insights showing how a steroidal sex hormone, that is structurally and functionally similar to human steroid hormones, drastically…
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Researchers discover a novel role for dopamine that impacts gene expression related to cocaine abuse
Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a new role for the brain chemical dopamine that is independent of classic neurotransmission. The new role appears to be critical to changes in gene expression related to…
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