Category: Biology
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Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy May Affect Growth of Newborn Baby
Babies whose mother were exposed to air pollution while pregnant may have their growth affected.
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Scientists Get Lemurs to Hibernate in Captivity
Lemurs rarely hibernate in captivity. Scientist at the Duke Lemur Center has been able to get the fat-tailed dwarf lemur by mimicking seasonal changes in the lemurs’ indoor enclosures. By studying hibernating animals like these lemurs, researchers may unlock the secrets of hibernation and apply them to to humans. Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur The fat-tailed dwarf…
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Protein in Mosquitos Can Help Develop Treatments Vs. Deadly Viruses
A protein called AEG12 found in mosquitos can strongly inhibit the deadly viruses that are responsible for yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, and Zika. AEG12 can even inhibit coronaviruses, although more weakly. The findings were made by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their collaborators. Breaking the Envelop The researchers found that…
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Cancer Cells Can Hibernate to Avoid Chemotherapy
Cancer cells can go into hibernation to avoid effects of chemotherapy. This finding was made by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine. These findings have implications for developing new drug combinations that could block senescence and make chemotherapy more effective. In a study published Jan. 26 in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for…
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SARS-CoV-2 Virus Uses a Second Key Receptor to Infect Human Cells
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 uses another receptor called Neuropilin-1 to make it more infectious to human cells, according to researchers from Technical University of Munich and the University of Helsinki. Digest Points Neuropilin-1 is very abundant in many human tissues including the respiratory tract, blood vessels and neurons. They are receptors on the…
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Hormones Can Be Released by Remote Control Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
MIT researchers can release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal gland by using magnetic nanoparticles. These hormones are linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Learning to control these hormones remotely can lead to treatments for these hormone-linked mental health disorders. The study was published…
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Different Gut Bacteria Lead to Different Levels of Cancer in Mice
Identical mice developed different levels of cancer depending on the type of gut bacteria they have. Certain types of gut bacteria population can suppress colorectal tumors in the identical mice, while other types of gut bacteria population can promote more tumors. This finding was made by researchers at the University of Michigan and published in…
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Importance of Matching Biological Clock With Day-Night Cycle
Scientists have discovered more evidence that it’s importance to keep our biological clocks in sync with our environment. Our circadian rhythms are the internal 24-hour biological clock in our bodies. This internal clock regulates many biological processes such as our metabolism. Numerous studies have shown that when our circadian rhythms become out of sync with…
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Scientists Turn Off Allergic Itching by Blocking Common Skin Protein
Scientists have found that blocking a skin protein called periostin can reduce allergic itch. Periostin is a protein commonly found in the skin. It is associated with activating itch-associated neurons in the skin. When researchers from North Carolina State University blocked the periostin receptors on these neurons, the itch response in mice with eczema was…
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Device Use Sound Waves to Detect Cancer Invasion
Scientists have designed a device that uses sound waves to detect cancer invasion. The device sends sound waves through the structure surrounding cells called the extracellular matrix. The stiffness of the extracellular matrix can then be measured. Stiffening of the extracellular matrix can indicate cancer is invading other tissue. The device was developed by engineers…