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Category: biotech/medical – Page 11

Chronic Exposure to Microplastics Induces Blood–Brain Barrier Impairment, Oxidative Stress, and Neuronal Damage in Rats

The widespread prevalence of plastics and in particular, microplastics (MPs) raises concerns about their potential toxic effects. MPs, defined as particles smaller than 5 mm, are distributed throughout ecosystem and can enter the human body through the food chain. There is a lack of knowledge regarding MP potential harmful effects on the mammal’s body, especially the brain. This study aimed to examine the impact of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs (< 30 μm) on blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, oxidative stress, and neuronal health. Male rats were exposed to LDPE MPs via oral administration for 3 and 6 weeks. The results revealed no significant changes in brain water content across groups. However, BBB integrity was significantly compromised after both 3 and 6 weeks of exposure. Oxidative stress increased in MP-treated groups, evidenced by decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels significantly declined in the 6-week group. Histological analysis indicated neuronal damage and death in both treatment durations. These findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to LDPE MPs impairs BBB integrity, increases oxidative stress, and induces neuronal damage in rats. The results highlight the neurotoxic potential of MPs and emphasize the need for further research to address their possible health risks.

The Shockingly Simple Vision Breakthrough That Might End LASIK

Scientists may have found a way to correct vision without surgery, lasers, or cutting.

Using tiny electrical currents and custom contact lenses, researchers reshaped rabbit corneas in just a minute — a process that could one day replace LASIK.

Millions of americans have altered vision.

How Dr. Bill Andrews Plans to Cure Aging in 3 Years

Anybody got a spare $130 million?

Dr. Bill Andrews, a trailblazing scientist, is on a mission to cure aging. From a childhood dream sparked at age 10 to his pioneering telomerase research, he reveals how Sierra Sciences could reverse aging in just three years with $130 million in funding. Yet, investor demands for quick returns stand in his way.
He believes that a Biotech Freedom Zone through Immortalis—a revolutionary approach to bypass funding and regulatory hurdles—is the catalyst to transform longevity research, making health affordable and aging a thing of the past.

Join the community behind the first ever Biotech Freedom City:
https://joinimmortalis.com

Computational approach meets biology to connect neural progenitor cells with human disorders

For much of the 20th century it was thought that the adult brain was incapable of regeneration. This view has since shifted dramatically and neurogenesis—the birth of new neurons—is now a widely accepted phenomenon in the adult brain, offering promising avenues for treating many neurological conditions.

One of the main challenges in the field has been identifying neural stem and (NPCs) responsible for generating these new neurons. NPCs are rare, diverse and difficult to isolate from other due to overlapping molecular signatures. As a result, understanding their biology—and particularly their role in human brain disorders—has remained elusive.

In a study published in Stem Cell Reports, a team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital reveals that define NPCs.

Scientists uncover sugar pathway driving aggressive childhood cancer

Scientists have uncovered a hidden weakness in one of the deadliest childhood cancers. The tumors, which spread quickly and are notoriously hard to treat, rely on a sugar-processing pathway to survive and grow. By blocking this pathway, researchers were able to slow down the cancer and make it more vulnerable to treatment. This breakthrough opens the door to new therapies for children and young adults facing a disease with very few options today.

Magnets with Potential to Zap Tumors in a Flash

The slot-shaped aperture in the curved chain of magnets accommodates beams at different energies — a feature that would allow rapid switching among energies for more effective cancer treatment. This image shows a beam of light shining through the array with Mechanical Support Group staff in the background. (Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory)

When the magnets arrived at Brookhaven, Katie Chen, a mechanical engineer, produced an architectural model of the assembly that Rob Karl, Adrian Timon, Travis Herbst, and Edward Dabrowski from the Mechanical Support Group used to properly align the magnets and bolt them to a supporting steel plate. To test that the magnets would accommodate the planned beam trajectories, the team transported the assembled array to the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL), a facility that draws particles from the collider-accelerator complex supplying beams to Brookhaven Lab’s nuclear physics research facilities.

“This team tirelessly dedicated their time and expertise to completing the assembly and worked with exceptional dedication throughout Father’s Day weekend to help with these tests,” Mahler said.

Nanodroplets could speed up the search for new medicine

Until now, the early phase of drug discovery for the development of new therapeutics has been both cost- and time-intensive. Researchers at KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) have now developed a platform on which extremely miniaturized nanodroplets with a volume of only 200 nanoliters per droplet—comparable to a grain of sand—and containing only 300 cells per test can be arranged.

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