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Category: biotech/medical – Page 6

Miniature microscope captures real-time voltage signals in awake animals

Researchers have built a tiny, lightweight microscope that captures neuron activity with unprecedented speed that can be used in freely moving animals. The new tool could give scientists a more complete view of how brain cells process information during natural behavior.

The microscope is designed to image genetically encoded voltage indicators —fluorescent dyes that rapidly change brightness when a neuron fires—through a small window in the skull while the animal is awake.

“Unlike most miniature microscopes that track slower calcium signals, ours captures electrical spikes at hundreds of frames per second,” said Emily Gibson from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “This makes it possible to capture the moment a neuron fires as well as the quieter signals that build up inside neurons before firing.”

Loss of brain protein eases Alzheimer’s symptoms and brain damage in mice

New research published in the journal eNeuro examined whether eliminating a protein that is elevated in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s could prevent or reduce damage and behavioral symptoms in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Previous work from our research team and others found evidence that a specific protein named Centaurin-α1 is involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s damage within neurons,” explained lead author of the study, Dr. Erzsebet Szatmari. “To confirm the role of this protein and see if it might be a good therapeutic target, we tested whether genetically removing it would prevent or slow disease progression in a mouse model of the disease.”

The scientists used a well-characterized model of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. The disease model (called J20) contains two genetic mutations associated with rare familial variants of Alzheimer’s disease. These animals develop changes in brain tissue and behavioral deficits characteristic of many symptoms seen in human Alzheimer’s disease, including neuroinflammation, accumulation of neuronal plaques, synapse loss, and impairments in spatial memory and learning.

Next gen cancer drug shows surprising anti aging power

The study unexpectedly identified a significant role for a group of enzymes known as agmatinases, which convert the metabolite agmatine into polyamines. These enzymes appear to participate in a previously unrecognized “metabolic feedback loop” that helps maintain balanced TOR activity. When agmatinase activity was disrupted, yeast cells grew more quickly but showed signs of premature aging, revealing a trade-off between rapid growth and long-term cell survival.

The team also found that adding agmatine or putrescine (a related compound) supported longevity in yeast and improved growth under specific conditions.

“By showing that agmatinases are essential for healthy aging, we’ve uncovered a new layer of metabolic control over TOR — one that may be conserved in humans,” said Dr. Rallis. “Because agmatine is produced by diet and gut microbes, this work may help explain how nutrition and the microbiome influence aging.”

Cannabis Survey Shows Rising CBD Use in Pets

“The long-term use of CBD is associated with less intense aggressive behaviors in dogs.”

Can cannabidiol (CBD) help dogs in the same way it helps humans? This is what a recent study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated the benefits of incorporating CBD products into dog products. This study has the potential to help scientists, legislators, and the public better understand the health benefits of CBD for both humans and animals.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data obtained from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), which is an organization designed to gain insight into dog aging, lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors. Surveys were conducted from 47,444 dog owners between December 2019 and December 2023, with the first surveys being s baseline regarding a dog’s overall health status, while the second survey was used to ascertain the amount of CBD or hemp the owners fed their dogs while also assessing changes in behavior and/or health.

In the end, the researchers found that healthy dogs were less likely to use CBD, whereas dogs with limiting health conditions like dementia, epilepsy, or cancer were more likely to use CBD. Additionally, CBD-use dogs were found to exhibit less aggressive behavior compared to non-use dogs. Finally, the team found that states where CBD was legal had higher rates of dogs using CBD.

Non-invasive ultrasonic neuromodulation of the human nucleus accumbens impacts reward sensitivity

This study shows that non-invasive ultrasound to the human nucleus accumbens can modulate deep brain activity and enhance reward-guided learning, offering a potential alternative to invasive neuromodulation therapies.

Certain immune cell subtypes drive lupus, study finds

Detailed mapping of CD4⁺ T cells from children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has revealed distinct immune cell subsets with likely roles in disease pathogenesis, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The findings are poised to redirect lupus research and open the door to more precise therapies that avoid broad immune suppression.

Published in Nature Immunology, the study used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile CD4⁺ T-cell subtypes from children with SLE and healthy controls. Although CD4⁺ T cells have long been implicated in lupus, their full diversity and the identity of disease-driving subsets had not been fully defined. The authors note that the results likely apply not only to pediatric lupus but also to adult disease.

“Modulation of a particular CD4⁺ T-cell subset called Th10 might be a good strategy for treating patients with lupus, and we are following up with that goal in mind,” said study co–senior author Dr. Virginia Pascual, the Ronay Menschel Professor of Pediatrics and Gale and Ira Drukier Director of Children’s Health Research at Weill Cornell Medicine.

AI model to detect skin cancer

Key findings from the study include:

Researchers have developed a new approach for identifying individuals with skin cancer that combines genetic ancestry, lifestyle and social determinants of health using a machine learning model. Their model, more accurate than existing approaches, also helped the researchers better characterize disparities in skin cancer risk and outcomes.

Skin cancer is among the most common cancers in the United States, with more than 9,500 new cases diagnosed every day and approximately two deaths from skin cancer occurring every hour. One important component of reducing the burden of skin cancer is risk prediction, which utilizes technology and patient information to help doctors decide which individuals should be prioritized for cancer screening.

Traditional risk prediction tools, such as risk calculators based on family history, skin type and sun exposure, have historically performed best in people of European ancestry because they are more represented in the data used to develop these models. This leaves significant gaps in early detection for other populations, particularly those with darker skin, who are less likely to be of European ancestry. As a result, skin cancer in people of non-European ancestry is frequently diagnosed at later stages when it is more difficult to treat. As a consequence of later stage detection, people of non-European ancestry also tend to have worse overall outcomes from skin cancer.

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