Industries
Tea consumption could lead to epigenetic changes in women
Epigenetic changes are chemical modifications that turn our genes off or on. In a new study from Uppsala University, researchers show that tea consumption in women leads to epigenetic changes in genes that are known to interact with cancer and estrogen metabolism. The results are published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. It is well known that our environment and lifestyle factors, such as food choices, smoking and exposure to c...
Research project focuses on microbial communities
Led by ETH Zurich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), three ETH research groups are collaborating with several US universities to investigate microbial ecosystems, with a special focus on the oceans. The research project, named Theory of Microbial Ecosystems (THE-ME), is supported by the Simons Foundation, which will provide 15 million US dollars over a period of at least five years.
Blood test offers improved breast cancer detection
A study published in Clinical Breast Cancer demonstrates that Videssa Breast, a multi-protein biomarker blood test to detect breast cancer, can help inform better decision-making after abnormal mammogram or other breast imaging results and potentially reduce use of biopsy by up to 67%. The study evaluated the performance of Videssa Breast among women under age 50.
Neurons responsible for sound localisation have unique feature
To localise sounds, particularly low-frequency sounds, mammals must perceive minimal differences in the timing of signal reception between the two ears. LMU researchers now describe a unique feature of the neurons responsible for this task. In the mammalian auditory system, sound waves impinging on the tympanic membrane of the ear are transduced into electrical signals by sensory hair cells and transmitted via the auditory nerve to the brain...
Vancomycin is the new weapon against bacterial resistance
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have given new superpowers to a lifesaving antibiotic called vancomycin, an advance that could eliminate the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections for years to come. The researchers, led by Dale Boger, co-chair of TSRI's Department of Chemistry, discovered a way to structurally modify vancomycin to make an already-powerful version of the antibiotic even more potent.
Chess-playing robot impresses in Taiwan tech fair
A chess-playing robot stole the show in Asia's largest tech fair in Taiwan, with artificial intelligence centre stage. The annual Computex trade show in Taipei comes as Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen seeks to boost the island's economy with her "Asian Silicon Valley" project, nurturing startups and attracting investments from major international companies. The full-size robot impressed visitors by taking a pawn piece in a mocked-up che...
Another sleepless night? Your brain might be eating itself
A new study has revealed that chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself. Michele Bellesi of the Marche Polytechnic University in Italy analysed the brains of mice who had regular sleep, spontaneous wake, sleep deprivation and chronic sleep deprivation. The results, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that the brain cells that destroy and digest worn-out cells and debris go into overdrive in mice th...
Supporting mainstream adoption of Quality by Design
Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB) has developed an innovative and fully integrated technology platform to meet the requirements of today’s upstream bioprocessing. It will allow customers to adopt a Quality by Design (QbD) approach in which they build quality into their biological products by combining the power of high-throughput mini bioreactors with data analysis and knowledge management tools so that robust and well-characterised processes ...
Our brains can detect disease in others
The human brain is much better than previously thought at discovering and avoiding disease, a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden reports. Our sense of vision and smell alone are enough to make us aware that someone has a disease even before it breaks out. And not only aware - we also act upon the information and avoid sick people. The study is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Natio...
Acelity launches PREVENA DUO Incision Management System Platform
Acelity has announced that the PREVENA DUO Incision Management System is now available to physicians in the United States. The PREVENA DUO System is the first single use negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system designed specifically for the simultaneous management of two closed surgical incisions, configured to help reduce post-operative complications in bilateral procedures, such as vascular harvesting, breast reconstruction and o...