For most human proteins, there are no small molecules known to bind them chemically (so called “ligands”). Ligands frequently represent important starting points for drug development but this knowledge gap critically hampers the development of novel medicines. Researchers at CeMM, in a collaboration with Pfizer, have now leveraged and scaled a method to measure the binding activity of hundreds of small molecules against thousands of human proteins. This large-scale study revealed tens of thousands of ligand-protein interactions that can now be explored for the development of chemical tools and therapeutics. Moreover, ...

What happens in the body when we are hungry and see and smell food? A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research has now been able to show in mice that adaptations in the liver mitochondria take place after only a few minutes. Stimulated by the activation of a group of nerve cells in the brain, the mitochondria of the liver cells change and prepare the liver for the adaptation of the sugar metabolism. The findings, published in the journal Science, could open up new avenues for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The researchers ...

Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study published in Science. The projections show that climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century. Land-use change is considered the largest driver of biodiversity change, according to the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). However, scientists are divided over how much biodiversity has changed in past decades. To better answer this question, an international team of researchers modeled the impacts of land-use change ...

Companies’ emissions reduction targets should not be the sole measure of corporate climate ambition, according to a new perspective paper. Relying on emissions can favour more established companies and hinder innovation, say the authors, who suggest updating regulations to improve corporate climate action. The paper, published today in Science, is by an international team led by Utrecht University, which includes Imperial College London researchers. Lead author of the study Dr Yann Robiou Du Pont, from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht ...

Exploratory behavior is one of the fundamental personality traits of animals – and these traits influence their probability of survival, among other things. For example, curious individuals can inhabit different areas in their habitats compared to more cautious conspecifics. At the same time, however, they expose themselves to a greater risk of being discovered and eaten. Exploratory behavior as a factor in evolution The cichlids of Africa’s Lake Tanganyika exhibit extraordinary diversity in terms ...

Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its impacts are felt at a very local level. Take, for example, dust. Dust can have a huge impact on local air quality, food security, energy supply and public health. Yet, little is known about how global climate change is impacting dust levels. Previous studies have found that dust levels are actually decreasing across India, particularly northern India, the Persian Gulf Coast and much of the Middle East, but the reason has remained unclear. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are working to understand how ...

MSU has a satellite uplink/LTN TV studio and Comrex line for radio interviews upon request. EAST LANSING, Mich. – Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue in the United States, particularly affecting young children who are most vulnerable due to their dependence on caregivers. Infants under two years old account for over one-quarter, or 28.1%, of all maltreatment cases in the U.S., and infants under one year of age experience the highest rate of victimization, according to the U.S. Department of Health and ...

WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society has appointed Zane B. Andrews, Ph.D., of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, as Editor-in-Chief of its flagship basic science journal, Endocrinology. Andrews has been Deputy Editor of the journal since 2020 and will be taking on this role as previous Editor-in-Chief Carol Lange, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., transitions into her new position as the Society’s President-Elect. “I am thrilled that Dr. Andrews is taking on this opportunity to lead Endocrinology. He has already provided immense value as the Deputy Editor. I very recently met with ...

Key Takeaways  Frailty and procedure risk are both associated with increased postoperative complications and odds of death. However, certain patients are at increased risk of postoperative complications and death in comparison to the same patients who are assessed solely on their level of frailty.   Compared to frailty alone, procedure risk had a stronger association with adverse outcomes among elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. For example, high-risk procedures resulted in an 8-fold increase in the odds of death following surgery, ...

The National Center to Reframe Aging — the leading organization for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues — is partnering with the Maryland Department of Aging in development of its multisector plan on aging, the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative. The National Center will be a strategic partner providing guidance in Maryland’s statewide campaign to advance an equitable and complete story about aging and promote proven communication strategies to frame aging issues. Key leaders and staff of the Maryland Department of Aging will participate in educational opportunities and receive resources to consistently apply ...

At the height of the pandemic, timely access to COVID-19 testing was crucial for curbing the spread of the disease and informing treatment decisions. Studies have unveiled racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection rates, clinical outcomes, and access to treatment and testing. However, until now, there has been a gap in research specifically examining the connection between race, ethnicity, and delayed COVID-19 testing amongst health care personnel. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member ...

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Extracting natural gas from shale formations can provide an abundant, lower-carbon footprint fossil fuel, but also creates concerns over increased methane emissions. A team led by Penn State researchers has developed a new tool that can estimate the emission potential of shale wells after they are no longer active. The findings, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, revealed that methane begins diffusing from the shale formation after a well is decommissioned  and that this represents a notable source of methane ...

MADISON — A newly developed nanomaterial that mimics the behavior of proteins could be an effective tool for treating Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. The nanomaterial alters the interaction between two key proteins in brain cells — with a potentially powerful therapeutic effect. The innovative findings, recently published in the journal Advanced Materials, were made possible thanks to a collaboration between University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists and nanomaterial engineers at Northwestern ...

In recent years, the scientific community has increasingly turned its attention to sustainable agriculture, aiming to maximize crop yield while minimizing environmental impact. A crucial aspect of this research involves understanding the fundamental processes of plant photosynthesis and how they can be monitored at scale. One promising method for assessing photosynthetic activity is through the measurement of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, a byproduct of photosynthesis that can be detected ...

RESEARCH SUMMARY   Study Title:  Positive selection CRISPR screens reveal a druggable pocket in an oligosaccharyltransferase required for inflammatory signaling to NF-κB   Publication:  Cell (4/25/24)   Dana-Farber Cancer Institute authors include: William Kaelin, Jr, MD, senior author; Benjamin Lampson, MD, PhD, first author; Lixia He, PhD; Jamie Pfaff, MD; Nitin Shirole, PhD; and Yanfeng He, PhD   Summary: A new paper by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ...

Oil is an important natural resource for many industries, but it can lead to serious environmental damage when accidentally spilled. While large oil spills are highly publicized, every year there are many smaller-scale spills into lakes, rivers and oceans. And, according to research published in ACS’ Energy & Fuels, the longer that oil remains in freshwater, the more chemical changes it undergoes, creating products that can persist in the environment. Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the environment ...

LOS ANGELES — More than 660 Nevadans need an organ transplant, according to Nevada Organ Network, a federally designated organ procurement organization; but many currently struggle to access care because of limited transplant services available in Nevada.   Amid the growing need for additional transplant services in the state, Keck Medicine of USC has opened a new location in Las Vegas that will provide specialized care for patients in Las Vegas and surrounding communities who need a liver or heart transplant.   The clinic is the first in Nevada to offer ...

Chemokines are signalling proteins that orchestrate the interaction of immune cells against pathogens and tumours. To understand this complex network, various techniques have been developed to identify chemokine-producing cells. However, it has not yet been possible to determine which cells react to these chemokines. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have developed a new class of genetically modified mice that enables the simultaneous identification of chemokine producers and sensors. Using the chemokine ...

Researchers from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, have published a comprehensive study on the invasion of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting a rapid spread and the potential ecological impacts. Published in the open-access journal NeoBiota, the research shows the lionfish species Pterois miles has significantly expanded its territory in the Mediterranean since the invasion began around ten years ago. The invasive species has established presence in the eastern Mediterranean, with observations now extending to colder waters previously ...

Two independent research teams have successfully regenerated mouse brain circuits in mice using neurons grown from rat stem cells. Both studies, published April 25 in the journal Cell, offer valuable insights into how brain tissue forms and present new opportunities for restoring lost brain function due to disease and aging. “This research helps to show the brain’s potential flexibility in using synthetic neural circuits to restore brain functions,” says Kristin Baldwin (@kkbaldwin238), a professor at Columbia University in New York and corresponding author ...

Kingston, ON, March 27, 2024 – In the era after the introduction of publicly funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) mandating elective single embryo transfer, the multifetal pregnancy rate decreased significantly for IVF, but the contribution of ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI) to multifetal pregnancy still needs attention, according to a new study from ICES and Queen’s University.  Twins, triplets, and higher multifetal pregnancies are associated with some adverse outcomes ...

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) showed people surviving cancer who reported feeling more lonely experienced a higher mortality risk compared to survivors reporting low or no loneliness. Researchers observed the highest mortality risk among the group reporting the highest levels of loneliness, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. The findings are published today in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN). “Loneliness, ...

About The Study: In this nationally representative cross-sectional study of 25,000 participants, those experiencing post–COVID-19 condition (PCC) were approximately twice as likely to report depression and anxiety symptoms than other U.S. adults. Among individuals with these symptoms, adults with PCC were just as likely to have received mental health treatment but more likely to report cost-related barriers to accessing therapy. Care pathways for PCC should consider prioritizing mental health screening and affordable treatment.  Authors: Hiten Naik, M.D., ...

About The Study: In an otherwise largely homogeneous sample of female nurses, participants identifying as lesbian or bisexual had markedly earlier mortality during the study period compared with heterosexual women. These differences in mortality timing highlight the urgency of addressing modifiable risks and upstream social forces that propagate and perpetuate disparities.  Authors: Sarah McKetta, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard University in Boston, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed ...

Warning letters from Medicare can safely cut prescribing of a powerful but risky antipsychotic, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Researchers used Medicare data to study the effects of the letters on hundreds of thousands of older adults with dementia. They found a significant and lasting reduction in prescribing but no signs of adverse effects on patient health. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open. “Our study shows that low-cost letter interventions can safely reduce antipsychotic prescribing to patients with dementia,” said Adam Sacarny, PhD, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia Mailman School. ...