A joint research group team led by Sayuri Tsukahara and Tetsuji Kakutani of the University of Tokyo has clarified a mechanism of how retrotransposons, genetic elements that can “jump around” chromosomes and are known drivers of evolution, preferentially insert in the centromere. The findings were published in the journal Nature. The centromere is the thinnest part of the chromosome that divides it into a long and short arm, much like how the waist separates the upper and lower body. Its role in transmitting information via cell division has been preserved ...

New York, NY—January 1, 2025—Mechanical force is an essential feature for many physical and biological processes. Remote measurement of mechanical signals with high sensitivity and spatial resolution is needed for a wide range of applications, from robotics to cellular biophysics and medicine and even to space travel. Nanoscale luminescent force sensors excel at measuring piconewton forces, while larger sensors have proven powerful in probing micronewton forces. However, large gaps remain in the force magnitudes that can be probed remotely from subsurface ...

Francis Crick Institute press release Under strict embargo: 16:00 GMT Wednesday 1 January 2025 Peer reviewed Observational study Ancient people Ancient DNA unlocks new understanding of migrations in the first millennium AD Waves of human migration across Europe during the first millennium AD have been revealed using a more precise method of analysing ancestry with ancient DNA, in research led by the Francis Crick Institute. Researchers can bring together a picture of how people moved across the world by looking at changes in their DNA, but this becomes a lot harder when historical ...

Fast radio bursts are brief and brilliant explosions of radio waves emitted by extremely compact objects such as neutron stars and possibly black holes. These fleeting fireworks last for just a thousandth of a second and can carry an enormous amount of energy — enough to briefly outshine entire galaxies.  Since the first fast radio burst (FRB) was discovered in 2007, astronomers have detected thousands of FRBs, whose locations range from within our own galaxy to as far as 8 billion light-years away. Exactly how ...

Leuven, 2 January 2024 – Researchers from the lab of Prof. Sarah-Maria Fendt (VIB-KU Leuven) and colleagues have uncovered that the availability of the amino acid aspartate is one reason why the lung is a frequent organ of metastasis. Their work appears in Nature and improves our understanding of cancer biology while providing the foundation for new therapeutic interventions in metastatic diseases. A role for aspartate More than half of cancer patients in whom the cancer spreads beyond the primary site have lung metastases. What makes the lungs such a ...

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Jan. 1, 2025, 11 a.m. ET CONTACT: NIAPressTeam@mail.nih.gov, 301-496-1752 Aging may change some brain cells more than others NIH-funded mouse study provides roadmap for how aging may alter brain cell genetic activity Based on new brain mapping research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists have discovered that not all cell types in the brain age in the same way. They found that some cells, such as a small group of hormone-controlling cells, may undergo more age-related changes in genetic activity than others. The results, published ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 1, 2025—As the body of research grows around the potential promise of psychedelic medications in psychiatry, many questions and challenges remain.  The January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry features a series of articles, including new research, reviews and commentaries, on the use of these treatments.  The issue addresses many of the ongoing challenges and looming questions in the field of psychiatric psychedelic research and treatment. These include issues relevant to basic ...

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, 31 December 2024 - In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, leading geneticist Dr. Cathy Barr unveils crucial discoveries about the complex interplay between genes and childhood psychiatric disorders. As a Senior Scientist at both the Hospital for Sick Children and Krembil Research Institute, Dr. Barr's research illuminates the genetic foundations of conditions including depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, reading disabilities, and Tourette syndrome. "After decades of searching ...

AURORA, Colo. (Dec. 31, 2024) – A groundbreaking study has shed light on the complex interactions between dystrophin, a protein critical to muscle stability, and its partner protein, dystrobrevin, offering new pathways for understanding and treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Published in the December issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, researchers characterize the mysterious C-terminal (CT) domain of dystrophin and its role in stabilizing cellular membranes across various tissues. DMD, a severe genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness and shortens lifespans, arises from mutations in the gene encoding ...

Scientific research explores the potential of DNNs in transforming fragrance design. By analyzing the sensing data of 180 essential oils, the DNN was trained using the odor descriptor data from 94 essential oils to generate fragrance profiles, validated through sensory evaluations to align with human olfactory perceptions. The study underscores the technological ability to streamline fragrance creation, reduce costs, and foster innovation, opening up exciting possibilities for personalized and scalable scent development. Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have become an essential driver of innovation across various industries, ...

A recent review is transforming the landscape of craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration with the introduction of personalized bioceramic grafts. This pioneering research explores the fabrication and clinical potential of synthetic grafts created through additive manufacturing (AM), addressing key limitations of traditional autogenous grafts. By focusing on 3D-printed bioceramics tailored to meet individual patient needs, the study marks a significant advancement in both precision medicine and patient-specific care, offering new hope for those requiring bone reconstruction. Craniofacial bone defects, resulting from trauma, congenital conditions, or surgical ...

Monitoring the changes caused in the brain at the molecular level by cancer and other neurological pathologies in a non-invasive way is one of the great challenges of biomedical research. A new technique, still in the experimental stage, achieves this by introducing light into the brains of mice using a very thin probe. The innovation, which is published today in the journal Nature Methods, is ledby an international team including groups from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish National Cancer Research ...

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada, 31 December 2024 - In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, renowned neuroscientist Dr. Michael Meaney reveals pivotal discoveries about the intricate relationship between genes and environment in shaping brain health. As a James McGill Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Translational Neuroscience program at ASTAR Singapore, Dr. Meaney's research has fundamentally altered our understanding of how early-life experiences influence genetic expression and brain development. "I have always been genuinely fascinated ...

JERUSALEM, Israel, 31 December 2024 - In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, distinguished neuroscientist Professor Raz Yirmiya unveils transformative insights into the relationship between inflammation and depression. As head of the Laboratory for Psychoneuroimmunology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Professor Yirmiya's work has fundamentally changed our understanding of depression's biological underpinnings. "Most depressed patients do not have any overt inflammatory disease. However, we and others found that exposure to stress, which is the most significant trigger of depression in humans and animals, also ...

ATLANTA, Georgia, USA, 31 December 2024 - In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, Emory University MD candidate Fayzan Rab shares insights into his pioneering research on the economic and public health implications of psychedelic therapy implementation. Rab's work at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality bridges the gap between clinical research and real-world healthcare delivery systems. "It would be a fool's errand to say that psychedelic therapies alone would change that," says Rab, discussing mental healthcare challenges. "Treating mental illness will require changes within clinical practice but also investments into social safety ...

A Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center researcher is exploring new ways to improve treatment options for kidney cancer patients. With funding from a Department of Defense (DOD) Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators Early Career Scholar Award, Aguirre de Cubas, Ph.D., will investigate how the immune system can be boosted to detect and kill kidney tumors. Congress established the award in 2017 to support research with high potential impact and exceptional scientific merit. De Cubas’ approach focuses on reactivating the immune system to recognize and target cancer cells better, offering new possibilities for improving existing ...

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 30 December 2024      @Annalsofim           Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, ...

(Calgary) — A study from a Mount Royal University physiologist and his team demonstrates the key role of the kidneys in acclimatization to high altitude, and illustrates another way that Sherpas are better adapted to high altitude ascent. Results from the study were recently published in in the prestigious international science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  The paper, “Comparing integrative ventilatory and renal acid-base acclimatization in lowlanders and Tibetan highlanders during ascent to 4,300 m”,  describes findings ...

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 30, 2024 – Patients with opioid use disorder can reduce their days of opioid use and stay in treatment longer when using a smartphone app as supportive therapy in combination with medication, a new study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) shows. The cohort study of 600 underserved patients found that those who chose to use the app – which combines contingency management behavioral therapy and recovery support from peers – and alongside medication, reduced their days of opioid use by 35% compared with ...

Key Takeaways A new study finds little evidence that hospital mergers and acquisitions reduce costs or improve quality of care. More strategic quality improvement efforts are needed for patients to benefit from health care integration. CHICAGO (December 30, 2024) — Mergers and acquisitions of U.S. hospitals and health systems rarely improve the quality of care delivered or result in lower health care costs and prices, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). The study, a systematic review of hundreds of published ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that people 60 years or older with weakened immunity — primarily organ transplant recipients who take immunosuppressive medications to reduce the risk of rejection and others with immune system disorders — do not respond as strongly to vaccines against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as people in the same age group with normal immune function.  The study, conducted by a research team at the Johns Hopkins Transplant Research Center, was published today in the Journal of the American ...

In a new analysis of data from more than a dozen studies, coffee and tea consumption was linked with lower risks of developing head and neck cancers, including cancers of the mouth and throat. Cancers of the head and neck are the seventh most common forms of cancer worldwide, and rates are rising in low- and middle-income countries. Many studies have assessed whether drinking coffee or tea is associated with head and neck cancer, with inconsistent results. To provide additional insight, investigators led by the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute examined data from ...

Dr. Chi-Young Jung's research team from the Hydrogen Research & Demonstration Center at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has successfully developed a method to analyze the microstructure of carbon fiber paper, a key material in hydrogen fuel cells, at a speed 100 times faster than existing methods. This was achieved by utilizing digital twin technology and artificial intelligence (AI) learning. Carbon fiber paper is a key material in hydrogen fuel cell stacks, playing a crucial role in facilitating water discharge ...

“The FDA approval on September 29, 2023, for ‘class III de novo’ blood tests to assess hereditary cancer risk make widely available tests that may be obtained through a Direct to Consumer (DTC) path.” BUFFALO, NY – December 30, 2024 – A new editorial was published in Oncotarget’s Volume 15 on December 24, 2024, titled “Pitfalls and perils from FDA-approved germ-line cancer predisposition tests.“ Authored by Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, Editor-in-Chief of Oncotarget, and Dr. Eli Y. Adashi from Brown University, the article highlights concerns about the risks ...

The amount of murdering and killing in movies has increased overall over the past 50 years, according to a new study that analyzed a massive database of film dialogue.   Researchers used machine learning to search a database of subtitles from more than 160,000 English-language movies produced from 1970 to 2000.  They calculated the amount of dialogue from characters using variations of the words “murder” or “kill” in each of the films.   While the total use of these “murderous verbs” varied widely from year to year, there was a clear increasing trend over the five-decade ...