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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 9, 2022 at 8:20am

Old skin cells reprogrammed to regain youthful function

Research  has developed a method to "time jump" human skin cells by 30 years, turning back the aging clock for cells without losing their specialized function. Work by researchers in the  Epigenetics research program has been able to partly restore the function of older cells, as well as rejuvenating the molecular measures of biological age. The research is published recently in the journal eLife, and while this topic is still at an early stage of exploration, it could revolutionize regenerative medicine.

As we age, our cells' ability to function declines and the genome accumulates marks of aging. Regenerative biology aims to repair or replace cells including old ones. One of the most important tools in regenerative biology is our ability to create "induced" stem cells. The process is a result of several steps, each erasing some of the marks that make cells specialized. In theory, these stem cells have the potential to become any cell type, but scientists aren't yet able to reliably recreate the conditions to re-differentiate stem cells into all cell types.

The new method, based on the Nobel Prize-winning technique scientists use to make stem cells, overcomes the problem of entirely erasing cell identity by halting reprogramming part of the way through the process. This allowed researchers to find the precise balance between reprogramming cells, making them biologically younger, while still being able to regain their specialized cell function.

Multi-omic rejuvenation of human cells by maturation phase transient reprogramming, eLife, 2022. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.71624

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-skin-cells-reprogrammed-regain-youthf...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 9, 2022 at 8:14am

Microplastics found in lung tissue from live human beings for the first time

A team of researchers has identified minute particles of plastic in lung tissue removed from live human patients, marking the first time such materials have been observed in living human patients. The group has published a paper describing their findings in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Prior studies have shown that plastics of all sizes have been winding up in places all across the planet. More recently, studies have found tiny bits of plastics in animals and in humans. Such particles have been found in the spleen, kidneys and liver of both live and deceased humans. And just last month a team in the Netherlands reported finding microplastics in the bloodstream of a live human patient. In this new effort, the researchers report having found microplastics in lung tissue taken from live patients in a hospital.

Suspecting that micro-sized bits of plastic might be inhaled by some people, the researchers worked with surgical teams at Castle Hill Hospital and their patients. The patients were undergoing surgery for treatment of various lung ailments and agreed to allow tissue removed from their lungs during surgery to be examined by the research team. Under such an arrangement, the research team was able to collect 13 samples, each of which went under the microscope. They found bits of plastic in 11 of them.

In studying the bits of plastic, the researchers found 12 different kinds, including those used in common household applications, such as clothing, packaging and bottles. But most surprising was where the plastic bits were found. In addition to the upper part of the lungs, where such particles would be expected to collect, the team found them in the lower regions. This was surprising because the airways in such parts of the lungs are much smaller, making it much more difficult for particles to reach them. The researchers were also surprised to find higher levels of the plastics in male patients as opposed to female patients.

Lauren C. Jenner et al, Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy, Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154907

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-microplastics-lung-tissue-human.html?...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 8, 2022 at 10:56am

Researchers develop injectable microtissue to preserve muscle function in rats with severed sciatic nerves

Researchers engineered the first injectable microtissue containing motor and sensory neurons encased in protective tissue, called tissue engineered neuromuscular interfaces (TE-NMIs). The TE-NMI neurons provide a source of axons to muscles in rats who suffered nerve injuries, and “babysit” the muscles to prevent degeneration and loss of function, while the damaged nerve regrows, according to the researchers.

The TE-NMIs are comprised of nerve cells encapsulated in a protective hydrogel, and the entire microenvironment is injected in close proximity to muscles. This “ship in a bottle” method protects the neurons and increases the likelihood that a greater quantity of axons will connect with the muscle and maintain regenerative pathways.

Researchers severed the sciatic nerve in rats, and injected them with either a TE-NMI or a microtissue without any neurons. In the group that received TE-NMIs, researchers were able to electrically stimulate the nerve stump being “babysat” by the TE-NMI and record a muscle response up to five months after the tissue was implanted. No muscle response was detected in the control group.

Justin C. Burrell, Suradip Das, Franco A. Laimo, Kritika S. Katiyar, Kevin D. Browne, Robert B. Shultz, Vishal J. Tien, Phuong T. Vu, Dmitriy Petrov, Zarina S. Ali, Joseph M. Rosen, D. Kacy Cullen. Engineered neuronal microtissue provides exogenous axons for delayed nerve fusion and rapid neuromuscular recovery in rats. Bioactive Materials, 2022; 18: 339 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.03.018

https://researchnews.cc/news/12532/Penn-researchers-develop-injecta...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 6, 2022 at 9:27am

Scientists develop a recyclable pollen-based paper for repeated printing and 'unprinting'

Scientists  have developed a pollen-based "paper" that, after being printed on, can be "erased" and reused multiple times without any damage to the paper.

In a research paper published online in Advanced Materials on 5 April, the NTU Singapore scientists demonstrated how high-resolution color images could be printed on the non-allergenic pollen paper with a laser printer, and then "unprinted"—by completely removing the toner without damaging the paper—with an alkaline solution. They demonstrated that this process could be repeated up to at least eight times.

This innovative, printer-ready pollen paper could become an eco-friendly alternative to conventional paper, which is made via a multi-step process with a significant negative environmental impact.

It could also help to reduce the carbon emissions and energy usage associated with conventional paper recycling, which involves repulping, de-toning (removal of printer toner) and reconstruction.

Ze Zhao et al, Recyclable and Reusable Natural Plant‐Based Paper for Repeated Digital Printing and Unprinting, Advanced Materials (2022). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109367

https://techxplore.com/news/2022-04-scientists-recyclable-pollen-ba...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 6, 2022 at 9:06am

Treating diabetes without drugs: Novel non-pharmacologic treatments are on the horizon

A research team demonstrated the ability to use ultrasound to stimulate specific neurometabolic pathways in the body to prevent or reverse the onset of type 2 diabetes in three different preclinical models. 

The team of investigators is now conducting human feasibility trials with type 2 diabetic subjects, moving medicine closer to the day when diabetes is no longer monitored and managed with blood sugar tests, insulin injections, and drug treatments. The goal of the studies is to provide a long-lasting treatment for people with type 2 diabetes to alleviate and potentially reverse the disease.

If this ongoing clinical trials confirm the promise of the preclinical studies reported in this new study, and ultrasound can be used to lower both insulin and glucose levels, ultrasound neuromodulation would represent an exciting and entirely new addition to the current treatment options for the patients.

The reported findings represent a significant milestone in the field of bioelectronic medicine, which is exploring new ways to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes using novel medical devices to modulate the body's nervous system. 

 Victoria Cotero et al, Stimulation of the hepatoportal nerve plexus with focused ultrasound restores glucose homoeostasis in diabetic mice, rats and swine, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00870-w

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-diabetes-drugs-non-pharmacol...

Presentation #4pBAb11, "Therapeutic ultrasound-induced insulin release in vivo" will be at 4:40 p.m., Thursday, May 16, in the Nunn room of the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/

Ultrasound used to trigger insulin release in mice shows promise for diabetes therapy

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-05-ultrasound-trigger-insulin-m...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 6, 2022 at 8:42am

Widely used food additive affects the human gut microbiota

Have you heard about the food additive E415? It is also known as xanthan gum. Most likely, you eat it several times a week. Xanthan gum is used in everyday foods such as baked goods, ice cream and salad dressings. The additive is also widely used as a substitute for gluten in gluten-free foods.

When xanthan gum was first introduced, it was thought that the additive went straight through the body without affecting the person who ate it.

Xanthan gum is a different type of carbohydrate from those that the human body is used to consume, such as starch from plant food. It has a different chemical structure. Xanthan gum is a type of complex carbohydrate that is not similar to any of the plant fibers we normally eat.

When it was first introduced, xanthan gum was thought to not affect us as it was not digested by the human body. However, the new study shows that the additive nevertheless affects the bacteria that live in our intestines. And these bacteria are important for our health and well-being.

The gut bacteria researchers have investigated show genetic changes and a rapid adaptation to enable them to digest this particular additive.

the new study shows that gut bacteria break down xanthan gum to its constituent monosaccharides, which are subsequently fermented to produce short-chain fatty acids that can be assimilated by the human body. Short-chain fatty acids are known to supply up to 10 percent of calories to humans.

This suggests xanthan gum could in fact add to a person's calorie intake.

We only see these changes in gut bacteria of people eating a 'westernized diet' where processed foods and additives make up a significant part of the food intake. For example, we do not see the same changes in indigenous people from different parts of the globe who eat limited amounts of processed foods.

Matthew P. Ostrowski et al, Mechanistic insights into consumption of the food additive xanthan gum by the human gut microbiota, Nature Microbiology (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01093-0

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-widely-food-additive-affects...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 6, 2022 at 8:08am

Hydrocephalus often caused by disrupted brain development

One in 1,000 children is born with hydrocephalus. The serious condition is the most common reason for brain surgery in childhood. Nevertheless, those affected often suffer from intellectual and motor impairments for the rest of their lives.

In hydrocephalus, the fluid-filled cavities in the brain, the ventricles, are significantly enlarged. This significantly increases the intracranial pressure. The cause is thought to be disruptions of the cerebrospinal fluid balance. This fluid surrounds the brain and removes toxins. It also acts like a cushion to protect the brain from shocks and ensures that the cavities do not collapse.

Hydrocephalus in children often has completely different causes than previously assumed. This is the conclusion of an international study. The researchers identified a series of mutations that cause disruption of early brain development. The characteristic enlargements of the fluid-filled cavities in the brain are a consequence of this. The findings of this study also have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition. The results are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Kristopher Kahle, Impaired neurogenesis alters brain biomechanics in a neuroprogenitor-based genetic subtype of congenital hydrocephalus, Nature Neuroscience (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01043-3. www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01043-3

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-hydrocephalus-disrupted-brai...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 5, 2022 at 9:34am

Large-Scale Study Confirms Hybrid Immunity Best Protects Against COVID

People with the "hybrid immunity" of having been both fully vaccinated and previously infected with COVID-19 have the strongest protection against the virus, two new studies said  recently.

After two years of a pandemic that has seen nearly 500 million people infected and billions vaccinated, the studies highlighted the importance of getting jabbed for those who have natural immunity after recovering from the disease.

One of the two studies published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal analyzed the health data of more than 200,000 people in 2020 and 2021 in hard-hit Brazil, which has the world's second-largest COVID death toll.

It found that for people who have already had COVID, Pfizer and AstraZeneca's vaccines offered 90 percent effectiveness against hospitalization and death, China's CoronaVac had 81 percent and Johnson & Johnson's one-shot jab had 58 percent.

All four of these vaccines have proven to provide significant extra protection for those with a previous COVID-19 infection.

Hybrid immunity due to exposure to natural infection and vaccination is likely to be the norm globally and might provide long-term protection even against emerging variants.

Source:News agencies

https://www.sciencealert.com/huge-study-confirms-hybrid-immunity-gi...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 4, 2022 at 9:13am

RNA switches 'on' and 'off'

Similar to a light switch, RNA switches (called riboswitches) determine which genes turn "on" and "off." Although this may seem like a simple process, the inner workings of these switches have confounded biologists for decades.Now researchers led by Northwestern University and the University at Albany discovered one part of RNA smoothly invades and displaces another part of the same RNA, enabling the structure to rapidly and dramatically change shape. Called "strand displacement," this mechanism appears to switch genetic expression from "on" to "off."

Using a simulation they launched last year, the researchers made this discovery by watching a slow-motion simulation of a riboswitch up close and in action. Affectionately called R2D2 (short for "reconstructing RNA dynamics from data"), the new simulation models RNA in three dimensions as it binds to a compound, communicates along its length and folds to turn a gene "on" or "off."

The findings could have potential implications for engineering new RNA-based diagnostics and for designing successful drugs to target RNA to treat illness and disease.
Luyi Cheng et al, Cotranscriptional RNA strand exchange underlies the gene regulation mechanism in a purine-sensing transcriptional riboswitch, Nucleic Acids Research (2022). DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac102

Angela M Yu et al, Computationally reconstructing cotranscriptional RNA folding from experimental data reveals rearrangement of non-native folding intermediates, Molecular Cell (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.017

https://phys.org/news/2022-03-unprecedented-videos-rna.html?utm_sou...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 4, 2022 at 9:10am

First audio recorded on Mars reveals two speeds of sound

The first audio recordings on Mars reveal a quiet planet with occasional gusts of wind where two different speeds of sound would have a strange delayed effect on hearing.

After NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February last year, its two microphones started recording, allowing scientists to hear what it is like on the Red Planet for the first time.

In a study published in the Nature journal on Friday, the scientists gave their first analysis of the five hours of sound picked up by Perseverance's microphones.

The audio revealed previously unknown turbulence on Mars.

 S. Maurice et al, In situ recording of Mars soundscape, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04679-0

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-audio-mars-reveals.html?utm_source=nw...

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