Life Sciences

Prolonging youth

How to rejuvenate an aged thymus gland

With the help of a single genetic switch, it was possible to restore the thymus - thymus gland in old mice, which normally degenerates with age.

10.04.2014

Cellular technologies

Stem cells helped to recover after stroke

The introduction of donor stem cells into damaged areas of the brain significantly improved the functional state of stroke patients.

10.04.2014

Biomedicine

Achievements of antitumor immunotherapy

Unlike chemo- and radiotherapy, immunotherapeutic agents stimulate the body's own immune mechanisms, enhancing its ability to fight tumors.

09.04.2014

Bioethics

The patient was lucky: he was not disassembled for organs alive

The Swede, paralyzed as a result of a stroke, sued doctors for telling his relatives in his presence that the patient had no chance of survival, and discussed the possibility of removing organs from him for transplantation.

08.04.2014

New in Gerontology

Don't keep parrots in solitary confinement

Jacko's parrots have once again confirmed that social stress has a bad effect on the state of chromosomes. If these very sociable birds were kept singly, then the telomeric sections of their chromosomes shortened faster than expected.

08.04.2014

Prolonging youth

Aging markers are needed for testing geroprotectors

Scientists do not want to conduct clinical trials that will take 30 years and wait for the participants of the experiment to die. Therefore, one of the main problems of geneticists today is the lack of good markers of aging to determine the effect of drugs.

08.04.2014

Other life sciences

The missing link in the pathogenesis of diabetes has been found

The most important player in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus turned out to be kisspeptin 1 – one of the liver proteins, never before suspected in connection with this disease.

07.04.2014

Nanotechnology

Electronic patches – for each patient

Any medical microelectronics can be laid in such a way that it will be flexible and stretchable, like a regular patch.

07.04.2014

Nanotechnology

Grind cancer cells

To induce a cancer cell to kill itself, it is necessary to destroy its lysosomes with the help of nanoparticles spinning in a magnetic field.

07.04.2014

Other life sciences

How to restore smoky lungs?

To restore the structure and function of lung tissue disrupted by tobacco smoke, PPAR-gamma cellular receptors should be activated.

04.04.2014

Biomedicine

Heart attack treatment: targeted delivery of dangerous enzyme inhibitors

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have created a hydrogel that works directly in damaged heart tissue. Potentially dangerous enzymes break down this gel, releasing enzyme inhibitors contained in it.

04.04.2014

Biomedicine

Swedish scientists have created a new cancer treatment strategy

Researchers have discovered the protein MTH1, which helps cancer cells to protect themselves from oxidative stress. They suggested using MTH1 inhibitors, which suppress its activity and deprive cancer cells of protection.

03.04.2014

Prolonging youth

To prolong life, you need the right low-calorie diet

Calorie restriction still prolongs life and reduces the likelihood of age-related diseases in primates. At least this turned out to be true for several dozen Rhesus, which were observed for more than 20 years.

02.04.2014

Cellular technologies

Stem cells against coronary heart disease

A new large clinical study has demonstrated the effectiveness of the treatment of coronary heart disease by introducing mesenchymal stem cells into the myocardium.

02.04.2014

Theories of aging

It's too early to cancel the free radical theory of aging

Concentrations of reactive oxygen species increase significantly in the mitochondria of an aging organism, which is a confirmation of one of the variants of the free radical theory of aging.

02.04.2014

Cellular technologies

Almost real bioengineered muscles

Artificial muscles created with the help of stem cells not only contract with the same force as natural ones, but are also capable of regeneration after damage.

02.04.2014

Nanotechnology

Stick the clinic on your hand

A microelectronic device, similar in appearance to a conventional adhesive plaster, is able not only to monitor muscle activity, but also, if necessary, to administer medicine to the patient.

01.04.2014

Genetic engineering

Genomic surgery has also become available to adults

However, so far only mice that have been cured of a severe metabolic disorder by replacing mutant DNA with healthy ones.

01.04.2014

Genetics

To get to the origins of genetics/epigenetics of aging and longevity

Most of the genes, as well as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of life expectancy, are closely interrelated with the mechanisms of stress reaction development.

01.04.2014

Cellular technologies

"Mini-heart" for poorly functioning veins

Researchers have developed an alternative artificial organ to return blood to the heart from veins that do not have normally functioning valves.

01.04.2014