Vital Record •

Blocking inflammatory signals may prevent saturated fats from ‘jet lagging’ the body clock

Circadian clocks in cells throughout the body regulate the local 24-hour timing of important cellular processes necessary for normal functioning and help keep inflammatory responses in check. Eating foods with saturated fats—especially at certain times of the day—may “jet lag” internal clocks, resulting in inflammation that contributes to obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Vital Record •

Studying the interaction between immune and metabolic responses

It’s no secret that modern high-calorie diets aren’t terribly compatible with the innate metabolic and immune responses that kept our species going for thousands of years—when people had to walk miles every day to find meager supplies of food and were on the constant lookout for lion attacks. The metabolic system and the immune system had to work together to fight pathogens, process food for energy and shut off when there was a more immediate threat in the environment.
Vital Record •

TRIM(ming) away proteins to curtail breast cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, with about 1 in 6 deaths due to cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Deaths from cancer often occur due to metastasis, or the migration of the cancer from its original site to nearby tissues and eventually to distant organs in the body. The recent discovery of a protein called TRIM59 might help scientists find a way to stop the migration of breast cancer cells before it starts.
Vital Record •

Improving chemotherapy health outcomes

Chemotherapy is an effective way to kill rapidly dividing cells in malignant tumors. But a major side effect of chemotherapeutic drugs is that they cause inflammation, which then damages normal, healthy cells. To solve this hurdle in cancer treatment, scientists at the Center for Translational Cancer Research at the Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences and Technology have identified a biotarget that can reduce inflammation during chemotherapy.
Futurity •

Neurons made from stem cells can suppress seizures

Researchers have discovered that transplanting stem-cell-derived neurons into the brain suppressed seizures in an animal model. About 3.4 million Americans, or 1.2 percent of the population, have active epilepsy. Although the majority respond to medication, between 20 and 40 percent of patients with epilepsy continue to have seizures even after trying multiple anti-seizure drugs. Even when the drugs do work, people may develop cognitive and memory problems and depression, likely from the combi
Vital Record •

Stem cell-derived neurons stop seizures, improve cognitive function

About 3.4 million Americans, or 1.2 percent of the population, have active epilepsy. Although the majority respond to medication, between 20 and 40 percent of patients with epilepsy continue to have seizures even after trying multiple anti-seizure drugs. Even when the drugs do work, people may develop cognitive and memory problems and depression, likely from the combination of the underlying seizure disorder and the drugs to treat it.
Futurity •

Enzyme could make 'smart' cancer drugs a reality

A type of enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase could be key to the development of “smart” cancer drugs, according to new research. In a review article in the journal Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Lin Zhu, an assistant professor at the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at Texas A&M University, and his colleagues explain the potential of these enzymes. “Because of high correlation between the MMP expression and cancer malignancy, the well-identified MMPs have been used as important c
Futurity •

For better diagnosis, watch proteins fold in real-time

A new method can examine protein assembly in real time, in living cells, to find problems in the process and diagnose the resulting diseases, according to new research. Proteins in the body need to be perfectly arranged, or folded, to do their jobs. When there is a misfolding, a number of problems and diseases—including diseases of aging and different cancers—can result. Proteins are organic molecules made up of different combinations of 20 amino acids, the building blocks of life. For any giv
Futurity •

'CaRROT' system uses light to turn genes on or off

Researchers have created tools that would enable real-time activation of target genes in specific locations in the genome. This technology may help scientists to illuminate the gene function during different biological processes and find use in regenerative medicine. Although genes stay the same throughout the lifespan, genetic code isn’t necessarily a person’s destiny. In fact, genes can switch on or off to regulate a number of activities within cells. The body does this naturally in response
Futurity •

Turmeric component may ease Gulf War illness for vets

Curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, may be able to reverse some of the effects of Gulf War illness (GWI), according to a new study Gulf War illness affects nearly 200,000 veterans of the first Gulf War who came home with symptoms that include sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, and memory problems. Experts believe the symptoms of GWI, which also include mood dysfunction, hypersensitive skin, and gastrointestinal problems, are the result of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides and a
Futurity •

If we can 'turn on' the urge to drink, can we turn it off?

Researchers have discovered out how to induce alcohol-seeking behavior by altering the strength of connections between particular neurons. The work may offer clues about how to curb the urge to drink. About 15.1 million American adults have alcohol use disorder, meaning they cannot stop drinking despite adverse consequences—in other words, they have what is commonly called alcoholism. Although it has been known that alterations in the connections between neurons in the brain likely play a role
Futurity •

High-fat diets may be worse for shift workers

Shift workers’ constantly changing schedules make it tough for their biological clocks to keep accurate time. The results could make the negative effects of a high-fat diet even more pronounced, a new study suggests. About 15 million Americans don’t have a typical nine-to-five workday, and many of them—nurses, firefighters, and flight attendants, among other professions—may see their schedule change drastically one week to the next. “It’s been difficult to tease apart cause and effect in this
Futurity •

Could time of day boost chemo for glioblastoma?

Circadian rhythms could hold the key to novel therapies for glioblastoma, the most prevalent type of brain cancer in adults—and one with a grim prognosis. In research with cell cultures, scientists determined that the timed production of a particular protein associated with tumor proliferation and growth is disrupted in glioblastoma cells. The discovery may lead to a more effective technique to treat the cancerous cells without damaging the healthy surrounding tissue. Biologist Deborah Bell-Pe
Futurity •

These bacteria may nudge colorectal cancer to spread

A subspecies of the bacterium Streptococcus gallolyticus appears to actively promote the development of colorectal cancer—a finding that could lead to potential treatment strategies. Colorectal cancer is fairly treatable when caught early with regular screenings, but it is still the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men and the third-leading cause in women. Scientists have known for some time that people infected with S. gallolyticus are more likely to have colorectal c
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