Gillette is the latest company to support the body positive movement, and they’re doing so in a big way. On April 3, the shaving brand shared a photo to their Twitter feed of model and blogger Anna O’Brien in a bikini. The tweet was captioned, “Go out there and slay the day,” and showed the […]
Poverty leaves a mark on our genes
A new Northwestern University study challenges prevailing understandings of genes as immutable features of biology that are fixed at conception. Previous research has shown that socioeconomic status (SES) is a powerful determinant of human health and disease, and social inequality is a ubiquitous stressor for human populations globally. Lower educational attainment and/or income predict increased […]
Scientists home in on microRNA processing for novel cancer therapies
More than a decade of research on the mda-7/IL-24 gene has shown that it helps to suppress a majority of cancer types, and now scientists are focusing on how the gene drives this process by influencing microRNAs. Published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings could potentially have […]
In vivo data show effects of spaceflight microgravity on stem cells and tissue regeneration
A new review of data from 12 spaceflight experiments and simulated microgravity studies has shown that microgravity does not have a negative effect on stem-like cell-dependent tissue regeneration in newts, but in some tissues regeneration is faster and more robust. This valuable in vivo data has implications for understanding and managing the ability for repair […]
A case against a moratorium on germline gene editing
Should researchers put the brakes on genetically engineering babies? Leading scientists and ethicists recently called for a moratorium on clinical applications of germline gene editing: inheritable alterations to the DNA of embryos to improve kids’ health or other features – or just “gene editing,” for short. This declaration was prompted in part by the birth […]
New scientific statement on blood pressure measurement in people
The accurate measurement of blood pressure is essential for the diagnosis and management of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, according to an updated American Heart Association scientific statement on blood pressure measurement in humans, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension. The statement, which updates a previous statement on […]
T-cell specificity found to play a role in attacks on myelin versus β-synuclein in MS
A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Germany has found that T-cell specificity plays a major role in immune system attacks on myelin versus β-synuclein in people with multiple sclerosis. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their study of T-cell behavior in rat models and what they learned. […]
Researchers report new findings on familial primary distal renal tubular acidosis
In addition to regulating the body’s fluid balance by excreting greater or smaller amounts of urine, the kidneys also maintain the proper balance of electrolytes (salts) and the pH (an acid-base equilibrium) of the body. Excess acid is secreted into the urine by healthy kidneys. This process takes place in a specific part of the […]
Scientists gain new insight on triggers for preterm birth
A group of scientists led by Ramkumar Menon at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have gained new insight on a poorly-understood key player in the timing of labor and delivery. This new information brings scientists closer to being able to prevent preterm births. This study is in Scientific Reports. According to the […]
The Scary Reason These Cancers — Which Usually Affect the Elderly — Are on the Rise in Millennials
Cancer is far too common. The disease affects millions of Americans each year and is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. But a new study found that millennials are being diagnosed with the condition at an alarming rate — and cancers fueled by obesity are on the rise. The study, conducted by the […]