Throughout life, new neurons are generated in the hippocampus, where they form a structure that supports memory creation. When new neurons are integrated into the hippocampus, they compete with existing cells, forging new synaptic connections that may weaken or replace older ones. As a result, high rates of hippocampal neurogenesis may drive the loss ofContinueContinue reading “Eternal sunshine of the rodent mind”
Category Archives: research news
Characterizing resistance in a subset of breast cancer
About 20% of breast cancers have elevated levels of the protein HER2. Treatment with drugs that target HER2, such as a combination of trastuzumab and lapatinib, can lead to improved outcomes in such cases, but many tumors eventually become resistant to this therapy. Joan T. Garrett (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN) studied the developmentContinueContinue reading “Characterizing resistance in a subset of breast cancer”
Mechanistic insight into fragile X
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by a lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which regulates protein translation in the brain. Lack of FMRP leads to defects in protein translation, but until now, the mechanism underlying this relationship was not known. Simpson Joseph (University ofContinueContinue reading “Mechanistic insight into fragile X”
Releasing the brake on nerve growth
Recovery from peripheral nerve damage is a slow and often incomplete process that may leave behind lasting deficits including severe disability. The poor functional recovery is due in part to limited regrowth of axons. For example, after nerve transection, only 10% of axons from the proximal stump may eventually reach their targets. Axon regrowth canContinueContinue reading “Releasing the brake on nerve growth”
Lack of sleep impairs courtship in flies
Many young animals, whether human, rat or fruit fly, need lots of sleep. The existence of this trait across diverse taxonomic groups implies some fundamental importance, and some scientists are intrigued enough to take a closer look. What mechanisms allow young animals to sleep so much? And what happens if they sleep less? To addressContinueContinue reading “Lack of sleep impairs courtship in flies”
Stopping the spread of measles
Despite the availability of a potent vaccine, outbreaks of measles continue to occur around the world. Two major factors contribute to this prevalence. First, the measles virus is highly transmissible and may be spread through the air in droplets produced by breathing, sneezing and coughing. Within 2 weeks of exposure to the virus, about 90%ContinueContinue reading “Stopping the spread of measles”
Silk strong enough to bind broken bones
To repair fractured bone, screws made of metal alloys are the gold standard. But these devices can impair bone remodeling and healing and may also corrode, causing pain and inflammation and necessitating their removal. Biodegradable alternatives eliminate some of these concerns but present their own disadvantages: they can trigger inflammation, they are not strong enoughContinueContinue reading “Silk strong enough to bind broken bones”
Reformulating lithium to reduce toxicity
Lithium has been used treat neuropsychiatric illnesses for many years. Formulated as lithium carbonate, it is effective in treating mania in bipolar disorder and in reducing suicides in depressive phases of the disease. But use of lithium carbonate is associated with toxic effects such as hand tremors, diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain and decreased thyroid function.ContinueContinue reading “Reformulating lithium to reduce toxicity”
Snail venom speeds pain relief
Cone snails, such as Conus magus, or the magical cone, are predatory marine mollusks that use venom to paralyze their prey. The venom has properties that make it potentially useful to humans, too. Scientists have derived a compound called ziconotide from the venom of C. magus that has painkilling power up to three orders ofContinueContinue reading “Snail venom speeds pain relief”
Small molecule, big advance against Marburg virus
Marburg virus, like other filoviruses, causes hemorrhagic fever and has a fatality rate as high as 90%. Filoviruses are normally transmitted between individuals by blood or body fluids but are also infectious in aerosol form, which means they pose the risk of becoming a global health threat as well as being used as agents ofContinueContinue reading “Small molecule, big advance against Marburg virus”
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