Health

Neuroscientists have identified that the receptor IL-1R1 plays a critical role in enabling neurons to directly communicate with the immune system. The new study provides the most detailed mapping of neuronal IL-1R1 (nIL-1R1) expression in the mouse brain, clarifying prior inconsistencies. Researchers were able to tag neuronal populations that express nIL-1R1 using a clever cell

Cutting-edge fluorescent cholesterol probes now enable scientists to visualize cholesterol movement and distribution in live cells with unprecedented detail. By combining computer simulations with live-cell imaging, researchers have uncovered how different probe designs influence cholesterol probe behavior. These probes could reveal how cholesterol imbalances drive Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders, aiding drug development to modulate

Fetuses of pregnant people who gained excess weight in the first trimester of pregnancy show signs of excess fat distribution in the upper arm and in the abdomen, according to a new study. These findings may inform efforts to prevent excessive weight gain early in life, a risk factor for adult obesity and related conditions

Across most of the Northeast, getting bitten by a blacklegged tick-- also called a deer tick -- is a risk during spring, summer, and fall. A new Dartmouth study, published in Parasites and Vectors, finds that 50% of adult blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease while 20% to 25% of the younger

The tissue adjacent to a tumor behaves differently than areas farther away: The tumor's cancerous cells influence their surroundings, blocking the body's immune defenses and creating a sort of haven in which the tumor can grow. Treatments that target some of these pro-tumor actions are effective in a number of cancers, but only for some

Scientists have unveiled insights into how HIV-1, the virus responsible for AIDS, skillfully hijacks cellular machinery for its own survival. By dissecting the molecular interplay between the virus and its host, the researchers identified novel strategies that HIV-1 employs to ensure its replication while suppressing the host's cellular defenses. A team of scientists at the

Researchers have discovered that bacteria can sense threats in advance through a general danger signal. Bacteria detect when nearby cells are dying and proactively form a protective biofilm. Understanding how bacteria communicate and respond to threats is crucial for combating infections. University of Basel researchers have discovered that bacteria can sense threats in advance through

Two new studies have identified a possible way to block the progression of several forms of blood cancer using a drug already in clinical trials against breast cancer. Two new studies led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a possible way to block the progression of several forms

Scientists have used deep learning to design new proteins that bind to complexes involving other small molecules like hormones or drugs, opening up a world of possibilities in the computational design of molecular interactions for biomedicine. In 2023, scientists in the joint School of Engineering and School of Life Sciences Laboratory of Protein Design and

A study has found that integrating lifestyle support into chronic back pain treatment helps reduce disability and improves quality of life. Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide with many treatments, such as medication, often failing to provide lasting relief. Researchers from the University of Sydney's Centre for Rural Health have uncovered

Sydney researchers have found that Levofloxacin substantially reduces risk of drug-resistant tuberculosis. This discovery offers new hope against a disease that infects more than 400,000 people annually. A clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the oral antibiotic levofloxacin taken once-daily for six months substantially reduced the risk of developing

Waking up does not activate an increase in the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol does, however, increase in the hours prior to wakening as part of the body's preparation for the next day, new research has found. Waking up does not activate an increase in the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol