What is unique about the immune system of people who live to extreme old age? Here the authors describe that centenarians may achieve such longevity through several mechanisms, including limiting the pathological effects of inflammageing and immunosenescence, preservation of immune surveillance, sustained gut microbial diversity and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity.
Scientists have just discovered an entirely new way that DNA can be synthesized.
The business of constructing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, to give it its full name) usually requires a template that builder proteins called enzymes can work from.
But now, a team from Stanford University has found that a type of enzyme known as a polymerase can work without a blueprint. Its shape itself acts as a mold that new DNA can be synthesized from, with no external reference materials required.
In a phase 3b randomized clinical trial with open-label extension, bimekizumab demonstrated rapid and sustained improvement in patient-reported outcomes and clinical measures for individuals with moderate to severe PlaquePsoriasis.
By week 4 and through 3 years, a majority of patients reported no itching, skin pain, or scaling, and achieved Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores reflecting minimal or no impact on daily life.
Patients switching from secukinumab to bimekizumab at 1 year experienced improvements in perceived symptoms and quality of life comparable to those continuously treated with bimekizumab.
This randomized clinical trial with an open-label extension assesses patient-reported and clinical outcomes among patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with bimekizumab.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis relies heavily on well‑timed arterial phase MRI, yet single arterial phase scans often miss the optimal late arterial phase, especially with hepatobiliary contrast agents that are prone to motion artifacts and narrow timing windows. These limitations can compromise image quality and reduce detection of key features such as arterial phase hyperenhancement.
In a study recently published in Radiology: Imaging Cancer, researchers led by Kai Liu, BS, Zhongshan Hospital at Fudan University in Shanghai, compared conventional single phase imaging with an ultrafast, deep learning-based multiphase MRI technique, which can rapidly acquire six high-resolution arterial phases in a single breath hold.
In a cohort of 236 participants, the deep learning–based multiphase MRI technique markedly improved late arterial capture, boosted overall image quality and enhanced detection of lesions and HCC for both extracellular and hepatobiliary agents. The method achieved a late arterial capture rate of 98% (vs. 81% to 85% with single phase imaging) and showed strong performance in identifying small tumors.
“These findings support the potential of deep learning-based multiphase arterial MRI to streamline HCC diagnosis,” the authors conclude.
Read the full article, “Clinical Utility of Deep Learning–based Multiple Arterial Phase MRI in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.”
Researchers from Brown University and their collaborators have developed a new way to measure the properties of cells—an important development, they say, because accurate measurements of changes in cell elasticity can be used to better understand diseases, diagnose patient symptoms and provide more accurate prognoses.
For example, cancer cells from tumors typically soften as they become more dangerous and likely to spread, while blood diseases like malaria and sickle cell can cause red blood cells to stiffen. Mechanical changes on a cellular level are also seen in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory illnesses.
As detailed in a study in the journal Lab on a Chip, the researchers developed what they call a “mechanophenotyping cytometer”—a microfluidic device designed to measure a cell’s physical size and squishiness, known as its mechanical phenotype.
Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older. That’s the result of a new study we co-authored in the journal Scientific Reports.
HEPA purifiers—HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air— remove particulate matter from the air. Exposure to particulate matter has been connected to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Environmental health researchers increasingly recommend that people use HEPA air purifiers in their homes to lower their exposure to particulate matter, but few studies have examined whether using them boosts mental function.
We analyzed data from a study of 119 people ages 30 to 74 living in Somerville, Massachusetts. Somerville sits along Interstate 93 and Route 28, two major highways, resulting in relatively high levels of traffic-related air pollution. This makes it an especially good location for testing the health effects of air purifiers.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, leading to degeneration of anterior motor neurons and resulting in progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Given that SMA has a single, well-defined genetic cause, gene-targeted therapies have been developed, aiming to increase SMN production in SMA patients. The SMN protein is likely involved in the synthesis of microRNAs (miRNAs), and dysregulated miRNA expression is increasingly associated with the pathophysiology of SMA. Currently, there is a lack of reliable biomarkers to monitor SMA; therefore, the search for novel SMA biomarkers, including miRNAs, is crucial as reliable tools are needed to track disease progression, predict the response to therapy and understand the different clinical outcomes of available treatments.
Fifteen-year follow-up from the SWOG S0016 trial indicates that a subset of patients with advanced-stage FollicularLymphoma can achieve cure after first-line chemoimmunotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and anti-CD20 therapy.
Cure modeling estimated an overall cure rate of 42%, with relapse rates substantially declining over time and highest cure likelihood in patients with low Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index scores and normal β2 microglobulin levels.
This secondary analysis examines 15-year follow-up data from a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the potential for long-term remission and cure for follicular lymphoma following chemoimmunotherapy with cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin/doxorubicin, oncovin, and prednisone/prednisolone (CHOP)–based regimens.