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Category: biotech/medical – Page 33

Study maps how psilocybin reshapes brain circuits linked to depression

An international collaboration led by Cornell researchers used a combination of psilocybin and the rabies virus to map how—and where—the psychedelic compound rewires the connections in the brain.

Specifically, they showed psilocybin weakens the cortico-cortical feedback loops that can lock people into negative thinking. Psilocybin also strengthens pathways to subcortical regions that turn sensory perceptions into action, essentially enhancing sensory-motor responses.

The findings were published Dec. 5 in Cell. The lead author is postdoctoral researcher Quan Jiang.

Key kidney sensor that helps control fluid balance identified

A new study has identified a critical “pressure sensor” inside the kidney that helps the body control blood pressure and fluid levels. The finding helps explain how the kidneys sense changes in blood volume—something scientists for decades have known occurs but didn’t have a mechanistic explanation.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and collaborating institutions discovered that a protein called PIEZO2 acts as a mechanical sensor in the kidney. When blood volume changes, this protein helps trigger the release of renin, a hormone that starts a chain reaction known as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS. The system is one of the body’s main tools for keeping blood pressure stable and making sure the body has the right balance of salt and water.

The study, published today in Cell, shows that without PIEZO2, the kidney releases too much renin. This throws the RAAS off balance and causes the kidneys to filter blood too quickly, something that can lead to health problems if it continues over time.

Researchers uncover the earliest stages of human placenta formation

A gene that turns on very early in embryonic development could be key to the formation of the placenta, which provides the developing fetus with what it needs to thrive during gestation.

The placenta provides all of the nutrition, oxygen and antibodies that a developing human fetus needs to thrive throughout gestation. The temporary organ begins to form within six to 12 days after conception, just as the embryo implants itself in the lining of the uterus. Failure of the placenta to form correctly is the second leading cause of miscarriage during early pregnancy, after genetic abnormalities of the fetus that are incompatible with life.

However, the initial stages of placental formation have remained a mystery due to ethical considerations and technical constraints on studying the process in humans.

Dengue vaccine gains first major approval

The world’s first single-dose vaccine to prevent dengue fever has been approved for licensure in one of the largest countries affected by the disease, following 16 years of research contributions by scientists at the University of Vermont (UVM) Vaccine Testing Center, in partnership with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH).

Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide, with nearly half the world’s population living in places with the risk of dengue. Along with high fever and severe muscle and bone pain, the virus can lead to shock, bleeding, and death.

With more than 100 million cases reported annually, dengue poses a growing risk throughout the globe, including in the United States. Brazil recorded 5.9 million cases of dengue and more than 6,000 deaths in 2024.

Machine learning reveals how disordered protein regions contribute to cancer-causing condensates

Fusion oncoproteins arise when a gene fuses with another gene and acquires new abilities. Such abilities can include the formation of biomolecular condensates, “droplets” of concentrated proteins, DNA or RNA.

The abnormal molecular condensates formed by fusion oncoproteins can disrupt cellular functions and drive cancer development, but the specific protein features behind this process remain unclear.

Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital studied intrinsically disordered regions, unstructured protein segments that are often involved in condensate formation, to determine if they drive fusion oncoproteins to form condensates. They trained a machine learning model, called IDR-Puncta ML, with experimental data from intrinsically disordered regions in fusion oncoproteins to predict the behavior of other such regions.

Poor kidney health linked to higher levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in blood

People with impaired kidney function have higher levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in their blood, but not an increased risk of dementia, according to a study published in Neurology.

The study does not prove that poor kidney function causes higher levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in the blood, it only shows an association.

Kidneys remove waste and toxins from the blood, which are then excreted in urine.

Both total and partial knee replacements deliver lasting benefits at 10 years, clinical trial finds

New research from a randomized clinical trial provides the strongest long-term evidence yet comparing partial (PKR) and total (TKR) knee replacements for patients with osteoarthritis. Published in The Lancet Rheumatology, the study shows both PKR and TKR being equally effective and offering similar clinical outcomes.

In 2019, the Total or Partial Knee Arthroplasty Trial (TOPKAT) study, led by researchers at NDORMS, found that after 5 years, partial knee replacement (PKR) showed similar, if not better, outcomes than total replacement (TKR). But the research horizon was extended to ten years to study whether the longer-term quality of life outlook for patients could be assessed.

Now, with 10 years of data, researchers have found that patients who underwent PKR and TKR had similar long-term pain relief, function, and quality of life outcomes.

Vascular Endothelial Function in Periodontal Disease: Role of Inflammation

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the periodontal tissues, encompassing pathologies such as gingivitis and periodontitis. It has been shown that these conditions not only lead to localized inflammation but also have systemic effects on overall health. Recent studies have strongly suggested a link between periodontal disease and chronic systemic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Among these, endothelial function plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health, and endothelial dysfunction has been reported to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Endothelial function refers to the ability of endothelial cells to regulate vasodilation and vasoconstriction, primarily through the production and release of nitric oxide.

Miniature microscope captures real-time voltage signals in awake animals

Researchers have built a tiny, lightweight microscope that captures neuron activity with unprecedented speed that can be used in freely moving animals. The new tool could give scientists a more complete view of how brain cells process information during natural behavior.

The microscope is designed to image genetically encoded voltage indicators —fluorescent dyes that rapidly change brightness when a neuron fires—through a small window in the skull while the animal is awake.

“Unlike most miniature microscopes that track slower calcium signals, ours captures electrical spikes at hundreds of frames per second,” said Emily Gibson from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “This makes it possible to capture the moment a neuron fires as well as the quieter signals that build up inside neurons before firing.”

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