The trial, run by University of Colorado Cancer Center member Al Barqawi, MD, was for a new procedure for treating prostate cancer.
James Bird underwent the Nanoknife procedure for prostate cancer as part of a clinical trial run by Al Barqawi, MD.
A ultrasound technique from the University of Nottingham will allow the production of sharper images inside live cells without causing damage at resolutions that were previously unattainable.
The project, from the Faculty of Engineering’s Optics and Photonics research group, explores a way to look deep inside tiny structures, such as single cells, that regular light-based microscopes cannot, and without harming them. The work is published in the journal Photoacoustics.
This technique has been used to measure the stiffness of cancer cells at a single-cell level, which could allow for new methods of early cancer diagnosis to be developed.
The Human Cell Atlas aims to map the location, identity, and function of every cell in the human body by 2026.
Scientists with the Human Cell Atlas have profiled 100 million cells from over 10,000 people worldwide, aiming to map the human body down to the cellular level.
DNA can be damaged by normal cellular processes as well as external factors such as UV radiation and chemicals. Such damage can lead to breaks in the DNA strand. If DNA damage is not properly repaired, mutations can occur, which may result in diseases like cancer. Cells use repair systems to fix this damage, with specialized proteins locating and binding to the damaged regions. Now, researchers from the Kind Group at the Hubrecht Institute have mapped the activity of repair proteins in individual human cells. The study demonstrates how these proteins collaborate in so-called “hubs” to repair DNA damage. These findings may lead to new cancer therapies and other treatments where DNA repair is essential.
The researchers published their findings in Nature Communications in an article titled, “Genome-wide profiling of DNA repair proteins in single cells.”
“Accurate repair of DNA damage is critical for maintenance of genomic integrity and cellular viability,” the researchers wrote. “Because damage occurs non-uniformly across the genome, single-cell resolution is required for proper interrogation, but sensitive detection has remained challenging. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of repair protein localization in single human cells using DamID and ChIC sequencing techniques.”
This age-related deterioration affects both innate and adaptive immunity, compromising immune function and leading to chronic inflammation that accelerates aging. Immunosenescence is characterized by alterations in immune cell populations and impaired functionality, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections, diminished vaccine efficacy, and higher prevalence of age-related diseases. Chronic low-grade inflammation further exacerbates these issues, contributing to a decline in overall health and resilience. This review delves into the characteristics of immunosenescence and examines the various intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to immune aging and how the hallmarks of aging and cell fates can play a crucial role in this process. Additionally, it discusses the impact of sex, age, social determinants, and gut microbiota health on immune aging, illustrating the complex interplay of these factors in altering immune function. Furthermore, the concept of immune resilience is explored, focusing on the metrics for assessing immune health and identifying strategies to enhance immune function. These strategies include lifestyle interventions such as diet, regular physical activity, stress management, and the use of gerotherapeutics and other approaches. Understanding and mitigating the effects of immunosenescence are crucial for developing interventions that support robust immune responses in aged individuals.
The immune system plays a crucial role in protecting our bodies from harmful pathogens. It is divided into two segments: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. The innate immune system acts as an immediate but non-specific first responder to defend against pathogens, composed of phagocytic and natural killer cells. Besides innate immune cells, another important component of the innate system includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes. Meanwhile, adaptive immunity is more specialized and requires time to mount a high-affinity and specific response, relying on anticipatory receptors that recognize pathogen-specific antigens. The adaptive immune response is centered around B and T lymphocytes, which are produced in the bone marrow and thymus, respectively (Farber, 2020; Lam et al., 2024). With age, the ability of our immune system to mount productive and timely responses to pathogens diminishes.
Dr. Anirban Maitra is a Professor of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on the early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Originally studying pediatric pathology, Dr. Maitra’s career trajectory changed upon attending a seminar on pancreatic cancer, which motivated him to address knowledge gaps in the disease’s biology. He wanted to explore the molecular and clinical aspects of the disease for the sake of improving patient prognosis. “This is a disease where there’s an opportunity to make a huge difference,” said Dr. Maitra.
Later, Dr. Maitra’s lab developed a pancreatic cancer liquid biopsy method, which is a non-invasive blood test that detects the presence of tumors. “There’s still a long way to go, but now we know what to look for and who to look in,” said Dr. Maitra regarding the future direction of pancreatic cancer detection.
Scientists at Washington State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a way to make ions move more than ten times faster in mixed organic ion-electronic conductors. These conductors combine the advantages of the ion signaling used by many biological systems, including the human body, with the electron signaling used by computers.
The new development, detailed in the journal Advanced Materials, speeds up ion movement in these conductors by using molecules that attract and concentrate ions into a separate nanochannel creating a type of tiny “ion superhighway.”
An MRI scan shows a Chiari type-1 malformation, in which the cerebellum extends beyond the gap in the skull where it connects to the spinal cord.
Artificial intelligence identified 3 subtypes of Chiari type-1 malformations, could improve medical decision making.
Hospitals around the country are conserving critical intravenous fluid supplies to cope with a shortage that may last months. Some hospital administrators say they are changing how they think about IV fluid hydration altogether.
Hurricane Helene, which hit North Carolina in September, wrecked a Baxter International facility that produces 60% of the IV fluids used in the U.S., according to the American Hospital Association.
The company was forced to stop production and is rationing its products. In an update posted Nov. 7, Baxter said its North Cove facility had resumed producing some IV fluids. In an email to KFF Health News, the company wrote that customers will be able to order normal quantities of “certain IV solutions products” by the end of the year, but there is no timeline for when the North Cove facility will be back to prehurricane production levels.
But according to recent research into patient attitudes on AI, providers should be thinking carefully about how they deploy those tools if they want to preserve patient trust.
Earlier this fall, Mark Polyak, president of analytics at IPSOS, and Dr. Lukasz Kowalczyk, a physician at Peak Gastroenterology Associates, spoke on a panel discussion at the HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum that explored patients’ perspectives and attitudes about healthcare AI. Above all, they’re seeking healthcare interactions and experiences that are transparent and personalized, experts on the panel said.
