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Ashwanikumar et al have developed a drug delivery system using cell-penetrating self-assembling peptide nanomaterials (CSPNs); these drilled-shaped nanomaterials traverse cellular membranes to deliver drugs and can be fine-tuned into different shapes to optimize delivery. Image credit: Ashwanikumar et al, doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.02.041.

Scientists Develop Drug-Delivering ‘Nanodrills’ that Penetrate Cell Membranes

Mar 30, 2018 by Zvi Cramer

Researchers have created new drill-shaped nanomaterials that infiltrate cellular membrane and deliver drugs inside the cell, providing a versatile means...

The study’s primary finding is that chronic oral supplementation with 1,000 mg per day of NR is a well-tolerated and effective strategy for stimulating NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older humans. Image credit: Arek Socha.

Nicotinamide Riboside Improves Blood Pressure and Arterial Health, Mimics Caloric Restriction: Study

Mar 29, 2018 by News Staff

A study published in the journal Nature Communications indicates that when people consume a form of Vitamin B3 called nicotinamide riboside (NR) daily,...

The interstitium is seen here beneath the top layer of skin, but is also in tissue layers lining the gut, lungs, and urinary systems, as well as those surrounding blood vessels and the fascia between muscles; the organ is a body-wide network of interconnected, fluid-filled compartments supported by a meshwork of strong, flexible proteins. Image credit: Jill Gregory / Mount Sinai Health System.

Interstitium: ‘New’ Organ Found in Human Body

Mar 28, 2018 by News Staff

A team of researchers from New York University School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research...

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized clinically by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and aberrant behavior. In Alzheimer’s, changes in tau protein lead to the disintegration of microtubules in brain cells. Image credit: Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center / National Institute on Aging.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Can Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, New Studies Claim

Mar 27, 2018 by News Staff

A daily regimen of non-prescription NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, according to...

Adipose tissue. Image credit: Blausen.com Staff / Medical Gallery of Blausen Medical 2014 / WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2), doi: 10.15347/wjm/2014.010.

Study: Low Temperatures Activate ‘Good’ Fat Formation at Cellular Level

Mar 26, 2018 by News Staff

A new study from the University of Nottingham, UK, shows that the way in which fat is made within the body is not ‘pre-programmed’ during the early...

Dry age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over the age of 50. Image credit: Pexels.

New Genetic Cause of Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy Discovered

Mar 23, 2018 by News Staff

A new genetic cause of an autosomal-dominant corneal endothelial dystrophy has been discovered in a study led by University College London scientists. Posterior...

Pecans (Carya illinoinensis). Image credit: Tesa Robbins.

Pecan-Rich Diet Lowers Risk of Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes

Mar 23, 2018 by News Staff

Eating just 1.5 ounces (42.5 grams) of pecans every day may protect adults at risk for developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according...

Betanin could eventually help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Image credit: Gyöngyi Nagy.

Beetroot Compound Could Help Slow Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Mar 20, 2018 by News Staff

Betanin, a natural pigment found in the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), could eventually help slow the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain, a process...

Ramsey et al identified eight components of lavender and tea tree oils as endocrine disruptor chemicals. Image credit: Ilona Couleur.

Study: Lavender and Tea Tree Oils Contain Hormone-Disrupting Components

Mar 20, 2018 by News Staff

A new study from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences lends new evidence to a suspected link between regular exposure to lavender oil...

Beta-carboline compounds offer great promise for the treatment of alcoholism. Image credit: Imagens Evangelicas / CC BY 2.0.

Alcohol Use Disorders are Major Risk Factor for Dementia, Study Claims

Mar 19, 2018 by News Staff

According to a new observational study carried out in France, alcohol use disorders are the most important preventable risk factors for the onset of all...

Among Swedish women, a high cardiovascular fitness in midlife was associated with a decreased risk of subsequent dementia. Image credit: Brisbane City Council / CC BY 2.0.

Study: Women with High Cardiovascular Fitness Less Likely to Develop Dementia

Mar 16, 2018 by News Staff

According to a 44-year longitudinal population study, published online in the journal Neurology, women with high cardiovascular fitness in midlife were...

Obese and thin mice (Shannon Reilly / University of Michigan)

New Study Finds Link between Body Temperature and Obesity

Mar 15, 2018 by News Staff

According to a study in mice published in the Journal of Neuroscience, reduced ability to maintain body temperature in colder environments may contribute...

In this study, higher Vitamin D concentration was associated with lower risk of total cancer; the findings support the hypothesis that Vitamin D has protective effects against cancers at many sites. Image credit: OpenStax College / CC BY 3.0.

Vitamin D May Help Protect Against Cancer: Study

Mar 13, 2018 by News Staff

High Vitamin D levels may be linked to a lower risk of developing cancer, according to a study of Japanese adults published in the journal BMJ. In this...

Enterococcus gallinarum (orange dots) in liver tissue. Image credit: Vieira et al.

Study: Gut Bacteria Trigger Autoimmune Disease

Mar 12, 2018 by News Staff

Enterococcus gallinarum, a species of bacterium found in the small intestines of humans and mice, can travel to other organs and trigger an autoimmune...

Chang et al found a significant association between varicose veins and DVT. The illustration shows how a varicose vein forms in a leg. Image credit: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute / Jmarchn / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Varicose Veins Linked to Increased Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis

Mar 2, 2018 by Enrico de Lazaro

According to an observational study published in the journal JAMA, varicose veins may be a warning sign of a type of blood clot known as a deep venous...

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body after calcium, potassium, and sodium. Foods high in magnesium include almonds, bananas, beans, broccoli, brown rice, cashews, egg yolk, fish oil, flaxseed, green vegetables, milk, mushrooms, other nuts, oatmeal, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, soybeans, sunflower seeds, sweet corn, tofu, and whole grains. Image credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Magnesium-Deficient Diet Makes Vitamin D Ineffective, Review Says

Mar 1, 2018 by News Staff

Vitamin D can’t be metabolized without sufficient magnesium levels, meaning Vitamin D remains stored and inactive for as many as 50% of Americans, according...

The Eastern Indian red scorpion (Buthus tamulus) in Mangaon, Maharashtra, India. Image credit: Shantanu Kuveskar / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Scorpion Venom Toxin Reduces Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rats

Feb 28, 2018 by News Staff

Dr. Christine Beeton from Baylor College of Medicine and colleagues have found that iberiotoxin — one of the components in the venom of a scorpion...

This illustration depicts a 3D computer-generated image of a group of Escherichia coli. Image credit: James Archer, CDC.

Scientists Discover New Link between Obesity and Gut Bacteria

Feb 26, 2018 by News Staff

A team of scientists at Lund University in Sweden has found that certain amino acids in our blood can be connected to both obesity and the composition...

Transmission electron micrograph of ranaviruses (hexagons), members of the family Iridoviridae. Image credit: Electron Microscopy Unit, Australian Animal Health Laboratory / CSIRO.

Researchers Discover ‘Insulin-Producing’ Viruses

Feb 23, 2018 by News Staff

An international team of scientists led by Harvard Medical School’s Joslin Diabetes Center has identified four viruses that can produce insulin-like...