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Fluorescence microscopy image of cell-free mitochondria in the plasma of a healthy individual. Image credit: Dache et al, doi: 10.1096/fj.201901917RR.

Scientists Find Cell-Free Mitochondria in Human Blood

Jan 24, 2020 by Enrico de Lazaro

Mitochondria are considered as the power-generating units of the cell due to their key role in energy metabolism and intercellular communication. However,...

Winterdahl et al investigated the effects of sucrose using positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]carfentanil (μ-opioid receptor agonist) and [11C]raclopride (dopamine D2/3 receptor antagonist) in seven female anesthetized Göttingen minipigs. Image credit: Winterdahl et al, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53430-9.

Sugar Changes Brain Chemistry, New Animal Study Shows

Jan 15, 2020 by News Staff

Foods high in sucrose, or table sugar, influence brain reward circuitry in ways similar to those observed when addictive drugs are consumed, according...

Tea consumption is associated with reduced risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, especially among those consistent habitual tea drinkers. Image credit: Sci-News.com.

Habitual Tea Drinking Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Jan 10, 2020 by Enrico de Lazaro

Using large prospective cohorts among Chinese adults, a research team led by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College has...

TEM image of double-layered M2e-NA nanoparticles. Scale bar - 500 nm. Image credit: Wang et al, doi: 10.1002/adhm.201901176.

New Nanoparticle Vaccine Protects Mice from Six Influenza Strains

Jan 9, 2020 by News Staff

The new double-layered nanoparticles vaccine, developed by researchers from the Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection at the Georgia State...

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which may well contribute to its ability to reduce blood pressure and improve vascular function. Image credit: Jonas Bergsten.

Lingonberry Juice Consumption Reduces Blood Pressure and Improves Vascular Function: Study

Jan 8, 2020 by News Staff

Long-term treatment with lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) juice lowered the already elevated blood pressure and improved the function of blood vessels...

Wittfeld et al support the hypothesis that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with larger brain volumes in several brain regions that are not primarily connected to motor-related functions. Image credit: Mabel Amber.

Study: Cardiorespiratory Exercise Improves Brain Health, Decelerates Decline in Gray Matter

Jan 3, 2020 by News Staff

A new study, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, provides evidence of an association between cardiorespiratory fitness — which refers to the...

Beta-carophyllene, a compound included in essential oils, improves the healing process in mice when it is topically applied to a skin wound. Image credit: Marina Pershina.

Bioactive Compound in Essential Oils Enhances Wound Healing: Study

Dec 31, 2019 by Enrico de Lazaro

Beta-carophyllene, a bicyclic sesquiterpene found in lavender, rosemary and ylang ylang, as well as various herbs and spices, has the capability to improve...

Green Tea Polyphenol Active against Tuberculosis Bacteria

Dec 30, 2019 by Enrico de Lazaro

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the principle polyphenolic compounds found in the leaves of the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis), is effective...

Changes in the spectral content of ambient light are detectable to most mammals as a blue shift in the color of twilight. Mouland et al show that these blue colors suppress circadian responses to light, supporting robust circadian entrainment when environmental conditions render light intensity a weak or unreliable indicator of time of day. Image credit: Johannes Plenio.

Blue Light is Less Disruptive to Sleep than Previously Thought

Dec 25, 2019 by News Staff

Using dim, cooler lights in the evening and warmer lights in the day may be more beneficial to our health, according to a new study in mice from University...

Conventional ultrasound verifies soft- and hard-tissue features detected in laser ultrasound (LUS) imaging on the forearm: (a) single time trace from LUS imaging of a volunteer’s forearm; (b) photograph of a volunteer’s forearm region, imaged using LUS and conventional ultrasound; a green tracking laser from the LDV is also visible; (c) reconstructed LUS image of a volunteer’s forearm with multiple visible tissue layers; (d) matching conventional ultrasound image of the volunteer’s forearm using a GE Logiq E9 system and a 9 MHz linear probe confirming features detected in the LUS image. Image credit: Zhang et al, doi: 10.1038/s41377-019-0229-8.

Novel Laser Ultrasound Technique Doesn’t Require Contact with Patient’s Body

Dec 24, 2019 by News Staff

The noncontact laser ultrasound technique, developed by a team of MIT engineers, leverages an eye- and skin-safe laser system to remotely image the inside...

An enteroendocrine cell (green) lies within the epithelium (red) that lines the intestines of a zebrafish larvae. Image credit: Lihua Ye.

Study: High-Fat Meal Can Silence Communication between Intestine and Rest of the Body

Dec 18, 2019 by News Staff

According to a new study performed in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a high-fat meal can shut down the communication between the enteroendocrine cells —...

Playing sports has many benefits, including boosting physical, cardiovascular, and mental fitness. Image credit: Mike Kaplan / U.S. Air Force photo.

Athletes Have Quieter Brains, New Research Shows

Dec 10, 2019 by News Staff

Playing sports — including football, soccer and hockey — increases the gain of the external sound signal by turning down the background noise...

A moderate coffee intake is considered to be 3-5 cups of coffee a day. Image credit: Jill Wellington.

Low-to-Moderate Coffee Consumption Cuts Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, New Report Says

Dec 6, 2019 by News Staff

Coffee consumption at a level of 1-4 cups of coffee per day is associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, according to a new report from the...

Brushing teeth frequently is linked with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Image credit: Bruno Glätsch.

Good Oral Hygiene May Reduce Risk of Heart Problems, Study Says

Dec 3, 2019 by News Staff

Healthier oral hygiene by frequent tooth brushing and professional dental cleaning may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation (the most common cardiac arrhythmia)...

Mice receiving extra-virgin olive oil displayed improved memory and cognition which was associated with increased basal synaptic activity and short-term plasticity; this effect was accompanied by an upregulation of complexin 1, a key presynaptic protein; moreover, extra-virgin olive oil treatment resulted in a significant reduction of tau oligomers and phosphorylated tau at specific epitopes. Image credit: Skica911.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil-Rich Diet Protects Mice from Multiple Forms of Dementia

Dec 2, 2019 by News Staff

Extra-virgin olive oil, a major component of the Mediterranean diet, is rich in cell-protecting antioxidants and known for its multiple health benefits....

Chen & van Breemen found drugs in blood supply used for research. Image credit: Allinonemovie.

Researchers Find Caffeine, Other Chemicals in Donor Blood Serum

Nov 28, 2019 by News Staff

In new research, Oregon State University scientists worked with biomedical suppliers to purchase and analyze 18 batches of human blood serum pooled from...

The Expedition 20 crew members share a meal in the Unity node of the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA.

Spaceflight Can Cause Sustained Defect in Epithelial Barrier Function, New Study Shows

Nov 27, 2019 by News Staff

Epithelial cells that line our intestines serve as a robust barrier to invasion by viruses, bacteria and exposure to ingested agents. A new study, published...

Ketamine reduces alcohol intake in high-alcohol male rats but increases it in low-alcohol female rats. Image credit: Mediengestalter.

Study: Ketamine Decreases Alcohol Consumption in Male Rats

Nov 25, 2019 by News Staff

The drug ketamine can decrease alcohol consumption in male rats that previously had consumed high amounts of alcohol when given unrestricted access several...

Dietary pulses with or without other legumes are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease incidence with low certainty and reduced coronary heart disease, hypertension, and obesity incidence with very low certainty. Imager credit: Niek Verlaan.

Eating Legumes Reduces Heart Disease Risks, Says New Review

Nov 22, 2019 by News Staff

According to a review of previous prospective cohort studies, eating beans, lentils, peas, and other legumes reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease,...