Source JAMA When it comes to living longer, reaching the oft-repeated goal of 10 000 steps per day may not be necessary. Older women who walked more than their peers had lower death rates in a recent observational study in JAMA Internal Medicine, and the mortality benefit was seen with as few as 4400 steps. Why This Matters Most
Researchers at King’s College London have used single cell RNA sequencing to identify a type of cell that may be able to regenerate liver tissue, treating liver failure without the need for transplants. In a paper published today in Nature Communications, the scientists have identified a new type of cell called a hepatobiliary hybrid progenitor (HHyP), that
Scientists have invented a synthetic protein designed to control the inner workings of cells. In a pair of papers, published yesterday (July 24) in Nature, the researchers demonstrate how the tool can be used to tweak gene expression, orchestrate protein binding events, and cue functional changes in the cell in response to environmental conditions. “Cells receive stimuli, then have
A new bioinspired adhesive made from a temperature-responsive hydrogel appears to speed up wound healing and so could find use in a wide range of application areas, including regenerative medicine and soft robotics. The material, which works like embryonic skin in that it draws wound edges together by contracting, has already been tested on the
Cell therapies, in which cellular material is injected, grafted, or implanted into a patient to treat a range of illnesses and medical conditions, are a vital and integral component of medicine today — promising treatment of tissue degenerative diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. However, significant challenges currently exist to prevent its widespread adoption, including problems
Patients are about to be enrolled in the first study to test a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR inside the body to try to cure an inherited form of blindness. People with the disease have normal eyes but lack a gene that converts light into signals to the brain that enable sight. The experimental treatment aims to
An algorithm developed to study the structure of galaxies helps explain a key feature of embryonic development. As embryos develop, they follow predetermined patterns of tissue folding, so that individuals of the same species end up with nearly identically shaped organs and very similar body shapes. MIT scientists have now discovered a key feature of
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan told attendees of PhRMA’s Innovation Day on Thursday that as biopharmaceutical companies embrace digital technologies to speed the discovery and development of new medicines, regulators will have to adapt more quickly. “FDA has been, more than any other regulator in the world, interested in working with these technologies,” Narasimhan said. But
The EU ombudsman this week said that it believes that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) should not allow the same experts to provide scientific advice to medicine developers prior to an application and evaluate the same medicine, claiming such overlap runs the risk of damaging impartiality or creating the perception of bias. In response to
At a Glance Calorie restriction for two years led to weight loss and a substantial reduction in risk factors for heart disease and diabetes in healthy adults 50 or younger. The findings suggest that a sustained restriction of caloric intake may reduce the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Calorie restriction is a type of
