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Category: biotech/medical – Page 197

Cancer Neuroscience: how cancer cells hijack our brains

Imagine that malignant brain tumors are not the unbridled chaos of unchecked growth we think they are, but they are actually communicating with brain cells in very specific ways. That’s what Stanford neuroscientist Michelle Monje MD, PhD, discovered about certain types of brain cancer (called gliomas), including a deadly childhood form called DIPG. It turns out that these tumors can form connections with the brain’s circuitry (just like brain cells do) in order to fuel their own growth. But it’s not just cancers that start in the brain that are doing this. Monje and Stanford researcher Julien Sage, PhD, discovered that a type of cancer that starts in the lungs also engages in this form of hijacking when it spreads to the brain. This is important because we now have significant insight into the process of tumor growth. And these findings help us better understand how we might be able to treat or stop these cancers altogether. For more information, read “Dangerous infiltrators” in Stanford Medicine magazine: https://stan.md/4gZHRh7

#Cancer #Neuroscience #BrainCancer #Glioma #CancerResearch #StanfordMedicine #TumorGrowth #CancerBreakthrough #MedicalResearch #BrainHealth #Oncology.
Stanford Medicine advances human health through world-class biomedical research, education and patient care. Bringing together the resources of Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Medicine is committed to training future leaders in biomedicine and translating the latest discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.

The Stanford Medicine YouTube channel is a curated collection of contributions from our School of Medicine departments, divisions, students, and the community. Our diverse content includes coverage of events, presentations, lectures, and associated stories about the people of Stanford Medicine.

Repairing DNA Damage: Scientists Identify New Benefits of Melatonin Supplementation

A small clinical trial, published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, suggests that melatonin supplementation may help counteract DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule composed of two long strands of nucleotides that coil around each other to form a double helix. It is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms that carries genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Engineered commensals for targeted nose-to-brain drug delivery

Shen et al. investigate the use of Lactobacillus plantarum, a commensal bacterial strain, as a chassis for targeting the olfactory mucosa to facilitate precise nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutic molecules. When engineered to secrete appetite-regulating hormones, intranasal delivery of L. plantarum alleviates obesity-related symptoms in a mouse model.

Scientists discover that a feature of speech warns you of possible cognitive impairment

“Can you hand me the… you know… the thingy? It’s right there next to that other doohickey!” Struggling to find the right word happens to all of us. In fact, it even has a name; lethologica, and it tends to become more common as we get older.

Forgetting words now and then isn’t a big deal, but if it starts happening frequently, it could be an early sign of changes in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease —long before more obvious symptoms appear. But here’s the twist: A recent University of Toronto study suggests that how fast you speak might be a better clue about brain health than the occasional word mix-up.

Japan tests AIREC robot to roll patients, easing caregiving challenges

While the robot presents a glimpse into the future of robotic caregiving, it will only be ready by 2030.

Developed by researchers from Waseda University, the AI-driven robot addresses Japan’s caregiver shortage in the wake of an ageing population.

Early ancestral bottleneck could’ve spelled the end for modern humans

Humanity came close to extinction 800,000 years ago. Only 1,280 of our ancestors survived.

A recent study published in Science suggests that a catastrophic “ancestral bottleneck” reduced the global population to just 1,280 breeding individuals, wiping out 98.7% of the early human lineage.

This population crash, lasting about 117,000 years, likely resulted from extreme climate shifts, prolonged droughts, and dwindling food sources.

Using a groundbreaking genetic analysis method called FitCoal, researchers analyzed modern human genomes to trace this dramatic decline, potentially explaining a gap in the African and Eurasian fossil record.

Despite the near-extinction, this bottleneck may have played a crucial role in shaping modern humans. Scientists believe it contributed to a key evolutionary event—chromosome fusion—which may have set Homo sapiens apart from earlier hominin species, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. The study raises intriguing questions about how this small population survived, possibly through early fire use and adaptive intelligence. Understanding this ancient crisis helps scientists piece together the story of human evolution and the resilience that allowed our species to thrive against all odds.

Learn more.

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What’s The Best Way To Optimize NAD? Jin-Xiong She, PhD

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Discount Links/Affiliates:
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Oral Microbiome: https://www.bristlehealth.com/?ref=michaellustgarten.

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Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s Return to Earth Confirmed: Know How and When NASA Astronauts Will Return After 9 Month Extended Stay in Space; Here’s Details

NASA has confirmed that Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will return to Earth in late March 2025 after spending over nine months aboard the ISS. Their return is scheduled to take place once the Crew-10 mission successfully arrives at the space station. Crew-10, carrying four new astronauts, will launch on March 12, 2025, at 7:48 PM EDT and undergo a week-long handover process before Williams and Wilmore begin their journey back. The decision to return them aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule was made due to ongoing technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner. NASA has assured that all necessary preparations are in place to facilitate a safe return. Sunita Williams Health Update: NASA Astronaut’s Mother Bonnie Pandya Dismisses Health Concerns Surrounding Her Daughter, Says ‘Space Is As Safe as Anywhere Else’ (Watch Video).

Williams and Wilmore’s return capsule, the SpaceX Crew Dragon, will follow a carefully planned re-entry trajectory before making a splashdown in designated waters. NASA has shortlisted landing sites in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, with the final decision depending on weather and oceanic conditions at the time of descent. SpaceX recovery teams will be stationed near the landing zone, ready to retrieve the capsule and transport the astronauts back to shore. After landing, Williams and Wilmore will undergo a thorough medical assessment before heading to NASA’s facilities for debriefing.

Sunita Williams’ return to Earth marks the end of an unexpectedly extended mission that was originally planned for just ten days but stretched to over nine months. The delay was primarily due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner, which faced multiple failures, including propulsion system malfunctions and propellant leaks. NASA, prioritising astronaut safety, decided to postpone their return until a reliable alternative was arranged.

Revolutionary 3D Bioprinter Creates Human Tissue Structures in Seconds

Biomedical engineers at the University of Melbourne have developed a 3D bioprinting system capable of creating structures that closely replicate various human tissues, ranging from soft brain tissue to more rigid materials like cartilage and bone.

This innovative technology provides cancer researchers with a powerful tool for replicating specific organs and tissues, enhancing their ability to predict drug responses and develop new treatments. By offering a more accurate and ethical approach to drug discovery, it also has the potential to reduce reliance on animal testing.

Head of the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor David Collins said: In addition to drastically improving print speed, our approach enables a degree of cell positioning within printed tissues. Incorrect cell positioning is a big reason most 3D bioprinters fail to produce structures that accurately represent human tissue.