Lifeboat Foundation

For years, there has been a long-held belief that acute viral infections like Zika or COVID-19 are directly responsible for neurological damage, but researchers from McMaster University have now discovered that it’s the immune system’s response that is behind it.

The research, published on Feb. 5, 2024, in Nature Communications, was led by Elizabeth Balint, a Ph.D. student at McMaster, and Ali Ashkar, a professor with the Department of Medicine and the Canada Research Chair in Natural Immunity and NK Cell Function.

“We were interested in trying to understand why so many viral infections are associated with neurological diseases,” says Balint. “Our evidence suggests that it’s not the virus itself that causes the damage, but a unique population of T cells, which are part of the immune system, that are actually responsible for the damage.”

Acetamiprid-induced oxidative stress can harm DNA and tRNA, leading to health problems. A study conducted by Huixia Zhang at Macau University of Science and Technology in 2023 introduced a comprehensive approach to assessing acetamiprid-induced oxidative damage to tRNA in human cells through oxidized nucleotide and tRNA profiling. Acetamiprid, a modern insecticide, is known for causing oxidative stress and related toxicity. Despite its impact on oxidative stress, the effects of acetamiprid-induced oxidative stress on RNA, especially tRNA, remained unexplored until this study.

Acetamiprid was found to elevate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HepG2 and LO2 cells, contributing to mitochondrial damage, free radical generation, and antioxidant status depletion. Oxidative damage to DNA and RNA can harm organisms, with prior research addressing RNA damage in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental illnesses. However, its role in acetamiprid-induced toxicities has not been investigated.

The study employed TMSD labeling-based LC-MS/MS to measure oxidized nucleotide levels in HepG2 and LO2 cells treated with two mM acetamiprid. It also examined the impact of acetamiprid on the 8-oxo-G content of tRNAs and created volcano plots to compare RNase T1 digestion products of tRNAs from untreated and acetamiprid-treated cells.

Immune guardians called complement proteins are manufactured by gut cells and help to protect against pathogens.

A team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison claim to have 3D-printed functional human brain tissue for the first time.

They hope their research could open the doors for the development of treatments for existing neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

As detailed in a new paper published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the team flipped the usual method of 3D-printing on its side, fabricating horizontal layers of brain cells encased in soft “bio-ink” gel.

Two decades ago, engineering designer proteins was a dream.

Now, thanks to AI, custom proteins are a dime a dozen. Made-to-order proteins often have specific shapes or components that give them abilities new to nature. From longer-lasting drugs and protein-based vaccines, to greener biofuels and plastic-eating proteins, the field is rapidly becoming a transformative technology.

Custom protein design depends on deep learning techniques. With large language models—the AI behind OpenAI’s blockbuster ChatGPT—dreaming up millions of structures beyond human imagination, the library of bioactive designer proteins is set to rapidly expand.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia have their antibiotic treatment switched early from IV to oral?

Switching to oral antibiotic therapy can be as effective as prolonged intravenous (IV) therapy for several infections, including bone and joint infections and endocarditis (NEJM JW Infect Dis Jan 30 2019 and N Engl J Med 2019; 380:425; NEJM JW Gen Med Apr 14 2020 and JAMA Intern Med 2020; 180:769). European investigators now report results of an open-label, controlled noninferiority trial comparing a switch to oral antibiotics or continued IV treatment after 5 to 7 days of IV therapy in individuals with low-risk Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (e.g., clearance of bacteremia within 72 hours, no evidence of deep-seated focus). Total duration of therapy was 14 days; oral options were trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, or linezolid; IV options were flucloxacillin, cefazolin, vancomycin, or daptomycin).

The trial was terminated after 213 of 5,063 screened individuals had been enrolled over a 6-year period. Oral therapy was found to be noninferior to IV therapy (in both intention-to-treat and clinically evaluable analyses) for the primary composite outcome of complications from S. aureus infection within 90 days. Two deaths due to S. aureus bacteremia occurred (both in the oral switch group), and 34% of the oral switch group versus 26% of the IV group had a serious adverse event (P=0.29) that was most commonly infectious.

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Study reveals shared brain proteomic signatures in Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy, suggesting common molecular mechanisms that could pave the way for unified therapeutic strategies.

The creation of an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can analyze retinal fundus images to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a groundbreaking advancement in medical technology. This AI model, developed using a substantial dataset of retinal images and advanced convolutional neural networks, has demonstrated exceptional accuracy in identifying these conditions. Its capability extends beyond mere detection, as it also shows promise in predicting the progression of these diseases based on retinal imaging and clinical metadata.

A notable innovation of this AI system is its ability to analyze smartphone images. This feature significantly enhances the accessibility of sophisticated diagnostic tools, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources. The AI model paves the way for more widespread and convenient health screenings by enabling ubiquitous smartphone technology for medical imaging. This development is particularly impactful in enhancing healthcare delivery and access, as it brings critical diagnostic capabilities into the hands of more people, even in remote or underserved areas.

The AI’s proficiency in predicting the future development of CKD and T2DM is another aspect of its novelty. This predictive ability is crucial for timely intervention, potentially altering the trajectory of these chronic illnesses. Early detection and management are vital in battling CKD and T2DM, and this AI model’s predictive power could significantly improve patient outcomes.