Existing cancer drug boosts brain genes to improve memory and learning

Researchers at EPFL have found that an existing drug used to treat cancer, among other things, also seems to improve memory. Intriguingly, tests in mice show that the drug works by switching on genes associated with brain plasticity.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Existing cancer drug boosts brain genes to improve memory and learning

Existing cancer drug boosts brain genes to improve memory and learning

Researchers at EPFL have found that an existing drug used to treat cancer, among other things, also seems to improve memory. Intriguingly, tests in mice show that the drug works by switching on genes associated with brain plasticity.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Existing cancer drug boosts brain genes to improve memory and learning

New potential diabetes treatment regenerates insulin-producing cells

An emerging way to treat diabetes is to repair or replace the cells in the body that naturally produce insulin. Swedish researchers have now identified a molecule that helps stimulate the growth of new insulin-producing cells, and uncovered how it work… Continue reading New potential diabetes treatment regenerates insulin-producing cells

Smart hydrogel dressing releases antibiotics when it detects bacteria

Scientists at Brown University have developed a new material that can release drugs only when pathogenic bacteria are around. When used as a bandage, the hydrogel could deliver medication on-demand when infection begins to take hold.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Smart hydrogel dressing releases antibiotics when it detects bacteria

Cocaine receptor found in brain could lead to new addiction treatments

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have identified a previously unknown mechanism of cocaine’s activity in the brain, which could open new types of treatment for addiction to the drug. Intriguingly, it seems to work differently in male and female mice.Continu… Continue reading Cocaine receptor found in brain could lead to new addiction treatments

Experimental brain-on-a-chip better screens brain cancer treatments

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vital line of defense to keep your brain safe from toxins, but frustratingly it can sometimes be too restrictive, keeping important drugs out. Researchers at MIT have now demonstrated an accurate new model of how this… Continue reading Experimental brain-on-a-chip better screens brain cancer treatments

Scientists solve a mystery of severe asthma and how to treat it

Corticosteroid inhalers are a common treatment for asthma, but strangely, patients with severe asthma don’t seem to respond well to it. In a new study, scientists have identified a mechanism that seems to block the drugs, and importantly, a potential w… Continue reading Scientists solve a mystery of severe asthma and how to treat it

Algorithm-aided antibiotic hunt yields powerful new drug candidate

Algorithms have helped uncover a new antibiotic candidate that shows promise against some particularly nasty bugs, using a novel mode of attack that should be hard for them to develop resistance to. Most importantly it could unlock a whole new arsenal … Continue reading Algorithm-aided antibiotic hunt yields powerful new drug candidate

Existing drug aids stroke recovery by rewiring undamaged neurons

Most treatments for strokes aim to help reduce or repair damage to affected neurons. But a new study in mice has shown that a drug already in use to treat certain neurological disorders could help patients recover from strokes by getting undamaged neur… Continue reading Existing drug aids stroke recovery by rewiring undamaged neurons

Promising peptide slows the spread and growth of melanoma in mice

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, thanks to its ability to rapidly spread to other organs. Brazilian researchers have now developed a peptide that seems to slow the growth and spread of melanoma, improving the survival rates of test mice.C… Continue reading Promising peptide slows the spread and growth of melanoma in mice