218 articles from THURSDAY 23.3.2023

'Biohybrid' device could restore function in paralyzed limbs

Researchers have developed a new type of neural implant that could restore limb function to amputees and others who have lost the use of their arms or legs. In a study carried out in rats, researchers from the University of Cambridge used the device to improve the connection between the brain and paralysed limbs. The device combines flexible electronics and human stem cells -- the body's...

From mutation to arrhythmia: Desmosomal protein breakdown as an underlying mechanism of cardiac disease

Mutations in genes that form the desmosome are the most common cause of the cardiac disease arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which affects one in 2000 to 5000 people worldwide. Researchers have now discovered how a mutation in the desmosomal gene plakophilin-2 leads to ACM. They found that the structural and functional changes in ACM hearts caused by a plakophilin-2 mutation are the result of...

Clearing a path for non-invasive muscle therapy for the elderly

A new multidisciplinary study opens an exciting non-invasive therapeutic avenue for healing muscle injuries in elderly patients. Using a robotic mechanotherapy device on aged muscle, the researchers found that the same treatment that helps young muscle heal faster after injury actually has the opposite effect with aging -- it exacerbated the injury. After pinpointing mechanotherapy-induced...

How fit is your gut microbiome?

It is well known that the microbiomes of athletes are different from of those who are sedentary. To investigate how exercise shapes the gut microbiota in non-athletes, the study assessed information on the type, time and intensity of exercise in relation to microbiomes in a large cohort of middle-aged adults.

Memory B cell marker predicts long-lived antibody response to flu vaccine

Memory B cells play a critical role to provide long-term immunity after a vaccination or infection. Researchers have now described a distinct and novel subset of memory B cells that predict long-lived antibody responses to influenza vaccination in humans. These effector memory B cells appear to be poised for a rapid serum antibody response upon secondary challenge one year later.

How the brain's 'internal compass' works

Scientists have gained new insights into the part of the brain that gives us a sense of direction, by tracking neural activity with the latest advances in brain imaging techniques. The findings shed light on how the brain orients itself in changing environments -- and even the processes that can go wrong with degenerative diseases like dementia, that leave people feeling lost and confused.

Is bone health linked to brain health?

People who have low bone density may have an increased risk of developing dementia compared to people who have higher bone density. The study does not prove that low bone density causes dementia. It only shows an association.

Hidden 'super spreaders' spur dengue fever transmission

For mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, the abundance of the insects in places where people gather has long served as the main barometer for infection risk. A new study, however, suggests that the number of 'hidden' infections tied to a place, or cases of infected people who show no symptoms, is the key indicator for dengue risk.