Health & Medicine
The role of CD83: Autoimmunity, transplantation and beyond
Professor Alexander Steinkasserer is based at the Department of Immune Modulation, University Hospital, Erlangen. His research interests are focused on the immune system, with the long-term aim to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from autoimmune disorders or in need of transplantation. Along with his colleagues at the department of Immune Modulation, Professor Steinkasserer has shed much light on […]
A novel therapy could help patients with active Crohn’s disease
Professor Jørgen Jahnsen and PhD student Kristian Espeland of Akershus University Hospital and University of Oslo are responsible for a new clinical trial which aims to improve symptoms and control the inflammation of Crohn’s disease using Gliolan medication in combination with blue-light photopheresis. This approach will selectively cause the death of pro-inflammatory cells which contribute to the inflammatory bowel disease, […]
Controlled cortical impact: The animal model that may change brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of disability and death around the world. To compound this problem, many patients go on to develop anxiety and with little known about the pathophysiology behind this complication, long-lasting and effective treatments are lacking. Using an animal model known as the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model, Dr Ann Marini and […]
Infectious bronchitis virus affects energy production
Professor Tereza Cristina Cardoso, São Paulo State University, is a qualified veterinarian and her research explores infectious diseases in animals. Her latest work investigates how infectious bronchitis virus affects energy production by macrophage cells. Her research demonstrates that this occurs through disruption of mitochondrial respiration processes, which may have implications for how virus infections in poultry are prevented and treated. […]
Nanotechnology provides new methods for oral delivery of peptides
One aspect of successful drug development is efficient delivery to affected organs. Most drugs are taken by mouth, travel to the intestines, are absorbed into the bloodstream, and circulated to organs of interest. However, a class of potent drugs known as peptides cannot withstand this abrasive route and are directly injected into veins, under the skin, or into muscles. Injections […]
Understanding the EGFR mutation
aids the fight against lung cancer
Genetic mutations are known to be responsible for several different types of cancer. One type, known as non-small cell lung cancer, is sometimes caused by mutations in a gene called EGFR. A group of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors are often used to treat patients with this type of cancer. Unfortunately, patients can develop genetic alterations, namely mutation, amplification (an […]
Unpacking primary biliary cholangitis and its burden in Japan
Itch, fatigue, anxiety, abdominal pain. These are just some of the symptoms faced by primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. The chronic autoimmune disease sees white blood cells attack bile ducts in the liver, causing bile overflow, cell damage and potentially scarring and liver failure. Although it can be successfully managed, some symptoms can linger, hampering patients’ health-related quality of life […]
When complex systems fail: The mammalian dive response and sudden unexpected death
The mammalian dive response (MDR) conserves oxygen when a person is swimming or diving. Usually the MDR serves as a built-in safety feature of the body. Sometimes, though, the MDR interacts with other factors to cause sudden unexpected death. In particular, risk of death increases when the MDR is combined with a heart condition called long QT syndrome. In a […]
How does age change sport performance? Master athletes have the answer
We all grow older, but the ageing process affects us differently. Many master, or veteran, athletes are examples of “successful ageing”. Their physical fitness is often recorded in sport performance records over a long period of time, making them ideal for studying the effects of ageing. Professor Emeritus Michael Stones, of Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada, used a statistical method called […]
Serious illness decision-making:
How do you plan for uncertainty?
The death toll from the current COVID-19 pandemic rises every day. Symptoms can range from a cough to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Thinking about future medical care is now more relevant than ever before. However, planning for death under conditions of certainty is not the same as planning for a serious illness, where the outcome is more […]