Brain cells record their activity in gene expression, new study finds

From burning your palm on a hot pan handle to memorizing the name of a new acquaintance, “anytime you experience something, your neurons are active,” says Kelsey Tyssowski, a graduate student in genetics at Harvard Medical School. Different experiences stimulate different patterns of activity in brain cells. Researchers want to track these activity patterns to better understand how the brain […]

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Largest-ever study of thyroid cancer genetics finds new mutations, suggests immunotherapy

University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers recently completed the largest-ever study of thyroid cancer genetics, mining the data of 583 patient samples of advanced differentiated thyroid cancer and 196 anaplastic thyroid cancers. In addition to identification of specific genes that may drive these cancers and thus provide attractive targets for treatment, the researchers found that in several samples of advanced […]

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Noninvasive spinal stimulation method enables paralyzed people to regain use of hands, study finds

The ability to perform simple daily tasks can make a big difference in people’s lives, especially for those with spinal cord injuries. A UCLA-led team of scientists reports that six people with severe spinal cord injuries—three of them completely paralyzed—have regained use of their hands and fingers for the first time in years after undergoing a nonsurgical, noninvasive spinal stimulation […]

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Research finds new mechanism that can cause the spread of deadly infection

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a unique mechanism that drives the spread of a deadly infection. Cptococcosirys is a rare and deadly fungal infection that affects the lung and brain and usually only occurs in people with impaired immunity. However, one strain of the fungus – known as the Pacific Northwest strain of Cryptococcus gattii – has […]

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Teachers can help reduce mental health problems in children, study finds

School-based mental health services delivered by teachers and staff can significantly reduce mental health problems in elementary-aged children, according to a new study by researchers at the Florida International University Center for Children and Families. The implications are significant considering approximately 30 to 40 percent of youth in the U.S. will be diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder […]

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Study finds how fat tissue shunts energy to tumors

Obesity is the second-leading preventable cause of cancer and represents one of the greatest threats to global human health. But it has not been clear exactly how whole-body metabolism affects tumor formation. In particular, the molecular mechanisms by which fat cells communicate with tumor tissue remain poorly understood. Sanford Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) researchers recently addressed this question, revealing […]

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Machine learning finds tumor gene variants and sensitivity to drugs in The Cancer Genome Atlas

Matching unique genetic information from cancer patients’ tumors with treatment options – an emerging area of precision medicine efforts – often fails to identify all patients who may respond to certain therapies. Other molecular information from patients may reveal these so-called “hidden responders,” according to a Penn Medicine study in Cell Reports this week. The findings are published alongside several […]

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