A new technique that can trace which tissues and organs the DNA in our blood comes from has just been reported. The method, called GETMap, could be used in prenatal screening, to monitor organ transplant rejection, or test for cancers that are concealed in the body. «Analysis of circulating free DNA has been shown to…

In a recent study, researchers have uncovered the origin of a layer of cells that look like normal stomach lining on top of sites of stomach cancer: it is produced by the cancer tissue itself. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that lives in people’s stomachs. To survive the harsh environment these…

A study describes the generation of a new mouse model that could lead to a better understanding of the cachexia syndrome. Denis Guttridge, Ph.D., Hollings Cancer Center associate director of Translational Sciences and principal investigator of the study, says the study found that the newly genetically engineered mouse model, called KPP, better mimics the human…

Researchers have found a new neural pathway that links the circadian clock, stress, and wakefulness in mammals. They identified a neuron that becomes excessively active when the mammal is under stress, which could trigger insomnia and other sleep disorders. Living organisms exhibit a 24-hour oscillation called the circadian rhythm. In mammals, the central circadian clock,…

Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered that roseolovirus can trigger autoimmunity in a previously unknown way: by disrupting the process by which immune cells learn to avoid targeting their own body’s cells and tissues. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered that…

Current poultry food safety guidelines for Salmonella, the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks, are inadequate. Researchers describe additional factors that must be considered in order to identify poultry products that are truly safe for human consumption. The poultry industry currently uses Salmonella prevalence or positivity rate as an indicator of food safety, but there…

Manuka honey could provide the key to a breakthrough treatment for cystic fibrosis patients following preliminary work. Dr Rowena Jenkins and Dr Aled Roberts have found that using Manuka honey could offer an antibiotic alternative to treat antimicrobial resistant respiratory infections, particularly deadly bacteria found in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) infections. Using lung tissue from pigs,…

Microsurgery is an intricate and challenging surgical technique that involves using miniature instruments and sutures as fine as a hair strand aided by sophisticated microscopes. In plastic surgery, microsurgery is used to repair small damaged vessels and nerves following trauma, or in reconstructive procedures by moving a component of living tissue from one place of…

Fat-free chocolate milk processed for the first time with high-pressure jet technology exhibits enhanced viscosity, stabilizing cocoa particles in the fluid and eliminating the need for adding a controversial emulsifier. That’s the conclusion of a team of researchers, whose study suggests that the new technology can preclude the use of carrageenan in chocolate milk. The…

Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses have all been recorded in Mexico; however, recent diagnostic advances have improved the accuracy of serological testing. A new study suggests that current estimates of the incidence of arboviruses in Mexico may have been previously underestimated. Chikungunya and Zika virus were first detected in Mexico in 2014 and 2015, respectively.…