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Science Mission (EUA)
Em 2025: 0 notícias
Desde 1995: 18 notícias
The benefits and downside of fasting
Publicado em 25 setembro 2024
Low-calorie diets and intermittent fasting have been shown to have numerous health benefits: They can delay the onset of some age-related diseases and lengthen lifespan, not only in humans but many other organisms.
Many complex mechanisms underlie this phenomenon. Previous work has shown that one way fasting exerts its beneficial effects is by boosting the regenerative abilities of intestinal stem cells, which helps the intestine recover from injuries or inflammation.
In a study of mice, [...]
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Neural circuit involved in compulsive eating even without hunger
Publicado em 06 junho 2024For the first time, researchers have identified a group of neurons deep in the brain that are associated directly with compulsive eating and food craving. The discovery is reported in an article published in Nature Communications. The neurons are located in the periaqueductal gray, a region of the midbrain at the top of the brainstem, and are known as vesicular GABA transporter cells, or VGAT cells for short. They use the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), [...]ver notícia -
Mechanism that aggravates tuberculosis and reduces survival rates
Publicado em 12 fevereiro 2024CD4 + T cells have been highlighted in the scientific literature for the important role they play in the immune response to lung infections. However, an article published in the journal Cell Reports shows that an imbalance in the volumes of these defense cells in different parts of the lung in response to infection can do more harm than good. The study described in the article involved infecting mice with hypervirulent tuberculosis and influenza. The authors concluded that an “ideal [...]ver notícia -
Regulation of anxiety by growth hormone via somatostatin neurons
Publicado em 04 janeiro 2024Growth hormone (GH) acts on many tissues throughout the body, helping build bones and muscles, among other functions. It is also a powerful anxiolytic. A study conducted by researchers has produced a deeper understanding of the role of GH in mitigating anxiety and, for the first time, identified the population of neurons responsible for modulating the influence of GH on the development of neuropsychiatric disorders involving anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. An article on the study [...]ver notícia -
Leishmania parasite manipulates organism's defense system to continue replicating
Publicado em 29 maio 2023In an article published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers show how protozoans of the genus Leishmania that cause leishmaniasis manipulate a protein that plays an essential role in the organism’s defense in order to continue to replicate, preventing the body from vanquishing the disease. The findings of the study reported in the article offer hope for the development of novel treatments for the disease. Some 30,000 new cases of leishmaniasis are notified annually, [...]ver notícia -
How exercise preserves physical fitness during aging
Publicado em 01 abril 2023Regular exercise can guarantee quality of life and longevity, specialists agree. However, exactly how exercise influences the functioning of muscle cells is poorly understood. A study conducted by researchers helps understand at the cellular level how physical activity contributes to fitness during the aging process. The study describing the work is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). According to the authors, the answer lies in mitochondria, [...]ver notícia -
A gene mutation capable of regulating pain
Publicado emPain afflicts at least 1.5 billion people worldwide, and despite the availability of various painkilling drugs, not all forms of pain are treatable. Moreover, pain medications can have side-effects such as dependence and tolerance, especially in the case of morphine and other opioids. In search of novel painkillers, researchers studied TRPV1, a sensory neuron receptor that captures noxious stimuli, including heat and the burning sensation conveyed by chili peppers, and discovered a potential [...]ver notícia -
Anti-aging protein combats inflammation and avoids neuronal death
Publicado em 10 fevereiro 2023The process of cellular aging is multifactorial, and its investigation involves several knowledge areas. Finding ways to protect cells against damage is a key focus. A group of researchers recently achieved noteworthy progress in this regard, as evidenced by an article published in Scientific Reports. According to the authors, in their study, the protein klotho protected glial cells against inflammation and death. Glia are non-neuronal cells of the brain and nervous system. There [...]ver notícia -
Link between schizophrenia and vascular alterations in the brain
Publicado em 20 janeiro 2023A study reported in an article published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that schizophrenia may be associated with alterations in the vascularization of certain brain regions. Researchers found a link between astrocytes (central nervous system cells) from patients with schizophrenia and formation of narrow blood vessels. Schizophrenia is a severe multifactorial mental health disorder affecting around 1% of the world population. Common symptoms include loss of contact with reality [...]ver notícia -
How gut microbiota imbalance can lead to Parkinson's disease
Publicado em 23 abril 2022Research has shown that Parkinson’s is often diagnosed late and that it may originate much earlier in the enteric nervous system, before advancing to the brain via autonomic fibers. There is growing evidence that the gut microbiota, the collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract, can influence the development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Two recently published articles researchers reinforce this hypothesis [...]ver notícia