Body

The immunoproteasome is a defined structure in mammalian cells that is specialized to degrade protein molecules that are foreign to the cell, such as upon virus infection. Its function is comparable to a cellular shredder. Protein shreds (peptides) are then presented to the immune system on the outside of the cell to evoke a specific immune response against the virus-infected cell. A research team headed by PD Dr.

Researchers from Lund University and the University of Zurich have developed a way to use mass spectrometry to measure hundreds of proteins in a single blood sample. With the help of protein patterns it is then possible to determine the severity of a patient's sepsis (blood poisoning) condition and which organs have been damaged. The method is presented in an article in Nature Communications.

RUSTON, La. - Joshua Tully, senior chemistry student at Louisiana Tech University, has coauthored a paper titled "Halloysite Clay Nanotubes for Enzyme Immobilization," which has been published in "Biomacromolecules," a highly influential, international journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS.)

A gene involved in the regulation of emotions and behaviour could influence the long-term impact of violence experienced in childhood on antisocial behaviour. This is the finding of a longitudinal study carried out by a team of researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal) and Université de Montréal on 327 young men who live in Quebec (Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children), some of whom were exposed to violence as children.

The destructive ability of bacteria to organize an infection or block pathways such as intestines, medical stents and wastewater pipes relies on communication with one another.

New work from Princeton University researchers shows that the effectiveness of bacteria's ability to keep in touch is influenced by the physical characteristics and flow of fluid in the environments they're invading. The findings provide a better understanding of where and when in a system scientists can interfere with bacterial communication to help prevent infections and blockages.

A common mutation in the TM6SF2 gene raises liver values but at the same time improves blood lipid values in healthy children, according to a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. Children who carry the gene mutation had higher ALT values, indicative of changes in liver metabolism. At the same time, however, they also had lower blood triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. This finding is in line with earlier research in adults, showing that the gene mutation both predisposes for fatty liver disease and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December. 23, 2015) -- Atherosclerotic Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is responsible for one in every six deaths in the United States as well as being the leading cause of death throughout the developed world. Healthcare professionals have for many years sought to limit and control CHD by focusing on prevention and, from a dietary perspective, on limiting saturated fats.

Dabrafenib (trade name: Tafinlar) has been approved since 2013 for the treatment of adults with advanced, i.e. metastatic or unresectable, melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation. Since September 2015, dabrafenib has been approved for this therapeutic indication also in combination with trametinib (trade name: Mekinist), which was approved for use as monotherapy already in June 2014.

Do you feel the heat? According to NASA and NOAA, 2014 was the hottest year since 1880 and the 10 warmest years in the instrumental record have occurred since 1998.

In "Star Trek", a transporter can teleport a person from one location to a remote location without actually making the journey along the way. Such a transporter has fascinated many people. Quantum teleportation shares several features of the transporter and is one of the most important protocols in quantum information. In a recent study, Prof. Tongcang Li at Purdue University and Dr.

A recent Finnish study shows that high body adiposity, low physical activity, and particularly their combination are related to poorer physical fitness among 6-8 year old children. The results also suggest that physically active overweight children have better fitness compared to their inactive peers. The results published in Journal of Sports Sciences are part of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and the University of Jyväskylä.

Modifying the structure of poplar wood can also alter the endosphere microbiome, the bacteria that reside inside tree tissue. This has emerged from research by UHasselt, UGent and VIB. "This is one of the first in-depth studies on the effects of targeted modifications to the wood structure of plants on the microbiome", explain Dr. Bram Beckers and Prof. Jaco Vangronsveld from the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CMK/UHasselt).

Washington, DC--The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on diagnosis and treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency, a condition commonly known as Addison's disease that occurs when the body produces too little of the hormone cortisol.

The CPG, entitled "Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline," was published online and will appear in the February 2016 print issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of the Endocrine Society.

January 12, 2016 CHAPEL HILL, NC - It is well established that people with cystic fibrosis (CF) have two faulty copies of the CFTR gene, but debate continues on the question of whether certain symptoms of the airway disease are caused by the mutation or if the genetic defect precedes, but does not directly lead to some of the worst symptoms patients face.

New research to be published January 13 in the journal Scientific Reports shows that some bacterial cultures adopt an all-for-one/one-for-all strategy that would make a socialist proud in preparing for the possibility of an antibiotic onslaught.

The findings could have application for how persistent infections like those associated with cystic fibrosis are treated.