Connect with us

Medicine and Health

U.S. government stops funding controversial bird flu virus research

blank

Published

on

bird-flu-controversial-research.jpg

The U.S. government has stopped funding controversial research on three viruses and has asked the scientists involved to halt their studies regarding them. The viruses in question go by the names of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and avian influenza, more commonly known as the bird flu virus. The latter is undoubtedly the most famous of the three, but all of them are high-risk infections and are potentially deadly. Scientists researching these viruses have found ways to make them even more contagious, which is why they were asked to stop the studies. There was a similar controversy not long ago when scientists managed to create mutant forms of the N1H1 virus (swine flu) that are more potent than the regular version and can spread more easily between humans.

While the scientists studying SARS, MERS and bird flu were only trying to learn more about them by means of their experiments, many were afraid that mutated forms of these viruses could cause a pandemic if they were to somehow get out of the labs. The U.S. government are not the only ones who are concerned about this prospect as the National Research Council also seems to be of the opinion. However, not everyone is happy about this decision and some researchers believe that studies on influenza and other contagious viruses are crucial to further out understanding of them.

University of Wisconsin-Madison virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka who studies influenza says that he will not take part in any other projects regarding the virus and will consult with the National Institutes of Health on projects that are already underway. “I hope there will be an eventual resolution of the issues that surround research that is important to protecting public health and advancing influenza virus research,” Kawaoka said.

Continue Reading

Medicine and Health

Why is there a distinction between an Innie and an Outie belly button?

blank

Published

on

blank

We are interested in addressing some of the most urgent inquiries that society has regarding science. Is it necessary to include death education in schools? What is the impact of ultra-processed foods on human health? Today’s agenda includes a crucial question: what is the reason for an “innie” or an “outie” belly button?

What constitutes a globus dorsi?
Prior to delving into the intricacies of innies and outies, it is imperative to establish a comprehensive understanding of the concept of a belly button. The umbilicus is the scientific term for the belly button, serving as a convenient reminder that it is the location where the umbilical cord, which connects a developing fetus to the placenta, used to be.

Following childbirth, the umbilical cord becomes unnecessary and is commonly severed and secured, resulting in a small stump that gradually desiccates and detaches. The scar that remains following this procedure is commonly referred to as the belly button.

The process of in-and-out formation
There exists a belief among certain individuals that the presence of an innie or an outie belly button is contingent upon the manner in which the umbilical cord is severed or the location of the clamp. However, this assertion is unfounded. The outcome ultimately hinges on the individual’s healing process and the formation of the scar. Nevertheless, certain medical diseases, such as umbilical hernias and granulomas, may be erroneously identified as an external abdominal protuberance.

There is no need for concern over a typical outie belly button, although it is worth noting that this particular variety is relatively uncommon. 90% of people have an innie belly button, while the remaining 10% have an outie. Within the innie and outie categories, there are numerous subtypes that differ from one another in terms of things like form, orientation, and depth.

If you are the proud owner of an innie, while you are (ideally) removing any excess material that may have accumulated (which is a common occurrence), you may also unintentionally uncover a substantial amount of bacteria. In a 2012 scientific investigation, researchers collected samples from individuals’ navels and identified more than 2,300 distinct bacterial species within a mere 60 abdominal buttons. Some individuals have even employed belly button microorganisms for the production of cheese.

Belly buttons have the potential to undergo alterations on occasion.
While the majority of individuals do not experience any changes in their belly button, there are certain factors that can contribute to alterations in the look of some individuals’ navels. The initial procedure is referred to as umbilicoplasty, a cosmetic surgical intervention aimed at altering the dimensions and/or configuration of the rectum.

Another factor to consider is the presence of medical disorders that exert additional pressure on the region, resulting in the protrusion of a typically small belly button. The most prevalent of these circumstances is pregnancy, in which the developing baby exerts the force on an innie to expose itself. This phenomenon can result in the premature rupture of an innie at approximately 26 weeks of gestation, although it typically reverts to its typical introverted state upon the conclusion of the pregnancy.

The presence of any type of abdominal button is considered to be within the normal range. Please be certain that you thoroughly clean all the crevices, for the sake of everything that is virtuous.

Continue Reading

Medicine and Health

Is every face seen as demonic by you? Then you may possess a very uncommon condition

blank

Published

on

blank

It is often assumed that our view of others’ faces accurately reflects their true appearance. However, a minority of individuals with a rare neurological disease have skewed perceptions. Researchers have successfully visualized the visual perception of individuals with prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), a disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces.

The illness known as PMO is considered to be quite uncommon, with just around 75 documented case reports available. Consequently, its understanding remains limited. Nevertheless, individuals with this disorder are aware that they see facial characteristics as distorted. However, the specific manifestations of these distortions, such as variations in form, size, and location of features, might differ across individuals.

According to Antônio Mello, the principal author, it might be challenging to accurately envision the perspectives of individuals in a project management office (PMO). “In previous research on the condition, individuals with PMO struggle to accurately evaluate the representation of their distortions in a visualization due to the presence of a face in the visualization, which leads patients to perceive distortions on it as well.”

However, the researchers at Dartmouth College encountered an exceptional instance involving a 58-year-old guy who only saw faces as distorted when seen in person but perceived them properly when presented with a photograph shown on a screen or paper.

Due to the patient’s ability to see both distorted and authentic faces, it provided the researchers with a chance to precisely depict his visual perception. In order to do this, a photograph of an individual’s visage was captured and then shown to the patient on a computer screen while the actual person was there, with the patient being instructed to compare the disparities in real-time.

By enabling the team to modify the picture shown on the screen to align with the distortions seen by the patient in the real face, it becomes evident why he has been referring to people’s looks as “demonic.”.

The researchers want their results to enhance doctors’ awareness of PMO and provide a deeper comprehension of their patients’ experiences. Consequently, this might aid in diminishing instances of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. It is sometimes misconstrued as a mental condition rather than a neurological one. In this patient’s case, he might have seen people who resembled demons, but there was no delusional belief that they were actually demons.

“Several individuals with PMO have reported being diagnosed with schizophrenia by psychiatrists and prescribed anti-psychotic medications, despite their condition actually being related to visual impairment,” said senior author Brad Duchaine.

“It is not unusual for individuals with PMO to withhold information about their issue with face perception due to concerns that others may interpret the distortions as indicative of a psychiatric condition,” said Duchaine. The issue at hand is often not comprehended by others.

The research has been published in The Lancet.

Continue Reading

Biology

Weight Loss Launchpad: Space Technology Enhances the Effectiveness of Obesity mRNA Treatment

blank

Published

on

blank

Researchers at Penn Engineering have devised an innovative approach for the synthesis of a vital component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), drawing inspiration from space shuttle technology. LNPs play a crucial role in the administration of mRNA therapeutics, as exemplified by the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. They enhance the ease of LNP manufacturing and enhance their efficacy in facilitating the transportation of mRNA into cells for medical interventions.

In an article published in Nature Communications, Michael J. Mitchell, an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering, presents a novel approach for the synthesis of ionizable lipidoids. These lipidoids are crucial chemical constituents of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that play a crucial role in safeguarding and delivering therapeutic payloads. In this study, Mitchell et al. conducted an investigation of the efficacy of mRNA drug delivery for the treatment of obesity as well as the potential of gene-editing techniques for the management of hereditary disorders.

Optimizing the Production Process
Prior research has demonstrated that lipidoids possessing branching tails exhibit superior efficacy in delivering mRNA to cells. However, the processes involved in synthesizing these molecules are both time-consuming and expensive. According to Xuexiang Han, a postdoctoral student in the Mitchell Lab and co-first author of the research, we present an innovative approach for the effective and economical production of these lipidoids.

blank

The procedure entails the amalgamation of three chemical compounds, namely an amine “head,” two alkyl epoxide “tails,” and two acyl chloride “branched tails.” The observed similarity between the fully developed lipidoid and a space shuttle affixed to two booster rockets is not a mere coincidence. Han, a college student, recounts that a documentary on the space shuttle left a lasting impression on him due to the remarkable design of the solid rocket boosters that facilitated the shuttle’s entry into orbit. According to Han, it was determined that the addition of two branch tails as “boosters” to the lipidoid might enhance the transportation of mRNA.

The addition of branching tails greatly improved the ability of LNPs containing the new lipidoid to deliver mRNA to specific cells, similar to how boosters help a rocket get into the atmosphere. “We saw a big increase in the production of a hormone that controls metabolism in certain cells after these lipidoids were used to deliver mRNA.” This development is highly promising, particularly in the context of obesity treatment,” states Mitchell.

The article titled “In situ combinatorial synthesis of degradable branched lipidoids for systemic delivery of mRNA therapeutics and gene editors,” authored by Xuexiang Han, Junchao Xu, Ying Xu, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Lulu Xue, Ningqiang Gong, Rakan El-Mayta, Rohan Palanki, Claude C. Warzecha, Gan Zhao, Andrew E. Vaughan, James M. Wilson, Drew Weissman, and Michael J. Mitchell, was published in Nature Communications on February 26, 2024.
The provided DOI, 10.1038/s41467-024-45537-z,

The research was carried out at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science and received funding from the National Institutes of Health (Award DP2 TR002776), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (CBET-2145491), and the American Cancer Society (Grant RSG-22-122-01-ET).

Continue Reading

Trending