Scientists successfully obtain synthetic growth factor compatible to the native protein

IMAGE: HGF activates MET receptor and activation of MET receptor triggers intracellular signaling leading to the enhancement of cell division, migration, survival, and 3-D tubulogenesis. These biological activities lead to the… view more  Credit: Kanazawa University Growth factors are ligands that play important roles in the body – they are responsible for tissue regeneration, wound healing,…

Microplastic contamination found in common source of groundwater, researchers report

IMAGE: Illinois Sustainable Technology Center researcher John Scott is part of a team of researchers who are among the first to explore microplastic contamination in groundwater systems. view more  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Microplastics contaminate the world’s surface waters, yet scientists have only just begun to explore their presence in groundwater systems. A new study is the…

Helmholtz scientists identify the causes of cortisone-induced side effects

IMAGE: Steroid treatment can trigger metabolic changes such as a fatty liver (shown here) via the transcription factor E47. view more  Credit: © Helmholtz Zentrum München Patients undergoing long-term treatment with steroids may suffer from metabolic side effects. Researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU), partners in the German…

Understanding the emergence of leukemia

IMAGE: Microscopic image of a thymus section. Mature T lymphocytes (red and green) are at the centre of the thymus whereas the precursor cells (yellow) are located at the periphery. view more  Credit: Mariana Ávila, IGC. Acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia is a rare type of blood cancer that affects mostly children. This blood cancer appears from…

Tobacco use in adolescence is tied to paranoia, largely due to shared genetic influences

Washington, DC, January 25, 2019 Paranoia is associated with regular tobacco smoking in adolescents after accounting for other factors like cannabis use, sleep disturbances and stressful life events, reports a study recently published to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP). The study also provides novel insights about the underlying…