Published in The Reading Frame·12 hours agoMember-onlyEye spy: a new healing gel prevents blindnessBiomaterials experts create poly(CEP), the first anti-inflammatory polymer for post-operative eye care. The eyes are the windows to the soul. But for some, these ‘windows’ could be left with permanently-drawn blackout blinds. Out-of-control inflammation following retinal reattachment surgery can cause serious scarring in some patients. About 10% of patients recovering…Eyes2 min readEyes2 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·3 days agoMember-onlySad people are (inadvertently) creating superbugsCommonly prescribed antidepressants are making bacteria more resistant to antibiotics. It goes hand in hand — as more people struggle with mental health, so do prescriptions for antidepressant medications. Prescriptions have skyrocketed in the last decade. Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, and Welbutrin are flying off pharmacy shelves as the WHO declares…Depression2 min readDepression2 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·5 days agoMember-onlyCancer treatment inspired by whipped creamBubbles of oxygen make cancers more vulnerable to chemo Syrups, tablets, powders, sprays, or creams–we’re used to the more conventional forms of medications. But new research published recently by scientists at the University of Iowa (UI) suggests that foam-based treatments (with a whipped cream-like consistency) show promise in the fight…Cancer2 min readCancer2 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 31Member-onlyOpioid vaccine blocks the highExperts say the fentanyl vaccine is a gamechanger for relapse prevention It’s 100X more potent than morphine and tiny doses (about the size of four grains of salt) are enough to kill an adult. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic painkiller driving the opioid crisis in many parts of the…Vaccines3 min readVaccines3 min read
Jan 21Member-onlyThe lost voices of women in researchA new study reveals just how bad the problem is A recent study has published (more) dismal statistics on the gender gap in published scientific literature. Centuries on and the old boys club lives on. Male journal editors merrily insert their own research work into the publications they manage and…Feminism4 min readFeminism4 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 20Member-onlyBrain tumors die when they can’t make fat from carbsBut the new experimental drug may not work for all patients Big news for MIT researchers testing an investigational drug to treat aggressive brain tumors — the treatment chokes tumor growth and makes them more susceptible to other anticancer drugs. The mechanism of how the drug (for now known by…Neuroscience2 min readNeuroscience2 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 20Member-onlyThe mind-metabolism’s broken game of telephoneResearch in vinegar flies upends assumptions about how the mind influences food-seeking behavior There’s a constant game of telephone between your mind and your stomach, sending cues that influence your eating patterns throughout the day. There’s a strong evolutionary rationale behind these complex food-seeking behaviors–to maintain a steady physiological energy…Metabolism3 min readMetabolism3 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 17Member-onlyHow a real-life Pikachu could help cure Alzheimer’sThey’re a big step up from in-bred lab mice We’ve enlisted a whole ark of animals in our hunt to find treatments for Alzheimer’s — ygenetically-engineered mice, rats, chimps, gorillas, orangutans, dogs, and (of course) guinea pigs. These critters have each helped bring a tiny piece of an incredibly complicated…Alzheimers3 min readAlzheimers3 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 13Member-onlyThe fat metabolism off-switchResearch on fly larvae give a glimmer of hope that we could tweak our genes to stop extra fat storage Hands gripping the steering wheel, foot poised above the accelerator, you put the pedal to the metal and screech off, leaving a line of cars behind you in your dust. …Weight Loss3 min readWeight Loss3 min read
Published in The Reading Frame·Jan 12Member-onlyPicking pockets to disarm virusesScientists discover a ‘cryptic pocket’ in the COVID virus that could help fight variants A group of molecular biologists have uncovered a hidden pocket in the structure of SARS-CoV-2 that could be a promising therapeutic bullseye against COVID-19. The researchers, based in Singapore, used a blend of computational modeling and…Covid 193 min readCovid 193 min read
