Category: Education
Placebos elicit genuine psychobiological effects when patients believe them
Placebo drugs can still work if the patient believes it will help, observed researchers who were conducting a new study at Michigan State University (MSU). They suggest “honest” or non-deceptive placebos could have a role in modern clinical practice. The […]
Healthy young men manage occasional calorie over indulgence remarkably well
Young, healthy men have been found to keep their metabolic control even after consuming twice as much pizza than usual. Researchers with the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism (CNEM) at the University of Bath, UK, thus believe that if […]
Specific virus species prey on bacteria to clear diabetic foot ulcer infections
Bacteriophages (phages) are tiny viruses that infect and replicate inside bacteria. In the fight against bacterial infections so far, phages have been used as inhalable treatments for pneumonia, wrapping materials that kill foodborne bugs or, drinkable chasers to clear up […]
Patterns of brain activity in newborns similar to adults within days of birth
Understanding how an infant’s brain – which is more adult-like than assumed – works may be key to identifying problems later on. Research by psychologists at Emory University in Georgia, US, provides an early look into the visual cortex of […]
Sino-US startup develops blood test for early detection of cancers
A new type of blood test has been shown to detect five types of cancer years before standard diagnoses – the test found cancers in 91% of people who initially showed no symptoms but were later diagnosed with stomach, oesophageal, […]
New cell type could forewarn of rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups
Researchers have noticed an accumulation of never-before-seen cells in the blood during the week prior to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare-ups. The mysterious cells have an RNA profile which resembles those found in joints and not freely circulating in the bloodstream. […]
RBCs coated in antigen nanoparticles elicits stronger immune response, Harvard scientists find
Scientists have found ways to attach chemical payloads to red blood cells (RBCs) in recent years which can then be delivered to specific organs or tissues. The latest development comes from scientists from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, who […]
Group of stem cells that can generate new bone found within the bone itself
The bone marrow and outer surface of bone have always been thought to house reserve cells that will generate new bone or participate in bone repair when required. Now, research led by the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, […]
Nanoparticle-based injection to retina restores vision to blind rats
Many instances of age-related vision loss is related to degradation of the retina – an impressive way to restore retinal function, without using electrodes or implants, is by injecting specifically-engineered nanoparticles to create a working artificial retina. A single injection […]
