Osteoarthritis is a debilitating and painful wearing down of joint cartilage tissues. Every year, more than three million people in the U.S. (and millions more worldwide) are diagnosed with the disease. Current therapies consist mainly of either steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both of which are largely ineffective, especially as the disease progresses. Biologics …
When Did SARS-CoV-2 Actually Emerge?
When developing a therapy or vaccine against an emerging virus, knowing how long it has been in existence can tell scientists how many forms may exist, how prevalent it is, and even whether it is hazardous enough to merit an intervention. For SARS-CoV-2, its history of existence is not well known. When COVID-19 was recognized …
What Gives a Hummingbird Its Distinctive Hum?
Hummingbirds are compact, energetic flying machines belonging to the family Trochilidae. They typically measure 7.5–13 cm (3–5 in) in length, boast colorful, almost jewel-like plumage, and feed on flower nectar. They are also known for agility, flexibility, and speed, which is how they came to inspire the QPS logo. The birds eat eight times their …
Exploring the Cat Microbiome
The human microbiome is a bit of a buzzword in wellness circles, referring to the trillions of symbiotic microbial cells harbored within the body. The microbiota in each individual microbiome can contribute to healthy or unhealthy physical function. In other words, the bacteria in your body can affect everything from digestion and cognition to behavior. …
New Study Illuminates COVID-19 Neurological Symptoms
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering are amongst the most debilitating long-haul symptoms of COVID-19. In some cases, this “brain fog” can linger for months. Of the first 100 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infections whose symptoms lasted at least six weeks, 81 reported experiencing brain fog. Until recently, the underlying causes of these lingering COVID-19 neurological symptoms …
Understanding How Cells Tell RNA and DNA Apart Could Lead to New Antivirals
RNA viruses are known to cause a large number of diseases in humans, including COVID-19, measles, influenza, hepatitis, yellow fever and Zika. Most new and reemerging viral diseases, in fact, are based on RNA. While vaccines often have been effective against RNA viruses, treatments for disease caused by these viruses can be more challenging. One …
The Need Grows for New Antifungal Therapies
Unless you’re working in a highly controlled environment like a cleanroom, it’s safe to assume you are surrounded by fungi. Millions of fungal species live in soil, grow on plants, not to mention on our bodies. Every inhalation can introduce fungal spores. If you have never had to worry about this, it is because you …
The Most Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Intranasal
The pace of vaccine development against COVID-19 will certainly go down as one of the fastest in our history. In less than a year, a number of vaccines have been developed and distributed that prevent illness from COVID-19. In the U.S. alone, more than 200 million doses of vaccine have been distributed as of April …
Human Immune System Beats HIV for the First Time
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Without treatment, HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). While there is currently no effective cure for HIV, scientists recently made a groundbreaking discovery: some rare patients, known as “elite controllers,” may be able to …
Five Criteria to Use When Selecting a CRO for a Gene Therapy Study
Contract research organizations (CROs) have been an integral part of drug development since the 1920s, first as providers of preclinical testing services, then as organizations that could manage clinical trials on behalf of their sponsors. While this makes the majority of CROs knowledgeable experts in the management of clinical trials, especially for traditional small-molecule therapies, …
