Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States and the worldwide burden of Lyme disease has increased in recent years, extending into much of central Europe and parts of Asia. The disease, which presents as an autoimmune disorder, is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Up until very recently, all …
Medicare: Rising Premiums and Novel AD Drugs
Medicare recently announced that its Part B outpatient premium will increase by $21.60 per month in 2022. The increase marks one of Medicare’s largest premium jumps on record – but, interestingly enough, one drug is responsible for about half of that cost increase: an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug called Aduhelm™. What is the connection between …
Moo vs. Flu: Seasonal Flu Antibody Therapy Produced in Cows
Humans have used cows in vaccine development dating back to 1770 and the origins of the smallpox vaccine. In more modern medicine, transgenic cows have played a role in making antigen-specific human antibodies for Ebola virus, anthrax, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and hantavirus — and we may soon see seasonal flu added to …
Could Spider Webs Teach Us About Complex Brain Systems?
Scientists have spent decades working to understand how spiders spin their impossibly detailed, symmetrical webs. Despite those years of research, scientists remain baffled as to certain intricacies of web-weaving. For example, what gives spider silk its unique elasticity? Most recently, Johns Hopkins University researchers explored precisely how spiders build webs, creating a sort of web-building …
14 Obesity Genes Discovered
The World Health Organization reports that around 13 percent of the world’s population is classified as “obese.” Today, medical experts know that obesity is much more than just a battle with overeating. In fact, obesity is a medical condition largely affected by an individuals’ genetics. As researchers work to develop drugs to treat obesity, exploring …
Consensus Drives Collaboration: In-Depth Cell Analysis Can Accelerate Understanding of the Brain
A large team of researchers has made great strides in developing a census and atlas of the cell types found in the mammalian primary motor cortex, advancing efforts to classify the vast complex network of diverse brain cells. Their results show that this brain region has as many as 116 different cell types, and the …
Chimpanzee DNA Sheds Light on Human Brain Evolution
In evolutionary terms, chimpanzees are humans’ closest living relatives. But how close are we, really? Science Daily reports that researchers at Lund University in Sweden used stem cells to explore the differences between human brains and chimp brains. During the study, the researchers managed to identify a previously overlooked part of our DNA. That study, …
Using Brain Stimulation to “Switch Tracks” in Mental Health Patients’ Train of Thought
A proof-of-concept study of brain stimulation among patients with epilepsy may have revealed a revolutionary way to treat people with severe depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental disorders. People experiencing these mental disorders often have a diminished ability to shift from one thought pattern or behavior to another, a process known as cognitive control. Alik …
How Congress Could Regulate Medicare Drug Prices
Prescription drug costs continue to be a concern for many Americans. But now, as Congress works to finalize President Biden’s Build Back Better social spending plan, House Democrats have reached a deal that could put some patients’ minds at ease. The measure would potentially curb prescription drug costs, allowing the government to negotiate prices for …
When NSAAs Enter the Mix, Protein Therapeutics May Thrive
Protein therapeutics may soon represent a $200 billion market despite a few inherent limitations. The processes for manufacturing therapeutic proteins are not very efficient or scalable, and the therapeutics often reveal issues with safety and durability of treatment in clinical trials – but those issues may be a thing of the past. Up until now, …
