Science Repository

Evaluation of Green Light Exposure on Frequency of Headache and Quality of Life in Migraine Patients

Green light therapy has proven its effectiveness in skin treatment, easing pain and even fighting depression, but the research has just started its journey. It is no surprise that green always soothes our eyes. A number of studies have been conducted to find out the theory behind the action of green light and why it is the only drug-free therapeutic option for migraine sufferers. They found that blue and red lights generate the largest signals in both the retina and the cortex and green light generates the smallest signals. Another interesting experiment showed that the neurons in the thalamus that transmit signals about light from the eye to cortex were found to be most responsive to blue light and least responsive to green light, explaining why the migraine brain responds favorably to green light. Green light also boosts circadian rhythm through melatonin secretion, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. Patients are able to function swiftly by taking advantage of this therapeutic green light. Although the idea of green light is much more appealing to migraine patients, exactly how it works remains a puzzle. There are currently no definitive guidelines for using green light for migraines. It cannot be any green light but, it should be exclusively dependent on the right intensity.

B Vitamins Can be Used to Treat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Researchers have found that elevated blood levels of an amino acid – homocysteine can be correlated strongly with the severity of an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Scientists also discovered that vitamin B12 & folic acid could be used to prevent or delay disease progression. These findings may help people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – an umbrella term for a range of liver conditions affecting people who drink little to no alcohol. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease constitute fat build-up in the liver and is a leading cause of liver transplants worldwide. Its high prevalence is association with diabetes and obesity – two major public health problems globally. As the condition progresses towards inflammation and scar tissue formation – the condition is known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). While deposition of fat in the liver is reversible in its early stages – its progression to NASH causes liver dysfunction, cirrhosis and increases the risk for liver cancer. Scientists found that, as homocysteine level gets increased in the liver – the amino acid attached to various liver proteins, changes their structure and impedes their functioning. In particular, when homocysteine attached to a protein called syntaxin 17 – it blocks the protein from performing its role in transporting and digesting fat in the fatty acid metabolism, inflammation prevention and mitochondrial turnover. This showed induced development and progression of fatty liver disease to NASH.

Does the Production of Transgenic Plants and Organisms Come at a Cost?

As the disease and disorder intensity is increasing exponentially with time, so there is a need for newer and more efficient medicines. If there are no model organisms, then testing medicines will not be possible. For these kinds of concerns, we have the concept of bioethics. Bioethics is the area dealing with ethical issues in the field of medicine or any other biological studies. It is a study of the typically controversial ethics which are brought about by the advances in life sciences and healthcare. However, the production of transgenic plants and organisms come at the cost of disturbing the natural genome of those organisms. The idea of “human cloning” also sounds fascinating, but that is not as great in reality. Producing human clones without regulation may lead to various serious concerns like overpopulation, increase in diseases, exhaustion of limited resources and many more. Also, this can act against the balance of nature. We know that nature promotes variation in the gene pool of organisms. Cloning can lead to the utilization of the same gene pool constantly, thus leading to a loss of vigor in the genes.

The Role of Bacterial Retrons in Anti-Phage Defense

Retrons’ natural function and mechanism of genetic transmission have remained enigmatic. However, recent studies have harnessed their ability to produce DNA in situ for genome editing and evolution. Retrons are guards of the bacterial immune system that ensure the survival of the bacterial colony when it is infected by viruses. Retrons are located near the RecBCD complex which is known to exert DNA repairing activity and anti-phage defense activity. Retrons are always linked, physically and functionally, to one other gene. Mutation in one of the genes may make bacteria susceptible to phage infection. RecBCD usually degrades phage DNA as soon as it enters the host and RecBCD also plays a vital role in the acquisition of new CRISPR spacers from phage genomes. Now, phages start encoding anti-RecBCD proteins which bind to the complex and inactivate it. Under this situation, retrons sense these phage proteins and causes the infected cell to commit su***de. Cell su***de is a last-ditch means of aborting widespread infection. Retrons possess 3 components that are responsible for antiphage activity. These are- reverse transcriptase, non-coding RNA and an accessory gene with ATPase domain. Retrons appear to be a guardian of RecBCD complex. They do not sense the phage invasion itself but rather keep watch on RecBCD.

Some Kind of Stress Help in Reducing Brian Illness

Research says that low to moderate stress levels help build resilience while reducing the risk of mental illnesses like depression and antisocial behaviors. According to new research, looming deadlines stressing you out at work may actually be beneficial for your brain. Low to moderate stress can also help individuals to cope with future stressful encounters. If a person is in an environment where there are some levels of stress, the person may develop coping mechanisms that will allow to become a more efficient and effective worker and will also organize in a way that will help to perform better. Good stress act as a vaccine against the effect of future adversity. The scientific analysis found that low to moderate levels of stress is psychologically beneficial and potentially act as a kind of inoculation against developing mental health symptoms. We all have at least some adverse experiences that actually make us stronger. There are specific experiences that help to evolve/develop skills that prepare for future actions. But the capacity to tolerate stress and adversity varies greatly on the individual. Certain factors like age, genetic predispositions and having a supportive community to fall back on in times of need all play a role in how well individuals manage challenges.

Heart Disease and Cancers Could be Diagnosed Easily with New Rapid Test

Scientists have built a new easy-to-use test technique that could diagnose non-infectious diseases such as heart attacks and cancers more easily and quickly. The recent test functions by detecting molecular signals inside the body called biomarkers – which are already used in things like testing of COVID-19 where the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genes indicates COVID-19. There are also biomarkers for non-infectious diseases like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, which can sometimes act as a biomarker to indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Diagnostic tests based on DNA or RNA often require controlled temperatures and involve various multiple steps. The new test can be used at room temperature in a user-friendly process. CrisprZyme builds on CRISPR diagnostic tests that use RNA – the messenger that helps create proteins – to detect biomarkers in biological fluids like blood/urine. In their current form – these kind of tests detect RNA and then amplify the RNA by creating several copies so that the signal is read in an easier way. To eliminate the amplification process, scientists used nanozymes – tiny synthetic materials that behave like enzymes. Their enzymatic-like action increases the signal of the test, making the colorimetric analysis easier to read.

Can Microbes be Used in Outer Space to Mine Resources?

Because microorganisms are the most widespread form of life on earth and are capable of colonising almost any environment, scientists usually focus on microbial life in the field of astrobiology. Moreover, small and simple cells usually evolve first on a planet rather than larger, multicellular organisms, and have an increased likelihood of being transported from one planet to another via the panspermia theory. Modern technology has already allowed us to use microbes to assist us in extracting materials on Earth, including over 25% of our current copper supply. Similarly, microbes could help serve a similar purpose on other planets to mine resources, extract useful materials, or create self-sustaining reactors.

The most promising of these candidates known to date is cyanobacteria. Billions of years ago, cyanobacteria originally helped us create a habitable Earth by pumping oxygen into the atmosphere and manage to exist in the darkest corners of the Earth. Cyanobacteria, along with some other rock-eating microbes, seem to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the vacuum of space without much effort. On Mars, however, cyanobacteria will not even have to endure such harsh conditions. Scientists are currently working on the possibility of installing bioreactors or similar facilities on Mars, which would run entirely on cyanobacteria and provide material for the creation of fuel cells, soil crust formation, regolith amelioration, extraction of useful metals/elements, nutrient release into the soil, and dust removal.

Microneedles Pierce Biofilm for More Effective Delivery of Antibiotics to Wounds

Scientists have developed a microneedle array that can puncture biofilm covering ulcerated tissues and cells. The needles deliver antibiotics to the wounds by absorption of liquid underneath the biofilm and then it gets dissolved. Scientists have developed a flexible polymer composite microneedle array that can overcome the physicochemical bacterial biofilm present in chronic and nonhealing wounds that can deliver both oxygen and bactericidal agents simultaneously. The biofilm acts as a shield and hinders antibiotics from reaching infected cells and tissues. When these microneedles pierce through the shield – they can absorb the fluid underneath and dissolve, which can deliver the antibiotic directly to the ulcerated cells and tissues. The microneedles do not cause pain since they are not long enough to touch nerve endings in the foot. The lack of proper treatment of infected ulcers can result in bacteremia and sepsis. As a result, chronic wounds are the key cause of limb amputations. The next step is in the development of the microneedles beyond the proof-of-concept stage, i.e., to find partners to conduct human tests.

The Bacteria Can Power a Truly Green Revolution in Personal Electrical Devices

Recently the researchers revealed that they have figured out to engineer a biofilm that harvests the energy in evaporation and then converts it to electricity. This biofilm will have the potential to revolutionize the world of wearable electronics, powering everything from personal medical sensors to electronics. This biofilm – a thin sheet of bacterial cells about the thickness of a sheet of paper – is produced naturally by an engineered bacteria named Geobacter sulfurreducens. G. sulfurreducens produces electricity and has been used previously in “microbial batteries” to power electrical devices. But such batteries have the criteria that G. sulfurreducens is properly cared for and fed a constant diet. In contrast, this new biofilm – which can supply as much, can work continuously because it is dead. And because it’s dead, it doesn’t need to be fed. As scientists say it is much more efficient – they have simplified the process of generating electricity by radically cutting back on the amount of processing required. Researchers have sustainably grown the cells in a biofilm and then used that agglomeration of cells. This process reduces the energy inputs, making it simpler and widening the potential applications.

Scientists Come Up with Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine in the Form of a Nasal Spray

Intranasal administration of inactivated vaccines combined with an adjuvant can induce both S-IgA and IgG Abs. New nasal spray vaccine is being studied that can be an effective way of vaccinating children against the influenza virus. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains 3 different weakened live influenza viruses. The viruses in the form of vaccine are sprayed into the nose, stimulating the body’s immune system to develop protective antibodies against the infection by naturally occurring influenza viruses. Doctors administer the sprays into the patients’ nose. The vaccine protects from catching flu in the flu season. The viruses in the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV) remains attenuated, cold-adapted, and temperature- sensitive. “Attenuation” implies that the viruses are weakened and is unable to cause severe symptoms associated with influenza. Whereas “cold-adapted” and “temperature-sensitive” imply that the viruses are capable of growing in the nose and throat but remain absent in the lower respiratory tract where the temperature remains high. The weakened viruses are cold-adapted, i.e., they are designed to multiply only at the cooler temperatures found within the nose. All nasal spray influenza (flu) vaccines for the 2020-2021 season were quadrivalent, i.e., they are made using four flu viruses.

Cold Induced Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) Thermogenesis

Prolonged cold exposure and beta-adrenergic agonists can induce browning of white adipose tissue. The idea of losing weight without controlling diet is quite fascinating. Researchers have uncovered the function of brown adipocytes which contain a high level of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). UCP1 is e key player in allowing the electrons to be released rather than to be stored, resulting in heat generation. When animals are exposed to cold temperature, cold is perceived by temperature sensors, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which in turn activates brown adipocytes. Norepinephrine (NE) influences the brown adipocytes to differentiate as well as directly modulates the thermogenic function in mature brown adipocytes. NE binds to the β-adrenergic receptor and via adenylyl cyclase activation, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is increased, and protein kinase A is activated and leading to triglyceride breakdown and release of free fatty acids (FFAs) which are substrates for thermogenesis and regulators of the activity of UCP1. UCP1 is able to uncouple electron transport from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and produces heat in brown adipocytes. We all know the fact that exercise burns calories. Reports suggest that BAT has a potential therapeutic role in reversing obesity and there is a search going on for agents that would stimulate the activity of the tissue.

A 'Nano-Robot' Built From DNA Explored Cell Processes

Constructing a tiny robot from DNA and using it to study cell processes invisible to the naked eye is unimaginable and is serious current research. This highly innovative 'nano-robot' should enable a closer study of the mechanical forces applied at microscopic levels – that are crucial for various pathological and biological processes. Human cells are subject to mechanical forces exerted on a microscopic scale – that trigger biological signals essential to many cell processes involved in the normal functioning of the body and in the development of diseases. The feeling of touch is partly conditional on the application of mechanical forces on the specific cell receptors. In addition to touch – these receptors that are sensitive to mechanical forces – known as mechanoreceptors, enable the regulation of other key biological processes such as pain perception, blood vessel constriction, breathing, or the detection of sound waves in the ear. The dysfunction of this cellular mechanosensitivity is involved in the case of several diseases – cancer cells migrate within the body by constantly adapting to the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. This kind of adaptation is only possible because specific forces are detected by mechanoreceptors that can transmit the information to the cell cytoskeleton. This kind of tool is very significant for basic research since this could be used to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in cell mechanosensitivity and discover new cell receptors sensitive to mechanical forces.

Activation of the B cells

As our bodies are constantly being exposed to bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other pathogens, the immune system is essential for our survival. Without an active immune system – the pathogens may invade the body. The immune system is made up of billions of white blood cells that circulate in our bloodstream and move in our tissues – patrolling for the signs of infection/tissue damage. The immune system of the body consists of numerous types of white blood cells that include lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes. Lymphocytes can be further subdivided into T cells, B cells, and NK cells. T and B lymphocytes are two major adaptive immune cells in our body's defense systems. Scientists discovered CDyB, which is a new type of probe that does not require CD-specific antibodies to distinguish different cell types. The probe was found to be capable of entering the cell itself and staining the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. The researchers observed that the CDyB signal was stronger in mature B cells compared to immature B cells. This was most likely due to the expression of SLC35C increasing as per the maturity of the B cells.

The emergence of Phototherapy in Neonatal Jaundice

The modern discoveries and inventions, as well as the balneological experiences of the treatment with sunlight has contributed to the transition from heliotherapy to artificial light phototherapy. Light therapy is one of the accepted therapies in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Bilirubin – a yellow pigment formed in the liver during the breakdown of old red blood cells. Bilirubin sometimes fails to be effectively cleared by a neonate’s liver causing neonatal jaundice. Accumulation of the excess bilirubin can harm and damage the central nervous system, and so bilirubin buildup must be treated properly. Phototherapy makes use of the energy from light to isomerize the bilirubin and transform it into compounds the newborn can excrete in the form of urine and stools. Bilirubin is most successful in absorbing light in the blue region of the visible light spectrum between 460-490 nm. In some cases, newborn jaundice is treated by lowering the bilirubin levels from baby's blood through a process called photo-oxidation. There are some limitations from using phytotherapy in certain people, and they must not try therapy with light. This includes people with lupus, the person having a history of skin cancer, or the skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum, which makes people overly sensitive to sunlight.

The Impact of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome on One’s Immunity

Obese individuals are always at a greater risk for chronic disease and often present with clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS), insulin resistance, and systemic markers of chronic low-grade inflammation. It is known that cells of the immune system play an essential role in the pathogenesis of obesity and MetS-related chronic diseases, which is evidenced by leukocyte activation and dysfunction of metabolic tissues. As an individual gradually becomes obese, there is a dramatic increase in M1 macrophages into adipose tissue. As the accumulation of lipid molecules continues within the adipose tissue both in adipocytes and macrophages, there is a shift in macrophage subtype to a pro-inflammatory, M1 polarization. The inflammatory state in obesity is reflected in increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory proteins; it also occurs in adolescents and children, along with the occurrence in adults. However, it is known that obesity itself (diet or genetic induced) decreases immunity leading to increased risk of bacterial and viral infection as well as decreased responsiveness to some vaccinations. There is always a metabolic tug-of-war between tumor cells and T cells that changes in humans with obesity. Finding suggests, that blocking the fat-related metabolic reprogramming significantly can reduce tumor volume in mice having high-fat diets.

Cells can Move Faster Through Mucus Compared to Blood

Scientists have identified that certain cells move surprisingly faster in thicker fluid since their ruffled edges sense the viscosity of their environment and then adapt to increase their speed. The combined results in cancer and fibroblast cells suggest that the viscosity of a cell's surrounding environment is an important contributor to diseases and helps explain the tumor progression – scarring in mucus-filled lungs affected by cystic fibrosis, and wound-healing process. The link between cell attachment and viscosity has never been demonstrated before. We found that the thicker the surrounding environment – the stronger the cells adhere to the substrate and the faster they can move. It is important to understand why cells behave in a surprising way because cancer tumours form a viscous environment, which means spreading cells can move into tumours faster compared to non-cancerous tissues. Researchers observed that cancer cells speed up in a thickened environment; they revealed that the development of ruffled edges in cancer cells could contribute to cancer spreading to other regions of the body. On the other hand, targeting the spreading response in fibroblasts may reduce tissue damage in the mucus-filled lungs affected by cystic fibrosis. Since ruffled fibroblasts walk quickly, they are the first type of cells to move through the mucus to the wound – contributing to scarring rather than healing. These findings imply that by changing the viscosity of the lung's mucus – one can control the movement of the cell.

Is Labriculture a 'cure all' for climate-friendly meat?

As consumers are committing to eating healthier, both for themselves and the planet, environmentally sustainable diets consisting of meat alternatives and/or plant-based meat products (like soy or pea protein) are becoming increasingly popular. In vitro meat production is a novel idea of producing meat without involving animals with the help of tissue engineering techniques. Despite the plethora of upsides there are some potential pitfalls of labriculture. It has been noted that cell-based meat may end up not being as rich in iron as conventional meat, since lab-based meat does not use blood to exchange oxygen. Secondly, though cell-cultured meat may be theoretically more environmentally friendly because it could decrease natural resource usage and lower demand for livestock animals, critics believe that the energy put into producing lab-based meat on a larger scale may be just as high. Thirdly, theoretically, this system is believed to be efficient enough to supply the global demand for meat; however, establishment of a sustainable in vitro meat production would face considerably greater technical challenges and a great deal of research is still needed to establish this animal-free meat culturing system on an industrial scale. Fourthly, cultured meat production will likely require more industrial energy than do livestock to produce equivalent quantities of meat. This is because it does not use animals whose bodies provide temperature regulation, waste elimination and other functions that will have to be replaced by industrial equivalents.

The Reason Behind IVF Embryos Development Failure

As per the new research, spontaneous errors in the earliest phase of cell division might be the reason why so many human embryos fail in normal development. In humans, a fertilized egg has no guarantee of reproductive success. Most embryos stop developing and perish within the days of fertilization – usually of the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes. Researchers have found that most of these mistakes are because of spontaneous errors in DNA replication in the earliest phase of cell division. The scientific findings will provide new insights into the basic biology of human reproduction and in the long term could lead to improvements in the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Duplicating the genome is a challenging task for the early embryo, as per scientists. Researchers have long theorized that errors occur during the final phase of cell division when the duplicate sets of chromosomes separate into two identical daughter cells. Most of these failures were attributed to issues with the microtubule spindle, the apparatus that pulls the two sets of chromosomes apart. Spontaneous DNA errors can occur as early as the first cycle of cell division in human embryos and in subsequent cell divisions. If several cells in the early embryo get affected by chromosomal abnormalities – the embryo fails to develop further.

Computational Biomedicine Transforming Healthcare: The Cutting Edge of Medical Science

Computational biology is a growing trend in the development of statistical tools to identify genetic associations of various diseases and robustly linking each one with a specific gene, cell type, stimulatory condition, and ultimately to a biological pathway. Due to the inherent complexity of coupled nonlinear biological systems, the development of the computational model is essential for achieving a quantitative understanding of the structure and function in health and disease. Statistical learning is applied in high-dimensional biomolecular data and to create models that describe associations between molecules and networks. Multiscale modeling links networks to the cells, organs, and organ systems. Computational approaches are utilized to characterize anatomic shape and variations in disease and health. By incorporating health informatics, mathematics, bench science, statistics, and social sciences into classical and molecular epidemiology, disease transmission is better understood at all levels. Computational biology is involved in the development and application of analytical-data and theoretical methods, computational simulation techniques, and mathematical modeling to the study of biological, behavioral, ecological, and social systems. There is a growing recognition that the tabulation of the molecular building blocks from which biological systems are composed is insufficient to understand the systems' functional properties in health and disease. This inherent complexity necessitates the development of models to achieve a quantitative understanding of the structure and function of the living systems.

Vitamin B6 Supplements Reduces Depression and Anxiety

As reported by trial participants, they felt less depressed/anxious after taking high doses of Vitamin B6 for a month. The findings provide evidence that the calming effect of Vit B6 has on the brain could make it effective in preventing/treating mood disorders. Consumption of high-dose of Vitamin B6 tablets has been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Clinical and Experimental findings provided valuable evidence to support the use of supplements thought to modify the levels of activity in the brain for preventing or treating mood disorders. Research says that the functioning of the brain relies on a delicate balance between the excitatory neurons that carry information around and inhibitory ones that prevent runaway activity. Current theories have connected mood disorders and some other neuropsychiatric conditions with a disturbance of their balance, usually in the direction of raised levels of brain activity. Vitamin B6 enables production of a specific chemical messenger that inhibits impulses in the brain, and the particular study linked this calming effect with reduced anxiety among the participants. Scientists highlighted the potential role of Vitamins B6, which is known to increase the body's production of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – a chemical that blocks impulses between the nerve cells.