Mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell, when they don't function properly it can lead to a huge range of health problems. How mitochondria and their distinct ingredients form has remained a mystery, but researchers have now managed to image the mitochondrial protein production process.
31 August, 2017
Mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell, when they don't function properly it can lead to a huge range of health problems. How mitochondria and their distinct ingredients form has remained a mystery, but researchers have now managed to image the mitochondrial protein production process.
Mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell, when they don't function properly it can lead to a huge range of health problems. How mitochondria and their distinct ingredients form has remained a mystery, but researchers have now managed to image the mitochondrial protein production process.
Astronomers detect 15 signals from mysterious object in distant galaxy
Astronomers detect 15 signals from mysterious object in distant galaxy
Higher carbohydrate intake is associated with an increased risk of mortality when compared with fat intake
Higher carbohydrate intake is associated with an increased risk of mortality when compared with fat intake
Analysis of brain tissue of Niagara River fish from 10 different species found elevated levels of antidepressants including Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, and Sarafem. In fish, the medication can encourage lethargy and stunt interest in hunting, predator avoidance, and mating.
Analysis of brain tissue of Niagara River fish from 10 different species found elevated levels of antidepressants including Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, and Sarafem. In fish, the medication can encourage lethargy and stunt interest in hunting, predator avoidance, and mating.
In U.S. study, political party affiliation is a bigger part of personal identity than race, cultural heritage and religion
In U.S. study, political party affiliation is a bigger part of personal identity than race, cultural heritage and religion
The average age of newborns' fathers in the United States has grown by 3.5 years over the past four decades, according to a new study from investigators at Stanford University School of Medicine.
The average age of newborns' fathers in the United States has grown by 3.5 years over the past four decades, according to a new study from investigators at Stanford University School of Medicine.
New neuroscience research suggests that gender stereotypes are deeply rooted in the brain
New neuroscience research suggests that gender stereotypes are deeply rooted in the brain
Cancer-induced anorexia inspires potentially powerful antiobesity drug - a protein called growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) helps mice, rats, and monkeys lose weight without any apparent side effects, as reported in three separate Nature Medicine papers this week.
Cancer-induced anorexia inspires potentially powerful antiobesity drug - a protein called growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) helps mice, rats, and monkeys lose weight without any apparent side effects, as reported in three separate Nature Medicine papers this week.
New study: We’re outpacing the most radical climate event we know of
New study: We’re outpacing the most radical climate event we know of
A paper published Wednesday in Nature reveals that Astronomers have found the stars responsible for an explosion recorded by Korean astronomers in 1437 A.D.
A paper published Wednesday in Nature reveals that Astronomers have found the stars responsible for an explosion recorded by Korean astronomers in 1437 A.D.
Motorised molecules drill into cancer cells - Rotors in single-molecule nanomachines activated by ultraviolet light to spin at two to three million rotations per second. Test motors targeted prostate cancer cells to kill them within one to three minutes of activation, as reported in Nature.
Motorised molecules drill into cancer cells - Rotors in single-molecule nanomachines activated by ultraviolet light to spin at two to three million rotations per second. Test motors targeted prostate cancer cells to kill them within one to three minutes of activation, as reported in Nature.
Delaying school start times by one hour could contribute $83 billion to the US economy within a decade, according to the first-ever state-by-state analysis
Delaying school start times by one hour could contribute $83 billion to the US economy within a decade, according to the first-ever state-by-state analysis
Nanomachines that drill into cancer cells killing them in just 60 seconds developed by scientists
Nanomachines that drill into cancer cells killing them in just 60 seconds developed by scientists
Researchers have designed a nano-sized device that acting like a muscle, lifts 165 times its own weight. Their creation weighs 1.6 milligrams (about as much as five poppy seeds) and can lift 265 milligrams (the weight of about 825 poppy seeds) hundreds of times in a row.
Researchers have designed a nano-sized device that acting like a muscle, lifts 165 times its own weight. Their creation weighs 1.6 milligrams (about as much as five poppy seeds) and can lift 265 milligrams (the weight of about 825 poppy seeds) hundreds of times in a row.
30 August, 2017
New elephant fossils found in Saudi Arabia suggest individuals twice the weight of the biggest modern elephants
New elephant fossils found in Saudi Arabia suggest individuals twice the weight of the biggest modern elephants
A human skeleton found in an underwater cave in 2012 was soon stolen, but tests on a stalagmite-covered pelvis date it as the oldest in North America, at 13,000 years old.
A human skeleton found in an underwater cave in 2012 was soon stolen, but tests on a stalagmite-covered pelvis date it as the oldest in North America, at 13,000 years old.
Ancient whales were predators not gentle giants, study suggests
Ancient whales were predators not gentle giants, study suggests
Acting Like a Muscle, Nano-Sized Device Lifts 165 Times its Own Weight. Materials scientists discover effect that could benefit robotics, aviation, medicine, and other fields.
Acting Like a Muscle, Nano-Sized Device Lifts 165 Times its Own Weight. Materials scientists discover effect that could benefit robotics, aviation, medicine, and other fields.
Anyone Can Be Trained to Hallucinate, and That’s Teaching Scientists About Perception
Anyone Can Be Trained to Hallucinate, and That’s Teaching Scientists About Perception
US clears first 'living drug' for tough childhood leukemia
US clears first 'living drug' for tough childhood leukemia
Sometimes, something actually comes of the scientific breakthroughs you read about on Reddit. Today the FDA approved the first gene therapy for use in the US - a drug which modifies patient T-cells to hunt down and destroy cancer cells.
A common trope in r/science and elsewhere on reddit is that nothing much ever comes of the scientific breakthroughs we read about. Well today, I am happy to tell you that sometimes, if we are lucky, something actually does come of the breakthrough science we read about.
The FDA issued a historic action today making the first gene therapy available in the United States, ushering in a new approach to the treatment of cancer and other serious and life-threatening diseases.
The drug is tisagenlecleucel (brand name, Kymriah) and is used to treat pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have relapsed on traditional therapies. In clinical studies of this drug, the overall remission rate within three months was 83%. By contrast, traditional treatment options offered remission rates of only 10-25% for these young patients. By almost all accounts, this represents a huge leap in quality of care for these young patients.
The drug itself, a CAR-T, is quite complex. Each dose of Kymriah is a customized treatment created using an individual patient’s own T-cells. The patient’s T-cells are collected and sent to a manufacturing center where they are genetically modified to include a new gene that contains a specific protein (a chimeric antigen receptor or CAR) that directs the T-cells to target and kill leukemia cells that have a specific antigen (CD19) on the surface. Once the cells are modified, they are infused back into the patient to kill the cancer cells.
While powerful, this type of drug is known to have potential for severe side effects. The most dangerous is perhaps cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a systemic response to the activation and proliferation of CAR T-cells causing high fever and flu-like symptoms, and for neurological events. Patient deaths from CRS in clinical trials for CAR-Ts has been a very real concern.
The FDA is also expected to approve a similar CAR-T drug (made by KITE, now a subsidiary of Gilead) for adult lymphoma. In clinical trials of this drug 47% of patients experienced a complete remission, 5x better than current standard of care.
Going forward, there are several things to think about:
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How expensive will these drugs be (likely >$400,000 per treatment)? The cost may be high, but it may also be justified by the high rates of remission and the potential for a cure.
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Are the drugs as good as we think they are? These drugs were not tested in randomized clinical trials. So how much cherry-picking was there of the patients? How will the reported remission rates compare to "real world" patients? Even for this drug, the 83% remission rate is a bit misleading since it is not a true intent to treat analysis. Patients whose disease progressed while waiting for the drug to be manufactured were not counted in the final analysis. So in some ways, this trial excluded people with aggressive disease.
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While the drug does well compared to chemotherapy, how will it compare to the plethora of other targeted therapies hitting the market? There are a number of antibody therapies approved or soon to be approved for B-cell malignancies. They all also report high response rates. Will doctors and insurers encourage patients to try these more traditional therapies first before trying a CAR-T therapy?
Also for the sake of posterity, I included some old links where we have seen CAR-T research previously discussed on reddit (note, not all of these are for the drug the FDA approved today, just similar research):
Just believing you're doing something to help yourself get over your ex can influence brain regions associated with emotional regulation and lessen the perception of pain
Just believing you're doing something to help yourself get over your ex can influence brain regions associated with emotional regulation and lessen the perception of pain
Up to 57% of athletes admitted doping in the previous 12 months, a figure far surpassing the 1-2% identified by blood and urine tests carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), finds anonymous surveys carried out at two elite athletics competitions in 2011 published in Sports Medicine.
Up to 57% of athletes admitted doping in the previous 12 months, a figure far surpassing the 1-2% identified by blood and urine tests carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), finds anonymous surveys carried out at two elite athletics competitions in 2011 published in Sports Medicine.
Scientists absorbed by deep-sea sponges
Scientists absorbed by deep-sea sponges
Lego Proteins Revealed
Lego Proteins Revealed
Black hole models contradicted by tests at Sandia National Labs—researchers suggest revisions are needed in our interpretations of accretion disk emissions
Black hole models contradicted by tests at Sandia National Labs—researchers suggest revisions are needed in our interpretations of accretion disk emissions
A new kind of antibody targets a feature shared by proteins thought to cause the most damage in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related conditions, creating potential for a unified treatment approach for major neurological diseases, led by researchers from NYU School of Medicine.
A new kind of antibody targets a feature shared by proteins thought to cause the most damage in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related conditions, creating potential for a unified treatment approach for major neurological diseases, led by researchers from NYU School of Medicine.
PLOS Science Wednesday: Hi reddit, I’m Jackson and I identified an important barrier to the practical application of gene drives using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which could be used to fight vector-borne diseases like malaria – Ask Me Anything!
Hello Reddit,
My name is Jackson Champer and I am postdoc at Cornell. My research focuses on gene drives, which are genes designed to spread rapidly through populations. A successful gene drive in mosquitoes could help fight vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
Together with my coauthors, I recently published a study titled “Novel CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive constructs reveal insights into mechanisms of resistance allele formation and drive efficiency in genetically diverse populations” in PLOS Genetics.
We found that resistance alleles, which prevent the spread of the gene drive, can form in both the germline and in the embryo stages in fruit flies. We utilized the nanos promoter for better gene drive performance, and we also found that gene drive could produce greater or smaller numbers of resistance alleles, depending on the genetic background of the insect.
Since our PLOS Genetics article was submitted, we have taken the first steps towards reducing resistance allele formation. A preprint of our new results is available on bioRxiv
I will be answering your questions at 1pm ET -- Ask me Anything!
I also post occasional research updates and links to gene drive papers on Twitter, follow me @Jackson_Champer.
Having mental health issues is associated with having 67 per cent less in retirement savings
Having mental health issues is associated with having 67 per cent less in retirement savings
College freshmen turn to empathic people in stressful times, Stanford study says. In an era of nearly boundless online “friend” networks, Stanford researchers found that students are able to distinguish those real-life friends who are most able to help them deal with stressful times.
College freshmen turn to empathic people in stressful times, Stanford study says. In an era of nearly boundless online “friend” networks, Stanford researchers found that students are able to distinguish those real-life friends who are most able to help them deal with stressful times.
29 August, 2017
Scientists broke the record for coldest temperature of molecules at 50 millionths of a degree above absolute zero, as reported in Nature Physics.
Scientists broke the record for coldest temperature of molecules at 50 millionths of a degree above absolute zero, as reported in Nature Physics.
Low-fat diets could raise the risk of early death by almost one quarter, a major study has found. The Lancet study of 135,000 adults found those who cut back on fats had far shorter lives than those enjoying plenty of butter, cheese and meats.
Mislabelled fossil with a fake tail turned out to be biggest sea dragon ever found
Mislabelled fossil with a fake tail turned out to be biggest sea dragon ever found
They say that oil and water do not mix … but now scientists have discovered that – under certain circumstances – it may be possible. Some oily molecules – which normally repel water – can be forced to dissolve in water when the two substances are squeezed together under extreme pressure.
They say that oil and water do not mix … but now scientists have discovered that – under certain circumstances – it may be possible. Some oily molecules – which normally repel water – can be forced to dissolve in water when the two substances are squeezed together under extreme pressure.
FDA designates MDMA a 'breakthrough therapy' for post-traumatic stress disorder
FDA designates MDMA a 'breakthrough therapy' for post-traumatic stress disorder
Forest-Killing Beetles Are Swarming North Because of Climate Change
Forest-Killing Beetles Are Swarming North Because of Climate Change
A New Hope For The Opioid Epidemic: Neuroscientists Discover New Cell Mechanism That Promotes Chronic Pain
A New Hope For The Opioid Epidemic: Neuroscientists Discover New Cell Mechanism That Promotes Chronic Pain
Neuroimaging study: Narcissists feel distressed rather than gratified when viewing themselves
Neuroimaging study: Narcissists feel distressed rather than gratified when viewing themselves
The ‘Feline Five’: An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus)
The ‘Feline Five’: An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus)
Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances as Huge Natural Lenses
Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances as Huge Natural Lenses
Hi, Reddit! I am Alexa Billow, a writer for ACS Reactions. Ask me anything about science writing, writing about chemistry as a biologist, or finding your way in a career in scicomm.
Hi Reddit! I’m Alexa Billow. I’m a writer for ACS Reactionshttps://www.youtube.com/user/ACSReactions, a YouTube show about chemistry from the American Chemical Society and PBS Digital Studios. We make fun zany videos about everything from the chemistry of wine myths to how astronaut pee could help us get to Mars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6x54zYuqXk). I’m also a freelance science writer whose work has appeared on SciShow and the Science Magazine YouTube channel and podcast. I’m also working on a new podcast effort for ACS, so if you want to head on over to http://bit.ly/rxnselements and tell us what you’d like to hear, I’d totally love that.
I have a master’s degree in molecular biology that was meant to be a Ph.D. until I realized I can’t stand doing research and would rather be writing. That doesn’t mean that research isn’t important--just that people who are more patient than me should be doing it. I moved to Washington for an internship at Science and then joined ACS, and I love getting to write about science every day.
Ask me anything about science writing, podcasting, writing about chemistry as a biologist, or finding your way to a career in science communication.
I’ll be back at 1pm EDT (10am PDT, 5pm UTC) to start answering your questions.
Hi, I’m Dr. Abbie Watnik from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. My research is focused on digital holography and active imaging. AMA!
Every day I work on the cutting edge of science and technology and I love it. It is with this same passion that I mentor other women in science and engineering to navigating the maze of challenges, opportunities and achievements in the field. Have a question on the latest in active imaging research? Are you looking to make your own impact on the science community?
I will be online at 1:00 pm to answer your questions – Ask Me Anything!
Researchers have discovered that the genes that lead to heart disease are also used for reproduction
Researchers have discovered that the genes that lead to heart disease are also used for reproduction
Life-saving fruit and vegetable diet need only be three portions – New research in The Lancet reveals daily dose of just 375g of fruit, vegetables and beans are sufficient to reduce risk of stroke, heart disease or premature death, and could help low-income consumers (n=135,335 from 18 countries)
Life-saving fruit and vegetable diet need only be three portions – New research in The Lancet reveals daily dose of just 375g of fruit, vegetables and beans are sufficient to reduce risk of stroke, heart disease or premature death, and could help low-income consumers (n=135,335 from 18 countries)
Our gut instinct about whether a stranger poses a threat is as good when we're 80 as when we're 18, according to new research
Our gut instinct about whether a stranger poses a threat is as good when we're 80 as when we're 18, according to new research
Electricity demand in southern Europe to soar with air con - scientists
Electricity demand in southern Europe to soar with air con - scientists
Optical control of magnetic memory—New insights into fundamental mechanisms
Optical control of magnetic memory—New insights into fundamental mechanisms