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Microorganisms in the gut boost the immune system’s ability to fight a herpes virus that can cause fatal brain inflammation

November 23, 2019 -

"This mouse study shows that B. fragilis PSA can temper the immune system so that infection does not result in an uncontrolled, potentially fatal inflammatory response in the brain," explained Edouard Cantin, an immunology and virology expert at Beckman and co-author of the study. "Although herpes simplex encephalitis is a rare brain inflammation disorder, the lessons we learned here might, with more research, be applicable to other viral infections such as other herpes viruses, ...

Researchers examine how pink sea urchins sharpen their teeth to develop self-sharpening tools

September 23, 2020 -

According to researchers from Northwestern University, the spiny invertebrates, unlike other animals whose teeth are built to resist constant wear and tear, have teeth engineered to chip and weather in such a way that they maintain their sharp edges.

The secret behind this lies in their teeth’s base materials.

"The material on the outer layer of the tooth exhibits a complex behavior of plasticity and damage that regulates 'controlled' chipping of the tooth to ...

Diabetes prevention: Following a 16-week vegan diet boosts gut microbes linked to body weight and blood sugar management

September 11, 2020 -

In a major breakthrough, scientists from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a nonprofit health organization based in Washington, D.C., found that 16 weeks of a plant-based diet can enhance gut microbiota, induce weight loss and ameliorate markers of insulin resistance in overweight adults without diabetes.

Their findings, published in the journal Nutrients, provide empirical evidence that plant protein, as part of a plant-based diet, is associated ...

Safe and natural: Red algae shown to prevent the cause of osteoarthritis

August 24, 2018 -

The algae, when used either in powder or gel form, has shown promise in managing the underlying factors of the condition during the testing stages. The research, which was published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, focused on the efficacy of red algae in treating joint pain and cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, is a condition where ...