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New computer simulation could light the way to safer cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals
New psychoactive substances, originally developed as potential analgesics but abandoned due to adverse side effects, may still have pharmaceutical value if researchers could nail down the causes of those side effects. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used deep learning and large-scale computer simulations to identify structural differences in synthetic cannabinoid molecules that cause them to bind to human brain receptors differently from classical cannabinoids.
What are the new guidelines for infant hepatitis B vaccination?
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On Dec. 5, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to discontinue its decades-long recommendation for universal vaccination against hepatitis B beginning at birth. Public health expert and infectious disease physician Janet A. Jokela is the senior associate dean for engagement and a clinical […]
Biomarkers found linking ER-positive breast cancer with neighborhood deprivation
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists have long known that Black women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer and those who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods often have more aggressive forms of the disease and poorer survival rates. However, the underlying factors that link these outcomes with women’s living environments have remained unclear. Scientists at the University of Illinois […]
Many displaced girls in Uganda trapped in cycles of sexual, physical violence
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nearly 36% of forcibly displaced adolescent girls and young women living in urban informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda, reported that their first sexual experience was nonconsensual — which, for many, marked the beginning of a cycle of sexual and physical violence perpetrated by their intimate partners or other people, a recent study […]
Study: A cellular protein, FGD3, boosts breast cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A naturally occurring protein that tends to be expressed at higher levels in breast cancer cells boosts the effectiveness of some anticancer agents, including doxorubicin, one of the most widely used chemotherapies, and a preclinical drug known as ErSO, researchers report. The protein, FGD3, contributes to the rupture of cancer cells disrupted […]
How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
Pathogens like “nightmare bacteria” NDM-CRE become resistant to antibiotics by sharing resistance genes, and education about proper antibiotic stewardship is essential to slowing the spread of resistance, says microbiologist Brenda Wilson.
Monitoring stress from the surface of the body
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Today, my laboratory looks more like a scene from a sci-fi film than a psychology research space. Wires snake across tables, sensors lay carefully arranged on trays, and a bucket of ice water sits in the corner, quietly waiting its turn. This work is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s department […]
New AI tool helps match enzymes to substrates
The new AI-powered tool EZSpecificity can help researchers determine how well an enzyme fits with a desired target, helping them find the best enzyme and substrate combination for applications from catalysis to medicine to manufacturing.
What risks does sickness pose in pregnancy?
Infection while pregnant produces inflammatory factors and fever, which have adverse effects on fetal development, says prenatal neurodevelopment expert Adrienne Antonson
Retraining after a lapse in endurance exercise adds to muscle gains, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — New research offers potential good news for those who’ve lapsed at the gym. The study found that mice that voluntarily ran on an exercise wheel for four weeks, stopped for four weeks and ran again for another four weeks saw unexpected gains. The second bout of wheel running led to a bigger […]
Study identifies hotspots of disease-carrying ticks in Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists analyzed the distribution of three potentially harmful tick species in Illinois, identifying regions of the state with higher numbers of these ticks and, therefore, at greater risk of infection with multiple tick-borne diseases. The study found that, of the three species tracked, the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is most prevalent […]
Study: Muscle-building response to weight training differs among high-protein animal foods
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study tracked the acute muscle-building response in adults engaged in a weight-training exercise who were fed either high-fat or lean ground pork burgers with the same amount of protein in each. The findings surprised the scientists, adding to the evidence that muscle-protein synthesis in response to weight-training and a post-exercise […]