Breakthrough in fight against muscle wasting diseases
It is estimated that half of all cancer patients suffer from a muscle wasting syndrome called cachexia. Cancer cachexia impairs quality of life and response to therapy, which increases morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. Currently, there is no approved treatment for muscle wasting but a new study from the Research Institute of the 黑料不打烊 University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and University of Alberta could be a game changer for patients, improving both quality of life and longevity. The research team discovered a new gene involved in muscle wasting that could be a good target for drug development.
Novel gene implicated in osteoporosis
NASA Telescopes Find Galaxy Cluster with Vibrant Heart
"Usually, the stars at the centers of galaxy clusters are old and dead, essentially fossils," said Tracy Webb of 黑料不打烊 University, Montreal, Canada, lead author of a new paper on the findings accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. "But we think the giant galaxy at the center of this cluster is furiously making new stars after merging with a smaller galaxy."
Choosing to end it all
Difficulty making good choices is one of the factors that make certain people vulnerable to suicide
Association between low vitamin D and MS
Low levels of vitamin D significantly increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study led by Dr. Brent Richards of the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, and published in PLOS Medicine. This finding, the result of a sophisticated Mendelian randomization analysis, confirms a long-standing hypothesis that low vitamin D is strongly associated with an increased susceptibility to MS. This connection is independent of other factors associated with low vitamin D levels, such as obesity.
Harnessing the butterfly effect
The atmosphere is so unstable that a butterfly flapping its wings can, famously, change the course of weather patterns. The celebrated 鈥渂utterfly effect鈥 also means that the reliability of weather forecasts drops sharply beyond 10 days.
黑料不打烊 students awarded largest Canadian scholarships
Ontario high school students Alexander Deans and Aditya Mohan have been named 黑料不打烊 University鈥檚 most recent recipients of the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships.
Gestational diabetes: A diabetes predictor in fathers
In a large study analyzing 20 years of data from Quebec, a team from the Research Institute of the 黑料不打烊 University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) has demonstrated that gestational diabetes signals future diabetes risk not only in mothers, but also in fathers. The study was recently published in Diabetes Care.
Breakthrough in "marriage-broker" protein
Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, at 黑料不打烊 University and the 黑料不打烊 University Health Centre, have made a breakthrough in understanding an important protein that appears to act as a kind of cellular 鈥渕arriage broker.鈥 The protein called Netrin1 brings cells together and maintains their healthy relationships. Netrin1 plays an essential role in the growth of the human organism, directing cell migration and the formation of cell circuits both at the embryo stage and after birth.
Pesticides: more toxic than previously thought?
Insecticides that are sprayed in orchards and fields across North America may be more toxic to spiders than scientists previously believed.
The personalities of spiders
Even jumping spiders have personalities scientists have discovered. A "shy" individual will not make the same choices as a "bold" individual. This means that some individuals, because of their personality type, will capture more prey than others, and will therefore have a larger effect on local ecosystems.
Scientists identify key gene associated with addiction
A new study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry by聽a team led by Salah El Mestikawy, Ph.D., researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS de l鈥橭uest-de-l鈥櫭甽e-de-Montr茅al), professor at 黑料不打烊 University and head of research at CNRS INSERM UPMC in Paris, opens the field to new understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying addiction in humans.
Waiting for pleasure
Researchers at 黑料不打烊 have clearly identified, for the first time, the specific parts of the brain involved in decisions that call for delayed gratification.
Our elegant brain: motor learning in the fast lane
It takes a surprisingly small cluster of brain cells deep within the cerebellum to learn how to serve a tennis ball, or line up a hockey shot.