Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) saves lives by treating cancer that has spread to the brain, but it also causes long-standing brain damage. Many patients develop memory problems, thinking difficulties, and depression after WBRT. There are currently no medicines that adequately prevent these problems of WBRT. The research team discovered that an experimental neuroprotective drug, P7C3-A20, could protect the brain from these harmful side effects of WBRT in animal models, without impairing the ability of radiation to kill tumor cells. If these findings translate to humans, adding a drug like P7C3-A20 to WBRT could safely and effectively preserve cognition and mood after lifesaving WBRT.

For the first time, scientists have been able to watch the flu virus live as it infects human airway cells. They developed a new technique which makes the viral genetic material light up under the microscope. By tracking the virus throughout the steps of its life cycle, the researchers found out that only a minority of flu infections is successful. This is mostly due to errors in reading out the viral genetic material. The new technology can be used to address unanswered questions about the flu virus life cycle, which could help in the development of better antiviral drugs and preparation for future epidemics. The study from the Tanenbaum group at the Hubrecht Institute was published in Cell Systems.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biology and Biomedicine has gone in this eighteenth edition to Carl June (University of Pennsylvania) and Michel Sadelain (Columbia University) for revolutionizing the treatment of cancer by means of CAR-T cell immunotherapy. The two laureates pioneered this innovative therapeutic strategy whereby T cells are extracted from the patient’s own immune system, grown in the lab and genetically engineered so they recognize and selectively destroy cancer cells on being infused back into the body, leading to remission of the disease.

Coral reefs are undoubtedly in crisis. Scientists have documented concerning coral bleaching events, dramatic declines in coral cover, fish and shark populations across the Caribbean over recent decades. But a critical question has remained unanswered: has the way energy flows through reef ecosystems also changed? A new study led by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and published in Nature reveals that it has, profoundly. Food chains on modern Caribbean reefs are 60-70% shorter than they were 7,000 years ago, and individual fish have lost the dietary specialisation that once sustained a complex web of energy pathways. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6%−20% of reproductive-aged women, and is commonly accompanied by irregular menstrual cycles and anovulatory infertility. The mechanisms underlying menstrual cycle irregularities associated with PCOS, and how they may change after pregnancy remain incompletely understood.

 

Bone fractures heal more slowly with age, increasing health risks for older adults. A new study reveals that rising levels of the liver-produced protein apolipoprotein E (ApoE) interfere with bone repair by suppressing osteoblast activity. Using aged mouse models and human cells, scientists showed that neutralizing circulating ApoE restores bone formation and accelerates fracture healing. The findings highlight a promising noninvasive therapeutic strategy to improve bone healing in the elderly.

A new global study finds that physical inactivity is a major, preventable driver of serious diabetes complications worldwide. Analyzing data from more than 2.3 million adults with diabetes, researchers estimate that up to 10% of strokes, diabetic retinopathy, and heart failure cases could be avoided if recommended physical activity levels were met. The burden was disproportionately higher among women, people with lower educational attainment, and in several high- and middle-income regions.