Wellness Studies

Researchers recently developed a three-dimensional cellular model of lung cancer encased within a clear gelatinous matrix that allowed them to study the interaction between the tumor cells, immune cells, and the tumor microenvironment. Researchers found that the cancer’s ability to grow, transform, and spread elsewhere is enhanced by higher stiffness in the matrix surrounding the…

Recently researchers used an organ-on-a-chip model to study the interaction between human blood vessel tissue and brain tissue derived from human stem cells. They discovered that the blood vessel tissue can activate genes to direct the development and maturation of spinal cord tissue. This study offers insights into how spinal cord tissues develop and offers…

New Computational Tool provides 3-D Views of Molecular Processes Affecting Human Metabolism Researchers recently created a novel virtual resource called Recon3D to provide biologists with 3-D perspectives of spatially linked genes, proteins, and metabolites for analyzing molecular processes affecting human metabolism. Recon3D is currently available online through two databases: Bigg Models and the Virtual Metabolic…

According to data presented by the American Heart Association, certain cooking methods for meat, fish and chicken increase risk for high blood pressure. Researchers compared meat consumed after high-temperature cooking methods and tracked hypertension incidence rates from more that 100,000 disease-free participants. Increased consumption of red meat, fish and chicken prepared on an open-flame, and…

According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, a diet high in red meat increases risk of colon cancer in women. Researchers compared cancer incidence rates for dietary patterns centered on red meat, fish, poultry, or no meat in 32,147 women. Those who consumed red meat were more likely to develop distal…

Vegetarian diets help prevent diabetes, according to a study published in Nutrition and Diabetes. Plant-based diets increase fiber and magnesium intake associated with improved insulin signaling via whole grains, vegetables, and soy products and eliminate saturated fat intake from meat products. Researchers assessed dietary patterns for 2,918 Taiwanese participants over five years and tracked diabetes incidence…

Researchers examined data for 190,672 participants from The Cardiovascular Disease Lifetime Risk Pooling Project. They tracked BMI, cardiovascular disease incidence rates, and mortality. Those with BMIs higher than 24.9 increased their risk for heart disease, developed heart disease earlier in life, and were more likely to die from a cardiovascular event when compared to those…

Scientists recently infected the first human liver-on-a-chip model with hepatitis B and unraveled biological and immune responses to the virus similar to that found in real human livers. This 3-D human-based model reproduced the viral infection at infection doses similar to that found in humans. Because it is physiologically relevant to humans, (vs animals), it…

Biomedical engineers recently created a miniature device composed of blood vessels, a valve that induces a “wound,” and the flow of blood to recapitulate the wound healing process seen during injury in humans. They used the human-based system to understand the role of several key-clotting factors for blood clot formation. The system helped the scientists…

Virtual Brain: Researchers used a brain modeling platform called The Virtual Brain to incorporate individual patient brain measurements to produce personalized models simulating six features of patient brain activity. The tool allowed the researchers to assess the neuron interactions involved, which cannot be directly measured in humans, and enables the data from patient’s brain signals…