Science Summaries – 2017
Science summaries from 2017
Glowing probe allows scientists to see reactions inside cells
December 2017: A chemical probe that glows when it binds to magnesium will help scientists view processes that occur inside cells.
Study looks into health-related quality of life after intensive care
November 2017: A research team has shown that chronic illness present before arrival into intensive care can have a large impact on quality of life after discharge.
Carbon nanotubes may pose asbestos-style cancer risk
November 2017: A study led by the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, and supported by researches from the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research, has provided strong evidence that certain carbon nanotubes used in manufacturing could pose the same cancer risk as asbestos.
Cystic fibrosis study offers new therapy hope for patients
October 2017: Fresh insights into how cystic fibrosis affects immune cells could pave the way for new treatments for the condition
Heart failure therapy hope as drug blocks deadly muscle scarring
October 2017: A potential treatment to prevent deadly muscle scarring that contributes to chronic heart failure has been uncovered by scientists.
Worms aid quest for asthma therapies
October 2017: Worms could prevent asthma and offer the hope of a cure to the 5.4 million people in the UK with the condition, according to a breakthrough study funded by Asthma UK
Drug targeting technique could aid therapies for immune diseases
September 2017: A new technique that targets drugs to specific cells could lead to improved therapies for diseases caused by an overactive immune response.
Eczema therapy hopes raised by study of sun’s effects on skin
June 2017: Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema
Immune study points to new ways to treat lung disease
August 2017: Fresh insight into how the immune system keeps itself in check could lead to new ways of fighting chronic lung disease
Women drive quest for insights into painful infertility condition
May 2017: Colleagues from the MRC Centres for Reproductive Health and Inflammation Research publish findings in The Lancet of a major consultation process into endometriosis
Lung study points to new therapies to treat critical illness
May 2017: David Dorward and colleagues from the Rossi group publish a study in Thorax delineating the role of mitochondrial proteins and their signalling in driving lung inflammation.
'Faulty cellular batteries' and leaky gut – a new potential cause of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
April 2017: Gwo-tzer Ho publishes recent study in Mucosal Immunology highlighting the importance of damaged mitochondria and gut inflammation
Lung probe that spots infections aims to cut antibiotic overuse
March 2017: A new imaging tool that rapidly diagnoses bacterial lung infections could help prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics in intensive care units
Imaging study seeks to boost care for liver cancer patients
February 2017: Patients facing surgery to remove liver cancers could benefit from advanced imaging technology
Study prompts rethink on fighting infections
February 2017: Fresh insights into how immune cells are regulated could signal a new approach to tackling infections
Technology developed to measure pH in lung alveoli
January 2017: Team develops a new miniaturised technology to sense areas of the lung that have never been explored before
The body’s defence army can amplify the danger signals when it senses DNA from bacteria as an intruder
January 2017: Study shows that the body’s defence army can amplify the danger signals when it senses DNA from bacteria as an intruder