Physiology News and Research

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Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems. Most aspects of human physiology are closely homologous to corresponding aspects of animal physiology, and animal experimentation has provided much of the foundation of physiological knowledge. Anatomy and physiology are closely related fields of study: anatomy, the study of form, and physiology, the study of function, are intrinsically tied and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

Scarring on the Extracellular Matrix Causes Muscles to Stop Working in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Muscles that ache after a hard workout usually don't hurt for long, thanks to stem cells that rush to the injured site along "collagen highways" within the muscle and repair the damaged tissue.

12 May 2023

High-Throughput Technique Observes Differences in Hard and Non-Hard Seeds

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), also known as the “King of Grass,” is a legume cultivated in various parts of the world for animal feed. It is highly valued in the feed business because of its high protein content and biomass output.

8 May 2023

STING-seq Discovers Causal Variants and Genetic Mechanisms for Blood Cell Traits

A major challenge in human genetics is understanding which parts of the genome drive specific traits or contribute to disease risk. This challenge is even greater for genetic variants found in the 98% of the genome that does not encode proteins.

5 May 2023

Previously Unknown Regulatory Mechanism for Circadian and Temperature Signaling Pathways Revealed

Ever wondered why people become tired when the sun goes down? What causes some flower petals to open during the day and close at night? Or how monarch butterflies ascertain when to migrate south?

2 May 2023

Csx28 Membrane Protein Enhances CRISPR's Anti-Viral Defense

CRISPR achieved scientific popularity for its capacity to quickly and precisely edit genes. At the core, however, CRISPR systems are immune systems that aid bacteria to safeguard themselves from viruses through targeting and abolishing viral RNA and DNA.

28 Apr 2023

Novel 3D Structure can Serve as Blueprint to Engineer New BoNT/E Variants

A team of researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have revealed the first crystal structures of the receptor-binding domain of botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) in complex with its human neuronal receptors, synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A).

28 Apr 2023

Mind-Body Connection is More Than Just an Abstraction

Calm body, calm mind, say the practitioners of mindfulness. A new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that the idea that the body and mind are inextricably intertwined is more than just an abstraction.

20 Apr 2023

Understanding the Functioning of Opioid Receptors at Unprecedented Spatial Resolution

The human body naturally produces opioid-like substances, such as endorphins, which block the perception of pain and increase the feeling of well-being.

20 Apr 2023

Study Provides Insight into the Formation of Protective Memory T Cells Against Salmonella

Salmonella infections cause about a million deaths a year worldwide, and there is an urgent need for better vaccines for both typhoid fever and non-typhoidal Salmonella disease.

18 Apr 2023

Microbial Drought Resistance Could Result in Soil Carbon Losses

Soil stores more carbon than plants and the atmosphere combined, and soil microbes are largely responsible for putting it there.

13 Apr 2023

Endothelial Deletion of Wt1 Gene During Coronary Vessel Formation Affects Embryonic Heart Development

How is the mammals' heart formed? What role do endothelial cells play? Do the same pathways and genes involved in the formation of the embryonic heart also play a role in repair processes?

4 Apr 2023

Study Represents a Paradigm Shift in Renal Physiology/Mammalian Salt Handling

A new study led by Marshall University researchers focuses on a novel mechanism of the body's regulation of salt balance.

3 Apr 2023

Revealing the structural basis underpinning the biophysical properties of pili

According to the World Health Organization, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria are the most common cause of traveler’s diarrhea and cause the greatest number of known community-acquired cases of childhood diarrhea in the developing world.

31 Mar 2023

Immune cells in human blood produce acetylcholine that regulates blood pressure and inflammation

Acetylcholine regulates blood flow, but the source of blood acetylcholine has been unclear. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that certain T cells in human blood can produce acetylcholine, which may help regulate blood pressure and inflammation.

31 Mar 2023

Study helps understand at the cellular level how physical activity contributes to fitness during aging

Regular exercise can guarantee quality of life and longevity, specialists agree. However, exactly how exercise influences the functioning of muscle cells is poorly understood.

30 Mar 2023

Using better probiotics to maintain a healthy gut microbiome

Bacteria have thousands of genes and functions that we, the human host, do not have. For instance, bacteria can help us digest fiber, provide support to our immune systems, and absorb important nutrients. But reaping the benefits of "good bacteria" is easier said than done.

29 Mar 2023

Study identifies 238 amyloid toxicity protective or activator genes

An international study led by the Molecular Physiology Laboratory at the UPF Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) identifies new genes that modulate the toxicity of the protein β-amyloid, responsible for causing Alzheimer's disease.

22 Mar 2023

Novel gene to help breed climate resilient crops

For the first time, scientists have explained how a crucial gene in plants helps them use their energy more effectively, allowing them to produce more roots and absorb more water and nutrients.

20 Mar 2023

Study reveals the cellular composition and circuit organization of the locus coeruleus

A small nucleus in the brainstem called locus coeruleus (literally the "blue spot,") is the primary source of a major neuromodulator, norepinephrine (NE), an important mediator of the 'fight or flight' response in animals. However, very little is known about the local connections of this small albeit critically important group of neurons.

16 Mar 2023

Age-related sarcopenia prevented by AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy

A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 5, entitled, "AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy prevents age-related sarcopenia."