Human performance, public health, biology, and the science of living well.
One protein may stand between a dormant tooth-forming program and a new route for treating missing teeth. A 2024 study in the Journal of Oral Biosciences describes an antibody drug designed to treat congenital tooth agenesis by targeting USAG-1, a molecule that helps restrain tooth development. For children born without six or more permanent teeth,…
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Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found an experimental opioid with an unusual profile in laboratory animals, according to an official NIH announcement. The compound, called DFNZ, produced strong pain relief in preclinical tests while showing minimal signs of respiratory depression, tolerance, withdrawal, or persistent drug-seeking behavior. The finding comes from a study…
A study in Cell Metabolism has identified a surprising way that life in thin air may improve blood sugar control. In experiments with mice, researchers found that red blood cells can become major glucose consumers under low-oxygen conditions, helping explain why diabetes rates tend to be lower in some high-altitude populations. The work centers on…
A study in Nature Aging led by UC San Francisco researchers has identified an iron-associated protein that appears to drive age-related memory decline in mice. The protein, called FTL1, increased in the hippocampus as mice aged. When scientists reduced it in older animals, brain-cell connections improved and the mice performed better on memory tests. The…
