What’s been going on in the life sciences world this week? Check out Week in Brief for an overview of the biggest news from the last seven days.
New research has shed light on an ‘immune kill switch’ that prevents healthy cells from being damaged after immune activation. The switch regulates mRNA expression, and, should the process go wrong, could be a driver of autoimmunity.
NICE has recommended a new treatment for prostate cancer that has spread, which can be taken in the form of a daily pill. Talazoparib plus enzalutamide is recommended for those who cannot undergo standard treatments such as chemotherapy.
A study has revealed that individuals who underwent training to boost brain activity in areas related to reward and positive expectations showed heightened responses to vaccination. The findings suggest that stimulation of the brain’s reward system may play a role in immune response.
A new study has revealed that the number of diagnoses of 19 long-term conditions dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was due to testing backlogs and delayed referrals, among other reasons, with some conditions seeing some recovery in the years since.
Researchers have developed an AI-based tool that uses patterns of gene expression to predict the risk of cancer metastasis with about 80% accuracy. The tool can be used for various cancer types, and could help to tailor treatments.
A paper has described the AGenDA project, which aimed to increase representation in datasets by sequencing over one thousand individuals from across Africa. The project identified nine countries that were underrepresented in data, with ongoing efforts to ensure better diversity going forward.
A pair of studies has shed new light on the protective role of a single gene in inflammatory bowel disease. Many individuals with IBD have an impaired copy of the PTPN2 gene, which controls inflammation in the gut and the balance of the microbiome. The findings suggest a new potential treatment pathway for inflammatory conditions.
Scientists have analysed genetic data from nearly 140,000 IVF embryos and found clear links between specific variations in a mother’s DNA and the likelihood of pregnancy loss. The study revealed that common maternal genetic variants influence how often chromosomal errors occur during egg formation, contributing to miscarriage risk.
Researchers have used machine learning to analyse genetic data from thousands of people with Huntington’s disease to explain why the age at which symptoms begin varies so much. The models uncovered additional genetic factors beyond the known CAG repeat length, revealing complex interactions that traditional methods often miss.
Scientists have conducted the largest genome-wide association study of schizophrenia in individuals of African ancestry to date, identifying genetic regions linked to the disorder that had been missed in previous, less representative data. Despite this, the study shows that the core mechanisms underlying schizophrenia are shared across populations.
Check out last week’s Week in Brief here.
