In BulletsIn addition to environmental factors, diet is one of the keys to modulating the immune system. A recent study on a fiber-rich diet has shown the delayed onset of multiple sclerosis-like symptoms. Guar gum, also known as guaran, is used as additives, such as food thickening or in industrial applications, and is common in south Asian countries. When mice were fed guar gum, the team observed a reduced activity and proliferation of CD4+ T cells, specifically Th1 cells, which play a crucial role in activating the autoimmune response. In MS, the body’s immune system begins to attack its healthy tissue, leading to nerve damage and its function, which consequently affects the brain, and spinal cord.
More information: Naomi et al. (2022). Inhibition of Th1 activation and differentiation by dietary guar gum ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Cell Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111328
Journal information: Cell Reports
A typical biopsy test for non-melanoma cancer would require excising a portion of the skin, fixed, stained, and mounted on slides to examine. These steps have hardly changed since the nineteenth century. In a recent study, researchers demonstrated a novel technique for biopsy tests that can produce results in a relatively shorter period with high accuracy. The team used two-photon fluorescence microscopy (TPFM), which showed remarkable accuracy when tested on biopsy samples of known non-melanoma skin cancer. The technique was able to detect basal cell carcinoma, which represents about 80% of Nonmelanoma skin cancer. The findings of the study may aid in providing biopsy results for all kinds of diseases quicker than the traditional technique.
More information: Vincent et al. (2022). Real-time Analysis of Skin Biopsy Specimens With 2-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy. JAMA Dermatology. DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.3628
Journal information: JAMA Dermatology
In the quest to save the Earth from a future asteroid impact, NASA attempts one of the most ambitious projects - deflecting the moon of an asteroid using kinetic impactor technology, and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is all about that. The spacecraft weighs about 610 kg with no extra payload, which impacted the Dimorphos — the minor-planet moon of the asteroid Didymos — on 26 September 2022.
More information: DART Mission overview (2022). A joint project between NASA and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).