Health

Saliva and oral cells are important routes for transmission and infection by the novel coronavirus COVID-19. A research group led by Associate Professor Misako Matsubara and Specially Appointed Professor Katsutoshi Yoshizato of Osaka Metropolitan University hypothesized that the body's innate immune system may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The onset and severity of COVID-19 are age-dependent, as are parts of the innate immune system like saliva production and quality, which are significantly reduced in the elderly. They found that saliva from healthy individuals prevented the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 on the viral envelope to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor present on the plasma membrane of human cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and parasympathetic nervous systems have been reported to play important roles in regulating emotion and coping with stress. But their direct relationship with psychological resilience remains unclear. These biophysiological features should be considered together with traditional psychometric properties to study resilience more comprehensively.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a robotic fish that can eat up microplastics, a bioinformatic platform that can test the efficacy of vaccines against COVID, and a new method of removing phosphorus from water using bacteria.

A research group led by Dr. Soichi Sano, a specially appointed lecturer in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, revealed that men with hematopoietic mosaic loss of Y chromosome (mLOY) — meaning men with an increase, in the blood, of cells that have lost the male sex chromosome — have a worse prognosis for heart failure due to fibrosis progression in the heart. Furthermore, in experiments using mice, which, like humans, have an increased mortality rate with age, they found that the presence of mLOY causes overproduction of fibrosis-promoting substances, which leads to the progression of cardiac fibrosis, a mechanism directly related to a worse prognosis for heart failure.

Cultured human skeletal muscle cells infused with serum from hibernating bears exhibited “muscle gain” confirming that these creatures’ ability to avoid muscular damage despite months of inactivity is in their blood.

Fresh vegetables in vinegar, similar to pickles, are a perfect side dish, commonly served with Japanese cooking. One traditional side dish called sunomono, a cool cucumber or seaweed salad, provided a unique opportunity as a source of dietary vinegar. This new observational study from Osaka Metropolitan University noted that men over 40 who eat sunomono at least once a month were significantly more likely to be in lower blood pressure categories.

Osaka University researchers identified a novel mechanism by which expression of the tumor suppressor p53 paradoxically promotes liver cancer development in patients with chronic liver disease. By generating a mouse model with constant p53 expression in its liver cells, the team observed increased numbers of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and liver cancer incidence. These HPCs could induce cancer when injected into certain mice. This did not occur with p53 deleted, demonstrating its critical significance.

A novel molecular pathway involving cell signalling proteins in the brain may explain how stress affects neuropsychiatric lupus with diffuse neuropsychological manifestations.

Researchers from Osaka University have shown that the oncogene-encoded molecule Src is responsible for epithelial cells developing invasive potential and overcoming the normal cellular defense of apical extrusion, but only when Src is located in lipid rafts in the cell membrane. Src is recruited and activated into lipid rafts by a molecule called CDCP1, which forms a molecular scaffold within the lipid rafts. CDCP1 could therefore be a promising new drug target for early-stage cancers.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are zero-waste poultry processing that can boost lab-grown meat, residential facilities made for low-gravity environments, and new methods of cloning cells.

23 Gold awarded at MTE 2022: COVID-19 International Innovation Awards and Advanced Healthcare & Life Sciences International Innovation Awards

Researchers from Osaka University have described a case of clinically typical Parkinson’s disease with unusual changes in the brain. As well as the expected findings of cell loss and inflammation in disease-related brain regions, there were accumulations of the protein TDP-43 instead of the usual alpha-synuclein inclusions. This report suggests that TDP-43 accumulation can cause Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms and brain changes, which may be important for developing new treatments for this currently uncurable disease.

Specialised physician training, nurse-led motivational conversations and follow-up with patients, and subsidy on combination medication significantly lowered BP among patients with uncontrolled hypertension, according to findings from Singapore.

The skin’s top layer contains a diverse set of hundreds of lipid molecules called ceramides with varying chain lengths that play a vital role in its barrier function.

I am pleased to announce that a Regular Issue, JUL 2022 of the Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences Research, Vol. 4 (1) Jul. 2022 has been published ahead of time on 15 Jun 2022 and is now live at the Journal’s webpage. Explore this Issue at https://www.horizon-jhssr.com/current-issue.php

Chula Engineering and Chula Medicine co-invent an innovative device for a rapid and accurate gastrointestinal cancer detection hoping to foster preventive medicine and reduce the number of cancer patients.

Hokkaido University (Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan) and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) have concluded a collaborative agreement to promote the realization of a “safe and secure society through spatial sensing" that helps to prevent the spread of illness.

The formation of cell membrane pores is a major mechanism by which cancer-inducing proteins are released and hasten tumor development in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-associated liver cancer.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are using your breath to unlock your phone, the first successful launch of a Korean rocket, and the oldest bellybutton to date.

Automation in disease diagnosis is reliant on deep learning models that can accurately and efficiently identify measurements of tumors, tissue volume, or other sorts of abnormalities. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have unveiled a new, resource-light model capable of identifying many common eye diseases.

New dinosaur species used claws to graze along the coast, More accurate rainfall predictions, Magnetism helps futuristic cell research, Do compression garments facilitate muscle recovery? Science journalism and why it matters for democracy and our Image of the month. Read all in the June's Editor's Choice and this month's Asia Research News 2022 magazine pick - Lessons from the dead.

Everyone knows that exercise brings physical and psychological benefits. A new study suggests that virtual reality exercise induces similar effects, meaning those with limited mobility may be able to improve their mental well-being.

A research group led by Osaka Metropolitan University and Panasonic Corporation Living Appliances and Solutions Company discovered how nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles disinfect SARS-CoV-2. The nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles developed by Panasonic Corporation have an electron rich nano-sized water shell that contains reactive oxygen species. The researchers showed that the water particles damage the viral envelope, protein, and RNA. They also revealed that the damaged virus did not bind to host cells. These phenomena are considered the main inactivation mechanism of the nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles on SARS-CoV-2.

Themed “Roll Back Dengue” and organised as a hybrid event, the three-day summit will congregate dengue community including over 200 clinicians, researchers, government public health leaders and policymakers across Asia

Duke-NUS is working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative (APGI) to improve regional genomic surveillance and sequencing capacity. New Centre for Outbreak Preparedness will support APGI and work closely with national and global partners to enhance regional capacity to predict, prepare and respond to future health threats.

SINGAPORE, June 9, 2022– Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) today announced that its dengue vaccine candidate, TAK-003, prevented 61% of symptomatic dengue cases and 84% of hospitalised cases with no important safety risks identified in the overall population.

A new apparatus uses magnets to remotely control guidewires through tiny, tortuous blood vessels for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Partnership seeks to deepen symbiotic industry-academia collaborations in applied research and talent upskilling. First-of-its-kind made-for-Asia sustainable R&D to develop kale stems as prebiotics

Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University utilized a Japan-developed, objective, and simple nutritional indicator called the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI) to unveil a long-suspected yet unverified relationship between sarcopenia and malnutrition in end-stage kidney disease patients. Their findings confirmed that malnutrition contributes to sarcopenia, which can be detected through NRI.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a wormlike robot, shady spider sales, and different ways of keeping a healthy heart.