Medicine

News

09 Feb 2023
A research team led by an associate professor at Tohoku University has developed a microscopic fiber equipped with actuators and biochemical sensors. The breakthrough could be used to develop smart catheters and lead to further advancement in robotics.
Microtiter plates that were used in the study for the assessment of antibiotic activity (Photo: Akira Katsuyama).
08 Feb 2023
Hokkaido University researchers have developed a novel method to design and develop peptide antibiotics in large numbers, which will prove critical to controlling antibiotic resistance.
02 Feb 2023
Blocking an immune-regulating protein reverses the damage caused by acute and chronic kidney disease, a preclinical study suggests.
The fluorescent blinking of cyanine dye (Alexa Fluor 647, pink star) bound to RNA changes depending on the structure of the RNA. When the RNA is folded like a hairpin, the fluorescent blinking is fast, and when the RNA switches to a G-quadruplex, the blinking is slow (Akira Kitamura).
02 Feb 2023
A new microscopic technique allows for the real-time study of RNA G-quadruplexes in living cells, with implications for the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
30 Jan 2023
Researchers from Osaka University compared the sensitivity of rapid antigen tests (RATs) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 using data produced by the Japan Professional Football League. They found the comparative sensitivity of RATs for Omicron was not affected by the duration from the onset of symptoms to testing.
27 Jan 2023
New research found that periodontitis, a common gum infection known to worsen other systemic diseases, could also be linked to atrial fibrosis — potentially clarifying its previously unknown connection with atrial fibrillation.
25 Jan 2023
Researchers from Osaka University have identified a protein, FER1L5, that is essential for sperm to acquire fertilizing ability. Sperm from mice lacking this protein were unable to undergo the “acrosome reaction”, which releases molecules that facilitate fertilization, resulting in impaired male fertility. As FER1L5 is also present in human sperm, this work may lead to new diagnostic methods and treatments for male infertility in humans.
20 Jan 2023
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a stem-cell based therapy for pets with cancer, how meditation could affect our gut microbiome, and an edible mushroom that contains a deadly nerve gas.
Visualization of coronavirus causing Covid19
19 Jan 2023
Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Nano Letters how high-speed atomic force microscopy can be used to assess the effectivity of spike-neutralizing antibodies for preventing COVID-19. The use of such antibodies offers a promising alternative to vaccines.
19 Jan 2023
Imagine if your t-shirt could take your sweat and analyze it for health abnormalities. Well, this is much closer to reality after a recent breakthrough by a research group led by a Tohoku University assistant professor. The group created the first microelectronic fiber with microscopic parameters that is capable of analyzing electrolytes and metabolites in sweat.
13 Jan 2023
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are the growing trend of unique name pronunciations in Japan, an aquarium that can tell you about which fish you are looking at, and which professional baseballs are slipperiest.
13 Jan 2023
Researchers led by Osaka University demonstrated the role of endothelial cell-specific protein Roundabout4 (Robo4) in the reduction of vascular permeability and mortality in mouse models of severe infection. The research team identified a drug inhibitor that increased Robo4 expression and reduced mortality in sepsis and SARS-CoV-2 mouse models of infection. These findings may aid in the development of drugs to reduce the mortality rate of severe infectious diseases.
04 Jan 2023
Researchers from Osaka University found that dietary supplementation with tricaprin results in coronary artery plaque regression and resolution of symptoms in patients with triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy, a treatment-resistant form of coronary artery disease. These findings represent a conceptually novel treatment for coronary atherosclerosis that paves the way toward establishing a multi-faceted approach to caring for patients with this condition.
23 Dec 2022
Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are how a wasp uses its genitals to defend itself, a compound commonly found in mushrooms that could delay cognitive decline, and sunshine as a cure for myopia.
Hiroshima University Hospital orthopedist Yuko Nakashima speaks about ultrasound-guided diagnosis
23 Dec 2022
The ability to see what’s happening inside the body in real-time and at a high resolution is a capability that ultrasound grants orthopedists at a low cost to patients. Ultrasound-guided diagnosis, however, remains relatively new in the field. Dr. Yuko Nakashima is here to change that for Japan with the help of her fellow “e-girls.”
22 Dec 2022
A research team led by Osaka Metropolitan University has revealed a difference in neural activity in response to visual food stimuli, depending on whether those stimuli are presented consciously or unconsciously. Using a questionnaire to assess the study participants, the team found that this difference was associated with their scores on eating behaviors, including emotional eating and cognitive restraint of food intake. These results indicate that eating behavior cannot be understood without taking into account both unconscious and conscious neural processes.
The sphaerimicin analogs (SPMs) inhibit the activity of MraY, and hence the replication of bacteria, with different degrees of effectiveness. The potency of the analog increases as the IC50 decreases (Takeshi Nakaya, et al. Nature Communications. December 20, 2022).
20 Dec 2022
Researchers have designed and synthesized analogs of a new antibiotic that is effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria, opening a new front in the fight against these infections.
19 Dec 2022
Researchers from Osaka University found that the “belief in just deserts”, which is the idea that infected individual deserves to be infected, was associated with attitudes about government restrictions during public health emergencies in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This information could lead to new strategies for combating discrimination, prejudice, and stigma against COVID-19 patients.
19 Dec 2022
A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has identified a molecular target for bone anabolic therapies using a selected aptamer that serves as an inhibitor of sclerostin, a protein that prevents bone growth. The discovery offers hope for the development of an effective next-generation treatment for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta that is free of cardiovascular risk compared to the marketed antibody drug.
19 Dec 2022
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a culture system using pluripotent cells from southern and northern white rhinos, which was refined to produce primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). These cells are the equivalent of primordial germ cells, the origin of eggs and sperm. The study marks an important first step in the potential production of northern white rhino gametes, which could be used in breeding programs, and is the first to induce PGCLCs in a wild animal.
Continuous respiratory sound monitoring device-Respiratory failure prediction
16 Dec 2022
Scientists developed a novel device that predicts whether an ICU patient taken off mechanical ventilation is likely to suffer from respiratory emergencies, helping critical care teams to provide immediate life-saving interventions.
15 Dec 2022
Researchers led by Osaka University report the development of INCIDER, a fluorescent sensor system that enables high-contrast microscopic imaging of temporal changes in cellular interactions mediated by the N-cadherin molecule. This sensor system, which emits much brighter fluorescence than the currently used system while detecting these interactions, is expected to have a wide range of applications in developmental biology, neuroscience, and other fields.
14 Dec 2022
Researchers led by Osaka University generated a time-stamping method to trace the development and survival of plasma cells in the bone marrow and spleen. Using a mouse model in which plasma cells were fluorescently labeled in an inducible manner, they found that plasma cells were continuously replenished by new cells, a small portion of which differentiated into long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). These findings may aid in the development of new vaccines that efficiently induce LLPCs.
13 Dec 2022
A study by Osaka University has shown that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, which included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and mental disorders, increased after the Fukushima disaster and the COVID-19 outbreak. These findings emphasize the importance of improving post-disaster health promotion strategies and recommendations.
09 Dec 2022
A new coating for tiny packages called liposomes could allow them to carry vaccines and drugs into and around the body more safely.
09 Dec 2022
Silencing the gene, called WWP2, in patients in the early stages of cardiomyopathy could delay progression to heart failure by controlling immune cell infiltration and activation, and halting the formation of excessive scar tissue, preclinical data suggest.
09 Dec 2022
− The European Commission Approved QDENGA (TAK-003) for Use in Individuals Four Years of Age and Older [i] − QDENGA Becomes the Only Dengue Vaccine Approved in the EU for Use in Individuals Regardless of Previous Dengue Exposure [i]
08 Dec 2022
Quinine and various drugs based on its chemical structure have been used to treat malaria for centuries. But parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs are becoming apparent. To pave the way for future medicine development, an efficient way to synthesize quinine was needed. And now a research team from Tohoku University has achieved just that.
Flossie Wong-Staal
08 Dec 2022
Giants in History: Chinese-American virologist and molecular biologist Flossie Wong-Staal (27 August 1946 – 8 July 2020) was the first scientist to clone HIV and determine the function of its genes.

Events

07 Nov 2016
The Frontiers in Cancer Science (FCS) 2016, our 8th annual conference, is jointly organized by the 6 major institutes in Singapore. Converging the latest cancer discoveries around the world, the meeting promises groundbreaking and innovative insights into cancer research.
26 Nov 2016
Breakthrough to Excellence and Develop Worldwide Opportunities! Welcome to APFCB 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan!
13 Oct 2016
Select Bio and the Diagnostics Development Hub, part of Exploit Technologies Pte. Ltd. present Singapore’s Diagnostics Summit 2016
05 Dec 2016
SELECTBIO and the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), are pleased to present the Fourth Annual Lab-on-a-Chip Asia Conference and Exhibition, taking place at Academia, within the Singapore General Hospital Campus.
26 Jun 2016
On behalf of the ISEE-ISES AC2016 Sapporo organizing committees, it is great pleasure to welcome you to the 5th ISEE Asia Chapter and the first joint symposium of ISEE and ISES, Asia chapter. The program theme is “Environment, Health, and Sustainable Society” and will be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan on June 26-29th, 2016.
18 Oct 2016
Malaysia Technical Scientist Association and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia will collaborate to organize "2016 International Conference on Herbal Science, Technology & Medicine" to be held in Krabi, Thailand from October 18 -20, 2016.
19 Aug 2016
SELECTBIO is delighted to welcome you to its forthcoming International Conference “Next-Gen Sequencing and Mass Spectrometry” scheduled to be held on 19-20 August, 2016 in Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi, India.
21 Jul 2016
Select Biosciences South East Asia are pleased to present Bioprinting and 3D Printing in the Life Sciences, taking place on the 21-22 July 2016 at Academia, the state-of-the-art conference facilities housed within the Singapore General Hospital Campus.
27 May 2016
SELECTBIO is delighted to announce its highly focused International Conference Biofluid Biopsies which is scheduled to be held on May 27, 2016 in Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bengaluru, India.
07 Apr 2016
This event which will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, will focus on an exciting area of research: Liquid (biofluid) biopsy development driven by circulating biomarkers such as circulating nucleic acids, circulating extracellular vesicles (such as exosomes) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
26 May 2016
SELECTBIO takes great pleasure in inviting you all to attend its Inaugural International Conference “Advanced Diagnostics 2016” scheduled to be held on May 26-27, 2016 at Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bengaluru, India.
26 May 2016
SELECTBIO brings to you its International Conference “Biomarkers India 2016” scheduled on May 26-27, 2016 at Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bengaluru, India.
28 Feb 2016
Scientists from around the world will meet in Hermanus, near Cape Town, South Africa, from 28 February to 1 March 2016 to discuss how best science can guide sustainable development globally.
22 Mar 2016
The 9th annual Biopharma Asia Convention 2016 brings together C-level attendees from pharmas, biotecs and service providers to learn and discuss market trends and biologic development strategies. With 7 premium conference tracks, the event will cover the entire spectrum of the biopharma value chain.
28 Sep 2016
The 2nd edition of Pharma+Bio Asia 2016 returns to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 28-29 September 2016 as the international conference and exhibition for the Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical, Medical and Healthcare industry.
10 Oct 2016
Theme: Challenges and Innovations in Pharmaceutical Sciences
24 Feb 2016
Select Biosciences South East Asia is pleased to present the Second Annual Clinical Applications of Stem Cells, taking place on the 24-25 February 2016.
02 Sep 2015
Harnessing the Challenges of the Changing Pharmaceutical Landscape 2-4 September 2015, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur
25 Sep 2015
Innovations in Cancer Research and Regenerative Medicine
25 May 2015
This international symposium brings together world-class scientists in biology and chemistry, including, Dr. Ashraf Brik (Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel) and Dr. Feng Zhang (Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, USA).
21 May 2015
Select Biosciences South East Asia is pleased to present Advances in qPCR and dPCR.
26 Feb 2015
The Singapore Bioimaging Consortium and Select Biosciences South East Asia present the Clinical Applications of Stem Cells. Taking place on the 26-27 February 2015, at Academia, a state-of-the-art conference facility housed in the campus of Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
16 Oct 2014
On behalf of the Conference Organizing Committee, we are honored to invite you to the 46th Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health APACPH Conference, hosted by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya.
28 Aug 2014
GIL 2014 New Zealand will bring give you innovative ideas, perspectives and solutions for you to stay ahead of the curve. Held for the first time in New Zealand, the Frost & Sullivan New Zealand Excellence Awards recognises companies across industries within various sectors.
22 Aug 2014
A combined event of the 28th Scientific Meeting of The Malaysian Society of Pharmacology & Physiology (MSPP), the 13th Symposium on Vascular Neuroeffector Mechanisms (VNEM), the 6th Scientific Meeting of The Asian Society for Vascular Biology (ASVB) and The Malaysian Society of Hypertension (MSH).
10 Jun 2014
The event will cover topics like The Next Big Thing - Cover Stories Of News In 2020, top 50 technologies, the future of telecoms, IT, Healthcare and Smart Cities amongst other topics.
20 Feb 2014
Frost & Sullivan's 2014 APAC and Australia Healthcare Outlook and its Impact on Industry Dynamics will take place on Thursday, 20th February 2014 at 9:15 am – 12:00 pm at The Hilton Hotel Sydney, Australia.
18 Feb 2014
The keynote lecture will be on “Making Molecular Prosthetics with a Small Molecule Synthesizer”
13 Nov 2013
SAVE THE DATE! Malaria, Dengue, Polio, Parasitic Worms, Tick-borne Disease Research Highlights in Washington DC

Researchers

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
Dr. Simon Quan-Bin Han is an Assistant Professor at the School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University.
Kanazawa University
Dept of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Professor in Electrical Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Prof. Dr. Francisco J. Barrantes is the Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, BIOMED UCA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Kyoto University
Masanori Shimono is an associate professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Jiguang Wang is an Assistant Professor in Division of Life Science (LIFS) and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
Dr Kuan is currently a Professor and Consultant Haematologist at the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak .
Tohoku University
Professor Tetsuya Kodama is a biomedical engineer at the Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering for Cancer, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University.
Aamir Jalal Al Mosawi is advisor in pediatrics and pediatric psychiatry at the Children Teaching Hospital of Baghdad Medical City.
Hokkaido University
Toru Kondo is Professor of the Division of Stem Cell Biology at the Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University.
Professor and Head of Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University College (LUC) Malaysia.
Duke-NUS Medical School
Ashley St. John
Prof. Ashley St. John is an expert in viral immunology and emerging infectious diseases, such as dengue and Zika viruses. She heads the Laboratory of Immunity and Immune Pathology at Duke-NUS Medical School.

Giants in history

Michiaki Takahashi (17 February 1928 – 16 December 2013) was a Japanese virologist who developed the first chickenpox vaccine.
Irene Ayako Uchida’s (8 April 1917 – 30 July 2013) strides to understand genetic diseases such as Down syndrome paved the way for early screening of chromosomal abnormalities in foetuses.
Baron Kitasato Shibasaburo (29 January 1856 – 13 June 1931) was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist whose work led to a new understanding of preventing and treating tetanus, diphtheria and anthrax.
Maggie Lim (5 January 1913 – November 1995) was a Singaporean physician who promoted family planning and expanded the access to clinics to improve the quality of life for mothers and children in Singapore’s early days.
By isolating soil microorganisms and studying the compounds they produce, Satoshi Omura (born 1935) discovered almost 500 organic compounds with unique properties that were produced by these microorganisms, including many new antibiotics.
The founder of the Adyar Cancer Institute in India, Muthulakshmi Reddy (30 July 1886 – 22 July 1968), fought to uplift women and girls from impoverished situations.
Chinese-American virologist and molecular biologist Flossie Wong-Staal (27 August 1946 – 8 July 2020) was the first scientist to clone HIV and determine the function of its genes.
Maharani Chakravorty (1937 – 2015) was one of India’s earliest molecular biologists whose research paved the way for advances in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections.
Archana Sharma (16 February 1932 - 14 January 2008) conducted research into plant and human genetics that expanded the understanding of both botany and human health. In relation to botany, she uncovered the means by which asexually-reproducing plants evolve into new species.
The first Thai woman to receive a degree in medicine, Margaret Lin Xavier (29 May 1898 – 6 December 1932), is best remembered for her compassion towards her less privileged patients.
In 1915, pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa and his research assistant Koichi Ichikawa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
In 1915, Koichi Ichikawa along with pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
Japanese chemist Takamine Jokichi (3 November 1854 – 22 July 1922) founded the Tokyo Artificial Fertilizer Company, where he isolated a starch-digesting enzyme (named takadiastase) from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae.
Ground-breaking cancer researcher Kamal Jayasing Ranadive (8 November 1917 – 11 April 2001) advanced the understanding of the causes of leukaemia, breast cancer and oesophageal cancer through the use of animal models. She was also among the first to recognise how susceptibility to cancer is linked to tumour-causing interactions between hormones and viruses.
The research of Filipino pharmaceutical chemist Luz Oliveros-Belardo (3 November 1906 – 12 December 1999) focussed on essential oils and other chemicals derived from native Philippine plants.
Thai physician and conservationist Boonsong Lekagul (1907 – 1992) made major contributions to the preservation of his country’s wildlife.
Indian scientist and physician Upendranath Brahmachari (19 December 1873–6 February 1946) is best known for creating a drug called Urea Stibamine, used to safely and reliably treat visceral leishmaniasis (or Kala-azar), a severe infection caused by the Leishmania parasite.
Filipino chemist and pharmacist Manuel A. Zamora (29 March 1870 – 9 July 1929) is best remembered for his discovery of the tiki-tiki formula to combat beriberi, a disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency.
Korean parasitologist Seung-Yull Cho (16 November 1943 – 27 January 2019) is remembered largely for his pioneering works to control infections caused by helminthic parasites and his contribution to journal publishing.
Fe Villanueva del Mundo (27 November 1911 – 6 August 2011) was a Filipina paediatrician who founded the Philippines’ first paediatric hospital.
After witnessing death and suffering as a youth in his home village during World War II, Nguyễn Tài Thu (6 April 1931 – 14 February 2021) set his sights on alleviating pain by becoming a doctor. After studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in the 1950s, Thu returned to Vietnam to serve in military hospitals. Eventually, he became the country’s foremost practitioner of acupuncture, a technique he first learned by inserting needles into himself.
Minoru Shirota (April 23, 1899 – March 10, 1982) was a Japanese microbiologist who invented the popular fermented drink Yakult.
Wu Lien-teh (10 March 1879 – 21 January 1960) was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. Winning the prestigious Queen’s Scholarship enabled Wu to become the first Chinese student to study medicine at the University of Cambridge.
David T. Wong (born 1936) is a Hong Kong-born American neuroscientist who is best known for discovering the antidepressant drug fluoxetine, better known as Prozac.
Indian organic chemist Asima Chatterjee (1917 to 2006) studied the medicinal properties of plant products, especially compounds known as vinca alkaloids.
Chika Kuroda (24 March 1884 – 8 November 1968) was a Japanese chemist whose research focussed on the structures of natural pigments.
Umetaro Suzuki (7 April 1874 – 20 September 1943) was a Japanese scientist best remembered for his research on beriberi, a disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, characterized by limb stiffness, paralysis and pain.
Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (19 October 1897 – 14 April 1994) was an artist and chemist from Pakistan whose research focused on natural products from plants.
Barry Paw (29 August 1962 – 28 December 2017) was a biologist and oncologist who discovered several novel genes and their functions in red blood cells.
Syed Qasim Mehdi (13 February 1941 – 28 September 2016) was a Pakistani molecular biologist who was a founding member of the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), which assessed human diversity by studying human migration, mutation rates, relationships between different populations, genes involved in height and selective pressure.
Tsai-Fan Yu (1911 – 2 March 2007) was a Chinese-American physician and researcher who was the first female full professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She discovered that gout, a condition characterized by the painful inflammation of joints, was caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream.
Min Chueh Chang (10 October 1908 – 5 June 1991) was a Chinese-American biologist who studied fertilization in mammalian reproduction.
A Japanese surgeon, Tetsuzo Akutsu (20 August 1922 – 9 August 2007) built the first artificial heart capable of keeping an animal alive.
Ogino Ginko (3 March 1851 – 23 June 1913) was the first registered female doctor to practise modern medicine in Japan.
Esther Park (1877-1910), born Kim Jeom-dong, was the first female Korean physician to practise modern medicine in Korea and trained the first generation of Korean female doctors.