MI weekly selection #211
Researchers tweak aging process in mice
Researchers have reprogrammed adult cells in mice, causing the cells to revert to an embryonic like state, effectively reversing the aging process. By activating four specific genes, scientists expanded the life span of a mouse with a rapid-aging disease and revitalized damaged muscles in a middle-aged mouse.
Safinamide increases “on time” in Parkinson’s disease
Treatment with safinamide led to “on time” improvements for patients with Parkinson’s disease and motor fluctuations, compared with a placebo. Researchers said the drug, which was effective and had a low risk of causing dyskinesias, could be an adjunct to treatment with levodopa.
Ceres awash in water
Water is present all over dwarf planet Ceres. An instrument on NASA’s Dawn space probe that’s currently orbiting the planet has generated a global map that charts hydrogen distribution, which can indicate the presence of water.
Marmoset hearing study sheds light on pitch problems with cochlear implants
Electrical stimulation like that used in cochlear implants doesn’t activate portions of the brain like sound does, according to a study of marmosets, which can discern pitch much like humans do. The findings are giving researchers clues to why people with cochlear implants have trouble with pitch.
Pools of liquid metal deep inside Earth may forge largest diamonds
Areas of liquid metal found in Earth’s mantle may be the birthplace of the world’s largest diamonds, according to a study published online in Science. Researchers found small metallic grains of iron, nickel, carbon and sulfur mixed together, a combination not found in common diamonds.