therapy

A groundbreaking study by UC San Francisco and Northwestern Medicine showcases a new T-cell therapy that significantly enhances the ability of engineered T cells to fight solid tumors, offering a potential new pathway for cancer treatment. Credit: SciTechDaily.comBy leveraging mutations from cancerous cells, researchers have engineered T cells that are over 100 times more potent against cancer, promising a new era in immunotherapy for solid tumors.Immunotherapies using engineered T cells have ushered in a new era in…

Maybe you’ve seen the ads on social media: “Crush depression with Animal Crossing”; “Meet with a therapist while playing Stardew Valley.”Advertisements for Hero Journey Club’s gamer-focused mental health support groups have flooded the internet in recent months, drawing a mix of skepticism and enthusiastic intrigue from those who have been targeted by them. “Struggling with loneliness? Come join us,” the ads beckon. For some people who already turn to video games as an antidote to the difficulties of everyday life, Hero…

Imagine, if you will, a quiet room where your stress and anxiety are hanging in the air like a thick fog. Suddenly, the door opens, and in trots a happy dog who can swing your worries away with its tail. Or imagine the soft purr of a cat calming you down as it snuggles beside you when you’re anxious, or even the gentle nuzzle of a horse that reminds you that you are not alone with your problems.These are not just any animals; they are heroes covered in fur or feathers, a.k.a therapy animals.One such member of this furry…

By Holly Evarts, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science February 16, 2024Illustration showing exosomes (blue) deliver IL-12 mRNA to lung cancer cells (brown). Credit: Cheng Lab/Columbia EngineeringColumbia Biomedical Engineer Ke Cheng has developed a technique that uses inhalation of exosomes, or nanobubbles, to directly deliver IL-12 mRNA to the lungs of mice.Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and has one of the lowest survival rates in the world. Cytokines, which are small signaling…

Researchers have developed a single-dose genetic therapy that can clear protein blockages that cause motor neurone disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia, two incurable neurodegenerative diseases that eventually lead to death.In healthy neurons, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is naturally produced and important for their healthy function. However, TDP-43 can be modified after synthesis, leading to its accumulation and aggregation in the wrong part of the cells, preventing them…

SACRAMENTO —  After a failed attempt to decriminalize a short list of psychedelics last year, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation to make California the third state to legalize psychedelic-assisted therapy for adults.Gov. Gavin Newsom in October vetoed a similar bill, urging state lawmakers to first take steps toward creating regulated treatment guidelines before attempting to decriminalize possession of these drugs.“It was a very thoughtful veto message,” said Wiener, who on Tuesday…

Seated on a couch and facing the camera are five women. In the middle is Tunisian matriarch Olfa Hamrouni. On her left are younger daughters Eya and Tayssir. On her right are two actresses (Nour Karoui and Ichraq Matar), hand-picked to stand in for missing older daughters Rahma and Ghofane. The truth about their disappearance is cloaked in metaphorical garb: we are told both were “devoured by the wolf” at the ages of 16 and 15. The truth is withheld until our spirit of inquiry can meet the weight of revelation on Olfa,…

In January the Florida Select Committee on Health Innovation approved House Bill 1639 (HB 1639), which dramatically restricts treatment for transgender individuals. If the bill becomes law, it will make it easier for insurers to refuse to cover gender-affirming care, will require those that cover gender transition to also offer policies that do not and will bar transgender people from updating their driver’s license. It also mandates that insurers provide detransition care to those who want to revert to the sex they were…

The connection between humans and animals is very real. Research has shown that petting a furry friend reduces stress and provides much-needed emotional support, which we often struggle to find in others.That’s why many people find solace in heartwarming dog videos or adorable cat Instagram accounts.Bored Panda is also here to spread soul healing with a new collection of the cutest and most unusual critters from the Facebook page “Wholesome Animal Images." From cats in Hawaiian shirts to lizards in toy cars, these…

Recent research has made significant strides in treating chronic low back pain in people over 60, revealing that hip-focused therapy can effectively reduce disability and improve mobility. This challenges the prevailing notion that older adults should receive less attention for musculoskeletal issues.The first-ever clinical trial focuses on precision medicine specifically for older adults, a group often overlooked in musculoskeletal research.Two decades ago, when Gregory Hicks of the University of Delaware began his…