Trends and advances in cancer medicine Colon cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers. Thanks to improved screening, the number of affected individuals has been declining for years, but the incidence of colon cancer is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among younger people. The reason for this is not yet fully understood, but there is increasing evidence that our modern lifestyle is to blame. But what factors specifically influence whether we develop colon

Special Microbes in the Gut Flora Improve Fiber Degradation in the Gut Mystery Solved? Previously little-noticed microbes in our gut could explain why some people are better "food converters" than others. An experiment reveals that certain archaea help the rest of the gut flora to break down fiber more efficiently and completely. As a result, the food provides the hosts of these microbes with more energy and calories. A hallmark of such "super-utilizers" in the gut is increas

Late caffeine consumption keeps our brain awake even while we sleep A wake-up call even while we sleep: If we drink coffee late in the evening, it has consequences for our brain. A study shows that caffeine alters our sleep and keeps our brain more alert at night. This hinders the recovery of our brain and could also disrupt nighttime memory formation. Researchers found that this stimulating coffee effect is more pronounced in younger people than in older people. Caffeine aff

"Art" from Cancer Cells Wins Endocrine Images Art Competition This bright pink and blue image could probably hang in a modern art museum. But this "art" was created by Mother Nature: It shows cells of an aggressive thyroid cancer subtype. They were brought to light by endocrinologist Sriram Gubbi. The Endocrine Society has now awarded him first place in the Endocrine Images Art Competition for his spectacular photograph. This pink-blue explosion of color shows malignant cance

Reprogrammed Spleen Produces Insulin in Mice and Monkeys Reprogrammed: There is a natural bioreactor in which vital cells can be grown and regenerated directly in the body – the spleen. As a new study demonstrates, the spleen of mice and monkeys can be modified so that it can, for example, replace the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas – essentially acting as a replacement organ within the body. If this becomes possible in humans in the future, it could revolutionize the

First steps in metastasis formation clarified Quick-change artists: When melanoma cancer cells are attacked by the immune system, they activate specific genes and change their cell type. This reaction then inhibits T cells, among other things, making it easier for the skin cancer cells to colonize lymph nodes and form metastases, as researchers report in "Nature Cancer." They also identified proteins characteristic of these metastasis founder cells that may be suitable target

Gene Activity on the X and Y Chromosomes Influences Height XY becomes taller than XX: Researchers have discovered that a specific gene on the X and Y chromosomes plays an important role in our height. According to the study, this gene is more active on the male Y chromosome than on the second X chromosome in women. This gives men additional height. However, height is also influenced by other factors, including hormones and chromosome number. The method could also be used in t

Three-Part Antitoxin Neutralizes Toxins of the Deadliest Snakes Potent antidote: For the first time, physicians have developed a broadly effective antiserum against 19 deadly snake species – including mambas, cobras, taipans, and kraits. The new antitoxin neutralizes the neurotoxins of all venomous snakes, as mouse experiments suggest. The antitoxin was created from antibodies from a man who had immunized himself against snake venom hundreds of times. The antibody cocktail co

Clothes are often not hygienically clean with normal washing machines Nothing like clean: Despite supposedly hygienic wash programs, normal washing machines do not remove all germs, as a study shows. According to the study, bacteria often survive even 60-degree washes and settle in clothing and the machine, including pathogens and antibiotic-resistant germs. This could contribute to the spread of infections. This is particularly problematic when the work clothes of nurses, ca

Great apes share alcoholic fruit with their peers Drinking binges in the animal kingdom: Chimpanzees may have alcoholic "parties" similar to humans – and thus strengthen the sense of community within the group, biologists have discovered. They observed the great apes in the wild several times communally consuming fermented breadfruit. Chimpanzees rarely share their food. The celebratory mood of humans and apes could, in this case, be traced back to a common ancestor, the team