Summary: Fiber digestion produces short-chain fatty acids like propionate and butyrate, which directly alter gene expression with anti-cancer effects, according to new research. The study found that these fatty acids influence genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, key processes that control tumor growth.Researchers demonstrated these epigenetic changes in...

Summary: A study analyzing Cambrian fossils uncovered that the ancestral ecdysozoan likely had a single ventral nerve cord, challenging long-standing views about the evolution of these structures. Fossil impressions from early Scalidophora species reveal similarities to modern priapulid nerve cords, supporting the single-cord hypothesis.This finding suggests that paired nerve cords...

Summary: Over half of 23-year-olds display restrictive, emotional, or uncontrolled eating behaviors, with delayed brain maturation playing a significant role. The research linked structural brain differences, mental health challenges, and genetic predispositions to the development of disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to adulthood. MRI data showed delayed cortical thinning in...

Summary: A 2021 analysis of U.S. mortality data highlights disparities in traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related deaths, which disproportionately affect older adults, men, and certain racial and ethnic groups. Suicides remain the leading cause, followed by unintentional falls, with older adults (75+) and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals experiencing the highest mortality...

Summary: Researchers have identified and mapped diverse cell types in the cochlear nucleus, the brainstem region responsible for processing sound. Using advanced molecular techniques, they uncovered distinct and newly identified cell types that process specific sound features, such as sharp noises or pitch changes.These findings challenge existing ideas about hearing...