Various diseases can be treated by stimulating the vagus nerve in the ear with electrical signals. However, this technique does not always work. A study has now shown: The electrical signals must be synchronized with the body's natural rhythms -- heartbeat and breathing.
Read more …Nerve stimulation: The brain is not always listening
Proteins, the pillars of cellular function, often assemble into 'complexes' to fulfill their functions. A study reveals why this assembly often begins during the very process of protein synthesis or 'birth'. These early interactions involve proteins whose stability depends on their association. They can be compared to a couple in which each partner supports the other. This model paves the way for new strategies to understand and correct assembly errors, which are often associated with pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders and certain cancers.
Read more …Some proteins find their 'soulmate' at birth