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Light micrograph of a section through the spleen of a patient with Gaucher's disease. Small lymphocytes and large macrophage cells (Gaucher?s cells, pink, a type of white blood cell) are present. Gaucher's disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which a fatty substance called glucocerebroside accumulates in the spleen (in macrophages), lungs, liver and bone marrow, and sometimes the brain. This is due to an absence of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GC). The disease appears in childhood, and some forms are fatal in the first few years. Other forms cause enlargement of the affected organs, weak and painful bones and anaemia. Some forms also cause severe nervous system damage. There is no cure, but enzyme replacement therapy using GC can relieve the symptoms. Haematoxylin-eosin saffron (HES) stain. Magnification: x400 at 24x36 mm size.

Genes for Gaucher disease may have protected Jewish people against TB

6 February 2023

Gaucher disease, a genetic condition that is more common in Ashkenazi Jewish people, may confer protection against tuberculosis, according to research in zebrafish
A rat brain (red) with a grafted human brain organoid (green)

Human neurons implanted into a rat's brain respond to flashing lights

2 February 2023

Lab-grown neurons were transplanted into the brains of rats with damaged visual cortexes. After two months, the neurons responded when the rats saw flashing lights
A woman seeking treatment for chronic back pain

Antidepressants mostly can't treat chronic pain, despite wide use

1 February 2023

Ongoing pain, such as chronic back or neck pain, is difficult to treat, so some doctors prescribe antidepressants. Now, a review of evidence says these drugs mostly don't work as a treatment
When an event occurs, we have various means of measuring how long it lasted, which may be improved by moving and hearing sounds during the event

Hearing noise and moving our body helps us gauge the passing of time

1 February 2023

People may be more aware of how much time has passed when they move their body and hear sounds during an event. This improved time perception may help to gauge the effectiveness of treatments for conditions like Parkinson's disease

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