The human heart is like a sponge, able to expand and grow, increasing its capacity to take up blood. In theory, an enlarged heart can also squeeze out more blood, with more power, than an average-sized heart. But in reality, ...
Jul 9, 2020
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The main thoroughfare that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the abdomen is known as the abdominal aorta. Strong and thick-walled, this main highway is built to withstand a lifetime of use. But just like expressways ...
May 28, 2020
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As researchers around the world search for safe and effective drug treatments and vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be very stable in terms of its genomic, or complete DNA, makeup.
May 12, 2020
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Like power lines in an electrical grid, long wiry projections that grow outward from neurons—structures known as axons—form interconnected communication networks that run from the brain to all parts of the body. But unlike ...
Apr 30, 2020
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Overreaction is rarely useful, and in the case of the human immune system, it can be outright deadly. When the body overreacts to an infection, the result is sepsis—a life-threatening condition that frequently leads to ...
Apr 23, 2020
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Overuse injuries—think muscle strains, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff tears—are a considerable problem in the United States, especially among young athletes. But while commonly associated with sports, overuse injuries—particularly ...
Mar 30, 2020
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The immune system is like a carefully regulated machine, complete with its own built-in "brakes" that prevent it from overreacting and causing excess inflammation in otherwise healthy tissues. This preventative safety net, ...
Mar 25, 2020
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When it comes to finding new treatments for disease, reinventing the wheel is not always necessary—drugs already in use for other conditions may do the job. And if it turns out that a pre-existing drug works, getting it ...
Jan 29, 2020
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Like pieces of tape that crumple, stick together, and can be turned into a ball, proteins that begin to lose their shape become sticky and tend to clump together. When this happens, rather than being transported to recycling ...
Jan 22, 2020
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Like security screening to make sure nothing harmful makes its way into a crowded area, cells in the human body use checkpoints to control their growth and prevent harmful mutations from making their way into new cell populations ...
Jan 9, 2020
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