Latest news with #UniversityofMassachusettsBoston
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A chemical in acne medicine can help regenerate limbs
If an axolotl loses a leg, it gets a new one–complete with a functional foot and all four toes. Over just a few weeks or months, bone, muscle, skin, and nerves grow back in exactly the same formation as the lost limb. The endangered, aquatic, Mexican salamander are masters of regeneration, showcasing the best of an ability shared by many other amphibians, reptiles, and fish species. But how do these cold-blooded creatures do it? That some species can regrow limbs while others can't is one of the oldest mysteries in biology, says James Monaghan, a developmental biologist at Northeastern University. Aristotle noted that lizards can regenerate their tails more than 2,400 years ago, in one of the earliest known written observations of the phenomenon. And since the 18th century, a subset of biologists studying regeneration have been working to find a solution to the puzzle, in the hopes it will enable medical treatments that help human bodies behave more like axolotls. It may sound sci-fi, but Monaghan and others in his field firmly believe people might one day be able to grow back full arms and legs post-amputation. After all that time, the scientists are getting closer. Monaghan and a team of regeneration researchers have identified a critical molecular pathway that aids in limb mapping during regrowth, ensuring that axolotls' cells know how to piece themselves together in the same arrangement as before. Using gene-edited, glow-in-the-dark salamanders, the scientists parsed out the important role of a chemical called retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A and also the active ingredient in the acne medicine isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane). The concentration of retinoic acid along the gradient of a developing replacement limb dictates where an axolotl's foot, joint, and leg segments go, according to the study published June 10 in the journal Nature Communications. Those concentrations are tightly controlled by just one protein also identified in the new work and, in turn, have a domino effect on a suite of other genes. 'This is really a question that has been fascinating developmental and regenerative biologists forever: How does the regenerating tissue know and make the blueprint of exactly what's missing?,' Catherine McCusker, a developmental biologist at the University of Massachusetts Boston who was uninvolved in the new research, tells Popular Science. The findings are 'exciting,' she says, because they show how even the low levels of retinoic acid naturally present in salamander tissues can have a major impact on limb formation. Previous work has examined the role of the vitamin A-adjacent molecule, but generally at artificially high dosages. The new study proves retinoic acid's relevance at normal concentrations. And, by identifying how retinoic acid is regulated as well as the subsequent effects of the compound in the molecular cascade, Monaghan and his colleagues have 'figured out something that's pretty far upstream' in the process of limb regeneration, says McCusker. Understanding these initial steps is a big part of decoding the rest of the process, she says. Once we know the complete chemical and genetic sequence that triggers regeneration, biomedical applications become more feasible. 'I really think that we'll be able to figure out how to regenerate human limbs,' McCusker says. 'I think it's a matter of time.' On the way there, she notes that findings could boost our ability to treat cancer, which can behave in similar ways to regenerating tissues, or enhance wound and burn healing. Monaghan and his colleagues started on their path to discovery by first assessing patterns of protein expression and retinoic acid concentration in salamander limbs. They used genetically modified axolotls that express proteins which fluoresce in the presence of the target compounds, so they could easily visualize where those molecules were present in the tissue under microscopes. Then, they used a drug to tamp down naturally occurring retinoic acid levels, and observed the effects on regenerating limbs. Finally, they produced a line of mutant salamanders lacking one of the genes in the chain, to pinpoint what alterations lead to which limb deformities. They found that higher concentrations of retinoic acid tell an Axolotl's body to keep growing leg length, while lower concentrations signal it's time to sprout a foot, according to the new research. Too much retinoic acid, and a limb can grow back deformed and extra-long, with segments and joints not present in a well-formed leg, hampering an axolotl's ability to easily move. One protein, in particular, is most important for setting the proper retinoic acid concentration. 'We discovered it's essentially a single enzyme called CYP26b1, that regulates the amount of tissue that regenerates,' Monaghan says. CYP26b1 breaks down retinoic acid, so when the gene that makes the protein is activated, retinoic acid concentrations drop, allowing the conditions for foot and digit formations. At least three additional genes vital to limb mapping and bone formation seem to be directly controlled by concentrations of retinoic acid. So, when retinoic acid concentrations are off, expression of these genes is also abnormal. Resulting limbs have shortened segments, repeat sections, limited bone development, and other deformations. Based on their observations, Monaghan posits that retinoic acid could be a tool for 'inducing regeneration.' There's 'probably not a silver bullet for regeneration,' he says, but adds that many pieces of the puzzle do seem to be wrapped up in the presence or absence of retinoic acid. 'It's shown promise before in the central nervous system and the spinal cord to induce regeneration. It's not out of the question to also [use it] to induce regeneration of a limb tissue.' Retinoic acid isn't just produced inside axolotls. It's a common biological compound made across animal species that plays many roles in the body. In human embryo development, retinoic acid pathways are what help map our bodily orientation, prompting a head to grow atop our shoulders instead of a tail. That's a big part of why isotretinoin can cause major birth defects if taken during pregnancy–because all that extra retinoic acid disrupts the normal developmental blueprint. Yet retinoic acid isn't the only notable factor shared by humans and amphibians alike. In fact, most of the genes identified as part of the axolotl limb regrowth process are also present in our own DNA. What's different seems to be how easily accessed those genetic mechanisms are after maturity. Axolotls, says Monaghan, have an uncanny ability to activate these developmental genes as needed. Much more research is needed to understand exactly how and why that is, and to get to the very root of regeneration ability, but the implication is that inducing human limbs to regrow could be easier than it sounds. 'We might not need to turn on thousands of genes or turn off thousands of genes or knock out genes. It might just be triggering the reprogramming of a cell into the proper state where it thinks it's an embryo,' he says. And lots of research is already underway. Other scientists, McCusker included, have also made big recent strides in attempting to unlock limb regeneration. Her lab published a study in April finding key mechanisms in the lateral mapping of limbs–how the top and bottom of a leg differentiate and grow. Another major study from scientists in Austria came out last month pinpointed genetic feedback loops involved in positional memory, which help axolotl tissues keep tabs on where lost limbs once were and how they should be structured. Still, it's likely to be decades more before human amputees can regain their limbs. Right now, the major findings fall in the realm of foundational science, says McCusker. Getting to the eventual goal of boosting human regenerative abilities will continue to take 'a huge investment and bit of trust.' But every medical treatment we have today was similarly built off of those fundamental building blocks, she says. 'We need to remember to continue to invest in these basic biology studies.' Otherwise, the vision of a more resilient future, where peoples' extremities can come back from severe injury, will remain out of reach.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
A cup of coffee with room for opportunity; Frisco coffee shop gives everyone a chance to work
Living with an intellectual disability like autism or Down syndrome can be a significant challenge for many, especially when it comes to finding a job as an adult. But there's a chain of coffee shops trying to change that, and they just opened up their first shop in North Texas. According to a study from the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Special Olympics, only 34% of adults with intellectual disabilities are employed. Meet Matthew Philips. He's 23 and just started working at a coffee shop in Frisco. "I wanted to work here so I could make more friends and greet a lot of people, because I'm a big social guy and I like to talk to a lot of people," said Philips In a lot of ways, Philips is like most 23-year-olds. He loves sports and spends his days working. But in other ways, he's a lot different. "I have autism and I got diagnosed when I was 9 years old, and I was non-verbal when I was younger," he said. "It was hard for me, because when I was in school, people used to make fun of me because I had a disability." While his disability might make him different outside these doors, at Bitty and Beau's, he's just another employee. "I make hot coffee, iced tea, lemonade water and serve customers," barista Christian Heath said. "I've always been different. I've always known I've been different and I thought there was something wrong with me," said Kennedy Hodge, another barista. All the employees at Bitty and Beau's have an intellectual disability, and many of them have struggled to find work until now. CBS News Texas "Took me a year to find my job but I feel so blessed that god found a job for me," said Hodge. The North Carolina-based coffee shop is more than just java – it's a movement to celebrate and value diversity. The chain wants people with intellectual disabilities to know that they're not broken. Just like their hat says. "I thought there was something wrong with me. But I know that there's no mistakes. God makes no mistakes," said Hodge.
Boston Globe
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘The fear comes back to me': Those who fled despots have thoughts on authoritarianism, here and abroad.
Valiente is among some local emigrés from countries that have suffered under autocracies who say Rümeysa Öztürk's arrest — apparently for co-writing a pro-Palestinian opinion piece in a student newspaper — alongside President Trump's broader immigration crackdown represents a source of profound unease. Advertisement For some who fled authoritarian regimes, the echoes of the old country in the United States are jarring. They have seen this movie before, and it doesn't end well. 'I unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms, but I believe no one should be targeted, detained, or deported without due process — especially not for their political views' explained Valiente, a journalist who said he was abducted near his home, similar to how Öztürk was taken, after covering antigovernment protests in Caracas. Trump has used the notion of a connection to terrorism to justify the cancelling visas of foreign students, some of Advertisement 'It's very dangerous, because many innocent people are going to be suffering,' said Valiente. 'Many are suffering, and even if you have not been arrested yet, we know in our community thousands of people who can't even go to sleep because of the fear and uncertainty.' In a statement, the White House batted away the idea that Trump's actions could be construed as moving toward authoritarianism. 'There is no greater defender of freedom than President Trump, who signed an Executive Order to protect free speech on his first day back in office, ended the weaponization of justice, restored over 400 press passes to the White House complex, and takes media questions daily,' said spokesperson Anna Kelly. But Valiente, a spokesman for the Panagiota Gounari, a University of Massachusetts Boston linguistics professor who studies authoritarianism, knows how strongmen can influence pillars of the state and erode civil liberties. She grew up in Greece, where a military junta seized the government and ruled for seven years from the late 1960s to 1970s. Gounari was a small child when that dictatorship ended, and so doesn't remember much firsthand. But her parents, both educators, 'lived it in their skin.' 'Curricula were affected, specific ideologies were promoted through schooling, there was surveillance,' she said. 'It was a very, very difficult time for anybody.' Members of her family were imprisoned, tortured, or exiled, she said. She sees parallels between Trump and that time: 'It's the fear, it's the censorship, it's the retaliation against political opponents.' Advertisement 'It's the same feeling of fight or flight,' she said. The Boston Globe contacted more than 60 individuals and expat organizations who have members who lived through authoritarianism for this story. Many declined to talk, with some saying they did not feel comfortable given the current political moment in the United Startes, despite their legal immigration status. For Gounari, authoritarianism is 'essentially a form of government that concentrates and exercises power arbitrarily with no regard to the constitution or the rule of law.' Trump, she said, ticks several authoritarian boxes: he refused to accept his defeat in 2020, deals in fear-mongering, creates She thought he drew from the political playbooks of right-wing leaders like In Venezuela, he was a congressman and a vice president of parliament. He led a peaceful political resistance against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2017, and was politically persecuted, spending three years essentially under house arrest at the Chilean embassy in Caracas before he was thrown in jail by the Maduro regime, he said. He can't return to his home in Venezuela. Advertisement For Guevara, a hallmark of autocracy is 'the absence of dialogue with the other.' In other words, framing the political opposition as the enemy. Polarization, where people live in a political bubble and demonize those who have different viewpoints, can foster the conditions where authoritarianism is possible and creates a reinforcing effect, said Guevara. Such dynamics can be dangerous, he said. 'It becomes a vicious cycle in which societies get more and more divided, serving mainly the purpose of autocrats, who need to demonize the other side as a precondition to take 'extra institutional' measures to protect 'the people' from 'the enemy,'' he said. 'All sides claim they are defending democracy,' he said. The encroachment of authoritarianism occurs, 'when you have leaders who have some kind of charisma that elicits blind following from members of the administration either because of fear or because of the sharing of certain type of ideology,' said Charlot Lucien, a 60-year-old Massachusetts poet and history instructor who grew up in Haiti under dictatorships known for their oppression and brutality. François Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as 'Papa Doc' and 'Baby Doc' respectively, used violence as a tool to squash dissent. In Haiti, the Duvaliers controlled the political institutions, including the elections, and held sway over systems including higher education, according to Lucien. 'Demagoguery was a tool used to [present] a more palatable understanding of what was still an authoritarian regime,' said Lucien of Baby Doc. Newton resident Simona Coborzan was 11 years old when Romania's communist despot Nicolae Ceaușescu was executed by firing squad on Christmas Day 1989. 'As a schoolgirl, I noticed right away that things changed — his portrait and other symbols of his regime were removed from every classroom," she said. 'We no longer had to start each school day listing all the roles Ceaușescu held — he controlled the legislature, executive, and judiciary." Advertisement Under Ceaușescu, Coborzan's grandfather was put under house arrest simply for owning 'too much land,' she said. Trump's administration, she said, reminds her of that era in her native Romania. 'The cult of personality is strikingly similar — so many flags, symbols, and slogans centered on one man," she said. Trump's insistence that the nation would enter 'Ceaușescu used the exact same phrase to describe life in Romania—saying we were Trump's 'His contempt for democratic institutions and norms mirrors what I saw in my childhood: a single man trying to rewrite the rules of democracy to serve his personal power,' she said. Alberto Calvo, a 73-year-old retired engineer from Newton, grew up in Cuba. His father, fearful Calvo would be indoctrinated into 'He killed a lot of people, that's for sure,' he said. Trump, he said, certainly has an authoritarian bent, but without total control and loyalty of the military, Calvo did not think the United States could become an authoritarian state. Advertisement 'I don't think he can establish it here,' he said. Still, he said Trump is haphazard in his decision-making, adding that he's never seen a president quite like the current one: 'It's interesting times we live in.' Danny McDonald can be reached at
Boston Globe
27-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Something young MAGA ought to know: feminism is complex
Dorothy Shubow Nelson Cambridge The writer is a retired senior adjunct faculty member in the English department at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
University of Massachusetts Student Charged With Firebombing Tesla Dealership
It's not every day a University of Massachusetts Boston student gets arrested for allegedly firebombing a Tesla dealership operated by the world's richest man, Elon Musk. But 19-year-old Owen McIntire has found themselves in this unique place ... after they were apprehended by FBI agents on the UMass Boston campus and made an initial court appearance Friday, the Department of Justice announced. According to a federal criminal complaint, McIntire was charged with unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. The complaint states McIntire was in their hometown of Kansas City during Spring Break when, on March 17, they cruised over to the Tesla dealership, parking a block away in front of a house. McIntire then allegedly walked to the dealership and set it on fire before dashing back to their car and driving away. The complaint says a cop spotted smoke rising from a Cybertruck and went to check out the issue, finding a Molotov cocktail comprised of an apple cider vinegar bottle and a rag. The feds say McIntire was identified with the help of witnesses and video, which captured them wearing "dark flowy clothing and a large-brimmed hat." McIntire allegedly discarded the distinct hat nearby and the FBI recovered it to use as evidence and for DNA testing. What's more, McIntire was photographed with luggage inside the Kansas City International Airport, placing them in the area around the time of the incident. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said McIntire's alleged criminal acts were very costly ... damaging two Cybertrucks and two charging stations, all of which cost more than $200,000. By the way, McIntire is the second suspect arrested this week in connection with arson attacks at Tesla dealerships around the country.
