They were able to turn off the urge in mice while leaving the animals’ other senses, such as touch and temperature, intact.
It is hoped that a deeper understanding of itching could eventually lead to therapies for patients with chronic itching.
The study was published in the journal Science.
The team at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the US National Institutes of Health, bred mice that were unable to produce a gene called NPPB (natriuretic peptide B). It is a small signaling molecule that allows brain cells to communicate with each other.
Mice without the molecule looked and acted like other mice, except “when we exposed the mice to several itch-inducing substances, it was amazing to watch, nothing happened, the mice wouldn’t scratch.”
Injections of NPPB into a mouse’s spinal cord made them scratch.
(Liberty Times)
它們可以關閉老鼠的強烈慾望,但老鼠的其他感官,例如觸覺與體溫,仍可完好無損。
學界希望,對癢更深層的了解,最終可促成慢性癢病患的療法。
這份研究刊登在《科學》期刊。
隸屬美國國家衛生研究院的「國家牙齒與顱顏研究所」團隊,飼育不能製造一種名為「NPPB」化學物質的老鼠。這是一種可讓大腦細胞互相溝通的微小化學訊號物質。
沒有這種化學物質的老鼠,外觀與行動都像其他老鼠,但當「我們把這種老鼠暴露在多種致癢物質下時,很驚訝地發現,什麼事情都不會發生,這種老鼠不會抓(癢)」。
將NPPB注射到老鼠的脊髓,即可讓牠們抓癢。
(自由時報/翻譯:自由時報國際新聞中心)
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too