In order to study the potential autoimmune aetiology, Inserm researchers at Unit 1043, the “Toulouse Purpan Pathophysiology Center” (Inserm/University of Toulouse/CNRS), have developed a mouse model that mimics narcolepsy. They thus generated mice expressing an autoantigen, haemagglutinin, specifically in the orexinergic neurons (Orex-HA mice). The mice were injected with effector T cells specific for this […]
Researchers are aiming to produce flexible and malleable substitute materials to replace defective small blood vessels. The team led by Didier Letourneur, in Inserm Unit 1148, took inspiration from the composition of algae when designing polysaccharide-based vessels. Read the whole article in Science & Santé magazine issue no. 31 (April/May 2016) These synthetic vessels have […]
POMC (proopiomelanocortin) deficiency obesity is an orphan disease which has been described in 50 patients to date, although it is estimated to affect 100–500 people worldwide. Although there is currently no specific treatment, a publication in NEJM reports promising results from a phase 2 clinical trial that led to considerable weight loss in female […]
According to a few studies, when their brain suffers from a lack of oxygen, babies born by caesarean section are more likely to develop some mental disorders including schizophrenia. Researchers from Inserm compared two populations of patients with schizophrenia – delivered vaginally or by caesarean section – in order to determine the particular characteristics associated […]
Previous studies have essentially demonstrated that, from the age of 40, and depending on the sport, performances decline steadily by 7–14% every 10 years. Using data from websites of sports associations and federations, Romuald Lepers and his colleagues identified 60 performances by 19 centenarians, in 3 disciplines: athletics, swimming and cycling. Generally, and although they […]
Many people are now arriving in France, after leaving their country of origin, fleeing war or extreme poverty. Whether they are migrants or immigrants, these populations are exposed to precarious circumstances and difficult living conditions. What does this mean for their health? The latest issue of Science & Santé magazine dedicates 2 pages to this subject: […]
Under severe pressure owing to an intense workload, medical students are attempting to boost their performance by any means. An Inserm study has revealed possible psychostimulant use among a third of these students. A population of 1,718 French medical students (average age 27 years, 37% male) was interviewed on the subject of psychostimulant use. Inserm researchers […]
Inserm reports a French study conducted on 750 women which shows that this neglected gynecological disorder significantly increases the risk of miscarriage. > Read the whole news item on the Inserm.fr website
The Inserm press room is updating its design, and continues to adapt to your needs and evolving practices. Now more ergonomic, its navigation has been reworked to make reading easier on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Presentation of content has been revised to make it easier to read, and to quickly find the […]
Ebola fever is an extremely lethal disease, for which there is no proven effective treatment. In September 2014, at the height of the epidemic, the World Health Organisation released a shortlist of drugs suitable for studies on Ebola virus (EBOV) disease, including favipiravir, an antiviral drug developed for the treatment of severe forms of […]
A wide range of compounds is on the market to ameliorate depressive symptoms, however their efficiency is achieved only after long periods of treatment and not in 100% of patients. Inserm researchers identified early cellular changes in the brain for the emergence of depressive symptoms, and a novel promising drug target. These results are published […]
