Posts by: Joana Carvalho, MSc

Joana Carvalho, MSc

Joana is currently completing her PhD in Biomedicine and Clinical Research at Universidade de Lisboa. She also holds a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Evolutionary and Developmental Biology from Universidade de Lisboa. Her work has been focused on the impact of non-canonical Wnt signaling in the collective behavior of endothelial cells — cells that make up the lining of blood vessels — found in the umbilical cord of newborns.

August 23, 2019August 26, 2019

Poorer Outcomes Likely in Those with Rapid Weight Loss Early in ALS Course, Study Suggests

News

People with rapid weight loss in the earlier stages of amyotophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — before invasive ventilation is needed to support breathing — are more likely to have a ... Read more

August 14, 2019

New Split-Hand Index Identifies ALS Patients at Early Disease Stages, Study Shows

News

Scientists have created a new type of split-hand index — which identifies the loss of the pincer grasp — that is able to distinguish people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ... Read more

August 9, 2019August 9, 2019

Complete Loss of SOD1 Function Leads to Severe Motor Problems, Study Says in Warning to Researchers

News

Mutations causing a complete loss of function of the SOD1 gene lead to severe motor problems, a case study reports, calling for caution in research into silencing this gene as ... Read more

August 6, 2019August 26, 2019

Animal Study Links Inactivation of the Autophagy Gene ATG7 to the Onset of ALS, FTD

News

Inactivation of ATG7, one of the genes that controls autophagy — a process in which cells degrade or recycle components that are damaged or no longer needed — is ... Read more

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019

FDA Names APB-102, Potential Gene Therapy for Familial ALS, an Orphan Drug

News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to Apic Bio‘s APB-102, an investigational gene therapy aiming to treat familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with ... Read more

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019

Fungus Used in Chinese Medicine Reduces Motor Neuron Loss and Prolongs Life in Mouse Model of ALS, Study Shows

News

The Chinese caterpillar fungus (Hirsutella sinensis), used in traditional Chinese medicine, minimized motor neuron loss and extended the lifespan in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a ... Read more

July 17, 2019July 17, 2019

Structure of Cdc48 May Provide Clues for Designing New ALS Therapies, Study Shows

News

Scientists who dissected the structure, and mechanism of action, of the protein Cdc48 — dubbed the “Swiss Army knife of cells” — say it can be explored as a ... Read more

July 9, 2019July 9, 2019

ALS Posture Impairments May Be Marker for Disease Severity, Study Suggests

News

Posture impairments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are linked to deficits in trunk control and in the mechanisms that control the body’s response to surface tilts. Moreover, these abnormalities ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

ACT Support Program Empowers Caregivers to Cope With Distress, Study Says

News

Caregivers of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) say a Dutch support program — one based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — empowered them ... Read more

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019

Histamine-Related Genes May Become Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for ALS, Mouse Study Suggests

News

Histamine-related genes are promising disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets to slow amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression, a mouse study suggests. The study, “Histaminergic transmission slows progression of amyotrophic lateral ... Read more

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