HIV receptor gymnastics

Robin Weiss, in an article to mark the 30^th anniversary of the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), reviews the complex interactions of the virus with the specialized surface molecules by which it gains entry into cells, and how this has led to drugs that block it.

Collagen scaffolds in regenerative medicine

Dental pulp- and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells seeded into collagen scaffolds repair large cranial bone defects in a rat model and are involved in vascularization of the implant.

T cells permit early diagnosis of GVHD

Alloreactive T cells are present in the blood 2 weeks before the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) symptoms in a mouse model, suggesting these cells could be measured to allow early diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention.

New perspectives on genomic diversity

Manfred Kayser and colleagues propose that some of the genetic variation we see across human populations may occur due to demographic events in recent history rather than ancient history.

Facing up to antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is both an ancient phenomenon and a worsening medical problem. Gerard Wright explains why, and what should be done about it.

Increasing osteogenesis in tissue engineering

Copolymer scaffolds can be prevascularized with endothelial cells (EC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC); seeding of MSC with or without EC increases the osteogenic potential of tissue-engineered constructs.

OCD diagnosis revised in DSM-5

Dan Stein and Katharine Phillips comment on the patient experience that has helped define the psychiatric classification of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCD) in DSM-5, and describe the importance of taking patient opinion into account.

Personalized medicine in psychiatry

Charles Nemeroff and colleagues review the genetics, epigenetics, biomarkers, treatment response and environmental factors of mood disorders and schizophrenia, and describe the impact of neuroimaging on personalized medicine in psychiatry.

Depression is non-causal in CHD

Peter de Jonge and colleagues argue that, although there is a link between coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression, this association is confounded by heterogeneity, such that depression is a non-causal risk factor CHD.

Slower immunosenescence extends the life expectancy of women

The female's immune system declines at a slower rate than the male's during ageing, contributing (in part) to the significantly longer life expectancy found in women, compared to men.