Carotid plaques block the blood supply to the brain. It is often considered a leading cause of stroke. Ethnicity-based characteristics and differences in the plaques are studied to tailor targeted management approaches. In a recently published study in the Chinese Neurosurgical Journal, histological features of carotid plaques from patients of Chinese and North American populations were investigated and compared, reporting distinct histological differences.

Virtual reality (VR) use is often linked to reduced blinking, raising concerns about dry eye. This study examined the ocular surface during a 30-minute VR gaming session using a compact imaging system to observe the tear film in real time. Over the session, the tear film’s lipid-layer interference grade increased, indicating thickening of the lipid layer. Under these experimental conditions, this change may be associated with a lower likelihood of dry eye during VR use.

A newly developed mouse model enables real-time visualization of RNA Polymerase II (RNAP2) during DNA transcription, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. The team engineered mice to produce a fluorescent antibody that binds specifically to RNAP2 during active transcription. Their approach enabled super-resolution imaging of transcription sites in living cells, revealing differences in gene expression dynamics across cell types and developmental states.