"Bear Hibernation Inspires New Approach to Preventing Blood Clots"
Researchers studying hibernating bears have identified a protein, HSP47, that all but vanishes from bears’ blood when they lie down for winter, which appears to serve a similar function in humans. When HSP47 levels decline in humans, so too, some early evidence suggests, does clotting risk. The finding raises hope that researchers can develop drugs that block HSP47, giving doctors a new tool to treat or even prevent clots in immobile patients. However, the research is still in the early stages and needs to be tested in animal studies and clinical trials.