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Synthetic Oct4 protein more effective at turning genes into pluripotent stem cells

Scientists have found a way to generate and maintain stem cells much more efficiently by amplifying the effect of an essential protein.

17 Feb 2012

Lab-based treatment reminders may not be effective for CKD patients

Laboratory-based treatment reminders meant to improve physicians' prescribing habits for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may not be effective, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

17 Feb 2012

New details about how cell signalling is controlled in immune system

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have revealed new details about how cell signalling is controlled in the immune system, identifying in the process potential new therapeutic targets for treating severe blood disorders.

17 Feb 2012

Jefferson's KCC creates new center to reduce and eradicate cancer disparities

In an effort to reduce and eventually eliminate cancer disparities among adults in the Philadelphia region, the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson has established the Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities.

17 Feb 2012

UC San Diego offers catheter ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation

UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center is now offering patients with atrial fibrillation the breakthrough benefits of heat energy, or radio frequency waves, to irreversibly alter heart tissue that triggers an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

17 Feb 2012

Amylin may lead to severe heart damage in obese and diabetic patients

Severe heart damage in people who are obese and diabetic is linked with a pancreatic hormone called amylin, UC Davis researchers have found.

17 Feb 2012

Long-term weight training may benefit Parkinson's disease patients

New research suggests weight training for two years significantly improves the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease compared to other forms of exercise such as stretching and balance exercises. The clinical trial, which compared two forms of exercise for Parkinson's disease, was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

17 Feb 2012

Study finds increase in prevalence of hidden arsenic in organic foods

As people seek healthier dietary regimens they often turn to things labeled "organic." Lurking in the background, however, is an ingredient that may be a hidden source of arsenic-an element known to be both toxic and potentially carcinogenic.

17 Feb 2012

Mechanical dose of load through muscle force may slow bone loss in SCI patients

Loss of bone density leads to brittle bones that fracture easily. It is a major complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), which affects about 250,000 Americans every year.

17 Feb 2012

Scientist uses GPUs to simulate inner workings of human cells

The cure for cancer comes down to this: video games. In a research lab at Wake Forest University, biophysicist and computer scientist Samuel Cho uses graphics processing units (GPUs), the technology that makes videogame images so realistic, to simulate the inner workings of human cells.

17 Feb 2012

Study to quantify benefits of aerobic exercise in managing Parkinson's symptoms

Daniel Corcos has studied Parkinson's disease for more than 20 years. For most of the past 10, he has focused on the effects of exercise. "It became obvious several years ago that exercise really was good for people with Parkinson's disease," said Corcos, who is professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Not only is it good for the heart, the brain, and muscles in the same way it is for healthy people, it also modifies signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease."

17 Feb 2012

Exposure to common flame retardant may affect fertility and long-term memory

Mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to autism-like behaviors that were exposed to a common flame retardant were less fertile and their offspring were smaller, less sociable and demonstrated marked deficits in learning and long-term memory when compared with the offspring of normal unexposed mice, a study by researchers at UC Davis has found.

16 Feb 2012

Biochemists determine first crystal structure of an immunoproteasome

Like a shredder, the immunoproteasome cuts down proteins into peptides that are subsequently presented on the cellular surface. The immune system can distinguish between self and nonself peptides and selectively kills cells that due to a viral infection present non-self peptides at their surface. In autoimmune diseases this mechanism is deregulated and the immune system also eliminates uninfected cells by mistake.

16 Feb 2012

National Guard soldiers more likely to develop alcohol-related problems after deployment

Soldiers in the National Guard with no history of alcohol abuse are at significant risk of developing alcohol-related problems during and after deployment, according to a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal.

16 Feb 2012

Researchers test nanoscale carbon clusters for cancer chemotherapy

A mixture of current drugs and carbon nanoparticles shows potential to enhance treatment for head-and-neck cancers, especially when combined with radiation therapy, according to new research by Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

16 Feb 2012

MDC researcher receives ERC grant for transposon study

Dr. Zsuzsanna Izsv-k, research group leader at the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, has been named recipient of a European Research Council (ERC Advanced) grant worth EUR 1.94 million for her research on "jumping genes."

16 Feb 2012

FDA grants orphan drug designation to CSL Behring's rVIIa-FP

CSL Behring announced today that the company has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its novel recombinant fusion protein linking coagulation factor VIIa with albumin.

16 Feb 2012

Helping cancer patients tackle geographic challenges to access clinical trials

As oncologists already know and newly diagnosed lung cancer patients learn, the kind of treatment given to patients is increasingly becoming dependent on the specific gene mutation present in the cancer.

16 Feb 2012

Illumina introduces Cancer Analysis Service from IGN

Illumina, Inc. today announced the launch of a Cancer Analysis Service from the Illumina Genome Network (IGN) that leverages the high accuracy of Illumina technologies to provide cancer researchers with easily interpretable tumor/normal sequencing data to quickly move their research forward.

From Illumina, Inc. 16 Feb 2012

ACAAI, Teva Respiratory partner to bring free asthma screenings nationwide

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recognizes Teva Respiratory for its continued leadership and support of important educational issues related to respiratory health, particularly under diagnosed and poorly managed asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. ACAAI announced today that they will partner again this year with Teva Respiratory to bring free asthma screenings to communities nationwide.

16 Feb 2012