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Whitehead Institute researchers redefine gene mutation that cause Rett syndrome

Whitehead Institute researchers have redefined the function of a gene whose mutation causes Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorder. This new research offers an improved understanding of the defects found in the neurons of Rett syndrome patients and could lead to novel therapies for the disease.

4 Oct 2013

Harvard University receives $3.5M grant to develop super-resolution microscopy technique

A team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University has been awarded a special $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an inexpensive and easy-to-use new microscopy method to simultaneously spot many tiny components of cells.

4 Oct 2013

NYU researchers receive $6.25M grant for pioneering research into acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers at The Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center is leading a $6.25 million, five-year research initiative, funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to develop new therapies and advance the cure rate for children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic cancer (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer.

4 Oct 2013

Asthma alert in very physically active

Research from Sweden shows that while people with asthma are as likely to be mildly active or inactive as people without, there is a strong relationship between vigorous physical activity and the respiratory condition.

3 Oct 2013

Parkinsonism predicts schizophrenia cognitive course

Parkinsonism is common in patients with first-episode psychosis and is predictive of cognitive impairment, say researchers.

3 Oct 2013

Comorbid anxiety warns of bipolar psychotherapy need

Comorbid anxiety may flag those patients with bipolar depression who are in particular need of intensive psychotherapy, suggest findings from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder.

3 Oct 2013

Gas transfer excels in predicting mortality in COPD

Researchers say that measuring gas transfer is the most effective way to predict mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after finding that it outperformed both spirometry and plethysmography for the purpose.

3 Oct 2013

Affective dimensions aid bipolar disorder diagnosis

Measuring affective dimensions can help clinicians diagnose bipolar disorder in patients with first-episode psychosis, researchers report.

3 Oct 2013

Adolescent psychotic experiences lack uniformity

Psychotic experiences in adolescence appear to be quite distinct and vary widely from individual to individual, study findings indicate.

3 Oct 2013

Discovery paves way for development of new medicines to combat herpes infections

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden and Carnegie Mellon University have for the first time managed to measure the internal pressure that enables the herpes virus to infect cells in the human body. The discovery paves the way for the development of new medicines to combat viral infections. The results indicate good chances to stop herpes infections in the future.

3 Oct 2013

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis published in ACR journal

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis have just been published and are more sensitive than the 1980 criteria, enabling earlier identification and treatment of this disabling autoimmune disease.

3 Oct 2013

Regular five-meal pattern associated with reduced risk of obesity

A regular eating pattern may protect adolescents from obesity, according to a Finnish population-based study with more than 4,000 participants. When eating five meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks - a day, even those with a genetic predisposition to obesity had no higher body mass index (BMI) than their controls.

3 Oct 2013

Study: One in three teens with bipolar disorder develop substance abuse

A study published in the October 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that approximately one in three teens with bipolar disorder developed substance abuse, for the first time, during 4 years of follow-up.

3 Oct 2013

Use of different materials with varied textures improves recognition of tactile images by blind people

The use of different materials with varied textures improves the recognition of tactile images by young blind people, researchers from the Laboratoire de psychologie et neurocognition (LPNC) (CNRS/Université Pierre Mendès France/ Savoie University) have shown.

3 Oct 2013

Genetic condition that attacks multiple organs can be detected using new MRI technique

A genetic condition that attacks multiple organs and usually results in fatal heart problems can be detected using a new MRI technique that was developed at the University of Alberta. The discovery of this new diagnostic tool has resulted in updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease in Canada.

3 Oct 2013

Community programs promote independent living among people with serious mental illness

A new analysis by Oregon State University researchers of California's mental health system finds that comprehensive, community-based mental health programs are helping people with serious mental illness transition to independent living.

3 Oct 2013

Scientists identify new drug for inherited form of cancer with no known cure

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a new drug candidate for an inherited form of cancer with no known cure.

3 Oct 2013

New method to monitor activity of gene promoters during response to drug

When developing new drugs, monitoring cellular responses to candidate compounds is essential for assessing their efficacy and safety. Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies report a new method to monitor and quantify the activity of gene promoters during the response to a drug, using the advanced gene expression analysis method CAGE followed by single-molecule sequencing.

3 Oct 2013

Gout increases risk of heart attack and stroke

New research published in this month’s Rheumatology journal has found that having gout doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. The research tracked the health of more than 205,000 gout patients using data spanning five decades to determine links between gout and heart attack and stroke.

3 Oct 2013

Component of grape, citrus fruits block formation of kidney cysts

A new study published today in British Journal of Pharmacology has identified that a component of grapefruit and other citrus fruits, naringenin, successfully blocks the formation of kidney cysts.

3 Oct 2013