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Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition beneficial to cardiac regeneration

Cell-based therapies have been shown to enhance cardiac regeneration, but autologous (patient self-donated) cells have produced only "modest results." In an effort to improve myocardial regeneration through cell transplantation, a research team from Germany has taken epithelial cells from placenta (amniotic epithelial cells, or AECs) and converted them into mesenchymal cells. After transplanting the transitioned cells into mice modelling a myocardial infarction, the researchers found that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition was beneficial to cardiac regeneration by lowering infarct size.

24 Dec 2013

New CANHEART health index measures behaviours, health factors for optimal heart health

Fewer than 1 in 10 adult Canadians is in ideal cardiovascular health, according to the new CANHEART health index developed to measure heart health published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

24 Dec 2013

Meridian Health and Tilton Fitness now join with network of five fitness centers

Meridian Health, the largest provider of hospital and health care services in Monmouth and Ocean counties, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Tilton Fitness Management, a regional leader in health club operations.

24 Dec 2013

Research findings reveal how immune system responds to respiratory viral infections

An antibody that blocks a component of a key signaling pathway in the respiratory airways could help the immune system rid the body of the influenza virus, a new study suggests. The findings, from a team at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, not only offer a new approach to treating the flu, but also add new information about how the immune system responds to respiratory viral infections.

24 Dec 2013

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

New findings suggest the oxytocin receptor, a gene known to influence mother-infant bonding and pair bonding in monogamous species, also plays a special role in the ability to remember faces. This research has important implications for disorders in which social information processing is disrupted, including autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the finding may lead to new strategies for improving social cognition in several psychiatric disorders.

24 Dec 2013

Research review examines effectiveness of treatments for chronic skin wounds

A systematic review of 66 research papers focused on the treatment of skin ulcers suggests that most are so technically flawed that their results are unreliable. And even of those that pass muster, there is only weak evidence that some treatments work better than standard compression therapy or special stockings.

24 Dec 2013

Eating more peanuts during pregnancy associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in offspring

Women need not fear that eating peanuts during pregnancy could cause their child to develop a peanut allergy, according to a new study from Boston Children's Hospital published online Dec. 23 in JAMA Pediatrics.

24 Dec 2013

Research: Beatboxing may be gentler on injury-prone vocal cords

You might think that beatboxing, with its harsh, high-energy percussive sounds, would be harder on the voice than the sweet song of a soprano. But according to new research by voice expert Dr. H. Steven Sims of the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, beatboxing may actually be gentler on the injury-prone vocal cords. His findings were published Dec. 23 online in the Journal of Voice.

24 Dec 2013

Inosine drug raises blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in Parkinson disease patients

The drug inosine appears to be a safe and effective way to raise blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in patients with early Parkinson disease, suggesting it may be a potential strategy to slow the disability progression of the degenerative neurological disorder, according to a report published by JAMA Neurology, a JAMA Network publication.

23 Dec 2013

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Humans with a high motor excitability have a better working memory than humans with a low excitability. This was shown in a study conducted by scientists from the Transfacultary Research Platform at the University of Basel. By measuring the motor excitability, conclusions can be drawn as to the general cortical excitability - as well as to cognitive performance.

23 Dec 2013

Genetic screening identifies genes driving resistance with guide RNA library

Researchers have developed a method to create a comprehensive library of mutations across all genes in the mouse genome. This library can be used to examine the role of every gene in different cell types.

23 Dec 2013

European Commission approves update of Erbitux to treat patients with RAS wild-type mCRC

Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, today announced that the European Commission has approved the Type II variation to amend the Erbitux(cetuximab) product information, updating the indication for Erbitux to the treatment of patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

23 Dec 2013

Study shows CAC screening plays prominent role in determining person's risk for heart attack and stoke

A new study shows that coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening, an assessment tool that is not currently recommended for people considered at low risk, should play a more prominent role in helping determine a person's risk for heart attack and heart disease-related death, as well as the need for angioplasty or bypass surgery.

23 Dec 2013

Stakeholders agree that regulators not adequately prepared to manage risks posed by nanotechnology

Three stakeholder groups agree that regulators are not adequately prepared to manage the risks posed by nanotechnology, according to a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. In a survey of nano-scientists and engineers, nano-environmental health and safety scientists, and regulators, researchers at the UCSB Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) and at the University of British Columbia found that those who perceive the risks posed by nanotechnology as "novel" are more likely to believe that regulators are unprepared.

23 Dec 2013

Finding suggests new route for packaging RNA molecules of interest into nanovesicles

The role of microRNAs is fundamental for the correct moment-to-moment adjustment in the expression of target genes. "Before this study, we already knew that these small molecules could be packaged into small vesicles and exported to the extracellular space, to be later captured by other cells and in this way play an important role in intercellular communication," explains CNIC researcher Carolina Villarroya, the first author on the study.

23 Dec 2013

Icahn School of Medicine receives $1.3M grant to build collaborative research infrastructure for stroke center

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai joins a top-flight network of 25 regional stroke centers announced by the National Institute of Health that will focus on prevention, treatment, and recovery from stroke.

23 Dec 2013

Exposure to images of modified vulvas can significantly influence women's perceptions

Women's perceptions of what is considered normal and desirable female genitalia may be influenced by exposure to modified images, suggests a new study published today (20 December) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

23 Dec 2013

Real and sham weekly acupuncture treatments ease hot flashes of anticancer drug treatment

Both real and sham weekly acupuncture treatments eased hot flashes and other side effects of anticancer drug treatment in a small, preliminary study of breast cancer patients, Baltimore researchers have found.

23 Dec 2013

Death rates two times higher in postmenopausal women with anti-CCP and RA antibodies

New research shows mortality rates are two times higher in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. Findings published in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, soon to be called Arthritis & Rheumatology, indicate the higher mortality rates persisted after adjusting for age, positive rheumatoid factor, positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) use.

23 Dec 2013

Psychiatrist offers tips for dealing with holiday stress and sadness problems of the season

During the holidays, the goal should be to set the course somewhere "between Hallmark and heartache," a Vanderbilt psychiatrist says. In other words, don't strive for the perfect (you won't achieve it), and recognize and deal head-on with some of the stressors of the season.

23 Dec 2013

Medical Research News

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition beneficial to cardiac regeneration

New CANHEART health index measures behaviours, health factors for optimal heart health

Meridian Health and Tilton Fitness now join with network of five fitness centers

Research findings reveal how immune system responds to respiratory viral infections

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

Research review examines effectiveness of treatments for chronic skin wounds

Eating more peanuts during pregnancy associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in offspring

Research: Beatboxing may be gentler on injury-prone vocal cords

Inosine drug raises blood and cerebrospinal fluid urate levels in Parkinson disease patients

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Genetic screening identifies genes driving resistance with guide RNA library

European Commission approves update of Erbitux to treat patients with RAS wild-type mCRC

Study shows CAC screening plays prominent role in determining person's risk for heart attack and stoke

Stakeholders agree that regulators not adequately prepared to manage risks posed by nanotechnology

Finding suggests new route for packaging RNA molecules of interest into nanovesicles

Icahn School of Medicine receives $1.3M grant to build collaborative research infrastructure for stroke center

Exposure to images of modified vulvas can significantly influence women's perceptions

Real and sham weekly acupuncture treatments ease hot flashes of anticancer drug treatment

Death rates two times higher in postmenopausal women with anti-CCP and RA antibodies

Psychiatrist offers tips for dealing with holiday stress and sadness problems of the season

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