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Vaccine candidate? Researchers synthesize oligosaccharide from anthrax pathogen

For weeks a white powder caused fear and shock for the American population: a few days after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, four innocent people became the victims of letters that contained the powder - spores of the anthrax pathogen. German researchers have now synthesized a molecule characteristic of anthrax in the laboratory which may be the basis for a new anthrax vaccine.

26 Sep 2005

Aquaporin-4 is the first specific molecule to be defined as a target for the autoimmune response in any form of MS

Researchers have identified a molecular suspect in a disorder similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) that attacks the optic nerve and spinal cord, according to a report presented at the 130th annual meeting of the American Neurological Association in San Diego. The protein, called aquaporin-4, is a channel protein that allows water to move in and out of cells.

26 Sep 2005

Surprising immune system cells discovery

Immune system cells are connected to each other by an extensive network of tiny tunnels that, like a building's hidden pneumatic tube system, are used to shoot signals to distant cells.

26 Sep 2005

Researchers have found a way to keep students awake during class

Whether it's triggered by the monotone of an instructor or insufficient rest the night before, students at all ages and grade levels sometimes have trouble staying awake in class.

26 Sep 2005

Researchers have uncovered a significant contributing factor to interferon resistance of malignant melanoma cells

The finding represents a step forward in understanding the molecular events that govern the growth of this type of cancer and the changes in gene expression and cellular signaling that underlie resistance to established therapies.

26 Sep 2005

New way to create a permanent chemical bond between antibiotics and titanium

Infections associated with inserting a medical device can be devastating, painful, and cause prolonged disability, costing tens of thousands of dollars.

26 Sep 2005

Folate may protect against cognitive decline in older adults

According to a recent report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, folate, a B vitamin found in foods like leafy green vegetables and citrus fruit, may protect against cognitive decline in older adults.

26 Sep 2005

Heart attack patients run an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder

This may lead to a vicious cycle, with the PTSD associated with heart disease harming the patient's future cardiac heath, according to the study in the current issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

26 Sep 2005

Aggressive public health efforts to control hypertension may help preserve cognitive abilities as well as cardiovascular health

Not only does high blood pressure adversely affect mental functioning, but the correlation appears to be stronger among African-Americans than among whites, researchers report in the current issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

26 Sep 2005

Researchers map genetic location that explains why certain blood pressure-lowering drugs aren't effective for some people

"The findings bring us a step closer to developing targeted therapies for patients with high blood pressure who might otherwise be started on medications that won't help," said lead author Sandosh Padmanabhan, Ph.D.

26 Sep 2005

Set of simple "rules" that nature appears to use to design proteins

By examining how proteins have evolved, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have discovered a set of simple "rules" that nature appears to use to design proteins, rules the scientists have now employed to create artificial proteins that look and function just like their natural counterparts.

26 Sep 2005

Left handedness may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer

Researchers in the Netherlands examined the relation between handedness and incidence of breast cancer in over 12,000 healthy, middle aged women born between 1932 and 1941.

26 Sep 2005

Scientists reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's

In mice, that had been genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's disease, scientists were able to reverse the rodents' memory loss by reducing the amount of an enzyme that is crucial for the development of Alzheimer's disease.

26 Sep 2005

Abnormal leakage of lymph fluid from the ruptured lymphatic vessels stimulates the accumulation of fat

Leaky lymphatic vessels are the leading cause of the adult onset obesity observed in a laboratory model developed by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

26 Sep 2005

Smoking may increase the risk of developing diabetes

The surprising finding emerged when researchers examined the relationship between smoking and diabetes among participants in a major national study, the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS).

26 Sep 2005

Possible molecular origin of at least nine human diseases of nervous system degeneration

These neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, share an abnormal deposit of proteins inside nerve cells. This deposition of protein results from a kind of genetic stutter within the cell's nucleus asking for multiple copies of the amino acid glutamine, a building block of protein structure.

26 Sep 2005

New nutritional challenges in HIV/AIDS care have emerged

Nutritional therapy for HIV-infected patients is shifting focus. Drug treatments designed to combat the HIV virus have improved, decreasing some nutritional problems, while bringing others to light.

26 Sep 2005

First-of-its kind atlas of the folds of the cerebral cortex

Neuroscientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have assembled a first-of-its kind atlas of the folds of the cerebral cortex, the wrinkled surface layer of the brain credited with many of the higher cognitive functions that make us human.

26 Sep 2005

Research highlights the role of viral sequence analysis in improving our overall understanding of hepatitis A cases in the U.S.

Novel use of genetic testing methods helped public health officials control and limit the further spread of four outbreaks of foodborne hepatitis A virus in 2003 related to the consumption of green onions, according to a detailed analysis published in the October 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.

26 Sep 2005

Link between ambient air pollution and acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack

An article published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis looks specifically at airborne particulate matter resulting mainly from the combustion of fuel, including coal and also from forest fires.

26 Sep 2005

Medical Research News

Vaccine candidate? Researchers synthesize oligosaccharide from anthrax pathogen

Aquaporin-4 is the first specific molecule to be defined as a target for the autoimmune response in any form of MS

Surprising immune system cells discovery

Researchers have found a way to keep students awake during class

Researchers have uncovered a significant contributing factor to interferon resistance of malignant melanoma cells

New way to create a permanent chemical bond between antibiotics and titanium

Folate may protect against cognitive decline in older adults

Heart attack patients run an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder

Aggressive public health efforts to control hypertension may help preserve cognitive abilities as well as cardiovascular health

Researchers map genetic location that explains why certain blood pressure-lowering drugs aren't effective for some people

Set of simple "rules" that nature appears to use to design proteins

Left handedness may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer

Scientists reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's

Abnormal leakage of lymph fluid from the ruptured lymphatic vessels stimulates the accumulation of fat

Smoking may increase the risk of developing diabetes

Possible molecular origin of at least nine human diseases of nervous system degeneration

New nutritional challenges in HIV/AIDS care have emerged

First-of-its kind atlas of the folds of the cerebral cortex

Research highlights the role of viral sequence analysis in improving our overall understanding of hepatitis A cases in the U.S.

Link between ambient air pollution and acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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