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U of T study provides hope for treating ALS and FTD

It's the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but until now scientists weren't sure how a specific gene caused these devastating diseases. Now researchers from the University of Toronto are one step closer to solving this incredibly complex puzzle, offering hope for treatment.

6 Oct 2015

Sexual activity causes physiological changes in the body that increase women's chances of getting pregnant

Research from Indiana University has found that sexual activity triggers physiological changes in the body that increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant, even outside the window of ovulation.

6 Oct 2015

Researchers design specialized catheter for fixing holes in the heart

Researchers from Boston Children's Hospital, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Karp Lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital have jointly designed a specialized catheter for fixing holes in the heart using a biodegradable adhesive and patch.

6 Oct 2015

Novel computational strategy may help identify genetic variants that cause disease in children

The team behind the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) Study, one of the world's largest nationwide rare disease genome-wide sequencing initiatives, have developed a novel computational approach to identify genetic variants that cause disease in young children.

6 Oct 2015

Paradigm failure is primary reason for lack of progress in cancer research, says cancer biologist

A recent publication, which received sustained media attention, claimed that most cancers are just “bad luck”. Its authors stated that only about one-third of cancer mutations are caused by known lifestyle or environmental factors.

6 Oct 2015

Songbirds may help researchers find cure for Huntington’s disease

Many neurological disorders can rob someone of the ability to speak clearly, causing them to stutter, mispronounce words, and struggle to put together coherent sentences. However, the molecular and neurological dysfunctions that cause these symptoms aren't well understood. Recent work at The Rockefeller University may give researchers a new tool to better study these vocal and speech impairments, particularly in Huntington's disease.

6 Oct 2015

Targeting protein used by tumors to help detect food supplies could restrict cancerous cells' ability to grow

Oxford University researchers have identified a protein used by tumours to help them detect food supplies. Initial studies show that targeting the protein could restrict cancerous cells' ability to grow.

6 Oct 2015

Genetic polymorphisms may serve as prognostic markers for lung cancer

Genetic polymorphisms associated with cancer progression lead to variations in gene expression and may serve as prognostic markers for lung cancer. Researchers at the Hiroshima University and Saitama Medical University found that in patients with lung cancer, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) may regulate gene and protein expression and be associated with poor prognosis.

6 Oct 2015

Researchers identify role of microglia during early stages of Alzheimer's disease

For the first time, researchers have determined how toxic tau fibrils spread by the help of brain immune cells called microglia during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The discovery of this new pathway may lead to a therapeutic target for AD, one that has not been previously identified.

5 Oct 2015

UNC researchers find association between gut microbiota and anorexia nervosa

Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine found that people with anorexia nervosa have very different microbial communities residing inside their guts compared to healthy individuals and that this bacterial imbalance is associated with some of the psychological symptoms related to the eating disorder.

5 Oct 2015

Insulin sensitivity of main glucose storage sites in the body improve following gastric bypass surgery

Roux-en-Y, the most common type of gastric bypass surgery, can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes along with weight loss. A new study in the American Journal of Physiology—Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology examines why, finding that insulin sensitivity of the main glucose (sugar) storage sites in the body improve after gastric bypass surgery.

5 Oct 2015

International team of scientists create world's largest catalog of genomic variations among humans

An international team of scientists from the 1000 Genomes Project Consortium has created the world's largest catalog of genomic differences among humans, providing researchers with powerful clues to help them establish why some people are susceptible to various diseases. While most differences in peoples' genomes - called variants - are harmless, some are beneficial, while others contribute to diseases and conditions, ranging from cognitive disabilities to susceptibilities to cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other disorders.

1 Oct 2015

Experimental drug shows promise in mice with multiple sclerosis

An experimental drug originally identified in a National Cancer Institute library of chemical compounds as a potential therapy for brain and basal cell cancers improves the symptoms of mice with a form of the debilitating neurological disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research from NYU Langone Medical Center.

1 Oct 2015

Two studies identify promising new anti-retroviral strategy to combat HIV-1

A pair of studies by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the University of Trento in Italy, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, point to a promising new anti-retroviral strategy for combating HIV-1.

1 Oct 2015

Presence of blood eosinophilia during NEC predicts life-threatening complications for preemies

Premature infants have heightened risks of deadly diseases because their organs and immune systems are not fully developed. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a major gastrointestinal disease that causes the intestines to die, is a leading cause of death among these infants and is the most the common disease for babies born before 32 weeks.

1 Oct 2015

Researchers discover new way to stop cancer cells from spreading

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the University of Copenhagen have discovered a new way to potentially 'fence in' a tumour and help stop cancer cells spreading, according to a Cancer Research UK funded study published in EMBO Reports today, (Thursday).

1 Oct 2015

Researchers identify new gene locus that may protect children from developing malaria in Africa

Published today in Nature, the findings detail a new gene locus that can explain why, in communities where everyone is constantly exposed to malaria, some children develop severe malaria and others don't. Now, researchers can be sure that this particular stretch of our DNA plays a crucial role in the progression of the disease.

1 Oct 2015

Researchers discover five new genetic variants associated with brain cancer

The biggest ever study of DNA from people with glioma - the most common form of brain cancer - has discovered five new genetic variants associated with the disease.

1 Oct 2015

Scientists make progress toward finding new ways to 'smell' signs of cancer

Scientists have been exploring new ways to "smell" signs of cancer by analyzing what's in patients' breath. In ACS' journal Nano Letters, one team now reports new progress toward this goal. The researchers have developed a small array of flexible sensors, which accurately detect compounds in breath samples that are specific to ovarian cancer.

1 Oct 2015

Advanced targeted therapies dominate treatment pipeline for colorectal cancer, finds Frost & Sullivan

A vast number and variety of remedies are steadily joining the treatment pipeline for colorectal cancer. High incidence of the disease, unmet clinical needs, and huge commercial potential are attracting drug developers to the market.

1 Oct 2015

Medical Science News

U of T study provides hope for treating ALS and FTD

Sexual activity causes physiological changes in the body that increase women's chances of getting pregnant

Researchers design specialized catheter for fixing holes in the heart

Novel computational strategy may help identify genetic variants that cause disease in children

Paradigm failure is primary reason for lack of progress in cancer research, says cancer biologist

Songbirds may help researchers find cure for Huntington’s disease

Targeting protein used by tumors to help detect food supplies could restrict cancerous cells' ability to grow

Genetic polymorphisms may serve as prognostic markers for lung cancer

Researchers identify role of microglia during early stages of Alzheimer's disease

UNC researchers find association between gut microbiota and anorexia nervosa

Insulin sensitivity of main glucose storage sites in the body improve following gastric bypass surgery

International team of scientists create world's largest catalog of genomic variations among humans

Experimental drug shows promise in mice with multiple sclerosis

Two studies identify promising new anti-retroviral strategy to combat HIV-1

Presence of blood eosinophilia during NEC predicts life-threatening complications for preemies

Researchers discover new way to stop cancer cells from spreading

Researchers identify new gene locus that may protect children from developing malaria in Africa

Researchers discover five new genetic variants associated with brain cancer

Scientists make progress toward finding new ways to 'smell' signs of cancer

Advanced targeted therapies dominate treatment pipeline for colorectal cancer, finds Frost & Sullivan

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