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Experts to share insights on the integration of science, psychotherapy and spirituality

Neuroscience is the new buzzword in the world of psychotherapy, yet distinguishing between true innovation and mere speculation can be difficult. In a new program at the 2014 iaedp Symposium in St. Petersburg, Florida (February 26-March 2), keynote speakers, Carolyn Costin, MFt, MA, MEd, CEDS and Joan Borysenko, PhD, will share their insights on the integration of science, psychotherapy and spirituality.

27 Dec 2013

Magnetic nanoparticles-based method uses saliva to screen DNA polymorphism in stroke patients

C677T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is a risk factor for stroke. Studies have report a higher C677T homozygosity frequency in Chinese than in Europeans. Usually, the detection of genetic diseases is rather complicated on a large scale owing to the invasive sampling and a cumbersome DNA extraction process.

27 Dec 2013

Research shows that human brains stumble on even the simplest rule-based calculations

Even scientists are fond of thinking of the human brain as a computer, following sets of rules to communicate, make decisions and find a meal.

24 Dec 2013

Hypoxic preconditioning has protective effects against acute cerebral infarction

Hypoxic preconditioning has been shown to have protective effects against acute cerebral infarction. To investigate the protective mechanisms of hypoxic preconditioning in relation to its effects on angiogenesis, Prof. Xunming Ji and team from Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University in China induced a photochemical model of cerebral infarction in an inbred line of mice (BALB/c) which were exposed to hypoxic preconditioning prior to model establishment.

24 Dec 2013

Cell transplantation, gene therapy combination to open new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease

In a recent study published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 33, 2013), Prof. Feng Li and team from Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University in China, synthesized a 19-nt oligonucleotide targeting BACE1, the key enzyme in amyloid beta protein (Aβ) production, and introduced it into the pSilenCircle vector to construct a short hairpin (shRNA) expression plasmid against the BACE1 gene.

24 Dec 2013

Study explores how genetic sequencing can help fight new strains of flu

Published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, senior author, Associate Professor Katherine Kedzierska from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology said that being able to predict which patients will be more susceptible to the emerging influenza strain, will allow clinicians to better manage an early intervention strategy.

24 Dec 2013

Fluidigm announces universal sample prep workflow for single-cell DNA sequencing

Fluidigm Corporation today announced a universal sample prep workflow for single-cell DNA sequencing that runs on its C1TM Single-Cell Auto Prep System. This workflow streamlines targeted, whole exome and whole genome sequencing in heterogeneous cell populations and enables researchers to discover and screen somatic mutations, such as SNP, small indels, and translocations.

24 Dec 2013

Transplanting self-donated Schwann cells aids hind limb functional recovery

A study carried out at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for "The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis" has found that transplanting self-donated Schwann cells (SCs, the principal ensheathing cells of the nervous system) that are elongated so as to bridge scar tissue in the injured spinal cord, aids hind limb functional recovery in rats modeled with spinal cord injury.

24 Dec 2013

Study finds link between genes affected by testosterone and antibody responses to influenza vaccine

A new study has identified a link between certain genes affected by testosterone and antibody responses to an influenza vaccine. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that testosterone levels may partially explain why men often have weaker responses to vaccines than women.

24 Dec 2013

Changes to LZTR1 gene predispose people to develop schwannomas

Changes to a gene called LZTR1 predispose people to develop a rare disorder where multiple tumors called schwannomas form near nerve pathways, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Genetics and led by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

24 Dec 2013

Researchers report new gene delivery method that targets tumor blood vessels

Working in mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report developing a gene delivery method long sought in the field of gene therapy: a deactivated virus carrying a gene of interest that can be injected into the bloodstream and make its way to the right cells.

24 Dec 2013

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

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

Researchers examine link between pregnant mothers eating peanuts, tree nuts and risk of allergies in kids

Children appear to be less at risk for developing peanut or tree nut (P/TN) allergies if their mothers are not allergic and ate more nuts during pregnancy, according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics, 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

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

Melanocyte-secreted fibromodulin promotes angiogenic microenvironment

The decreased vision loss that accompanies age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. Frequencies of AMD development are different among racial backgrounds, with occurrence of AMD highest among individuals of mixed European decent.

22 Dec 2013

PAZ extracts may be useful option for improving plasma cholesterol profile

Health Enhancement Products, Inc., in conjunction with Wayne State University's Department of Nutrition and Food Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, announces the publication of a scientific article in the Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, "ProAlgaZyme sub-fraction improves the lipoprotein profile of hypercholesterolemic hamsters, while inhibiting production of betaine, carnitine, and choline metabolites."

22 Dec 2013

Medical Science News

Experts to share insights on the integration of science, psychotherapy and spirituality

Magnetic nanoparticles-based method uses saliva to screen DNA polymorphism in stroke patients

Research shows that human brains stumble on even the simplest rule-based calculations

Hypoxic preconditioning has protective effects against acute cerebral infarction

Cell transplantation, gene therapy combination to open new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease

Study explores how genetic sequencing can help fight new strains of flu

Fluidigm announces universal sample prep workflow for single-cell DNA sequencing

Transplanting self-donated Schwann cells aids hind limb functional recovery

Study finds link between genes affected by testosterone and antibody responses to influenza vaccine

Changes to LZTR1 gene predispose people to develop schwannomas

Researchers report new gene delivery method that targets tumor blood vessels

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition beneficial to cardiac regeneration

Research findings reveal how immune system responds to respiratory viral infections

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

Researchers examine link between pregnant mothers eating peanuts, tree nuts and risk of allergies in kids

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Genetic screening identifies genes driving resistance with guide RNA library

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

Melanocyte-secreted fibromodulin promotes angiogenic microenvironment

PAZ extracts may be useful option for improving plasma cholesterol profile

Microphysiological systems in drug discovery

Considerations for taking ASO discovery programs into animal models

Neurofilament light as a translational biomarker

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