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Junk DNA plays important role in brain development

Specific DNA once dismissed as junk plays an important role in brain development and might be involved in several devastating neurological diseases, UC San Francisco scientists have found.

16 Apr 2013

Study shows taste of alcoholic drink can elicit dopamine activity in brain's reward centers

The taste of beer, without any effect from alcohol itself, can trigger dopamine release in the brain, which is associated with drinking and other drugs of abuse, according to Indiana University School of Medicine researchers.

16 Apr 2013

Bioactive plasma-based biomaterials can accelerate tissue healing

Platelet-rich plasma derived from blood contains growth factors and other bioactive molecules that promote healing at sites of tissue injury. However, it is difficult to deliver and retain these molecules at a target site, and clinical results have proven to be mixed - until now.

16 Apr 2013

Working-memory training can improve range of skills, new study reveals

A brain-training task that increases the number of items an individual can remember over a short period of time may boost performance in other problem-solving tasks by enhancing communication between different brain areas.

16 Apr 2013

Unique modification to microtubules makes nerve cells' cytoskeleton singularly robust

How do nerve cells -- which can each be up to three feet long in humans -- keep from rupturing or falling apart?

16 Apr 2013

Study: p38α MAPK protein functions as important switch to drive inflammatory responses in brain

Even a mild injury to the brain can have long lasting consequences, including increased risk of cognitive impairment later in life. While it is not yet known how brain injury increases risk for dementia, there are indications that chronic, long-lasting, inflammation in the brain may be important.

16 Apr 2013

Protein helps leukemia cells avoid effects of chemotherapy by appearing dormant

A new study on how the progression of acute lymphocytic leukemia is influenced by the bone marrow environment has demonstrated for the first time that targeting a specialized protein known as osteopontin may be an effective strategy to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with this type of blood cancer.

16 Apr 2013

Study finds link between C-peptide levels, heart disease and death in nondiabetic people

High blood levels of the serum C-peptide are linked to heart disease and death in people without diabetes, according to a large study published in CMAJ.

16 Apr 2013

Women with sufficient amounts of vitamin D less likely to develop uterine fibroids

Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

16 Apr 2013

Researchers find three new regions of genome that influence obesity in people of African descent

The largest genetic search for "obesity genes" in people of African ancestry has led to the discovery of three new regions of the human genome that influence obesity in these populations and others.

16 Apr 2013

Bioengineered kidneys transplanted into living rats produce urine

Bioengineered rat kidneys developed by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators successfully produced urine both in a laboratory apparatus and after being transplanted into living animals.

16 Apr 2013

Researchers discover new technique that directly converts skin cells into functional brain cells

Researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have discovered a technique that directly converts skin cells to the type of brain cells destroyed in patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other so-called myelin disorders.

15 Apr 2013

Researchers discover 14 new genetic variations associated with heart rate

Through a collaborative genome-wide study on individuals, researchers have discovered 14 new genetic variations that are associated with heart rate.

15 Apr 2013

New nanosponge safely removes dangerous toxins from bloodstream

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have invented a "nanosponge" capable of safely removing a broad class of dangerous toxins from the bloodstream - including toxins produced by MRSA, E. coli, poisonous snakes and bees.

15 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 15, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the Medicare provisions in the budget plan released last week by President Barack Obama as well as previews of the Supreme Court's consideration of arguments regarding whether human genes can be patented.

15 Apr 2013

EU-funded project examines environmental impact of nanosilver T-shirts

Silver has been used as biocide for medical purposes since the 1930s. Today nanometric size silver particles are used to prevent unpleasant odour caused by bacteria in sport shirts or socks.

15 Apr 2013

Researchers identify gene mutations responsible for subtype of childhood brain tumor

The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified mutations responsible for more than half of a subtype of childhood brain tumor that takes a high toll on patients.

15 Apr 2013

New data on T cells' protective role suggests need for new approach to dengue vaccine design

As efforts to create a strong and effective vaccine for the dreaded dengue virus continue to hit snags, a new study from researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology offers surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design.

15 Apr 2013

Researchers study gene that contributes to late-onset Alzheimer's disease in African-Americans

Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida participated in a nationwide study that found minor differences between genes that contribute to late-onset Alzheimer's disease in African-Americans and in Caucasians.

15 Apr 2013

Johns Hopkins researchers to highlight progress in genetic research at international meeting

Johns Hopkins genetics researchers Aravinda Chakravarti, Ph.D., and David Valle, M.D., will each present at the joint conference of the Human Genome Meeting 2013 and the 21st International Congress of Genetics.

15 Apr 2013

Medical Science News

Junk DNA plays important role in brain development

Study shows taste of alcoholic drink can elicit dopamine activity in brain's reward centers

Bioactive plasma-based biomaterials can accelerate tissue healing

Working-memory training can improve range of skills, new study reveals

Unique modification to microtubules makes nerve cells' cytoskeleton singularly robust

Study: p38α MAPK protein functions as important switch to drive inflammatory responses in brain

Protein helps leukemia cells avoid effects of chemotherapy by appearing dormant

Study finds link between C-peptide levels, heart disease and death in nondiabetic people

Women with sufficient amounts of vitamin D less likely to develop uterine fibroids

Researchers find three new regions of genome that influence obesity in people of African descent

Bioengineered kidneys transplanted into living rats produce urine

Researchers discover new technique that directly converts skin cells into functional brain cells

Researchers discover 14 new genetic variations associated with heart rate

New nanosponge safely removes dangerous toxins from bloodstream

First Edition: April 15, 2013

EU-funded project examines environmental impact of nanosilver T-shirts

Researchers identify gene mutations responsible for subtype of childhood brain tumor

New data on T cells' protective role suggests need for new approach to dengue vaccine design

Researchers study gene that contributes to late-onset Alzheimer's disease in African-Americans

Johns Hopkins researchers to highlight progress in genetic research at international meeting

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