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Novel adenovirus-based gene therapy for renal cell carcinoma

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) have developed a novel virus-based gene therapy for renal cell carcinoma that has been shown to kill cancer cells not only at the primary tumor site but also in distant tumors not directly infected by the virus. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer in adults and currently there is no effective treatment for the disease once it has spread outside of the kidney.

16 Dec 2010

Synthetic derivative of curry spice can be effective neuroprotective for stroke and TBI

A synthetic derivative of the curry spice turmeric, made by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, dramatically improves the behavioral and molecular deficits seen in animal models of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury.

16 Dec 2010

BPA exposure reduces quality of womens' eggs retrieved for IVF

A small-scale University of California, San Francisco-led study has identified the first evidence in humans that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may compromise the quality of a woman's eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilization (IVF). As blood levels of BPA in the women studied doubled, the percentage of eggs that fertilized normally declined by 50 percent, according to the research team.

16 Dec 2010

Scientists discover potential strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy

By determining what goes missing in human cells when the gene that is most commonly mutated in pancreatic cancer gets turned on, Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered a potential strategy for therapy.

15 Dec 2010

Almonds can help treat, prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

With nearly 16 million Americans living today with pre-diabetes, a condition that is the precursor to type 2 diabetes, and half of all Americans expected to have some form of diabetes by the year 2020, healthy eating is more important than ever. But here is some good news: a recent scientific study shows that incorporating almonds into your diet can help treat and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease.

15 Dec 2010

MDA supports Repligen with $1.4M grant for RG3039 Spinal Muscular Atrophy development program

Repligen Corporation today announced that the Company has received $1,400,000 in research funding from the Muscular Dystrophy Association ("MDA") to support the ongoing development of RG3039 for Spinal Muscular Atrophy ("SMA"). RG3039, our lead compound, is an inhibitor of an RNA processing enzyme which targets increased production of SMN, a protein of deficient levels in patients with SMA.

15 Dec 2010

Protein p53 plays crucial role in coordinated growth of organ parts

In studies conducted on the fruit fly, researchers at IRB Barcelona headed by ICREA Professor Marco Milán have revealed that organs have the molecular mechanisms to control their proportions. In this process the protein p53 plays a crucial role. The study is published today in the prestigious journal PLoS Biology.

15 Dec 2010

Targeting mutant BRAF can kill cancer cells, but cannot finish off melanoma

This past summer saw a revolution in melanoma therapy. Patients whose melanoma lesions contain a mutation in the BRAF gene were successfully treated with a BRAF-specific inhibitor, PLX4032. Reports of the drug trial described shrinking tumors and improved health. Yet seven months after therapy began the tumors returned and resumed growing. Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute explain why: the tumor learns to signal around the blocked gene by adjusting its molecular wiring.

15 Dec 2010

New report on improving outcome of pregnancy

Moms and babies everywhere deserve high quality health care, and a new report from the March of Dimes and its partners offers providers a vision for how to offer top-notch services while giving moms practical tips to help them make smart choices.

15 Dec 2010

Innovative research investigates importance of reading to newborns in the NICU

The first few days after birth is an important time when babies learn to recognize the sound of their parents' voice and the parents in turn bond with their children. However, the separation between parents and newborns admitted to the intensive care unit can be very difficult and can disrupt the early development of this relationship.

15 Dec 2010

Develogen enters license, collaboration agreement with MedImmune on insulin beta cell regeneration

Evotec AG today announced that via its subsidiary Develogen AG it has entered into a license and collaboration agreement with MedImmune (the global biologics unit of AstraZeneca), in the diabetes therapeutic area, with a particular focus on the regeneration of insulin producing beta cells. The license gives MedImmune exclusive access to a portfolio of research programs and represents the first deal executed by Evotec on beta cell regeneration assets and capabilities.

15 Dec 2010

RPCI forms Photolitec to develop photosensitizing compounds used in photodynamic therapy

Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) on December 13, 2010, announced the formation of Photolitec, LLC, a new life-sciences company at RPCI that will develop photosensitizing compounds used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT is an innovative cancer treatment pioneered at RPCI by scientist Thomas J. Dougherty, Chief Emeritus of the Institute's Photodynamic Therapy Center.

15 Dec 2010

African sleeping sickness parasite's previously unrecognized extreme social behavior discovered

Long considered a freewheeling loner, the Trypanosoma brucei parasite responsible for African sleeping sickness has revealed a totally unexpected social side, opening a potential chink in the behavioral armor of this and other supposedly solitary human parasites, according to research presented at the American Society for Cell Biology's 50th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

15 Dec 2010

Anoles key to medically applicable regeneration?

Anolis lizards first entered Arizona State University biologist Kenro Kusumi's life in 1980 when, as a member of a junior curator program, he recorded in his field notebook that he had found an Anolis egg on a field trip. Kusumi still has those notes, along with other memorabilia that document the influence that both his early life and more recent experiences have had on his current pursuits in developmental biology.

15 Dec 2010

Researchers examine expression of toxic mRNA in patients with Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome

Expression of a toxic RNA that leads to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome is modifiable by genetic or pharmacologic means, according to new research from U-M Medical School scientists.

15 Dec 2010

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Cold plasma jets could be a safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections, says a study published this week in the January issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

15 Dec 2010

Researchers develop synthetic circuits to detect changes in state of health

Using yeast cells, a group of researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has taken a groundbreaking step towards being able to build complex systems in the future where the body's own cells help to keep us healthy.

15 Dec 2010

DSM licenses c-LEcta's alcohol dehydrogenases for enzyme screening programs

DSM Pharmaceutical Products, the custom manufacturing organization of Royal DSM NV, today announces a license agreement with c-LEcta GmbH for proprietary screening technology.

15 Dec 2010

Study broadens understanding of role of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in AML

Agios Pharmaceuticals, the leading biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs in the rapidly emerging field of cancer metabolism, today announced the publication of a paper in Cancer Cell that illuminates the mechanism by which 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), and the mutations in the metabolic genes IDH1 and IDH2 that produce it, may be driving the growth of tumors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

15 Dec 2010

New hypothesis emphasizes the value of anti-inflammatory approaches to prevent Alzheimer's disease

Karl Herrup thinks that the national research effort to understand Alzheimer-s disease has gone about as far as it can go with its current theories.

15 Dec 2010

Medical Science News

Novel adenovirus-based gene therapy for renal cell carcinoma

Synthetic derivative of curry spice can be effective neuroprotective for stroke and TBI

BPA exposure reduces quality of womens' eggs retrieved for IVF

Scientists discover potential strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy

Almonds can help treat, prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

MDA supports Repligen with $1.4M grant for RG3039 Spinal Muscular Atrophy development program

Protein p53 plays crucial role in coordinated growth of organ parts

Targeting mutant BRAF can kill cancer cells, but cannot finish off melanoma

New report on improving outcome of pregnancy

Innovative research investigates importance of reading to newborns in the NICU

Develogen enters license, collaboration agreement with MedImmune on insulin beta cell regeneration

RPCI forms Photolitec to develop photosensitizing compounds used in photodynamic therapy

African sleeping sickness parasite's previously unrecognized extreme social behavior discovered

Anoles key to medically applicable regeneration?

Researchers examine expression of toxic mRNA in patients with Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Researchers develop synthetic circuits to detect changes in state of health

DSM licenses c-LEcta's alcohol dehydrogenases for enzyme screening programs

Study broadens understanding of role of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in AML

New hypothesis emphasizes the value of anti-inflammatory approaches to prevent Alzheimer's disease

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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