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Nanotechnology approaches to solve major problems on global scale: Report

Nanotechnology refers to a broad range of tools, techniques and applications that simply involve particles on the approximate size scale of a few to hundreds of nanometers in diameter. Particles of this size have some unique physicochemical and surface properties that lend themselves to novel uses. Indeed, advocates of nanotechnology suggest that this area of research could contribute to solutions for some of the major problems we face on the global scale such as ensuring a supply of safe drinking water for a growing population, as well as addressing issues in medicine, energy, and agriculture.

29 Jul 2010

Loss of key nerve cells cause Parkinson's disease: Research

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a molecular pathway responsible for the death of key nerve cells whose loss causes Parkinson's disease. This discovery not only may explain how a genetic mutation linked to Parkinson's causes the cells' death, but could also open the door to new therapeutic approaches for the malady.

29 Jul 2010

Scientists study mutant protein lump formation process to control brain cell death

Australian scientists have identified the behaviour of the mutant protein 'huntingtin' which leads to the fatal Huntington's disease providing potential targets to treat the disease, a University of Melbourne study reveals.

29 Jul 2010

Etubics enters Phase I trials for next generation vector vaccines

Etubics Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation vector vaccines, has entered into Phase I trials at Duke University with its ETBX-011, a therapeutic vaccine candidate that is intended to treat Carcinoembryonic Antigen expressing cancers such as colorectal cancer. Etubics dosed its first patient yesterday. Etubics was recently granted clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Investigational New Drug application to begin studying ETBX-011 in humans.

29 Jul 2010

CMX157 shows potential to suppress replication of HIV in Phase 1 clinical trial

Chimerix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced the publication of research results demonstrating the potential of CMX157 (hexadecyloxypropyl tenofovir) to effectively suppress replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that cannot be treated with currently available nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread), due to the development of multi-drug resistance. Earlier this year, Chimerix initiated a dose-escalating Phase 1 clinical trial of CMX-157 to evaluate drug safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics.

29 Jul 2010

Increased SIRT1 protein can delay delay aging, extend lifespan

Researchers watched two groups of mice, both nearing the end of a two-day fast. One group was quietly huddled together, but the other group was active and alert. The difference? The second set of mice had been engineered so their brains produced more SIRT1, a protein known to play a role in aging and longevity.

29 Jul 2010

Athersys reports positive results from MultiStem phase I clinical trial in heart attack patients

Athersys, Inc. announced today positive results from its phase I clinical trial of MultiStem®, its allogeneic cell therapy product, administered to individuals following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), more commonly referred to as a heart attack. The study results, based on four months of post-treatment patient data, demonstrate that MultiStem was well tolerated at all dose levels and also suggest improvement in heart function in treated patients.

29 Jul 2010

Inhibition of MMPs can offer therapeutic benefit in Huntington's disease: Study

A new study reveals that an enzyme linked with multiple disorders is also involved in the generation of toxic, neuron-killing protein fragments in Huntington's disease (HD). The research, published by Cell Press in the July 29 issue of Neuron, provides insight into Huntington's pathology and proposes new therapeutic strategies for this devastating incurable disease.

29 Jul 2010

Aggressive prostate cancer patients tend to retain denser bones

Men who develop prostate cancer, especially the more aggressive and dangerous forms that spread throughout the body, tend to retain denser bones as they age than men who stay free of the disease, suggests new research from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

29 Jul 2010

Scientists identify new catalytic process to create pharmaceuticals with less chemical waste

Much like two children in the back seat of a car, it can be challenging to get two catalysts to cooperate for the greater good. Now Northwestern University chemists have gotten two catalysts to work together on the same task -- something easily done by nature but a difficult thing to do in the laboratory.The findings, published by the journal Nature Chemistry, will allow medicinal chemists to invent new reactions and produce valuable bioactive compounds faster with less impact on the environment.

29 Jul 2010

Limerick to announce new results from LIM-0705 human trials at 23rd Transplantation Society congress

Limerick BioPharma, Inc., a developer of innovative therapies that help cells pump out unwanted or toxic substances, will announce new results from human trials of its lead compound, LIM-0705, at the 23rd International Congress of the Transplantation Society in Vancouver, Canada, in an oral presentation on August 19, 2010.

29 Jul 2010

HemoBioTech receives patent for HemoTech treatment of acute blood loss

HemoBioTech announced today the issuance of a new patent US 7,759,306 B2, Methods of Treating Acute Blood Loss. HemoBioTech has an exclusive worldwide license from Texas Tech University to commercialize the technology. The new patent continues to May 16, 2026. The major advance in HemoTech is the presence of Adenosine which has anti-inflammatory activity.

29 Jul 2010

Vitro Diagnostics, Mokshagundam Biotechnologies enter contract to develop stem cell-derived food

Vitro Diagnostics, Inc., dba Vitro Biopharma, announced that it has entered into a contract with Mokshagundam Biotechnologies, a private research organization established to develop alternative meat sources, to develop cell culture medium for use in exploration of alternative food sources derived from stem cells.

28 Jul 2010

The neck played major role in evolution of human brain: Study

By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck - that little body part between your head and shoulders - gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to New York University and Cornell University neuroscientists in the online journal Nature Communications (July 27, 2010.)

28 Jul 2010

Human insulin-producing beta cell replication sustained with single stimulatory molecule: Study

With a single stimulatory molecule, human insulin-producing beta cell replication can be sustained for at least four weeks in a mouse model of diabetes, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Diabetes, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.

28 Jul 2010

Positive results from study with Genome Sequencer FLX System for HIV drug-resistant mutation detection

454 Life Sciences, a Roche Company, has announced promising new results from a multi-site collaborative research study which used the company's Genome Sequencer FLX System to perform HIV drug-resistant mutation detection.

28 Jul 2010

NCKU engineers and physical therapy experts develop rehabilitation robots

Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, has developed rehabilitation robots by integrating the experience of physical therapy experts at NCKU Hospital, opening a new road for stroke patients' rehabilitation.

28 Jul 2010

Research on impact of BCL2 markers on breast cancer tumours

A new predictive marker which could help doctors to decide whether breast cancer patients would benefit from chemotherapy has been identified by a team of scientists.The study, part-funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Wednesday), shows for the first time how this molecular marker has been singled out as an independent factor in examining a breast cancer patient's tumour.

28 Jul 2010

ACS names Chemistry Nobel Laureate as winner of 2011 Priestley Medal

Ahmed H. Zewail, Ph.D., 1999 Chemistry Nobel Laureate and Linus Pauling Professor of Chemistry & Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology, has been named winner of the 2011 Priestley Medal by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

28 Jul 2010

Scientists unveil nanoparticle for photoacoustic imaging

Spotting a single cancerous cell that has broken free from a tumor and is traveling through the bloodstream to colonize a new organ might seem like finding a needle in a haystack. But a new imaging technique from the University of Washington is a first step toward making this possible.UW researchers have developed a multifunctional nanoparticle that eliminates the background noise, enabling a more precise form of medical imaging - essentially erasing the haystack, so the needle shines through. A successful demonstration with photoacoustic imaging was reported today (July 27) in the journal Nature Communications.

28 Jul 2010