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Study on fruit flies may help in understanding the root cause of stem cell diseases

The body is a battle zone. Cells constantly compete with one another for space and dominance. Though the manner in which some cells win this competition is well known to be the survival of the fittest, how stem cells duke it out for space and survival is not as clear.

5 Dec 2009

Comparative study on African monkeys may provide novel targets for AIDS therapy

Two studies published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation provide a significant advance in understanding how some species of monkeys such as sooty mangabeys and African green monkeys avoid AIDS when infected with SIV, the simian equivalent of HIV.

5 Dec 2009

Researchers discover two new metabolic pathways

Case Western Reserve University researchers, from the School of Medicine's Department of Nutrition, discovered two new metabolic pathways by which products of lipid peroxidation and some drugs of abuse, known as 4-hydroxyacids, are metabolized.

5 Dec 2009

'Twist' gene plays a key role in the development of breast cancer

Working with mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins publishing in the December issue of Neoplasia have shown that a protein made by a gene called "Twist" may be the proverbial red flag that can accurately distinguish stem cells that drive aggressive, metastatic breast cancer from other breast cancer cells.

5 Dec 2009

Statins may help protect stem cell transplant patients from GVHD

Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are among the most prescribed medicines in the U.S. Now a new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center indicates that statins may protect stem cell transplant patients from one of the most serious complications of the life-saving cancer therapy: graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD. The findings are reported in the Nov. 4 first edition of the journal Blood.

5 Dec 2009

'Brain advantages' for effective business leadership

Business leaders are in charge-of people, of budgets, of production lines. Most leaders also believe that they are in charge of their greatest resource-their own brain. But how true is that? The more we understand about how the brain works, the clearer it becomes that often our brain kicks in before we do.

5 Dec 2009

New study helps understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing

A new study of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing could help to understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing.

5 Dec 2009

ACAMP hosts health and medical seminar

Today ACAMP hosted a health & medical seminar, explaining how technologies like nanotechnology, biomaterials and microfluidics can play a powerful role in the creation of innovative healthcare products that help promote health and improve the quality, cost and outcomes of patient care, while opening new markets for Alberta companies worldwide.

4 Dec 2009

Abnormal EEG waveforms in neurological disorder patients can now be better understood

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is widely used by physicians and scientists to study brain function and to diagnose neurological disorders. However, it has remained largely unknown whether the electrodes on the head give an exact view of what is happening inside the brain.

4 Dec 2009

Silicon to transport drugs in the human body: a novel drug delivery method under development

Several Finnish universities have joined forces to develop an innovative drug delivery method that utilises silicon to transport drugs in the human body. Among other advances, the project has been able to sustain the effect of peptides controlling appetite, which may facilitate the use of nanotechnology for dieting purposes. The research is being carried out as part of the Academy of Finland's Research Programme on Nanoscience (FinNano).

4 Dec 2009

MoneyTV features bioengineering and stem cell topics this week

Bioengineering, extracting health products from waste tobacco, stem cells, unemployment, wind energy; this week on MoneyTV, hosted by anchor Donald Baillargeon.

4 Dec 2009

Humans and mice have critical differences in gene responsible for DMD

Humans and mice have previously unknown and potentially critical differences in one of the genes responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Biology have found that two major features of a key DMD gene are present in most mammals, including humans, but are specifically absent in mice and rats, calling into question the use of the mouse as the principal model animal for studying DMD.

4 Dec 2009

PRP shows strong potential for accelerated healing of dental implant procedures

An exciting treatment gaining acceptance in orthopedics and sports medicine, called platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP), is showing strong potential for accelerated healing of dental implant procedures, according to a prominent dental researcher and editor of the Journal of Oral Implantology.

4 Dec 2009

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine have pinpointed a mechanism that may help explain how chromosomal translocations - the supposedly random shuffling of large chunks of DNA that frequently lead to cancer - aren't so random after all. They have developed a model of such chromosomal mix-ups in prostate cancer which indicates that the male sex hormone (androgen) receptor unexpectedly plays a key role in driving specific translocations in the development of cancer.

4 Dec 2009

Research study shows usage of stem cell-based therapies for treating age-related macular degeneration

An international team of scientists has rescued visual function in laboratory rats with eye disease by using cells similar to stem cells. The research shows the potential for stem cell-based therapies to treat age-related macular degeneration in humans.

4 Dec 2009

New step in the proofreading process that helps maintain accuracy of DNA replication identified

Wayne State researchers have for the first time observed the movement of a single molecule of DNA polymerase as it incorporates nucleotides one by one. More significantly, they have identified a previously unknown step that they speculate is part of the proofreading process known to prevent the polymerase from producing cancer-causing mutations.

4 Dec 2009

New SPC3649 drug found effective in treating HCV infections

In a dramatic finding, a new drug for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections that targets liver cells produced a substantial drop in blood levels of the virus in animals and continued to work up to several months after treatment, say scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in San Antonio.

4 Dec 2009

Santaris Pharma's LNA technology based microRNA-targeted therapy holds promise for HCV

A study published online in this week's Science shows that SPC3649, a breakthrough microRNA-targeted therapy developed by Santaris Pharma A/S using its proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology, holds promise as a novel treatment for patients infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

4 Dec 2009

Findings suggest severity of atherosclerosis depends on the rate of white blood cell migration

By measuring the total gene activity in organs relevant for coronary artery disease (CAD), scientists at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have identified a module of genes that is important for the recruitment of white blood cells into the atherosclerotic plaque.

4 Dec 2009

Scientists discover mechanism by which E6 oncoprotein of high-risk HPV16 promotes carcinogenesis

In the 1980s, Harald zur Hausen and his co-workers discovered that specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause cervical cancer. Scientists soon found out how these pathogens cause cells to degenerate. It is known today that the main culprits are viral proteins E6 and E7. Both proteins switch off different cellular control functions, thus promoting cell growth.

4 Dec 2009

Medical Science News

Study on fruit flies may help in understanding the root cause of stem cell diseases

Comparative study on African monkeys may provide novel targets for AIDS therapy

Researchers discover two new metabolic pathways

'Twist' gene plays a key role in the development of breast cancer

Statins may help protect stem cell transplant patients from GVHD

'Brain advantages' for effective business leadership

New study helps understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing

ACAMP hosts health and medical seminar

Abnormal EEG waveforms in neurological disorder patients can now be better understood

Silicon to transport drugs in the human body: a novel drug delivery method under development

MoneyTV features bioengineering and stem cell topics this week

Humans and mice have critical differences in gene responsible for DMD

PRP shows strong potential for accelerated healing of dental implant procedures

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

Research study shows usage of stem cell-based therapies for treating age-related macular degeneration

New step in the proofreading process that helps maintain accuracy of DNA replication identified

New SPC3649 drug found effective in treating HCV infections

Santaris Pharma's LNA technology based microRNA-targeted therapy holds promise for HCV

Findings suggest severity of atherosclerosis depends on the rate of white blood cell migration

Scientists discover mechanism by which E6 oncoprotein of high-risk HPV16 promotes carcinogenesis

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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