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New method to determine the “selective signature” of a gene

Scientists at MIT have come up with a mathematical approach for analyzing a protein simultaneously in a set of ecologically distinct species to identify occurrences of natural selection in an organism's evolution.

19 Mar 2008

$Variants of the gene LRP5 associated with increased risk of bone fractures, low bone mineral density$

Variants of the gene LRP5 associated with increased risk of bone fractures, low bone mineral density

Results from a large study indicate that variants of the gene LRP5 are associated with a significant increase in the risk of fractures, by up to 20 percent, and lower levels of bone mineral density in the spine and hip, according to a study in the March 19 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Genetics and Genomics.

19 Mar 2008

Silencing gene in tobacco plants reduces harmful carcinogens

In large-scale field trials, scientists from North Carolina State University have shown that silencing a specific gene in burley tobacco plants significantly reduces harmful carcinogens in cured tobacco leaves.

19 Mar 2008

Most women unaware of uterine fibroid embolization

A study presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting shows of 105 patients in the Atlanta metro area, only 18 percent of the women who saw a private practice gynecologist were told about uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive treatment for uterine fibroids provided by interventional radiologists.

19 Mar 2008

FDA sends approvable letter for Ceftobiprole as treatment of complicated skin infections

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), has announced that it received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its New Drug Application (NDA) for ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot infections.

19 Mar 2008

Family communication impacts attitude about genetic counseling/testing for breast cancer

Whether or not relatives talk about the family's history of cancer significantly impacts attitudes and knowledge about genetic counseling and testing for those at moderate risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new preliminary study presented today at the American Society for Preventive Oncology meeting in Bethesda, Md.

19 Mar 2008

Europeans can now check out on-line the credentials of laboratories offering genetic tests

Over the last two years, EuroGentest, an EU-funded project, has collated in-dept data on the majority of the 1500 + laboratories involved in Member and associated EU States. This data is now freely searcheable as part of the new version of Orpha.net, the leading public portal for rare disease information launched today.

19 Mar 2008

Psychological stress resulting from the traumatic stress may damage this brain

Individuals who experience military combat obviously endure extreme stress, and this exposure leaves many diagnosed with the psychiatric condition of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

19 Mar 2008

Do bacterial combinations result in enhanced cytokine production? No!

Probiotic bacteria, defined as living microorganisms that have beneficial effects on human health, have been used for the prevention and treatment of a diverse range of disorders.

19 Mar 2008

Discovery alters long standing concept of fixed protein structure

The thousands of proteins found in nature are simply strings of amino acids, assembled by genes, and scientists have long believed that they automatically fold themselves into uniquely fixed, 3-dimensional shapes to fire the engine of life.

19 Mar 2008

Cutting edge computing sheds light on how life on earth may have originated

The UK's national computing grid, along with their counterparts in the US (TeraGrid) and Europe have helped UCL (University College London) scientists shed light on how life on earth may have originated.

19 Mar 2008

Treating chronic post-traumatic stress disorder with psychotherapy

A randomized controlled trial by Lyon investigators discloses the difficulties in treating chronic posttraumatic stress disorder with psychotherapy in the March issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

19 Mar 2008

At home genomic tests for disease risk may be premature

The recent marketing of "at home" genomic tests for disease risk may be premature, according to Dr. Kenneth Offit, MD, MPH, Chief of the Clinical Genetics Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

19 Mar 2008

New method of pancreaticojejunostomy with a fast-absorbable suture material

A soft pancreatic texture with a narrow pancreatic ductal size creates a high risk for the development of a pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy, often leading to death.

19 Mar 2008

Drunkorexia - the next thing to worry about!

In a worrying new trend experts are concerned that some young women are replacing food with alcohol.

18 Mar 2008

For convicted drug users prison does more harm than good

Experts in the UK say sending convicted drug users to prison does more harm than good.

18 Mar 2008

WHO warns the fight against TB has slowed down

A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on tuberculosis (TB) has revealed that the pace of the progress to control the TB epidemic has slowed down.

18 Mar 2008

UK doctors warned to not allow personal beliefs to affect patients' treatment

Family doctors in Britain have been told not to allow their personal, religious or moral beliefs to affect a patients' treatment.

18 Mar 2008

Zebrafish enables cell regeneration studies to help understand, treat human disease

One aquarium fish's uncanny ability to regenerate essentially any cell type has given scientists a way to mimic cell loss that occurs in diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes then watch how the fish make more of them.

18 Mar 2008

Sex, age, burn site associated with abnormal scarring after burn injury

Sex, age, burn site, number of surgical procedures and the type of skin graft are associated with abnormal scarring following burns, according to a report in the March/April 2008 issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

18 Mar 2008