Curing Death by Curing Aging - August 2007 Archives

Novel M.S. Drug Shows Promise In Two Lethal Leukemias (8/31/2007)

A new study suggests that an experimental drug being tested for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and to prevent organ rejection might also help people with certain deadly forms of chronic and acute leukemia. ...> Full Article

New cancer fighter may help ICU patients beat infections (8/31/2007)

HSP 90 inhibitors, which are finding favor in fighting cancer, may also help battle overwhelming infection in intensive care patients, researchers say. ...> Full Article

Researchers Locate Possible Diabetes Cause And Treatment (8/31/2007)

Researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a cause of type 2 diabetes and a possible method for counteracting the obesity-linked disease. The research, which has been conducted with mice, will now be investigated in other animals. The research was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health, and the Fogarty International Center. Results are printed in this week's edition of the scientific journal Nature. ...> Full Article

Mutant virus causing Australian gastro epidemic (8/31/2007)

Tens of thousands of people across Australia are likely to be caught up in a major new epidemic of viral gastroenteritis, UNSW and Prince of Wales Hospital researchers have warned. ...> Full Article

Research Shows Estrogen Protects Women's Brains Prior to Menopause: Ovary Removal Before Menopause Increases Risk of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism (8/31/2007)

Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that women who had one or both ovaries removed before menopause faced an increased long-term risk of Parkinson's disease and of several related conditions known as parkinsonism, compared to women who retained their ovaries. To protect against these conditions, estrogen replacement therapy may be warranted for women who had their ovaries removed before menopause. Ovaries are responsible for estrogen production. This study, the largest of its kind, appears in the Aug. 29 online edition of the journal Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ...> Full Article

Disease Resistance may be Genetic (8/31/2007)

According to a study in Evolution, resistance to certain infectious diseases may be passed genetically from parent to child. The genetic resistance may be beneficial to families as those with the gene are both unlikely to suffer from disease and unlikely to carry the disease home. Paul Schliekelman, author of the study, says the research was inspired by personal experience after catching stomach flus from his daughter three times over a six-month period. ...> Full Article

Improved Fertilization And Perhaps Gender Selection With New Sperm Sorting Technique (8/30/2007)

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and San Diego (UCSD), have developed a rapid new sorting technique for sperm using a laser trap that can separate stronger, faster sperm from slower sperm. Faster sperm are more likely to successfully fertilize an egg, so the technique could improve the chances of conception via in vitro fertilization by ensuring that only the fastest, strongest sperm are used. The technique could find wide application in animal husbandry and human fertility treatments. ...> Full Article

Ancient Probiotic Drink to be Tested in Young Children Receiving Antibiotics (8/30/2007)

Tests, being conducted by Georgetown University Medical Center researchers, will study whether kefir reduces diarrhea in children taking antibiotcs ...> Full Article

Discovery Could Help Stop Malaria at Its Source - the Mosquito (8/30/2007)

As summer temperatures cool in the United States, fewer mosquitoes whir around our tiki torches. But mosquitoes swarming around nearly 40 percent of the world's population will continue to spread a deadly parasitic disease �" malaria. Now an interdisciplinary team led by researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has found a key link that causes malarial infection in both humans and mosquitoes. ...> Full Article

Bleeding, Not Inflammation, Is Major Cause of Early Lung Infection Death (8/30/2007)

Researchers believe they have discovered why a bacterial lung infection is so lethal in the early stages, and it's not what medical authorities had thought, according to research published today in the journal Immunity. The study reveals for the first time that a toxin released by bacteria causes severe bleeding in the lungs by patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. It is the bleeding, the authors argue, not inflammation as once thought, which makes the infections deadly. The same study also reveals why antibiotics often fail to help prevent early death. ...> Full Article

New Cancer Weapon: Nuclear Nanocapsules (8/30/2007)

Rice University chemists have found a way to package some of nature's most powerful radioactive particles inside DNA-sized tubes of pure carbon -- a method they hope to use to target tiny tumors and even lone leukemia cells. ...> Full Article

Human Testes May Multiply Mutations (8/30/2007)

The testes in humans may act as mutation multipliers that raise the odds of passing improved DNA to offspring -- but that can also backfire by increasing the frequency of certain diseases. ...> Full Article

Novel Method Enables Genomic Screening of Blood Vessels from Patient Tissue (8/29/2007)

Scientists have developed a new method of capturing a complete genome-wide screening of blood vessel cells in their actual disease state, advancing the potential for genetic research on the tissue responsible for delivering nourishment that can accelerate the growth of both a cancer tumor or wound healing. ...> Full Article

Scientists reveal the actions of a key player in colorectal cancer (8/29/2007)

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the Western world. The tumor starts off as a polyp but then turns into an invasive and violent cancer, which often spreads to the liver. In an article recently published in the journal Cancer Research, Prof. Avri Ben-Ze'ev and Dr. Nancy Gavert of the Weizmann Institute's Molecular Cell Biology Department reveal mechanisms that help this cancer metastasize. ...> Full Article

Study confirms limited human-to-human spread of avian-flu virus in Indonesia in 2006 (8/29/2007)

New software will provide first real-time analysis of such infectious-disease outbreaks ...> Full Article

Researchers identify protein that may predict lupus (8/29/2007)

Certain families produce higher levels of a protein that may prime the body's immune system to attack itself, according to a new study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The findings could lead to new methods of predicting who may be at risk to develop the disease lupus. ...> Full Article

Aluminium in breast tissue - a possible factor in the cause of breast cancer (8/29/2007)

A new study has identified a regionally-specific distribution of aluminium in breast tissue which may have implications for the cause of breast cancer. ...> Full Article

Discovery may help defang viruses (8/29/2007)

Researchers may be able to tinker with a single amino acid of an enzyme that helps viruses multiply to render them harmless, according to molecular biologists who say the discovery could pave the way for a fast and cheap method of making vaccines. ...> Full Article

Breast cancer drugs: $21 million wasted (8/28/2007)

UNSW researchers have highlighted concerns about the clinical use and cost benefits of one of Australia's most expensive publicly-funded medicines, the anti-breast cancer drug Herceptin. ...> Full Article

Social Habits Of Cells May Hold Key To Fighting Diseases (8/28/2007)

Scientists in Manchester are working to change the social habits of living cells -- an innovation that could bring about cleaner and greener fuel and help fight diseases such as cancer and diabetes. ...> Full Article

Heart Damage Can Be Reversed with Early Treatment (8/28/2007)

University of Minnesota researchers have discovered that treating people who have early cardiovascular abnormalities, but show no symptoms of cardiovascular disease, can slow progression and even reverse damage to the heart and blood vessels. ...> Full Article

Black Raspberries May Help Prevent Esophageal Cancer (8/28/2007)

Black raspberries are highly effective in preventing the development of cancerous tumors, according to a study published in the October issue of Acta Pharmacologica Sinica published by Wiley-Blackwell. ...> Full Article

Study finds Viagra increases release of key reproductive hormone (8/27/2007)

The little blue pill may do more than get the blood pumping. Sildenafil - the generic name for Viagra - also increases release of a reproductive hormone in rats, according to a new study. ...> Full Article

Breast Cancer Decline Linked To Hormone Use (8/27/2007)

Decreased use of postmenopausal hormone therapy since 2002 - rather than a decrease in screening - has contributed to a decline in the recorded incidence of breast cancer in the United States, according to Patty Carney, Ph.D, Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute. ...> Full Article

Researchers Uncover Genetic Components of Aging (8/27/2007)

People who live to 100 or more are known to have just as many-and sometimes even more-harmful gene variants compared with younger people. Now, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered the secret behind this paradox: favorable "longevity" genes that protect very old people from the bad genes' harmful effects. The novel method used by the researchers could lead to new drugs to protect against age-related diseases. ...> Full Article

Cranberries May Improve Chemotherapy For Ovarian Cancer (8/27/2007)

Compounds in cranberries may help improve the effectiveness of platinum drugs that are used in chemotherapy to fight ovarian cancer, researchers have found in a laboratory study. ...> Full Article

Deadly Nipah Virus Can Be Transmitted To Offspring During Pregnancy (8/27/2007)

A collaborative team of scientists from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) here, and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory have demonstrated an important biological feature of the deadly Nipah virus that can infect and kill both animals and humans. ...> Full Article

Heart specialist turns 'spider' man (8/27/2007)

To many of his patients he's already a hero, but heart specialist Jan Kovac turned 'spider' man when he became the first in Britain to use a newly approved dissolving device to fill a hole in the heart of a patient. ...> Full Article

Soda Warning? New Study Supports Link Between Diabetes, High-Fructose Corn Syrup (8/27/2007)

Researchers have found new evidence that soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may contribute to the development of diabetes, particularly in children. In a laboratory study of commonly consumed carbonated beverages, the scientists found that drinks containing the syrup had high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown by others to have the potential to trigger cell and tissue damage that could cause the disease, which is at epidemic levels. They reported here today at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society. ...> Full Article

Novel 3-D cell culture model shows selective tumour uptake of nanoparticles (8/26/2007)

A nanoparticle drug delivery system designed for brain tumour therapy has shown promising tumour cell selectivity in a novel cell culture model devised by scientists at The University of Nottingham. The project, conducted jointly by the Schools of Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences and Human Development, will be featured in the September issue of the Experimental Biology and Medicine. ...> Full Article

Researchers study asprin-like treatment for Type 2 Diabetes (8/26/2007)

The University of Illinois at Chicago is one of 16 sites in the United States taking part in the first large-scale study to test a promising approach to lowering blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. ...> Full Article

Study Finds Environmental Monitoring Helps to Predict Risk of Hospital-Acquired Legionnaires' Disease (8/26/2007)

A new study spearheaded by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has determined that environmental monitoring of institutional water systems can help to predict the risk of hospital-acquired Legionella pneumonia, better known as Legionnaires' disease. Reported recently in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the 20-hospital study also calls for reconsideration of the current national infection-control policy to include routine testing of hospital water systems for Legionella, the bacterial group associated with Legionnaires'. ...> Full Article

Epilepsy drug may 'teach' AIDS virus to become resistant (8/26/2007)

A Michigan State University physician has witnessed firsthand what is a huge dilemma for many health care providers who care for patients in Africa who suffer from both AIDS and epilepsy. ...> Full Article

Researcher says new computer technology valuable in fighting cancer (8/26/2007)

People with a family history of breast and bowel cancer can benefit from a new computer software program which calculates their risk of developing the disease, Professor Jon Emery from The University of Western Australia said today. ...> Full Article

'Fat eggs' cause of infertility in obese women (8/25/2007)

A University of Adelaide researcher has discovered scientific evidence that obesity is a key factor in infertility - because of how it affects women's eggs. ...> Full Article

Study Shines More Light on Benefit of Vitamin D in Fighting Cancer (8/25/2007)

600,000 cases a year of breast and colorectal cancer could be prevented each year by adequate intake of vitamin D, according to researcher ...> Full Article

Food supply affects bacteria's response to temperature (8/25/2007)

As a population of bacteria grows, it can become desperate. When their food supply dwindles, bacteria must either forage for new sources of nutrients or slow their metabolism. That's why, at a critical bacterial concentration, Escherichia coli use a chemical signal to collectively swim from warm areas to cooler ones where they can conserve energy. New research from Rockefeller University shows that at high concentrations, when nutrients are nearly depleted, these bacteria do not rely on chemical signals alone. They remain in cooler temperatures by reversing their expression of two key receptors that sense temperature. ...> Full Article

Researchers set sights on early detection of pancreatic cancer (8/25/2007)

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, but work being conducted by a team of University of Georgia researchers aims to help physicians diagnose the disease early, when it's more easily treated. ...> Full Article

Scientists reveal how dietary restriction cleans cells (8/24/2007)

Reduce, recycle and rebuild is as important to the most basic component of the human body, the cell, as it is to the environment. And a University of Florida study shows just how much the body benefits when it "goes green," at least if you're a rat: Cutting calories helps rodents live longer by boosting cells' ability to recycle damaged parts so they can maintain efficient energy production. ...> Full Article

Light Spurs Growth of Infectious Bacteria (8/24/2007)

Photosensing proteins are used by all forms of life, from bacteria and plants to butterflies and humans. These proteins absorb blue light, change shape and trigger other events within a cell. They are involved in plant phototropism, the movement of aquatic bacteria, and the regulation of mammalian circadian rhythms. New evidence shows they can also drive the spread of infectious disease. ...> Full Article

Humble cup of tea protects against disease (8/24/2007)

South east Queensland women's love of tea could protect them from lifestyle diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. ...> Full Article

New Nanoparticle Could Provide Simple Early Diagnosis of Many Diseases (8/24/2007)

Most people think of hydrogen peroxide as a topical germ killer, but the medicine cabinet staple is gaining steam in the medical community as an early indicator of disease in the body. ...> Full Article

Risk of Prostate Cancer Lowered by Eating Certain Vegetables (8/24/2007)

The risk of prostate cancer may be reduced by consuming more than one serving per week of broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables, according to Yale School of Medicine researchers. ...> Full Article

Small bits of 'junk' RNA aid master tumor-suppressor gene (8/24/2007)

Three micro RNA genes appear to be key partners of protective gene p53; their loss is linked to common type of lung cancer ...> Full Article

Discovery of 'sugar sensor' in intestine could benefit diabetes (8/23/2007)

Diabetes patients could benefit from new research at the University of Liverpool that has identified a molecule in the intestine that can 'taste' the sugar content of the diet. ...> Full Article

Research points to possible new stroke therapy (8/23/2007)

New research from an international team of scientists has identified a possible new therapy for stroke that is likely to be more effective than current treatments. ...> Full Article

Researchers Study Longterm Effects of Pediatric Brain Tumors (8/23/2007)

A team of researchers from Emory and Georgia State Universities has been awarded a four-year, nearly $850,000 grant from the American Cancer Society to study risk factors for long-term social and cognitive problems in adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors. The study will focus on more than 100 adults, currently in their 20s, who have survived at least ten years beyond their initial diagnosis. ...> Full Article

Frog plus frying pan equals better antibiotic (8/23/2007)

What do you get when you cross a frog with a frying pan? Possibly a solution to the problem of drug-resistant bugs, research at the University of Michigan suggests. ...> Full Article

Scientists Aim to Use Saliva to Detect Oral Cancers (8/23/2007)

Could scrutiny of spit save your life? Cancer researchers may soon know the answer. ...> Full Article

Compound in broccoli could boost immune system, says new study (8/22/2007)

A compound found in broccoli and related vegetables may have more health-boosting tricks up its sleeves, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. ...> Full Article

Your Gut Has Taste Receptors: Researchers Identify Link to Obesity and Diabetes (8/22/2007)

Researchers in the Department of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified taste receptors in the human intestines. The taste receptor T1R3 and the taste G protein gustducin are critical to sweet taste in the tongue. Research now shows these two sweet-sensing proteins are also expressed in specialized taste cells of the gut where they sense glucose within the intestine. ...> Full Article

Can green tea protect us from heart disease? (8/22/2007)

If cocoa can boost brain power can green tea help to whittle down our waistline and protect us from heart disease? ...> Full Article

Small molecule spurs genes to action (8/22/2007)

Most of us think of disease as the failure of an organ or the breach of some critical fortress in the body's defense system. But for many ailments, including cancer and diabetes, disease begins with an even more fundamental error: the failure of genes to turn on and off when they should. ...> Full Article

Natural protection provides possible new treatments for stroke (8/22/2007)

Two substances that occur naturally in the brain act to protect the brain during a stroke. This is the conclusion of a dissertation published at the Sahlgrenska Academy, and the discovery may lead to new treatments for stroke patients. ...> Full Article

Scientists discover a Survival Mechanism for Blood Cancer Cells (8/22/2007)

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a type of blood cancer in which specific white blood cells, called B lymphocytes or B cells, build up in the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. The lifespan of a normal B cell is limited by an internal self-destruct program but, in cancer cells, this mechanism breaks down. B cells that don’t self-destruct can live on to multiply and eventually accumulate in dangerous amounts. ...> Full Article

Can Cancer Drugs Combine Forces? (8/21/2007)

Individuals with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are treated first with a drug known as imatinib (Gleevec), which targets the protein known to cause the cancer (BCR-ABL). ...> Full Article

New molecular zip code and drug target Huntington's disease (8/21/2007)

McMaster University researchers have first insight into how Huntington's disease (HD) is triggered. The research will be published online in the British Journal, Human Molecular Genetics, on Monday, August 20. ...> Full Article

Finding That One-in-a-billion That Could Lead To Disease (8/21/2007)

Errors in the genetic code can give rise to cancer and a host of other diseases, but finding these errors can be more difficult than looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Now, scientists at Johns Hopkins have uncovered how the tiny protein-machines in cells tasked to search for such potentially life-threatening genetic damage actually recognize DNA errors. ...> Full Article

Invasion Of The Brain Tumors: Regulator Discovered (8/21/2007)

Gliomas are highly malignant and invasive tumors with tendrils that extend far from the primary tumor site, rendering conventional therapies ineffective and leading to an invariably poor prognosis. ...> Full Article

Key to Out-of-Control Immune Response in Lung Injury Found (8/20/2007)

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have discovered how a protein modulates the inflammatory response in sudden, life-threatening lung failure. The protein's previously unknown role is reported in the August issue of Nature Medicine. ...> Full Article

Low levels of key protein may indicate pancreatic cancer risk (8/19/2007)

A protein that dwindles in response to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle may one day help doctors predict which people are at increased risk for pancreatic cancer, new research by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and collaborating scientists indicates. ...> Full Article

Study into 'recipe' for breast cancer (8/19/2007)

University of St Andrews scientists have been awarded funding to investigate a potential new method of treating breast cancer. ...> Full Article

Study Reveals Link Between Breast Cancer Decline and Decreasing Use of Hormone Therapy (8/19/2007)

For a report on a National Cancer Institute study showing a significant drop in breast cancer rates in women who had stopped postmenopausal hormone therapy, KGO-TV interviews Karla Kerlikowske, MD, lead author of the study. ...> Full Article

Scientist to study breast cancer in men (8/19/2007)

Two University of Leeds scientists have received research grants from Breast Cancer Campaign, the only charity that specialises in funding independent breast cancer research throughout the UK. The project grants, worth over £145,000, form part of over £4.2 million spent on research by Campaign in the last year. ...> Full Article

WHO releases new guidance on insecticide-treated mosquito nets (8/19/2007)

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new global guidance for the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect people from malaria. For the first time, WHO recommends that insecticidal nets be long-lasting, and distributed either free or highly subsidized and used by all community members. ...> Full Article

Tumors use enzyme to recruit regulatory T-cells and suppress immune response (8/18/2007)

One way tumors fly under the radar of the immune system is by using IDO, an enzyme used by fetuses to help avoid rejection, to recruit powerful regulatory T cells that turn down the immune response, researchers say. ...> Full Article

Dense Breasts, Hormone Levels Are Two Separate, Independent Risk Factors For Breast Cancer (8/18/2007)

Risk factors are not linked as previously assumed ...> Full Article

Defects in critical gene lead to accelerated lung tumor growth (8/18/2007)

Cancer causing mutations occur in our bodies every day - but luckily, we have specific genes that recognize these malignant events and keep cells from growing out of control. Only a few of these genes - called tumor suppressors - are currently known. ...> Full Article

Reactivating a critical gene lost in kidney cancer reduces tumor growth (8/18/2007)

Researchers at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have found that a key gene is often "silenced" in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, and when they restored that gene in human kidney cancer cells in culture and animal experiments, tumors stopped growing and many disappeared. ...> Full Article

Obesity and Lack of Exercise Could Enhance the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (8/18/2007)

Obesity and aversion to exercise have become hallmarks of modern society - and a new study suggests that a blood protein linked to these lifestyle factors may be an indicator for an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute report their findings in the August 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. ...> Full Article

HPV Vaccine Does Not Appear To Be Effective For Treating Pre-Existing HPV Infection (8/17/2007)

For women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, use of the HPV-16/18 vaccine will not accelerate reduction of the virus and should not be used to treat the infection, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA. ...> Full Article

Diabetes Appears To Increase Risk Of Death For Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes (8/17/2007)

Individuals with diabetes and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) such as a heart attack or unstable angina have an increased risk of death at 30 days and one year after ACS, compared with ACS patients without diabetes, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA. ...> Full Article

Features Of Replication Suggest Viruses Have Common Themes, Vulnerabilities (8/17/2007)

A study of the reproductive apparatus of a model virus is bolstering the idea that broad classes of viruses - including those that cause important human diseases such as AIDS, SARS and hepatitis C - have features in common that could eventually make them vulnerable to broad-spectrum antiviral agents. ...> Full Article

Researchers Discover New Mechanism for Viral Replication (8/17/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new strategy that Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) uses to dupe infected cells into replicating its viral genome. This allows the virus to remain virtually undetected by the body's immune system. ...> Full Article

AIDS Interferes with Stem Cells in the Brain (8/17/2007)

Discovery links mechanism for HIV/AIDS dementia, possibly other neurological disorders, with known cancer "checkpoint" pathway ...> Full Article

Diet High In Meat, Fat And Refined Grains Associated With Increased Risk For Colon Cancer Recurrence And Death (8/17/2007)

Patients treated for colon cancer who had a diet high in meat, refined grains, fat and desserts had an increased risk of cancer recurrence and death compared with patients who had a diet high in fruits and vegetables, poultry and fish, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA. ...> Full Article

First Biomarker Discovered that Predicts Prostate Cancer Outcome (8/17/2007)

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified the first immune molecule that appears to play a role in prostate cancer development and in predicting cancer recurrence and progression after surgery. The report on the B7-H3 molecule by Mayo Clinic Cancer Center appears today in Cancer Research. ...> Full Article

Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Myeloma (8/16/2007)

Researchers have identified molecular changes in multiple myeloma cells that activate an important biological pathway associated with cell growth and survival, thereby revealing potential new targets for drugs to treat this cancer. ...> Full Article

Promising New Nanomedical Cancer Therapy Also Highlights Tech Transfer, Inventor Says (8/16/2007)

If a new approach to cancer therapy, still experimental and in a phase I clinical trial, turns out as well as hoped, the credit will go as much to technology transfer as to scientific acumen. ...> Full Article

Study Begins to Reveal Clues to The Cause and Progression of Sepsis (8/16/2007)

Not all patients with sepsis mount the same immune response, even when they look the same clinically, according to findings from the first large-scale natural history study of sepsis. The results, published by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers in the August 13/27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, indicate that past interpretations of how the immune system responds to infection - interpretations on which many experimental treatments were based - were incorrect. ...> Full Article

Major New Arthritis Study (8/16/2007)

More than 1,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients from West Yorkshire are to take part in a major new study which could lead to more effective targeting of treatment. ...> Full Article

Researchers Seek Volunteers For Study On Diabetes, Tuberculosis (8/16/2007)

A study at the Stanford University School of Medicine will investigate how diabetes increases a person’s vulnerability to infection with tuberculosis, or TB. Researchers are seeking participants for the study, which will look at type-2 diabetes and the body's immune response to the TB vaccine. ...> Full Article

New, Non-Surgical Technique Shown to Cure a Disabling and Potentially Fatal Ailment (8/16/2007)

Spine surgeon Paul Rubery, M.D., never imagined he would trade in his scalpel for Plaster of Paris, but that's exactly what he's planning to do in mid-August, when he learns a new, early treatment casting technique aimed at curing infants stricken with a devastating and aggressive form of scoliosis. ...> Full Article

Bursts of Waves Drive Immune System 'Soldiers' Toward Invaders (8/16/2007)

Scientists have discovered that torrents of microscopic waves propel white blood cells toward invading microbes. The discovery — recorded on videotape — holds the potential for better understanding and treatment of cancer and heart disease. ...> Full Article

Protein 'Chatter' Linked To Cancer Activation (8/15/2007)

Scientists have found the existence of cross-talk between human chromosome ends and the protein complexes central to the stability of the entire human genome, a "chat" that contributes to cancer development. ...> Full Article

Human stem cells help monkeys recover from Parkinson's (8/15/2007)

The same treatment might work in humans ...> Full Article

Pollution causes 40 percent of deaths (8/15/2007)

About 40 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by water, air and soil pollution, concludes a Cornell researcher. Such environmental degradation, coupled with the growth in world population, are major causes behind the rapid increase in human diseases, which the World Health Organization has recently reported. Both factors contribute to the malnourishment and disease susceptibility of 3.7 billion people, he says. ...> Full Article

Physician-scientists pinpoint how cancer spreads within the brain (8/15/2007)

Team finds "switch" that sparks cancer cells to travel ...> Full Article

Prostate Cancer Survival In Most Asian Men Better Than Predicted Using Conventional Prognosis Factors (8/15/2007)

Prognostic factors commonly used by clinicians to assess men with prostate cancer do not adequately predict survival outcomes in Asian men living in America, according to the first comprehensive ethnic analysis of Asian-American men with prostate cancer. ...> Full Article

Physicians Test New Device For Diagnosing And Treating Prostate Cancer (8/15/2007)

Samir Taneja, MD., Director of Urologic Oncology is the Primary Investigator on a clinical trial in order to test Envisioneering Technologies' new mechanical device called TargetScan, which preliminary tests indicate can improve doctors' ability to detect cancer and could lead to more targeted treatments—reducing life-altering side effects like impotence and incontinence. ...> Full Article

Multi-centre Study Proves a New Treatment Option for Asian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients (8/15/2007)

Chronic hepatitis C is an important cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the 2005 updated report by the Department of Health, approximately 10% of people with history of blood transfusion and over 50% of intravenous drug abusers in Hong Kong are infected by hepatitis C virus. ...> Full Article

Protein Plays Role in Increased Skin Pigmentation (8/14/2007)

Researchers have identified a protein that plays an important, early role in the increase of protective skin pigmentation after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The protein, called SOX9, is a transcription factor known to participate in embryo development and to be expressed in many adult tissues including the heart, kidney, and brain. ...> Full Article

Newly Created Cancer Stem Cells Could Aid Breast Cancer Research (8/14/2007)

In some ways, certain tumors resemble bee colonies, says pathologist Tan Ince. Each cancer cell in the tumor plays a specific role, and just a fraction of the cells serve as "queens," possessing the unique ability to maintain themselves in an unspecialized state and seed new tumors. These cells can also divide and produce the "worker" cells that form the bulk of the tumor. ...> Full Article

E. coli bacteria linked to Crohn's disease (8/14/2007)

A team of Cornell scientists has discovered that intestinal inflammation in patients with Crohn's disease may be associated with a novel group of E. coli bacteria with genes similar to bacteria that cause diseases ranging from salmonella to cholera and even bubonic plague. ...> Full Article

MicroRNA 'sponges' could aid cancer studies (8/14/2007)

MIT researchers have developed a new way to study the function of microRNA, tiny strands of genetic material that help regulate at least 25 percent of a cell's genes. ...> Full Article

Study Suggests Loss of Two Types of Neurons-Not Just One-Triggers Parkinson's (8/14/2007)

New evidence indicates that the loss of two types of brain cells--not just one as previously thought--may trigger the onset of symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. ...> Full Article

Researchers Find Diabetes Drug Kills Some Cancer Cells (8/14/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that a commonly prescribed diabetes drug kills tumor cells that lack a key regulatory gene called p53. ...> Full Article

Survival Differences By Race Most Apparent In Advanced Stages Of Breast Cancer (8/14/2007)

Racial differences in breast cancer survival increase according to stage of disease, a new study finds. ...> Full Article

No Evidence That Widely Prescribed Statins Protect Against Prostate Cancer (8/13/2007)

A large community-based study refutes previous findings that statins - a top-selling drug class, worldwide -- might cut one's risk of developing prostate cancer by reducing production of the male hormones that fuel cancer growth. ...> Full Article

Smokeless Tobacco More Effective than Cigarettes for Delivering Dangerous Carcinogens into the Body (8/13/2007)

It may not be inhaled into the lungs, but smokeless tobacco exposes users to some of the same potent carcinogens as cigarettes. In the August issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, researchers at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center report that users of smokeless tobacco are exposed to higher amounts of tobacco-specific nitrosamines -- molecules that are known to be carcinogenic -- than smokers. ...> Full Article

New Cause of Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer (8/13/2007)

When a woman receives a breast cancer diagnosis her entire life may change in the blink of an eye. But the nature of that change is governed by the smallest alterations that take place within the proteins of the tumor cells, determining what treatments she can pursue with a hope of cure and those to which her cancer is resistant. ...> Full Article

Do Bones Help Control Metabolism and Weight? (8/13/2007)

Osteocalcin Finding May Implicate Bone as Therapeutic Target for Type 2 Diabetes ...> Full Article

Researchers Discover Novel Pathway for Increasing 'Good' Cholesterol (8/12/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that a group of liver enzymes called proprotein convertases (PCs) may be the key to raising levels of good cholesterol (HDL-C). ...> Full Article

Scientist aims to stop cancer cells reading their own DNA (8/12/2007)

A promising new line in anti-cancer therapy by blocking the molecular motors involved in copying genetic information during cell division is being pursued by young Dutch researcher Dr. Nynke Dekker in one of this year's EURYI award winning projects sponsored by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCS). Dekker and her team are trying to stop tumor development by interfering with the molecular motors that copy DNA during cell division. This will cut off the genetic information flow that tumours need to grow, and could complement existing cancer therapies, while in the longer term bringing the promise of improved outcomes with greatly reduced side effects. ...> Full Article

Light Shines Way To Early Detection Of Oral Cancer (8/12/2007)

A light being trialed by University of Queensland researchers is showing promise as a tool for early detection of oral cancer - one of the deadliest cancers. ...> Full Article

Scientists Discover A Control Mechanism For Metastasis (8/12/2007)

Metastasis - when cancer cells dissociate from the original tumor and migrate via the blood stream to colonize distant organs - is the main cause of cancer death. A team of scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science has now revealed new details about the mechanisms controlling metastasis of breast cancer cells. Their findings, published recently online in Nature Cell Biology, add significantly to the understanding of metastasis and may aid, in the future, in the development of anti-cancer drugs. ...> Full Article

Study Finds Pro-Death Proteins Required to Regulate Healthy Immune Function (8/11/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that proteins known to promote cell death are also necessary for the maturation and proliferation of immune cells. Activation of T-cell receptors on the surface of lymphocytes by foreign antigens initiate a calcium-mediated signaling pathway that ends in cell differentiation and growth. The Penn scientists discovered that in the cells that lack the pro-death proteins Bax and Bak, calcium signaling is disrupted and energy production is reduced. Restoration of Bax corrects the signaling problems, increases energy production, and stimulates cell division. ...> Full Article

Hormone Regulates Fondness For Food (8/11/2007)

Scientists have discovered that leptin, one of the key hormones responsible for reducing hunger and increasing the feeling of fullness, also controls our fondness for food. The report is published in today's edition of Science Express. ...> Full Article

Green Tea Boosts Production of Detox Enzymes, Rendering Cancerous Chemicals Harmless (8/11/2007)

Concentrated chemicals derived from green tea dramatically boosted production of a group of key detoxification enzymes in people with low levels of these beneficial proteins, according to researchers at Arizona Cancer Center. ...> Full Article

Study Links Prepregnancy Obesity and Birth Defects (8/11/2007)

In a large multi-site study of obesity and birth defects, epidemiologists at The University of Texas School of Public Health found that women who were obese before they became pregnant had a higher risk of having babies with certain birth defects. ...> Full Article

Answers to Aging from the Amish (8/11/2007)

Is your time up when your telomeres wind down? ...> Full Article

Prevention Is Key To Avoiding Hantavirus Infection (8/10/2007)

Following the recent death of a University of Colorado at Boulder student, public health experts in Boulder are encouraging students, faculty and staff to learn more about hantavirus, a serious respiratory disease. ...> Full Article

Study Finds No Cause-and-Effect Link Between Microbes And Aging (8/10/2007)

Bacteria - you can live without 'em, but it won't do you any good, according to a study of fruit flies by USC biologists. ...> Full Article

Genetic Finding Sheds Light On Diseases Causing Blood Vessel Breakdown (8/10/2007)

Twenty-one years after they first described a fatal genetic disorder in Missouri and Arkansas families, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have linked the condition to mutations in a gene known as TREX1. ...> Full Article

Gene Therapy Using Adeno-Associated Virus Linked To Liver Cancer In Mice (8/10/2007)

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found further evidence linking a method used to deliver gene therapy in humans with the development of liver tumors in mice. ...> Full Article

Scientists Target Future Pandemic Strains of H5N1 Avian Influenza (8/10/2007)

Preparing vaccines and therapeutics that target a future mutant strain of H5N1 influenza virus sounds like science fiction, but it may be possible, according to a team of scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a collaborator at Emory University School of Medicine. Success hinges on anticipating and predicting the crucial mutations that would help the virus spread easily from person to person. ...> Full Article

Where Broken DNA is Repaired (8/10/2007)

Ionizing radiation, toxic chemicals, and other agents continually damage the body's DNA, threatening life and health: unrepaired DNA can lead to mutations, which in turn can lead to diseases like cancer. Intricate DNA repair mechanisms in the cells' nuclei are constantly working to fix what's broken, but whether the repair work happens "on the road" - right where the damage occurs - or "in the shop" - at specific regions of the nucleus - is an unanswered question. ...> Full Article

Discovery in plant virus may help prevent HIV and similar viruses (8/10/2007)

In a study that could lead to new ways to prevent infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and similar organisms, Purdue University researchers have been able to genetically modify a plant to halt reproduction of a related virus. ...> Full Article

Link Between Sunspots, Rain Helps Predict Disease in East Africa (8/9/2007)

A new study shows that sunspot cycles can be used to predict heavy rains, flooding and subsequent disease outbreaks in East Africa. ...> Full Article

Procedures Increase Time Limits For Treating Strokes (8/9/2007)

Each year, physicians at the University of Virginia Health System's Stroke Center race against time in caring for nearly 500 patients. Thanks to new imaging procedures and cutting edge devices, they have increased the time interval during which a patient can be successfully treated for clot-caused strokes from three hours to eight. ...> Full Article

Researchers Find Vitamin B1 Deficiency Key To Vascular Problems For Diabetic Patients (8/9/2007)

Researchers at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, have discovered that deficiency of thiamine - Vitamin B1 - may be key to a range of vascular problems for people with diabetes. They have also solved the mystery as to why thiamine deficiency in diabetes had remained hidden until now. ...> Full Article

Multi-Center Study Nets New Lung Tumor-Suppressor Gene (8/8/2007)

Collaborating scientists in Boston and North Carolina have found that a particular gene can block key steps of the lung cancer process in mice. The researchers report in the journal Nature that LKB1 is not only a "tumor-suppressor" gene for non-small cell lung cancer in mice, it also may be more powerful than other, better-known suppressors. ...> Full Article

High-Intensity Ultrasound May Launch Attack on Cancer, Wherever It Lurks (8/8/2007)

An intense form of ultrasound that shakes a tumor until its cells start to leak can trigger an 'alarm' that enlists immune defenses against the cancerous invasion, according to a study led by researchers at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. ...> Full Article

Detecting Small Movements During Cancer Treatment (8/8/2007)

Calypso system shows when patient's breathing, other movement changes tumor location, impacting treatment ...> Full Article

CDC will Provide Investigational New Medicine for Treatment of Severe Malaria (8/7/2007)

CDC and Walter Reed collaboration fosters the availability of artesunate for emergency use ...> Full Article

Study Finds Common Component Of Fruits, Vegetables Kills Prostate Cancer Cells (8/7/2007)

A new University of Georgia study finds that pectin, a type of fiber found in fruits and vegetables and used in making jams and other foods, kills prostate cancer cells. ...> Full Article

Researchers Discover Pathway that Eliminates Genetic Defects in Red Blood Cells (8/7/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a unique molecular pathway that detects and selectively eliminates defective messenger RNAs from red blood cells. Other such pathways – known as surveillance pathways – operate in a more general way, in many cell types. Knowing how this specific surveillance system works can help researchers better understand hereditary diseases, in this case, thalassemia, a form of anemia, which is the most common genetic disorder worldwide. ...> Full Article

Researcher Pioneers Combined Stroke Therapy (8/7/2007)

The odds of recovering from a stroke are one out of seven when a clot-busting drug is administered to a patient in the first three hours post-stroke. But the odds are even better when the drug is used in combination with an experimental device, a therapy pioneered by a University of Alberta researcher. ...> Full Article

Molecular Mechanism Of Common Forms Of Kidney Disease Identified (8/7/2007)

Enzyme causes protein to leak from blood into urine, changes to target may restore kidney function ...> Full Article

Kerrigan's Unique Research May Unlock Elder Gait Enigma (8/7/2007)

D. Casey Kerrigan, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, may have discovered the "holy grail" of physical aging research. Kerrigan's novel analysis of the deterioration of gait—or walking—in older adults has attracted a major National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. ...> Full Article

Study Shows Radiofrequency Ablation Highly Effective in Treating Kidney Tumors (8/7/2007)

A relatively new, minimally invasive treatment was 100 percent successful in eradicating small malignant kidney tumors in a study of more than 100 patients, report researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. ...> Full Article

Does This Child Have Appendicitis? Watch Out for Key Signs (8/7/2007)

A 5-year-old with abdominal pain, nausea and fever may have appendicitis or any of a number of other problems. But how does the child's doctor decide whether to schedule an emergency appendectomy to surgically remove a presumably inflamed appendix - a procedure that carries its own risks like any surgery - or wait and observe what could be a ticking time bomb that could rupture and kill the patient in a matter of hours? It's a classic physician's dilemma, but a new study led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center may ease the pediatrician's problem-solving and parents' anxiety. ...> Full Article

Unknotting DNA Clue to Cancer Syndrome (8/7/2007)

A new UC Davis study that explains the actions of a gene mutation that causes early onset cancer provides a fundamental insight into the mechanism of DNA-break repair. ...> Full Article

First Case Of Successful Ovarian Tissue Transplantation Between Two, Non-Identical Sisters (8/7/2007)

A woman, whose ovaries had failed due to damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has received a successful ovarian transplant from her genetically non-identical sister. The transplant restored her ovarian function, she started to menstruate and, after a year, doctors were able to recover two mature oocytes from her ovaries and fertilise them to produce two embryos. ...> Full Article

Colon Cancer a Disease of Hormone Deficiency (8/6/2007)

Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia have found new evidence suggesting that colon cancer is actually a disease of missing hormones that could potentially be treated by hormone replacement therapy. ...> Full Article

Influence Of A Cancer Inhibitor On A Single DNA Molecule Tracked (8/6/2007)

Researchers in Delft University of Technology's Kavli Institute of Nanoscience have cast new light on the workings of the important cancer inhibitor topotecan. Little had been known about the underlying molecular mechanism, but the Delft scientists can now view the effects of the medicine live at the level of a single DNA molecule. The research has been published online by the journal Nature on 24 June 2007. The lead author of the article, Daniel Koster, received his PhD at TU Delft on Monday 25 June 2007, partly on the results described in the article. ...> Full Article

Handicapping Tuberculosis May Be The Way To A Better Vaccine (8/6/2007)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator William R. Jacobs and colleagues have produced a genetically altered strain of tuberculosis (TB) that elicits a stronger immune response than the current vaccine, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The new vaccine improves survival of infected animals and may help put scientists on track to replace BCG, which has been used for nearly a century although it is largely ineffective. ...> Full Article

Researchers Find 'On Switches' That Cause Prostate Cancer (8/6/2007)

Gene fusions trigger cancer growth, could impact treatment choices New U-M center will help translate findings to patient care ...> Full Article

Molecule Blocks Gene, Sheds Light on Liver Cancer (8/6/2007)

New research shows how a particular small molecule blocks the activity of a cancer-suppressing gene, allowing liver-cancer cells to grow and spread. ...> Full Article

Shining Light on Pancreatic Cancer (8/6/2007)

Using novel light-scattering techniques, researchers have found the first evidence that early stage pancreatic cancer causes subtle changes in part of the small intestine. The easily monitored marker may ultimately allow early detection for a disease notorious for having few obvious symptoms, the primary reason pancreatic cancer killed more than 33,000 Americans last year. ...> Full Article

World-Leading Breast Cancer Research (8/6/2007)

Cardiff University is at the forefront in the fight against breast cancer with cutting-edge research which could lead to better treatments for the disease. ...> Full Article

Rise of Obesity Exacerbated by 'Social Multiplier' Effects (8/6/2007)

According to a new study in Economic Inquiry, an individual's body weight depends not just on physiology and economic circumstances, but also on average body weight of the population at large. The study is the first to quantitatively model body weight distribution based on the combined outcome of economic, biological and social influences. ...> Full Article

Clots and Cancer Carry Hidden Double Risk (8/6/2007)

Rochester Researchers Study Trends and Blood Clot Prevention ...> Full Article

Promising Treatment Target Found In Hodgkin Lymphoma (8/5/2007)

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have identified a protein that prevents the body's immune system from recognizing and attacking Hodgkin lymphoma cells. Based on this finding, the researchers are now investigating targeted therapies to disable this molecular "bodyguard" and boost a patient's ability to fight the blood cancer. ...> Full Article

Pets Could be Source of Multi-Resistant Bacteria Infections in Humans (8/5/2007)

The next time you have difficulty fighting a bacterial infection, your next trip to the doctor might be to the family veterinarian. A new University of Missouri-Columbia study is investigating whether the family pet could be a reservoir for infections of multi-resistant bacteria in humans. ...> Full Article

Antibiotics Given To Children Continue To Raise Resistance Levels In Population (8/5/2007)

Antibiotics such as amoxicillin given to children have no long-term effect to the child but contribute to a high level of antibiotic resistance in the population, Oxford researchers have found. ...> Full Article

Study Reveals Genetic Clues About Lou Gehrig's Disease (8/5/2007)

Discovery opens a new avenue for ALS research ...> Full Article

Researchers Develop Prototype Vaccine That Could Provide Improved Protection Against Tuberculosis (8/5/2007)

Study in Journal of Clinical Investigation Demonstrates Better Protection Than Standard Vaccine Used Worldwide ...> Full Article

Diagnosing Obesity Prompts Action (8/5/2007)

Mayo Clinic physicians have identified that simply being diagnosed as obese increases a patient's likelihood of establishing a treatment plan with their physician, a crucial step in improving health. It's a significant finding, because obesity is a growing worldwide epidemic and the second leading cause of preventable death in developing countries. ...> Full Article

Immune Mechanism Could Explain Transient Immune Suppression in Acute Infections (8/5/2007)

Scientists have discovered that at the same time the immune system is vigorously attacking invading viruses or bacteria, it is unexpectedly reducing its production of a particular type of factor that directs the movement of immune cells. The new finding, which could help explain the transient immune suppression often seen during acute infections, shows that the immune system is even more complex than previously believed. ...> Full Article

Study Finds Heart Attack Treatment Lacking (8/5/2007)

Use of emergency angioplasty has risen dramatically in last decade, but 10 percent of patients still go without crucial care ...> Full Article

Study Investigating Vaccine to Treat Brain Tumors Underway (8/5/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center have begun ACT III – a Phase II/III Randomized Study – to investigate the addition of CDX-110 vaccine to standard care maintenance chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive form of primary brain tumor. ...> Full Article

Scientists Identify A New Mechanism In The Malaria Parasite To Help It Adapt To Infected Individuals (8/5/2007)

Research has been conducted on the genes of the parasite that play a role during the invasion of red blood cells, as these are very clear targets to develop vaccines against the disease. ...> Full Article

New Antiretroviral For HIV Patients Resistant To Other Drugs (8/4/2007)

International research carried out with the participation of researchers from the irsiCaixa Foundation and the HIV Unit of the University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, both directed by UAB associate lecturer Bonaventura Clotet, has demonstrated the efficiency of etravirine (TMC125), a new antiretroviral drug, on patients who are resistant to others drugs. The results of this research have been published in two different articles in The Lancet. ...> Full Article

When Exercise Stops, How Long Do Benefits Last? (8/4/2007)

Scientists examining the relationship between the intensity and length of a workout and the duration of its benefits have made a surprising discovery: More isn't necessarily better, and none may be worse than we ever imagined. ...> Full Article

Cancer Stem Cells Created By Two Signalling Pathways (8/4/2007)

The linking of two signalling pathways in the cells of liver tumours has a clear influence on their malignancy. Activation of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) messenger molecule is decisive for this linking. This results related to the development of liver cancer was generated during a current project by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and has been published in the Journal Oncogene. When the signalling pathways in liver tumour cells have been linked together, these cells develop the characteristics of cancer stem cells, which are in principal resistant to chemotherapy. This new understanding of the signalling pathways involved unlocks potential for the future development of modified therapies. ...> Full Article

Aggressive Therapy Best for Certain AML Patients (8/4/2007)

A new study suggests that acute leukemia patients whose cancer cells show a genetic change that usually predicts a swift return of the disease following remission may remain disease-free longer when given aggressive therapy. ...> Full Article

Chromosomes Are Responsible For A Critical Enzyme's Activation During Cell Division (8/4/2007)

In a dividing cell, chromosomes interact with cellular scaffolding - called spindle microtubules - in order to move themselves to opposite ends of the cell, ensuring that both daughter cells receive an exact copy of their parent cell's genetic material. ...> Full Article

Scientist Blazes New Path For Predicting Disease (8/4/2007)

New tests hope to predict onset of autoimmune diseases. ...> Full Article

Finding A Chink In The Anthrax Microbe's Armor (8/3/2007)

U-M scientists chart events when dormant spore springs to life in lung, and find genes to investigate for better drugs, vaccines ...> Full Article

New Research On Life-Threatening Fungus (8/3/2007)

Hear the word fungus, and mushrooms and mold might leap to mind. But the University of Florida is about to house the nation's first research repository for one species that has nothing to do with pizza toppings or marbling blue cheese: Aspergillus, which increasingly poses a major health threat to cancer patients and transplant recipients. ...> Full Article

New Technique To 'See' And Protect Transplants Successful In Diabetic Animal Model (8/3/2007)

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found a way to overcome a major stumbling block to developing successful insulin-cell transplants for people with type I diabetes. ...> Full Article

Insulin Grown in Plants Relieves Diabetes in Mice (8/3/2007)

Capsules of insulin produced in genetically modified lettuce could hold the key to restoring the body's ability to produce insulin and help millions of Americans who suffer from insulin-dependent diabetes, according to University of Central Florida biomedical researchers. ...> Full Article

Flip Of Genetic Switch Causes Cancers In Mice To Self-Destruct (8/3/2007)

Killing cancerous tumors isn't easy, as anyone who has suffered through chemotherapy can attest. But a new study in mice shows that switching off a single malfunctioning gene can halt the limitless division of tumor cells and turn them back to the path of their own planned obsolescence. ...> Full Article

Caffeine and Exercise Can Team Up to Prevent Skin Cancer (8/3/2007)

Regular exercise and little or no caffeine has become a popular lifestyle choice for many Americans. But a new Rutgers study has found that it may not be the best formula for preventing sun-induced skin damage that could lead to cancer. Low to moderate amounts of caffeine, in fact, along with exercise can be good for your health. ...> Full Article

News Clinical Study Of Promising Microbicide For HIV Prevention (8/2/2007)

Physicians at the University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics have begun a clinical trial of a topical vaginal microbicide that holds great promise for preventing the sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ...> Full Article

Trials Begin For 'Essential' New TB Vaccine (8/2/2007)

Clinical trials are underway with the first new vaccine against TB in over 80 years. If successful, the tests will have major implications for TB control and could lead to the development of a new vaccine ready to use within eight years. ...> Full Article

Stem Cell Therapy Rescues Motor Neurons In ALS Model (8/2/2007)

In a study that demonstrates the promise of cell-based therapies for diseases that have proved intractable to modern medicine, a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown it is possible to rescue the dying neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ...> Full Article

New Test Speeds Up SARS Detection (8/2/2007)

In the fight against epidemics, those battling on the front lines may be on the verge of a new weapon, thanks to a team of University of Alberta researchers. ...> Full Article

Islet Cell Transplants Using Magnetocapsules To Cure Type I Diabetes (8/2/2007)

For patients with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, a transplant of insulin-producing cells is a possible alternative to daily insulin injections to keep blood sugar under control. As with any transplant, however, the still-experimental technique carries the risk of rejection by the patient's immune system, meaning patients must take powerful immunosuppressive drugs. A new delivery vehicle for the transplanted cells may help overcome this obstacle, while also allowing clinicians to track the cells once they are inside the body. ...> Full Article

Sex-Trafficked Girls And Women From South Asia Have High Prevalence Of HIV Infection (8/2/2007)

Nearly 40 percent of repatriated Nepalese sex-trafficked girls and women tested were positive for HIV infection, with girls trafficked before age 15 having higher rates of infection, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights. ...> Full Article

Researchers Confirm That Bone Marrow Restores Fertility In Female Mice (8/1/2007)

A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers confirms that female mice that receive bone marrow transplantation after fertility-destroying chemotherapy can go on to have successful pregnancies throughout their normal reproductive life. ...> Full Article

New Research Shows Saturated And Trans Fats Increase Risk Of Severe Heart Attacks (8/1/2007)

It has long been known that saturated or trans fats can cause clogged arteries that lead to heart attacks, but new research shows that too much fat can worsen the severity of a heart attack - and disrupt heart rhythm, increasing the risk for sudden cardiac arrest. ...> Full Article

New Technology Gives Hope for Patients with Metastatic Cancer (8/1/2007)

A 32-year-old mother of two small children, who was recently diagnosed with metastatic stomach cancer, underwent surgery using Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. The surgery, which took place on Thursday, July 26th is a breakthrough in cancer treatment at Mount Sinai, giving a heated form of chemotherapy to the patients during surgery directly into the abdomen while in the operating room. ...> Full Article

Using A Blue Gene Supercomputer To Study Tumor Formations (8/1/2007)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has acquired an IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer for biological research, tripling its computing power. The new supercomputer will allow the university to enhance its capabilities in computational biology and molecular simulations. ...> Full Article

Mouse Genome Will Help Identify Causes of Environmental Disease (8/1/2007)

Research on the DNA of 15 mouse strains commonly used in biomedical studies is expected to help scientists determine the genes related to susceptibility to environmental disease. The body of data is now publicly available in a catalog of genetic variants, which displays the data as a mouse haplotype map, a tool that separates chromosomes in to many small segments, helping researchers find genes and genetic variations in mice that may affect health and disease. The haplotype map appearing online in the July 29th issue of Nature is the first published full descriptive analysis of the "Mouse Genome Resequencing and SNP Discovery Project" conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. ...> Full Article

Study Helps Explain How HIV Becomes AIDS (8/1/2007)

Finding could help scientists seeking therapies to block virus progression ...> Full Article