Curing Death by Curing Aging - August 2008 Archives

Early trigger for type 1 diabetes found in mice (8/31/2008)

Scientists are shedding light on how type-1 diabetes begins. ...> Full Article

Heart attack patients who stop statin risk death (8/31/2008)

Study finds doubled mortality risk if treatment is discontinued ...> Full Article

Researchers Create Insulin-Producing Cells from Adult Pancreatic Cells (8/31/2008)

Researchers have converted adult pancreatic cells into insulin-producing beta cells in living mice ...> Full Article

Scientists discover new link in pathway to cancer: hope for drug design (8/30/2008)

Scientists have identified an exciting connection between a cell's extracellular environment and the activity of a signaling pathway molecule that controls the development of organs and tissues, as well as cancer and kidney disease. ...> Full Article

Black Raspberries Slow Cancer By Altering Hundreds Of Genes (8/30/2008)

New research strongly suggests that a mix of preventative agents, such as those found in concentrated black raspberries, may more effectively inhibit cancer development than single agents aimed at shutting down a particular gene. ...> Full Article

Clinical study to examine role of vitamin D in kidney disease (8/29/2008)

Scientists suspect vitamin D may also play a role in heading off atherosclerosis in people with chronic kidney disease. ...> Full Article

New role for Natural Killers! (8/29/2008)

Scientists have discovered a new role for a population of white blood cells, which may lead to improved treatments for chronic infections and cancer. ...> Full Article

Young Type-2 Diabetic Men Suffer Low Testosterone Levels, Study Shows (8/29/2008)

Condition Affects Fertility, Muscle Mass, Heart Health ...> Full Article

Scientists Receive $3.6 Million to Test Vaccine Against Deadliest Strain of Avian Flu (8/29/2008)

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research have been awarded $3.6 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to conduct animal studies of vaccines designed to protect against the most common and deadliest strain of avian flu, H5N1. ...> Full Article

Research Examines Variations of Rare Lung Disease (8/28/2008)

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare but serious lung disease that may cause severe respiratory symptoms in patients. The often-fatal disease has no cure. ...> Full Article

Chronic stress alters our genetic immune response (8/28/2008)

Researchers shed new light on one link between stress and illness by describing a mechanism through which stress alters immune function. ...> Full Article

New Protein Survey Upends Understanding of Cell Death Process (8/28/2008)

Results Reveal Numerous Potential New Drug Targets for Related Diseases ...> Full Article

Keeping cells youthful: How telomere-building proteins get drawn into the fold (8/27/2008)

It may take just one or two proteins to polish off a simple cellular task, but life-or-death matters, such as caring for the ends of chromosomes known as telomeres, require interacting crews of proteins, all with a common goal but each with a specialized task. ...> Full Article

Diabetes study serves up brand new bread (8/27/2008)

Researchers studying diet and diabetes have spurred food producers into cooking up a brand new type of bread. ...> Full Article

Anti-Cancer Flower Power (8/27/2008)

Researchers are combating cancer with a jasmine-based drug ...> Full Article

Caesarean babies more likely to develop diabetes (8/27/2008)

Babies delivered by Caesarean section have a 20 per cent higher risk than normal deliveries of developing the most common type of diabetes in childhood ...> Full Article

Stem cell indicator should boost bowel cancer survival rates (8/27/2008)

Scientists have developed a more accurate way of identifying aggressive forms of bowel cancer, which should improve both treatment and survival. ...> Full Article

Discovery Opens Door for Drugs to Fight Bird Flu, Other Influenza Epidemics (8/27/2008)

Researchers determine three-dimensional structure of a key site on a flu protein that suppresses human defenses to infection ...> Full Article

Researchers Studying Pythons For Clues To Heart Disease (8/26/2008)

The University of Colorado at Boulder is teaming up with a Boulder biotechnology company to use pythons, which dramatically increase their heart size for a short time after swallowing prey, as models for new therapeutics to treat cardiac diseases. ...> Full Article

Scientists identify new drug target against virulent type of breast cancer (8/26/2008)

The enzyme target, Brk, is shown to be an accelerator of HER2-positive tumors ...> Full Article

Alcohol consumption can cause too much cell death, fetal abnormalities (8/26/2008)

Researchers want to know if facial clues can help them figure out how much alcohol it takes during what point in fetal development to cause lifelong problems. ...> Full Article

Normalizing tumor vessels to improve cancer therapy (8/26/2008)

Researchers explore why tumor blood vessels are abnormal and leaky ...> Full Article

New hope for stroke patients (8/26/2008)

Researchers hope to reverse stroke damage by jumpstarting growth of nerve fibers ...> Full Article

Accumulated bits of a cell's own DNA can trigger autoimmune disease (8/25/2008)

A security system wired within every cell to detect the presence of rogue viral DNA can sometimes go awry, triggering an autoimmune response to single-stranded bits of the cell's own DNA ...> Full Article

Researchers study how cancer cells come unstuck (8/25/2008)

Scientists have started a three year study into the junctions that hold cells together, giving insight into how cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. ...> Full Article

Rapid test for pathogens developed (8/25/2008)

Could be used to detect diseases used by bioterrorists ...> Full Article

Making good fat from muscle: Brown fat discovery could help fight obesity (8/24/2008)

Molecular switch found in mice could lead to future obesity treatments, scientists say ...> Full Article

Dense tissue promotes aggressive cancers (8/24/2008)

New research may explain why breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in women with denser breast tissue. ...> Full Article

To protect against liver disease, body puts cells 'under arrest' (8/24/2008)

A stable form of cell-cycle arrest known to offer potent protection against cancer also limits liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by an excess of fibrous tissue ...> Full Article

Scientists identify critical protein complex in formation of cell cilia (8/24/2008)

Faulty interaction of 3 proteins may play a key role in a wide range of serious diseases ...> Full Article

Gene Marker May Predict Doses Of Important Anticoagulant (8/23/2008)

A particular gene marker may help predict a patient's safest and most effective dose of warfarin, the most widely prescribed anticoagulant in North America ...> Full Article

Why a common treatment for prostate cancer ultimately fails (8/23/2008)

Hair on a man's head offers clues about versatility of molecule central to disease ...> Full Article

Stroke incidence declines among Swedish diabetics (8/23/2008)

The incidence of strokes among both diabetics and non-diabetics in Northern Sweden declined between 1985 and 2003. ...> Full Article

Going from ulcers to cancer (8/23/2008)

Researchers have uncovered a big clue as to why some of the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers pose a greater risk for serious problems like stomach cancer than others ...> Full Article

Arsenic Exposure May Be Associated With Type 2 Diabetes (8/22/2008)

In a study involving a representative sample of U.S. adults, higher levels of arsenic in the urine appear to be associated with increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes ...> Full Article

Low level cadmium exposure linked to lung disease (8/22/2008)

New research suggests that cadmium is one of the critical ingredients causing emphysema, and even low-level exposure attained through second-hand smoke and other means may also increase the chance of developing lung disease. ...> Full Article

Newly uncovered cells may be critical in psoriasis (8/22/2008)

Scientists have found that the source of psoriasis may be a single population of inflammatory cells that act as instigators by priming the body's immune system for self-attack ...> Full Article

Senescence in liver cells help limit acute tissue damage (8/22/2008)

Studies in living mice demonstrate senescent liver cells can provoke a beneficial immune reaction ...> Full Article

Fearsome-Smelling Gas Could Have Beneficial Uses in Medicine (8/22/2008)

A single breath of hydrogen sulfide, a gas best known for its rotten-egg smell, can kill. But at low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide could protect vital organs during surgery ...> Full Article

Synthetic Molecules Could Add Spice To Fight Against Cancer (8/21/2008)

Researchers are combining organic chemistry, computer-aided design and molecular biology techniques in developing and testing pharmaceutical compounds that can fight breast and prostate cancer cells. ...> Full Article

Rifamycin antibiotics attack tuberculosis bacteria with walls, not signals (8/21/2008)

Amid concerns about the rising number of new tuberculosis cases worldwide, researchers have reexamined and disproved a theory that describes how a potent class of antibiotics kills a deadly form of bacteria ...> Full Article

Researchers develop model to find blood biomarkers that estimate tumor size (8/21/2008)

Researchers have begun to map out a way to correlate the levels of so-called blood biomarkers with cancer volume. The effort will guide the development of new tests to facilitate early detection of the disease. ...> Full Article

New insights into the regulation of PTEN tumor suppression function (8/21/2008)

Findings identify a novel pathway at the root of PTEN alterations in cancer ...> Full Article

New research suggests diabetes transmitted from parents to children (8/21/2008)

An unusual form of inheritance may have a role in the rising rate of diabetes, especially in children and young adults, in the United States ...> Full Article

New imaging technique could catch cancer early (8/20/2008)

Nanotechnology is the key to a new, noninvasive biomedical imaging technique that could detect early stages of cancer. The method holds promise for determining not just where tumors are located but also for monitoring their treatment, said scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine who demonstrated the new approach in mice. ...> Full Article

Ultrasound Used to Predict Heart Attack Risk (8/20/2008)

Repeat exams using widely available and inexpensive ultrasound imaging could help identify patients at high risk for a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular events ...> Full Article

Broccoli could reverse the heart damaging effects of diabetes (8/20/2008)

Researchers have discovered eating broccoli could undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels. ...> Full Article

Mutations Predict Quick Recurrence Of Acute Leukemia (8/19/2008)

The presence of mutations in a particular gene may forecast the quick return of acute leukemia in some people with the disease ...> Full Article

Scientists discover what drives the development of a fatal form of malaria (8/19/2008)

The culprit: one's own immune system ...> Full Article

1918 flu antibodies resurrected from elderly survivors (8/19/2008)

Ninety years after the sweeping destruction of the 1918 flu pandemic, researchers have recovered antibodies to the virus - from elderly survivors of the original outbreak. ...> Full Article

Prototype test for predicting clinical outcome for melanoma patients (8/18/2008)

Gene signature prognostication of rapid progression from Stage III to Stage IV ...> Full Article

By amplifying cell death signals, scientists make precancerous cells self-destruct (8/18/2008)

Scientists have figured out a way in mice to amplify the signals that tell precancerous cells to die. The trick: Inactivating a protein that normally helps cells to avoid self-destruction. ...> Full Article

Vaccine Strategy Shows Promise in Prostate Cancer Patients (8/18/2008)

New research indicates that giving patients a continuous low dose of an immune system booster, a method known as metronomic dosing, as part of a therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine strategy is safe and produces similar immune responses and fewer side effects than the more common dosing method, which is not well tolerated by many patients. ...> Full Article

Stress, Anxiety Can Make Allergy Attacks Even More Miserable And Last Longer (8/17/2008)

A new study here shows that even slight stress and anxiety can substantially worsen a person's allergic reaction to some routine allergens. ...> Full Article

Cancer signatures uncovered (8/17/2008)

A new systematic analysis of the relationship between the neoplastic and developmental transcriptome provides an outline of trends in cancer gene expression. ...> Full Article

Personalized immunotherapy to fight HIV/AIDS (8/16/2008)

Researchers adopt an innovative approach to fight the virus responsible for AIDS ...> Full Article

Therapeutic target ID'd for deadly childhood muscle cancer (8/16/2008)

Curbing the activity of a substance called 'platelet-derived growth factor receptor A' dramatically reduced aggressiveness of an often-untreatable childhood muscle cancer in mice and cells ...> Full Article

Methamphetamine Use May Increase Heart Infection Risk (8/16/2008)

The number of U.S. injection drug users hospitalized for infective endocarditis, or heart inflammation, increased substantially between the years 2000 and 2003 ...> Full Article

Study Finds Way to Prevent Protein Clumping Characteristic of Parkinson's Disease (8/16/2008)

Researchers have identified a protein from a most unlikely source -- baker's yeast -- that might protect against Parkinson's disease.' ...> Full Article

Scientists find a novel mechanism that controls the development of autoimmunity (8/15/2008)

Researchers have found a mechanism in the immune systems of mice that can lead to the development of autoimmune disease when turned off ...> Full Article

Trapping white blood cells proves novel strategy against chronic viral infections (8/15/2008)

Seeing disease-fighting white blood cells vanish from the blood usually signals a weakened immune system. ...> Full Article

Scientists discover major genetic cause of colorectal cancer (8/15/2008)

Hikes risk of developing cancer to 50 percent ...> Full Article

Scientists use old enemy to K.O. cancer (8/14/2008)

Chemists are pulling cancer onto a sucker punch by getting infected cells to drop their guard ...> Full Article

White blood cell uses DNA 'catapult' to fight infection (8/14/2008)

Eosiniphils help prevent uncontrolled bacterial invasion ...> Full Article

Experimental chemotherapy regimen shows promise in treating advanced lung cancer (8/14/2008)

A combination of chemotherapy agents that have been tested in other tumor types appears to be a promising alternative to standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer ...> Full Article

Key to treating cancer may be finding its original cell (8/13/2008)

Cancer biologists are turning their attention to the normal cells that give rise to cancers, to learn more about how tumor growth might be stopped at the earliest opportunity. ...> Full Article

Rare Case In A Baltimore Couple Explains Why Some Infected With Hiv Remain Symptom Free For Years Without Antiretroviral Drugs (8/13/2008)

Finding renews promise of vaccine against AIDS; disproves theory of defective virus ...> Full Article

Childhood brain tumor traced to normal stem cells gone bad (8/12/2008)

An aggressive childhood brain tumor known as medulloblastoma originates in normal brain "stem" cells that turn malignant when acted on by a known mutant, cancer-causing oncogene ...> Full Article

Researchers uncover cancer survival secrets (8/12/2008)

A team of Monash University researchers has uncovered the role of a family of enzymes in the mutation of benign or less aggressive tumours into more aggressive, potentially fatal, cancers in the human body. ...> Full Article

Marriage May Help Hostile Personality (8/12/2008)

A nine-year study finds that an increase in blood sugar levels is linked to diabetes and heart attacks in single men with anger issues. ...> Full Article

Early treatment is key to combating hepatitis C virus (8/11/2008)

Canadian researchers have shown that patients who receive early treatment for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) within the first months following an infection, develop a rapid poly-functional immune response against HCV similar to when infection is erradicted spontaneously ...> Full Article

Scientists Replicate Diseases in the Lab with New Stem Cell Lines (8/11/2008)

A set of new stem cell lines will make it possible for researchers to explore ten different genetic disorders-including muscular dystrophy, juvenile diabetes, and Parkinson's disease-in a variety of cell and tissue types as they develop in laboratory cultures. ...> Full Article

Researchers demonstrate activity of mebendazole in metastatic melanoma (8/11/2008)

Novel assay finds that widely prescribed anti-parasite drug targets cancer-causing protein ...> Full Article

Pathogen that causes disease in cattle also associated with Crohn's disease (8/11/2008)

Research urgently needed to evaluate potential risks to humans ...> Full Article

Thick melanomas: the problem continues (8/10/2008)

The incidence of the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, thick melanoma, is still not decreasing in New Zealand nearly 15 years after early detection strategies were introduced to educate the public. ...> Full Article

B cells can act alone in autoimmune disease, researchers report (8/10/2008)

B cells, the source of damaging autoantibodies, have long been thought to depend upon T cells for their activation and were not considered important in the initiation of autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis ...> Full Article

People with heart disease still have trouble controlling blood lipid levels (8/10/2008)

Study points to need for improved cholesterol and triglyceride treatment ...> Full Article

An overlooked tool in the battle against HIV/AIDS (8/10/2008)

The links between HIV transmission and the degree to which people are able to adopt realistic plans to achieve future projects, in other words, hope, have been overlooked in policies to tackle HIV/AIDS. New research argues that hope is a powerful tool in the battle to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. ...> Full Article

Research team unravels new cellular repair mechanism (8/10/2008)

Work in yeast cells could lead to similar discovery in humans and new cancer treatments ...> Full Article

Testosterone key to disease transmission (8/10/2008)

High levels of testosterone may be a key factor in spreading disease among mice, according to biologists. ...> Full Article

New blood biting back at malaria (8/9/2008)

Research could underpin global efforts to find a drug or vaccine against the disease. ...> Full Article

Sesame seed extract and konjac gum may help ward off Salmonella and E. coli (8/9/2008)

konjac gum and sesame seed extract may offer protection against different strains of E. coli and Salmonella bacteria ...> Full Article

Researchers unveil vital key to cancer (8/9/2008)

scientists have uncovered the 3D structure of Mps1 - a protein that regulates the number of chromosomes during cell division and thus has an essential role in the prevention of cancer - which will lead to the design of safer and more effective therapies. ...> Full Article

First step towards switching off breast cancer and leukaemia (8/9/2008)

scientists have identified a way to 'switch off' a molecule, a key player in the molecular processes that trigger breast cancer and certain forms of leukemia. ...> Full Article

Lowering Cholesterol Early in Life Could Save Lives (8/8/2008)

Researchers Advocate Intervention Beginning in Childhood ...> Full Article

Study shows why treatment isn't effective for HIV (8/8/2008)

New research shows scarring occurs quickly in gut, limiting drug effectiveness ...> Full Article

Researchers find cancer-inhibiting compound under the sea (8/8/2008)

Researchers have discovered a marine compound off the coast of Key Largo that inhibits cancer cell growth in laboratory tests, a finding they hope will fuel the development of new drugs to better battle the disease. ...> Full Article

Researchers Discover How Tumor Suppressor Inhibits Cell Growth (8/8/2008)

Genes that inhibit the spontaneous development of cancer are called tumor suppressor genes. One of the major tumor suppressors is p53, a protein that acts in the cell nucleus to control the expression of other genes whose products can inhibit cell proliferation (increase in cell number) and cell growth (increase in cell size). Abnormal cell proliferation and growth are characteristics of cancer. Scientists previously knew which p53 target genes inhibit cell proliferation, but those required for inhibition of cell growth were unknown. ...> Full Article

Researchers halt spread of HIV with RNAi (8/8/2008)

Hopes languished last September when a promising candidate HIV vaccine failed to work. Despite this setback, many researchers still believe immunization is possible, and a new study suggests they're correct - at least at the cellular level. ...> Full Article

Alternate genes linked to breast, thyroid and kidney cancer predisposition (8/8/2008)

A new discovery may lead to more effective screening and treatment for patients with a difficult to recognize syndrome characterized by tumor-like growths and a high risk of developing specific cancers ...> Full Article

New step forward in search for solution to infection puzzle (8/7/2008)

Scientists have revealed more about the way bacteria can attach to human tissues. ...> Full Article

Eating Fish May Prevent Memory Loss and Stroke in Old Age (8/7/2008)

Eating tuna and other types of fish may help lower the risk of cognitive decline and stroke in healthy older adults ...> Full Article

Adults who eat eggs for breakfast lose 65 percent more weight (8/7/2008)

New research confirms that eating eggs boosts a healthy weight loss plan ...> Full Article

Researchers uncover West Nile's targets (8/7/2008)

Screening the entire human genome, a team has identified several hundred genes that impact West Nile virus infection ...> Full Article

Gene variant that 'cuts the brakes' on immune system in lupus patients (8/6/2008)

Your immune system may have more in common with a Corvette than you thought ...> Full Article

Research exposes new target for malaria drugs (8/6/2008)

Research has exposed one of the tricks malaria uses to hide from the immune proteins, which may aid in future drug development ...> Full Article

Researchers Publish Findings of a New Chemoprevention Gene Therapy That Kills Pancreatic Cancer Cells (8/6/2008)

Chemoprevention gene therapy may prevent and treat pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal and treatment-resistant forms of cancer ...> Full Article

Exposure to Agent Orange linked to prostate cancer in Vietnam veterans (8/6/2008)

Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange have greatly increased risks of prostate cancer and even greater risks of getting the most aggressive form of the disease as compared to those who were not exposed. ...> Full Article

Key to virulence protein entry into host cells discovered (8/5/2008)

Researchers have identified the region of a large family of virulence proteins in oomycete plant pathogens that enables the proteins to enter the cells of their hosts ...> Full Article

Researchers Find a New Role for a 'Foxy Old Gene' (8/5/2008)

Protein protects liver against accumulation of excess bile; implications for treating liver diseases ...> Full Article

Researchers Paving the Way for New Heart Disease Treatments (8/5/2008)

Researchers have increased their understanding of a chemical that regulates everything from blood flow and wound healing to lung function and memory formation ...> Full Article

New treatment therapy helps inhibit hepatitis C (8/4/2008)

Two new studies examine the use of the nucleoside polymerase inhibitor, R1626, to the standard therapy for hepatitis C. ...> Full Article

Fat Around the Heart May Increase Risk of Heart Attacks (8/4/2008)

Having excess fat around the heart may be worse than having a high body mass index or a thick wais ...> Full Article

Gene May Put Women with Migraine at Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke (8/4/2008)

Women who experience migraine with aura appear to be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke if they have a certain gene ...> Full Article

Protein made by fat cells may increase risk of heart attack in older adults (8/4/2008)

Adiponectin, a protein produced by fat cells, may play a pivotal and counterintuitive role in cardiovascular health for older Americans ...> Full Article

Unravelling breast cancer susceptibility (8/3/2008)

Scientists are investigating a vital link between radiation sensitivity and breast cancer susceptibility. ...> Full Article

Professor develops vaccine to protect against black plague bioterror attack (8/3/2008)

Oral vaccine combats various versions of the plague ...> Full Article

How 'hidden mutations' contribute to HIV drug resistance (8/3/2008)

Researchers explain how previously ignored parts of HIV genome play key role ...> Full Article

Treatment corrects severe insulin imbalance in animal studies (8/3/2008)

Could become first effective drug for rare genetic disorder in children ...> Full Article

Simian foamy virus found in several people living and working with monkeys in Asia (8/2/2008)

A research team led by University of Washington scientists has found that several people in South and Southeast Asian countries working and living around monkeys have been infected with simian foamy virus (SFV), a primate virus that, to date, has not been shown to cause human disease. ...> Full Article

Researchers Identify Drugs that Enhance Exercise Endurance (8/2/2008)

Researchers have identified two drugs that mimic many of the physiological effects of exercise ...> Full Article

New treatment for advanced prostate cancer (8/2/2008)

Researchers have developed a novel approach to treating advanced prostate cancer that could be more effective with fewer side effects. ...> Full Article

How chemo kills tumors: research to reduce side effects (8/2/2008)

researchers are investigating exactly how chemotherapy drugs kill cancerous tumours in a bid to reduce side effects and test the effectiveness of safer new agents. ...> Full Article

New Method Assesses Risks for Heart Failure Patients (8/1/2008)

Data from 260 hospitals across the United States has led to the creation of a new method for physicians to more accurately determine the severity of heart failure in patients upon hospital admission, with a goal of reducing in-hospital mortality and more quickly identifying triage methods and treatment decisions. ...> Full Article

Scientists Find Modified Protein Containing an Unnatural Amino Acid that Breaks Immune Tolerance (8/1/2008)

Scientists have produced a powerful immune response in mice by incorporating an unnatural amino acid into a target protein. This novel approach could prove useful in the development of new vaccines for cancer, infectious diseases, and other disorders. ...> Full Article

Newly Identified Genetic Deficiency in Children Illuminates Immune System Breakdown (8/1/2008)

Children with meningitis and other serious infections need swift treatment with antibiotics to survive, but physicians have not been able to figure out why the same microbe causes some children to get seriously ill and not others. Now researchers have identified a genetic defect that makes these children susceptible to attack by a certain type of bacteria, a finding that will speed up the diagnosis and treatment of these sick children. ...> Full Article

Scientists discover how some bacteria may steal iron from their human hosts (8/1/2008)

Discovery could lead to new ways to fight tuberculosis ...> Full Article

New discovery may lead to immunization against cardiovascular disease (8/1/2008)

Low levels of naturally occurring antibodies may represent an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke in men. ...> Full Article