Curing Death by Curing Aging - November 2007 Archives

It's in the genes (11/30/2007)

Of the millions of people receiving blood transfusions in the United States each year, thousands face complications some of which can be life-threatening as a result of a mismatch between the donor and recipient. ...> Full Article

Scientists See Breast Cancer Gene Activity from Outside the Body (11/30/2007)

Jefferson Scientists See Breast Cancer Gene Activity from Outside the Body ...> Full Article

Genetic and Behavioral Differences Add to Prostate Cancer Disparities (11/30/2007)

African-American men face an observable disadvantage versus Caucasian men when it comes to prostate cancer survival. Not only is prostate cancer detected later in African-Americans, it is often more aggressive and harder to treat. ...> Full Article

Transporters may help delay diabetes-related retinal damage (11/30/2007)

Two transporters that deliver alternative energy sources to the eye may help delay retinal damage that can occur in diabetes, researchers say. ...> Full Article

Research Looks at how South Asian Populations Cope With Cancer (11/30/2007)

Pilot study suggests there are differences in the way ethnic groups cope with cancer ...> Full Article

Stem-Cell Transplant Increases Oxygen In Damaged Heart (11/30/2007)

Scientists have determined that stem cells transplanted into a damaged heart can increase the presence of oxygen at the site of injury, suggesting that such transplants might someday be used as therapy after heart attacks and for other diseases characterized by a lack of oxygen. ...> Full Article

Researchers identify key genetic trigger of acute myeloid leukemia (11/29/2007)

A gene called N-Myc leads a double life in certain white blood cells when it is overexpressed, helping to trigger a cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) under some conditions while triggering apoptosis, or cell suicide, under other conditions, according to results of a mouse study done by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ...> Full Article

Yeast behind potentially deadly infections tackled by multi million pound collaboration (11/29/2007)

How yeast infections fight off multiple attacks from the human immune system is the subject of a new study awarded £4.6 million today. The team of internationally renowned scientists receiving the grant hope their findings could pave the way for better and more effective anti-fungal drugs. ...> Full Article

Radiation Exposure of Pregnant Women More than Doubles in 10 Years (11/29/2007)

The past decade has seen an unprecedented increase in the use of radiologic exams on pregnant women. ...> Full Article

By growing 3D tumors, researcher develops realistic cancer growth models (11/29/2007)

Scientists can only develop new cancer drugs or search for cures by testing their theories on the real thing. Traditionally, they've done so by culturing cancer cells on petri dishes or plastic slides. But those cancer cells do not behave the way they do in the body. They only partially re-create the aggressive behavior of tumors in real patients. ...> Full Article

Freezing Bone Cancer Tumors Reduces Pain (11/29/2007)

Cryoablation, a procedure most commonly associated with destroying kidney and prostate tumors by freezing them, has been shown to offer durable pain relief of cancer that has spread to bone. The procedure freezes and shrinks or destroys cancerous tumors in or near bone. ...> Full Article

Cancer-resistant Mouse Developed By Adding Tumor-suppressor Gene (11/29/2007)

A mouse resistant to cancer, even highly-aggressive types, has been created by researchers at the University of Kentucky. The breakthrough stems from a discovery by UK College of Medicine professor of radiation medicine Vivek Rangnekar and a team of researchers who found a tumor-suppressor gene called "Par-4" in the prostate. ...> Full Article

Rebuilding The Evolutionary History Of HIV-1 Unravels A Complex Loop (11/29/2007)

An essential component of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) molecular machinery responsible for infecting cells consists of functionally-specialized layers, according to a study by investigators at the University of California San Diego Antiviral Research Center. ...> Full Article

Red blood cell transfusions under scrutiny (11/28/2007)

Bristol scientists have found that red blood cell transfusions given to people having heart surgery could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. ...> Full Article

New Method of Drug Delivery More Effective at Reaching Brain Tumors (11/28/2007)

Bioengineers at Yale and Cornell have created a modified chemotherapy that more effectively reaches and remains at the site of brain tumors - by adding a water-soluble polymer to the anti-cancer drug, according to a report in the November-December issue of Bioconjugate Chemistry. ...> Full Article

For treating malaria, less drugs may be best drugs (11/28/2007)

The current dosage of drugs used in treating malaria may be helping the parasites become resistant to the drugs faster, without improving the long-term outcome in patients. According to evolutionary biologists, studies using mice suggest that the optimal use of the drugs might slow the spread of drug resistance while making the patient just as healthy. ...> Full Article

PET and CT Scans Bring New Hope to Patients with Deadly Form of Breast Cancer (11/28/2007)

Researchers are improving the chances of women faced with an aggressive and difficult to diagnose form of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer spreads quickly and can be lethal in six to nine months. But by using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), radiologists and physicists are able to spot the spread of cancer earlier, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). ...> Full Article

Research finds similarities in dog, human breast cancer pre-malignant lesions (11/28/2007)

Pre-malignant mammary lesions in dogs and humans display many of the same characteristics, a discovery that could lead to better understanding of breast cancer progression and prevention for people and pets, said a Purdue University scientist from the School of Veterinary Medicine. ...> Full Article

Scientists decode genomes of tuberculosis microbes (11/28/2007)

Work could aid research on drug-resistant TB ...> Full Article

Stem cell transplant can grow new immune system in certain mice (11/27/2007)

Researchers have taken a small but significant step, in mouse studies, toward the goal of transplanting adult stem cells to create a new immune system for people with autoimmune or genetic blood diseases. ...> Full Article

Study shows cholera can be controlled with oral vaccines (11/27/2007)

Endemic cholera, a potentially fatal diarrheal disease found in the world's most impoverished countries, could be effectively controlled by orally vaccinating half of the affected populations once every two years for only pennies per dose. ...> Full Article

Not Enough 'Good' Cholesterol Makes It Harder to Recover from Stroke (11/27/2007)

People are at an increased risk of memory problems and greater disability after stroke if they have low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid acquired mostly from eating meat. ...> Full Article

Researchers find possible link between childhood sleep disorder, heart disease (11/27/2007)

Children who snore and breathe irregularly while they sleep may be at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. ...> Full Article

A Friend Indeed (11/27/2007)

They've fetched our slippers and provided us with companionship and unconditional love for generations, but those aren't the only benefits that dogs provide. According to a North Carolina State University researcher, the humble canine may hold the key to unlocking the cause of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. ...> Full Article

Living Donors May be Best Source of Insulin-producing Islets for Diabetes Treatment (11/27/2007)

According to a new study, obtaining islet cells (clusters of pancreatic cells that create insulin) from living donors may be a solution to the shortage of islets available for transplantation. ...> Full Article

Scientists have explained why certain genetic diseases caused by repeats in the code are 'genetic time-bombs' (11/26/2007)

Some genetic diseases' onset and progression can now can be accurately predicted. ...> Full Article

Doubled calorie intake from beverages likely contributes to adult obesity (11/26/2007)

It's not just sugary sodas that are adding to the obesity crisis - it's fruit drinks, alcohol and a combination of other high-calorie beverages. ...> Full Article

Too Much Sugar Turns Off Gene That Controls Effects Of Sex Steroids (11/26/2007)

Eating too much fructose and glucose can turn off the gene that regulates the levels of active testosterone and estrogen in the body, shows a new study in mice and human cell cultures that's published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. This discovery reinforces public health advice to eat complex carbohydrates and avoid sugar. Table sugar is made of glucose and fructose, while fructose is also commonly used in sweetened beverages, syrups, and low-fat food products. Estimates suggest North Americans consume 33 kg of refined sugar and an additional 20 kg of high fructose corn syrup per person per year. ...> Full Article

Stem Cell Injection Protects Against Nerve Cell Death After Stroke, Study Suggest (11/26/2007)

Scientists have tested the capabilities of cellular therapy for ischemic stroke treatment on rats. It has turned out that intravenous transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells restores cerebrum blood supply and protects its nerve cells from death. ...> Full Article

Environmental toxins may limit fertility (11/26/2007)

Targeted compounds found in car exhaust, wood stove fumes ...> Full Article

Fat Hormone May Contribute To Longevity (11/25/2007)

Both humans and mice that manage to live to a ripe, old age show a clear change in their glucose metabolism, but it's unclear whether this change alone can increase lifespan. ...> Full Article

Researcher to Study Dog Genome for Clues to Lymphoma in Humans (11/25/2007)

They've fetched our slippers and provided us with companionship and unconditional love for generations, but those aren't the only benefits that dogs provide. According to a North Carolina State University researcher, the humble canine may hold the key to unlocking the cause of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. ...> Full Article

Rogue Bacteria Involved In Both Heart Disease And Infertility (11/25/2007)

Researcher coaxes rogue bacteria to give up deadly secrets of how they cause several human illnesses ...> Full Article

Scientists have revealed what changes in an immune system T cell undergoes as it binds to an antigen (11/25/2007)

The first lines of defense in our immune systems are specialized mobile units that check the identity of cells to determine whether they are 'self' or 'foreign.' A team of scientists, led by Prof. Israel Pecht of the Weizmann Institute's Immunology Department, has now revealed in fine detail how the body's 'reconnaissance unit' continuously screens and inspects identity. These new findings may lead to deeper insights into the workings of the immune system, its function in health and malfunction in disease, as well as yielding new directions in pharmaceutical and medical research. ...> Full Article

Researchers Find Monkeys Able to Fend Off AIDS-like Symptoms with Enhanced HIV Vaccine (11/22/2007)

Researchers have discovered that using an immune system gene to enhance a vaccine used to study HIV in macaque monkeys provides the animals with greater protection against simian HIV (SHIV) than an unmodified vaccine. This multi-year study found that the addition of a molecule called Interleukin-15 effectively boosts the effects of a vaccine derived from the DNA of simian HIV. The study illustrates that DNA vaccine effectiveness can be improved by the inclusion of specific immune adjuvants, or helpers. ...> Full Article

Identification of a gene that regulates thyroid hormones (11/22/2007)

Researchers at IRB Barcelona report the first data on the functions of a new gene that is altered in diabetes ...> Full Article

Antidepressant Found to Extend Lifespan in C. Elegans (11/22/2007)

A team of scientists have found that a drug used to treat depression can extend the lifespan of adult roundworms. ...> Full Article

Mushrooms may aid rapid vaccine response (11/21/2007)

A rapid production of therapeutic human drugs using modified mushrooms may help mount a quicker response to various public health problems, according to plant pathologists who have received a federal grant to perfect their technique. ...> Full Article

New HPV vaccine under study (11/21/2007)

A new vaccine against nine of the most harmful strains of human papillomavirus is under study at the Medical College of Georgia. ...> Full Article

Scientists Decode Genomes of Diverse TB Isolates (11/21/2007)

Work of South Africa-US Research Team Gives First Look at Genome of XDR TB; Initial Analysis Highlights Small Number of DNA Differences Among Drug-resistant and drug-sensitive Microbes ...> Full Article

Living Cancer Cells Photographed in 3-D (11/21/2007)

New Technique Captures Inner Workings of Cell Non-Invasively ...> Full Article

New Technology to Treat Breast Cancer Shows Promise in Early Application (11/21/2007)

Physicians at the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center will present the initial outcomes of their use of a new device that delivers radiation therapy to a specific tumor site at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), November 25-30, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois. ...> Full Article

Cancer drug works by stimulating cancer gene (11/21/2007)

Melanoma tumors carry enemy within, suggesting new treatment strategy ...> Full Article

Immune system can drive cancers into dormant state (11/20/2007)

A multinational team of researchers has shown for the first time that the immune system can stop the growth of a cancerous tumor without actually killing it. ...> Full Article

Lessons from neuroscience in treating heart disease (11/20/2007)

Scientists have found a naturally occurring protein, known as nerve growth factor, can dramatically improve the survival of heart cells. ...> Full Article

Together We Stand: Bacteria Organize Into Biofilms To Survive Hostile Zones (11/20/2007)

Using an innovative device with microscopic chambers, researchers from four institutions, including Johns Hopkins, have gleaned important new information about how bacteria survive in hostile environments by forming antibiotic- resistant communities called biofilms. These biofilms play key roles in cystic fibrosis, urinary tract infections and other illnesses, and the researchers say their findings could help in the development of new treatments and preventive measures. ...> Full Article

Viral infection affects important cell stress response (11/20/2007)

Viral infection disrupts the normal response of mammalian cells to outside deleterious forces, cleaving and inactivating a protein called G3BP that helps drive the formation of stress granules, which shelter the messenger RNAs that carry the code for protein formation. ...> Full Article

A mechanism to explain biological 'cross-talk' between 24-hour body cycle and metabolism (11/20/2007)

It's well known that the body's energy levels cycle on a 24-hour, or circadian, schedule, and that this metabolic process is fueled by oxygen. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that a protein called Rev-erb coordinates the daily cycles of oxygen-carrying heme molecules to maintain the body's correct metabolism. ...> Full Article

Compounds In Cranberries May Be Antibacterial Agents (11/19/2007)

Cranberry sauce is not the star of the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal, but when it comes to health benefits, the lowly condiment takes center stage. In fact, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have found that compounds in cranberries are able to alter E. coli bacteria, which are responsible for a host of human illnesses (from kidney infections to gastroenteritis to tooth decay), in ways that render them unable to initiate an infection. ...> Full Article

Eating Your Greens Could Prove Life-Saving if a Heart Attack Strikes (11/19/2007)

A diet rich in leafy vegetables may minimize the tissue damage caused by heart attacks. The findings, suggest that the chemical nitrite, found in many vegetables, could be the secret ingredient in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. ...> Full Article

Anti-Cancer Drug Begins Human Trials (11/19/2007)

An anti-cancer drug has begun clinical testing with patients. ...> Full Article

Grape powder blocks genes linked to colon cancer (11/19/2007)

Study points to potential for dietary prevention of third most common form of cancer ...> Full Article

Imaging Stem Cell Division Helps Identify Cancer Treatment Targets (11/19/2007)

Using a novel method for seeing the division of stem cells in real time, Duke University Medical Center researchers believe they have identified an unexpected way to interfere with the uncontrolled cell growth that is characteristic of cancer. ...> Full Article

Virus Used to Create Experimental HIV Vaccines Directly Impairs the Immune Response (11/19/2007)

Leading efforts to create an HIV vaccine have hinged on the use of viruses as carriers for selected elements of the HIV virus. Recently, however, evidence has emerged that some of these so-called viral vector systems may undermine the immune system and should not be used for vaccine development. Now, a new study from scientists at The Wistar Institute provides strong support for the idea that some viral-vector vaccines may cause more harm than good. ...> Full Article

Researchers Identify Tumor-Suppressor Gene for Lung Cancer (11/18/2007)

The GPRC5A gene, which is under-expressed in human lung cancer cells, suppresses lung tumors in mouse models and could provide a key to attacking lung cancer in humans, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the Nov. 21 edition of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ...> Full Article

Two Proteins May Be Survival Markers in Some Breast Cancers (11/18/2007)

New research suggests that the presence or absence of two proteins may be important markers for long-term survival in some breast-cancer patients. ...> Full Article

Study questions quality indicator for colon cancer surgeries (11/18/2007)

Having larger numbers of lymph nodes examined for cancer is not necessarily linked to better survival rates or higher quality surgery ...> Full Article

Abnormal Glutamine Repeats Interfere With Transcription, Lead to Brain Disease (11/18/2007)

Although repeating sequences of three nucleotides encoding some of the bodies' 20 amino acids are a normal part of protein composition, abnormal expansion of trinucleotide repeats is the known cause of multiple inherited neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington disease. ...> Full Article

Telomerase Enzyme Structure Provides Significant New Target for Anti-Cancer Therapies (11/18/2007)

Findings May Also Provide Insights into Normal Aging ...> Full Article

Experimental Technique Offers Real-Time Analysis of Breast Cancer Biopsies (11/18/2007)

A sophisticated microscope that offers a "real-time" 3-D analysis of tissue samples might, in the future, reduce the number of needle biopsies traditionally needed from women suspected of having breast cancer. ...> Full Article

Cancer Cell Genes Can be Switched Off (11/17/2007)

Study shows epigenetic silencing involves distinct changes in DNA structure. ...> Full Article

Smac-ing Lung Cancer to Death (11/17/2007)

Researchers have developed a small molecule that can turn the survival signal for a variety of cancer cells into a death signal. The molecule mimics the activity of Smac, a protein that triggers the suicide of some types of cancer cells. ...> Full Article

Scorpion Toxin Makes Fungus Deadly to Insect Pests (11/17/2007)

Professor has discovered how to use scorpion genes to create a hypervirulent fungus that can kill specific insect pests, including mosquitoes that carry malaria and a beetle that destroys coffee crops, but does not contaminate the environment as chemical pesticides do. ...> Full Article

Landmark Trial to Evaluate Cardioprotective Properties of Insulin (11/17/2007)

The ability of insulin to limit heart-tissue damage during a heart attack will be tested in a landmark clinical trial. ...> Full Article

A Low-Carb Diet May Stunt Prostate Tumor Growth (11/17/2007)

A diet low in carbohydrates may help stunt the growth of prostate tumors, according to a new study. The study, in mice, suggests that a reduction in insulin production possibly caused by fewer carbohydrates may stall tumor growth. ...> Full Article

Zinc transporters regulate pancreatic cancer (11/17/2007)

Zinc, an important trace element for healthy growth and development, can be related to pancreatic cancer. Too much ZIP4, a molecule that enables the transport of zinc into cells, promotes the growth and spread of pancreatic tumors cells. ...> Full Article

Most Diabetics Risk Serious Foot Problems By Wearing The Wrong-sized Shoes (11/17/2007)

More than six out of ten people with diabetes are walking around in the wrong-sized shoes, exposing themselves to serious foot problems that could lead to amputation, according to research in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. ...> Full Article

Study Finds That Sitting May Increase Risk of Disease (11/16/2007)

Most people spend most of their day sitting with relatively idle muscles. Health professionals advise that at least 30 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week will counteract health concerns, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity that may result from inactivity. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia say a new model regarding physical activity recommendations is emerging. New research shows that what people do in the other 15 and a half hours of their waking day is just as important, or more so, than the time they spend actively exercising. ...> Full Article

Got Milk? Researchers pursue 'promising' research into connection between low-fat dairy and weight loss (11/16/2007)

Your mother may have been more right than she knew when she told you to "drink your milk!" ...> Full Article

Breaking a Sweat Helps Control Weight Gain Over 20 Years (11/16/2007)

Don't slack off on exercise if you want to avoid packing on the pounds as you age. ...> Full Article

New technology joins the fight against super Staphylococcus bacteria (11/16/2007)

New company, recently received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market two antimicrobial solutions, Silvion™ and Silvaklenz®, that can be used to fight multiple-drug-resistant bacteria such as Methacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ...> Full Article

Research Studies Suggest Targeted Treatment Strategies for Lupus (11/16/2007)

New research provides clues about the causes of lupus symptoms and suggests specific new targeted treatment strategies. ...> Full Article

New insight into the link between genetics and obesity (11/15/2007)

Scientists have acquired new insight into how the 'obesity gene' triggers weight gain in some individuals. ...> Full Article

Researchers Find MRSA in Pigs (11/15/2007)

Pigs can now be added to the list of potential carriers of the drug-resistant "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). ...> Full Article

Overweight Or Underweight, Causes Of Death Differ (11/15/2007)

The association between weight and causes of death can vary considerably, with obesity associated with a significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), underweight associated with increased mortality from primarily non-cancer, non-CVD causes, and overweight associated with increased mortality from diabetes and kidney disease combined, but with reduced mortality from other non-cancer non-CVD causes of death, according to a new study. ...> Full Article

Stay fit to fight the aging process (11/15/2007)

Are you prepared to go to the gym for one hour, three times a week, for 20 weeks — all in the name of science? If so researchers at The University of Nottingham want to hear from you. ...> Full Article

Depression, Inflammation Are Independent Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Women (11/15/2007)

Depression is common among persons with cardiovascular disease, especially younger women, and researchers have linked both depression and heart disease with inflammation, the result of an over-active immune system. ...> Full Article

Researchers Show Therapy Effective for Reducing Lupus Flares (11/15/2007)

Researchers have shown that an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplant cases is effective in reducing flare-ups in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE results in inflammation of connective tissues and can involve the skin, joints and kidneys. Its cause is unknown. ...> Full Article

A Dose of Radiation May Help Knock Out Malaria (11/14/2007)

How are physicists helping an effort to eradicate malaria, the mosquito-borne disease that kills more than one million people every year? Physicists used their expertise in radiation science to help a young company create weakened, harmless versions of the malaria-causing parasite. These parasites, in turn, are being used to create a new type of vaccine that shows promise of being more effective than current malaria vaccines. ...> Full Article

A researcher is studying new strategies for treating the Hepatitis C virus (11/14/2007)

Aintzane Zabaleta Azpiroz, a biologist at the Center for Applied Medical Research of the University of Navarra (CIMA), focused her doctoral studies on new strategies for fighting the Hepatitis C virus, based on treatments and vaccines derived from cellular therapy methods. ...> Full Article

Decisive action could prevent spread of bird flu, says expert (11/14/2007)

Dr Robert Paul Yeo, lecturer in microbiology and infectious diseases, stresses the importance of taking appropriate action to contain the disease but highlights that the outbreak may still have significant economic effects. ...> Full Article

Scientists hail the 'sunshine vitamin' (11/14/2007)

Scientists have found that vitamin D may be instrumental in protecting us against certain diseases, as well as helping to slow down the ageing process. ...> Full Article

Extracts Of Catfish Caught In Polluted Waters Cause Breast Cancer Cells To Multiply (11/14/2007)

Exposing estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to extracts of channel catfish caught in areas with heavy sewer and industrial waste causes the cells to multiply, according to a University of Pittsburgh study. ...> Full Article

A protein converts immune cells to tumor killers (11/14/2007)

Tumor cells are masters at evading detection. But new research shows how they can be exposed. By harnessing the immune system of patients with a rare neurological disorder, scientists have figured out how to transform immune cells that barely detect the presence of breast and ovarian tumors into ones that obliterate them. The findings not only bring researchers closer to a therapy for gynecological cancers, but also to the key that could unlock the general secrets of tumor immunity. ...> Full Article

Mitochondria Send Death Signal to Cardiac Cells, Study Shows (11/13/2007)

Scientists have determined how cardiac cells die just as emergency treatments restore blood flow to a heart in distress, a paradox that has long puzzled doctors who are able to relieve pain in patients suffering from blocked arteries but can't stop the damage caused by the renewed rush of blood. The discovery may lead to new ways to save that dying tissue. ...> Full Article

Cough Medicine Fights Dyskinesias In Parkinson's (11/13/2007)

A cough suppressant and a drug tested as a schizophrenia therapy curb the involuntary movements that are disabling side effects of taking the Parkinson's disease medication levodopa, Portland scientists have found. ...> Full Article

New Way to Screen for Promising Anti-Cancer Agents (11/13/2007)

A quick and simple test shows promise as a way to screen for drugs that may be effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of the journal Clinical Cancer Research. ...> Full Article

Relationship between environmental stress and cancer elucidated (11/13/2007)

One way environmental stress causes cancer is by reducing the activity level of an enzyme that causes cell death, researchers say. ...> Full Article

Study Finds Heart Health Affected by Past Discrimination, Personality (11/12/2007)

The results were similar for African American and white participants in the study, although blacks who had experienced discrimination had a larger surge in blood pressure. ...> Full Article

Researchers Suggest Updating Criteria for HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders (11/12/2007)

After 10 years since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the criteria for classifying HIV-related neurocognitive disorders may need to be revised and updated, according to a working group designated by NIMH and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study the issue. The study was published October 30, 2007, in the journal Neurology. ...> Full Article

New HIV Vaccine Target Could Solve Mutation Problem (11/12/2007)

Researchers have identified a potential new way of fighting against HIV infection that relies on the remnants of ancient viruses, human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), which have become part of the genome of every human cell. ...> Full Article

Drug Slows Prostate Tumor Growth by Keeping Vitamin A Active (11/12/2007)

A novel compound that blocks the breakdown of retinoic acid, derived from vitamin A, is a surprisingly effective and "promiscuous" agent in treating animal models of human prostate cancer, say investigators from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). ...> Full Article

Biochemists add new molecular weapon to their arsenal (11/11/2007)

Researchers have acquired a new molecular tool that could help them transform a toxin from coral-reef bacteria into a next-generation cancer drug. ...> Full Article

Optical engineers go to new lengths to expose cancer (11/11/2007)

Optical engineers are going to new lengths -- lengths of scale, that is -- to develop high-performance imaging systems that pinpoint, diagnose and monitor the treatment of cancer. ...> Full Article

Medication does not appear to improve symptoms or outcomes for patients with acute heart failure (11/11/2007)

The medication tezosentan, which was thought could be beneficial for the treatment of acute heart failure, did not improve breathlessness or reduce the risk of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events ...> Full Article

Researchers Chart the Genetic Mechanisms behind the Genesis of Fat Cells (11/10/2007)

Obesity is a well known risk factor for prostate, breast and colon cancer, but recent studies have shown that a protein responsible for generating fat cells also plays an important role in cancer. Researchers at the Genome Institute of Singapore have conducted, for the first time, a genome-wide analysis of how the protein, called perixosome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg), turns on various genes related to obesity. ...> Full Article

Research Highlights Important Indicators of Early-stage Ovarian Cancer (11/10/2007)

New research explains why some ovarian cancer patients are dying, while others survive, despite similar surgical and post-operative treatment ...> Full Article

Study examines association between weight amount and cause of death (11/10/2007)

The association between weight and causes of death can vary considerably, with obesity associated with a significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), underweight associated with increased mortality from primarily non-cancer, non-CVD causes, and overweight associated with increased mortality from diabetes and kidney disease combined, but with reduced mortality from other non-cancer non-CVD causes of death. ...> Full Article

Developing Kryptonite for Superbug (11/10/2007)

Researchers are crossing academic and geographical bounds to develop more effective defenses against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and other deadly pathogens. ...> Full Article

In the Laboratory, Green Tea Proves a Powerful Medicine Against Severe Sepsis (11/10/2007)

A major component of green tea could prove the perfect elixir for severe sepsis, an abnormal immune system response to a bacterial infection. In a new laboratory study, Haichao Wang, PhD, of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and his colleagues have been studying the therapeutic powers of dozens of Chinese herbal compounds in reversing a fatal immune response that kills 225,000 Americans every year. They found that an ingredient in green tea rescued mice from lethal sepsis â€" and the findings could pave the way to clinical trials in patients. ...> Full Article

Chronic kidney disease in the U.S. appears to be increasing (11/9/2007)

The estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease among adults in the U.S. has increased to 13 percent, in part because of the increase in diabetes and hypertension, according to a study in the November 7 issue of JAMA. ...> Full Article

Researchers Present New Evidence of the Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet (11/9/2007)

A new study shows some slight diet changes can lead to significant improvements in an obese person's cardiovascular health and even aid in repairing damage from the past. ...> Full Article

Fine-tuning lasers to destroy blood-borne diseases like AIDS (11/9/2007)

Physicists have designed a revolutionary laser technique which can destroy viruses and bacteria such as AIDS without damaging human cells and may also help reduce the spread of hospital infections such as MRSA. ...> Full Article

Over-the-Counter Pain Medications May Reduce Risk of Parkinson's Disease (11/9/2007)

Over-the-counter pain medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce a person's risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the November 6, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ...> Full Article

Researchers Discover Inflammation, Not Obesity, Cause of Insulin Resistance (11/9/2007)

Findings may have important potential for new drug discoveries in fight against Type 2 diabetes ...> Full Article

Unlocking The Function Of Enzymes Could Change Drug Designs (11/9/2007)

Fitting a key into a lock may seem like a simple task, but researchers are using a method that involves testing thousands of keys to unlock the functions of enzymes, and their findings could open the door for new targets for drug designs. ...> Full Article

Pitt Researchers Receive Grants to Develop Dengue Fever Vaccine (11/8/2007)

The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) at the University of Pittsburgh has received two grants totaling $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a new vaccine strategy for dengue fever. A major public health issue worldwide, dengue fever is caused by a virus that is a close relative to West Nile virus. The award will allow researchers Ted M. Ross, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Donald S. Burke, M.D., professor and dean, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and CVR director, to improve survival outcomes for people infected with dengue fever. ...> Full Article

Smarthealth, advances in the development of new systems for cancer diagnosis (11/8/2007)

The SmartHEALTH project, with a budget of more than 21 million euros, is currently carrying out research on the development of multidisciplinary convergent technologies that bring together micro and nanotechnologies, molecular biology and clinical prognosis, with the goal of developing new advanced systems for the genetic diagnosis of cancer by 2010; in concrete, colorrectal, cervical and breast cancers. ...> Full Article

Risk of disability increasing among older obese individuals (11/8/2007)

The older obese population in the U.S. appear to be experiencing more impairments in functional abilities related to movement, although there have been improvements in the cardiovascular health of this population. ...> Full Article

The key to treating obesity; reversing weight loss in cancer patients (11/8/2007)

Researchers have developed a novel way to control the extreme weight loss that commonly accompanies and hastens death in late stage cancer patients. ...> Full Article

Gene discovery opens new avenue for treatments (11/8/2007)

The discovery of how a particular gene in the human body suppresses autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and lupus could open the way for a completely new approach to treating such conditions, scientists propose. ...> Full Article

Study finds deadly bacteria responds to light (11/8/2007)

Sunlight makes a vicious strain of bacteria even more dangerous, a new study has found. ...> Full Article

Team Uncovers Gene's Role in Type 1 Diabetes (11/7/2007)

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified an enzyme thought to be an important instigator of the inner-body conflict causes Type 1 diabetes. A chronic condition that affects nearly 3 million American children and adults, Type 1 diabetes is more severe than Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also called autoimmune diabetes, arises when the body's infection-fighting white blood cells start destroying the beta-cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. ...> Full Article

Consuming sugary drinks increases risk of suffering childhood obesity, independently of calories in diet (11/7/2007)

A researcher has shown that the consumption of sugared drinks increases the risk of child obesity, independently of the number of calories involved in the diet; factors also involved are a family history of obesity, lack of physical activity or excessive sedentary leisure. ...> Full Article

Less sleep may expand kids' waistlines (11/7/2007)

Study finds shorter sleep duration for 9- to 12-year-old kids is associated with increased risk for being overweight ...> Full Article

Researchers identify gene behind rheumatoid arthritis (11/7/2007)

Researchers have identified a genetic variant in a region on chromosome 6 that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common inflammatory arthritis affecting 387,000 people in the UK. ...> Full Article

Biomarker May Be an Early Predictor of Advanced Breast Cancer (11/7/2007)

Researchers have identified a molecule that may be more accurate than existing biological signposts used to predict which breast cancers will develop into advanced forms of the disease. ...> Full Article

Curry-derived Molecules Might Be Too Spicy For Colorectal Cancers (11/7/2007)

Curcumin, the yellowish component of turmeric that gives curry its flavor, has long been noted for its potential anti-cancer properties. Researchers from Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, report on an apparent improvement upon nature: two molecular analogues of curcumin that demonstrate even greater tumor suppressive properties. The team presented their findings from the first test of these molecules in a mouse model of colorectal cancer November 5 at the American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine. ...> Full Article

UV Light Improving Chances Of Fighting Cancer (11/6/2007)

Scientists have developed a cancer fighting technology which uses UV light to activate antibodies which very specifically attack tumours. ...> Full Article

Normal Tissue Not Spared In New Forms Of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy (11/6/2007)

A five day course of radiotherapy to treat breast cancer may, in some cases, expose as much lung and heart tissue to potentially toxic radiation as does the standard six weeks of treatment. ...> Full Article

How One Virus Uses Mimicry To Replicate Successfully: Related Mechanisms May Trigger Some Cancers (11/6/2007)

Both viruses and cancers subvert the growth-control machinery in a cell to serve their own needs. According to a new study, at least one virus uses mimicry to gain access to that machinery. ...> Full Article

Tumor genome analysis unveils new insights into lung cancer (11/6/2007)

An international consortium of scientists today in an advanced online publication in the journal Nature revealed a comprehensive view of the altered genetic background of the type of lung cancer that is the most common cause of cancer deaths in humans. ...> Full Article

Researchers shed light on black box of gestational diabetes (11/5/2007)

A protein in the pancreas is giving researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine their first chance at cracking the code that determines how diabetes develops during pregnancy, a finding that could lead to new treatments for all forms of diabetes. ...> Full Article

SUMO wrestles SENP1 over response to hypoxia, providing possible cancer targets (11/5/2007)

Researchers have found a protein that enables cellular survival during periods of low oxygen, or hypoxia, which also is key for development of many kinds of cancer. ...> Full Article

Cardiologists Identify New Gene Responsible for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (11/5/2007)

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a new gene responsible for a rare, inherited form of sudden cardiac arrest, known as Brugada syndrome. With the identification of this new gene, the researchers hope this will shed light on the more common forms of sudden death in patients with heart attacks and heart failure, and will help aid in the development of new, effective therapeutic treatments that will prevent all types of fatal arrhythmias. ...> Full Article

Severe Physical and Emotional Stress May Cause Catastrophic Tear in Aorta (11/4/2007)

Intense physical exertion or an extreme emotion, like shoveling snow or anxiety over big gambling losses, can cause a rupture in the main artery leading to and from the heart. ...> Full Article

New Genetic Variant Linked To Prostate Cancer In African-Americans (11/4/2007)

Researchers report a newly identified genetic variation that is linked to higher incidence of prostate cancer in African American men. Two tiny genetic variations may provide the best clues yet for finding more precise ways to estimate prostate cancer risk and improve screening and early detection for men of African descent. ...> Full Article

Children Would Need Different Medical Care in Wake of Dirty Bomb (11/4/2007)

If terrorists were to attack with a dirty bomb, medical authorities should be prepared to treat children differently than adults because their developing bodies would absorb and respond to the radiation exposure in distinct ways. ...> Full Article

Ecologists Uncover Links Between Fever And Living Fast, Dying Young (11/4/2007)

Fever is an effective defence against disease, but new research suggests that not all animals use it when exposed to infection. The study, published online in the British Ecological Society's journal Functional Ecology, found large differences in fever responses among closely related species of mice and suggests that an animal's reproductive strategy could explain some of this intriguing variation. ...> Full Article

Chemical In Red Wine, Fruits And Vegetables May Stop Cancer, Heart Disease, Depending On The Dose (11/4/2007)

The next cancer drug might come straight from the grocery store, according to new research published in the November 2007 issue of The FASEB Journal. In the study, French scientists describe how high and low doses of polyphenols have different effects. Most notably, they found that very high doses of antioxidant polyphenols shut down and prevent cancerous tumors by cutting off the formation of new blood vessels needed for tumor growth. Polyphenols are commonly found in red wine, fruits, vegetables, and green tea. ...> Full Article

Obesity Common in Children with Heart Disease (11/4/2007)

Obesity is common in children with heart disease, a population already at increased risk of a shortened life expectancy. ...> Full Article

New Magnetic Separation Technique Might Detect Multiple Pathogens At Once (11/3/2007)

The method could lead to new technologies for medical or environmental testing ...> Full Article

Breast Cancer Is More Aggressive in African American Women (11/3/2007)

African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age and have larger tumors and more lymph node involvement than Caucasian women. ...> Full Article

International Team Presents New Guidelines for Treating and Preventing Deadly Blood Clots in Cancer Patients (11/3/2007)

An international panel of researchers led by an oncologist from the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center has put together a set of guidelines for the prevention and treatment of dangerous blood clots that threaten cancer patients. ...> Full Article

Discovery of communication between bacteria may lead to new class of antibiotics (11/3/2007)

The discovery by Hebrew University researchers of a new communication factor that enables bacteria to "talk to each other" and causes their death could have significant consequences leading to development of a new class of antibiotic medications. ...> Full Article

Salmonella-based vaccine named as finalist (11/3/2007)

A Biodesign Institute research initiative aimed at advancing global health through the development of new vaccines has been selected as a finalist for the annual Governor's Council of Innovation Awards. ...> Full Article

New gene may offer clues to infertility in both cows and women (11/3/2007)

A newly identified gene that controls embryo development in cows may someday offer clues into the cause of infertility in women. ...> Full Article

Staph-Killing Properties of Clay Investigated (11/1/2007)

What makes some clays such powerful antimicrobial agents capable of killing MRSA and other virulent bacteria? It's a question that University at Buffalo researchers have been studying for several years. ...> Full Article

Sensor Can Detect Single Molecule Of Virus Associated With Cervical Cancer In Women (11/1/2007)

Researchers have developed a technology that detects a single molecule of the virus associated with cervical cancer in women. ...> Full Article

Simple Strategy Could Prevent Half of Deadly Tuberculosis Infections (11/1/2007)

By using a combination of inexpensive infection control measures, hospitals around the world could prevent half the new cases of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB), according to a new study in The Lancet by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. ...> Full Article

Smoking Does Not Lead To More Aggressive Or Advanced Breast Cancers (11/1/2007)

Smoking cigarettes is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the lung, head and neck, esophagus, bladder and many others and also affects response to anti-cancer treatments. But smoking does not result in more advanced stage diagnoses or aggressive breast cancers at the time of diagnosis. That is the result of an analysis of 35 years of data for more than 6,000 patients. ...> Full Article

Tiny Radioactive Spheres Effectively Treat Cancer That Has Spread To The Liver (11/1/2007)

Placing tiny radioactive spheres directly into the liver through its blood supply halted growth of tumors that had spread to the organ in 71 percent of patients tested in a small clinical trial. ...> Full Article