An immune cell known as a neutrophil releases a protein that can suppress glucose
production in the liver -- without targeting insulin, researchers have found.
A research team has developed the first small molecule that can reversibly activate a key
protein involved in balancing sodium levels, paving the way for drugs that can treat low
blood pressure and related conditions.
Researcher condemns European
Commission for turning down boost for biopesticides
The European Commission has rejected two amendments from the European Parliament designed
to help the wider use of biologically based pesticides on European crops. ‘This is a
very disappointing decision,’ said Professor Wyn Grant who headed up a Rural Economy
and Land Use (RELU) project on biopesticides at the University of Warwick . ‘These
natural substances could make a major contribution to sustainability. Some of the older
chemical pesticides are being withdrawn and we could soon be in a situation where we have
no remedy for some crop pests.
Researchers important markers of
high risk of type 2 diabetes
Doctors are aware of a range of risk factors, mostly related to the patients’ family
history, overweight, and lifestyle, that contribute to the risk of developing type 2
diabetes. Now researchers at the University of Warwick have found markers that indicate
endothelial dysfunction (changes in the cells which line the blood vessels) and
sub-clinical systemic inflammation can also help identify a far greater number of people
at high risk for future development of type 2 diabetes. In a study led by Dr Saverio
Stranges, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Warwick Medical School at
the University of Warwick, the team looked at a protein called E-selectin, whose presence
is an indication of endothelial dysfunction, white blood cell count and levels of albumin,
which are marker for sub-clinical systemic inflammation.
In studies of human brain cells, the widely-used anesthetic desflurane does not contribute
to increased production of amyloid-beta protein; however, when combined with low oxygen
conditions, it can produce more of this Alzheimer's associated protein.
Study shows common vitamin and
other micronutrient supplements reduce risks of TB recurrence
New findings show a link between micronutrient supplementation and reduced risk of
recurrence during tuberculosis chemotherapy, according to a study published in the June 1
issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.
Sensory treatment yields promising
results for children with autism
Parents of children with autism are increasingly turning to sensory integration treatment
to help their children deal with the disorder, and they’re seeing good results. In
2007, 71 percent of parents who pursued alternatives to traditional treatment used sensory
integration methods, and 91 percent found these methods helpful. A new study from Temple
University researchers, presented this month at the American Occupational Therapy
Association’s 2008 conference, found that children with autistic spectrum disorders
who underwent sensory integration therapy exhibited fewer autistic mannerisms compared to
children who received standard treatments. Such mannerisms, including repetitive hand
movements or actions, making noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests, often
interfere with paying attention and learning.
Extreme nausea and vomiting varies
among pregnant women from different countries
Mothers born in India and Sri Lanka are three times more likely to suffer from extreme
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum) than ethnic Norwegians. This
finding comes from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's study of 900,000 first-time
pregnancies registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway over a 40-year period. The
study is published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.
Cancer immunotherapy shows
long-term promise in lung cancer
New, long-term results from a clinical trial presented today at the 1st European Lung
Cancer Conference jointly organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology and the
International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer show that MAGE-A3 ASCI, an
immune-boosting treatment for lung cancer patients, reduces the risk of relapse after
surgery -- to the same extent as chemotherapy but without the side-effects of
chemotherapy.
Viruses may play a role in lung
cancer development
Papers presented at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference, jointly organized by the
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the
Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in Geneva, Switzerland highlight emerging evidence that
common viruses may contribute to the development of lung cancer. Experts agree that
smoking is by far the most important factor that contributes to lung cancer development.
But other factors can play a role in some cases.
Therapies delivered by
"trojan" peptides and through the use of nanotechnology may enhance the
effectiveness of cancer treatment
Christina Kousparou, Ph.D., Head of Research at Trojantec Ltd, reported that using the
Antennapedia protein as a "trojan horse" to pierce the outer layer of a cancer
cell and deliver p21, a known tumor suppressor protein, successfully reduced malignant
tumors in mice. Intravenous treatment with p21 by this method brought the cancer cell
growth and death cycle to a halt and slowed tumor growth. Mice given this protein also
lived longer than a control group of animals. Researchers had speculated that p21 would
increase sensitivity to chemotherapy. The combination of p21 with chemotherapy resulted in
total tumor eradication in 40% of animals and a reduction in tumor burden in 100% of
animals.
Specialized white blood cells
coordinate first responders to viral infection
Regulatory T cells are thought to call a halt to immune reponses as the fight against
infection draws to a close. Researchers have evidence that these cells also help
coordinate the early stages of the fight against viral infections.
Scientists have feared that gradual acidification of the world's oceans would wreak havoc
with organisms that build protective outer shells. But a new finding shows at least three
species of coccolithophores – single-celled algae that are major players in the
ocean's cycling of carbon – are responding to ocean acidification by building thicker
cell walls and plates of chalk, contrary to what some recent lab experiments have shown.
Two suppressor molecules affect 70
genes in leukemia
By restoring two small molecules that are often lost in chronic lymphocytic leukemia,
researchers were able to block tumor growth in an animal model. The study also uses human
CLL cells to show that the two molecules, called miR-15a and miR-16-1, affect 70 genes,
most of which are involved in cell growth, death, proliferation and metabolism. This
reveals how the molecules normally protect against cancer and suggests a possible new CLL
treatment strategy.
One of the most pressing biomedical issues is the development of techniques that increase
the efficiency of vaccines. In a paper published on April 24, 2008, in the journal
Vaccine, a Massachusetts biotechnology company, Cure Lab Inc., has proposed a new
technology for anti-viral and potentially anti-cancer vaccination. Cure Lab demonstrates
that deriving a vaccine antigen in two forms and then applying these two forms in
combination elicits a much stronger immune response.
New lymphoma therapies targets
diverse and difficult cancer
The fifth leading cause of cancer in the United States, lymphoma is made up of more than
40 rare and highly diverse diseases that target the body's lymphatic system. Lymphomas
include both one of the fastest growing cancers -- Burkitt's lymphoma, which can double in
size in as little as a day -- and one of the slowest, chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Proteins that Stop a Major
Signaling Pathway Can Also Generate New Proteins
Duke University Medical Center researchers have recently discovered that a crucial
communications pathway in cells not only stops cells from making proteins, it also makes
them go. The team was able to define the way in which proteins called beta arrestins (for
their role in stopping signals) also turn on pathways that ultimately lead to the
production of new proteins in virtually all tissues in the body. Because proteins are the
building blocks for all cells, this new pathway for the general control of protein
manufacturing has opened a new universe for biological studies. The beta arrestins were
discovered two decades ago as the off switches for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on
the cell surface, which do the job of sending and receiving important signals for cells.
This mechanism is the target of about a third of all pharmaceuticals today.
Smokers have a 41 percent higher
risk of suffering depression
The risk of suffering depression increases 41 percent in smokers, in comparison with
nonsmokers. This was the conclusion of a study undertaken with 8,556 participants by
scientists of the University of Navarra.
Breast cancer subtypes originate
from different biological pathways
There is a biological distinction between breast cancers that depend on hormones and those
that do not, according to research published Friday, April 25 in the open-access journal
PLoS Genetics. In the largest study of its kind, an international consortium of cancer
researchers studied the genetic makeup of over 23,000 breast cancer cases.
Novel approach to treat Alzheimer's
and other diseases offered by targeting cell membrane RAFTS
This week in Science magazine, researchers from JADO Technologies, with colleagues at the
Max Planck Institute and others, report on a potential new strategy for targeting
Alzheimer's by inhibiting ß-secretase, the enzyme involved in plague formation. This new
strategy hitchhikes onto a natural cellular mechanism called RAFT that allows a
ß-secretase inhibitor to be anchored via a proprietary sterol linker into endosomes, the
precise location where ß-secretase is most active and exerts its neurotoxic activity.
Metabolic genes tied to
inflammatory predictor of heart disease and stroke risk
Two new studies provide evidence that differences in people's blood levels of C reactive
protein stem in part from natural variation in known metabolic genes.
Presence of certain antibodies
signals healthier teeth and gums
Antibodies present in people with good oral health could become the first tool for dental
professionals to assess a patient's probable response to periodontal disease treatments,
say researchers at the University of Michigan.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and redox
signaling in atrial tachyarrhythmia
Researchers at the University Hospital of Magdeburg (Germany) have discovered that atrial
tachycardia is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress followed by
the activation of the NF-kB signalling pathway with induction of NF-kB target gene
expression in atrial tissue. Their study will appear in the May 08 issue of Experimental
Biology and Medicine. Multiple tachycardia-associated factors appear to contribute to this
response, which all are directly or indirectly linked to oxidative stress.
The influence of genetics increases as young women transition from their first drink to
alcohol dependence. A team of researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine
found that although environment is most influential in determining when drinking begins,
genes play a larger role in advancing to problem drinking and alcohol dependence.
New Source for Biofuels Discovered
by Researchers At The University of Texas at Austin
A newly created microbe produces cellulose that can be turned into ethanol and other
biofuels, report scientists from The University of Texas at Austin who say the microbe
could provide a significant portion of the nation's transportation fuel if production can
be scaled up. Along with cellulose, the cyanobacteria developed by Professor R. Malcolm
Brown Jr. and Dr. David Nobles Jr. secrete glucose and sucrose. These simple sugars are
the major sources used to produce ethanol. "The cyanobacterium is potentially a very
inexpensive source for sugars to use for ethanol and designer fuels," says Nobles, a
research associate in the Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
Researchers reveal structure of
protein that repairs damage to cancer cells
A team of University of Chicago scientists has shown how two proteins locate and repair
damaged genetic material inside cells. One protein detects and repairs damage in malignant
cells that may result from a certain type of cancer therapy. In a paper published in the
April 24 issue of the journal Nature, the team raised the possibility of designing a
molecule that could interfere with the repair process, making cancer treatment more
effective.
Over the past decade a number of studies have found that, rather than saving lives, blood
transfusions can actually harm patients. Most experts now agree that the problem isn't so
much the risk of blood-borne infectious diseases such as HIV, but the transfused blood
itself. Now, some surgeons and anesthetists are questioning whether every patient should
get the same "bloodless surgery" techniques that are used for Jehovah's
Witnesses -- who shun blood transfusions.
Exposing pregnant mothers and infants to probiotic bacteria could help stimulate the
growth of the immune system and potentially play a role in preventing allergies, say
researchers.
Smokers Interested in Smoking Less
Needed for Harm Reduction Study
Male and female smokers over the ages of 18 who would like to limit the amount they smoke
are needed to participate in a smoking harm reduction research study at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine.Harm reduction, which involves limiting exposure to nicotine
and tobacco, as opposed to quitting outright, is a fast-developing area of nicotine and
tobacco research. Specifically, few treatment options have been tested for smokers who are
not yet ready to quit, but who might consider cutting down.
Study Confirms Validity of
Pittsburgh Compound-B in Identifying the Toxins Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
A groundbreaking study conducted by University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s disease
researchers reported in the journal Brain (currently online) confirms that Pittsburgh
Compound-B (PiB) binds to the telltale beta-amyloid deposits found in the brains of
patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The finding is a significant step toward enabling
clinicians to provide a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in living
patients.
Scientists discover a mechanism
that can send cells on the road to cancer
Using a common virus as a tool for investigating abnormal cell proliferation, a team led
by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has succeeded in clarifying an intricate
series of biochemical steps that shed light on a way that cancer can begin.
First atomic-level look at a
protein that causes brain disease
For the first time, researchers have peered deeply at the atomic level into the protein
that causes hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy -- a disease thought to cause stroke
and dementia. The study pinpointed a tiny portion of the protein molecule that is key to
the formation of plaques in blood vessels in the brain.
Social form of bullying linked to
depression, anxiety in adults
Spreading rumors and gossiping may not cause bruises or black eyes, but the psychological
consequences of this social type of bullying could linger into early adulthood, a new
University of Florida study shows. In a study of 210 college students, UF researchers
discovered a link between what psychologists call relational victimization in adolescence
and depression and anxiety in early adulthood, according to findings published online this
month in the journal Psychology in the Schools. Rather than threatening a child with
physical violence, these bullies target a child’s social status and relationships by
shunning them, excluding them from social activities or spreading rumors, said Allison
Dempsey, a doctoral student in the UF College of Education and the study’s lead
author.
Link between ozone air pollution
and premature death confirmed
Short-term exposure to current levels of ozone in many areas is likely to contribute to
premature deaths, says a new National Research Council report, which adds that the
evidence is strong enough that the US Environmental Protection Agency should include
ozone-related mortality in health-benefit analyses related to future ozone standards.
Potential viral therapy weapon for
difficult cancers is safe and effective in study
Combining a herpes virus genetically altered to express a drug-enhancing enzyme with a
chemotherapy drug effectively and safely reduced the size of highly malignant human
sarcoma grafted into mice. This new finding may add to the growing arsenal of so called
oncolytic viruses under development as novel cancer treatments, especially for difficult,
inoperable tumors, according to a research led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical
Center and published April 24 in Molecular Therapy.
Primary driver of stomach cancer
development identified
Scientists at the Melbourne Branch of the international Ludwig Institute for Cancer
Research have discovered what appears to be the primary driver of tumor development in the
stomach. Results published today on-line in the Journal of Clinical Investigation show
that inhibiting the signaling cascade initiated by the IL-11 protein prevented the
development of inflammation, hyperplasia (an abnormal increase in the number of cells) and
tumor formation in pre-clinical models of gastric cancer.
Hyperactivity of certain brain regions is considered to be pivotal in symptoms of
depression. Using post-mortem brain tissue collected by the Netherlands Brain Bank, a
Chinese-Dutch research group has, for the first time, isolated these regions from the
brains of depressed patients and controls using a laser dissection microscope. Molecular
changes were found that may explain the hyperactivity of these brain areas and may thus be
potential targets for new therapeutic strategies.
Reduced levels of a hormone produced by fat cells and linked to the development of insulin
resistance may also be related to a higher risk of kidney disease, according to a study
led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and
Thomas Jefferson University.
Melanoma lurks in larger skin
lesions, NYU researchers find
Skin lesions that are about the size of a pencil eraser are more likely to be melanomas, a
deadly form of skin cancer, than smaller moles, according to a new study led by NYU
Langone Medical Center researchers.
Cancer cells spread by releasing
'bubbles,' according to an MUHC study
A new fundamental mechanism of how tumour cells communicate has just been discovered by
the team of Dr. Janusz Rak at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health
Centre in collaboration with Dr. Guha from the University of Toronto. These findings could
change our view on how cancerous tissues work and lead to major clinical innovations. They
were published on April 20 in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology.
Effective cancer immune therapy
through order in the blood vessels
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center have discovered a key molecule that is
responsible for the characteristic immature structure of blood vessels in malignant
tumors. If this molecule is switched off in mice, vessels normalize so that immune cells
are better able to get to the tumor tissue from the bloodstream. This significantly
increases the effectiveness of immune therapies and, thus, considerably enhances the
survival time of treated animals.
Scientists at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland ask whether there is
convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain
dysfunction and concluded that there is ample biological evidence to suggest an important
role for vitamin D in brain development and function, and that supplementation for groups
chronically low in vitamin D is warranted.
Children with ADHD should get heart
tests before treatment with stimulant drugs
Statement highlights: The side effects of stimulant drugs, like those used to treat ADHD
are usually insignificant, but are important to monitor for children with ADHD and certain
heart conditions. Children diagnosed with ADHD should receive an electrocardiogram to rule
out heart abnormalities before beginning treatment with stimulant drugs. Children
currently taking stimulant drugs who did not have an ECG prior to treatment should get an
ECG.
Incense burning in Buddhist and Taoist temples is regular practice, however inhalation of
incense gas products can cause respiratory disease and other health problems, so
worshippers are advised to reduce exposure times, and ventilate their houses when they
burn incense at home.
Migraine increases risk of severe
skin sensitivity and pain
People with migraine are more likely to experience exacerbated skin sensitivity or pain
after non-painful daily activities such as rubbing one's head, combing one's hair and
wearing necklaces or earrings, compared to people with other types of headache, according
to a study published in the April 22, 2008, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology.
Inflammation triggers cell fusions
that could protect neurons, Stanford research shows
Chronic inflammation triggers bone marrow-derived blood cells to travel to the brain and
fuse with a certain type of neuron up to 100 times more frequently than previously
believed, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
