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Source - EurekAlert – Biology
Public Release: 8-Jul-2009
Faster, more cost-effective DNA test for crime scenes, disease diagnosis
Scientists in Japan are reporting development of a faster, less expensive version of the fabled polymerase chain reaction, a DNA test widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, biological research and other applications. The new method could lead to expanded use of PCR in medicine, the criminal justice system and elsewhere, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the July 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry, a semi-monthly journal.
Contact: Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
202-872-6293
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
UTSA infectious disease researchers advancing vaccine against Valley fever
Medical mycologists in the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas at San Antonio have genetically engineered a live, attenuated vaccine that successfully protects mice against coccidioidomycosis.
Contact: Christi Fish
christi.fish@utsa.edu
210-458-7584
University of Texas at San Antonio
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
Erythropoietin boosts brainpower
Healthy young mice treated with erythropoietin show lasting improved performance in learning and other higher brain functions. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Biology tested the cognitive effects of the growth factor, finding that it improved the sequential learning and memory components of a complex long-term cognitive task.
Contact: Graeme Baldwin
graeme.baldwin@biomedcentral.com
44-020-319-22165
BioMed Central
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
Scientists identify cholesterol-regulating genes
Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of Heidelberg, Germany, have come a step closer to understanding how cholesterol levels are regulated. In a study published today in the journal Cell Metabolism, the researchers identified 20 genes that are involved in this process. Besides giving scientists a better idea of where to look to uncover the mechanisms that ensure cholesterol balance is maintained, the discovery could lead to new treatments for cholesterol-related diseases.
Contact: Anna-Lynn Wegener
wegener@embl.de
49-622-138-7452
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
New culprit behind obesity's ill metabolic consequences
Obesity very often leads to insulin resistance, and now researchers reporting in the July 8 issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, have uncovered another factor behind that ill consequence. The newly discovered culprit is a protein, called PEDF for short, that is secreted by fat cells. They also report evidence to suggest that specifically blocking PEDF action may reverse some of the health complications that come with obesity.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
Cholesterol control genes found that may point to heart disease risk
Using a combination of innovative genomic tools, researchers have turned up twenty genes that have important roles in controlling cholesterol within cells. The findings reported in the July 8 issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, could point the way to important new risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to the researchers.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Public Release: 7-Jul-2009
'Normal' cells far from cancer give nanosignals of trouble
A new Northwestern University-led study of human colon, pancreatic and lung cells is the first to report that cancer cells and their non-cancerous cell neighbors, although quite different under the microscope, share very similar structural abnormalities on the nanoscale level. The most striking findings were that these nanoscale alterations occurred at some distance from the tumor and, importantly, could be identified by assessing more easily accessible tissue, such as the cheek for lung cancer detection.
Contact: Megan Fellman
fellman@northwestern.edu
847-491-3115
Northwestern University
Public Release: 6-Jul-2009
Dogs, humans, put heads together to find cure for brain cancer
Pinpointing the genes involved in human brain cancer can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and sometimes the needle you find may not be the right one.
Contact: Tracey Peake
tracey_peake@ncsu.edu
919-515-6142
North Carolina State University
Source - Science Daily:
Please note: Due to the format restrictions of Science Daily articles, you must click on the URL (web address) below the article summary, rather than the article title.
Biomarker That Safely Monitors Tumor Response To New Brain Cancer Treatment
July 8, 2009 — A specific biomarker, a protein released by dying tumor cells, has been identified as an effective tool in an animal model to gauge the response to a novel gene therapy treatment for glioblastoma ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090701082714.htm
Human Sperm Created From Embryonic Stem Cells
July 8, 2009 — Researchers have created human sperm from embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells were cultured in a new medium containing vitamin A derivative (retinoic acid), using a new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090708073843.htm
Genetically Engineered Mice Yield Clues To 'Knocking Out' Cancer
July 8, 2009 — Researchers have demonstrated that deleting two genes in mice responsible for repairing DNA strands damaged by oxidation leads to several types of tumors, providing additional evidence that such ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090701102956.htm
Metabolic Factors May Play A Role In Risk For Breast Cancer
July 8, 2009 — Physiological changes associated with the metabolic syndrome may play a role in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, according to a new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630132001.htm
Scientists Reprogram Clearly Defined Adult Cells Into Pluripotent Stem Cells -- Directly And Without Viruses
July 8, 2009 — Researchers have succeeded for the first time in reprogramming clearly defined adult cells into pluripotent stem cells -- directly and without ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707131824.htm
Colorectal Cancer Risk Increased By Single-base Change In The Human Genome
July 8, 2009 — A single-base change in the human genome increases the risk of colorectal ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629112631.htm
Prostate Cancer 'Homing Device' Created For Drug Delivery
July 7, 2009 — A new prostate cancer "homing device" could improve detection and allow for the first targeted treatment of the disease. Researchers have synthesized a molecule that finds and penetrates prostate ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090706161306.htm
Newly Appreciated Membrane Estrogen Receptor Important Therapeutic Target For Breast Cancer
July 7, 2009 — New research has uncovered the biological effects of a novel membrane estrogen receptor, a finding that has potential implications for hormonal therapy for breast ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090701122710.htm
Alzheimer's Research Pinpoints Antibodies That May Prevent Disease
July 7, 2009 — Antibodies to a wide range of substances that can aggregate to form plaques, such as those found in Alzheimer's patients, have been identified in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of healthy people. ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090706171458.htm
Why Some Tumors Don't Respond To Radiation And Chemotherapy
July 7, 2009 — A tightly controlled system of checks and balances ensures that a powerful tumor suppressor called p53 keeps a tight lid on unchecked cell growth but doesn't wreak havoc in healthy cells. Scientists ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090706134050.htm
Hitting Cell Hot Spot Could Help Thwart Parkinson's Disease
July 7, 2009 — A new way to 'turn off the taps' in the brain and stop a chemical being released in excess amounts -- which can lead to Parkinson's Disease -- has been ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707201222.htm
New Approach To Screening For Serious Kidney Disease
July 7, 2009 — The combination of two common medical tests can improve a doctor’s ability to predict which patients will develop serious kidney ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707155825.htm
Key Protein Can Help Cells Or Cause Cancer
July 7, 2009 — Scientist have discovered a key process in cell growth that can lead to the formation of tumors. They found that an overabundance of the polo-like kinase 1, or Plk1, molecule during cell growth, as ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707131822.htm
Variations In Five Genes Raise Risk For Most Common Brain Tumors
July 6, 2009 — Common genetic variations spread across five genes raise a person's risk of developing the most frequent type of brain tumor, scientists ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090705131757.htm
Caffeine Reverses Memory Impairment In Mice With Alzheimer's Symptoms
July 6, 2009 — Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup. When aged mice bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease were given caffeine -- the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day -- ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090705215237.htm
Controversial Cancer Stem Cells Offer New Direction For Treatment
July 6, 2009 — Researchers sort out the controversy and promise around a dangerous subtype of cancer cells, known as cancer stem cells, which seem capable of resisting many modern ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090625141456.htm
Researchers Discover New Information On Spreading Of Cancer
July 5, 2009 — Researchers have discovered a mechanism lung cancer cells use when spreading into the body to form metastases. They have also found a factor controlling the spreading of several different cancer ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630075259.htm
Cancer-causing Protein Can Also Help Fight The Tumors It Causes
July 4, 2009 — New research uses the Ras protein to fight its own malign ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090618124950.htm
Novel Light-sensitive Compounds Show Promise For Cancer Therapy
July 4, 2009 — Chemists have developed novel compounds that show promise for photodynamic cancer therapy, which uses light-activated drugs to kill tumor cells. The new compounds, called dye-sensitized ruthenium ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090616121351.htm
Source - Health Day:
Health Highlights: July 8, 2009
- Drug-Resistant Swine Flu Case Leads to Increased U.S. Testing
- U.S. Doctors Complete Largest Kidney Transplant Chain
- Sperm From Stem Cells Claim Challenged
- CDC's Internet Tool Combines Data on Pollutants/Health
- Insomnia Patients May Benefit From Web-Based Therapy
Higher levels of adiponectin linked in studies to lower incidence of type 2 diabetes
Final Rules Broaden Pool for Stem Cell Research
Older stem cell lines eligible for U.S. research dollars, NIH says
Clinical Trials Update: July 8, 2009
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Migraine and Cluster Headaches
- Psoriasis and Psoriatic Disorders
- Breast Cancer
- Lower Back Pain
- Lupus
- Anxiety
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Low Back Pain
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)
- Diabetic Gastroparesis
Source - Yahoo Biotech News:
Biogen gets expedited review on MS drug candidate
Biotechnology company Biogen Idec Inc. said Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration will review a potential multiple sclerosis relapse treatment on a rolling basis, speeding up the regulatory process
Vical TransVax(tm) CMV Vaccine Achieves Promising Interim Clinical Results in Phase 2 Trial
EU warns of antitrust probes into drug makers
The European Union warned Wednesday of a wave of antitrust investigations into major drug makers, saying they were deliberately stalling cheaper generic versions of their own medicines once exclusive patents expire.
Source - Google Health News:
WHO sees little Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 flu spread
Reuters - USA
Last month, Chan also said that the H1N1 virus was stable and there were no signs yet it had mixed with other influenza viruses such as the deadly H5N1 bird ...
Letter Sparks Investigation of Baxter Vaccine by New Zealand ...
Natural News.com - Phoenix,AZ,USA
It was discovered that the sample contained live H5N1, which was to be used by Baxter to make vaccine. Baxter claims the two mixed by error, and called the ...
Yeast helps scientists in gene research
Edinburgh Evening News - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
... took part in the study, said: "Our findings should help research aimed at developing human artificial chromosomes as vehicles for use in gene therapy. ...
Science fiction? Aerosol delivery of an engineered virus halts ...
Examiner.com - USA
Nowadays, scientists are relentlessly working to make gene therapy delivery to the lungs a viable alternative in order to correct a variety of pulmonary ...
Source - Medical News Today:
Lou Gehrig's Disease Drug Tested In Melanoma
Following evidence of tumor shrinkage in a recent clinical trial at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), new research has just begun to further measure the effects of a drug commonly used for Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) in the treatment of melanoma. CINJ is a center of excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Melanoma is the most serious of skin cancers, and unlike other types, often spreads to other parts of the body. When that happens, patients have a five-year survival rate of less than ten percent. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 62,000 cases of melanoma were diagnosed nationwide in 2008 with nearly 2,300 cases in New Jersey. No effective treatments are available for advanced disease and that is why investigators at CINJ are further focusing their efforts on the drug riluzole.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156789.php
Wall Street Journal Examines Pharmaceutical Companies Expansion Into Developing Countries
The Wall Street Journal
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156748.php
Landmark Study For GSK's Cervical Cancer Vaccine Published In The Lancet
The final analysis of the largest efficacy trial of a cervical cancer vaccine is published today in The Lancet. The study, involving 18,644 women, confirmed GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix(R) is highly effective at protecting against the two most common cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types, 16 and 18. The study also showed that the vaccine provides cross-protection against HPV types 31, 33 and 45, the three most common cancer-causing virus types beyond 16 and 18. Thomas Breuer, Head of Global Clinical R&D and Chief Medical Officer of GSK Biologicals commented: "These excellent study results confirm the efficacy offered by Cervarix(R) against HPV 16 and 18. For the first time the results show that this vaccine was effective against cervical pre-cancers associated with the five most common cancer-causing virus types. This is really good news for primary prevention of cervical cancer as it indicates the vaccine could offer women additional protection against cervical cancer beyond what had at first been anticipated."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156676.php
FDA Approves First Maintenance Drug Therapy For Advanced Lung Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Alimta
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156504.php
International Study Links 3 Genes To Melanoma
A consortium of European and Australian scientists doing a genome-wide association study found three gene variants were strongly linked to melanoma risk: two of them had previously been linked to pigmentation, freckling and...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156487.php
Lab Test: Inject Genes Into The Brain, Fat Disappears
It's estimated two out of three Americans are now overweight or obese* - and spend about $60 billion a year to try and change it.** But someday losing weight might be as quick as a single injection - but this one wouldn't be in the arm - it would be in the brain. It was Doctor Matthew During, MD, PhD of Ohio State University Medical Center who developed the concept - using a gene in lab mice known as BDNF.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156373.php
Source - MIT's Technology Review:
Healthy Embryos Show Chromosome Flaws
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22959/?nlid=2159
First Drug Shown to Extend Life Span in Mammals
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22974/
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