BreakThrough Digest Medical News

Recent Posts

• Biologists produce potential malarial vaccine from algae
• Alzheimer’s gene causes brain’s blood vessels to leak, die
• Researchers make promising discovery in pursuit of effective lymphoma treatments
• Delivery of gene-therapy for heart disease boosted 100-fold; now in 100-patient trial
• Breast cancer effectively treated with chemical found in celery, parsley by MU researchers
• Researchers identify key genes and prototype predictive test for schizophrenia
• Delivery system for gene therapy may help treat arthritis
• ‘Fertilizing’ bone marrow helps answer why some cancers spread to bones

Biologists produce potential malarial vaccine from algae

Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have succeeded in engineering algae to produce potential candidates for a vaccine that would prevent transmission of the parasite that causes malaria, an achievement that could pave the way for the development of an inexpensive way to protect billions of people from one of the world’s most prevalent and debilitating diseases. Initial proof-of-principle experiments suggest that such a vaccine could prevent malaria transmission.

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Alzheimer’s gene causes brain’s blood vessels to leak, die

A well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease triggers a cascade of signaling that ultimately results in leaky blood vessels in the brain, allowing toxic substances to pour into brain tissue in large amounts, scientists report May 16 in the journal Nature.

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Researchers make promising discovery in pursuit of effective lymphoma treatments

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have identified a target for slowing the progression of multiple myeloma by using currently available drugs.

Published recently in Nature Cell Biology, the study reveals a pathway that, if deactivated, may help slow the development of the disease.

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Delivery of gene-therapy for heart disease boosted 100-fold; now in 100-patient trial

Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Amex: CXM) today announced a late-breaking poster presentation at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 15th Annual Meeting being held May 16-19, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

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Breast cancer effectively treated with chemical found in celery, parsley by MU researchers

Apigenin, a natural substance found in grocery store produce aisles, shows promise as a non-toxic treatment for an aggressive form of human breast cancer, following a new study at the University of Missouri. MU researchers found apigenin shrank a type of breast cancer tumor that is stimulated by progestin, a synthetic hormone given to women to ease symptoms related to menopause.

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Researchers identify key genes and prototype predictive test for schizophrenia

An Indiana University-led research team, along with a group of national and international collaborators, has identified and prioritized a comprehensive group of genes most associated with schizophrenia that together can generate a score indicating whether an individual is at higher or lower risk of developing the disease.

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