Researchers find that aspirin reduces the risk of cancer recurrence in prostate cancer patients
April 30, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
PALM BEACH, FL (May 1, 2011)Some studies have shown that blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, can reduce biochemical failurecancer recurrence that is detected by a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levelthe risk of metastasis and even death in localized prostate cancer. These studies, although very telling, have all emphasized the need for more data. Now, with researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center having concluded the largest study on this topic, and there is substantial data suggesting that aspirin improves outcomes in prostate cancer patients who have received radiotherapy.
Mayo Clinic finds new genetic cause of neurodegeneration
April 30, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered two mutations responsible for a devastating neurological condition they first identified 15 years ago. The researchers say their study — appearing in Nature Genetics — has revealed a new neural pathway that may help understand a variety of similar conditions.
Renal cancer drug temsirolimus shows promise against mesothelioma
April 30, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Denver, Colo. (May 1, 2011) — A drug commonly used to treat kidney cancer may increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy for mesothelioma, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Investigational agent shows promise in reducing spread of prostate cancer
Washington, DC A drug developed to treat Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, may also help prevent human prostate cancer from spreading, as seen in new lab studies say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
US Appeals Court opens federal funding for stem cell research
April 28, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
The U.S. Federal Court of Appeals has overturned an August 2010 ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, paving the way for broader exploration of how stem cells function and how they can be harnessed to treat a wide range of currently incurable diseases.
Gene therapy shows promise against age-related macular degeneration
April 28, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
BOSTON (April 29, 2011) A gene therapy approach using a protein called CD59, or protectin, shows promise in slowing the signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new in vivo study by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine. Led by senior author Rajendra Kumar-Singh, PhD, the researchers demonstrated for the first time that CD59 delivered by a gene therapy approach significantly reduced the uncontrolled blood vessel growth and cell death typical of AMD, the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. The study was published on April 28 in PLoS ONE.
Researchers discover mechanism that could convert certain cells into insulin-making cells
April 28, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Findings of UCLA study hold promise for fight against diabetes
Simply put, people develop diabetes because they don’t have enough pancreatic beta cells to produce the insulin necessary to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Scripps Research scientists create new genetic model of premature aging diseases
April 27, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Innovative development offers new platform for large-scale drug screening
JUPITER, FL, April 28, 2011 Working with a group of national and international researchers, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have developed a new genetic model of premature aging disorders that could shed light on these rare conditions in humans and provide a novel platform for large-scale screening of compounds to combat these and other age-related diseases.
2 unsuspected proteins may hold the key to creating artificial chromosomes
April 27, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
FINDINGS: Whitehead Institute scientists report that two proteins once thought to have only supporting roles, are the true “stars” of the kinetochore assembly process in human cells.
RELEVANCE: The kinetochore is vital to proper DNA distribution during cell division. This finding suggests that scientists may be able to stimulate kinetochore assembly in a process that could lead to new genetic research tools, such as efficient creation of artificial human chromosomes. Widespread use of artificial human chromosomes has been thwarted by scientists’ current inability to outfit synthetic chromosomes with kinetochores.
Folic acid for everybody — arguments in favor of food fortification
April 27, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Neural tube defects in neonates are common in Germany compared with the rest of Europe. Extensive folic acid fortification of foods in Germany might prevent these in 85-100% of cases, Wolfgang Herrmann and Rima Obeid argue in this issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011; 108[15]; 249-54).
