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Scientists use computer analysis to complete antibody blueprint

Antibodies defend our bodies against intruders. These molecules consist of proteins with attached sugars. However, the blueprint directing the processing of these sugars on the protein was not well understood until now.

30 Nov 2017

Study focuses on improving pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutic aptamers

Designing new therapeutic DNA aptamers with diverse side chains can improve their ability to interact with targets, and a new study describes characteristics of these side chains that may determine how long the aptamers remain in the bloodstream.

30 Nov 2017

Penn researchers reveal new approach to restart replication in cardiomyocytes after heart attack

In mammals, including humans, the cells that contract the heart muscle and enable it to beat do not regenerate after injury.

29 Nov 2017

New findings offer hope for children with aggressive brain tumors

Findings published in Oncotarget offer new hope for children with highly aggressive brain tumors like atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) and medulloblastoma.

28 Nov 2017

Study: Women may be more susceptible to concussions due to more breakable nerve fibers

Women have smaller, more breakable nerve fibers in the brain compared to men that may make them more susceptible to concussions, suggests a new study from Penn Medicine neuroscientists published online today in the journal Experimental Neurology.

27 Nov 2017

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patients harbor infectious prions in their skin

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)- the human equivalent of mad cow disease- is caused by rogue, misfolded protein aggregates termed prions, which are infectious and cause fatal damages in the patient's brain. CJD patients develop signature microscopic sponge-like holes in their brains.

23 Nov 2017

IVF, ICSI pregnancies lead to increased risk of congenital heart defects in newborns

A new analysis of published studies found a 45% increased risk of congenital heart defects in newborns when women become pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) than through spontaneous conception.

22 Nov 2017

Alzheimer's Tau protein interacts with cell membranes and forms toxic complexes

The brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease contain characteristic tangles inside neurons. These tangles are formed when a protein called Tau aggregates into twisted fibrils. As a result, the neurons' transport systems disintegrate, essential nutrients can't move through, and the cells begin to die, affecting the brain's functions and giving rise to the disease's symptoms.

22 Nov 2017

EKF launches new POC Connect mobile app for DiaSpect Tm hemoglobin analyzer

EKF Diagnostics, today introduces POC Connect - a data management smartphone application for its DiaSpect Tm hemoglobin analyzer.

From EKF Diagnostics 22 Nov 2017

Anti-diabetic drug can enhance repair of UV-induced DNA damage in cells of ‘Moon children’

The destructive force of UV radiation on DNA molecules is only fully visible, when repair mechanisms fail: patients with the rare genetic disease Xeroderma pigmentosum - also known as 'Moon children' - develop inflammations upon exposure to only small amounts of sunlight, rough-surfaced growths and eventually skin cancer occurs often in early age.

21 Nov 2017

New model to test effectiveness of existing and potential CF therapies

UNC School of Medicine researchers have developed a new laboratory model of the infection- and inflammation-plagued airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

17 Nov 2017

New discovery may lead to natural products for preventing dental caries

A new discovery may one day lead to natural anticavity products, researchers report. The scientists from West China School of Stomatology and Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam have figured out the main active ingredient of Galla Chinensis, a natural herb, and further improved its anti-caries efficacy. The finding is published in The Open Dentistry Journal.

16 Nov 2017

Researchers discover new way to target cancer without destroying healthy T-cells

A unique approach to targeting the abnormal T-cells that cause T-cell lymphomas could offer hope to patients with the aggressive and difficult-to-treat family of cancers, finds a study involving researchers from Cardiff University.

15 Nov 2017

Live births more likely to occur in women with sufficient vitamin D, research finds

Researchers are calling for a randomized clinical trial to investigate the potential role of vitamin D supplementation in improving live birth rates following assisted reproduction treatment.

15 Nov 2017

EKF’s PCT LiquiColor assay receives FDA clearance and validation for use on Beckman AU analyzers

EKF, announces that its Stanbio Chemistry Procalcitonin LiquiColor assay has been FDA cleared with Beckman AU 480, 680 and 5800 clinical chemistry analyzers.

From EKF Diagnostics 15 Nov 2017

SUNY Downstate professor receives two awards to support research on vision-threatening diseases

Brahim Chaqour, PhD, professor of cell biology and ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, has received two awards to support research into treatment of currently incurable vision-threatening diseases. The new awards, totaling $2,008,973, are from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

14 Nov 2017

Penn Medicine to conduct Northeast’s first clinical trial of uterine transplants

Penn Medicine will conduct the Northeast's first clinical trial of uterine transplants, to provide women with Uterine Factor Infertility (UFI) - an irreversible form of female infertility that affects as many as 5 percent of women worldwide and 50,000 women in the United States - with a new path to parenthood.

7 Nov 2017

FDA grants clearance to new blood cell count test that allows faster availability of results

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared a complete blood cell count (CBC) test that, based on its categorization, can be run in more health care settings, including physicians' offices, clinics or other types of health care facilities, by a wider range of personnel (e.g. support staff). This broadened test access will allow for faster availability of results.

6 Nov 2017

New rapid and affordable method shows promise for diagnosis of dry eye diseases

UPM researchers have developed an optical biosensor with an easy, fast and affordable method of read-out that allows the in vitro detection of a biological material. The results obtained are promising for the diagnosis of dry eye diseases.