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Scientists describes new advantageous way to detect different immune cells in the blood

When a person becomes sick or is exposed to an unwelcome substance, the body mobilizes specific proportions of different immune cells in the blood. Methods of discovering and detecting those profiles are therefore useful both clinically and in research. In a new paper in the journal Genome Biology, a team of scientists describes a new and uniquely advantageous way to detect them.

6 Mar 2014

Scientists reveal how a genetic code variation results in devastating brain diseases

New findings reveal how a mutation, a change in the genetic code that causes neurodegeneration, alters the shape of DNA, making cells more vulnerable to stress and more likely to die.

6 Mar 2014

Low-dose oral interferon may reduce risk of HCV relapse in patients with mild liver fibrosis

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to serious diseases such as cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, so viral clearance and prevention of relapse are important treatment goals.

6 Mar 2014

Scientists discover fundamental aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases

Scientists in Freiburg may have discovered a fundamental aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases. If B-lymphocytes lack the protein PTP1B, the cells will become hyperactive for stimulatory signals and can thus promote an autoimmune attack.

6 Mar 2014

Research shows how patient experiences can be used to improve healthcare

A research project led by Oxford University is showing how patient experiences can be used to improve healthcare - not through targets and surveys, but by getting doctors, nurses and patients talking together about care on the ward.

6 Mar 2014

Treating cystic fibrosis: an interview with Simon Bedson, Senior Vice President and International General Manager at Vertex

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease for which there is no cure. It affects more than 75,000 people worldwide. In CF, thick, sticky mucus blocks the passages in many organs, leading to a variety of symptoms. In particular, mucus builds up and clogs airways in the lungs making it easier for bacteria to grow.

5 Mar 2014

Metabolon agrees to provide biochemical profiling services to Human Longevity

Metabolon, Inc., the world's leading commercial-stage metabolomics company, announces the signing of an agreement with newly-launched Human Longevity Inc., whereby Metabolon will provide biochemical profiling services to assist HLI in its mission to tackle diseases of aging by building the world's largest and most complete human genotype, microbiome and phenotype database.

5 Mar 2014

Small-molecule drug effective in protecting nonhuman primates from lethal Marburg virus

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of a small-molecule drug in protecting nonhuman primates from the lethal Marburg virus. Their work, published online in the journal Nature, is the result of a continuing collaboration between Army scientists and industry partners that also shows promise for treating a broad range of other viral diseases.

5 Mar 2014

Researchers identify high levels of certain protein in brains of people suffering from essential tremor

A team of researchers from Universit- Laval and CHU de Qu-bec identified unusually high levels of a certain protein in the brains of people suffering from essential tremor (ET), a movement disorder that affects 4% of the adult population.

5 Mar 2014

Researchers develop adjuvant which enhances effect of virus transduction

Lentiviruses, which belong to the family of retroviruses, are used as vectors to exchange genetic material in cells and can be used to replace a defective gene as defined by gene therapy.

5 Mar 2014

Plant pigment could prevent damage to nerves linked with childhood form of SMA

The research team have found that a plant pigment called quercetin - present in some fruits, vegetables, herbs and grains - could help to prevent damage to the nerves associated with the childhood form of motor neurone disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

5 Mar 2014

Removing gut bacteria may play critical role in reducing cancer risk

Bacteria in the gut are essential for the development of intestinal tumors in mice, according to research led by investigators from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Removing the bacteria may play a critical role in reducing cancer risk, the researchers write, in the March issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

5 Mar 2014

Metabolic profiling of liver cells suggests new treatments for cirrhosis patients

In a new study that could help doctors extend the lives of patients awaiting liver transplants, a Rice University-led team of researchers examined the metabolic breakdown that takes place in liver cells during late-stage cirrhosis and found clues that suggest new treatments to delay liver failure.

5 Mar 2014

Mcl-1 protein enables NSCLC to survive radiation and drug treatments

Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute have discovered a protein, Mcl-1, that helps enable one of the most common and deadly types of cancer to survive radiation and drug treatments.

5 Mar 2014

Young adult smokers may experience changes in structures of brains due to cigarette smoking

The young, it turns out, smoke more than any other age group in America. Unfortunately, the period of life ranging from late adolescence to early adulthood is also a time when the brain is still developing.

5 Mar 2014

Studies identify gene signals involved with BMI and their connection to: heart disease, diabetes

Two recent genetic studies expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to major Western health problems: heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

5 Mar 2014

Eating high-protein diet in middle age is as deadly as smoking

That chicken wing you're eating could be as deadly as a cigarette. In a new study that tracked a large sample of adults for nearly two decades, researchers have found that eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet - a mortality risk factor comparable to smoking.

5 Mar 2014

Two genetic studies expand list of genes connected to major Western health problems

Two recent genetic studies expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to major Western health problems: heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. One study showed that higher body mass index (BMI) caused harmful effects on the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and inflammation, while another study found gene signals linked to higher levels of body fat metrics, without showing causality.

5 Mar 2014

The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundations donates $3M to support Autism Speaks' Aut10K program

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced that The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundation and The Gordon & Llura Gund 93 Foundation have donated a combined $3 million to support Autism Speaks' Autism Ten Thousand Genomes (Aut10K) program to sequence the world's largest collection of whole genomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their family members.

5 Mar 2014

Higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids helps ward off heart disease

Eating fish in amounts comparable to those of people living in Japan seems to impart a protective factor that wards off heart disease, according to an international study funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

5 Mar 2014

Genetic News and Research

Scientists describes new advantageous way to detect different immune cells in the blood

Scientists reveal how a genetic code variation results in devastating brain diseases

Low-dose oral interferon may reduce risk of HCV relapse in patients with mild liver fibrosis

Scientists discover fundamental aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases

Research shows how patient experiences can be used to improve healthcare

Treating cystic fibrosis: an interview with Simon Bedson, Senior Vice President and International General Manager at Vertex

Metabolon agrees to provide biochemical profiling services to Human Longevity

Small-molecule drug effective in protecting nonhuman primates from lethal Marburg virus

Researchers identify high levels of certain protein in brains of people suffering from essential tremor

Researchers develop adjuvant which enhances effect of virus transduction

Plant pigment could prevent damage to nerves linked with childhood form of SMA

Removing gut bacteria may play critical role in reducing cancer risk

Metabolic profiling of liver cells suggests new treatments for cirrhosis patients

Mcl-1 protein enables NSCLC to survive radiation and drug treatments

Young adult smokers may experience changes in structures of brains due to cigarette smoking

Studies identify gene signals involved with BMI and their connection to: heart disease, diabetes

Eating high-protein diet in middle age is as deadly as smoking

Two genetic studies expand list of genes connected to major Western health problems

The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundations donates $3M to support Autism Speaks' Aut10K program

Higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids helps ward off heart disease

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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