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Five recent Science and Nature papers shed light on elusive 'GPCRs'

Readers of the top-ranked scientific journals Science and Nature might have noticed a recent wave of articles, most recently in the July 13, 2012 issue of Science, with deep importance for biology and medicine.

14 Jul 2012

PCR assay ‘superior’ to culture for neonatal sepsis, meningitis

In neonates with probable sepsis or meningitis, a realtime polymerase chain reaction assay specific for a virulence gene in Streptococcus agalactiae is superior to standard bacterial culture identification, results of a pathology study show.

11 Jul 2012

Neutronic Ear announces newly re-designed knowledge-sharing website

Neutronic Ear, the leader in Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAP) today announced a newly re-designed knowledge-sharing website www.neutronicear.com. The site was designed with the latest interactive features in animation and video to guide and educate visitors looking for more information on hearing health.

11 Jul 2012

Multi-well microplates ensure high filtered sample integrity

The need for reliable methods to purify samples and improve assays has led Porvair Sciences to develop a range of proprietary multi-well filtration microplates optimised for applications including cell harvesting, DNA separations, binding studies, plasmid isolation, general filtration and sample clean-up.

From Porvair Sciences Limited 10 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Daschle says health law still has 4 hurdles; Commentators from states such as Calif., Texas and Florida wrestle with options

The GOP-controlled U.S. House plans to hold what can only be called symbolic votes on repealing the sweeping reforms they deride as "Obamacare." Meanwhile, at least 15 governors are said to be leaning toward refusing to expand state Medicaid programs -- a key part of the reform's strategy to provide some form of health insurance to the 32 million people now going without coverage.

10 Jul 2012

Novel gene therapy approach may treat dysferlinopathies

The challenge of treating patients with genetic disorders in which a single mutated gene is simply too large to be replaced using traditional gene therapy techniques may soon be a thing of the past. A Nationwide Children's Hospital study describes a new gene therapy approach capable of delivering full-length versions of large genes and improving skeletal muscle function. The strategy may hold new hope for treating dysferlinopathies and other muscular dystrophies.

9 Jul 2012

Researchers describe inflammatory mechanism of sunburn

The biological mechanism of sunburn - the reddish, painful, protective immune response from ultraviolet (UV) radiation - is a consequence of RNA damage to skin cells, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and elsewhere in the July 8, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.

9 Jul 2012

Folic acid ‘may benefit diabetics’

Folic acid supplementation can significantly reduce homocysteine levels and may therefore offer an approach for lowering cardiovascular risk among patients with Type 2 diabetes, report researchers.

2 Jul 2012

Study illustrates novel mechanical transduction properties of hematopoietic stem cells

A recent study led by Andrew Puca, Ph.D. under the supervision and direction of Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D. set out to illustrate novel mechanical transduction properties of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in relation to defining the expression of humoral factors by facilitating paracrine/autocrine signalling via microgravity.

2 Jul 2012

Passive smoking risks children’s distance vision

Passive smoke exposure could lead to long-sightedness in children, show Egyptian study results.

29 Jun 2012

New type of micromachine can penetrate tissue and overcome cellular barriers

Microscopically small submarines that can swim through our blood to clear out clogged arteries or destroy malignant tumors. This concept may sound utopian, but it isn’t. Various micro- and nanomachines have in fact already been developed.

27 Jun 2012

Glaukos receives FDA approval for iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System

Today, the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System, Model GTS100R/L, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is the first device approved for use in combination with cataract surgery to reduce pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) in adult patients with mild or moderate open-angle glaucoma and a cataract who are currently being treated with medication to reduce intraocular pressure.

26 Jun 2012

Standard aspirin dose may not protect diabetics against blood clots

Many patients with type 2 diabetes may be aspirin resistant. That means the standard aspirin dose may not protect them against blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes among diabetics, a new clinical study finds. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

25 Jun 2012

Connexin 43 deficiency may protect against bed rest-associated bone loss

Mice lacking connexin 43, the most abundant gap junction protein in bone, have a decreased susceptibility to the effects of mechanical unloading on bone, US researchers report.

21 Jun 2012

Even small-stage oral SCC metastases impact prognosis

The presence of even small tumor-cell deposits in the lymph nodes of patients with early oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma reflects a potential for the primary tumor to metastasize, report researchers in Head and Neck.

21 Jun 2012

MAQUET's INTERGARD SYNERGY vascular graft receives CE mark

MAQUET Cardiovascular, LLC announced today that it has received CE mark for its INTERGARD SYNERGY vascular graft. This graft represents the next generation in antimicrobial grafts combining the well-known antimicrobial properties of silver acetate and triclosan.

19 Jun 2012

DBV Technologies’ Viaskin safe and effective in treating children with peanut allergy

DBV Technologies, creator of Viaskin, a new standard in the treatment of allergy, announced today that AP-HP (Assistance Public - Hôpitaux de Paris) sponsor of the ARACHILD study presented at the EAACI Congress a late breaking oral presentation on safety and efficacy data after six months of epicutaneous immunotherapy in peanut allergy using Viaskin Peanut.

18 Jun 2012

Sanovas receives U.S. patent allowance for microsurgical lung cancer technology

Sanovas, Inc., a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing next-generation micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies, today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its first patent relating to systems and methods for the removal of unwanted biological material, such as tissue growths and tumors, in hard-to-reach bodily cavities.

15 Jun 2012

Under ACA 90% of Californians below age of 65 will be enrolled in health insurance programs

Nine out of 10 Californians under the age of 65 will be enrolled in health insurance programs as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a joint study by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

15 Jun 2012