Protein C News and Research

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Individuals without ubiquitin ligase Nedd4L more likely to develop CF

Cystic fibrosis (CF), a chronic disease that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, is caused by a genetic defect in a chloride channel called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductase regulator.

20 Sep 2011

Autopsy study reveals earliest 1918 pandemic influenza cases

Examination of lung tissue and other autopsy material from 68 American soldiers who died of respiratory infections in 1918 has revealed that the influenza virus that eventually killed 50 million people worldwide was circulating in the United States at least four months before the 1918 influenza reached pandemic levels that fall.

20 Sep 2011

Combination of lunasin and oxaliplatin prevents colon cancer from metastasis

A University of Illinois study reports a promising new weapon in treating metastatic colon cancer, particularly in patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy.

20 Sep 2011

Scientists identify oldest known DNA regulatory region

A team of scientists has discovered the oldest known DNA regulatory region, as reported in an article in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

20 Sep 2011

FoxM1 protein plays a critical role in development of medulloblastomas

Medulloblastomas constitute the most frequent class of malignant childhood brain tumor. Tumors of this type arise due to the uncontrolled proliferation of immature nerve cells in the developing brain, and there is no targeted treatment available.

20 Sep 2011

Simple checklist to help the whole family excel in nutritional basics

It's September, and that means new clothes, backpacks, school supplies, and agendas — all tools required to keep your children, whether in elementary, high school or post-secondary levels, on a well-stocked, educational journey to success. But beyond equipping your children with the external fundamentals to good grades, are you also providing them with the best nutrients necessary for optimal learning, focus, concentration, energy and overall well-being? And as parents juggling hectic schedules, do you also pass the grade?

20 Sep 2011

SK Biopharmaceuticals, Mayo Clinic collaborate to develop new treatments for ALS

Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida has entered into a collaborative and sponsored research agreement with SK Biopharmaceuticals of Seoul, South Korea, with the goal of developing new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. The collaboration marks a new approach to combating a disease that has proved difficult to treat in recent clinical trials.

20 Sep 2011

UNC researchers develop technique that can observe cellular intricacies of CF

When researchers discovered the primary genetic defect that causes cystic fibrosis (CF) back in 1989, they opened up a new realm of research into treatment and a cure for the disease. Since then, scientists have been able to clone the defective gene and study its effects in animals. Now researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a technique for observing the defects at work in human tissue donated by patients with CF.

20 Sep 2011

OvaGene's new molecular diagnostics laboratory receives CLIA-certification

OvaGene Oncology Inc., a molecular diagnostics company specializing in the development and commercialization of personalized gene-based diagnostics for gynecologic cancer, announced today that the company has received Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) certification for their newly constructed state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics laboratory.

20 Sep 2011

Mayo Clinic, SK biopharmaceuticals collaborate to discover new ALS drugs

South Korean biotech SK biopharmaceuticals announced yesterday that they signed an agreement to collaborate with the Mayo Clinic for the discovery of new drugs targeting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

20 Sep 2011

Multispectral fluorescence imaging system can localize cancer cells during surgery

Ovarian cancer is one of the most frequent forms of cancer that affect women. As tumors can initially grow unchecked in the abdomen without causing any major symptoms, patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and have to undergo surgery plus chemotherapy. During the operation, surgeons attempt to remove all tumor deposits as this leads to improved patient prognosis. To do this, however, they primarily have to rely on visual inspection and palpation - an enormous challenge especially in the case of small tumor nests or remaining tumor borders after the primary tumor excision.

20 Sep 2011

High dietary salt intake and obesity together trigger abnormal activation of cellular protein

Dietary salt intake and obesity are two important risk factors in the development of high blood pressure. Each packs its own punch, but when combined, they deliver more damage to the heart and kidneys than the sum of their individual contributions.

19 Sep 2011

Researcher identifies genetic mutation responsible for adermatoglyphia

Like DNA, fingerprints are unique to each person or set of identical twins. That makes them a valuable identification tool for everything from crime detection to international travel. But what happens when the tips of our fingers are missing those distinctive patterns of ridges?

19 Sep 2011

Techulon signs distribution agreement with BioConcept for Glycofect

Techulon Inc., the leader in low-toxicity gene delivery has signed a distribution agreement with BioConcept of Allschwil, Switzerland.

19 Sep 2011

NTNU genetic research shows best recipe to limit risk of lifestyle-related diseases

What should we eat? Answers abound in the international media, all of which rely on their interpretation of recent medical literature to come up with recommendations for the healthiest diet. But what if you could answer this question at a molecular level - what if you could find out how our genes respond to the foods we eat, and what this does to the cellular processes that make us healthy - or not? That's precisely what biologists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have done.

19 Sep 2011

Gamers solve molecular structure of retrovirus enzyme

Gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for more than a decade. The gamers achieved their discovery by playing Foldit, an online game that allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules.

19 Sep 2011

Researchers reveal crystal structure of dynamin protein

The crystal structure of the dynamin protein - one of the molecular machines that makes cells work - has been revealed, bringing insights into a class of molecules with a wide influence on health and disease.

19 Sep 2011

Reducing levels of protein FKBP51 may yield new antidepressant therapies

Decreasing expression of a protein associated with susceptibility to depression made old mice resistant to depressive-like behavior while improving their hormonal response to stress, a study led by researchers at the University of South Florida found. The lack of this protein, FKBP51, did not adversely affect their memory, learning, or basic motor functions.

17 Sep 2011

Researchers show how protein fortilin promotes growth of cancer cells

Researchers have shown for the first time that the protein fortilin promotes growth of cancer cells by binding to and rendering inert protein p53, a known tumor suppressor. This finding by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch may lead to treatments for a range of cancers and atherosclerosis, which p53 also helps prevent, and appears in the current print issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

17 Sep 2011

Breast cancer breakthrough by Welsh medical student

A Welsh medical research student has made a scientific breakthrough which could stop people dying from breast cancer by halting the spread of the disease, his university announced Thursday.

16 Sep 2011