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Researchers reveal role of extra thymus gland in the network of body's natural defense systems

The thymus gland is a critical component of the human immune system that is responsible for the development of T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, which help organize and lead the body's fighting forces against harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses.

24 Jan 2014

Environmental endocrine disrupters may endanger embryonic heart valves

Exposure to environmental endocrine disrupters, such as bisphenol A, which mimic estrogen, is associated with adverse health effects. Bisphenol A is commonly found in plastic bottles and plastic food containers. New research from a team including Carnegie's Daniel Gorelick and Marnie Halpern on the effects of these chemicals on zebrafish shows that embryonic heart valves could be particularly in danger. It is published by Environmental Health Perspectives.

24 Jan 2014

Researchers reveal how genetic susceptibility plays large role in cancer risk

In laboratory experiments conducted on human cell lines at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, scientists have shown that people carrying certain mutations in two hereditary cancer genes, BRCA2 and PALB2, may have a higher than usual susceptibility to DNA damage caused by a byproduct of alcohol, called acetaldehyde.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists figure out key step in how free calcium is controlled in the body

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have figured out a key step in how "free" calcium - the kind not contained in bones - is managed in the body, a finding that could aid in the development of new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders that include Parkinson's disease.

24 Jan 2014

New techniques simplify current test procedures for developing new medications

When developing new medications, biologists and pharma- cologists test different active ingredients and chemical compounds. The main purpose is to find out how biological cells react to these substances.

24 Jan 2014

Extracts from birch tree helps damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly

Extracts from the birch tree have served for centuries as a traditional means of helping the damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly. Prof. Dr. Irmgard Merfort from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Freiburg and her team have now explained the molecular mechanism behind the wound-healing effect of an extract from the outer white layer of the tree's bark.

24 Jan 2014

Salmonella infections can reduce incidence of asthma, say researchers

Researchers from Germany have identified the mechanism by which Salmonella infections can reduce the incidence of asthma in mice. The research, which appears ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity, opens up new avenues of research that could lead to treatments.

24 Jan 2014

Rival proteins’ relative expression levels in cancer cells could be biomarkers for prognosis, treatment

Consider two drivers, each with a key that fits the same car. Driver 1 wants simply to turn on the ignition and leave the vehicle idling, ready and waiting to roll. Driver 2 wants to take it on a destructive joy ride.

24 Jan 2014

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Each cell in our body is unique. Even cells of the same tissue type that look identical under the microscope differ slightly from each other.

24 Jan 2014

Use of twice-daily pill could turn deadly blood cancer into highly treatable disease

Use of a twice-daily pill could turn a deadly blood cancer into a highly treatable disease, according to scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College who led a multinational research team.

24 Jan 2014

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Investigators at Johns Hopkins report they have developed human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice. The stem cells, derived from human umbilical cord-blood and coaxed into an embryonic-like state, were grown without the conventional use of viruses, which can mutate genes and initiate cancers, according to the scientists.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists develop mathematical model to predict tumor behavior and personalized therapies

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have developed a mathematical model to predict how a patient's tumor is likely to behave and which of several possible treatments is most likely to be effective.

24 Jan 2014

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how calcium is controlled in the body

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have figured out a key step in how “free” calcium — the kind not contained in bones — is managed in the body, a finding that could aid in the development of new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders that include Parkinson’s disease.

24 Jan 2014

New technique detects bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease

The bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease remains difficult to track. French researchers have now developed a new technique that should allow living representatives of this dangerous pathogen to be detected much more quickly than with conventional methods. As they report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, samples are exposed to an azide-modified compound that the pathogen specifically incorporates into its shell, which is made of saccharide units. A fluorescent marker attached to the azide groups is used to identify the pathogen.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists map genetic changes that drive tumors pediatric soft-tissue cancer

Scientists have mapped the genetic changes that drive tumors in rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric soft-tissue cancer, and found that the disease is characterized by two distinct genotypes.

24 Jan 2014

USF Health receives $2.1M grant to study on new factors required for growth of malaria-related parasites

Animal cells similar to those of humans contain a "control room," called the centrosome, which regulates cell replication. Disrupt this core hub and you kill cell division.

24 Jan 2014

Etoposide plus cisplatin remains best for limited-stage SCLC

Etoposide plus cisplatin, given alongside accelerated hyperfractionated thoracic radiotherapy, remains the gold standard regimen for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer, Japanese researchers say.

23 Jan 2014

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

Columbia University Medical Center researchers have identified a gene, called matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), that appears to play a major role in motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The findings, made in mice, explain why most but not all motor neurons are affected by the disease and identify a potential therapeutic target for this still-incurable neurodegenerative disease. The study was published today in the online edition of the journal Neuron.

23 Jan 2014

BioLineRx's BL-8040 gets FDA Orphan Drug Designation for stem cell mobilization treatment

BioLineRx, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to identifying, in-licensing and developing promising therapeutic candidates, announced today that it has received notice from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration confirming an Orphan Drug Designation of BL-8040 as a treatment for stem cell mobilization, in addition to the Orphan Drug Designation previously granted to BL-8040 as a treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

23 Jan 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today unveiled that the company has developed a new DNA-based cytokine immune activator, interleukin -33 (IL-33), that in combination with optimized DNA vaccines delivered by electroporation increased the potency and efficacy of the therapeutic response to the DNA vaccines in a preclinical study.

23 Jan 2014

B Cell News and Research

Researchers reveal role of extra thymus gland in the network of body's natural defense systems

Environmental endocrine disrupters may endanger embryonic heart valves

Researchers reveal how genetic susceptibility plays large role in cancer risk

Scientists figure out key step in how free calcium is controlled in the body

New techniques simplify current test procedures for developing new medications

Extracts from birch tree helps damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly

Salmonella infections can reduce incidence of asthma, say researchers

Rival proteins’ relative expression levels in cancer cells could be biomarkers for prognosis, treatment

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Use of twice-daily pill could turn deadly blood cancer into highly treatable disease

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Scientists develop mathematical model to predict tumor behavior and personalized therapies

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how calcium is controlled in the body

New technique detects bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease

Scientists map genetic changes that drive tumors pediatric soft-tissue cancer

USF Health receives $2.1M grant to study on new factors required for growth of malaria-related parasites

Etoposide plus cisplatin remains best for limited-stage SCLC

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

BioLineRx's BL-8040 gets FDA Orphan Drug Designation for stem cell mobilization treatment

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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