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Insight into possible new approaches in vaccine development for blood-borne infections and HIV

White blood cells called neutrophils, which are the first line of defense against infection, play an unexpected role by boosting antibody production, according to research led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The findings suggest neutrophils have multiple roles within the immune system and function at levels previously unknown to the scientific community. The research, published in Nature Immunology, provides groundbreaking insight into possible new approaches in vaccine development for blood-borne infections and HIV.

25 Jul 2012

Hypoxic lung environment increases HIF-2a tumor growth signaling

In addition to the well-known risk factor of smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases lung cancer risk.

25 Jul 2012

New classification scheme for psychiatric symptoms

The traditional approach to psychiatric diagnosis is based on grouping patients on the basis of symptom clusters. This approach to diagnosis has a number of problems, as symptoms are not necessarily specific to a single diagnosis.

25 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Aurora shootings show need for more aggressive psych treatment; Venture capitalist says health exchanges can curb costs

Looking at guns, looking at video games - that's starting from the wrong perspective. People who commit spree killings are usually suffering from severe mental disorders. The response, and the way to prevent future episodes, has to start with psychiatry, too. The best way to prevent killing sprees is with relationships - when one person notices that a relative or neighbor is going off the rails and gets that person treatment before the barbarism takes control. But there also has to be a more aggressive system of treatment options, especially for men in their 20s.

25 Jul 2012

New large animal model for human cancer studies

A naturally occurring line of immunodeficient pigs can support the growth of human tumors injected under their skin, offering a promising new large animal model for studying human cancers and testing new drugs and treatment strategies.

24 Jul 2012

Study identifies MDM4 protein as promising target for treatment of melanoma

A melanoma is a malignant form of skin cancer and is one of the most aggressive types of tumors there is. Treatment is particularly difficult, because melanomas are usually resistant against conventional chemotherapy treatments.

24 Jul 2012

N.J. Dental School receives HSS grant to address nationwide shortage of faculty

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Dental School (NJDS) is helping to address what is perhaps dental education's greatest challenge yet: a critical nationwide shortage of faculty.

24 Jul 2012

Walk-12 test identifies poststroke perceived limitations

Perceived limitations in walking ability among patients who experience stroke can be assessed using the Walking Impact Scale, show study findings.

24 Jul 2012

Middle-aged female back pain sufferers commonly use CAM

Middle-aged women with back pain are commonly using both conventional and complementary and alternative medicine, Australian study findings show.

24 Jul 2012

Central mechanism would remove physician from assisted-dying process

The development of a central state or federal mechanism in the USA that would confirm the authenticity and eligibility of terminally ill patients’ requests for death, dispense medication, and monitor demand and use, could remove physicians from the assisted dying process, say researchers.

24 Jul 2012

Most Indian female sex workers do not disclose HIV serostatus to sex partners

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) in partnership with Indian researchers and HIV positive networks groups, have found that in India, non-disclosure of HIV serostatus to sex partners among both HIV-infected female sex workers (FSWs) and HIV-infected clients of FSWs is exceedingly common.

24 Jul 2012

Microneedles can deliver drug formulations into the eye

Thanks to tiny microneedles, eye doctors may soon have a better way to treat diseases such as macular degeneration that affect tissues in the back of the eye. That could be important as the population ages and develops more eye-related illnesses - and as pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs that otherwise could only be administered by injecting into the eye with a hypodermic needle.

24 Jul 2012

Mephedrone does have potential for abuse and addiction

The use of the synthetic stimulants collectively known as "bath salts" have gained popularity among recreational drug users over the last five years, largely because they were readily available and unrestricted via the Internet and at convenience stores, and were virtually unregulated.

24 Jul 2012

First results from community HIV testing campaign in Uganda

A clinical study in a remote region of southwest Uganda has demonstrated the feasibility of using a health campaign to rapidly test a community for HIV and simultaneously offer prevention and diagnosis for a variety of other diseases in rural and resource-poor settings of sub-Saharan Africa.

24 Jul 2012

New FDA guidelines on HIV And TB drug doses may not apply to African and Asian patients

In January, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new guidelines on dosing of an HIV medication used to treat people infected with both HIV and tuberculosis (TB) because of a potential interaction between two of the main drugs used to treat each disease.

24 Jul 2012

NIDA announces recipients of 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced the recipients of the 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research. The three scientists, Drs. David Smith, Samuel Friedman and Jeremy Luban, will each receive $500,000 per year for five years to support their research.

24 Jul 2012

Anti-IL-3 monoclonal antibodies to treat early stage Rheumatoid Arthritis in development

SuppreMol GmbH, an autoimmune disease specialist, today announced a licensing agreement with the University Hospital of Regensburg to develop SM401, a humanized anti-IL-3 monoclonal antibody for early diagnosis and treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). SuppreMol will advance preclinical development of SM401 for treatment of RA. Simultaneously, the Company will further validate a highly sensitive human IL-3 diagnostic assay for patient stratification.

24 Jul 2012

Tumor necrosis factor may play a key role in how light at night leads to depression

Chronic exposure to dim light at night can lead to depressive symptoms in rodents -- but these negative effects can be reversed simply by returning to a standard light-dark cycle, a new study suggests.

24 Jul 2012

AIDS medical textbook designed specifically for patients and doctors in resource-poor regions

Warner C. Greene, MD, who directs virology and immunology research at the Gladstone Institutes, has joined with other global AIDS experts to release a locally affordable version of the world's leading AIDS medical textbook. Designed specifically for regions that today are hardest hit by the disease, this new text is the latest weapon in a growing arsenal aimed at curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide.

24 Jul 2012

UV induction of melanin is directly involved in melanoma formation

A new study conducted by GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) researchers Edward C. De Fabo, Ph.D., Frances P. Noonan, Ph.D., and Anastas Popratiloff, M.D., Ph.D., has been published in the journal Nature Communications. Their paper, entitled "Melanoma induction by ultraviolet A but not ultraviolet B radiation requires melanin pigment," was published in June 2012.

24 Jul 2012