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Rodent olfaction and the chemistry of instinct

The mechanics of instinctive behavior are mysterious. Even something as simple as the question of how a mouse can use its powerful sense of smell to detect and evade predators, including species it has never met before, has been almost totally unknown at the molecular level until now.

29 Jun 2011

Relypsa initiates dosing in RLY5016 Phase 2b trial for hyperkalemia in diabetic nephropathy and CKD patients

Relypsa, Inc. today announced the start of dosing in a Phase 2b clinical trial of RLY5016 for the treatment of hyperkalemia in patients with diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease (CKD). RLY5016 is a high capacity, non-absorbed, polymer-based potassium binder that is orally administered and has been shown to control serum potassium levels in previous studies.

28 Jun 2011

Scientists discover origin of Barrett's esophagus

Dr Frank McKeon, Senior Group Leader of the Stem Cell and Developmental Biology at A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore, and Principal Investigator Dr Wa Xian at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology, together with their counterparts from the Harvard Medical School, the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and the National University of Singapore, have made the striking finding that Barrett's esophagus work, published online in the journal Cell on 24 June 2011, is essential to developing therapeutics for esophageal cancer.

28 Jun 2011

Roll over Hippocrates: Medicine undergoing revolution of overturning traditional ethics

Everybody seems to think that doctors swear to the Oath of Hippocrates, and follow a long ethical tradition dating back to the 5th century before Christ. Not anymore. The new doctors seem to be making it up as they go along.

27 Jun 2011

Lean gene and heart disease risk

According to a new study published Sunday, being lean may not always lead to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. The researchers have successfully identified a gene linked both to having a lean body and to a higher risk of metabolic diseases.

27 Jun 2011

Less body fat may increase risk of metabolic diseases

Having a lower percentage of body fat may not always lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to a study by an international consortium of investigators, including two scientists from the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS).

27 Jun 2011

Researchers develop new way to search for RNA drug targets

By accounting for the floppy, fickle nature of RNA, researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Irvine have developed a new way to search for drugs that target this important molecule. Their work appears in the June 26 issue of Nature Chemical Biology.

27 Jun 2011

Medical residents should work no more than 16 hours without sleep

A group of 26 of the nation's leaders in medicine, health care, patient safety, and research today called for sweeping changes in the design, supervision and financing of U.S. hospital residency care programs to protect patients from serious, preventable medical errors, and end dangerously long work hours for physicians in training.

24 Jun 2011

Study traces precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells

The ultimate source of some cancers is embryonic cells. Research published in the June 24th Cell, a Cell Press publication, traces the precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells found in all adults.

24 Jun 2011

Anticholinergic drugs might increase risk of cognitive impairment, death in older people

A side effect of many commonly used drugs appears to increase the risks of both cognitive impairment and death in older people, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia.

24 Jun 2011

Researchers discover new mechanism for origin of Barrett's esophagus

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for the origin of Barrett's esophagus, an intestine-like growth in the esophagus that is triggered by chronic acid reflux and often progresses to esophageal cancer.

24 Jun 2011

Reductions in obesity-related medical costs offset cost of gastric banding surgery within 2.25 years

Allergan, Inc. today announced a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases that found the cost of a gastric banding weight-loss surgery procedure, such as Allergan's LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System, was offset by reductions in obesity-related medical costs within 2.25 years for surgery eligible patients with diabetes, and within four years of the procedure for all surgery eligible patients.

23 Jun 2011

Adding leucine to diets improves insulin sensitivity, pre-diabetic condition and metabolic syndrome

A study led by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

23 Jun 2011

Nontoxic gold nanoparticles could detect growth of early tumors in liver

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common cancer to strike the liver. More than 500,000 people worldwide, concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, are diagnosed with it yearly. Most of those afflicted die within six months.

23 Jun 2011

Scientists observe key aspects of how memory circuits in the brain refine themselves

Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System have for the first time demonstrated how memory circuits in the brain refine themselves in a living organism through two distinct types of competition between cells.

23 Jun 2011

Tips to protect children from falling

Placing a crib, changing table or even a chair next to a window might offer your child a nice view outside or access to fresh air, but be careful - window falls can happen quickly and in some cases, be deadly.

23 Jun 2011

Twelve institutions receive NPCRC and American Cancer Society grants for palliative care research

The American Cancer Society and the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) are awarding $2 million in research grants to researchers at 12 institutions for studies aimed at reducing suffering for seriously ill patients and their family caregivers.

22 Jun 2011

Human retina protein can sense Earth's magnetic field

For migratory birds and sea turtles, the ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field is crucial to navigating the long-distance voyages these animals undertake during migration. Humans, however, are widely assumed not to have an innate magnetic sense.

22 Jun 2011

Nine young clinical investigators earn recognition from Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named five new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators at its spring 2011 Clinical Investigator Award Committee review.

22 Jun 2011

Poll: Few parents fully understand their role in preventing infections at water parks

Water parks offer families a chance to have fun and be physically active. That fun may come with the risk of getting sick with infections from the water, illnesses that affect over 10,000 Americans each year. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of infection is to make sure that parents and kids shower before playing at water parks.

21 Jun 2011

Medical School News and Research

Rodent olfaction and the chemistry of instinct

Relypsa initiates dosing in RLY5016 Phase 2b trial for hyperkalemia in diabetic nephropathy and CKD patients

Scientists discover origin of Barrett's esophagus

Roll over Hippocrates: Medicine undergoing revolution of overturning traditional ethics

Lean gene and heart disease risk

Less body fat may increase risk of metabolic diseases

Researchers develop new way to search for RNA drug targets

Medical residents should work no more than 16 hours without sleep

Study traces precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells

Anticholinergic drugs might increase risk of cognitive impairment, death in older people

Researchers discover new mechanism for origin of Barrett's esophagus

Reductions in obesity-related medical costs offset cost of gastric banding surgery within 2.25 years

Adding leucine to diets improves insulin sensitivity, pre-diabetic condition and metabolic syndrome

Nontoxic gold nanoparticles could detect growth of early tumors in liver

Scientists observe key aspects of how memory circuits in the brain refine themselves

Tips to protect children from falling

Twelve institutions receive NPCRC and American Cancer Society grants for palliative care research

Human retina protein can sense Earth's magnetic field

Nine young clinical investigators earn recognition from Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Poll: Few parents fully understand their role in preventing infections at water parks

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) 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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