Biochemistry News and Research

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Physical activity may moderate impact of stress on telomeres

UCSF scientists are reporting several studies showing that psychological stress leads to shorter telomeres - the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that are a measure of cell age and, thus, health. The findings also suggest that exercise may prevent this damage.

5 Apr 2011

Scientists reveal unknown role of cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have described a previously unknown role for the cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis, the process by which a dividing cell separates its chromosomes containing the cell's DNA into two identical sets of new daughter cells.

5 Apr 2011

Stand Up to Cancer awards UNC Lineberger scientist with 13 Innovative Research Grants

Angelique Whitehurst, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded one of 13 Innovative Research Grants from Stand Up to Cancer, the scientific partner of the American Association of Cancer Research.

5 Apr 2011

University of Houston part of multi-investigator $5.2M CPRIT award for prostate cancer research

A pair of University of Houston (UH) researchers and their colleagues will begin work to develop new methods for treating the most severe form of prostate cancer thanks to $5.2 million in grants recently awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

2 Apr 2011

CPRIT awards $12.6M grant to Gulf Coast Consortia to develop new cancer treatments

The Gulf Coast Consortia has been awarded a grant of more than $12.6 million from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas to launch a collaborative program that brings together researchers with the common purpose of developing new cancer treatments.

1 Apr 2011

New discovery on IL-23 can lead to novel IBD treatments

A new discovery published in the April 2001 issue of Journal of Leukocyte Biology raises hope that new treatments for illnesses like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are on the horizon.

1 Apr 2011

Treatment for HBV infection with entecavir followed by lamivudine results in virologic rebound

A two-year trial of entecavir followed by lamivudine (LAM) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection resulted in a virologic rebound rate of 24% and 12% drug-resistance rate. Patients who continued on entecavir therapy throughout the study period had undetectable HBV DNA at the two-year endpoint. Details of this trial are published in the April issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

1 Apr 2011

Sequential treatment with Entecavir and Lamivudine results in rebound of hepatitis B virus

31 Mar 2011

Sinovac reports fourth quarter net sales of $9.1 million

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today its fourth quarter and full year financial results periods ended December 31, 2010.

31 Mar 2011

Two new studies on cancer

Last year, a research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered one way the protein Tet 1 helps stem cells keep their pluripotency-the unique ability to become any cell type in the body.

31 Mar 2011

Non-invasive blood glucose monitor closer to market

People with diabetes could soon have a pain-free way to check their blood glucose levels. Researchers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis have developed a portable, inexpensive non-invasive blood glucose detector. The university has licensed patent rights for the device to St. Louis Medical Devices, Inc., a Missouri company headquartered at UMSL’s own startup company incubator – IT Enterprises, to bring the device to market.

30 Mar 2011

NUS, Agilent partner for lipidomics research

Agilent Technologies Inc. and the National University of Singapore today announced an agreement to develop expertise and knowledge in the area of analytical lipidomics. The goal of the partnership is to develop workflow solutions that enable researchers to more accurately understand disease states.

30 Mar 2011

CPRIT awards $36.7 million grant to UT Southwestern for cancer research

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has awarded more than $36.7 million in new grants to investigators at UT Southwestern Medical Center to support cancer-related projects and to recruit pre-eminent cancer investigators.

29 Mar 2011

Mouse sperm created in lab: Hope for male infertility

In a scientific breakthrough, researchers report that they've grown mouse sperm from testicular tissue in the laboratory, a development that could advance the field of infertility in human males. Although still proven in mice, “this is a small but important step in understanding how sperm are formed, which may, in time, lead to us being able to grow human sperm in the laboratory,” said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, who is familiar with the study results.

24 Mar 2011

Biotage introduces new system for microwave-assisted peptide synthesis

Biotage® (STO: BIOT), a supplier of tools and technology for medicinal, analytical and peptide chemistry, introduced the Biotage Initiator Peptide Workstation for manual microwave-assisted peptide synthesis. The Workstation utilizes a unique microwave peptide vial available in two sizes; 2-5 mL for 75-150 μmol scale or 10-20 mL for 250-500 μmol scale synthesis.

24 Mar 2011

Collaborative study may lead to strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance

In a study that literally analyzed competing bacteria fighting it out to the death, a University of Houston (UH) researcher and his colleagues identified evolutionary 'winners' and 'losers.' Continuing research to understand the basis of these fates may become a useful tool is designing roadblocks to antibiotic resistance.

24 Mar 2011

Tenascin-C protein can help promote wound healing

We all know the adage: A little bit of a good thing can go a long way. Now researchers in London are reporting that might also be true for a large protein associated with wound healing.

24 Mar 2011

Researchers create hiPS-RPE cells to treat age-related macular degeneration

The notion of transplanting adult stem cells to treat or even cure age-related macular degeneration has taken a significant step toward becoming a reality. In a study published today in Stem Cells, Georgetown University Medical Center researchers have demonstrated, for the first time, the ability to create retinal cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells that mimic the eye cells that die and cause loss of sight.

24 Mar 2011

New research can lead to better OA treatment

Arthritis researchers from North America and Europe will convene in Chicago this week to present new osteoarthritis research that could lead to better ways to detect, treat, prevent and cure osteoarthritis, which affects 27 million Americans.

24 Mar 2011

New research: Methadone can affect brain and impair intellectual functions

Methadone has been used to treat heroin addicts for nearly 50 years. Yet we have surprisingly incomplete knowledge about possible harmful effects from prolonged use. New research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows that methadone affects the brain and impairs the attention of experimental animals.

24 Mar 2011