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Dartmouth study uncovers three novel genetic biomarkers for lung cancer

Both environmental and genetic risk factors contribute to development of lung cancer. Tobacco smoking is the most well-known environmental risk factor associated with lung cancer. A Dartmouth research team led by Yafang Li, PhD, has conducted a study to display that gene-smoking interactions play important roles in the etiology of lung cancer.

26 Oct 2017

Lung microbiome plays major role in asthma severity and response to treatment

While the microbiome has gained significant attention for its impact on digestive health in recent years, its effect on lung disease has largely remained unstudied.

24 Oct 2017

Study provides insights into potential causes of spinal stenosis

A new study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research indicates that certain genetic changes are linked with an increased risk of developing lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the open spaces in the lower spine that can lead to pain in the legs when individuals walk.

13 Oct 2017

Penn’s ITMAT 12th Annual International Symposium focuses on pain biology, aging, and brain disorders

The latest science in why pain afflicts people differently, precision medicine and brain disorders, and how the bat genome informs the study of human aging, among many other topics, will be covered at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' 12th Annual International Symposium.

9 Oct 2017

Whitehead Institute scientists identify brain/body connection in genomic region linked to autism

For the first time, Whitehead Institute scientists have documented a direct link between deletions in two genes--fam57ba and doc2a--in zebrafish and certain brain and body traits, such as seizures, hyperactivity, enlarged head size, and obesity.

9 Oct 2017

Nutrition-related strategies may modify inflammation of aging, report reveals

Aging is characterized by increased levels of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, a phenomenon that has been termed "inflammaging". This type of enhanced inflammation tone, also designated as low grade inflammation, is associated with age-related decline of many functional systems and with increased risk of sickness, poor well-being and mortality.

6 Oct 2017

Understanding molecular mechanisms and metabolic pathways of yeast for drug discovery

My research uses budding yeast as a tool for synthetic biology, and also in chemical and functional genomic applications. We are interested in understanding molecular mechanisms and metabolic pathways of yeast for drug discovery.

From Tecan 27 Sep 2017

Tissue engineering methods could prove useful to create cartilage implants

Different surface topographies and materials provide interesting ways to study cell behaviour and potentially provide novel solutions for treating joint defects. Tissue engineering methods that simulate native cartilage could prove useful to create cartilage implants in the laboratory, according to a doctoral dissertation from Umeå University.

22 Sep 2017

New syndrome caused by biallelic mutations predisposes the body to tumors

A new syndrome caused by biallelic mutations - those produced in both gene copies inherited from the mother and father - in the FANCM gene predisposes the body to the appearance of tumours and causes rejection to chemotherapy treatments.

22 Sep 2017

Researchers identify exosomes as missing link to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes

Chronic tissue inflammation resulting from obesity is an underlying cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. But the mechanism by which this occurs has remained cloaked, until now.

21 Sep 2017

Researchers identify potential gonorrhea vaccine candidates

Researchers at Oregon State University have identified a pair of proteins that show promise as the basis for a gonorrhea vaccine.

19 Sep 2017

Researchers reveal possible origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts

Researchers at Okayama University describe in Scientific Reports that cancer-associated fibroblasts — cells that play a key role in cancer progression — originate from cancer stem cells. Preventing cancer stem cells from transforming into cancer-associated fibroblast may be a promising approach towards cancer treatment.

12 Sep 2017

'Metabolically healthy obese' have increased risk of cardiovascular disease events, study shows

Clinicians are being warned not to ignore the increased cardiovascular health risks of those who are classed as either 'healthy obese' or deemed to be 'normal weight' but have metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes.

11 Sep 2017

Machine learning and whole-genomic sequence data could predict physical traits including the face for identification study reveals

A study conducted by a team of researchers from Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI) found that whole-genome sequencing data and machine learning can be used in the prediction of individual faces and other physical traits.

8 Sep 2017

Study sheds light on virulence strategy of intracellular bacteria that cause legionellosis

Intracellular pathogens adopt various strategies to circumvent the defences of the host cell and to proliferate intracellularly. One specific strategy is to target host organelles like the mitochondria. Mitochondria are well-defined cytoplasmic organelles, which take part in a variety of cellular metabolic functions.

7 Sep 2017

Study explores periodontal status of patients with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome

The International and American Associations for Dental Research have published an article titled "Periodontitis in Chédiak-Higashi Syndrome: An Altered Immunoinflammatory Response" in the JDR Clinical & Translational Research.

31 Aug 2017

Beta blockers capable of reducing stress signaling may enhance effectiveness of immunotherapy

While the development of therapies designed to block "checkpoints" within the immune system has been one of the most exciting and noteworthy advances in cancer research in recent years, it's also been one of the most puzzling, leaving researchers to ask: Why don't these new therapies work for more patients, and why is their efficacy in controlling cancerous tumors often short-lived? A research team from Roswell Park Cancer Institute has shown that at least one answer -; and an excellent opportunity for unleashing the full potential of these promising immunotherapies -; may lie in the body's "fight or flight" reaction to stressors and in drugs already widely used to control and temporarily disable this stress response.

31 Aug 2017

Researchers identify new factors that may affect brain tumor cells' ability to resist treatment

The most aggressive variant of brain tumor - glioblastoma - has an average survival rate of 15 months. There is therefore an urgent need for new treatment strategies for this group of patients.

16 Aug 2017

Counteracting premature aging

Aging is the continuing process of such stress exposures, and with advancing age (normal aging), we must carry lots of senescent cells within our bodies. Senescent cells also often provide some ‘bad influences’ to surrounding healthy cells; such as chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis

14 Aug 2017

MIT engineers devise noninvasive way to assess cell's mechanical properties

The stiffness or elasticity of a cell can reveal much about whether the cell is healthy or diseased. Cancer cells, for instance, are known to be softer than normal, while asthma-affected cells can be rather stiff.

3 Aug 2017