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New research shows how to prevent prions from growing into deadly diseases

Prion diseases are scary, incurable and fatal. They first gained notoriety when cows became infected by prion proteins and, in turn, infected people. Fervor surrounding mad cow disease resulted in the U.S. banning imports of beef from the European Union for 15 years.

21 Mar 2017

Parasitic fish offers unique insights into evolution of gut neurons in ancient vertebrates

Lamprey are slimy, parasitic eel-like fish, one of only two existing species of vertebrates that have no jaw. While many would be repulsed by these creatures, lamprey are exciting to biologists because they are so primitive, retaining many characteristics similar to their ancient ancestors and thus offering answers to some of life's biggest evolutionary questions

21 Mar 2017

Chemists develop biosafe luminescent nanoparticles for imaging tumors and blood vessels

Chemists from Russia and Switzerland created biosafe luminescent nanoparticles for imaging tumors and blood vessels damaged by heart attack or stroke.

21 Mar 2017

Maternal infections during pregnancy may alter genes key to prenatal brain development

If a mother picks up an infection during pregnancy, her immune system will kick into action to clear the infection - but this self-defence mechanism may also have a small influence how her child's brain develops in the womb, in ways that are similar to how the brain develops in autism spectrum disorders.

21 Mar 2017

Study: Treatment window for Fragile X syndrome likely remains open into maturity after childhood

Brain samples from humans show that the treatment window for Fragile X syndrome likely remains open well into maturity after childhood, when previous tests with mice indicated it might close, according to a new Drexel University-led study.

21 Mar 2017

Mouse study provides target for development of faster-acting antidepressant medications

Standard antidepressant medications don't work for everyone, and even when they do they are slow to kick in. In an effort to find better depression treatments, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine discovered that inhibiting an enzyme called Glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) relieves signs of depression in mice.

21 Mar 2017

Research findings suggest potential strategies to combat IBMPFD and other degenerative diseases

UCLA researchers have discovered the molecular basis of, and identified potential treatment for, an incurable disease known as inclusion body myopathy, Paget disease with frontotemporal dementia, or IBMPFD.

21 Mar 2017

Penn scientists discover method that appears to provide early warning of transplant rejection

Approximately 30,000 organ transplants occur in the United States each year. However, between 20 and 50 percent—depending on the organ type—of the transplanted organs fail within five years, most often because the recipient's immune system attacks, or "rejects," the donated organ.

21 Mar 2017

Researchers find new method for diagnosis of autism

New method for the diagnosis of autism was found by researchers at Mie University. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and sensory abnormalities, such as sensitivity to sounds (auditory hypersensitivity). Despite intense research, the causes are still unknown.

21 Mar 2017

Researchers develop new method that uses gene editing to find cancer's weak spots

Genetic mutations that cause cancer also weaken cancer cells, creating an opportunity for researchers to develop drugs that will selectively kill them, while sparing normal cells.

20 Mar 2017

Scientists identify molecules that may be key to drug resistance in estrogen-driven breast cancers

Three-quarters of all breast cancer tumors are driven by the hormone estrogen. These tumors are frequently treated with drugs to suppress estrogen receptor activity, but unfortunately, at least half of patients do not respond to these treatments, leaving them with drug-resistant tumors and few options.

20 Mar 2017

Study sheds light on cellular mechanisms that enable prostate cancer cells to form secondary tumours

New King's College London research sheds light on the cellular mechanisms which enable cancer cells to escape the prostate and spread to other parts of the body.

20 Mar 2017

MIT researchers devise new strategy to make tumor cells more susceptible to cancer treatment

MIT researchers have devised a way to make tumor cells more susceptible to certain types of cancer treatment by coating the cells with nanoparticles before delivering drugs.

20 Mar 2017

Early treatment with stem cells can safely help recovery in stroke patients, study shows

A multicenter trial looking at whether a single dose of millions of adult, bone-marrow-derived stem cells can aid stroke recovery indicates it's safe and well-tolerated by patients but may not significantly improve their recovery within the first three months, researchers report.

20 Mar 2017

Researchers discover new genes that help prevent prostate and other cancers

New genes which help prevent prostate, skin and breast cancer development in mice have been discovered by researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators.

20 Mar 2017

New markers linked to recurrence of erratic heartbeats in some patients after ablation therapy

Ablation procedures restore a regular heartbeat in patients who have a dangerous, abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. But it doesn't always work. Now, a new study suggests that certain molecules are associated with the recurrence of erratic heartbeats in some patients after ablation therapy.

20 Mar 2017

Researchers highlight how biomarkers after ACL reconstruction may signal severity of PTOA later in life

A majority of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients develop a condition known as posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) within 15 years of surgery, which can be debilitating and limit activity. Researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in San Diego are highlighting how a set of biomarkers on the day of surgery may explain why some individuals have worse PTOA than others after two years.

20 Mar 2017

Study reveals link between endovascular procedures and microbleeding in the brain

Small leakages from blood vessels in the brain, known as microbleeds, increase with age and are associated with cognitive decline. Of 84 older patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), nearly a quarter developed new microbleeds after their procedure, according to results of a single-center study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 66th Annual Scientific Session.

20 Mar 2017

Online behavioral intervention reduces systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg, study finds

In the first randomized, double-blinded trial of an online behavioral intervention for high blood pressure, participants in web-based lifestyle counseling reduced their systolic blood pressure (the higher number in a blood-pressure reading) by 10 mmHg, compared with a 6 mmHg reduction for those taking part in a web-based control intervention, a statistically significant difference.

20 Mar 2017

Genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in NSCLC more dynamic than previously thought

The genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are more complex and dynamic than previously thought.

17 Mar 2017

Medical Science News

New research shows how to prevent prions from growing into deadly diseases

Parasitic fish offers unique insights into evolution of gut neurons in ancient vertebrates

Chemists develop biosafe luminescent nanoparticles for imaging tumors and blood vessels

Maternal infections during pregnancy may alter genes key to prenatal brain development

Study: Treatment window for Fragile X syndrome likely remains open into maturity after childhood

Mouse study provides target for development of faster-acting antidepressant medications

Research findings suggest potential strategies to combat IBMPFD and other degenerative diseases

Penn scientists discover method that appears to provide early warning of transplant rejection

Researchers find new method for diagnosis of autism

Researchers develop new method that uses gene editing to find cancer's weak spots

Scientists identify molecules that may be key to drug resistance in estrogen-driven breast cancers

Study sheds light on cellular mechanisms that enable prostate cancer cells to form secondary tumours

MIT researchers devise new strategy to make tumor cells more susceptible to cancer treatment

Early treatment with stem cells can safely help recovery in stroke patients, study shows

Researchers discover new genes that help prevent prostate and other cancers

New markers linked to recurrence of erratic heartbeats in some patients after ablation therapy

Researchers highlight how biomarkers after ACL reconstruction may signal severity of PTOA later in life

Study reveals link between endovascular procedures and microbleeding in the brain

Online behavioral intervention reduces systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg, study finds

Genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in NSCLC more dynamic than previously thought

Exploring the nanoscale: How AFM is transforming cosmetic science

Innovating Texture and Culture in Plant-Based Foods

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

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