Medical Science News

RSS

Scientists figure out key step in how free calcium is controlled in the body

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have figured out a key step in how "free" calcium - the kind not contained in bones - is managed in the body, a finding that could aid in the development of new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders that include Parkinson's disease.

24 Jan 2014

American Humane and TGen uncover genetic basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs

Every year, one out of every 88 children in the United States is diagnosed with some form of autism, with these numbers steadily rising over the last decade. Alarmingly, it is believed that now one of every 54 young boys has some form of the disease.

24 Jan 2014

Omega-3 fatty acids especially DHA may have even wider range of biological impacts, shows study

A study of the metabolic effects of omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, concludes that these compounds may have an even wider range of biological impacts than previously considered, and suggests they could be of significant value in the prevention of fatty liver disease.

24 Jan 2014

New techniques simplify current test procedures for developing new medications

When developing new medications, biologists and pharma- cologists test different active ingredients and chemical compounds. The main purpose is to find out how biological cells react to these substances.

24 Jan 2014

Extracts from birch tree helps damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly

Extracts from the birch tree have served for centuries as a traditional means of helping the damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly. Prof. Dr. Irmgard Merfort from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Freiburg and her team have now explained the molecular mechanism behind the wound-healing effect of an extract from the outer white layer of the tree's bark.

24 Jan 2014

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Each cell in our body is unique. Even cells of the same tissue type that look identical under the microscope differ slightly from each other.

24 Jan 2014

Study: Lingonberries completely prevented weight gain in mice fed high-fat diet

Lingonberries almost completely prevented weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet, a study at Lund University in Sweden has found - whereas the 'super berry' açai led to increased weight gain. The Scandinavian berries also produced lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol.

24 Jan 2014

Sexual selection enhances ability of offspring to cope with infection

To test whether female mate choice enhances the health and disease-resistance of offspring, either through immune resistance, tolerance to infection, or both, researchers led by Dustin Penn tested female house mice's preferences (Mus musculus) for particular males and then experimentally assigned each female to mate with either their preferred or their non-preferred male.

24 Jan 2014

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Investigators at Johns Hopkins report they have developed human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice. The stem cells, derived from human umbilical cord-blood and coaxed into an embryonic-like state, were grown without the conventional use of viruses, which can mutate genes and initiate cancers, according to the scientists.

24 Jan 2014

Neuroscientists reveal how brain determines timing at which neurons take to create new memories

Neuroscientists from the University of Leicester, in collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery at the University California Los Angeles (UCLA), are to reveal details of how the brain determines the timing at which neurons in specific areas fire to create new memories.

24 Jan 2014

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how calcium is controlled in the body

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have figured out a key step in how “free” calcium — the kind not contained in bones — is managed in the body, a finding that could aid in the development of new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders that include Parkinson’s disease.

24 Jan 2014

Human body odor contains an early chemosensory cue of sickness

Humans are able to smell sickness in someone whose immune system is highly active within just a few hours of exposure to a toxin, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists identify critical regulator of molecule involved in progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified a critical regulator of a molecule deeply involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

23 Jan 2014

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

Columbia University Medical Center researchers have identified a gene, called matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), that appears to play a major role in motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The findings, made in mice, explain why most but not all motor neurons are affected by the disease and identify a potential therapeutic target for this still-incurable neurodegenerative disease. The study was published today in the online edition of the journal Neuron.

23 Jan 2014

People with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids may have larger brain volumes in old age

People with higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may also have larger brain volumes in old age equivalent to preserving one to two years of brain health, according to a study published in the January 22, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Shrinking brain volume is a sign of Alzheimer's disease as well as normal aging.

23 Jan 2014

Research reveals why people lose hearing as they become old

Although the brain becomes smaller with age, the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss, according to the results of a study by researchers from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging. The findings add to a growing list of health consequences associated with hearing loss, including increased risk of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, and diminished physical and mental health overall.

23 Jan 2014

Research reveals new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai today announced the publication of two papers in the journal Nature that reveal new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia. These collaborative studies represent the largest exome sequencing efforts to date to elucidate this mental illness, and together found that the disorder is likely caused by far more rare genetic mutations than previously suspected.

23 Jan 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today unveiled that the company has developed a new DNA-based cytokine immune activator, interleukin -33 (IL-33), that in combination with optimized DNA vaccines delivered by electroporation increased the potency and efficacy of the therapeutic response to the DNA vaccines in a preclinical study.

23 Jan 2014

Rice University-based research develops fast biosensor for pathogens in food

An array of tiny diving boards can perform the Olympian feat of identifying many strains of salmonella at once.

23 Jan 2014

New heart tissue could help patients suffering from irreparable damage

In the U.S., someone suffers a heart attack every 34 seconds - their heart is starved of oxygen and suffers irreparable damage. Engineering new heart tissue in the laboratory that could eventually be implanted into patients could help, and scientists are reporting a promising approach tested with rat cells.

23 Jan 2014

Medical Science News

Scientists figure out key step in how free calcium is controlled in the body

American Humane and TGen uncover genetic basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs

Omega-3 fatty acids especially DHA may have even wider range of biological impacts, shows study

New techniques simplify current test procedures for developing new medications

Extracts from birch tree helps damaged skin around wounds to regenerate more quickly

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Study: Lingonberries completely prevented weight gain in mice fed high-fat diet

Sexual selection enhances ability of offspring to cope with infection

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Neuroscientists reveal how brain determines timing at which neurons take to create new memories

Johns Hopkins researchers reveal how calcium is controlled in the body

Human body odor contains an early chemosensory cue of sickness

Scientists identify critical regulator of molecule involved in progression of Alzheimer’s disease

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

People with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids may have larger brain volumes in old age

Research reveals why people lose hearing as they become old

Research reveals new information about the genetic complexity underpinning schizophrenia

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Rice University-based research develops fast biosensor for pathogens in food

New heart tissue could help patients suffering from irreparable damage

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

Latest News