Medical Science News

RSS

New study identifies inflammatory lung disease as risk factor for insulin resistance, diabetes

Numerous studies have identified obesity and poor diet as risk factors for insulin resistance and diabetes. A new study adds another risk factor to the list: inflammatory lung disease. Published in the American Journal of Physiology—Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, the study reports that inflammation in the lungs is enough to induce the body-wide inflammation that can lead to insulin resistance.

30 Sep 2015

Study raises hope for reducing life-threatening respiratory problems in infants

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have a lead on reducing life-threatening respiratory problems in infants born to women who develop the liver disorder intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

30 Sep 2015

New gene therapy approach to treating DMD reduces symptoms, extends life span in mouse model

A gene therapy approach to treating the progressive muscle wasting disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) that does not replace the mutated DMD gene but instead delivers the gene for ITGA7, a protein in skeletal muscle, led to reduced symptoms and significantly extended life span in a mouse model of severe DMD. Over-expression of ITGA7 did not elicit an immune reaction, further supporting its potential as a novel treatment for DMD, according to a new study published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

30 Sep 2015

Glowing protein may replace fiber optic cable as light source in optogenetics research

Optogenetics has taken neuroscience by storm in recent years because the technique allows scientists to study the brain conveniently in animals, activating or inhibiting selected groups of neurons at the flip of a switch. Most often, scientists use a fiber optic cable to deliver light into the brain.

30 Sep 2015

Researchers develop a technique that uses platelet membranes to coat anticancer drugs

Researchers have for the first time developed a technique that coats anticancer drugs in membranes made from a patient's own platelets, allowing the drugs to last longer in the body and attack both primary cancer tumors and the circulating tumor cells that can cause a cancer to metastasize. The work was tested successfully in an animal model.

30 Sep 2015

Understanding neurobiological mechanisms of empathy

In a study with more than 100 participants, Claus Lamm and his interdisciplinary team used an innovative experimental trick, the so-called placebo analgesia effect, to close an explanatory gap in the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of empathy.

30 Sep 2015

Intratumoral morphological diversity of breast cancer not related to chromosome aberrations

Intratumor morphological heterogeneity (diversity) of breast cancer is not related to chromosome aberrations. This conclusion was made based on the study of one case with aggressive variant of breast cancer - invasive micropapillary carcinoma by researchers from Tomsk State University, Tomsk Cancer Research Institute, and Institute of Medical Genetics.

30 Sep 2015

Study explores how the human brain contributes to success

Discoveries about how the human brain contributes to our success - both as a species and as individuals - are among the first fruit of projects funded under the National Institutes of Health BRAIN Initiative program as well as the Human Connectome Project.

30 Sep 2015

New software programs may help speed up drug discovery process for diabetes and other diseases

Proteins sometimes run amuck. All the good stuff (the useful genetic and biological material) they contain can get distorted. Mutations in specific amino acids can cause long strands of proteins to curl in on themselves (like a ball of wool a cat has played with) and refuse to break apart.

30 Sep 2015

Predicting better immunotherapy response, neurological outcomes in adults with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia

While autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (a loss of muscle control coordination) can lead to severe disability with some patients becoming wheelchair-bound, there are factors that may help predict better immunotherapy response, according to the Mayo Clinic study published by JAMA Neurology.

30 Sep 2015

New research identifies genetic variants, causal links associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

In the largest genome wide association study (GWAS) into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to date, new research conducted by scientists at the University of Cambridge and ten other institutions, including 23andMe, has identified genetic variants and causal links associated with PCOS, some of which might be relevant to informing positive lifestyle and treatment choices for women.

30 Sep 2015

Researchers unlock structural details of key protein to treat neuromuscular disease

Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have unlocked the structural details of a protein seen as key to treating a neuromuscular disease.

30 Sep 2015

New report implicates five genetic regions that play major roles in CF disease severity

If you have two faulty copies of the CFTR gene, you will have cystic fibrosis. But the severity of your disease will depend on environmental factors and many other genes. Locating these genes and altering their function could lead to new therapies.

29 Sep 2015

Academies and DFG point out limitations and risks of new genome editing techniques

More efficient bacteria and yeasts for use in fuel and drug production, new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant germs, and innovative plant breeding methods - new molecular biology techniques that permit targeted genetic modification are giving rise to many promising new opportunities in research and application.

29 Sep 2015

Study explains neural basis of size constancy, could help understand causes of size perception disorder

A group of researchers at Osaka University found that neurons in the monkey visual cortical area V4*1, one of the areas in the visual cortex, calculate the size of an object based on information on its retinal image size and the distance from the object.

29 Sep 2015

Updated review finds continued lack of evidence on best fat grafting procedures

Fat grafting—taking fat from one area of the body and transferring it elsewhere—has become a widely used plastic surgery technique. But what's the best method of processing cells for fat grafting procedures?

29 Sep 2015

Disruption of blood-CSF barrier may negatively affect progression of Alzheimer's disease

More and more data from preclinical and clinical studies strengthen the hypothesis that immune system-mediated actions contribute to and drive pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease. The team of Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke in the Claude Libert Group (VIB/UGent) combined their knowledge and expertise related to inflammation with the expertise in Alzheimer's disease present in the Bart De Strooper Group (VIB/KU Leuven).

29 Sep 2015

Type-2 diabetes medication can affect the brain's reward system, reduce intake of food

Many studies have focused on how much we eat when we are hungry, but sometimes we eat just to feel better. A new dissertation at Sahlgrenska Academy shows that medication used for type-2 diabetes wich mimics the gut-brain hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, can affect the brain's reward system and reduce the intake of food.

29 Sep 2015

MedUni Vienna researchers report new strategy for targeted treatment of ovarian cancer

A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna has confirmed in a recent study its new concept for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancer. The concept is intended to better control the development of resistance and improve treatment outcomes.

29 Sep 2015

Duke Medicine scientists use transparent fish to show how Cryptococcal meningitis takes over the brain

Scientists at Duke Medicine are using transparent fish to watch in real time as Cryptococcal meningitis takes over the brain. The resulting images are worthy of a sci-fi movie teaser, but could be valuable in disrupting the real, crippling brain infection that kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year.

29 Sep 2015

Medical Science News

New study identifies inflammatory lung disease as risk factor for insulin resistance, diabetes

Study raises hope for reducing life-threatening respiratory problems in infants

New gene therapy approach to treating DMD reduces symptoms, extends life span in mouse model

Glowing protein may replace fiber optic cable as light source in optogenetics research

Researchers develop a technique that uses platelet membranes to coat anticancer drugs

Understanding neurobiological mechanisms of empathy

Intratumoral morphological diversity of breast cancer not related to chromosome aberrations

Study explores how the human brain contributes to success

New software programs may help speed up drug discovery process for diabetes and other diseases

Predicting better immunotherapy response, neurological outcomes in adults with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia

New research identifies genetic variants, causal links associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

Researchers unlock structural details of key protein to treat neuromuscular disease

New report implicates five genetic regions that play major roles in CF disease severity

Academies and DFG point out limitations and risks of new genome editing techniques

Study explains neural basis of size constancy, could help understand causes of size perception disorder

Updated review finds continued lack of evidence on best fat grafting procedures

Disruption of blood-CSF barrier may negatively affect progression of Alzheimer's disease

Type-2 diabetes medication can affect the brain's reward system, reduce intake of food

MedUni Vienna researchers report new strategy for targeted treatment of ovarian cancer

Duke Medicine scientists use transparent fish to show how Cryptococcal meningitis takes over the brain

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

Latest News