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Scientists unlock one of mysteries of modern genetics

Scientists at Indiana University have unlocked one of the mysteries of modern genetics: how acquired traits can be passed between generations in a process called epigenetic inheritance. The new work finds that cells don't know to silence some genes based on information hardwired into their DNA sequences, but recognize heritable chemical marks that are added to the genes. These chemical tags serve as a form of molecular memory, allowing cells to recognize the genes and remember to silence them again in each new generation.

21 Mar 2014

Misplaced protein provides promising drug target for kidney cancer

The shortage of oxygen, or hypoxia, created when rapidly multiplying kidney cancer cells outgrow their local blood supply can accelerate tumor growth by causing a nuclear protein called SPOP-which normally suppresses tumor growth-to move out of the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it has the opposite effect, promoting rapid proliferation.

21 Mar 2014

Researchers find immune receptor for uric acid crystals

The surface of immune system cells is home to a number of receptors which are able to detect pathogens. As soon as these receptors are activated, inflammation occurs and the body's defense mechanisms kick in. Immune cells also have receptors that regulate or even suppress immunological responses to prevent damage to individual cells.

21 Mar 2014

Researchers identify steps by which cell removes RNA from cytoplasm

RNA encodes the proteins that play a key role in cellular reproduction, but the manner in which cells regulate its removal once these proteins are synthesized remains a mystery. One piece of this mystery has been solved as researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who have identified the steps by which a cell removes RNA from the cytoplasm.

21 Mar 2014

Study: Fatty fold of tissue can help heal diseased kidneys

A fatty fold of tissue within the abdomen that is a rich source of stem cells can help heal diseased kidneys when fused to the organs, according to a study conducted in rats.

21 Mar 2014

Drug and alcohol abuse could be linked with poor development of "love hormone"

Addictive behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse could be associated with poor development of the so-called "love hormone" system in our bodies during early childhood, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.

21 Mar 2014

Researchers identify genetic defect that causes a subset of irritable bowel syndrome

Is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) caused by genetics, diet, past trauma, anxiety? All are thought to play a role, but now, for the first time, researchers have reported a defined genetic defect that causes a subset of IBS. The research was published in the journal Gastroenterology.

21 Mar 2014

Neuroscientist explores how the brain restores blood flow to damaged tissue following stroke

A neuroscientist at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech says she hopes that a better understanding of how the brain restores blood flow to damaged tissue following a stroke will offer new treatment clues for a leading cause of death in the United States.

21 Mar 2014

Proteins that regulate energy metabolism are essential for stem cell formation

Proteins that regulate energy metabolism are essential for stem cell formation, University of Washington researchers find.

21 Mar 2014

Low levels of oxygen, nitric oxide appear to have unfortunate synergy for patients with sickle cell disease

Low levels of both oxygen and the powerful blood vessel dilator nitric oxide appear to have an unfortunate synergy for patients with sickle cell disease, researchers report.

21 Mar 2014

New tool pinpoints genetic sources of disease

Many diseases are the result of either variations in the genome or reversible chemical changes to DNA, known as the epigenome. New data obtained by Johns Hopkins scientists show a connection between genetic variants and epigenetic information.

20 Mar 2014

Investigational vaccine reduces number of tumors in mice with lung cancer

Researchers at UC Davis have found that the investigational cancer vaccine tecemotide, when administered with the chemotherapeutic cisplatin, boosted the immune response and reduced the number of tumors in mice with lung cancer.

20 Mar 2014

People who develop diabetes in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss in old age

People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss and other damage to the brain, as well as problems with memory and thinking skills, than people who never have diabetes or high blood pressure or who develop it in old age, according to a new study published in the March 19, 2014, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

20 Mar 2014

Insulin-secreting beta cells of pancreas have capacity to regenerate, say scientists

Vanderbilt University scientists have found evidence that the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas, which are either killed or become dysfunctional in the two main forms of diabetes, have the capacity to regenerate.

20 Mar 2014

Detection of genetic abnormalities could improve effectiveness of colon cancer screening

A non-invasive test that includes detection of the genetic abnormalities related to cancer could significantly improve the effectiveness of colon cancer screening, according to research published by a team of scientists including David Ransohoff, MD, professor of medicine at the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member.

20 Mar 2014

Research aims to develop world's first lipid database for healthy persons

A new international research consortium, led by the National University of Singapore (NUS), aims to develop the world's first lipid database for healthy persons of different racial and ethnic groups.

20 Mar 2014

Researchers find how Dom34 protein keeps defective genetic material from gumming up cellular works

Using a powerful data-crunching technique, Johns Hopkins researchers have sorted out how a protein keeps defective genetic material from gumming up the cellular works. The protein, Dom34, appears to “rescue” protein-making factories called ribosomes when they get stuck obeying defective genetic instructions, the researchers report in the Feb. 27 issue of Cell.

20 Mar 2014

Scientists discover cellular pathway that may prevent onset of Type 2 diabetes

Scientists at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute have discovered a cellular pathway that is responsible for keeping blood sugar levels low in obese or pre-diabetic people, and may prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

20 Mar 2014

Novel feedback provides mechanistic link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis

Researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have discovered a novel feedback mechanism that provides a mechanistic link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis.

20 Mar 2014

Researcher finds clear differences between how brains respond to genuine and fake laughter

As the world celebrates International Day of Happiness today (Thursday, 20 March), can we tell whether people are truly happy just from their laugh?

20 Mar 2014

Medical Science News

Scientists unlock one of mysteries of modern genetics

Misplaced protein provides promising drug target for kidney cancer

Researchers find immune receptor for uric acid crystals

Researchers identify steps by which cell removes RNA from cytoplasm

Study: Fatty fold of tissue can help heal diseased kidneys

Drug and alcohol abuse could be linked with poor development of "love hormone"

Researchers identify genetic defect that causes a subset of irritable bowel syndrome

Neuroscientist explores how the brain restores blood flow to damaged tissue following stroke

Proteins that regulate energy metabolism are essential for stem cell formation

Low levels of oxygen, nitric oxide appear to have unfortunate synergy for patients with sickle cell disease

New tool pinpoints genetic sources of disease

Investigational vaccine reduces number of tumors in mice with lung cancer

People who develop diabetes in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss in old age

Insulin-secreting beta cells of pancreas have capacity to regenerate, say scientists

Detection of genetic abnormalities could improve effectiveness of colon cancer screening

Research aims to develop world's first lipid database for healthy persons

Researchers find how Dom34 protein keeps defective genetic material from gumming up cellular works

Scientists discover cellular pathway that may prevent onset of Type 2 diabetes

Novel feedback provides mechanistic link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis

Researcher finds clear differences between how brains respond to genuine and fake laughter

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

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