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Scientists discover bone abnormalities in rats undergoing chronic lack of sleep

Scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin, in a team led by Carol Everson, Ph.D., professor of neurology, cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy, have discovered abnormalities in bone and bone marrow in rats undergoing chronic lack of sleep. They discovered abnormalities in serum markers of bone metabolism in sleep-deprived rats, which led them to conduct direct measurements of bone parameters; this time in rats experiencing recurrent sleep restriction during a large portion of their young adulthood.

19 Sep 2012

Researchers identify 21 proteins that specifically bind to ataxin-1

Misfolded proteins can cause various neurodegenerative diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) or Huntington's disease, which are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Researchers of the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Germany, together with their colleagues of the Universit- Paris Diderot, Paris, France, have now identified 21 proteins that specifically bind to a protein called ataxin-1.

19 Sep 2012

Obese individuals with excess visceral fat more likely to develop type 2 diabetes

Obese individuals with excess visceral fat (abdominal fat that surrounds the body-s internal organs) have an increased risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. By contrast, persons with excess abdominal subcutaneous fat (fat underneath the skin) were not at higher risk for the onset of diabetes.

19 Sep 2012

Diet, lack of AgRP-neurons can lead to obesity and diabetes

The absence of a specific type of neuron in the brain can lead to obesity and diabetes in mice report researchers in The EMBO Journal. The outcome, however, depends on the type of diet that the animals are fed.

19 Sep 2012

BGI Tech achieves whole exome sequencing analysis of total degraded DNA from FFPE samples

BGI Tech Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary company of BGI, announced today that they have achieved whole exome sequencing analysis of total degraded DNA as low as 200 ng from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples.

19 Sep 2012

Study identifies special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength

A big international study has identified a special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength. The gene can be used as a risk marker for fractures and opens up opportunities for preventive medicine against fractures.

19 Sep 2012

UC San Diego’s bold plan aims to personalize cancer treatment

UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center launched a bold plan today aimed at personalizing cancer treatment. The "My Answer to Cancer" team of oncologists, bioinformaticians, pathologists and geneticists pledges to "sequence" or analyze the DNA of large numbers of patients with cancer in order to match each patient to the best available drug for his or her particular tumor.

19 Sep 2012

Rainbow Biosciences explores NASA technology to produce adult stem cells for medical research

Rainbow Biosciences, the biotech subsidiary of Rainbow Coral Corp., announced today that it is exploring the possible use of micro-gravity technology developed by NASA to produce three-dimensional adult stem cells for medical research purposes.

19 Sep 2012

Illumina launches new RNA sequencing kits

Illumina today introduced TruSeq Stranded mRNA and Total RNA Sample Preparation Kits for RNA sequencing. The new reagent kits enable researchers to quickly and easily conduct gene expression studies that provide a complete view of the transcriptome, even from low-quality RNA samples, such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples.

From Illumina, Inc. 19 Sep 2012

EmbryoScope Time-lapse system identifies abnormal development events in embryos

Which embryos have the best opportunity to develop into a viable pregnancy? A new technology provides a surprising answer. A major challenge in the field of IVF is selecting the single best embryo which is likely to result in a live birth. Currently, embryologists must remove the embryo from a standard incubator to perform 2 or 3 short evaluations of the developing embryo under the microscope, at fixed time-points over 3-5 days, in order to assess embryo quality prior to transferring an embryo to the patient.

18 Sep 2012

Power of taxane-based chemotherapy drugs may be potentially underestimated

The power of taxane-based chemotherapy drugs are misunderstood and potentially underestimated, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in the September 15 issue of the journal Cancer Research.

18 Sep 2012

ChanTest announces Phase II SBIR grant to optimize cardiomyocyte-based assays

ChanTest, the leading CRO expert in ion channels and nonclinical cardiac safety testing, announces funding of a Phase II SBIR grant. ChanTest will use the grant from the National Heart Lung & Blood Institute to optimize drug safety and discovery assays using stem cell-derived human cardiomyocytes

18 Sep 2012

Study finds major reason why melanoma is largely resistant to chemotherapy

Researchers with UC Irvine's Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a major reason why melanoma is largely resistant to chemotherapy.

18 Sep 2012

ProImmune launches ProStorm in vitro cytokine release assay

ProImmune Ltd., a leader in services for understanding immune responses, announced today the commercial launch of ProStorm, an in vitro cytokine release assay, which can help assess the likelihood of first infusion reactions to novel therapeutics.

18 Sep 2012

BACE2 enzyme could represent powerful new tool against Alzheimer's

An enzyme that could represent a powerful new tool for combating Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The enzyme - known as BACE2 - destroys beta-amyloid, a toxic protein fragment that litters the brains of patients who have the disease.

18 Sep 2012

Biologists elucidate how muscle stem cells colonize special niches

Muscles have a pool of stem cells which provides a source for muscle growth and for regeneration of injured muscles. The stem cells must reside in special niches of the muscle for efficient growth and repair.

18 Sep 2012

Study finds identical strains of antibiotic-resistant C. coli in ABF and conventionally raised pigs

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found identical strains of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter coli (C. coli) in both antibiotic-free (ABF) and conventionally raised pigs.

18 Sep 2012

Two abnormalities associated with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes

A new University of Iowa study suggests there are two root causes of a type of diabetes associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). The findings, which already have sparked a clinical trial, may guide development of new treatments or even help prevent diabetes in patients with CF.

18 Sep 2012

Researchers to probe causes, treatments of toxic reactions in blood plasma

In the largest undertaking of its kind, scientists at four leading U.S. research institutions are embarking upon a five-year National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study to make blood transfusions safer and more effective by uncovering the exact causes of hemoglobin toxicity.

18 Sep 2012

New light-based technique demonstrates that toxic proteins build up gradually in blood cells

A new light-based technique for measuring levels of the toxic protein that causes Huntington's disease (HD) has been used to demonstrate that the protein builds up gradually in blood cells. Published today (17th) in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the findings shed light on how the protein causes damage in the brain, and could be useful for monitoring the progression of HD, or testing new drugs aimed at suppressing production of the harmful protein.

18 Sep 2012