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PRDM16 transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of embryonic palate

In the United States, a baby is born with a facial cleft every hour, of every day of the year! Such birth defects result from both gene mutations and environmental insults. PRDM16 is a transcription factor originally described as being aberrantly activated in specific types of leukemia's, and more recently as a master regulator of brown adipose tissue differentiation.

3 May 2012

Study confirms that COX-2 inhibitors predispose people to cardiovascular disease

After nearly 13 years of study and intense debate, a pair of new papers from the Perelman School of Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed exactly how a once-popular class of anti-inflammatory drugs leads to cardiovascular risk for people taking it.

3 May 2012

Optimum blood vitamin D levels to reduce risk of major medical events

In testing older patients' blood vitamin D levels, there's uncertainty about where the dividing line falls between enough and not enough. The threshold amount has become controversial as several scientific societies set different targets.

2 May 2012

Grape-derived compound may prevent neurodegenerative disorders involving tau neuropathology

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have gained insight into the mechanism by which a pathological brain protein called tau contributes to the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. This finding, published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, may provide the basis for future investigations on how to prevent tau from damaging brain circuits involved in cognitive function.

2 May 2012

Biosynthetic polyphenol may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease patients

Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers have succeeded in developing a biosynthetic polyphenol that improves cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The findings, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, provide insight in determining the feasibility of biosynthetic polyphenols as a possible therapy for AD in humans, a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure.

2 May 2012

Expression of tyrosine kinases may limit effectiveness of agents against sarcomas

To better understand the signaling pathways active in sarcomas, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center used state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based proteomics to characterize a family of protein enzymes that act as "on" or "off" switches important in the biology of cancer. The tyrosine kinases they identified, the researchers said, could act as "drivers" for the growth and survival of sarcomas.

2 May 2012

Nanocomposite dental cavity-filling kills harmful bacteria

Scientists using nanotechology at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry have created the first cavity-filling composite that kills harmful bacteria and regenerates tooth structure lost to bacterial decay.

2 May 2012

Different genes involved in autism tend to be involved in specific processes in the brain

Autism has a strong genetic basis, but so far efforts to identify the responsible genes have had mixed results. The reason for this is that autism is influenced by many different genes, and different genes are involved in different individuals, making it hard to find the common genetic ground between patients.

2 May 2012

Lenalidomide and SNS01-T combination effective against multiple myeloma

Senesco Technologies, Inc. announced today that a high level of tumor eradication in a mouse model of human multiple myeloma was achieved with a combination of SNS01-T and lenalidomide.

2 May 2012

Cell-based test to discover molecules for treatment of ER-positive breast cancer

Cancer Research UK and its commercial arm, Cancer Research Technology have developed a unique test to discover molecules that could lead to potential new treatments for oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer.

2 May 2012

Scientists identify how cell architecture changes during formation of gametes

Scientists using high-powered microscopes have made a stunning observation of the architecture within a cell - and identified for the first time how the architecture changes during the formation of gametes, also known as sex cells, in order to successfully complete the process.

2 May 2012

Majority of gene faults not shared across other biopsies from same tumour

Taking a sample from just one part of a tumour may not give a full picture of its 'genetic landscape', according to a landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2 May 2012

Researchers discover how protein ARTD1's DNA recruitment is regulated during inflammation

During inflammation, controlled gene expression is necessary in order to allow the organism to mount an effective defense response. For this process, the protein ARTD1 is removed from the DNA.

2 May 2012

Two MSU researchers invent protein purifier for pharma companies

Two Michigan State University researchers have invented a protein purifier that could help pharmaceutical companies save time and money.

2 May 2012

Shorter sleep provides more permissive environment for expression of obesity related genes

Toss out another old wives' tale: Sleeping too much does not make you fat. Quite the opposite, according to a new study examining sleep and body mass index (BMI) in twins, which found that sleeping more than nine hours a night may actually suppress genetic influences on body weight.

2 May 2012

Eating more sweet berries can keep our brains healthier

Eating more sweet berries can keep our brains healthier, according to a new study published in the Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society. This news comes at a time when U.S. Census data shows the elderly population increasing faster than the total U.S. population.

2 May 2012

Experts identify new gene that could help development of human fertility treatments

Experts from Durham University have identified a new gene that could help the development of fertility treatments in humans in the future.

2 May 2012

Synthetic stool transplant for C. difficile treatment

A synthetic mixture of intestinal bacteria could one day replace stool transplants as a treatment for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile). C. difficile is a toxin-producing bacteria that can overpopulate the colon when antibiotics eradicate other, naturally protective bacteria living there.

2 May 2012

ASNTR honors UTMSH, MSU scientists with 2012 Sanberg awards

At the 19th Annual Conference of the American Society of Neural Therapy and Repair (ASNTR), held April 26 - 28 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, the ASNTR awarded The 2012 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair to Timothy J. Collier, PhD, professor of translational science and molecular medicine at Michigan State University and director of the Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research at Michigan State University and the University of Cincinnati. ASNTR also presented The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award to Sean I. Savitz, MD, associat

2 May 2012

NKCC1 protein may hold clues to how glioblastoma moves and invades

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a protein that transports sodium, potassium and chloride may hold clues to how glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer, moves and invades nearby healthy brain tissue.

2 May 2012

Medical Science News

PRDM16 transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of embryonic palate

Study confirms that COX-2 inhibitors predispose people to cardiovascular disease

Optimum blood vitamin D levels to reduce risk of major medical events

Grape-derived compound may prevent neurodegenerative disorders involving tau neuropathology

Biosynthetic polyphenol may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease patients

Expression of tyrosine kinases may limit effectiveness of agents against sarcomas

Nanocomposite dental cavity-filling kills harmful bacteria

Different genes involved in autism tend to be involved in specific processes in the brain

Lenalidomide and SNS01-T combination effective against multiple myeloma

Cell-based test to discover molecules for treatment of ER-positive breast cancer

Scientists identify how cell architecture changes during formation of gametes

Majority of gene faults not shared across other biopsies from same tumour

Researchers discover how protein ARTD1's DNA recruitment is regulated during inflammation

Two MSU researchers invent protein purifier for pharma companies

Shorter sleep provides more permissive environment for expression of obesity related genes

Eating more sweet berries can keep our brains healthier

Experts identify new gene that could help development of human fertility treatments

Synthetic stool transplant for C. difficile treatment

ASNTR honors UTMSH, MSU scientists with 2012 Sanberg awards

NKCC1 protein may hold clues to how glioblastoma moves and invades

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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