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Luminal intermediate cells impact basal-like breast cancer origin: Research

New research uncovers a case of mistaken identity that may have a significant impact on future breast cancer prevention and treatment strategies. The study, published by Cell Press in the September 3rd issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, suggests that despite their "stem cell-like" characteristics, most aggressive breast tumors are not derived from normal mammary gland stem cells.

3 Sep 2010

Researchers receive BioBank DNA samples to unveil psoriasis genetics

Millions of Americans struggling with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are one step closer to a cure with the release of the first National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank DNA samples for use in research at the University of Michigan Health System; research that hopes to uncover the unknowns about the genetics of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

3 Sep 2010

CaPre drug candidate shows promising result on CRP level reduction

Acasti Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. reports significant results on the effects of its anti-dyslipidemic investigational drug candidate CaPre on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a biomarker of CardioVascular Disease risk (CVD) and associated with diabetes and obesity.

3 Sep 2010

Cedric – the Tasmanian devil - dies of facial tumors

Cedric, a captive born Tasmanian devil climbed to fame in 2007 when it was shown that he was genetically resistant to facial tumors. Initially he and his half-brother Clinky were given a vaccine of sorts containing dead tumor cells and later “challenged” with live tumor cells by the University of Tasmania researchers in 2007. Clinky developed the cancer, but Cedric did not - starting hopes that he had an immunity that could help scientists develop a vaccine.

2 Sep 2010

Biologists find daily exercise as a heritable trait

Biologists at the University of California, Riverside have found that voluntary activity, such as daily exercise, is a highly heritable trait that can be passed down genetically to successive generations.

2 Sep 2010

New antibacterial peptide effective against infections in burn or blast wounds

An antibacterial peptide developed by Laszlo Otvos, a research professor of biology in Temple's College of Science and Technology, looks to be a highly-effective therapy against infections in burn or blast wounds suffered by soldiers.

2 Sep 2010

Researchers discover protein that stimulates production of beta-amyloid

Researchers at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research laboratory today published "Gamma-secretase Activating Protein is a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease" in Nature online. Drs. Gen He (lead author) and Paul Greengard have discovered a protein that stimulates the production of beta-amyloid, and therefore represents a major new advance in Alzheimer's disease research.

2 Sep 2010

Short sleep duration increases risk of psychological distress

Young adults who get fewer than eight hours of sleep per night have greater risks of psychological distress, a combination of high levels of depressive and anxious symptoms, according to a study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 Sep 2010

Achievement of sufficient night sleep needed in obesity prevention and weight-management programs

A study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that teens who slept less than eight hours per weeknight ate higher proportions of fatty foods and snacks than adolescents who slept eight hours or more. The results suggest that short sleep duration may increase obesity risk by causing small changes in eating patterns that cumulatively alter energy balance, especially in girls.

2 Sep 2010

Halozyme initiates Ultrafast Insulin combination Phase 2 studies with rHuPH20

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the initiation of two Phase 2 Ultrafast Insulin treatment studies that utilize its rHuPH20 hyaluronidase enzyme (PH20) in combination with the two leading commercially available mealtime analogs: insulin aspart, the active ingredient in NovoLog®, and insulin lispro, the active ingredient in Humalog®.

2 Sep 2010

Benefit of delaying cognitive decline comes at the cost of more rapid dementia progression

New research shows that mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles, reading and listening to the radio may, at first, slow the decline of thinking skills but speed up dementia later in old age. The research is published in the September 1, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Sep 2010

Gene mutations that express LRRK2 linked to increased risk of Parkinson's disease: Researchers

A significant number of Parkinson's disease patients have a mutation of the enzyme Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Kinase 2 (LRRK2, also known as dardarin). However, little is understood about how it is regulated or functions. In a new paper in the Signal Knowledge Environment of the Biochemical Journal, Dario Alessi and colleagues from the University of Dundee demonstrate that a family of proteins, the 14-3-3 proteins, interact with LRRK2.

2 Sep 2010

International consortium publishes third-generation map of human genetic variation

An international consortium today published a third-generation map of human genetic variation, called the HapMap, which includes data from an additional seven global populations, increasing the total number to 11 populations. The improved resolution will help researchers interpret current genome studies aimed at finding common and rarer genetic variants associated with complex diseases.

2 Sep 2010

Researchers clear hurdle on path toward gene-therapy treatment for disease

One of the most difficult aspects of working at the nanoscale is actually seeing the object being worked on. Biological structures like viruses, which are smaller than the wavelength of light, are invisible to standard optical microscopes and difficult to capture in their native form with other imaging techniques.

2 Sep 2010

Breast cancer classification algorithm to identify 20 gene signature developed using Microsoft Excel

Using readily available computer programs, researchers have developed a system to identify genes that will be useful in the classification of breast cancer. The algorithm, described in BioMed Central's open access Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research will enable researchers to quickly generate valuable gene signatures without specialized software or extensive bioinformatics training.

2 Sep 2010

Researcher awarded $1.8M grant to investigate sex differences in anxiety

Anxiety disorders afflict women twice as often as men, but estrogen might not be the reason. Testosterone, though, could be. That is one of the preliminary findings in the lab of Florida State University researcher Mohamed Kabbaj, associate professor in the College of Medicine. He recently was awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to investigate the sex differences in anxiety.

2 Sep 2010

Promega to provide FuGENE HD Transfection Reagent throughout life science market

Promega Corporation announces it will provide FuGENE HD Transfection Reagent throughout the life science market. The comprehensive, direct use offering from Promega means any life scientist can utilize FuGENE technology with no licensing requirements. FuGENE HD enables the transfection of DNA into many cell types with high efficiency and little-to-no toxicity.

2 Sep 2010

Estradiol prevents vascular permeability following hemorrhagic shock: Study

A study published in the September 2010 issue of SHOCK by Dr. Ed W. Childs and colleagues at Scott & White Healthcare looks at how female versus male rats fared after suffering a trauma and subsequent hemorrhagic shock who were given Estradiol (estrogen). In the study, the Estradiol prevented vascular permeability following hemorrhagic shock.

2 Sep 2010

Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and nucleic acid-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has launched KRAS and BRAF mutational testing services in its CAP-accredited CLIA laboratory.

2 Sep 2010

Agensys commences AGS-16M8F ADC Phase I clinical trial for renal cancer

Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., today announced that they have initiated a Phase I clinical trial of AGS-16M8F an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is being developed for the treatment of metastatic renal cancer. An ADC uses the specific binding properties of an antibody to target a toxin in tumor cells, resulting in selective tumor cell killing.

2 Sep 2010