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Discovery of a new target for novel HIV treatment strategy

The AIDS-causing HIV specifically counteracts the mechanisms of human cells that protect these against viral infections - a special viral protein marks protective cellular proteins for their rapid destruction and thus diminishes the cell's supply.

15 Apr 2009

Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery benefits colorectal patients

Despite rapid strides in minimally invasive surgical techniques -- most notably, laparoscopy -- traditional open surgery remains the most common surgical option across the United States for people with diseases of the rectum and colon.

15 Apr 2009

Gene therapy for muscular dystrophy a step closer

Researchers have cleared a safety hurdle in efforts to develop a gene therapy for a form of muscular dystrophy that disables patients by gradually weakening muscles near the hips and shoulders.

15 Apr 2009

Research suggests the importance of play in the evolutionary success of the human species

A new theory about early human adaptation suggests that our ancestors capitalized on their capacities for play to enable the development of a highly cooperative way of life.

15 Apr 2009

Eyes seek new targets during visual search

When we look at a scene in front of us, we need to focus on the important items and be able to ignore distracting elements.

15 Apr 2009

Valproate exposure during pregnancy can impair a child's cognitive development

Three-year-olds whose mothers took the antiepileptic drug valproate during pregnancy had average IQs six to nine points lower than children exposed to three other antiepileptic drugs, a landmark multi-center study has found.

15 Apr 2009

More reasons to eat green vegetables

Vegetables in the Brassica family -- such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts -- are inexpensive yet very nutritive, providing beneficial phytochemicals as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber, according to a report presented in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety , a peer reviewed publication of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

15 Apr 2009

Do patients at risk for B-cell malignancy need antiviral treatment?

Some studies have shown that a relationship of hepatitis C (HCV) infection with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia exists.

15 Apr 2009

Hemodialysis patients who fall at greater risk of hospitalizations and mortality

Hemodialysis (HD) patients who fall once or more have a higher risk of hospitalizations and mortality than their sure-footed counterparts, researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have reported.

15 Apr 2009

The DECIPHER database - revolutionising clinical practice and genetic research

Today - five years after the inception of the DECIPHER database - researchers have published a report that reveals the developing role of the database in revolutionising both clinical practice and genetic research.

15 Apr 2009

Conserved gene expression reveals our 'inner fish'

A study of gene expression in chickens, frogs, pufferfish, mice and people has revealed surprising similarities in several key tissues.

15 Apr 2009

Chemists synthesize natural alkaloid that could have anti-cancer properties

The club moss Lycopodium serratum is a creeping, flowerless plant used in homeopathic medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments.

15 Apr 2009

Novel procedure for sequencing the human genome

Since the human genome was sequenced six years ago, the cost of producing a high-quality genome sequence has dropped precipitously.

15 Apr 2009

Can endoscopic ultrasound elastography help distinguish benign from malignant tissue?

A major limitation of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination is its limited capacity to determine the exact nature of a lesion.

15 Apr 2009

Brain mechanisms for behavioral flexibility

New research provides insight into how the brain can execute different actions in response to the same stimulus.

15 Apr 2009

Blood transfusions after cardiac surgery may be unnecessary

Blood transfusions carried out after cardiac surgery could be unnecessary and might cause health complications for patients.

15 Apr 2009

A bright future for biological sensors

In the future, explained Peter Ghazal, Chair of Edinburgh University's Department of Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine, biological sensors, the product of the integration of biology and electronics will be used to detect infections and prescribe personalized treatments.

15 Apr 2009

OncoGel: New system for delivering chemotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer

Gastroenterologists at Rush University Medical Center are studying the safety and efficacy of a new system for delivering chemotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer, a rare, but deadly disease that attacks the throat.

15 Apr 2009

Topical bevacizumab therapy effective in treating corneal blood vessels growth that can cause blindness

Researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Schepens Eye Research Institute have concluded that short-term topical bevacizumab therapy reduces the severity of corneal neovascularization (formation of new blood vessels in the cornea that can create impaired vision or vision loss) without local or systemic adverse effects.

15 Apr 2009

Genetic differences influence risk of developing proteinuria

Genetic differences can influence one's risk of developing proteinuria, a condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

15 Apr 2009