September 15, 2008
Insights into Common Brain Cancer
A
large-scale, comprehensive study of glioblastoma has uncovered
new genetic mutations with potential implications for the disease’s
diagnosis and treatment.
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Monitoring the Brain’s Memory-Making Cells
The brain cells that fire when a person watches a brief film
clip are triggered again when the person later recalls that
imagery, a new study shows. The research offers insights into
how the brain summons up past experiences and may also shed
light on short-term memory disorders.
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Prions Cross Species Barrier in the Laboratory
Researchers have gotten infectious prions from one species to turn normal prion proteins from a different species into infectious ones in a test tube. The technique will prove a valuable tool for understanding how prions cross species barriers.
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September 8, 2008
Treatment
Lowers Preterm Infants’ Risk for Cerebral Palsy
Preterm infants born to mothers receiving intravenous
magnesium sulfate—a common treatment to delay labor—are
less likely to develop cerebral palsy than those whose mothers
don’t receive it, according to a new report.
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Mice Grow More Hearing Cells After Gene Transfer
Researchers have used gene transfer to produce functional hair
cells in the inner ears of mice. The accomplishment is an important
step in developing potential strategies to treat hearing impairment.
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Rare
Insulin-Producing Cells Created from Adult Mouse Cells
By tweaking just 3 genes in living mice, scientists
have transformed common adult pancreas cells into a rarer type
of cell that produces insulin, a step toward eventually developing
a new treatment for diabetes.
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August 25, 2008
Immune
Cells Help Tropical Parasites Evade Death
Tiny parasites that cause the tropical disease leishmaniasis
may take advantage of the body’s initial defenses by hiding
and surviving inside the fast-acting immune cells sent to devour
them.
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Protein
Plays Role in Preventing Autoimmunity
Eliminating a protein called furin from immune cells in mice
can lead to development of autoimmune disease, a new study reports.
The finding sheds light on the molecular processes that trigger
autoimmunity.
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Vitamin
C Injections Reduce Growth of Mouse Tumors
A new study has found that daily high-dose injections
of vitamin C significantly reduce tumor growth in mice.
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August 11, 2008
Human
Genes Associated With West Nile Virus Infection
A new study has now identified over 300 human proteins involved
in West Nile virus infection, exposing numerous potential antiviral
targets.
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Monitoring
Cancer Changes from the Blood
Researchers have come up with a new way to monitor cancer using
a special microchip that isolates tumor cells from the patient’s
blood. The breakthrough could help doctors adjust to changes
in tumors and personalize their patients’ treatments.
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Drugs
Boost Exercise Endurance in Mice
Researchers have identified 2 drugs that, in mice, seem to confer
many of the healthful benefits of long-term exercise. The finding
could lead to new treatments for muscle disorders, frailty, obesity
and other conditions when exercise isn’t practical.
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August 4, 2008
New
Genetic Quirks Linked to Schizophrenia
Three new studies by international research teams provide the
most complete picture to date of the genetic glitches that may
contribute to schizophrenia.
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Laser
Treatment Best for Diabetic Macular Edema
A promising new drug therapy for people with diabetes who have
abnormal swelling in the eye—a condition called diabetic macular
edema—proved less effective than traditional laser treatments
in a new study.
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Metabolic
Network Finds Disease Links
By building an extensive computer network of molecular relationships,
researchers have been able to uncover links to diseases they
never before suspected.
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