May 11, 2009
Landmark Study Looks at Genetics of Africans, African Americans
Researchers have analyzed genetic variation in people across Africa, helping to tease apart the complex evolutionary history of Africans and African Americans. The results will also help uncover genes that contribute to disease in these populations.
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Genes Help Breast Cancer Cells Invade the Brain
Scientists have identified 3 genes that help breast cancer
cells gain access and take root in the brain. The finding
points to potential new strategies for blocking the often-deadly
spread of cancer to the brain and other parts of the body.
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Immune System Tied to Narcolepsy
A new finding provides evidence that autoimmunity, in which the immune system turns against the body’s own tissues, may play an important role in narcolepsy.
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May 4, 2009
Scientists Sequence Cow Genome
The domesticated cow has become the first livestock mammal to have its genetic blueprint sequenced and analyzed. This major milestone in animal genetics provides new information not only about cattle biology but also about mammalian evolution.
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Autism Tied to Genes That Influence Brain Cell Connections
Three genome-wide association studies have identified genetic variations that affect the risk of autism spectrum disorders. Understanding how these variations affect brain development will suggest new strategies for diagnosing and treating the disorders.
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Breastfeeding Moms Have Lower Heart Risks Later in Life
The longer moms breastfeed their babies, the less likely they are to have cardiovascular disease and related risk factors after their childbearing years, a new study suggests.
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April 27, 2009
New Insights Into Dengue Virus
Dengue fever is a painful and sometimes fatal illness spread by mosquitoes. In a finding that could lead to new therapies, scientists identified several components in both mosquitoes and humans that the dengue virus uses to multiply after infection.
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Surgical Reconstruction
Offers No Benefit Over Bypass Surgery
An extra surgery to reshape a damaged region of the heart does
not further benefit heart failure patients undergoing bypass
surgery, according to a large clinical trial.
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Change Allows Influenza Virus to Spread in Respiratory Droplets
A new study shows that the avian H9N2 influenza virus can fairly
easily gain the ability to transmit in respiratory droplets,
like that from a sneeze. Insights from the study will have profound
implications for pandemic flu preparation.
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April 20, 2009
Overlooked “Brown Fat” Tied to Obesity
Scientists have thought that adults lack a type of fat called
brown fat. New research shows that not only do adults have it,
but it may play an important role in weight control.
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New Tools for Fighting Prostate Cancer
An experimental drug for treating advanced prostate cancer has shown preliminary success. The drug shrank tumors in the lab and reduced signs of the disease in drug-resistant cancer patients.
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Antipsychotics May Cause Metabolic Changes in Alzheimer’s Patients
Newer, second-generation antipsychotic medications may cause weight gain and other metabolic changes in patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The results build on previous work questioning the use of these drugs in Alzheimer's patients.
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April 13, 2009
Exercise Benefits Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Regular exercise is safe for heart failure patients, improves their quality of life and may slightly lower their risk of death or hospitalization, according to a new study.
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Understanding a Common Cold Virus
Rhinoviruses are a major cause of the common cold and may contribute
to about half of asthma flare-ups. Researchers have now completed
sequencing the genomes of all the known rhinovirus types, setting
the stage for the development of ways to combat the viruses.
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Heart Cells Grow Throughout Life Span
Researchers have discovered that the human heart continues to generate new cells throughout its life span. The finding may lead to the creation of new treatments to boost regeneration in people with heart problems, such as heart attack victims.
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April 6, 2009
Toddlers With Autism Preoccupied By Audiovisual Synchrony
Those with autism spectrum disorders often have an unusual pattern
of eye contact during social interactions, particularly a
tendency to look toward people’s mouths rather than their
eyes. A new finding may explain why.…
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Circumcision Curbs Risk of Genital Herpes and HPV Infection
Adult circumcision can significantly reduce the risk of becoming infected with the viruses that cause genital herpes and genital warts, according to a large study of heterosexual men.
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Reprogrammed Human Stem Cells Clear Another Hurdle
Researchers have developed a technique in which the genes used to reprogram human cells and give them the versatility of embryonic stem cells can be cleanly removed afterward. The advance takes researchers another major step toward creating cells that could potentially be used for human therapies.
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