Stroke and heart disease trigger identifiedDecember 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Imperial College London have identified a molecule that triggers damage in arteries, which causes heart attacks and strokes. They hope that the condition could potentially be treated by blocking the molecule that triggers the damage.
How air pollution, cigarette smoke trigger coughingNovember 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers have found how environmental irritants, such as air pollution and cigarette smoke, trigger coughing. In a study conducted by experts from Imperial College London and the University of Hull, it was found that irritants activate receptor proteins called TRPA1 on the surface of nerve endings in the lungs.
Novel therapeutic target for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma identifiedNovember 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College claim to have identified potential therapeutic target for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells. The research team insists with the newly discovered mechanism they could powerfully suppress tumour formation in lab testing and in animal models.
Novel test may speed up war against cancerNovember 23rd, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian scientists have successfully developed the first test in the world for a technique by which cancer cells make themselves immortal. The advance, made by researchers at the Children's Medical Research Institute, could speed up development of new types of anti-cancer drugs.
Boffins identify 'cross-talk' mechanism that contributes to colorectal cancerNovember 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from University of Wisconsin-Madison School have identified what they call 'cross-talk' mechanism that appears to contribute to colorectal cancer. This molecular mechanism allows two powerful signalling pathways to interact and begin a process leading to colorectal tumours.
Drug candidate for treating spinal muscular atrophy identifiedNovember 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have identified a chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline that might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. The finding is based on a study conducted by Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and scientists from Paratek Pharmaceuticals and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
New therapeutic target for Alzheimer's identifiedOctober 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A Purdue University researcher has identified a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Researcher Sandra Rossie, a professor of biochemistry, found that the amount of an enzyme present in neurons can affect the mechanism thought to cause cell death in Alzheimer's disease patients and may have applications for other diseases such as stroke and heart attack.
Gene critical to cancer cell survival identifiedOctober 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - University of York claim to have identified a gene that appears to play a crucial role in cancer cell survival. The researchers have used a process called RNA interference to target the JNK2 gene in both cancer and healthy cells.
FDA says Pfizer's pill Selzentry appears safe for broader use against HIVOctober 6th, 2009 FDA sees no safety issues with Pfizer HIV drugWASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday an HIV drug from Pfizer appears safe for expanded use in patients who have not already taken other drugs to combat the virus. However, the FDA said Pfizer studies paint a mixed picture of its drug's effectiveness.
Mechanism related to onset of genetic diseases identifiedSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) have identified a mechanism that could trigger onset of various genetic diseases. They have found a process by which proteins with a tendency to cause conformational diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy, etc.
Scientists reveal how HIV cripples immune cellsSeptember 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Experts at the Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany have discovered a mechanism in an animal model revealing how HIV cripples immune cells. Dr. Oliver Fackler, in the Virology Department of the Hygiene Institute of the Heidelberg University Hospital, examined the movement of cells in living zebra fish embryos, and showed that cell mobility is inhibited by the HIV Nef protein.
Natural compounds may help treat cancerSeptember 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Natural food compounds, previously studied for their ability to prevent cancer, may play a more potent role in treating it, says a new study. Conducted by the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University (OSU), the study found that chlorophyllin (water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll) was 10 times more effective in killing colon cancer cells than hydroxyurea, a drug commonly used in cancer treatment.
New discovery may help in developing effective cancer therapiesSeptember 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Canadian researchers have come across a novel mechanism that may be instrumental in the development of new, more effective cancer therapies. They have discovered that activation mechanism of the RAF protein kinase which, when mutated, is responsible for more than 25 per cent of cancers.
Now, a 'molecular GPS' to help probe aging and disease processesSeptember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Michigan researchers have developed a powerful new GPS-like tool to identify proteins that are affected by a chemical process that is key to aging and disease development. The probe, which works like a GPS or navigation system for finding these proteins in cells, could lead to new insights into disease processes and identify new targets for disease treatments, according to the researchers.
Novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease identifiedAugust 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from University of Helsinki Institute of Biotechnology have identified a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. Lead researcher Professor Raimo K.
