Red Flags - Research

New Enzyme Could Help Celiac Sufferers

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:44:50 -0400

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New Enzyme Could Help Celiac Sufferers

Description:

“A new enzyme originally developed for commercial food processing turns out to also quickly and nearly completely break down whole gluten molecules as well as the T cell stimulatory peptides that cause celiac disease, a digestive disease with no current effective treatment other than avoiding wheat, barley or rye products.”

New Device Will Improve Surgery On Hardened Arteries

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 23:46:28 -0400

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New Device Will Improve Surgery On Hardened Arteries

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“A deal has been struck to develop an innovative piece of medical equipment which aims to improve vascular surgery.”

Stem Cells Reverse Stroke Damage In Rats

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:41:23 -0400

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Stem Cells Reverse Stroke Damage In Rats

Description:

“Scientists have found a way to make the brain reverse the damage it suffers after a stroke, raising hopes for treatment able to exploit the body's ability to heal itself.”

Eliminating Protein May Provide Key To Osteoporosis Treatment

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:54:06 -0400

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Eliminating Protein May Provide Key To Osteoporosis Treatment

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“Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have discovered that eliminating a protein, Schnurri-3 (Shn3), in mice led to profound increases in bone mass throughout their skeletal system. The results may have implications for the treatment of osteoporosis.”

Engineering Mutation Into Gene Cures Mice Of Huntington’s Disease

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:26:25 -0400

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Engineering Mutation Into Gene Cures Mice Of Huntington’s Disease

Description:

“Researchers at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics have provided ground-breaking evidence for a cure for Huntington’s disease in a mouse offering hope that this disease can be relieved in humans.”

Melanoma More Likely To Go Undetected In Non-Whites

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:25:41 -0400

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Melanoma More Likely To Go Undetected In Non-Whites

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“Melanoma may be more common in whites but the most serious form of skin cancer is deadlier in blacks and Hispanics because it is more likely to go undetected, researchers report.”

Embryo-Screening Breakthrough Offers Hope To Mothers At Risk

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:23:41 -0400

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Embryo-Screening Breakthrough Offers Hope To Mothers At Risk

Description:

“Thousands of women at risk of giving birth to sick children could benefit from a revolutionary technique to ensure that their babies are free of genetic disorders . . . It is the first time that ‘test-tube’ embryos have been identified and selected by a new medical procedure hailed by its inventors as a ‘paradigm shift’ in the screening of defective genes.”

Alzheimer’s Vaccine Reduces Plaque Deposits In Mice

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:18:36 -0400

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Alzheimer’s Vaccine Reduces Plaque Deposits In Mice

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“An experimental vaccine is showing promise against Alzheimer's disease, reducing brain deposits that are blamed for the disorder.”

Discovery Could Lead To New Cystic Fibrosis Treatments

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:54:01 -0400

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Discovery Could Lead To New Cystic Fibrosis Treatments

Description:

“Harvard Medical School researchers have discovered one way that a hardy disease-causing bacteria could be surviving in the lungs of chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients.”

Long-Lived Fruit Fly Sheds Light On Human Health And Aging

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:36:04 -0400

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Long-Lived Fruit Fly Sheds Light On Human Health And Aging

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“The creation of an extraordinarily long-lived fruit fly by genetics researchers at the University of Rochester has led scientists down an unexpected new path in the fight against diabetes. The mutant fly is serving as a portal for understanding the factors that determine how nutrition and stress set the foundation for metabolic syndrome and diabetes, why diabetes occurs more frequently as people age, and indeed why people live as long as they do.”

Gene Therapy Blocks Diabetes In Mice

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:35:59 -0400

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Gene Therapy Blocks Diabetes In Mice

Description:

“Gene therapy can prevent the onset of diabetes in mice prone to developing the disease.

The technique's success could lead to new knowledge about the development of Type 1 diabetes and ways to treat it, said senior investigator Paul Robbins of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings were presented yesterday in Baltimore at the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy.

New Cardiac Pump Inserted Like Stents

Wed, 31 May 2006 20:03:04 -0400

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New Cardiac Pump Inserted Like Stents

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“Scientists have developed a mechanical heart pump that can be fitted without invasive surgery.”

Substance-Abuse Drug Relieves Crohn’s Disease

Mon, 29 May 2006 19:37:23 -0400

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Substance-Abuse Drug Relieves Crohn’s Disease

Description:

“A Penn State College of Medicine pilot study suggests that a drug used to ease symptoms of alcohol and drug addiction may also bring relief to people with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestine that affects an estimated 500,000 Americans.”

RNA Discovery Could Mean New Treatments For Cancer, Viruses

Fri, 26 May 2006 20:37:47 -0400

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RNA Discovery Could Mean New Treatments For Cancer, Viruses

Description:

“[Director of the Monash Institute of Medical Research, Bryan] Williams and his team have now discovered the physical structure of siRNA are key to creating effective anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs. This will allow both the development of siRNA-based drugs to react differently for different diseases.

"By 'tweaking' the structure of siRNA to target specific diseases, we can dictate whether we want a particular siRNA-based drug to block or promote an immune response, to increase the effectiveness of the treatment," he said.”

Enzyme Mutations Lead To Hypoglycemia In Infants

Fri, 26 May 2006 20:36:49 -0400

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Enzyme Mutations Lead To Hypoglycemia In Infants

Description:

“A recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry confirms that mutations in an enzyme called glutamate dehydrogenase can cause congenital hyperinsulinism. The research appears as the "Paper of the Week" in the June 2 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal.”