Special Reports
Gene Therapy Reduces Skin Cancer To Sunburn In Mouse Model (29/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) DALLAS - Dec. 10, 2004 - Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas have successfully tested the first gene therapy for skin cancer, using a mouse model for the disease xeroderma pigmentosum, or XP.
Genes Tied To Abnormal Immune Response In Mice With Lupus (29/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) Scientists have uncovered a link between a family of genes and abnormalities of the immune system that are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a devastating disease that affects over 1 million Americans. The research, published in the December issue of Immunity, significantly advances the understanding of the pathology of lupus-like autoimmunity in mice and may facilitate the design of future therapies for lupus in humans.
Smelling Citrus Oils Prevents Asthma in Rats (29/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A key ingredient in the aroma from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons appears to protect rats from the symptoms of asthma, new research shows. Study author Dr. Ehud Keinan explained that the citrus ingredient is called limonene, and it likely protects against asthma by "burning" inhaled ozone, which can increase inflammation in the lungs.
West Nile Vaccine Produces Immunity in Mice (29/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) NEW YORK - Mice injected with a purified structural protein from the West Nile virus (WNV) develop immunity against infection, new research shows. The findings suggest WNV-like particles could be used as a vaccine, Dr. T. Jake Liang of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues report in the Journal of Infectious Disease.
Growth of common skin cancer blocked in gene-switch mice (29/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Scientists have identified genes that promote the growth and recurrence of skin cancer - Dr. Andrzej Dlugosz and colleagues at the University of Michigan and the National Cancer Institute have examined the functions of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of cancer, and have uncovered a subset of tumor cells that are resistant to inhibition of the Hh pathway. This new finding has important implications for the treatment of this widespread disease.
Ants' 'genetic engineering' leads to species interdependency (29/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Findings reported this week reveal how an evolutionary innovation involving the sharing of genes between two ant species has given rise to a deep-seated dependency between them for the survival of both species populations. The new work illustrates how genetic exchange through interbreeding between two species can give rise to a system of interdependence at a high level of biological organization--in this case, the production of worker ants for both species.
FDA Approves Ventavis(TM) for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) (29/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) First Inhaled Prostacyclin for PAH Patients in the US - CoTherix, Inc (Nasdaq: CTRX) today announced that following priority review, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ventavis(TM) (iloprost) Inhalation Solution for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with NYHA Class III or IV symptoms. PAH is a highly debilitating and potentially fatal disease characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs. Ventavis is currently marketed by Schering AG in several European countries and Australia, and now will be made available in the U.S. through CoTherix.
Dog genome boosts cancer research (29/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) We have shared our lives with dogs for thousands of years, and our relationship is only getting closer. The complete canine genome sequence, which was finished last summer, is helping scientists to track down genes that cause disease in both dogs and people.
Bee stings 'help' mother with MS (29/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) A mother-of-two who is battling against multiple sclerosis says she is being helped by 36 bee stings a week. Paula Cooke, 40, of Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, has had MS for 15 years and has no feeling from her waist to her toes.
How nature keeps eggs 'in check' (29/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) Researchers have found a receptor that they believe keeps eggs in arrested development until they are ready to be fertilised. Although the study involved mice, experts believe a similar receptor will be present in human eggs.
In Wake Of Lyme Disease Vaccine For People, Mice May Be Next In Line For Shots (22/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) EAST LANSING, Mich. – As Americans queue up anxiously for flu shots, new research proposes a different sort of mass vaccination program to combat Lyme disease – a vaccine drive for mice.
Cloned Gene From Sea Animal May Prove Key In Cancer Drug Development (22/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and their colleagues have taken a significant step forward in developing a new method to produce drug compounds with potential to treat various types of cancer.
New Herpes Vaccine May be Ready for Human Trials (22/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) New research suggests that a promising herpes vaccine may be ready for testing in humans say researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard Medical School. Their findings appear in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.
Injured VIP dog is back on four legs (22/12)
(MSNBC.MSN.COM) MINNEAPOLIS - Around this time last year, Josie the dog had a broken back, a dislocated hip and internal injuries. A veterinarian suggested putting her to sleep. Instead, the Twedt family decided to skip Christmas presents and use the money to pay Josie’s medical bills.
Houseflies May Contract E coli from Cattle (22/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Houseflies on cattle farms may contribute to the spread of Escherichia coli O157:H7 among animals, their food supply and potentially humans say researchers from Kansas. Their findings appear in the December 2004 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Smelling Citrus Oils Prevents Asthma in Rats (22/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) NEW YORK - A key ingredient in the aroma from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons appears to protect rats from the symptoms of asthma, new research shows. Study author Dr. Ehud Keinan explained that the citrus ingredient is called limonene, and it likely protects against asthma by "burning" inhaled ozone, which can increase inflammation in the lungs.
Aromatherapy Oils Could Stamp Out Spread Of MRSA Superbug (22/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria according to research carried out at The University of Manchester, UK. Tests revealed that three essential oils killed MRSA and E. coli as well as many other bacteria and fungi within just two minutes of contact. The oils can easily be blended and made into soaps and shampoos which could be used by hospital staff, doctors and patients in a bid to eradicate the spread of these deadly `super bugs'.
New drug class treats neurodegeneration (22/12)
(DRUGRESEARCHER.COM) The first study to confirm the potential of a new class of drug for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s could herald a breakthrough in drug treatment for a disease that affects up to 4 million adults in the United States, and 10 million worldwide. In the preclinical efficacy trial, researchers tested a microtubule-stabilizing drug that helped correct the problems caused by clumped tau proteins in the nerve cells of mice.
Monkey vocal ability investigated (22/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) Diana monkeys possess a complex vocal tract whose shape can be adjusted to articulate sophisticated sounds - just as humans do, scientists report. Non-human primates were thought to have vocal tracts resembling simple tubes incapable of sophisticated articulation.
Human stem cells helped heal mouse hearts (22/12)
(NLM.NIH.GOV) HOUSTON - Texas scientists who injected human stem cells into the ailing hearts of mice found the stem cells integrated with the heart cells to start healing. The experiment at the University of Texas in Houston found the stem cells morphed into two kinds of cells to help restore heart function -- cardiac muscle cells that contract the heart and endothelial cells that line the heart's blood vessels.
UCLA Neuroscientist Gains Insights Into Human Brain From Study Of Marine Snail (16/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) What can cellular neuroscientists learn about the human brain from studying a marine snail? Much more than one might suspect. "On a cell biological level, the mechanisms of learning and memory are identical, as far as we can tell," said David Glanzman, a UCLA professor of physiological science and neurobiology, whose research has strengthened the view that the human brain and that of a snail named Aplysia are surprisingly similar. "Human brains have many more neurons than the Aplysia's, but it doesn't look like there is any difference on a molecular or synaptic level.
Heart Patch Pulses Like the Real Thing - Study (16/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pulsing transplanted heart cells with electrical current helps them grow into mature cardiac cells, bringing doctors closer to a grow-your-own heart patch, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. So far tests have only been done on rats but the researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University say they hope to find a way to repair tissue damaged when people have heart attacks.
Government launching human trials of experimental SARS vaccine (16/12)
(KOVA.COM) WASHINGTON Federal health officials are testing an experimental vaccine for SARS. Researchers have been studying severe acute respiratory syndrome since it was first recognized in 2002. It killed 774 people worldwide before being contained by quarantine, patient isolation and travel restrictions.
Cure for diabetes soon (16/12)
(INTERNATIONALREPORTER.COM) British researchers in collaboration with the Diabetes Vaccine Development Center in Melbourne will test a vaccine early next year on the patients that could wipe out type I diabetes, the most serious kind of diabetes. It works on by stopping the destruction of the cells.
Efforts To Clone Primates Move Forward (16/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) WASHINGTON – Using newer cloning techniques, including the "gentle squeeze" method described by South Korean researchers who earlier this year reported creating the first cloned human embryonic stem cell line, University of Pittsburgh scientists have taken a significant step toward successful therapeutic cloning of nonhuman primate embryos.
Mice Study Opens Door to Psoriasis Treatment-Study (16/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) WASHINGTON - Researchers said on Sunday they may have discovered what causes psoriasis, a common and irritating skin ailment, and said their findings may open the way to an effective treatment. They found that it takes a combination of a protein called STAT3 and an active immune system to cause psoriasis, which experts estimate affects as much as 2 percent of the population.
Malaria treatment target is found (16/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) A transport system used by the malaria parasite to infect blood cells could be a target for new treatments, scientists have said. Australian and US teams both claim that they have pinpointed the key proteins involved in the process.
Citrus Oils May Hold Key to Asthma Prevention (16/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) A key to preventing asthma might be found in a lemon, a rose or a pine tree. According to a study at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, inhalation of limonene, the main component found in the essential oil of citrus, prevented asthma symptoms in animals. The findings are published in this week's Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.
New hope for spine injury victims (16/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) People paralysed by spinal injury may one day be able to walk again thanks to pioneering work by British scientists. Researchers at Cambridge University and Kings College London have found a way to encourage damaged nerves to re-grow. That in turn prompts any surviving nerves to help out, bringing back some useful muscle function.
Diabetes vaccine trials to begin (16/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) A vaccine that could cure Type 1 diabetes is to be tested on people for the first time. King's College London and Bristol University have recruited 72 diabetic patients for the trials in late Spring.
Marine Sponge Leads Researchers To Immune System Regulator (08/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) A Japanese brewery, an Okinawan sea sponge, and some clever detective work have enabled an international research team based at the University of Chicago to solve a biological mystery, and the solution suggests a novel way to boost the body's defenses against cancer.
Efforts to clone primates move forward (08/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Using newer cloning techniques, including the "gentle squeeze" method described by South Korean researchers who earlier this year reported creating the first cloned human embryonic stem cell line, University of Pittsburgh scientists have taken a significant step toward successful therapeutic cloning of nonhuman primate embryos.
Hope for brain tumour treatment (08/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) Scientists have developed a treatment which may be effective against the most common and deadly form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) usually grows so quickly that it kills within a year of diagnosis, and neither surgery, drugs or radiotherapy can stop it.
Pitt clones monkey embryos for stem cells (08/12)
(PITTSBURGHLIVE.COM) University of Pittsburgh reproductive biologists have taken one small step for basic science that could bring about one giant leap for public health. Using techniques developed earlier this year by South Korean researchers, Pitt scientists cloned monkey embryos that survived long enough to develop the precursors to embryonic stem cells, the universal cells hailed for their potential to cure Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other ailments.
Replicating An Eel's Nerve Circuitry May Aid Paralyzed People (08/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) In a collaboration that blends biology and robotics, researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland are unraveling the circuitry in an eel's spinal cord to help develop a microchip implant that may someday help paralyzed people walk again.
Human parathyroid gland probably evolved from gills (08/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) The human parathyroid gland, which regulates the level of calcium in the blood, probably evolved from the gills of fish, according to researchers from King's College London.
Paralysed dogs walk again (08/12)
(NEWS24.COM) Indianapolis - Dogs with paralysed hind legs walked again after getting a shot of a chemical cousin of antifreeze that helped repair nerve cells in their damaged spinal cords, scientists reported.
SARS vaccine 'passes first hurdle' (08/12)
(CNN.COM) BEIJING, China - Chinese researchers have developed a SARS vaccine that has passed the first stage of human trials, state media has reported, raising hopes for the prevention of a virus that killed some 800 people since it emerged in 2002.
Shampoo 'risk to unborn babies' (08/12)
(NEWS.BBC.CO.UK) A chemical found in shampoo and hand lotions may damage the developing nervous system, research suggests. A US study found methylisothiazolinone (MIT) can affect the growth of parts of developing nerve cells which help them communicate with their neighbours.
Korean breakthrough on stomach cancer (08/12)
(NLM.NIH.GOV) SEOUL - The South Koreas Food and Drug Administration says it has proof nimesulide, a material that represses cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2, prevents stomach cancer. A germ known as Helicobacter pylori that survives on mucosas in the stomach is known to cause various stomach-related diseases, including stomach cancer, the Korea Times reported Saturday. Some 90 percent of Korean adults are infected with helicobacter.
NY Academy meeting examines the vaccine & avian influenza crisis (01/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Effective vaccinations against influenza were established many years ago. However, lack of availability of vaccines and the potential for new influenza subtypes to spread in pandemics represent new challenges to global public health. To alleviate supply issues, some public health experts propose administering low-dose vaccines, but will this be adequate to protect high-risk populations? With the prospect of an avian influenza epidemic on the horizon, are researchers doing everything they can to create effective vaccines against this global health threat? How are scientists working to produce genetically modified vaccine strains and what are the results of vaccine evaluation in humans?
Hunt for food, avoiding predators stresses out sparrows (01/12)
(CBC.CA) TORONTO - For songbirds, the stress of trying to find food without becoming dinner can be like coping with post-traumatic stress, scientists say. "Kill or be killed combat stress can have life-long consequences for humans," said Rudy Boonstra, a zoology professor at the University of Toronto at Scarborough.
Protein may prevent damage after heart attacks (01/12)
(MSNBC.MSN.COM) Texas scientists working with mice say a single dose of a common protein appears to protect the heart muscle from extensive damage after a heart attack.
Researchers reconstruct parts of the genome of a common mammalian ancestor (01/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) A group of researchers has re-created with remarkable accuracy part of the genome of the common ancestor of all placental mammals, a small shrew-like creature that prowled the forests of what is now Asia more than 80 million years ago. By comparing DNA sequences of 19 species of existing mammals, including humans, the researchers have reconstructed a large segment of DNA in the species from which all of today's placental mammals arose. They estimate that the reconstruction is 98 percent accurate.
Drugs Shows Promise in Preventing Breast Cancer (01/12)
(ABCNEWS.GO.COM) Almost every drug has side effects, but the osteoporosis treatment drug raloxifene, or Evista, turned out to have a promising one. Manufactured by the Eli Lilly and Co., Evista was originally designed just to prevent brittle bones, but researchers tested it twice on 7,000 women over eight years and found their breast cancer rates decreased by 60 percent.
Genetic Discovery Paves Way To Decode Sense Of Smell In Mammals (01/12)
(SCIENCEDAILY.COM) Durham, N.C. – Duke University Medical Center geneticists have discovered new proteins that help the olfactory system in mammals organize properly. Thus the proteins are key to the ability of mammals, including humans, to detect and respond appropriately to chemicals in the environment via their sense of smell. The finding in mice paves the way for scientists to unravel the underlying code that allows the brain to interpret smells, according to the researchers.
Could a Spray Stop the Spread of Flu, TB, SARS? (01/12)
(REUTERS.CO.UK) WASHINGTON - Simply inhaling a saltwater spray could help prevent the spread of diseases including flu and tuberculosis, U.S. and German researchers reported on Monday. They found a saline spray, administered using a device called a jet nebulizer, reduced the number of germ-spreading droplets by as much as 70 percent for six hours.
Animal bacteria linked to Crohn’s disease (01/12)
(MSNBC.MSN.COM) LONDON - A bacterium that causes intestinal illness in cattle and sheep could also be responsible for Crohn’s disease, researchers said on Friday.
Blocking specific enzyme is key to stopping cancer in its tracks (01/12)
(MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM) Researchers say that if we can block a specific enzyme - urokinase plasminogen activator - we should be able to stop the spread of cancer in the body. The need for chemotherapy would be much reduced. When scientists bred seven mice that did not have the enzyme urokinase plasminogen activator, they found that six of them never experienced cancer spreading - no matter how hard the scientists tried to develop cancer in them.
Science ; SARS vaccine caused liver damage in animal testing (01/12)
(KERALANEXT.COM) TORONTO, A SARS vaccine designed by Canadian scientists triggered severe liver inflammation when tested in ferrets - an unexpected problem that should give pause to others working to develop a vaccine against the disease.
Special Reports:
Nobel Laureates Back Animal Research
Winners of Nobel prizes in physiology or medicine
overwhelmingly support responsible use of animals in research, according to
Seriously Ill For Medical
Research (SIMR) of Bedfordshire, England. SIMR has carried out a survey of
Nobel prize winners in physiology or medicine to find the views of top medical
researchers worldwide on the need for animals in medical research.
The centenary of Alfred Nobel's death in 1896
seemed an ideal opportunity. "We are concerned that animal rights propaganda has
undue influence in the media, leading to confusion amongst the public and
patients about animal research. SIMR wants to help sort out science fact from
science fiction," said the late Andrew Blake of SIMR.
Questionnaires were sent to all living Nobel
laureates in medicine or physiology. They were asked to indicate their level of
agreement with five statements on the use of animals in medcal research. Their
responses show unanimous support on the need to use animals in medical research.
The complete survey results are available at the
SIMR website. To review the achievements of these great scientists, see a
Timeline
of Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
info@pirweb.org