Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

Bayer Completes Phase II Study On BAY 94-9172 In Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Imaging Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, has completed
generic viagra online
Focusing On The More Lethal Form Of The Cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive muscle cancer that mostly affects children. The most common forms of RMS are embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS). Although ARMS is less common than ERMS, it is associated with a much higher rate of mortality. A therapy tailored to the ARMS form of RMS is therefore badly needed. A team of researchers, at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and Monash Institute of Medical Research, Australia, has now provided hope that it might be possible to develop such a therapy by showing that the protein ILK promotes the growth of ARMS cells, whereas it suppresses the growth of ERMS cells.
News of the day
Maternal Immunity Not All Good For A Fetus
As a fetus does not mount an immune response to maternal proteins that cross the placenta, it has been assumed that a fetus would not reject non-genetically matched blood cells (specifically allogeneic blood cells) if they were transplanted while the fetus was in utero. The hope is that this procedure, which is known as IUHCT, could provide a viable approach for treating congenital blood disorders. However, studies using a mouse model of IUHCT indicate that most fetal recipients of allogeneic blood cells lose their transplanted cells 3-5 weeks after transplantation. Alan Flake and colleagues, at Children"s Hospital of Philadelphia, have now identified an immune mechanism responsible for graft failure in this model of IUHCT. Surprisingly, although fetal immune cells eliminated the transplanted allogeneic blood cells, they were triggered to do so by immune molecules known as alloantibodies that they obtained from their mother"s breast milk. The maternal alloantibodies were produced in response to IUHCT and so the authors conclude that in the absence of either a maternal immune response or transmission of the maternal alloantibodies to the fetus, transplanted blood cells should not be rejected, leaving open the door for IUHCT as a potential clinical strategy.
Oncology

Body Chemistry May Identify Type 2 Risk, UK

Body chemistry changes that lead to Type 2 diabetes begin several years before symptoms become apparent, according to new research. Researchers studying 6,538 people in the UK over almost 10 years found specific changes in blood glucose levels and sensitivity to the hormone insulin. The University College London team examined how participants" blood glucose levels and the capacity of their tissues to respond to insulin - known as insulin sensitivity - changed over time. They also looked at how the insulin-producing beta-cells of the pancreas functioned during the study. The scientists hope their work could help efforts to develop more accurate models to predict an individual"s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, meaning action could be taken to delay its progression. Pav Kalsi, Care Advisor at Diabetes UK, said more research is needed: "Diabetes UK warmly welcomes any research that brings us closer to a way of accurately identifying individuals who could go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. "This research looks into reduced pancreatic cell function and insulin resistance, both of which are well-known bio-markers that indicate if a person may develop Type 2 diabetes. "Although these markers provide a good indication of future Type 2 diabetes, the lack of sensitivity and specificity means we cannot know for certain, so we would welcome further research into this promising area of study. "Improving insulin resistance can reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. This can be achieved through lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and being more physically active." The findings, published in The Lancet, were presented to a meeting of the American Association of Diabetes in New Orleans, USA. Cancer Research UK


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009