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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Gene affecting the ability to sleep discovered in fruit flies

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 06:10 PM PST

On the surface, it's simple: when night falls, our bodies get sleepy. But behind the scenes, a series of complex molecular events, controlled by our genes, is hard at work to make us groggy. Now, research suggests that a newly identified gene known as insomniac may play a role in keeping us asleep. By cloning and testing this gene in fruit flies researchers say they have discovered an entirely new mechanism by which sleep is regulated.

Babies' colic linked to mothers' migraines

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 05:30 PM PST

A study of mothers and their young babies by neurologists has shown that mothers who suffer migraine headaches are more than twice as likely to have babies with colic than mothers without a history of migraines.

Telomere failure, telomerase activation drive prostate cancer progression

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 01:12 PM PST

Genomic instability caused by an erosion of the protective caps on chromosomes, followed by activation of an enzyme that reinforces those caps, allows malignant cells to evade destruction and acquire more deadly characteristics, researchers report.

Blocking telomerase kills cancer cells but provokes resistance, progression

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 01:12 PM PST

Inhibiting telomerase, an enzyme that rescues malignant cells from destruction by extending the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, kills tumor cells but also triggers resistance pathways that allow cancer to survive and spread, scientists report.

Traitorous immune cells promote sudden ovarian cancer progression

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 07:21 AM PST

In a new mouse model that mimics the tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer, scientists have demonstrated that ovarian tumors don't necessarily break "free" of the immune system, rather dendritic cells of the immune system seem to actively support the tumor's escape. The researchers show that it might be possible to restore the immune system by targeting a patient's own dendritic cells.

World's longest kidney transplant chain completed

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 07:21 AM PST

The world's longest living-donor kidney transplant chain has just been completed. The chain involved 30 donors, 30 recipients and 17 hospitals throughout the U.S.

New treatment for traumatic brain injury shows promise in animals

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 06:06 AM PST

A new drug is showing promise in shielding against the harmful effects of traumatic brain injury in rats, according to a new study.

Rainforest plant combats multi-resistant bacterial strains

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 06:06 AM PST

Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics.

Home visits for asthma: A win for both patients and payers

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 06:06 AM PST

Nearly one in 10 children have asthma, according to government statistics, and in low-income parts of Boston, nearly 16 percent of children are affected. A new program demonstrates the potential to dramatically reduce hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma -- improving patient outcomes and saving $1.46 per dollar spent through reduced hospital utilization.

Neurodegenerative diseases: Ring-like structure found in 'elongator' protein complex

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 05:58 AM PST

A ring-like structure found in a protein complex called 'Elongator' provides new clues to its tasks inside the cell and to its role in neurodegenerative diseases. It is the first three-dimensional structure of part of this complex.

Which anti-HIV drug combinations work best and why?

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 11:30 AM PST

Using a mathematical formula that carefully measures the degree to which HIV infection of immune system cells is stalled by antiretroviral therapy, AIDS experts have calculated precisely how well dozens of such anti-HIV drugs work, alone or in any of 857 likely combinations, in suppressing the virus. Results of the team's latest research reveal how some combinations work better than others at impeding viral replication, and keeping the disease in check.

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