You might have read something last week about how we’ll have a cure for cancer within the year. You read wrong, but it’s not your fault. The Jerusalem Post published an article last week that highlighted the Israeli biotech start-up Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (AEBi) and the cancer research the company has been conducting. A flurry of international headlines followed, reporting that...
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Parenting in the age of legal pot: Household rules, conversations help guide teen use
When Washington voters legalized marijuana in 2012, many parents found themselves with a new teachable moment. Though illegal for anyone under 21, the drug presented a dilemma similar to alcohol: Retailers sold it, people openly consumed it — sometimes to excess — and parents themselves struggled with how to talk to their kids about their...
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Infectious diseases: When a kiss is more than a kiss
Often referred to as the “kissing disease,” mononucleosis is a common ailment caused by the Epstein-Barr virus that is transmitted through saliva. While you can get the virus through kissing, you also can be exposed through a cough or sneeze, or by sharing cups or utensils with someone who is infected. According to the Centers for Disease...
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When mucus can be key to treating colon and airway diseases
Researchers have identified proteins that control mucous production and suggest clues to treating colon and airway diseases CENTER FOR GENOMIC REGULATION Cells produce mucins at a constant rate, and when exposed to an allergen or pathogen, they produce more mucin in a rapid burst. Both the constant and rapid mucin secretion is controlled by calcium....
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Quality of overall diet is key to lowering type 2 diabetes risk
Consistent with studies in other populations, findings from the first local study, The Singapore Chinese Health Study, conducted by researchers in the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Duke-NUS Medical School, have shown that a high-quality diet defined by low intake of animal foods such as red meat,...
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BD Unveils Nano Pen Needle for Accurate Subcutaneous Insulin Injections
BD is releasing its new Nano pen needle designed for achieving consistent depth during subcutaneous injections, particularly for diabetic patients on insulin. Intramuscular injections can occur when a patient applies too much force to many of the existing injection devices. The new BD Nano compensates for this by spreading the load across the injection site...
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New microfluidics platform separates cell types for RNA profiling
A team led by scientists at the Broad Institute, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital has developed a prototype device that uses microfluidics to sort cell types extracted from clinical samples for RNA sequencing. Credit: Miguel Reyes “This platform allows us to isolate specific cell subsets in a sample, so we can perform RNA sequencing and...
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Biggest ever map of human Alzheimer’s brain published
A study of the differences between healthy brains and those with Alzheimer’s Disease has produced largest dataset of its type ever. And the data, developed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Richard Unwin at The University of Manchester, is now freely available online for any scientist to use. The team included researchers from...
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New study shows cost effectiveness of early cancer surveillance
Research shows cost effectiveness of early cancer screening for patients who have a high risk of developing cancer HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE SALT LAKE CITY – New research published today in the journal Pediatric Blood and Cancershows how earlycancer screening and surveillance in patients with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) results in additional years of life, and is cost effective for third-party payers. LFS is an inherited genetic condition that greatly increases the risk of developing several types of cancer....
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Research pushes back on benefits of compounded topical pain creams
Marketed and prescribed for a variety of muscle and nerve conditions, compounded topical pain creams and gels work about as well as placebos, study shows JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE In an effort to reduce chronic pain, many people look for hope by paying $20 to thousands of dollars for a tube of prescription topical pain cream or gel. Now, results of...