The link between periodontal (gum) disease and other inflammatory conditions such as heart disease and diabetes has long been established, but the mechanism behind that association has, until now, remained a mystery. This month, a team of scientists and clinicians led by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry say they’ve found the reason why—and […]
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Mutation mechanism discovered for neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer
Although neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are rare, the available treatment options are currently limited. Researchers have now managed to identify the mutation mechanism, namely a mutation on the gene that activates the telomerase enzyme TERT, and this will potentially give rise to new treatment options. This discovery could lead to a more targeted treatment […]
Unique cancer drug discovered with help from Advanced Light Source begins historical clinical trial
An investigational cancer drug that targets tumors caused by mutations in the KRAS gene will be evaluated in phase 2 clinical trials, following promising safety and efficacy results in preliminary human studies and excellent results in animal studies. The drug, developed by Amgen and currently referred to as AMG 510, is the first therapy to […]
Jung discovered the fountain of youth: researchers crack the cell-aging Code
With the years of life, our cells renew themselves more slowly. For cells that divide never more, stay more and more. These cells are made for the physical removal and diseases in old age. Researchers want to turn off the aging stop. Such as aging the cells of our body? Why listen to parts of […]
Going the distance: Brain cells for 3-D vision discovered
In stunning images captured under the microscope for the first time, the neurons were found in praying mantises. The work is published in Nature Communications today. In a specially-designed insect cinema, the mantises were fitted with 3-D glasses and shown 3-D movies of simulated bugs while their brain activity was monitored. When the image of […]
Newly discovered immune cell linked to type 1 diabetes
In a discovery that might be likened to finding medicine’s version of the Loch Ness monster, a research team from Johns Hopkins Medicine, IBM Research and four collaborating institutions is the first to document the existence of long-doubted “X cell,” a “rogue hybrid” immune system cell that may play a key role in the development […]
Brain region discovered that only processes spoken, not written words
Patients in a new Northwestern Medicine study were able to comprehend words that were written but not said aloud. They could write the names of things they saw but not verbalize them. Even though these patients could hear and speak perfectly fine, a disease had crept into a portion of their brain that kept them […]
First common risk genes discovered for autism
A study headed by researchers from the Danish project iPSYCH and the Broad Institute in the U.S., has found the first common genetic risk variants for autism and uncovered genetic differences in clinical subgroups of autism. The discovery means that we will in future be able to determine the genes that separate the diagnostic groups, […]
New pathway for cell communication discovered
Small lipid vesicles known as extracellular vesicles are of great interest to cell scientists since it has been discovered that they mediate intercellular communication. Now, Professor Tom Carter’s group has identified a novel pathway for the storage and release of these vesicles from vascular endothelial cells. Working in collaboration with Dr Peter Rosenthal of the […]
Solving a medical mystery: Cause of rare type of dwarfism discovered
For children born with Saul-Wilson syndrome, and their parents, much of their lives are spent searching for answers. First defined in 1990, only 14 cases are known worldwide. And the cause of the syndrome—characterized by short stature, microcephaly (small head), hearing loss and early developmental delays—remained unknown. Today, these individuals have answers. “This is the […]