Other highlights from the July 10 JNCI
...sound, the bubbles generated echoes, which made it possible to image the tumor. The sound energy from the ultrasound popped the bubbles, releasing the drug. In mice treated with this method, the nanobubbles were more effective at blocking tumor growth than other nanoparticle delivery methods. Microbubble...VIB scientist receives major research grant
...f the right coagulation factor is usually the only possible treatment for hemophilia patients. Gene therapy might well be an alternative solution. In this approach to curing the disorder, a malfunctioning gene (part of the DNA) is replaced by a properly functioning gene. VIB researchers Thierry VandenDriessch...New perspectives for the geosciences and climate research
...einer underlined. However, such studies are only possible using highly sophisticated equipment. The few accelerator mass spectrometers that have been available in Germany to date are not sufficient to meet current demand they are primarily designed for performing carbon 14 dating or are too low-powered, wi...MIT, BU team builds viruses to combat harmful 'biofilms'
...kings, says Lu. Synthetic biology also makes it possible to control the timing of when a gene is expressed ...tion rather than before or after. Such control was possible because T7 was extremely well characterized by other researchers such as MIT synthetic biologist Dre...Tomorrow's green nanofactories
...al, especially to ensure that nanotechnology makes possible a greener, more sustainable tomorrow, said David Rejeski, director of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Wilson Center. Dr. Belchers research with viruses, proteins and yeast offers hope for new, ground-breaking solutions to the worl...Neutral evolution has helped shape our genome
...m. The researchers believe they have uncovered a possible reason why these potentially damaging but mostly neutral bits of DNA accumulate over time by comparing the sequences of human numts with those in different animals. How closely the different species sequences match can provide an estimate of when tha...New gene mutation identified in common type of dementia
...ween first cousins over the years, Bruni said. Its possible that loss of both copies of the progranulin gene leads to the death of embryos, and thats why there were no cases with two copies of the mutated gene. Another intriguing aspect in this Italian family is the variable age at onset, which ranged from ...U-M, Israeli scientists report major advance in search for genes associated with colon cancer
...the disease, should talk to their doctor about the possible benefits of genetic counseling, Gruber says. Counseling can be done for both patients and family members....Rapid evolution of defense genes in plants may produce hybrid incompatibility
...lity genes can be bred into a GE crop, it might be possible to prevent the formation of superweeds and to lessen the probability that harmful genes can be spread to other species. ...Oldest DNA ever recovered suggests earth was warmer than previously believed
...dence that climate warming on the current scale is possible through natural conditions. However, he cautions that this research does not prove the current global warming trend is not human induced. "It could mean that our current warming is the result of both natural processes and human influences, and w...Sea anemone genome provides new view of our multi-celled ancestors
...with little tails. By comparing genomes, it is now possible to infer which genes were present in this ancient progenitor and how their chromosomes were structured, Rokhsar said. Surprisingly, the team found that the genome of the starlet sea anemone, which is lumped with jellyfish and corals into the earlie...NIEHS researchers identify enzyme critical in DNA replication
...own to copy the two DNA strands in only one of two possible directions. One strand of the double helix must be replicated first by a dedicated leading strand polymerase, followed slightly thereafter by replication of the lagging strand by a different polymerase. In lower organisms like the E. coli bacteria...New 'asthma gene' could lead to new therapies
...derstand the biology and we know the players, it's possible to target with specific drugs." Childhood asthma treatments are heavily focused on allergic responses, since most children with asthma also have many allergies. The discovery of a so-called 'asthma gene' would provide a new set of mechanisms to try...Progenika Biopharma presents a biochip that guarantees safety in blood transfusions
... different techniques are currently used to detect possible incompatibilities in blood transfusions: the serological method and DNA sequencing. The serological technique has a limited capacity and does not allow the detection of 3% of the incompatibilities existing. DNA sequencing, while overcoming this drawb...Investigating Life in Extreme Environments report gives hints on facts of life
...logical and scientific spheres. Create as soon as possible an overarching interdisciplinary group of experts to define the necessary actions to build a critical European mass in the field of Investigating Life in Extreme Environments Improve the information exchange, coordination and networking of the Europ...Pre-implantation genetic screening reduces both ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates in over 35s
...PGS to improve IVF outcomes in older women. It is possible that the biopsy of a cell from an early embryo on day 3 after conception hampers the potential of an embryo to successfully implant, said Mr. Mastenbroek, though the effect of biopsy alone on pregnancy rates has not been studied. Furthermore, say t...Alzheimer's prevention role discovered for prions
...d up in the brain to cause Alzheimers disease. The possible function for the mysterious proteins was discovered by a team of scientists led by Medical Research Council funded scientist Professor Nigel Hooper of the University of Leeds. Alzheimers and diseases like variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease follow s...Male or female factor infertility -- men suffer just the same
...e over time. Couples should be made aware of the possible decline in their social support network and encouraged to organise support systems that no not solely include close friends and family. Counselling in the early stages of infertility is not often a desirable option for couples, and especially for m...Risk-taking in infertility treatment correlates with women's negative moods
...moods also rated their choices as more risky. One possible explanation is that negative moods lead women to knowingly make more risky choices. In a follow up study, Dr. Newton and his team plan to determine whether providing women with accurate risk information will influence their decisions about how man...... we could boost this repair mechanism, it might be possible to slow cardiac and skeletal muscle damage in muscular dystrophy patients," said Campbell who also holds the Roy J. Carver Biomedical Research Chair in Molecular Physiology and is head of the department and a UI professor of neurology. The UI team ...