Low-carb diets' effects linked to rise in newly identified 'starvation hormone'
...d blood levels of liver-derived "fibroblast growth factor 21" (FGF21) are required for fasted mice and mice on a carbohydrate-restricted diet to switch gears and begin burning fat. Likewise, an accompanying study led by Steven Kliewer of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that FGF21 m...Study identifies new regulator of fat metabolism
... correct: FGF21, a liver-derived fibroblast growth factor gene, was significantly increased in the mice that had been fed ketogenic diets. FGF21 had previously been identified as a potential metabolic regulator by scientists at Eli Lilly, who showed that transgenic mice that overexpressed FGF21 were prote...USC researchers show that molecular markers predict tumor recurrence
...archers identified the vascular endothelial growth factor protein (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 as one of the most important activators of tumor angiogenesis. Patients with polymorphisms in the EGFR and VEGFR genes had a higher likelihood of tumor recurrence, the study shows. The results also show that ...Explaining a link between strokes and Alzheimer's
...ccumulate and become toxic. This is an important factor in whats going on in hypoxic brains, said Prof Peers, whose work received funding from the Alzheimers Society and the Alzheimers Research Trust. Astrocytes are just as essential as neurones for normal brain function and we have ten times as many of ...New drug shows promise in treatment of advanced thyroid cancer
...for a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a biologic factor tumors release in order to grow new blood vessels in the tumor, a process called angiogenesis. T...Pancreatic surgery riskier for obese patients
...eased BMI has been demonstrated to be an important factor predicting perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing numerous operations, Dr. Berger added. At the time of surgeries, 85 (46 percent) patients were normal weight, 54 (29 percent) were overweight and 45 (25 percent) were obese, th...Dating violence and sexual assault associated with suicide attempts among urban teens
... alcohol use and violence, making it a likely risk factor for a suicide attempt. Dating violence has also been shown to be associated with depressive symptoms and multiple health-compromising behaviors, the authors write. Elyse Olshen, M.D., M.P.H., of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and col...Low doses of ecstasy associated with decline in verbal memory
...by the drug, the authors note. The main underlying factor seems to be a depletion of serotonin in Ecstasy users, a depletion that might be reversible, they write. Serotonin is involved in several cognitive functions but might be especially relevant to learning and memory. In conclusion, our data indicate ...Blocking stress protein decreases Alzheimer's peptide in mice
...ists identified one called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which is linked to increased levels of brai...ion lowers it. Stress may be another environmental factor that increases risk." Holtzman, Csernansky and their colleagues are intrigued by the possibility th...Bias in statin trials, failure to control malaria, and more
...ded the research Vascular endothelial growth factor mediates intracrine survival in human breast carci...pharmacy.ucsf.edu Vascular endothelial growth factor mediates intracrine survival in human breast carcinoma cells through internally expressed VEGFR 1/FL...AMPAKINE compounds a new potential treatment for respiratory depression
...Sleeping disorders are another common predisposing factor for respiratory depression, in this case known as sleep apnea. Currently, the only way to counter opiate-induced respiratory depression is to administer opiate receptor antagonists, drugs that block the effectiveness of opiate analgesia. While this...Phase II study shows combination improves survival of metastatic melanoma patients
...Bevacizumab blocks the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a substance naturally produced in the body that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. This process is essential for tissue repair, such as wound healing, and for the overall the health of the body. ...GSK's Pazopanib shows positive results in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma
...is inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and c-kit, important proteins in the angiogenic process. Angiogenesis, which is th...GSK's Pazopanib shows positive results in patients with advanced RCC and ovarian cancer
...is inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and c-kit, important proteins in the angiogenic process. Angiogenesis, which is th...Study supports activity of GEMZAR in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer
...inistered on day one, every two weeks, with growth factor support. HER-2 positive patients (20 patients, 27.3%), were given trastuzumab (2 mg/kg with a loading dose 4 mg/kg) concomitantly. Afterward, the patients underwent surgery, radiotherapy and adjuvant hormonal therapy according to institutional practi...Men worry more about penile size than women, says 60-year-old research review
...x, but that penile size was not the most important factor for women. Small penis syndrome is much more common in men with normal sized penises than those with a small micropenis with a flaccid length of less than 7cm (2.7 inches). One study found that 63 per cent of men complaining of small...Veterinarians at increased risk of avian influenza virus infection
...s, according to the researchers. The greatest risk factor for infection reported by veterinarians was examining birds known to be sick with influenza. "Veterinarians and others with frequent and close contact to infected birds may be among the first to be infected with a pandemic strain of influenza," Mye...Research shows aerobic exercise helps maintain muscle in elderly
...to lose muscle mass and grow frail? One important factor identified by medical science is the reduced ability of the elderly to respond to the muscle-building stimulus of the hormone insulin. Insulin is best known for its link to diabetes a condition in which either a complete lack of insulin or systemi...Mercury's link to heart disease begins in blood vessel walls
...xicology. "Mercury has been implicated as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease because of environmental...at happens in the body when toxic substances are a factor in causing diseases. ...... of diabetes or heart disease in parents is a risk factor for development of diabetes or heart disease in their children. However, the researchers found that children of parents with a family history of diabetes or heart disease were just as likely to have sedentary behaviours as those without a family hist...