IL-15 implicated in celiac and inflammatory bowel disease

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Judy Keen

A recent study finds an increase in the cytokine IL-15 in celiacs and inflammatory bowel that may be causative in these diseases. Preventing the actions of this cytokine may be a new way to prevent digestive disease development. continue reading

Diamond nanoparticles to treat cancer

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Judy Keen

Diamond chips and chemotherapeutics attached to nanoparticle reduced lung cancer tumor growth in mice. Using these diamond-nanoparticles, higher doses of the chemotherapy, dox, could be given without liver and other toxicities that can normally occur. continue reading

Panel to review bioethics rules

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Judy Keen

New evidence of a clinical trial conducted in the 1940s containing blatant ethical abuses has prompted President Obama to establish a panel to investigate clinical trial ethical rules and ensure safety of human subjects. continue reading

Fungus fights malaria!

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Judy Keen

Scientists have engineered a fungus (M. anisopliae) to contain antimicrobial proteins or antibodies that prevent the parasitic infection (P. falciparum) that causes malaria in humans. Mosquitoes, even infected ones, can be inoculated with the fungi that will prevent the parasite … Continue reading →

Stress hormone inhibitor may be key to hair growth

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Judy Keen

Baldness is an ailment that many would rather reverse or avoid completely. Stress and other life events can impact hair follicle growth and contribute to baldness, suggesting that stress hormones, including corticosteroids, are major contributors to the problem. Wang et … Continue reading →

A bear necessity?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

A study of hibernating black bears has yielded results that could one day aid seriously injured patients.

Potential new method to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Judy Keen

Antibiotic resistant bacteria infections are on the rise. Numbers of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) cases are skyrocketing and ways to treat them are limited. By using the proteins expressed in the bacteria itself, scientists have found a new way to … Continue reading →

Anti-cocaine vaccines show promise against addiction

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Judy Keen

A recent study demonstrated that conjugation of cocaine analogs to adenoviral protein particles resulted in the successful induction of an immune response that was able to successfully sequester the cocaine in the bloodstream, preventing it from affecting the brain. Similar … Continue reading →

Publication of the human genome turns 10

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Judy Keen

Ten years ago this month, the first complete human genome sequence was published. While many have questioned why this has not translated into more relevant clinical applications, it has increased the molecular understanding of disease. Increasingly, the relationship between genome … Continue reading →

Hormone Replacement Therapy still troublesome

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Judy Keen

Findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (volume 103:296-305) indicate that taking HRT at the time of or shortly after onset of menopause significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who took a … Continue reading →

Bits of Science

Bits of Biomedical