Trial of HIV drug stopped

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Judy Keen

The clinical trial testing the efficacy of the oral HIV antiretroviral drug, Truvada, was terminated in South Africa yesterday. External analysis by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee determined there was no detectable decrease in HIV transmission rate between those receiving … Continue reading →

Gut bacteria can influence cardiovascular disease risk

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Judy Keen

High fat diets are known to lead to obesity and other diseases. A new study in Nature shows how lipids are processed by the bacteria in the gut and can increase the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. continue reading

Insights into tobacco smoking addiction

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Judy Keen

Scripps Institute Scientists revealed new insights into tobacco smoking addiction. When high levels of nicotine in the brain are achieved, the α5 subunit of the nicotinic receptor is activated and transmits inhibitory signals to stop further intake of nicotine. continue … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

Bits of Science

Author Archives: Judy Keen