Body

Researchers have discovered that the sea lamprey, which emerged from jawless fish first appearing 500 million years ago, dramatically remodels its genome. Shortly after a fertilized lamprey egg divides into several cells, the growing embryo discards millions of units of its DNA.

Transoral (through-the-mouth) laser surgery to remove cancer at the base of the tongue is as effective as more invasive, open surgery, and may improve quality of life according to a new study by Rush University Medical Center. The study is published in the July issue of the scientific journal Otolaryngology –Head and Neck Surgery.

Most evolutionary changes happen in tiny increments: an elephant grows a little larger, a giraffe's neck a little longer. But when it comes to traits like the number of wings on an insect, or limbs on a primate, there is no middle ground. There is still a question of how these sorts of large evolutionary leaps are made

Kaiser Permanente researchers showed that the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) used in the treatment of HIV has an equal effect on patients, regardless of race. This is contrary to earlier studies that showed a tendency for poorer results among Hispanics and African Americans when compared with caucasions.

The study, which appears in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, is one of the largest to date to evaluate racial and ethnic differences in clinical outcomes among HIV-infected patients.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – July 20, 2009 – California and Arizona researchers have identified a gene variant that carries nearly twice the risk of developing an increasingly common type of blood cancer, according to a study published online today by the science journal Nature Genetics.

Cardiovascular disease is increasing in adults under 50 and those of lower socioeconomic status, despite recent trends which show that cardiovascular disease is declining in Canada overall, say researchers at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. Untreated cardiovascular disease can lead to heart failure, coronary artery disease and death, and is the most common cause of hospitalization in North America.

The prevalence of heart disease and certain risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity – are increasing throughout Canada found a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/press/cmaj081629.pdf (www.cmaj.ca). This study, which looked at national data from 1994 to 2005, encompassed people aged 12 years and older sampling from Canadians of all socioeconomic and ethnic groups.

Mathematical modelling can help inform public health policy in outbreaks such as the H1N1 pandemic, write members of the Pandemic Influenza Outbreak Research Modelling Team in Canada in a CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) article http://www.cmaj.ca/press/cmaj090885.pdf (www.cmaj.ca). These models are useful tools for simulating plausible scenarios, developing control strategies and identifying important areas for immediate research.

CINCINNATI - Scientists have identified a master regulator gene for early embryonic development of the pancreas and other organs, putting researchers closer to coaxing stem cells into pancreatic cells as a possible cure for type1 diabetes.

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report their findings in the July 21 Developmental Cell.

Early initiation of lifesaving antiretroviral therapies should be the standard of care for all HIV-infected patients, even those in countries with limited medical and financial resources, according to a study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Below is information about an article being published early online on July 20 at www.annals.org. This article will be published in the Aug. 4 print edition of Annals of Internal Medicine. The information is not intended to substitute for the article as a source of information. Annals of Internal Medicine attribution is required for all coverage.

Every year, 42,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Few live very long, and less than 5% are still alive five years after diagnosis.

There's new hope, though, from the lab of Prof. Yoel Kloog, dean of Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Life Sciences. His drug compound Salirasib has shown positive results against pancreatic cancer and recently passed Phase I/II clinical trials. The drug, given in combination with gemcitabine, the standard drug used to combat pancreatic cancer, almost doubled the life expectancy of those who received it.

AMES, Iowa - Research led by scientists at Iowa State University's Plant Sciences Institute has resulted in a process that will make genetic changes in plant genes much more efficient, practical and safe.

The breakthrough was developed by David Wright, an associate scientist, and Jeffery Townsend, an assistant scientist, and allows targeted genetic manipulations in plant DNA, which could have a huge impact on plant genetic work in the future.

Using snorkelers and SCUBA divers is not the best way to monitor fish populations, if we want to know the evolutionary effects of overfishing.

The fish population in coral reef areas is often assessed by snorkelers or SCUBA divers, but new research shows that these methods may misrepresent the number of fish.