Body

A recent finding by medical geneticists sheds new light on how Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy develops and how it might be treated. More commonly known as FSHD, the devastating disease affects both men and women.

FSHD is usually an inherited genetic disorder, yet sometimes appears spontaneously via new mutations in individuals with no family history of the condition.

Scientists studying the genes and proteins of human cells infected with a common cold virus have identified a new gene identification technique that could increase the genetic information we hold on animals by around 70 to 80 per cent. The findings, published in Nature Methods, could revolutionise our understanding of animal genetics and disease, and improve our knowledge of dangerous viruses such as SARS that jump the species barrier from animals to humans.

DURHAM, N.C. -- The first functional "cloaking" device reported by Duke University electrical engineers in 2006 worked like a charm, but it wasn't perfect. Now a member of that laboratory has developed a new design that ties up one of the major loose ends from the original device.

These new findings could be important in transforming how light or other waves can be controlled or transmitted. Just as traditional wires gave way to fiber optics, the new meta-material could revolutionize the transmission of light and waves.

Two new studies by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have overturned common beliefs about joint replacement in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery has revealed that corticosteroids are more effective than the more expensive treatment, hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc One, Genzyme Biosurgery), in providing pain relief to patients with thumb arthritis. The study also showed that both of these commonly used treatments provided clinically meaningful pain relief, but so did a placebo injection.

For years, researchers have known that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) can cause pregnancy loss and clotting, but they haven't known the true scope of the problem. Now a new study provides the first estimates of the prevalence of these antibodies in patients suffering from pregnancy loss, stroke, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis.

New research suggests that statins, traditionally used for cholesterol lowering, could be used in the management of individuals who are at risk for developing clotting because they have autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). The research will be presented in two presentations at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP). The meeting will be held Nov. 9-14, in Washington D.C.

Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company Protalex has begun screening patients at sites in the U.S. for its new multicenter,Phase 1b randomized, multiple-dose, dose-escalation study of PRTX-100 in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Protalex is focused on the development of a class of drugs designed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.

Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) today announced that its investigational medicine canagliflozin substantially lowered blood glucose levels compared to placebo when used as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes who are inadequately controlled with the antihyperglycemic medications metformin and pioglitazone. These results were presented at the 4th World Congress on Controversies to Consensus in Diabetes, Obesity, and Hypertension (CODHy).

According to Celgene Corporation, Abraxane in combination with gemcitabine when given to advanced pancreatic cancer patients who had not received previous treatment demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared to patients receiving gemcitabine alone.

The phase III study included 861 metastatic pancreatic cancer patients from around the world. Full results from the clinical trial will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2013 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium being held in January.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Resveratrol, a compound found commonly in grape skins and red wine, has been shown to have several beneficial effects on human health, including cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.

November 8, 2012 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Scientists believe that prior to the advent of DNA as the earth's primary genetic material, earlyforms of life used RNA to encode genetic instructions. What sort of genetic molecules did liferely on before RNA?

A comprehensive survey of genital injuries over the last decade involving mishaps with consumer products like clothing, furniture, tools and toys that brought U.S. adults to emergency rooms reveals that such injuries are common and may be preventable, according to doctors at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

COLLEGE STATION – Can you imagine trying to build a competitive race car with old parts? Chances are, the entry would not fare well at the Indy 500. Very much the same thing might be said about today's crops, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.

AMARILLO – Fresh, refrigerated or frozen, colostrum still is the best thing dairy owners can feed newborn calves, according to a joint study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the University of Florida.

Colostrum is the milk secreted for a few days from a mother, whether human or animal, after giving birth and is characterized by high protein and antibody content.