Meningitis :: FDA clears rapid test for meningitis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for marketing a test that uses molecular biology to quickly detect the presence of viral meningitis.
Inflammation
Pregnancy :: Elevated autoantibodies linked to preeclampsia
Women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy are more likely to develop certain dangerous autoantibodies than women with normal pregnancies, and these autoantibodies are still present two years after childbirth in about 20 percent of women who had the disorder, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh report in the March issue of Hypertension, the journal of the American Heart Association.
IBD :: Researchers identify molecular basis of inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn?s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, severely impair the lives of more than four million people worldwide. The development of effective therapies against these diseases requires an understanding of their underlying molecular mechanisms.
Prostate Cancer :: Obesity at time of prostate-cancer diagnosis increases mortality risk
Obese men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have more than two-and-a-half times the risk of dying from the disease as compared to men of normal weight at the time of diagnosis, according to a study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Neurology :: Stem cells may benefit people with neurodegenerative disease
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise forbenefiting degenerative diseases, and do so by invoking multiplemechanisms. Such cells can be grown in a manner compatible with clinicaluse (i.e., without animal feeder layers) and even without the need forimmunosuppression.
Migraine :: RAMP1 protein may promote migraines
A University of Iowa study may provide an explanation for why some people get migraine headaches while others do not. The researchers found that too much of a small protein called RAMP1 appears to “turn up the volume” of a nerve cell receptor’s response to a neuropeptide thought to cause migraines.
Insulin :: Stress-signaling fat is a culprit behind insulin resistance
A new study in the March issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, published by Cell Press, has identified a common link between multiple assaults on the body, including saturated fats, obesity, and certain types of drugs, all of which can lead to insulin resistance. The researchers found that these metabolic stresses lead to an upswing in production of a particular kind of fat molecule, known as ceramide.
Tendonitis :: Red flag for repetitive stress injuries identified for first time in humans
For the first time in humans, scientists have found early indicators of inflammation ? potential warning signs ? in work-related injuries caused by repetitive motion. Their findings could someday lead to early detection and prevention of debilitating conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
Dental :: Photodynamic therapy for periodontal diseases may be beneficial
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be an effective way to treat the bacteria associated with periodontal diseases, and could provide a better option than antibiotics or other mechanical methods for treating periodontal diseases, according to a new study published in the March issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
Eye :: Why Graves’ disease attacks the muscle tissue behind the eyes
UCLA researchers have uncovered new clues that may explain why Graves’ disease attacks the muscle tissue behind the eyes, often causing them to bulge painfully from their sockets, as in the case of the late actor Marty Feldman.