Laboratory | Page 81 of 116

Cholesterol :: New therapy to treat severely elevated cholesterol levels

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have demonstrated the potential of a new type of therapy for patients who suffer from high cholesterol levels. The findings are in the January 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). In this study, patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a high-risk condition refractory to conventional therapy, had a remarkable 51 percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad cholesterol” levels.

Heart :: Be true to your heart with a handful of almonds

Are you looking for simple ways to improve your heart health? Including a handful of almonds, whether it?s as a snack or sprinkled throughout your day, may be one easy and satisfying way. Over the past few months, new research on almonds continues to show why including a handful of almonds can help you to be true to your heart. Here?s a look at what they are finding.

Water :: Water purification technique eliminates 100 percent of the microbes

Engineers have developed a system that uses a simple water purification technique that can eliminate 100 percent of the microbes in New Orleans water samples left from Hurricane Katrina. The technique makes use of specialized resins, copper and hydrogen peroxide to purify tainted water.

Breast Cancer :: Tumor free breast tissue can have precancerous changes

A new study using mastectomy tissue shows that precancerous changes can occur in normal-appearing areas of the breast as distant as two inches from a tumor’s edge. The findings, while preliminary, might have important implications for identifying breast-cancer patients at high risk of a second tumor in the same breast.

Gene Therapy :: Dramatic results from combo therapy surprises Krabbe-disease researchers

By all expectations, it shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. A combination of bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy greatly lengthened the lives of laboratory mice doomed by a rapidly progressing, fatal neurodegenerative disorder also found in people.

Chinese Medicine :: Proprietary Chinese medicine found containing potentially hazardous ingredients

The Department of Health (DH) today (January 9) urged members of the public not to buy or use a proprietary Chinese medicine called Boy Joy, which was found to contain potentially hazardous ingredients that may cause side effects.

Stem Cell :: Human stem cells found in amniotic fluid

Scientists have discovered a new source of stems cells and have used them to create muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve and liver cells in the laboratory. The first report showing the isolation of broad potential stem cells from the amniotic fluid that surrounds developing embryos was published today in Nature Biotechnology.

Tumor :: Homing nanoparticles pack multiple assault on tumors

Researchers have developed nanoparticles that seek out tumors and bind to their blood vessels, and then attract more nanoparticles to the tumor target. Using this system they demonstrated that the homing nanoparticle could be used to deliver a “payload” of an imaging compound, and in the process act as a clotting agent, obstructing as much as 20 percent of the tumor blood vessels.

Heart Attack :: Jefferson cardiologists fix broken heart

Unexplained chest pain after a heart attack might be more dangerous than many physicians originally think. In a case study to be published in the January issue of the international journal Clinical Cardiology, physicians at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia report on a seemingly healthy 55-year-old man who had a silent heart attack and subsequent unexplained chest pain.

Skin :: Genetically altered cells may help artificial skin fight infection

Cincinnati burn researchers have created genetically modified skin cells that, when added to cultured skin substitutes, may help fight off potentially lethal infections in patients with severe burns. Led by University of Cincinnati scientists, the team found that skin cells that were genetically altered to produce higher levels of a protein known as human beta defensin 4 killed more bacteria than normal skin cells.