Sticky proteins provide new insight into drug action
How drugs such as adrenalin do primarily one thing — in this case, increase the heart rate — now makes more sense to scientists.
Medical
HIV :: Adolescent arrest history influences risk of acquiring HIV
Adolescents with a history of arrest are at greater risk for HIV infection than adolescents with no arrest history, according to a new study published in the November issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center and Brown Medical School attribute higher rates of substance abuse, sexual risk behaviors and mental-health issues to the increased risk of infection.
Organ Transplant :: Researchers study reimbursing living organ donors for out-of-pocket expenses
In an effort to close the gap between organ supply and demand, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, the University of Michigan and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons are studying ways to reimburse living donors for some of their out-of-pocket expenses when they choose to donate an organ.
Brain :: Speak, memory – Research challenges theory of memory storage
During sleep, freshly minted memories move from the hippocampus, part of the “old” brain, to the neocortex, or “new” brain, for long-term storage. This has been the reigning theory for decades. Brown University research provides the strongest proof yet of this interaction between the old and new brains — and offers surprising evidence that challenges critical details of this theory of learning and memory. Results appear in Nature Neuroscience.
First Far Eastern leopard captured in southeast Russia by international team
Just three days after catching a Siberian tiger in the Russian Far East, an international team led by biologists from the Wildlife Conservation Society captured another species last week that carries the dubious distinction of being the world’s most endangered big cat: an extremely Far Eastern leopard.
To prevent terror attacks, strengthen airport screening of all travelers, not just suspects
The best way to prevent airborne terrorist attacks may be to improve the baseline security screening of all air travelers rather than identifying and screening high-risk passengers, according to new research by experts at MIT and Harvey Mudd College.
Atrial Fibrillation :: Understanding of AF will help in developing atrial fibrillation drugs
Robert Kass, Ph.D., chairman of the department of Pharmacology at Columbia University Medical Center , will present the latest research on the discovery of a potential molecular culprit for atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmias in the human heart, which can be a precursor for stroke.
Stem Cell :: Repairing damage from heart failure using stem cells
Fiona See, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Silviu Itescu, M.B., B.S., will present two groundbreaking abstracts on repairing damage from heart failure with stem cells at AHA this year.
Heart Failure :: A need to find alternative management strategies that improve outcomes, minimize suffering
Mark Russo, M.D., M.S., a researcher at Columbia University’s International Center for Health Outcomes and Innovation Research in New York will present findings from a study of the cost of medical management in chronic end-stage heart failure patients. The study found that despite the terminal nature of end-stage heart failure, costs and resource utilization increased dramatically as death approached.
Heart Transplant :: Genes influence heart transplant rejection
Mario Deng, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the division of Cardiology and director of the Cardiac Transplantation Research at Columbia University Medical Center, will present his laboratory’s research on the relationship between genes and the rejection of transplanted hearts.