Medicine | Page 257 of 378 | SpiritIndia.com

Taste :: Penn researchers discover initial steps in the development of taste

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are closer to understanding how the sense of taste develops. They have pinpointed a molecular pathway that regulates the development of taste buds. Using genetically engineered mice, they discovered that a signaling pathway activated by small proteins called Wnts is required for initiating taste-bud formation. They have also determined that Wnt proteins are required for hooking up the wiring of taste signals to the brain.

Imaging :: Examining molecular imaging’s hot future

The December issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine carries specific conclusions and recommendations on how the medical community can harness the power of molecular imaging and therapy to manage diseases and improve the quality of life for patients. “Shaping the Future: The 2006 SNM Molecular Imaging Summit” provides the first-ever look at molecular imaging’s potential — as seen by medical professionals, scientists, industry representatives, and funding and regulatory officials — in a special expanded section of the society’s flagship journal.

Immigrant :: Adolescent Asian immigrants improve their good health habits over time

The good health habits of adolescent Asian immigrants improve with each generation born in the United States, but health habits among adolescent Latino immigrants generally remain poor or become worse in succeeding generations, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Imaging :: PET imaging shows young smokers quick benefit of quitting

The early stages of coronary artery disease in young smokers can be reversed quickly if they choose to put out their cigarettes for good, according to a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging study in the December Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Heart Disease :: Screening children for heart disease risk helps to identify parents at risk

Screening children for risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease can help identify parents at risk for the condition, providing an opportunity for medical intervention in both children and their parents, according to research at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Asthma :: City kids with asthma lose out on preventive treatment

A new study by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and elsewhere suggests that only one in five inner-city children with chronic asthma gets enough medicine to control dangerous flare-ups of the disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease :: Scientists develop a new way to target Alzheimer’s disease

A group of scientists at NYU School of Medicine have devised a way to reduce amyloid beta deposition by interfering with the deadly embrace of these proteins.

Noonan Syndrome :: Mutation responsible for Noonan Syndrome

Scientists have discovered that mutations in a gene known as SOS1 account for many cases of Noonan syndrome (NS), a common childhood genetic disorder which occurs in one in 1,000-2,500 live births. NS is characterized by short stature, facial abnormalities and learning disabilities, as well as heart problems and predisposition to leukemia.

Leukemia :: New hope for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Patients treated with lenalidomide for relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia or disease that no longer responds to chemotherapy have experienced a major response to therapy, according to a phase II study conducted by Asher Chanan-Khan, M.D., Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The results are published in the December 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Healthcare :: Hospital emergency departments vary greatly across country

A database developed by a research team based at Massachusetts General Hospital — the first comprehensive list of emergency departments (EDs) across the country — shows that one-third of all EDs care for less than one patient each hour, on average. The database is the first step in a process that may lead to the development of an ED classification system, similar to what currently exists for trauma centers.