University | Page 561 of 574

Breast cancer :: Genes can determine risk of breast cancer

A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is due in part to a group of very small variations in genes which code for a cell’s estrogen receptors, according to a collaborative study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Celera Diagnostics, SAIC-Frederick Inc., Applied Biosystems, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The study appears in the December 15, 2004, issue of Cancer Research.

Ayurveda :: Heavy metals found in ayurvedic medicines

About one in five Ayurvedic herbal medicine products sold in the Boston area contains toxic levels of lead, mercury or arsenic, researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Alzheimer’s disease :: Smelling test detects Alzheimer’s risk

People who have mild memory problems but who can correctly identify the source of certain smells are probably not in the first stages of Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that smell tests could offer a new technique for early diagnosis, researchers reported.

Cholesterol :: Pomelit fruit can help lower blood cholesterol

A fruit known commercially as Israeli Jaffa Sweetie can help lower blood cholesterol levels and hike blood antioxidant activity.

Ultrasound :: Ultrasound-aided therapy better than stroke drug alone

Using ultrasound in combination with the drug t-PA can improve response to an ischemic stroke, according to a study involving 126 patients. This first-of-its-kind human trial compared the safety and efficacy of ultrasound and t-PA versus use of t-PA alone. The trial was funded in part by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The finding appears in the November 18, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Nutrition :: Major Initiatives for Dietary Supplements

The Food and Drug Administration announced three major regulatory initiatives designed to further implement the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). These initiatives — a regulatory strategy, an open public meeting, and a draft guidance document for industry — are significant steps FDA has taken in the implementation of DSHEA.

Infertility :: Sperm cells are grown in lab

A team of researchers working with cells from mice has overcome a technical barrier and succeeded in growing sperm progenitor cells in laboratory culture. The researchers transplanted the cells into infertile mice, which were then able to produce sperm and father offspring that were genetically related to the donor mice.

OCD :: Psychotherapy for youth with obsessive compulsive disorder

Children and adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) respond best to a combination of both psychotherapy and an antidepressant, a major clinical trial has found. Supported by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health, the study recommends that treatment begin with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), either alone or with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

Alzheimer’s disease :: Transthyretin protein halts the progression of Alzheimer

Researchers have identified a protein in the brain that halts the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in human brain tissue. The protein, known as “transthyretin,” protects brain cells from gradual deterioration by blocking another toxic protein that contributes to the disease process.

ADHD :: Methylin chewable ADHD drug

U.S. regulators have approved the first chewable tablet medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.