Decades of cancer research have shown that development of most tumors requires a combination of several genetic mutations. A wide array of such combinations has been implicated in tumorigenesis, and determining which combinations are the most troublesome has been tedious. Now a new mouse model seems poised to facilitate more rapid testing of mutation combinationsContinueContinue reading “Multi-Hit model for tumor development”
Author Archives: monicascicom
Toward better management of Lyme disease
Results of a new study by researchers at Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT) may point to the cause of persistent arthritis in people with Lyme disease. About 10% of Lyme sufferers will experience Lyme-related arthritis; in about 10% of these cases, the arthritis can last for months, despite antibiotic therapy. Its pathologyContinueContinue reading “Toward better management of Lyme disease”
The link between methylation and memory
Alterations in epigenetic regulation, processes that affect the availability of genes for transcription and hence their expression levels, are known to have a role in diseases such as cancer. Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic changes are also involved in aging. DNA methylation is one form of epigenetic regulation. Several studies have reported that methylation declinesContinueContinue reading “The link between methylation and memory”
New view on heart attack recurrence
After suffering one heart attack, almost 20% of people will experience a second within a year. The causes of this high recurrence rate are not well understood but could include worsening atherosclerosis (the accumulation of fatty material within arteries that frequently leads to heart attacks) or changes induced by the heart attack itself. Lab Anim.ContinueContinue reading “New view on heart attack recurrence”
Social therapy, the new anti-aging buzz?
Like many animals, honeybees (Apis mellifera) suffer from declining brain function as they age. The pace of this decline varies among individuals, partly because of variations in social behavior. Gro V. Amdam (Arizona State University, Tempe, and Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas) and colleagues recently took a closer look at the effects of socialContinueContinue reading “Social therapy, the new anti-aging buzz?”
Just one shot to make quitting a success
Cigarette smoking is a common addiction, largely thanks to nicotine. When inhaled, nicotine passes across the alveoli in the lungs, into the bloodstream, and reaches the brain. There, it results in the production of dopamine, which induces pleasure, reduces stress, alters blood pressure and heart rate, heightens alertness and increases information-processing ability in the smoker.ContinueContinue reading “Just one shot to make quitting a success”
2012 TriBranch Symposium
Three branches of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), the New Jersey Branch, the Delaware Valley Branch and the Metro New York Branch, join together each year to sponsor the TriBranch Symposium. The theme of this year’s TriBranch Symposium, held 11–13 June in Atlantic City, NJ, was R5: Reduction, Refinement, Replacement, Respect andContinueContinue reading “2012 TriBranch Symposium”
Ferrets further disease research
Domestic or European ferrets are carnivorous mammals related to weasels, minks, otters and skunks. They have long bodies, short legs and thick fur with various color patterns. The natural pattern, called sable or fitch, features a yellowish coat with dark patches over the limbs and tail, a facial mask and dark brown eyes. Ferrets haveContinueContinue reading “Ferrets further disease research”
Cell-level, whole-embryo, real-time
Microscopic technology has progressed remarkably since the late 1600s when scientists began using it more commonly to explore biological structures. Despite enabling us to visualize material at seemingly infinitesimal levels, microscopy does have its limits. Light-sheet microscopy, the state of the art, could visualize individual cells of a whole (small) embryo as it developed. TheContinueContinue reading “Cell-level, whole-embryo, real-time”
Treating diabetes with fewer side effects
Thiazolidinediones are used to treat type 2 diabetes by targeting the insulin resistance that characterizes the disease through activation of the receptor PPARγ. This improves insulin sensitivity but also contributes to side effects such as weight gain, edema, increased risk of bone fractures and, for certain drugs, organ toxicity and cardiovascular problems. Such side effectsContinueContinue reading “Treating diabetes with fewer side effects”
Fluent in Science 