Lupus is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system becomes dysregulated, attacking the body’s own cells and tissues and causing inflammation and subsequent damage. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and serious form of lupus. There is no cure; treatments instead focus on suppressing the immune response in order to minimize organContinueContinue reading “For lupus treatment, drug delivery may be key”
Category Archives: research news
Reducing ribonucleotides, boosting heart function
A study from researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle) has shown that long-term improvements in heart function—faster, stronger heart muscle contraction—can be gained by increasing levels of deoxy-adenosine-5′-triphosphate (dATP) in genetically engineered mice. Lab Anim. (NY) 42, 154 (2013). view full text (login required)
Palladin promotes metastasis in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the US with a 5-year mortality rate >90%. This high mortality rate is due in part to the fact that tumors often go undetected during their early stages, allowing them to develop aggressive metastatic activity. Recent research on pancreatic cancer has focused on the tumorContinueContinue reading “Palladin promotes metastasis in pancreatic cancer”
A new twist in targeting malaria parasites
Malaria is transmitted among humans by mosquitoes carrying sporozoite forms of protozoan Plasmodium species. The sporozoites reproduce abundantly in the liver of an infected person, creating tens of thousands of merozoites in a structure called a schizont, which later ruptures, releasing the parasites into the bloodstream. Some parasites develop into gametocytes that, when ingested byContinueContinue reading “A new twist in targeting malaria parasites”
Evidence for sophisticated memory in rats
Memory is a complex phenomenon involving the encoding, storage and retrieval of information. Different types of memory can be defined by the particulars of these steps and of the information in question. For example, ‘source’ memory is a representation of the origin of a piece of information or the conditions surrounding its acquisition. Source memoryContinueContinue reading “Evidence for sophisticated memory in rats”
Insight into the neurology of Angelman syndrome
Results recently published in PLoS Biology (11, e1001478; 2013) elucidate the neurological disruptions that occur in Angelman syndrome and introduce a compound that can rescue the disruptions, restoring neural function in mice. John Marshall (Brown University, Providence, RI), senior author of the article, warned that it is too soon to tell when a clinical therapyContinueContinue reading “Insight into the neurology of Angelman syndrome”
Depigmented mice get back to black
After successfully preventing and reversing vitiligo in two different mouse models, I. Caroline Le Poole (Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL) and her colleagues have applied for a patent and are seeking regulatory approval and funding to carry out a clinical trial. The basis of their new treatment is a mutant version of the heat-shock proteinContinueContinue reading “Depigmented mice get back to black”
Brain–brain interface tested in rat ‘mind-meld’
In a story that might have come from science fiction, neuroscientists at Duke University (Durham, NC) directly linked the brains of two rats, enabling them to share information. Lab Anim. (NY) 42, 109 (2013). view full text (login required)
Clarifying the cause of chemotherapy ‘fog’
Up to 70% of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy report experiencing a mental ‘fog,’ with up to 50% of them suffering measurable deficits in attention, working memory and mental processing speed. Despite its high incidence, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment or ‘chemo-brain’ have not been well defined. New research from theContinueContinue reading “Clarifying the cause of chemotherapy ‘fog’”
‘Ginger’ coloration, a cost or a benefit?
Pheomelanin, a pigment responsible for reddish and chestnut coloration, is found only in higher vertebrates (i.e., birds and mammals) and carries several physiological costs. Its presence is associated with greater risks of skin cell damage and melanoma, and its synthesis in the body uses up the beneficial antioxidant glutathione. Pheomelanin is also phototoxic, producing reactiveContinueContinue reading “‘Ginger’ coloration, a cost or a benefit?”
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