Archive for the 'Medical' Category

Preventing Colon Cancer with Canola Oil

Latest research from the South Dakota State University has indicated that canola oil can lower the size and incidence of colon tumors in laboratory animals. The research has shown that with the use of canola oil in household cooking, it is possible to protect against colon cancer development.

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Breast Implants Can Lead to Cancer

New research by a team from the RAND Corporation has indicated that a rare type of lymphoma is linked with breast implants. However, the team has said that there is still no evidence to prove that the cancer is caused by implants or to suggest an underlying mechanism for how the disease might develop.

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Brain Cell Protein Identified as Potential Target for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Research from the Einstein College of Medicine at the Yeshiva University has indicated that there are potential clinical applications of a hypothalamic cell protein for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Studies in mouse models by the research team has shown that over expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) by hypothalamic nutrient-sensing cells as result of excess nutrient availability may directly contribute to the onset of obesity and the impaired control of blood sugar levels.

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Scientists Identify Gene Required for Repairing Damaged Muscle

Researchers at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have come a step closer to treating, and maybe even preventing, muscle damage which is caused by neurodegenerative disorders and other forms of disease. In a newly published study, the researching team has disclosed that they have found that the gene polymerase I and transcript release factor, or PTRF, are a crucial constituent of the cell process that repairs damaged muscle tissue.

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Antibiotics – A Possible Cure for Anthrax?

Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals. There are effective vaccines against anthrax, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment.

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Researchers Gain More Insight on How Thalidomide Leads to Birth Defects

Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used primarily, combined with dexamethasone, to treat multiple myeloma. The drug is a potent teratogen in zebrafish, chickens, rabbits and primates including humans: severe birth defects may result if the drug is taken during pregnancy.

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Low Sunlight Exposure and Common Virus Responsible for Multiple Sclerosis

New research has indicated that people who are exposed to very low levels of sunlight and who also have a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis, are at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than those without the virus.

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Preventing Damage from Heart Attacks & Strokes with an Injection

A researching team from the University of Leicester has offered the promise of a simple injection that could be developed to restrict the damage that results from heart attacks and strokes. Described by the lead researcher as ‘a fascinating new achievement’, work has already begun to translate the research into novel clinical therapies.

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Using Nanoparticles to Kill Cancer Cells

By combining nanotechnology and medical research, Sandia National Laboratories, the University of New Mexico, and the UNM Cancer Research and Treatment Center, have successfully been able to produce a highly efficient strategy that makes use of nanoparticles to kill cancerous cells with a wide variety of drugs.

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Targeted Photodynamic Therapy for Treating Skin Cancer

Research by Swiss and British scientists has shown that targeted photodynamic therapy has the potential to completely eradicate some models of cancer.  The team – consisting of researchers from the University of Hull and ETH Zurich – combined light-sensitive molecules with antibodies that specifically target tumor blood vessels. When irradiated with light, the molecules produce particles known as reactive oxygen species, which in high numbers cause irreparable damage to cells.

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