It was Max Wicha of the University of Michigan who first identified breast cancer stem cells back in 2003. Now, Wicha and colleagues have identified a possible way to attack these cells, which are responsible for a tumor’s growth and spread.
Continue reading ‘New Plan of Attack Against Breast Cancer Stem Cells’
The aggregated proteins strewn about the brain are the hallmark of one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer’s disease. But while these irregular, gunky proteins, called amyloid-β, are believed to contribute to the deterioration of memory and cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s patients, no one knows how they lead to these symptoms, and the severity of the dementia doesn’t directly depend on the amount of amyloid-β plaques found in diseased brains.
Continue reading ‘Alzheimer’s: Therapy for Brain Disease Could Target Blood’
No, gold-plated liposomes are not a luxury gift that you’d find in your Christmas stocking, but they could someday give cancer patients the gift of life by selectively knocking out cancer cells while leaving healthy ones alone. This holiday gift comes courtesy of Marek Romanowski, an associate professor of biomedical engineering in the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering, along with the grad students in his lab, Xenia Kachur and Sarah Leung.
Continue reading ‘Gold-plated Liposomes an Anti-Cancer Stocking Stuffer’
A new study is unraveling the earliest events associated with neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal accumulation of tau protein. The research reveals how tau disrupts neuronal communication at synapses and may help to guide development of therapeutic strategies that precede irreversible neuronal degeneration.
Continue reading ‘Alzheimer’s: Tau Disrupts Neural Communication Prior to Neurodegeneration’
The side effects of the standard medication for Parkinson’s disease have long been a preoccupation of brain researchers. Now Daniella Rylander has presented new findings in a recently defended PhD thesis at Lund University that provide hope of more effective medication for those who suffer from the nerve cell disease.
University of Utah (U of U) medical researchers have made an important step in diagnosing autism through using MRI, an advance that eventually could help health care providers indentify the problem much earlier in children and lead to improved treatment and outcomes for those with the disorder.
Genzyme Corp., a takeover target of Sanofi-Aventis SA, expects to complete sales of its diagnostics and pharmaceutical-ingredients units by the end of the year. Genzyme has six bidders for the drug business, Chief Financial Officer Michael Wyzga said today at an investor conference. Sale of the units will make Genzyme more appealing to potential buyers, said Michael Yee, with RBC Capital Markets.
Continue reading ‘Sanofi Target Genzyme More Attractive to Buyers With Unit Sales’
Brian Orelli of The Motley Fool highlights four drugs–AstraZeneca’s Brilinta, Questcor’s Acthar Gel, Savient’s Krystexxa and Novartis’ Gilenia–that could gain FDA approval this month despite some previous difficulties. However, given recent troubles with other approved drugs, the FDA’s cautious nature could cause issues for some of the drugmakers.
Continue reading ‘Four Drugs Look to Pass FDA Muster this Month’
Cockroach brains may be a source of new antibiotics capable of killing deadly drug-resistant bacteria, according to research that suggests the germ-spreading pests may be good for something after all. Insects such as cockroaches have a defense mechanism against bacteria, a “logical” development from living in unhygienic conditions, research from the U.K.’s University of Nottingham showed. Tissues from the brains and nervous systems of cockroaches and locusts killed more than 90 percent of MRSA and E. coli without damaging human cells, scientists said.
Continue reading ‘Cockroach Brains May Be a Source of Antibiotics’
The stimulus bill that pumped more than $8 billion into biomedical research projects in the U.S. is set to end at the end of the month. And the surge of research work that it helped spawn is likely to come to a quick stop, triggering stinging job losses as research scientists jockey for a piece of a much smaller pie.
Continue reading ‘Research Scientists Brace for Layoffs as Stimulus Cash Dries Up’
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