Genes Archives

$51 million for cancer research in US

American Cancer Society awards 143 research grants to investigators at 83 institutions nationwide. Grants total more than $51 million in the second of two cycles for 2009. – The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded 143 national research and training grants totaling more than $51 million in the second of two grant cycles for 2009. The grants go into effect beginning July 1, 2009.

Major advance in stem cell reprogramming technology

A major breakthrough in generating safer, therapeutic stem cells from adult cells. – In a paper publishing online April 23rd in Cell Stem Cell, a Cell Press journal, Dr. Sheng Ding and colleagues from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, report an important step forward in the race to make reprogrammed stem cells that may be better suited for use in clinical settings.

A tiny drop of blood helps to assess cancer details

New alternative to biopsy detects subtle changes in cancer cells, Stanford study shows. – A drop of blood or a chunk of tissue smaller than the period at the end of this sentence may one day be all that is necessary to diagnose cancers and assess their response to treatment, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Stroke linked to genetic changes

Scientists discover genetic variant tied to increased stroke risk – First study to identify common variant influencing susceptibility in US. – Scientists have identified a previously unknown connection between two genetic variants and an increased risk of stroke, providing strong evidence for the existence of specific genes that help explain the genetic component of stroke.

Amalgamated sprouts contaminated with Listeria

Amalgamated Produce, Inc. Recalls Sprouts in the North Eastern United States Because of Possible Health Risk – Amalgamated Produce, Inc. (API), Bridgeport, CT, announced a voluntary recall of its Specialty Farms, Vermont Sprout House, Nature’s Promise and BroccoSprouts (noted as distributed by API, Bridgeport, CT) sprout items with sell by date codes of March_31 through April_27, 2009.

Control and treatment of bed bugs challenging

Pest control and eradication of bedbugs is challenging due to insecticide resistance, lack of effective products, and health concerns about spraying mattresses with pesticides. – A review of previously published articles indicates there is little evidence supporting an effective treatment of bites from bed bugs, that these insects do not appear to transmit disease, and control and eradication of bed bugs is challenging, according to an article in the April 1 issue of JAMA.

New cancer gene UTX identified

Getting down to cancer basics — Cancer mutations in the heart of gene regulation. – Researchers have identified a new cancer gene – one that is common to many cancers and affects the most basic regulation of our genes.

Tuberculosis TB disease knocking on Australia’s door

Tuberculosis – deadly ancient disease knocking on Australia’s door – Many Australians probably think tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the past. They are wrong. TB is sitting on Australia’s doorstep, with the fastest growing incidence found in South East Asia.

10 genes identified in connection with sudden cardiac death

You’re sitting at your desk and suddenly your heart is beating in overdrive or worse, lurching along like a car on fumes. It is a shocking, uncomfortable and frightening sensation. – Irregular heart rhythms are a common cause of sudden cardiac death or SCD, a condition that accounts for 450,000 deaths annually in the United States.

$60 m for tuberculosis and HIV research in South Africa

Einstein researcher will help lead South African Research Institute for tuberculosis and HIV – A groundbreaking partnership between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa will establish an international research center focused on making major scientific contributions to the worldwide effort to control the devastating co-epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV and on training a new generation of scientists in Africa.

Gene mutations cause childhood brain cancer medulloblastoma

Researchers discover gene mutations that cause childhood brain cancer. May lead to better drug treatments. – Researchers funded by the Canadian Cancer Society have discovered eight similar genes that, when mutated, appear to be responsible for medulloblastoma ? the most common of childhood brain cancers.

New monkey model for HIV

A slightly altered HIV-1 strain can infect pig-tailed macaques in the first animal model for human immunodeficiency virus infection. – By altering just one gene in HIV-1, scientists have succeeded in infecting pig-tailed macaque monkeys with a human version of the virus that has until now been impossible to study directly in animals.