Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Cellulite Cream

Fruitfly Model Of A Neuropathic Disease Demonstrates Novel Role For Proteins In The Family Of ATyr Pharma's Product Class
Research published in the June 26, 2009 edition of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences provides further evidence for novel roles of tRNA synthetases in disease, validating the therapeutic potential for aTyr Pharma"s new class of naturally occurring protein agents. The aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are universal and essential components of protein synthesis machinery found in all organisms, but human synthetases have naturally occurring resected variants with potent cell signaling activities that are vital to normal functioning of humans. aTyr Pharma"s proprietary product generating engine consists of these resected proteins (resectins) of human aminoacyl tRNA synthetases with cell signaling activities distinct from the protein synthesis activities. In this recently published study, a model of a human neuropathy was created in the fruit fly (Drosophila) by introducing mutations in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase which correspond to disease associated mutations in humans. These dominant mutations do not cause a loss in the protein synthesis activity, indicating that the neuropathy arises from distinct activities of this tRNA synthetase. This work provides further proof of noncanonical roles for tRNA synthetases in human disease.
generic viagra online
Learning More About The Placebo Effect
In this trial, a sample of alcohol-dependent patients received naltrexone, acamprosate or placebo for 12 weeks. While there were no differences in outcomes between treatment groups, those who believed they had been taking active medication consumed fewer alcoholic drinks and reported less alcohol dependence and cravings. That is, irrespective of actual treatment, perceived medication allocation predicted health outcomes.
News of the day
Kenya Malaria Study Shows One-Third Of Patients Receive ACTs
Just about one-third of people seeking malaria treatment in Kenya received the recommended artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and some people are being treated with ineffective drugs like chloroquine, which was phased out almost 10 years ago, according to the recently launched 2007 Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey - the country"s "first ever comprehensive malaria study," the Daily Nation reports (Gathura/Cheboi, 6/30).
Endocrinology

How Immune Cells May Help Predict Alzheimer's Risk

What if you could test your risk for Alzheimer"s disease much like your cholesterol levels - through a simple blood test? UCLA scientists have discovered a way to measure the amount of amyloid beta that is being absorbed by immune cells in the blood. Amyloid beta forms the plaques considered the hallmark of Alzheimer"s disease, and if the immune system isn"t adequately clearing amyloid beta, it may indicate Alzheimer"s risk, according to the researchers. MP Biomedicals LLC, a global life sciences and diagnostics company dedicated to Alzheimer"s disease research, has received an exclusive, worldwide license to commercialize the UCLA technology and create a diagnostic blood test for public use to screen for Alzheimer"s risk. "Early diagnosis is the cornerstone of preventive approaches to Alzheimer"s disease," said Dr. Milan Fiala, lead author of the UCLA study and a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. "We are pleased that the process we"ve identified using immune cells to help predict Alzheimer"s risk will be further developed by MP Biomedicals." "We are excited by the opportunity to forward the UCLA science in creating a cost-effective blood test to screen for Alzheimer"s risk that could be used in any hospital or lab," said Milan Panic, CEO of MP Biomedicals. Dr. Miodrag Micic, vice president of research and development for MP Biomedicals, noted that other blood tests for Alzheimer"s diagnosis measure factors such as inflammation and infection, which are also present in other diseases like atheroclerosis and may complicate the interpretation of results. The recently published study on the process identified by UCLA, which uses the "innate" immune system present at birth, appeared in the May issue of the Journal of Neuroimmunology. In the study, researchers took blood samples and isolated monocytes, which from birth act as the immune system"s janitors, traveling through the brain and body and gobbling up waste products - including amyloid beta. The monocytes were incubated overnight with amyloid beta, which was labeled with a fluorescent marker. Using a common laboratory method known as flow cytometry, researchers then measured the amount of amyloid beta ingested by the immune cells by assessing how much fluorescence was being emitted from each monocyte cell. The 18 Alzheimer"s disease patients in the study showed the least uptake of amyloid beta; the healthy control group, which consisted of 14 university professors, demonstrated the highest uptake. The method was able to distinguish with adequate sensitivity and specificity the Alzheimer"s disease patients. The results were found to be positive in 94 percent of the Alzheimer"s patients and negative in 100 percent of the university professor control group. In addition, the results were found to be positive in 60 percent of study participants who suffered from mild cognitive impairment, a condition that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer"s. "Patients and control subjects were also tracked over time to see if their immune response changed," Fiala said. For example, an Alzheimer"s disease patient over time showed declining results, while a university professor continued to demonstrate a high uptake of amyloid beta. Micic noted that the new method could be a flag for further testing and interventions. "Similar to screening patients for heart disease risk by a cholesterol test, a positive result for Alzheimer"s risk in some patients may suggest further interventions and advanced diagnostics, such as a brain PET scan and neurocognitive testing." The study was funded in part by MP Biomedicals LLC. Fiala is a consultant for the company and also served in the company"s speakers bureau. Rachel Champeau University of California - Los Angeles


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009