RIKEN

Japanese researchers identify a protein linked to the exacerbation of COPD

Researchers from the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute and Nippon Medical School in Japan have identified a protein likely to be involved in the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This protein, Siglec-14, ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 21, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Protein in fat cells that stimulates inflammatory signaling helps put gears in motion for onset of diet-induced obesity

Poor diet and lifestyle choices set the stage for obesity and diabetes, but the immune system plays a relatively underappreciated role in accelerating this process. Metabolic changes in fat cells stimulate ...

Medical research created Mar 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Secrets of a t-haplotype gene revealed: Decade-long hunt turns up key gene involved in early mammalian development

The t haplotype in mice—a block of linked genes occupying the proximal half of mouse chromosome 17—is one of the best-studied examples of a selfish genetic element. Through an elaborate sperm-poisoning ...

Genetics created Mar 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Reprogrammed immune cells might give doctors an edge in rallying the body's defenses against tumor growth

Genetic abnormalities accrued by tumor cells lead to inappropriate production of proteins at the wrong time or place, or even the synthesis of unusual hybrid proteins not found in normal cells. Such abnormalities ...

Cancer created Mar 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Large-scale Japanese genomics project finds eight new loci linked to atopic dermatitis

Around one in ten Japanese school children suffer from a debilitating form of eczema known as atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite clear signs that the condition is heritable, the genetic origins of the disease ...

Genetics created Feb 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Neurotransmitter serotonin shown to link sleep–wake cycles with the body's natural 24-hour cycle

Almost all animals have a hard-wired 'body-clock' that controls biological function in cycles of approximately 24 hours. This is known as the circadian rhythm and, in mammals, it is controlled by signaling ...

Neuroscience created Feb 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

'Rapid response' pathway for immune cell development may improve body's ability to fight recurring infectious threats

Efficient immune protection requires the ability to rapidly recognize intruders that the body has encountered in the past. This is achieved via 'memory' B cells, which develop following immune system activation ...

Medical research created Feb 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

By determining structural effects of tumor-causing mutations, scientists obtain valuable information for drug discovery

(Medical Xpress)—For many patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), tumorigenesis is fueled by mutations that hyperactivate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling protein. These ...

Cancer created Feb 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

New genetic test can predict man's risk of developing prostate cancer

Researchers in Japan have created a genetic test that will help doctors diagnose prostate cancer. When given together with testing for prostate specific antigen (PSA), a widely used diagnostic biomarker for ...

Cancer created Feb 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Fluctuations in size of brain waves contribute to information processing

Cyclical variations in the size of brain wave rhythms may participate in the encoding of information by the brain, according to a new study led by Colin Molter of the Neuroinformatics Japan Center, RIKEN ...

Neuroscience created Feb 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Recently identified receptor helps trigger first wave of immune response

B cells can generate different 'classes' of antibodies, each of which carries a specific type of protein chain that triggers a specific downstream cascade of immune responses. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, ...

Immunology created Feb 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Discovery that specific protein modification important in cancer development

All proteins are made from chains of amino acids and their functions can be modified by adding small molecules to specific amino acids. One such modification is the addition of a methyl group, which is made ...

Cancer created Feb 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

fMRI study uncovers neural mechanism underlying drug cravings

Addiction may result from abnormal brain circuitry in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making. Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Molecular Imaging Science in Japan collaborating with colleagues ...

Neuroscience created Jan 28, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Ruling the airways: Notch controls bronchial cell fates and distributions

Nestled deep within the body, the epithelial lining of the respiratory system is nonetheless seriously exposed. Its direct contact with environmental air necessitates protective mechanisms that both seal ...

Medical research created Jan 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

A natural sense of rhythm: Shifting levels of molecules in the blood provide a snapshot of internal 'body-time'

Anybody who has worked the overnight shift will testify that sometimes the time displayed on the clock is not the same as the one in your head. This disconnect is not merely perception; many physiological ...

Medical research created Jan 18, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0