http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (Medical Xpress)—Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have identified a gene present in some melanoma which appears to make the tumour cells more resistant to treatment, according to research published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-gene-melanoma-linked-resistance-treatment.html Cancer Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:50:01 EST news280490450 getting over damage to tendons can be a long and painful process. By combining the nuclear tests of the 1950s with tissue samples and modern technology, a research collaboration between the Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen now reveals why the healing process is so slow. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-tendon-injuries.html Other Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:20:01 EST news280156780 The number of incorrect cancer prognoses can be halved with computerised image analysis. In three years time, the method can be used on patients with bowel cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-method-halves-wrongful-cancer-prognoses.html Cancer Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:12:39 EST news279360748 The first-ever comprehensive study of prostate cancer tissue has revealed a completely new gene network driving the disease in patients who have stopped responding to standard hormone treatment, according to Cancer Research UK research published today in Cancer Cell. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-world-first-tissue-re-shape-future-advanced.html Cancer Fri, 21 Dec 2012 06:39:37 EST news275294369 Approximately 68 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the National Cancer Institute, which puts them at greater risk for developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and a host of other chronic illnesses. But an international team of scientists led by Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researcher Andrew Larner, M.D., Ph.D., has successfully reversed obesity in mice by manipulating the production of an enzyme known as tyrosine-protein kinase-2 (Tyk2). In their experiments, the scientists discovered that Tyk2 helps regulate obesity in mice and humans through the differentiation of a type of fat tissue known as brown adipose tissue (BAT). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-scientists-mechanism-obesity.html Medical research Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:53:40 EST news273938011 Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy and the major cause of death for both mother and child in Europe and the U.S. It affects about one in 20 pregnancies. The main symptoms are high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The cause of preeclampsia is still unclear. Dr. Florian Herse (Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) and the Charité), Dr. Ralf Dechend (ECRC and Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch) and their collaborators have now identified an enzyme that is overexpressed in affected women and thus apparently contributes to development of the condition. In animal experiments, the researchers inhibited this enzyme and were able to ameliorate the disease process. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-factor-high-blood-pressure-pregnancy.html Medical research Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:37:06 EST news273145012 A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea that were treated by microscopic parasite worm (helminth) eggs has provided insights on how this form of therapy may heal the intestine. This condition in monkeys is similar to the inflammatory bowel diseases that affects up to 1.4 million Americans. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-probiotic-worm-treatment-symptoms-colitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:00:13 EST news272219299 In 2010, 35 people in Greece died from a West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak, with a further 262 laboratory-confirmed human cases. A new article published in BioMedCentral's open access journal Virology Journal examines whether wild or migratory birds could have been responsible for importing and amplifying the deadly virus. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-wild-birds-deadly-west-nile.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:00:01 EST news271871413 Researchers from Brown University have shown for the first time how ingesting too much silver can cause argyria, a rare condition in which patients' skin turns a striking shade of grayish blue. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-scientists-chemical-argyria-silver-related-skin.html Medical research Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:40:28 EST news270459614 It took Wayne Wentzel 14 years, multiple tissue biopsies and travel to four hospitals across multiple states to identify the underlying source of his rising prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. He finally found answers at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-advanced-imaging-prostate-cancer-faster.html Cancer Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:21:08 EST news268647661 A team of researchers from the Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering (IOC) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the Pulmonology Research Group of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has patented an improved virtual bronchoscopy system designed to enhance endoscopic examination of peripheral lung lesions, that is, small nodules located in more distal branches of the bronchi. The system, designed to improve lung cancer diagnosis, aids physician decision making regarding whether a bronchoscopy is necessary and so avoids possible risks and discomfort for the patient. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-patent-virtual-guided-bronchoscopy-lung-cancer.html Cancer Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:15:43 EST news268575337 A simple new test, in which the patient swallows a string, can monitor treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis as effectively as an invasive, expensive and uncomfortable procedure that risks complications, particularly in children. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-simple-ease-esophagitis.html Inflammatory disorders Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:02:41 EST news268498953 A once-promising discovery linking prostate cancer to an obscure retrovirus derived from mice was the result of an inadvertent laboratory contamination, a forensic analysis of tissue samples and lab experiments – some dating back nearly a decade – has confirmed. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-erroneous-link-xmrv-virus-prostate.html Cancer Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:00:01 EST news267205320 Not all head and neck cancers are created equal. Those started by infection with the human papillomavirus are less often fatal than those with other causes, such as smoking. Detection of a reliable fingerprint for HPV could help patients avoid unnecessarily harsh treatment. A new study finds that while one popular biomarker for HPV is not a reliable predictor of mortality from the cancers alone, combinations of some biomarkers showed much more promise. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-hpv-biomarkers-neck-cancers-combinations.html Cancer Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:01 EST news267187425 Two different genetic mutations cooperate to induce adrenal cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-gene-mutations-adrenal-cancer.html Cancer Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:32:44 EST news266513523 University of Utah engineers mapped white blood cells called eonsinophils and showed an existing diagnostic method may overlook an elusive digestive disorder that causes swelling in the esophagus and painful swallowing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-biopsies-overlook-esophagus-diseasestudy-reveals.html Immunology Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:39:21 EST news266168352 (HealthDay)—MYD88 L265P is a common, recurring mutation in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, according to a study published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-mutation-idd-waldenstrom-macroglobulinemia.html Cancer Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:13:22 EST news265540374 (Medical Xpress) -- Scientists have discovered that the inflammation in the surrounding tissue of patients with failing chromium-cobalt metal-on-metal (MOM) implants is caused by the release of The Cobalt 2+ ions (Co2+) from metal debris that wears away from replacement joints. These ions are known to be genotoxic and could lead to further medical complications. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-metal-hip-implants-genotoxic-material.html Medical research Wed, 04 Jul 2012 05:50:17 EST news260599748 Scientists at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research at the University of Copenhagen have used a new method to assemble a massive catalogue of data on proteins. This gives them unprecedented insight into a process called protein phosphorylation. The research was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-giant-raft-disease.html Medical research Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:53:22 EST news260095995 The research led by Newcastle University's Dr Mark Cunningham and Professor Miles Whittington and supported by the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, indicates a novel electrical bio-marker in humans. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-musical-brain-patterns-epileptic-seizures.html Neuroscience Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:11:54 EST news258973901 (Medical Xpress) -- Computing experts and medical researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a fast, easy-to-use way of studying tissue samples in 3D using ‘virtual’ microscope slides. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-virtual-reveal-disease-3d.html Medical research Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:40:01 EST news254391691 (HealthDay) -- Women with HIV are at increased risk for anal cancer, a new study finds. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-hiv-anal-cancer-women.html HIV & AIDS Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:23:29 EST news253815796 Scientists have discovered a mutation limited to brain tissue that causes hemimegalencephaly (HMG), a condition where one half of the brain is enlarged and dysfunctional, leading to intellectual disability and severe epilepsy. The research, published by Cell Press in the April 12 issue of Neuron, has broad significance as a potential model for other complex neuropsychiatric diseases that may also be caused by "brain-only" mutations. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-brain-only-mutation-epileptic-brain-size.html Neuroscience Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST news253364106 Using computational methods, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have strongly implicated a novel gene in the triggering of type-2 diabetes. Their experiments in lab mice and in human blood and tissue samples further showed that this gene not only is associated with the disease, as predicted computationally, but is also likely to play a major causal role. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-databases-flag-gene-key-role.html Genetics Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:00:48 EST news253186233 A new device designed to more effectively produce DNA samples for genetic testing from slide-mounted tissue samples is better equipped than most models on the market to help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Its University of Utah inventors say the microdissection device is an effective and reasonably priced method for removing tissue samples from microscope slides. The samples are used for genetic testing, so precision is essential. The impact could be substantial because genetic testing is becoming more popular in the fight against cancer, and so the demand for efficient dissection tools is growing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-microdissection-device-cancer.html Cancer Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:05:53 EST news252219922 Researchers have developed multiple techniques and procedures to detect cancer cells during the earliest stages of the disease or after treatment. But one of the major limitations of these technologies is their inability to detect the presence of only a few cancer cells. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-photoacoustics-technique-small-cancer-cells.html Cancer Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:50:10 EST news252078593 Despite advances in neonatal care, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) – the most common gastrointestinal emergency in premature infants – continues to be a deadly disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-immune-implicated-prematurity-complication.html Immunology Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:17:55 EST news251378257 BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, reported that it can use next-generation sequencing to analyze DNA as low as 200 ng from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. This advancement enables researchers to easily identify the genetic details and pathology mechanism of FFPE disease samples, especially for some rare tumors, with higher accuracy and reliability than existing techniques. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-bgi-next-gen-sequencing-analysis-ffpe.html Genetics Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:52:41 EST news250426351 A majority of college students is receptive to donating blood or other genetic material for scientific research, according to a new study from Southern Methodist University, Dallas. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-college-students-donate-genetic-material.html Other Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:21:33 EST news249052877 In the two largest clinical studies ever conducted on the molecular genetics of lung cancer, an international team led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has demonstrated that an available molecular test can predict the likelihood of death from early-stage lung cancer more accurately than conventional methods. The work may eventually help improve the odds of survival for hundreds of thousands of patients each year. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-lung-cancer-survival.html Cancer Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:01 EST news246806867