news archive November 2007

• Optimistic Neurons
  In rats given a choice between two rewards, neurons that predict the value of expected rewards responded as though the animal had chosen the best available reward, no matter what the rat actually did.
  
• Immune Delivery Service
  Researchers have identified the cells responsible for rapid delivery of blood-borne antigens to specialized sites in the spleen.
  
• Suppressing Allergy
  Researchers have identified a protein that blocks the release of chemical mediators that produce the symptoms of allergic reactions.
  
• Mutation Identified In Neurodegenerative Disorder
  Individuals with a neurodegenerative disease called spinocerebellar ataxia 11 (SCA11) have mutations in a gene called TTBK2.
  
• Gene Prevents Sudden Death In Mice After Infection
  Mice that lack a particular gene die suddenly and without overt signs of illness in response to an infection that is usually harmless.
  
• Normal Cells Lead Tumour Cell Invasion
  Normal tissue cells called fibroblasts can help to form a path for invading carcinoma cells, and may thereby promote tumour metastasis.
  
• Neural Crest Stem Cells On Tap
  Human embryonic stem cells have been coaxed into becoming neural crest stem cells, an important cell type in the developing embryo.
  
• Holding Dormant Cancers In Check
  Online paper a crucial stage in the battle between cancer cells and the host's immunce sysen, at which point defences stall the expansion of cancer cells that may have managed to dodge past early immunosurveillance.
  
• Shaping The Brain's Experience Of The World
  New research in rats now shows how the brain goes about the task of reordering to reorganize itself in response to experience.
  
• Zooming In On Diabetes Susceptibility
  A paper reports use of newly available technology and huge numbers of patients to reveal two MHC genes that are implicated in the development of childhood diabetes.
  

• Genome-Wide RNAi Screen for Regulators of Aging
  Insulin signaling found to play an important role in determining organism longevity
  
• Genetics of Hunger and Sleep
  Surprisingly link found between disease of sleep and metabolic control
  
• Regulation of TATA-less Promoters
  Studies show distinct mechanisms control histone gene expression during Drosophila development, revealing new complexity in metazoan gene regulation
  

• Abnormal Immune Cells May Cause Unprovoked Anaphylaxis
  Until now, in two out of three people, anaphylaxis has had no known cause. Now, researchers have found abnormal immune cells may play a role.
  
• Unusual Link Between Cell Survival Proteins and Ovarian Cancer Aggressiveness
  Apoptosis protein signature might be used to gauge the aggressiveness of a woman’s ovarian tumor at the time of diagnosis.
  

• Stalling Chemotherapy Damage
  The understanding of how healthy cells cope with damages caused by anti-cancer drugs is furthered by new findings presented online.
  
• A New Virulence Mechanism For MRSA
  Strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that are acquired in the community may be more virulent than hospital-associated strains because they secrete small peptides that disable immune cells.
  
• Regulating Immune Suppression
  Four papers report how white blood cells can produce interleukin 10, a chemical mediator that helps keep the immune response in check.
  
• Genes For Transplants
  A gene that allows mice to accept human bone marrow cells more efficiently is presented online.
  
• Genetic Mutation In Familial Aortic Aneurysm
  Mutations in a gene expressed in smooth muscle cells account for about 14% of cases of hereditary thoracic aortic aneurysm.
  
• Genetic Variants Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Genetic variants in a region on chromosome 6 are associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
  
• Primate Patient-Specific Stem Cells
  A method of reprogramming rhesus macaque adult fibroblasts into embryonic stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer is presented.
  
• How The Body Builds An Asymmetric Aorta
  New research published helps to fill in the genetic pieces of the jig-saw puzzle associated with the development of the aorta.
  
• Lung Cancer Characterization
  A huge overview of genetic alterations in lung cancer is presented online.
  
• The Brain In Glorious Technicolor
  With a combination of genetic tricks and fancy proteins, researchers have colourfully labelled hundreds of individual neurons with distinctive hues to create a 'Brainbow'.
  

• Scientists discover new genetic variant associated with prostate cancer in African Americans
  Further studies could lead to improved screening, detection and treatment of disease
  
• Domestic cat genome sequenced
  Sequence provides insight into evolution and has implications for feline and human health research
  
• 3-D model of Esophageal Cancer
  Researchers use new model system to elucidate factors involved in initiation and progression of disease
  

• Neural Stem Cells Restore Memory
  Data suggest that neural stem cell therapy offers promise for treating memory deficits associated with neurological disorders.
  
• Contribution Of Cholesterol Transporter To Vascular Disease
  Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a transporter of cholesterol, may also contribute to vascular diseases by a previously unidentified mechanism.
  
• Predicting Risks Of Breast Cancer Metastasis
  New strategies to predict the potential of a breast tumour to spread are presented.
  
• Hypertension During Pregnancy Compromises Future Health
  Women with high blood pressure during pregnancy should be monitored closely both during and after birth.
  
• Improved Detection Of Bladder Cancer
  A new method for detecting bladder tumours will provide improvements for patients' treatment and a reduction in cancer recurrence rates.
  
• Sex Chromosomes Influence Behaviour
  Differences in habit learning between male and female mice are due to their chromosomes, not to their sex hormones.
  
• Cost Effective Individual Genome Sequencing
  Nature Methods presents three reports that introduce different techniques for selecting and enriching specific genomic regions in a high-throughput fashion.
  
• Long Live Transplants!
  A new strategy to improve transplant survival in diabetic patients is presented.
  
• Using Biomarkers To Predict Alzheimer's Disease
  A plasma biomarker could be used to predict which patients with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease.
  
• Responding To Sepsis
  How quickly key receptors are activated on blood vessel cells can determine whether one survives or succumbs to sepsis.
  

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