news archive genetic news - March 2, 2004

March 2, 2004

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	A Hand In Regulating A Sodium Channel This research finding may provide a molecular basis for how mutations affecting calcium binding to the human cardiac sodium channel motif could cause disease.
-	Music And Meaning In The Brain Certain musical passages cause brain responses similar to those caused by sentences, challenging the suggestion that music only conveys emotions, not actual concepts.
-	New Possibility For Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment A new treatment is reported for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the fourth leading cause of kidney failure in the US.
-	Aurora And Twilight For Tumors Scientists use a targeted approach with a drug, called VX-680, to suppress tumor growth.
-	Polymer Pumps Up Cancer Drug An antitumor drug can be improved -- and made less toxic -- by linking it to a polymer; conjugating drugs to polymers might be a new strategy for designing anticancer therapies.
-	Interferon Drug Saps SARS Effects Scientists report that a commercially available drug protects primate lungs from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
-	Gene Linked To Disorder Of Elevated Cholesterol Researchers report on the identification of a gene variant that is associated with susceptibility to familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL).
-	A Potential Drug Target For Diabetes A key protein may control the production and secretion of insulin.
-	Molecular Fault Identified In ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal paralytic disease, may be triggered by faulty editing of messenger RNA inside the cell.
-	Arresting HIV Researchers may now know why Old World monkeys are resistant to the disease-causing effects of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
-	Putting The Squeeze On Tumours Rapidly proliferating cancer cells can squash the blood vessels inside tumours, making it difficult for anti-cancer drugs to reach and destroy their target.
-	Stem Cell Ribbon Found In Adult Human Brain Researchers have discovered a new source of neural stem cells in the adult brain.