news archive genetic news - March 1, 2006

March 1, 2006

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Creatine and Minocycline Show Promise for Parkinson's Disease Preliminary study shows that creatine and minocycline warrant further investigation for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.
-	Complement Proteins Promote Neuron Formation In The Brain Proteins involved in inflammatory responses could help with brain regeneration after a stroke.
-	Childhood Depression Linked To Asthma And Obesity The authors investigated how many of the participants suffered from childhood depression and compared this with those who later became obese or developed asthma.
-	HDL As A Target For Cardiovascular Protection The mechanisms of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and its role in preventing heart disease are explored.
-	Gene Regulation And Depression Mice subjected to stress caused by the presence of an aggressive intruder, repress the gene that produces a growth factor called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
-	Hunger For Memories The hunger-signaling gut hormone ghrelin can increase the number of nerve connections in a region of the brain crucial for the formation of new memories.
-	A 'Retro' Alternative For Immunology Researchers A simple strategy for creating mice that express multiple foreign proteins could help some scientists to study essential processes of immune development without the trouble of transgenics.
-	Bottom's Up To Gene Control Study shows one way that may be possible for designing and building new biological parts and systems from their individual components.
-	Non-Viral Gene Delivery: Stretching Is The Point The authors discuss how matrix-based approaches provide a solid foundation for the application of gene therapies for tissue regeneration and engineering.