Cardiovascular disease doesn't just start in adulthood and there may be factors that could help us identify during youth
#Nanodrug targeting breast cancer cells from the inside adds weapon: Immune system attacka unique nanoscale drug that can carry a variety of weapons
a protein that stimulates the immune system to attack HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The research team developing the drug--led by scientists at the Nanomedicine Research center part of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical center--conducted the study in laboratory mice with implanted human
breast cancer cells. Mice receiving the drug lived significantly longer than untreated counterparts and those receiving only certain components of the drug according to a recent article in the Journal of Controlled Release.
Researchers from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai the Division of Surgical Oncology at UCLA and the Molecular biology Institute at UCLA also participated in the study.
HER2-positive cancers--making up 25 to 30 percent of breast and ovarian cancers--tend to be more aggressive
and less responsive to treatment than others because the overactive HER2 gene makes excessive amounts of a protein that promotes cancer growth.
but many tumors become resistant within the first year of treatment and the drug can injure normal organs it contacts.
and does not home specifically to tumor cells. By attaching the new fusion antibody to the nanoplatform we were able to deliver Herceptin directly to HER2-positive cancer cells at the same time transporting IL-2 to the tumor site to stimulate the immune system.
Attaching IL-2 to the platform helped stabilize the protein and allowed us to double the dosage that could be delivered to the tumor.
Ljubimova led the study with Manuel Penichet MD Phd associate professor of surgery microbiology immunology and molecular genetics at the University of California Los angeles David Geffen School of medicine.
or stop cancers by blocking them in multiple ways. Polycefin is intended to slow their growth by entering cells and altering defined targets.
The new version also stimulates the immune system to further weaken cancers. We believe this is the first time a drug has been designed for nano-immunology anticancer treatment Ljubimova said.
With inventive drug engineering the anti-tumor components activate inside tumor cells. More study is needed to confirm our findings improve the effectiveness of this approach
but it appears that the nanobioconjugate may represent a new generation of cancer therapeutics in
which we launch a multipronged attack that directly kills cancer cells blocks the growth of cancer-supporting blood vessels
#First probable person to person transmission of new bird flu virus in China; But H7n9 is not able to spread efficiently between humansthe first report of probable person to person transmission of the new avian influenza A (H7n9) virus in Eastern China has just been published.
The findings provide the strongest evidence yet of H7n9 transmission between humans but the authors stress that its ability to transmit itself is limited and non-sustainable.
Avian influenza A (H7n9) virus was identified recently in Eastern China. As of 30 june 2013 133 cases have been reported resulting in 43 deaths.
or had close contact with live poultry 7-10 days before illness onset. Currently no definite evidence indicates sustained human-to-human transmission of the H7n9 virus. The study reports a family cluster of two patients (father and daughter) with H7n9 virus infection in Eastern China in March 2013.
and tested for influenza virus. Of these one (a son in law who helped care for the father) had mild illness but all contacts tested negative for H7n9 infection.
but say that the most likely explanation for this family cluster of two cases with H7n9 infection is that the virus transmitted directly from the index patient to his daughter.
They believe that the most likely source of infection for the index case was the live poultry market and conclude:
Our findings reinforce that the novel virus possesses the potential for pandemic spread. So does this imply that H7n9 has come one step closer towards adapting fully to humans ask James Rudge
while this study might not suggest that H7n9 is any closer to delivering the next pandemic it does provide a timely reminder of the need to remain extremely vigilant:
whether the novel avian influenza virus possesses the capability to transmit person-to-person. She concludes that the infection of the daughter is likely to have resulted from her father during unprotected exposure
and suggest that the virus possesses the ability to transmit person-to-person in this cluster. She does add
however that the infection was limited and non-sustainable as there is no outbreak following the two cases.
#Illinois scientists put cancer-fighting power back into frozen broccolithere was bad news then good news from University of Illinois broccoli researchers this month.
In the first study they learned that frozen broccoli lacks the ability to form sulforaphane the cancer-fighting phytochemical in fresh broccoli.
As little as three to five servings of broccoli a week provides a cancer-protective benefit but that isn't true for bags of broccoli that you pluck out of your grocery's freezer she noted.
which is necessary to form sulforaphane the powerful cancer-preventive compound in broccoli she said.
and sell a product that has the cancer-fighting component that it lacked before he said.
and it will retain its cancer-fighting capabilities Dosz said. Jeffery hopes that food processors will be eager to adopt this process
Until they do said she that consumers can spice up their frozen cooked broccoli with another food that contains myrosinase to bring the cancer-fighting super-food up to nutritional speed.
But research by a team of University of Maryland biologists shows the timber rattlesnake indirectly benefits humankind by keeping Lyme disease in check.
Human cases of Lyme disease a bacterial illness that can cause serious neurological problems if left untreated are on the rise.
The decline of these mammal predators may be a factor in Lyme disease's prevalence among humans.
whether the rattlers also play a role in controlling Lyme disease. Kabay used published studies of timber rattlers'diets at four Eastern forest sites to estimate the number of small mammals the snakes consume
Because not every human bitten by an infected tick develops Lyme disease the team did not estimate how many people are spared the disease because of the ecosystem service that timber rattlesnakes provide.
which is used medicinally to treat many ailments from stomachaches to reducing malaria fevers. Specifically analyzing harvesting effects on the tree in both dry
In a new study in the Journal of Animal Science researchers in Europe studied how different types of flooring affects claw and limb lesions locomotion and flooring cleanliness.
Locomotory problems can be caused by joint injuries or by circulatory problems in the legs and feet.
The researchers scored locomotion and claw and limb lesion of the replacement gilts and flooring cleanliness periodically.
and heel lesions. Calderã n-DÃ az said these lesions were caused possibly by slurry accumulation over the rubber mats.
She said these lesions were not severe and could be addressed through modifications of the rubber slat mats.
In the European union pregnant sows must be housed group four weeks after breeding until one week before farrowing.
They chose to work with carbaryl a popular household insecticide that also is used for malaria prevention.
Return of wolves aids grizzly bears in Yellowstonea new study suggests that the return of wolves to Yellowstone national park is beginning to bring back a key part of the diet of grizzly bears that has been missing for much of the past century--berries that help bears
Berries are one part of a diverse food source that aids bear survival and reproduction and at certain times of the year can be more than half their diet in many places in North america.
#Head hits can be reduced in youth footballless contact during practice could mean a lot less exposure to head injuries for young football players according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical center and Virginia Tech.
Funding for the study was provided by the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical engineering and Sciences.
To identify the virus in this family that will most effectively control the Guatemalan potato moth The french-Ecuadorian research team have analysed the pathogens among moths from all over the world.
and to the entire organism of the host causing a lethal infection within two or three days.
Writing in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry researchers demonstrate the contamination of Pacific Tree Fogs in remote mountain areas including national parks;
what may be a key to unraveling some of the mysteries of White Nose Syndrome: the closest known non-disease causing relatives of the fungus that causes WNS.
White Nose Syndrome was observed first in 2006 in a cave in Upstate New york . Since then it has spread to 22 states in the United states
which were tested then for their ability to resist infection with Nosema ceranae--a parasite of adult honey bees that has been linked to a lethal phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder.
The miticides used to control Varroa mites also harmed the bees'ability to withstand parasitic infection.
Pig receiving chemotherapy for lymphoma successfully recoveringplayful as a puppy even at 730 pounds Nemo a rescued black-and-white Hampshire pig became a porcine pioneer after lymphoma struck.
Undergoing a novel care plan he became a teaching case for veterinary oncologists at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals paving the way to combat cancer in large animals.
Nemo is believed to be the first pig to be treated for lymphoma. The pig's medical treatment began
and laid down in the snow Goldner drove Nemo nearly four hours to Cornell's hospital where the pig was diagnosed with presumptive B-cell lymphoma a blood cancer.
while minimizing harm. Resident Emily Barrell selected and delivered the chemotherapeutic drugs. Although lymphoma has been documented in swine there aren't any documented cases of pigs being treated for it said Cornell hospital oncologist Cheryl Balkman.
We adapted a treatment plan based on what we know is effective in dogs cats and humans with lymphoma.
Nemo's clinical signs soon resolved and he has continued to do well during long-term treatment. Though little is known about the prognosis for pigs with cancer Nemo has the notable distinction of establishing a precedent giving veterinarians valuable information for helping large animals.
Since arriving in March Nemo has resided at Cornell's hospital for animals. He has a better life there said Goldner.
and put themselves at risk of injury. Manore is professor of nutrition in the College of Public health
and whether it helped curb the appeal of tobacco emphasise its harms and boost thoughts of quitting among smokers.
They were asked also how often they thought about the harms of smoking and about quitting smoking
if they thought the harms of smoking had been exaggerated. The results indicated that perception of exaggerated tobacco harm or the frequency with
or social contagion suggest the authors. But they conclude: The finding that smokers smoking from a plain pack evidenced more frequent thought about
One of her creations gold nanoshells is the subject of several clinical trials for cancer treatment.
The study published in Nature Publishing Group's Scientific Reports looked at the frequency of'micronuclei'--a telltale sign of chromosomal damage (that has been shown by others previously to be linked to cancer) by screening more than 400000 individual cells extracted from urine samples
which has caused devastating health impacts including cancers in many parts of the world. The authors say their work raises considerable concerns about health impacts of consuming high arsenic rice as a staple particularly by people with relatively poor nutritional status--perhaps as many as a few hundred million people.
In the absence of contamination rice is stored an easily food that provides essential energy vitamins
Increased frequency of these micronuclei has been shown by other groups to be linked to the development of cancers.
The camp is for children with diabetes ages 6-12. Campers were offered a nutritionally balanced daily menu
Ann Wolf executive director of the diabetes Camp Hertko Hollow who worked with researchers on the field study is interested in adding a permanent digital display for next summer's camp.
and manage their diabetes to live a long and healthy life. Using digital displays to boost salestargeting kids at camp
and practices the researchers used RWE to measure the cumulative risk of injury due to linear and rotational acceleration separately as well as the combined probability of injury associated with both.
We know that young players are constantly experiencing low-level hits that don't cause visible injury
Concussion is the most common sports-related head injury with football players having the highest rate among high school athletes according to the study.
and rotational acceleration alone as well as to the combined probability of injury associated with both. This is an improved method of capturing the cumulative effects from each impact
and the associated risk of injury Stitzel said. All hits involve both linear and rotational acceleration
Studies like this are vital to understanding the biomechanical basis of head injuries related to football Stitzel said.
The study was funded by the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. Co-authors are Jillian Urban M. S. Elizabeth Davenport B. S. Adam Golman M. S. Joseph Maldjian M d. Christopher Whitlow M d. and Alexander Powers
#Irish potato famine-causing pathogen even more virulent nowthe plant pathogen that caused The irish potato famine in the 1840s lives on today with a different genetic blueprint
or sets of all genes of five 19th century strains of the Phytophthora infestans pathogen with modern strains of the pathogen
and 1880s were quite different from modern-day P. infestans genes including some genes in modern plants that make the pathogen more virulent than the historical strains.
and genes related to infection were also quite different Ristaino says. In the areas of the genome that today control virulence we found little similarity with historical strains suggesting that the pathogen has evolved in response to human actions like breeding more disease-resistant potatoes.
Some of the differences between the European historical samples from the 1840s and the 1870s and 1880s suggest that the pathogen was brought to Europe more than once debunking the theory that the pathogen was introduced once
and then expanded its range. Ristaino believes it was introduced to Europe multiple times probably from South american ships.
Ristaino's previous work pointed the finger at the 1a strain of P. infestans as The irish potato-famine pathogen
and attempts to control the pathogen Ristaino says. Late blight is still a major threat to global food security in the developing world she adds.
Knowing how the pathogen genome has changed over time will help modern-day farmers better manage the disease.
The scientists also grew an oat variety unable to produce normal levels of avenacin a compound that protects roots from fungal pathogens.
His study revealed that tomato peels can effectively remove different contaminants in water including dissolved organic
The introduction of more or new parasite infections will at a minimum exacerbate this and could quite possibly directly drive declines.#
When a plant is domesticated it acquires a suite of traits called the domestication syndrome that made it easier to grow as a crop.
In rice the syndrome includes loss of shattering (the seeds don't break off the central grain stalk before harvest) increase in seed size
Because the weedy forms are closely related to rice varieties that were grown never in the U s. they probably arrived as contaminants in grain stocks from Asia instead of evolving directly from the tropical japonica crops grown here.
The study while not primarily focused on plant disease population growth climate change or the diversion of corn to non-food uses such as ethanol suggests that significant stresses in these areas could jeopardize food security.
if major exporters experience disruptions due to non-food diversions plant diseases and climate impacts according to the article.
which the authors say supports the hypothesis that stressed bees leave the hive altruistically to prevent the spread of infection.
After a few days the effect of infection on bees and their behavior was monitored. Parasitization caused changes in the levels of active genes in the brains of infected bees.
Twenty genes were common between the two infections and several of the up-regulated genes are involved in oxidative stress neural function and foraging behavior.
Parasitized bees also tended to have a higher viral infection as well adding to their disease burden
The levels of these chemicals was altered by infection with either the endo -or ectoparasite nevertheless infected bees were treated as normal by other bees--social interactions including antennal contact grooming feeding
and 65 percent of the insect and pathogen invaders included in this study colonize hardwood tree species said Liebhold a research entomologist with the U s. Forest Service's Northern Research Station.
and pathogens in North america has likely been facilitated by the similarity of the flora among these three continents the study suggests.
There are plenty of highly-damaging invasive species in Western United states forests such as sudden oak death and white pine blister rust according to Frankel a plant pathologist with the Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station.
and prevent inflammation diarrhea and other intestinal conditions. This essential ecosystem provides an important balance between health and disease in the body.
Fructooligosaccharides also increase calcium absorption in the body an important consideration for pre-and postmenopausal women ages 45 and older who are losing critical bone mass that increases their risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures.
For example an interfering RNA might have unintended the effect of suppressing the action of a gene needed for reproduction in a beneficial species. Standard laboratory testing would detect no harm
--which means that they have to withstand herbivores pathogens and competitors to persist in a community.
#How cranberries impact infection-causing bacteriaconsuming cranberry products has been associated anecdotally with prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIS) for over 100 years.
which cranberries may impart protective properties against urinary tract and other infections. Two new studies spearheaded by Prof.
The experiments also show that increasing concentrations of cranberry powder reduce the bacteria's production of urease an enzyme that contributes to the virulence of infections.
because bacterial movement is a key mechanism for the spread of infection as infectious bacteria literally swim to disseminate in the urinary tract
While the effects of cranberry in living organisms remain subject to further study our findings highlight the role that cranberry consumption might play in the prevention of chronic infections Tufenkji says.
and antibiotic treatment remains the standard approach for managing these infections. The current rise of bacterial resistance to antibiotics underscores the importance of developing another approach.
#New risk factors for bowel cancerfizzy drinks cakes biscuits chips and desserts have all been identified as risk factors for bowel cancer according to new research.
Scientists reported links with some established risk factors of colorectal cancer#such as family history of cancer physical activity and smoking.
The study#which used data from the Scottish Colorectal Cancer Study#carried out in 2012 builds on previous research into the link between bowel cancer and diet.
The healthy dietary pattern was found to be associated with a decreased colorectal cancer risk while the western dietary pattern was found to be associated with an increased risk.
While the positive associations between a diet high in sugar and fat and colorectal cancer do not automatically imply'cause
Powdery mildew is one of the most dreaded plant diseases: The parasitic fungus afflicts crops such as wheat
Moreover the data provides fresh insights into the crop history of wheat and barley and their interaction with the mildew pathogen.
Asexual reproduction as a success model seems to be characteristic of many parasitic fungi including those that afflict humans such as athlete's foot.
Arthritis#infection#numerous maladies come to mind. But a Kansas State university researcher found that inflammation that occurs naturally in dairy cows the first few days after giving birth may play a surprisingly beneficial role in the complex process of going from late pregnancy to lactation.
We also know that many disorders including metabolic diseases such as ketosis and fatty liver occur during this time of transition.
and Agriculture indicate that inflammation-induced insulin resistance is in some cases an adaptive rather than pathological phenomenon.
Low survival in the Ozark nests harms bird numbers in other areas Faaborg said. Birds hatched in the Ozark forest spread out to colonize the rest of the state and surrounding region.
#Whole chickens from farmers markets may have more pathogenic bacteriaraw whole chickens purchased from farmers markets throughout Pennsylvania contained significantly higher levels of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness compared to those purchased from grocery stores in the region
We hope this small study will lead to more extensive research to determine why we are seeing the levels of pathogens in these products
Cutter and Scheinberg speculate that interventions such as antimicrobial rinses can lower pathogen levels on poultry carcasses.
and federal regulations and emphasize the need for antimicrobial interventions to prevent a higher prevalence of pathogens.
Bacteria that cause foodborne illness such as Campylobacter and Salmonella are destroyed by proper cooking of poultry products;
however they also can cause cross-contamination if they come in contact with other foods through contaminated cutting boards sinks countertops or utensils.
Based on a growing body of evidence almost every European and North american public health authority agrees that routine antibiotic use in animal food production likely worsens the epidemic of resistance he writes.
#3-D-printed splint saves infants lifehalf a millennium after Johannes Gutenberg printed the bible researchers printed a 3d splint that saved the life of an infant born with severe tracheobronchomalacia a birth defect that causes the airway
In addition to tracheobronchomalacia pigs have been biomedical models for muscular dystrophy diabetes and other diseases. The team chose to use two-month-old pigs for this study
#H7n9 influenza: History of similar viruses gives cause for concernthe H7n9 avian flu strain that emerged in China earlier this year has subsided for now
but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic according to lead scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases.
David Morens Jeffery Taubenberger and Anthony Fauci in a paper published in mbio the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology describe the history of H7 viruses in animal and human disease
and point out that H7 influenza has a tendency to become established in bird horse and swine populations and may spillover repeatedly into humans.
The evidence as a whole is complex and the implications of past outbreaks for predicting the future course of the current H7n9 epizootic an epidemic among animals are uncertain write the authors.
The outbreak of H7n9 earlier this year led China to temporarily close scores of live poultry markets in an effort to limit the spread of the virus
. Although this previously unrecognized strain of avian influenza A has now been associated with 132 confirmed human infections and 39 related deaths (as of June 14) the rate at
H7n9 also shares many characteristics with another influenza strain that continues to spillover into humans:
highly pathogenic avian influenza H5n1. Among other commonalities both viruses have a clinical picture that includes bilateral pneumonia acute respiratory distress syndrome
and multi-organ failure and it appears they are both currently unable to easily infect most humans but cause severe disease in individuals with uncharacterized genetic susceptibilities.
Some but not all cases of human H7 infection feature prominent signs and symptoms in the eyes including itching swelling
The possibility that H7n9 might infect pigs is particularly troubling as swine are considered a mixing vessel for viruses--a breeding ground for novel viral reassortants like the 2009 H1n1 pandemic influenza strain commonly known as swine flu.
Although avian influenza viruses have not caused widespread human transmission in 94 years of surveillance there have been numerous instances of avian influenza spillover
Regardless of its future H7n9 certainly holds lessons for preventing human and animal pandemics. All the unknowns surrounding the virus make a strong case for enhancing basic and applied research into the evolution of influenza viruses and for better integration of influenza virology within human and veterinary public health efforts.
We have a unique opportunity to learn more of influenza's many secrets and thereby enhance our ability to prevent
and control an important disease that seems destined to appear again and again in multiple guises far into the foreseeable future write the authors.
and American Cancer Society--were indifferent or skeptical to initiatives of the state and local activists.
and the evidence may help to reduce tobacco-related illness and death in the short term Dr. Bayer and co-author Kathleen E. Bachynski suggest that healthcare policymakers will need to make a stronger case with more conclusive evidence to gain the public trust.
or contestable evidence of third party harms public health officials should assert boldly that the challenge of tobacco related morbidity
and late first exposure to solid food for infants appears to be associated with the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1dm) according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics a JAMA Network publication.
Newborn screening of umbilical cord blood for diabetes susceptibility in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region was performed at St joseph's Hospital in Denver
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