New discovery about the formation of new brain cells The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through the brain tissue, reveals new research from the Sahlgrenska Academy published in the journal Stem Cells. view more (2009-11-24)
Is hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines? Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure. view more (2009-11-18)
Cornell researchers identify a weak link in cancer cell armor The seeming invincibility of cancerous tumors may be crumbling, thanks to a promising new gene therapy that eliminates the ability of certain cells to repair themselves. view more (2009-11-13)
Exploration by explosion: Studying the inner realm of living cells Scientists in Washington, DC, are reporting development and successful tests of a new way for exploring the insides of living cells, the microscopic building blocks of all known plants and animals. view more (2009-11-12)
Taking aim at mysterious DNA structures in the battle against cancer Designers of anti-cancer drugs are aiming their arrows at mysterious chunks of the genetic material DNA that may play a key role in preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine. view more (2009-11-05)
New findings on the formation of body pigment The skin's pigment cells can be formed from completely different cells than has hitherto been thought, a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet shows. The results, which are published in the journal Cell, also mean the discovery of a new kind of stem cell. view more (2009-10-19)
Afib triggered by a cell that resembles a pigment-producing skin cell The source and mechanisms underlying the abnormal heart beats that initiate atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most common type of abnormal heart beat, have not been well determined. view more (2009-10-13)
Stem cell success points to way to regenerate parathyroid glands An early laboratory success is taking University of Michigan researchers a step closer to parathyroid gland transplants that could one day prevent a currently untreatable form of bone loss associated with thyroid surgery. view more (2009-09-30)
New study resolves the mysterious origin of Merkel cells A new study resolves a 130-year-old mystery over the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation. view more (2009-09-28)
Shedding light on cancer cells Scientists label cells with coloured or glowing chemicals to observe how basic cellular activities differ between healthy and cancerous cells. Existing techniques for labelling cells are either too slow or too toxic to perform on live cells. view more (2009-09-25)
Toward a nanomedicine for brain cancer In an advance toward better treatments for the most serious form of brain cancer, scientists in Illinois are reporting development of the first nanoparticles that seek out and destroy brain cancer cells without damaging nearby healthy cells. view more (2009-09-10)
Unlocking the body's defenses against cancer Scientists have discovered a way of allowing healthy cells to take charge of cancerous cells and stop them developing into tumours in what could provide a new approach to treating early-stage cancers. view more (2009-08-26)
Hopkins scientists find cells responsible for bladder cancer's spread Johns Hopkins scientists have tracked down a powerful set of cells in bladder tumors that seem to be primarily responsible for the cancer's growth and spread using a technique that takes advantage of similarities between tumor and organ growth. view more (2009-08-07)
An 'eye catching' vision discovery Nearly all species have some ability to detect light. At least three types of cells in the retina allow us to see images or distinguish between night and day. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have discovered in fish yet another type of cell that can sense light and contribute to vision. view more (2009-07-27)
Gene regulates immune cells' ability to harm the body A recently identified gene allows immune cells to start the self-destructive processes thought to underlie autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis. view more (2009-07-17)
Engineered pig stem cells bridge the mouse-human gap The discovery that adult skin cells can be 'reprogrammed' to behave like stem cells has been a major scientific boon, providing a way to tap the potential of embryonic stem cells without the associated ethical quandaries. view more (2009-06-04)
Hebrew University researchers neutralize tumor growth in embryonic stem cell therapy Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered a method to potentially eliminate the tumor-risk factor in utilizing human embryonic stem cells. view more (2009-05-07)
Stanford scientists turn adult skin cells into muscle and vice versa In a study featured on the cover of the May issue of The FASEB Journal, researchers describe how they are able to reprogram human adult skin cells into other cell types in order to decipher the elusive mechanisms underlying reprogramming. view more (2009-04-30)
Potential preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes Scientists believe they may have found a preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes, by making the body's killer immune cells tolerate the insulin-producing cells they would normally attack and destroy, prior to disease onset. view more (2009-04-29)
UBC research finds molecular University of British Columbia researchers have discovered a "molecular key" that could help increase the success of blood stem cell transplants, a procedure currently used to treat diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and aplastic anemia. view more (2009-04-23)
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