Researchers identify a molecular 'safety key' that normally regulates cell growth, and discovering how it can be disrupted to trigger cancer. The team found a protein called Abi-2 that fits into the normal enzyme cABL, keeping it turned off, and proposes a new way to treat cancers by targeting this molecular pathway.
Scientists found a connection between triplet repeat genes and brain disorders like Huntington's disease, where proteins errantly stick to an enzyme crucial for energy production in brain cells. The discovery offers a potential treatment option by blocking protein interactions.
Researchers found nitric oxide plays a central role in hemoglobin's function, regulating gas exchange and blood pressure. The discovery could lead to developing the first effective blood substitute and treating diseases associated with oxygen deficiency.
Scientists have detailed the structure of yeast topoisomerase II, a key player in cell division. This knowledge could lead to the development of new anticancer drugs that target this enzyme. The discovery also has implications for the design of antimicrobial drugs and the treatment of cancer.
Petit mal or absence seizures affect 100,000 US children and account for one-fifth of childhood epilepsies. The new findings may lead to more effective treatments, which can have a profound effect on a child's development.
Researchers at Duke University and the Institute for Cancer Research have located a second breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2. This gene is expected to account for most of the remaining 50% of inherited breast cancers not caused by BRCA1. Women who inherit BRCA2 are at an 85% risk of developing breast cancer.
A Duke University study of 934 patients found that those treated with bypass surgery or angioplasty had better long-term survival rates compared to medication alone. Patients who underwent revascularization showed a significant increase in three-year survival rates, with bypass surgery resulting in the greatest percentage of survivors.
A new study suggests that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in ostracod shells provides a reliable method for reconstructing ancient water temperatures. The technique, described in the journal Science, shows strong signals in temperature change between glacial and interglacial periods.
A Duke University Medical Center study shows that alcohol severely disrupts a biochemical process associated with memory formation in young animals. The findings provide compelling scientific evidence to support prohibition of underage drinking, as the brain is more plastic and susceptible during late childhood or early adolescence.
Researchers at Duke University have made significant advancements in rebuilding the human immune system using thymus transplants. The breakthroughs offer new hope for patients with severe immunodeficiencies and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
The striatum, a portion of the brain previously thought to control movement, is shown to keep track of short intervals from seconds to minutes. This finding has implications for understanding timing in learning and memory, as well as Parkinson's disease.
A new outcomes scorecard system developed by cardiologists at Duke University aims to improve the accuracy of comparing hospitals' performance in common cardiology procedures. The system analyzed data from almost 8,000 coronary disease patients and showed a wide variation in death rates among hospitals.
Researchers are exploring two protocols to tackle AIDS: Protocol 1 focuses on reconstituting immune systems through thymus tissue transplants and boosting T-cells. Protocol 2 involves high-dose chemotherapy, radiation, and blood stem cell transplantation to treat cancer and restore immunity in patients with double jeopardy.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found no correlation between high-sugar diets and weight loss, mood alterations, or metabolic effects. Instead, they discovered that the body processes simple and complex carbohydrates similarly, regardless of sugar content.
Researchers at Duke University found that harmless doses of DEET, permethrin, and pyridostigmine bromide become highly toxic when used together. This combination may explain the wide range of symptoms reported by an estimated 30,000 Gulf War veterans.
The new technology uses parallel computing to analyze reflected sound waves, creating three-dimensional images quickly enough for clinicians to view a whole human heart as it beats. The system also enables doctors to electronically dissect and display selected slices of medical interest on a computer screen.
Duke University Medical Center surgeons have developed a safe and effective treatment for Zenker's diverticulum, a disabling condition that traps food in the throat. The new endoscopic technique removes the pouch with minimal complications, offering hope to elderly patients with this condition.
A study published in the American Heart Association scientific meeting found that cardiologist care significantly reduces heart attack mortality. The research, led by Dr. James Jollis, analyzed Medicare claims data from 220,535 patients diagnosed with a heart attack in 1992 and discovered that patients cared for by cardiologists had a ...
Research suggests that physically fit women experience lower blood pressure during stressful days at work, compared to unfit women. This buffering effect reduces the risk of heart disease.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center report a genetically modified version of hemoglobin as a safe blood substitute during surgery. The product, rHb 1.1, is designed to carry oxygen efficiently and eliminate disease transmission and immunosuppression, potentially reducing medical costs for patients and hospitals.
Researchers have protected growing brain cells from atrophying by treating them with a protein called NT-4, which fosters brain cell growth. This discovery could offer new treatment options for diseases involving gain or loss of brain cell connections, such as mental retardation and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new class of drugs may be able to target the leptin loop, a key component in obesity and metabolic disorders. By bypassing this loop, these drugs could potentially provide a new treatment option for individuals struggling with weight-related health issues.
A meta-analysis of 165 clinical trials shows women and men respond equally to drug treatments, challenging traditional recognition of heart disease in women. The study's findings have implications for policy makers and treatment protocols.
Researchers discovered that a malfunctioning gene, M6P/IGF2r, acts as a tumor suppressor in human liver tumors. The gene's loss or mutation may predispose cells to cancerous growth, leading to the formation of liver cancer. This finding could lead to the development of early diagnostic tests and new treatments for the disease.
Researchers have discovered a novel 'left-handed' spiral structure in the protein enzyme LpxA, which could lead to the development of new antibiotics that target this unique structure. The discovery offers a promising approach to combating bacterial resistance to current antibiotics.
Researchers created a mouse model by deleting the gene for dopamine transporter, leading to an overstimulation of brain signals. This study provides a new tool to understand addiction mechanisms and develop treatments for psychiatric disorders and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated that two naturally occurring growth factors significantly improved the ability of severed nerve fibers to reconnect with high accuracy. The study could lead to new strategies for improving peripheral nerve repair procedures in humans.