Science News for January 14, 2000

University of Pittsburgh research may lead to new therapies for diabetes

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed transgenic mice that overexpress hepatocyte growth factor, leading to increased beta cell proliferation and insulin production. The study suggests that this approach may lead to new therapies for diabetes by enabling islet cells to proliferate and produce insulin more effectively.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJan 14, 2000

Protein predicts prognosis for breast cancer patients

Researchers found that low E-cadherin levels are the strongest prognostic factor for a poor long-term outcome in node-negative breast cancer patients. High or intermediate levels add little assurance of good prognosis, but abnormally low levels indicate a substantially increased risk of metastasis.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalCancer Research·DateJan 14, 2000

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.