A study by Dr. Hatem Azim found that breastfeeding is safe for women after breast cancer treatment, contrary to common advice. Successful long-term breastfeeding was associated with type of breast surgery and post-delivery lactation counseling.
Scientists from Scripps Research Institute uncovered new evidence challenging the current theory of ligand-protein interaction in modern drug design. The study found that ligands can adapt to changing protein structures, binding productively to both active and inactive forms.
The European Science Foundation recommends creating a virtual research institute to focus on RNA research and its applications in treating diseases. The institute would promote superior training of young scientists and deliver dedicated education programs for RNA research.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario discovered a causal link between enhanced visual abilities and reorganization of brain areas in congenitally deaf cats. Visual localization and motion detection are the two specific abilities that are enhanced in deaf individuals.
A novel approach to delivering small bits of genetic material into the body has been developed by researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. The thioketal nanoparticles successfully targeted inflamed intestinal tissues, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
Research found a decline in global evapotranspiration, a key component of the global climate system, over the past decade, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. The shift coincided with reduced precipitation and increased drought stress on vegetation.
Researchers found that an enzyme associated with fat storage in liver cells is required for HCV infectious activity. DGAT1 inhibitors may be effective against HCV, with several already in early clinical trials to treat obesity-associated diseases.
A new melanoma treatment has shown a robust activity in shrinking brain metastases in patients with advanced disease. The drug, GSK2118436, targets the BRAF protein mutation common in human melanomas and has been found to control and reduce brain tumor size in nearly all patients.
Researchers reported that adding cetuximab to a three-drug chemotherapy regimen for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer did not improve response rates, progression-free survival, or overall survival. The NORDIC VII study included 566 patients and found no statistically significant differences between the treatment groups.
A new study found that both high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and conventional treatment with lenalidomide achieved positive responses in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. The study showed improved quality of response compared to induction alone.
In a phase II study, patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC experienced significant increases in survival time when treated with TTF therapy in combination with chemotherapy. The therapy has also been shown to have clinical efficacy in human trials for other solid tumors, including recurrent glioblastoma.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have made a groundbreaking discovery about contact allergy, which affects nearly 20% of Europe's population. The study found that fragrances can cause allergic reactions when exposed to oxygen in the air, leading to eczema in some individuals.
Researchers identified 18 new gene sites associated with overall obesity and 13 that affect fat distribution, providing insights into the underlying biology of obesity susceptibility. The studies, involving nearly a quarter of a million participants, confirm that genetics play a significant role in individual differences in weight gain.
Researchers found that patients with pectus excavatum have reduced chest wall motion near the deformity and compensate by using abdominal muscles to draw in more air. The study suggests these patients may experience shortness of breath and easy fatigability due to the dysfunctional upper chest wall motion.
A study of Italian women with breast cancer found that most cases were diagnosed in people over 50 and had not spread to lymph nodes. The disease was hormone-receptor positive and HER2-negative, indicating a classical endocrine-responsive type. Treatment choices were influenced by tumor stage rather than biological factors.
Researchers discovered that the North American comb jellyfish generates a hydrodynamically silent feeding current using microscopic cilia. This allows it to approach and capture copepod plankton with ease, despite their acute escape response.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered how sunscreens break down in sunlight, leading to an increase in contact allergy. The study has led to the development of a new test for photocontact allergy, which could help patients avoid substances that cause allergic reactions.
Researchers watched a fundamental process of cellular organization in living plant cells, where protein complexes create the microtubule cytoskeleton. They observed that these complexes are distributed at the cell membrane and interact with other microtubules to organize the cell shape and structure.
A new meta-analysis shows that continuing chemotherapy after bringing cancer under control can increase survival time and reduce disease progression in metastatic breast cancer patients. The analysis found a 34% reduction in disease progression and a 9% reduction in death rates for patients who received longer chemotherapy durations.
The final phase-II results show that iniparib plus chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival from 7.7 to 12.3 months, offering a promising new treatment option for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients. Over half of patients experience clinical benefit, and there is little increase in adverse events.
Researchers have found that cancer cells are accompanied by growth-enabling stromal cells when they travel to new sites in the body. This discovery challenges current understanding of metastasis and has implications for effective treatments.
A new definition of Alzheimer's disease has been proposed to diagnose the condition earlier and select patients for trials of disease-modifying treatments. The revised definition includes biomarkers as a key diagnostic feature, enabling diagnosis at an earlier stage, and allows for more precise selection of patients for clinical trials.
Physicists at Rutgers University have discovered new properties in a material that could result in efficient and inexpensive plastic solar cells. The discovery reveals that energy-carrying particles generated by packets of light can travel much farther in organic semiconductors, increasing the practicality of solar-generated electricity.
Research finds that tsunamis can be triggered by moderate earthquakes on strike-slip faults, posing a significant threat to coastal cities. In Haiti's case, three-quarters of tsunamis are generated by submarine landslides, unlike the previously estimated 3% globally.