ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Scientists create potent molecules aimed at treating muscular dystrophy
• Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases
• New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics
• Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage
• Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring
• Heart beats to the rhythm of a circadian clock
• How cancer cells change once they spread to distant organs
• Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream
• Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis
• Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil
• Off switch for pain? Chemists build light-controlled neural inhibitor
• Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains, review finds
• Controlled dose of deadly carbon monoxide prevents miscarriage in mice

Scientists create potent molecules aimed at treating muscular dystrophy Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:43 PM PST While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST Separating complex mixtures of cells, such as those found in a blood sample, can offer valuable information for diagnosing and treating disease. However, it may be necessary to search through billions of other cells to collect rare cells such as tumor cells, stem cells or fetal cells. Researchers have now demonstrated a new microfluidic device that can isolate target cells much faster than existing devices. Such technology could be used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine.

New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST Scientists are reporting use of a new technology for sifting through the world's largest remaining pool of potential antibiotics to discover two new antibiotics that work against deadly resistant microbes, including the "superbugs" known as MRSA.

Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST Researchers have recently studied the response of human NK cells against porcine chondrocytes. The results of the research indicate that these cells, characteristic of the innate immune system, play an important role in the rejection of xenotransplantation of porcine chondrocytes.

Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST The offspring of women who were given micronutrient supplements (minerals needed in small quantities, such as iron, iodine and vitamin A) before they became pregnant had gene modifications at birth as well as when they were tested at nine months.

Heart beats to the rhythm of a circadian clock Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:25 AM PST Sudden cardiac death -- catastrophic and unexpected fatal heart stoppage -- is more likely to occur shortly after waking in the morning and in the late night. In a new study, an international consortium of researchers explains the molecular linkage between the circadian clock and the deadly heart rhythms that lead to sudden death.

How cancer cells change once they spread to distant organs Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST Oncologists have known that in order for cancer cells to spread, they must transform themselves so they can detach from a tumor and spread to a distant organ. Now, scientists have revealed critical steps in what happens next -- how these cells reverse the process, morphing back into classical cancer that can now grow into a new tumor.

Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST For 50 years, scientists had searched for the secret to making tiny implantable devices that could travel through the bloodstream. Engineers have now demonstrated a wirelessly powered device that just may make the dream a reality.

Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a new study.

Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST Researchers have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer. These toxic compounds can be found in some oils, such as sunflower oil, when heated at a suitable temperature for frying.

Off switch for pain? Chemists build light-controlled neural inhibitor Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST Pain? Just turn it off! It may sound like science fiction, but researchers have now succeeded in inhibiting pain-sensitive neurons on demand, in the laboratory. The crucial element in their strategy is a chemical sensor that acts as a light-sensitive switch.

Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains, review finds Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST Criminal gangs are increasingly using the internet to market life-threatening counterfeit medicines and some have even turned up in legitimate outlets such as pharmacies, according to a newly published review.

Controlled dose of deadly carbon monoxide prevents miscarriage in mice Posted: 20 Feb 2012 05:59 AM PST Heme oxygenase-1 is essential for the growth of blood vessels in the placenta and in establishing blood flow in the umbilical cord. Too little HO-1 can lead to a restriction in the growth of the fetus and even in fetal death and miscarriage. New research has shown that low dose carbon monoxide therapy is able to restore placental function and prevent fetal death in mice. The researcher warned, "It is very important, given the inherent dangers in using carbon monoxide, that the dose and length of treatment are tightly controlled."

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