A ‘molecular fountain of youth’
04 February, 2013Sirtuin protein found to reverse age-related degeneration.
Immune cell death defects linked to autoimmune diseases
30 January, 2013Melbourne researchers have discovered that the death of immune system cells is an important safeguard against the development of diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
Researchers identify enzyme involved in deadly brain tumours
25 January, 2013In a study published in Neuro-Oncology, researchers at Mayo Clinic identify an important association between the naturally occurring enzyme Kallikrein 6, also known as KLK6, and the malignant tumour glioblastoma multiforme.
Scientists pinpoint molecular signals that make some women prone to miscarriage
21 January, 2013Scientists have identified molecular signals that control whether embryos are accepted by the womb and appear to function abnormally in women who have suffered repeated miscarriages.
Frequent mating key to male reproductive fitness
18 January, 2013Fertility tests frequently reveal that males have problems with the quality of their seed. The problems often relate to senescence, which is a reduction in quality with age.
Potential new treatment for gastrointestinal cancers discovered
17 January, 2013Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, and shown that medications that block the function of this complex have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for these diseases.
The genes that drive soft drink consumption and weight gain
17 January, 2013In a letter to the Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), published online today, endocrinologists from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research applauded a study in the 11 October issue showing a direct correlation between consumption of sugary soft drinks, obesity and genetic predisposition to weight gain.
Saliva glands may diagnose Parkinson’s disease
15 January, 2013 by Lauren DavisNew research from Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute suggests that testing a portion of a person’s saliva gland may be a way to diagnose the degenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in San Diego in March.
Not only humans wilt in heat: developing heat-tolerant crops
11 January, 2013With heatwaves predicted to increase in intensity and duration, the importance of heat tolerant crops is becoming increasingly urgent. Dr Daniel Tan, from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, specialises in exactly that.
Alzheimer’s to be diagnosed online
10 January, 2013The early onset of Alzheimer’s disease could be detected using a simple online test, according to scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ).
Images of insulin in action could lead to better diabetes treatments
10 January, 2013An Australian-led research team has obtained the world’s first 3D pictures of insulin in the process of binding to cell surfaces so that the cells can take up sugar from the blood. The images solve the 20-year mystery of how insulin binds to the insulin receptor and will enable the development of improved forms of insulin for treating type 1 and 2 diabetes.
A temperature below absolute zero
09 January, 2013Atoms at negative absolute temperature are the hottest systems in the world.
Planting ideas for medicine
08 January, 2013Medical research designed to benefit humans may, in the future, also be carried out on plants, according to Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian of the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University.
Research collaboration to develop greener medical treatments
08 January, 2013Research into a cost-effective biomimetic that has the potential to treat many bone diseases such as osteoporosis will be pioneered through a joint venture between Cardia Bioplastics and the University of Sydney.
Researchers find new molecule to target in pancreatic cancer treatment
08 January, 2013Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have identified a new target to improve treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, which accounts for more than 95% of pancreatic cancer cases.
