Articles tagged with: national institutes of health
Genome Comparison Casts Light on Dark Areas of DNA A massive effort to sequence and compare 29 mammalian genomes has shed new light on the “dark matter” of the genome, the over 98% of DNA that doesn’t code for proteins. The DNA that lies outside of gene sequences was once called “junk DNA.” But researchers […]
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Protein Creates Partition Between Bacteria and the Gut Scientists have identified a microbe-fighting protein that helps create a buffer zone between the inner walls of the intestines and the bacteria within. The finding may explain how helpful bacteria can survive in the digestive tract without triggering an immune attack. Researchers have long known that about […]
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Study Points to Potential Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease Scientists corrected sickle cell disease in adult laboratory mice by activating production of a special blood protein normally produced only before birth. The approach may lead to new treatments for people with the blood disorder. Sickle cell disease is caused by an abnormality in hemoglobin, the […]
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Doctors Miss Alcohol Screening Opportunities Physicians often fail to counsel their young adult patients about excessive alcohol use, a new study found. Excessive alcohol consumption is a common cause of injury and death among young adults. Guidelines for low-risk drinking set by NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) call for men to […]
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Prostate Cancer Risk from Vitamin E Supplements A new study found that vitamin E, once thought to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, may actually increase the risk. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in American men. Their current lifetime risk of prostate cancer is 16%. In 2011, there will be […]
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DNA Primer Boosts Antibodies Against Avian Flu Production of avian flu-fighting antibodies rose significantly when healthy adults were given a DNA “primer” vaccine 6 months before receiving an avian flu vaccine. This type of regimen might improve protection against avian flu and other strains of influenza. The avian flu virus, known as H5N1, poses a […]
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Gene Variant Affects Response to Asthma Drugs A genetic variant may explain why some people with asthma don’t respond well to inhaled corticosteroids, the most widely prescribed medicine for long-term asthma control. In the future, knowledge of such variants could help doctors develop more effective, personalized asthma treatments. Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease that […]
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Insulin Nasal Spray Shows Promise for Alzheimer’s Disease A small clinical trial has found that daily doses of an insulin nasal spray can slow memory loss and preserve thinking skills in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. A larger study is needed, though, to confirm the effectiveness of this therapy. Alzheimer’s disease is a […]
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No Effect of Saw Palmetto on Urinary Symptoms In a new study, a widely used herbal dietary supplement called saw palmetto was no better than placebo in reducing urinary problems caused by prostate enlargement. Saw palmetto leaves. The prostate gland often becomes enlarged as a man ages. More than half of men in their 60s […]
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Genes that Influence Blood Pressure In one of the largest genomic studies ever, an international research consortium identified 29 genetic variations that influence blood pressure. More than half of these variants were previously unknown. The findings provide insights into the biology of blood pressure and may lead to new therapeutic strategies. High blood pressure, or […]
