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Two new papers, published simultaneously in Nature Communications and led by researchers at McGill University, offer promise that a drug currently used to treat estrogen positive breast cancer may be effective in treating two different types of cancer, one rare and one common form. The breakthrough discovery launching this research came in […]

Eye troubles detected at infancy began to take their toll when Emma Kate Roden started walking. The toddler would often bump into things because of poor eyesight. Now age 7, a rare genetic condition has continued to eat away at her vision. She can’t see after dark, so there are […]

The specialists can review an individual’s DNA following a doctor’s suspicion of retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease or cone-rod dystrophy, among other vision-related conditions. The goal: to identify genetic mutations and associated inheritance patterns related to the disorder. “We consider genetic testing to be an integral part of making a diagnosis in […]

As new technology allows researchers to plunge deeper into the genome and exome, a new class of RNA called circRNA, or circular RNA, may play an intriguing role. Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center have cataloged circular RNA in multiple cancers. Their initial research suggests these stable structures could […]

Many older adults who have major surgery experience postoperative delirium in the days after their operations. Previous research has suggested that closely monitoring the brain during surgery and making adjustments to protect the brain from too much anesthesia could reduce risk of postoperative delirium. But in a new study of […]

Time wears differently on women’s and men’s brains. While the brain tends to shrink with age, men’s diminish faster than women’s. The brain’s metabolism slows as people grow older, and this, too, may differ between men and women. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis […]

Though separated by a world of ocean, and unrelated to each other, two fish groups – one in the Arctic, the other in the Antarctic – share a surprising survival strategy: They both have evolved the ability to produce the same special brand of antifreeze protein in their tissues. A […]

Researchers from the University of Alberta may have found a way to make chemotherapy more effective at treating cancer while blocking its harmful side-effects on the heart. While chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for cancer, the aggressive attack on cancer cells often cause damage to other cells throughout the […]

A new Tel Aviv University study finds that fibromyalgia syndrome — a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties — may be a consequence of post-traumatic physical and psychological distress associated with childhood sexual abuse. The research suggests that survivors of childhood sexual abuse who develop fibromyalgia may be […]

UC San Francisco researchers have for the first time transformed human stem cells into mature insulin-producing cells, a major breakthrough in the effort to develop a cure for type 1 (T1) diabetes. Replacing these cells, which are lost in patients with T1 diabetes, has long been a dream of regenerative […]

Scientists seeking to regrow damaged kidneys have discovered that blocked kidneys in newborns have a remarkable ability to repair themselves after the obstruction is removed. The finding offers insights into how that happens and could eventually help doctors regenerate kidneys in adults. The new research, from the University of Virginia […]

A new study found that an HIV drug significantly reduces age-related inflammation and other signs of aging in mice. “This holds promise for treating age-associated disorders including Alzheimer’s,” said John Sedivy, professor of medical science and biology at Brown University. “And not just Alzheimer’s but many other diseases: Type 2 […]