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Kidney transplant numbers rise for elderly patients

June 1st, 2011

ScienceDaily (28 October 2010) – get older patients with kidney failure kidney transplants more often than even a decade ago, according to a study that appear in a forthcoming issue of the clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The results indicate that the chances better than ever for an elderly renal transplantation are get you need.

Renal failure million persons in the United States and 48% of patients are grieved almost half of 60 years or older. Kidney disease patients who receive a transplant live longer than those, who are on dialysis.Fortunately the living and deceased organ donation on the rise; however, waiting lists have become transplantation growing as more and more people, renal dysfunction develop.

Elke Schaeffner, MD (Charité university medicine Berlin, Germany), along with Caren rose and John Gill, MD (St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada) examined whether elderly patients with kidney failure better or worse now have access to transplantation, done in the past as you.The study included patients with kidney failure in the United States at the age of 60 to 75 years in the United States renal data system between 1995 and 2006 listed.

The study showed that older patients rarely receive a transplant, but were twice as likely in 2006 as to get in 1995.(In 2006 a 7.3% chance of getting a transplant three years you had your first treatment for kidney failure.) Elderly patients compared to a decade ago now, benefit from better access to organs from donors and the older deceased donors. You less often die while waiting for a kidney, as you did in the past.

The authors call encourage clinicians to consider elderly patients with kidney disease, transplantation of other forms of treatment.”Of… can early involvement and education of patients and their families about the benefits and opportunities for transplantation to a further increase in use”Transplantation in this age group führen.Policy changes and research are also necessary access to transplantation in the older people develop, “she wrote.”

“When checking the results of this study in an accompanying editorial Suphamai Bunnapradist, MD and Gabriel Danovitch, MD (David Geffen School of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles) noted that older patients get chance a transplant in the last part of the study period remained quite low and that obstacles to the operation in older candidates are more pronounced.”"” Practitioners in a careful and compassionate manner should consider whether transplantation is renal disease candidate a realistic option for each older end stage,”she wrote.”"Each transplant program must carefully consider the most cost-effective and clinically efficient manner in which your older candidates are evaluated and managed while on the waiting list.”

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily employees) from materials provided by American Society of Nephrology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal references:

Elke S. Schaeffner, Caren rose, John S. Gill.Access to kidney transplantation among older people in the United States: A glass half full, not half empty.Klinische Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2010; DOI: 10.2215/CJN.03490410Suphamai Bunnapradist, Gabriel M. Danovitch.Kidney transplantation for seniors: hope or hype?Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2010; DOI: 10.2215/CJN.08731010

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Derived inner workings of the evergreen tree potent anti-cancer drug

May 30th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010)-a potent drug derived from an evergreen tree can soon the lives of some patients with the most deadly form of breast cancer store. Breast cancer claim according to which National Cancer Institute approximately 40,000 lives in the USA this year.

Scientists at UC Santa Barbara, in collaboration with scientists in the pharmaceutical industry, have discovered the mechanism by which this drug has the team cancer cells kills. isolated the drug action in vitro as well as in cancer cells.

The report results published as the cover story of the October issue of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, written by a team of UCSB researchers in two studies. Articles function work in the laboratories of Mary Ann Jordan Leslie Wilson, professors in UCSB’s Department of cellular, molecular and developmental biology performed.

“This drug Maytansine, called when linked to a tumor targeting antibody promising early results shows in clinical studies in patients with metastatic breast cancer,” said Jordan. “Although the drug that is approved by the FDA current clinical trials are open to new patients.”"And the drug is tested with good results on other cancers, including multiple myeloma and B cell lymphoma.”

Early clinical studies show that the drug tumors of one-third of patients in the breast cancer study-a strong result shrank, according to the Autoren.Die studies explain the drug works by targeting the microtubules of cancer cells.Microtubules are the dynamic fast-growing and protein filaments that help share and multiply to shorten cells.

“We discovered how the drug in tumor cells, is taken up”, said Jordan.”We found out, that it is more cancer cells that inhibits cellular microtubule dynamics and thus the mitosis blocked the cops in the cells, causing you to die.”

“Manu Lopus, postdoctoral fellow at UCSB and first author of the first article shown handeln.Emin Oroudjev, first second writer demonstrates the Maytansinoid molecules directly on the microtubules and your component tubulin course of action of the Maytansinoids after you enter the cancer cells.”"If microtubules lose your natural ability to grow and improve, you can no longer run your most important functions for successful mitosis and prevented the cancer cells of split and are cancer cell proliferation, prohibition of crucial importance”, said Lopus.

The drug was previously too dangerous to use because it considers its toxicity for not cancer cells. However, the team able to show that the drug change by adding an antibody was the drug only cancer cells significantly reduces its toxicity objective caused.

The new drug with associated with breast of cancer targeting antibody Trastuzumab-DM1 named. Mark is a synthetic derivative of the Maytansine, a molecule found in an evergreen tree in the genera Maytenus that grows on several continents.

For more information about clinical trials, co-author Ravi Chari, the pharmaceutical company ImmunoGen Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will consult interested cancer patients, the ImmunoGen, Inc. Web site: http://www.immunogen.com/wt/home/home.

“” Sometimes people say that it no progress in the fight against cancer, “said Jordan.”But there is progress on many fronts.There are many small progress on certain types of cancer.”Les Wilson and I have been together for 32 years and it is very exciting and satisfying both of us, many cancer drugs that we on, that worked have microtubule Dynamics inhibit will always succeed in the clinic and help people to live.”

Lopus Institute of biotechnology graduated from the Indian of technology in Bombay.The other first author, Emin Oroudjev, was a project scientist with the same research team at the time of the study.He received his Ph.d from the Russian Academy of Sciences and now works on bio-SB in Santa Barbara.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is made of materials of University of California–Santa Barbara reprinted (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal references:

E. Oroudjev M. Lopus, L. Wilson, C. Audette, C. Provenzano, H. Erickson, y. Kovtun, R. Chari, M. A. Jordan.Maytansinoid antibody conjugates induce mitotic arrest by microtubule suppress dynamic instability. diagnosis of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2010; 9 (10): 2700 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-10-0645M.Lopus E. Oroudjev, L. Wilson, S. William, W. Widdison, R. Chari, M. A. Jordan.Strongly suppress Maytansine and cellular metabolites of antibody Maytansinoid conjugates microtubule dynamics by binding to microtubules. diagnosis of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2010; 9 (10): 2689 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-10-0644

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The cause of a common form of muscular dystrophy detection: research team makes second critical ahead

May 25th, 2011

ScienceDaily (28 October 2010) – an international research team led by an investigator Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has made a second important step forward, to determine of the cause of a common form of muscular dystrophy dystrophy called musculaire facio-scapulo or FSHD.

In August 2010 released the group a landmark study one new and unifying model for the cause of the FSHD established.The actual work published in PLoS genetics, Oct. 28 shows that the disease is caused by inefficient suppression of a gene that normally only in the early development expressed performs work aimed to new approaches to therapy and new insights into human evolution.

The disease-causing gene called DUX4, had previously thought was one to be completely inactive gene in humans. DUX4 belongs to a special class of genes, called sometimes called retro own that unused by-products of evolution are usually have no remaining biological function, “dead gene.”

On the other hand, the researchers found that the DUX4 protein abundant human germ cells, the cells that form the sperm and eggs, is expressed, which a required function early in the development.Usually this is unterdrückt.Allerdings DUX4-gen in all other cells of the body makes the mutation, the FSHD causes this suppression in less efficient.

“The result is that inefficient suppression occasionally escapes the DUX4-gen and manifests itself in some muscle cells, similar to the old Faithfull geyser, which is usually out but occasionally releases a burst of water”, said corresponding author Stephen Tapscott, m.d, Ph.d., a member of the Hutchinson Center Human Biology Division.”The occasional bursts of DUX4 are toxic to the muscle cells, which leads to muscle cell death and the muscular dystrophy his thought.”

Tapscott led study in collaboration with Daniel Miller, m.d., Ph.d; at the University of Washington and co-authors Silvere van der Maarel, Ph.d; and Rabi Tawil, m.d, Leiden University Medical Center and the fields Center for FSHD and neuromuscular research at the University of Rochester, respectively.

Previously, these same investigators had shown that the reason why some people from always FSHD are protected that you have mutations in a region of DNA that is necessary to stabilize the DUX4 gene product.These new findings reaffirm the DUX4 protein in FSHD and reveal a new mechanism of human disease, inefficient suppressing a retro genes that play a role in early development hat.Diese results provide a focus for future development of therapies for FSHD.

There are wider impact of new research for the understanding of human evolution as gut.Wartung of a functional retro genes in humans indicates that there are some provided selective advantage over the course of evolution.

“” Since FSHD is characterized by excessively weak upper extremity muscles and facial muscles, we speculate that the DUX4 retro genes a regular role in the weaker and expressive facial muscles people, compared to non-human primates may cause”said Tapscott.”"If this idea is correct, this means FSHD is caused by increasing the normal role of DUX4 and caused more extreme weakness of the face and upper extremity one Muskeln.Es also means, that all people are kinda FSHD, that contribute the development of these muscles.”

The researchers have an ongoing cooperation through a Hutchinson Center-based national institutes of health FSHD program project grant, whose Tapscott is principal investigator, as well as through the fields Center for FSHD and neuromuscular research which is Tawil the Director.

“Progress through an unusual level of cooperation and the exchange of data between each group was possible,” said Tapscott.

Grants from the sections NIAMS and NINDS of the national institutes of health, the friends of FSH research, the Shaw Family Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association support working by Tapscott and colleagues at the Hutchinson Center.

Other funding for this study center, the Netherlands Organisation for scientific research came from the fields scholarship granting FSH society the Netherlands genomic initiative, Marjorie Bronfman, Centro Investigación Biomedica en red para Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, the Basque Government and the Instituto Carlos III, ILUNDAIN Fundazioa.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is from materials provided by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reprinted (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

Lauren Snider, Linda N Geng, Richard J L F Lemmers, Michael Kyba, Carol B stock, Angelique M Nelson, Rabi Tawil, Galina N Filippova, Silvère M van der Maarel, Stephen J Tapscott, Daniel G Miller.La dystrophy: incomplete suppression of a Retrotransposed-gen.PLoS of genetics, 2010; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001181

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Wild of Scottish sheep could help explain differences in the immunity

May 22nd, 2011

ScienceDaily (28 October 2010) – strong immunity can play a key role in establishing long but may do life, which at the expense of reduced fertility, has completed a study Princeton University. An 11-year study of a population of wild sheep is on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, the animal susceptibility Tremošná new insight into why some people get sicker than others when they are subjected to the same disease.

The answer to this medical puzzle can be deeply rooted differences in how animals survive and reproduce under the authority of Princeton in the wild, according to the study, ecologist Andrea Graham and in the Oct. 29 edition of science published few study showed that people over the years the sheep has maintained a balance of those with weaker and stronger immunity and fertility.

“This is a groundbreaking study that will change our entire understanding of the Immunoheterogenity in animal populations, in my opinion,” said Peter Hudson, Willaman Professor of biology and Director of the life sciences at Penn State. “Graham and colleagues show that above and disadvantages beautifully in the immune system as compensation…, which maximizes the reproductive output.”

Graham, Assistant Professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University, at the University of Edinburgh, led studies of wild Soay sheep on the remote island of Hirta St. Kilda Islands, about 100 miles west of the Scottish mainland. Scientists tested the animals for the levels of antibodies, natural molecules produced sheep caused by the immune system to fight infection like flu or parasitic worms.

The sheep who lived their blood to most antibodies contained the longest, researchers found.These animals were also likely to heavy winter überleben.Allerdings could you produce, as many offspring each as other sheep spring. Sheep with lower levels of antibodies tend to earlier dying, you found, but also more lambs gave birth each year.

Considered with regard to breeding and ultimately, evolutionary success, the different types of sheep were equally successful that produziert.Das general balance that researchers said could the default certificate but less fertile sheep and the shorter lived but more fertile sheep have the same number of offspring in their lifetime help explain why immunity varies so much between individuals.

“The tendency to form strong or weak responses to infection ran into families residing in the sheep, the researchers have also found.”This genetic basis means that natural selection has chance to make the feature “, said Graham.If responses to infection result in equal long-term reproductive success, different you said means “selection actually seems they preserve genetic variation in immunity.”

Such a balance could help to explain why some vaccines seem better than protect others or why some people get sicker than others when they are subjected to the same infection.

“We had long suspected have, strong immune response to extend life in the face of infections should reproduction, but may also expensive”, Graham said.”To find evidence of such compromise clarify, can vary why animals so much in the strength of their immune responses and even your tendency to infections or autoimmunity.”

The technique used, to study Immunology in the wild was crucial for the importance of the study, after Lynn Martin, Assistant Professor at the Department of integrative biology at the University of South Florida.

“”For so long, the field of Immunology based on studies of domesticated animals in clean lab environments where animals are given all the food you want protection from the elements and a few no challenges with parasites,”Martin said.”"These terms and conditions are our understanding of immune functions great detail as to hosts with parasites on the molecular and cellular level, but are not representative of the natural conditions and can bias.”

The study affect also autoimmunity, where the body such a strong immune response exhibits, that it his own tissue angreift.Die study suggests that autoimmunity, seen in such human diseases as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, also occur in nature. This aspect of the study must be investigated further, said Graham.

“The study is important, according to Andrew read, Professor of biology and Entomology, at Penn State, because it shows that the immunity can both to increase and reduce the evolutionary success depending on the circumstances.”This is a really great example of the power of the long-term environmental studies “, said read, an expert in evolutionary genetics of infectious diseases.”

Authors on the paper include Watt, Jill Pilkington, Josephine Pemberton and Daniel Nussey, Graham Adam Hayward, Kathryn all of the University of Edinburgh.

The research was established by the national trust for Scotland, United Kingdom of natural environmental research Council and the UK biotechnology and biological of Sciences Research Council funded.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is provided by the Princeton University (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff) abgedruckt.Die original article from materials was written by keta MacPherson.

Journal reference:

Andrea L. Graham, Adam D. Hayward, Kathryn A. Watts, Jill G. Pilkington, Josephine M. Pemberton, Daniel H. Nussey.Fitness correlates of inheritable variation in antibody response in a mammals.Science, 29 October 2010: vol.330.Nr. 6004, pp. 662-665 DOI: 10.1126/science.1194878

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Anti-vomiting drug could save thousands of hospitalizations, you prevent millions of dollars.

May 19th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010)-two years ago a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that a vomiting drug called ondansetron helps reduce, vomiting, the need for intravenous fluids and hospital admissions for children with acute gastroenteritis.

Now, a new economic analysis which led by Canadian researchers in collaboration with Michael Steiner, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UNC, j. concluded that would routinely give ondansetron for children with stomach-intestine-induced vomiting prevent thousands of hospitalizations and saving millions of dollars every year.

“In the past people always thought that ondansetron was so expensive that its use ‘Worth it.’” Our results are calling the think can change clinician decision-making and practice “said guidelines, Steiner.”

The new study was online by the journal PLoS Medicine published. the lead author is Stephen B. Freedman, MDCM, pediatric emergency physician at the hospital for sick children (SickKids) and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. Co-authors are Steiner and Kevin j. CHAN, a paediatric emergency physician at the SickKids.

“This study is the first to show that in addition to the clinically beneficial management of oral ondansetron for children with is dehydration and persistent vomiting with gastroenteritis, secondary economically advantageous, making it a dominant treatment strategy”, said Freedman.

Gastroenteritis is an infection often caused by a virus that results in vomiting and diarrhea.It is in the “stomach flu” and a very common condition during the Wintermonate.Persistente can vomiting of acute gastroenteritis in children is very scary to children and their families and a risk of dehydration.

In many cases gastroenteritis in children can be managed effectively with oral liquids including water solution, but some cases are strong enough to hospital admission for intravenous fluids to erfordern.Allerdings current practice guidelines recommend the use of ondansetron, partly because there was a lack of clear evidence, that the treatment is cost effective.

To answer this question study used a form of statistical analysis authors called decision tree analysis to the cost of treatment in the hospital emergency room setting, both with and without ondansetron to vergleichen.Aufgrund of the significant price differences between USA and Canada a separate analysis for each country led.

Came to the conclusion that eligible children in the United States ondansetron to give every year with annual savings of $ 65.6 million for the company and $ 61.1 million in paid of health care costs (including private insurance and Medicare and Medicaid) prevent 29,246 intravenous inserts and 7,220 hospitalizations würde.In Canada, the study concludes, would give ondansetron routinely 4,065 intravenous inserts and 1,003 hospitalizations each year with annual savings of 1.72 million $ prevent society and $ 1.18 million in paid of health care costs (in Canadian dollars).

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is provided from materials published by University of North Carolina School of medicine (editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Stephen B. Freedman, Michael j. Steiner, Kevin j. CHAN.Oral ondansetron administration in emergency departments for children with gastroenteritis: an economic analysis.PLoS Medicine, 2010; 7 (10): e1000350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000350

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Obesity gene variants increase risk, study finds

May 16th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010)-a new study of Pediatric researchers added evidence that genes have a strong influence on obesity.

The study team searched via the whole genome of thousands of overweight children for copy number variations (CNVs)-deletions or duplications of DNA Sequenzen.Obwohl the CNVs you found rarely within the population are, your data suggest, that those who accommodate such variants a very high risk of becoming obese.

“Our study is the first large-scale, unbiased genome-wide scan CNVs in common pediatric obesity,” said study leader Struan f.a. grant, Ph.d, Associate Director of the Centre for applied genomics (CAG) in the children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “We found CNVs exclusively for obese children over two Latinamerican-European Americans and African Americans were.”

The study is viewed online in the American Journal of human genetics.Grant, led together with co-study leader Hákon Hákonarson, m.d, Ph.d., Director the CAG, a team based on the children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.

A major health problem in Western societies, obesity dramatically in prevalence in both children and adults in the last decade gestiegen.Im associated with insulin resistance, obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases. Approximately 70 percent of overweight young people grow up to be obese adults.

Public health experts have environment contributors to obesity, such as sedentary lifestyle and the widespread availability of high-calorie convenience food verwickelt.Allerdings studies and other research projects, scientists realised also twin that obesity is a strong genetic component and has even though this was analysed more common in adults than in children.

In the current study, researchers of CNVs in a European American cohort of 1080 obese children and a control of Group 2,500 lean children were looking for. Obese children were in the top of the body mass index 5 percentile, but to avoid your data expected to confounding, researchers have been the most severe cases of the many medical syndromes have complicated ausgeschlossen.Nach identify the multiple CNVs appearance in obese children but not of controls, the sleek, replicated researchers study in a different cohort all African American children: comfortable obese subjects and 1,5750 lightweight controls. All children from 2 to 18 years, were recruited from the children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric network.

“From the 17 CNVs in obese European Americans eight, or almost half in obese African Americans found occurred.”"Because many genetic variants have different frequencies in different ethnic groups, these same CNVs in both groups exclusively in obese subjects recognize strengthens the probability that this CNVs in the development of obesity, a real role play”, said Hákonarson.

The majority of sites of CNV genes were not previously reported, obesity soll.jedoch at a location nearby the gene ARL15, associate researchers previously associated with a gene variant with a higher risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes via layers of Adiponectin, a hormone, the glucose regulation involved.

The current study has no direct application to the diagnosis and treatment, but adds obesity to understand another piece of the puzzle.Grant added to further studies at children’s Hospital and elsewhere uncover additional genetic influences and functional studies examine, the biological details such as genes contribute to obesity.Such knowledge can be a basis for the design of preventive measures and treatment.

Financial support for the study came from the children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the national institutes of health and the Cotswold Foundation.

“A genome-wide study reveals copy number of variants exclusive childhood obesity cases,” American Journal of human genetics, published online Oct. 14, 2010.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily employees) from materials provided by children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal reference:

Joseph t. Glessner, Jonathan p. Bradfield, Kai Wang, Nagahide Takahashi, Haitao Zhang, Patrick M. Sleiman, Frank D. Mentch, Cecilia E. Kim, Cuiping Hou, Kelly A. Thomas, Maria L. Garris, Sandra Deliard, Edward C. Frackelton, F. George Otieno, Jianhua Zhao, Rosetta M. Chiavacci, Mingyao Li, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Robert I. Berkowitz, Hákon Hákonarson, Struan f.a. grant.A genome-wide study shows copy number variants only in childhood obesity cases .American Journal of human genetics, 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.09.014

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The key to blood – brain barrier opens way for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke

May 14th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010) – during the blood – brain barrier (BBB) the brain against harmful chemicals, the naturally occurring in the blood protects, hinder transporting drugs on the brain. In a paper in nature, scientists at the Swedish Medical University Karolinska Institutet now present a potential solution to the problem. The key to the BBB Pericytes is called a cell type in the walls of blood vessels, and the researchers hope that your results one day contribute to new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and stroke.

“Our new results show that the blood – brain barrier of Pericytes is regulated, and in a way which allows the passage of molecules in different sizes basic functions while keeping the brain properly, can be opened,” says Christer Betsholtz, Professor of vascular biology at the Department of medical biochemistry, who led the study.

Is the blood – brain barrier a term indicating that tissues of blood vessels that extremely close are the separation of blood?Impermeable?.Let the capillary walls certain substances made by the blood, such as the plasma protein albumin, and immunoglobulins in that surrounding Gewebe.Im brain is this option is important for many reasons, namely but off geschlossen.Dies, plasma proteins are harmful nerve cells in other organs.

In recent times, capillary permeability in the brain diseases was as a factor of potential importance for neurodegenerative as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS discussed.

“Our new know of how the BBB is regulated at two types could be used”, says Professor Betsholtz.”To protect opening the brain under conditions such as stroke and inflammation of the BBB and the release of Neurodamaging substances;”"and the obstacle temporarily for taking medications for neurodegenerative and other disorders of brain allow to open.”

In the study, which is now published in the journal nature, Professor Betsholtz and his research group show how Pericytes usually maintain this possible wäre.Die barrier function by möglichst-unknown molecular mechanisms;called in the absence of a special transport process of Transcytosis opens a path through the capillary walls so that molecules in various sizes, including large plasma proteins, pass from the blood to the brain can. the Pericytes rules a different kind of brain cell as an Astrocyte bekannt.Astrozyten help the BBB by special extensions called end feet which envelop to regulate the capillaries and water and ion flows.

“Another found interesting, is that the cancer drug imatinib that inhibits certain signal proteins in cell development, a similar effect in the presence of Pericytes, that you the capillary wall transport paths, close”, says Professor Christer Betsholtz.

The study involved researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg.The study was carried out through grants from the Swedish Agency for innovation systems Research Foundation and the Söderberg foundations funded EU framework programme, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Inga Britt and Arne Lundberg.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is provided from materials published by Karolinska Institutet (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

Annika Armulik et al. Pericytes regulate the blood-brain barrier. nature, 2010; DOI: online version nature09522

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Keep temperature rhythms, body clocks in sync

May 11th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2010)-researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that variations in internal body temperature regulating physical controls circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle, metabolism, sleep and other bodily functions.

A light-sensitive part of the brain called the Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the body’s “master clock” of the daily cycle coordinates, but it does indirectly, according to a study by UT Southwestern researchers into the Oct. 15 issue of science published.

The SCN responds to light in the eye, and is sensitive to cycles of day and night. whereas light the trigger can be determined the UT Southwestern researchers to the SCN transforms information into neural signals, body temperature then put festgelegt.Diese cyclical temperature the timing of cells, and ultimately is active or inactive tissues and organs, the study.

Scientists have long known that body temperature in warm-blooded animals during the day on a 24 hour or circadian, rhythm varies, but the new study shows that temperature actually said controls body cycles, Dr. Joseph Takahashi, Chairman of the Neuroscience at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study.

“” Small changes of in body temperature a strong signal to send watches in our body “, said Dr. Takahashi, an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.”It takes only a small change in internal body temperature to synchronize cellular”watches”throughout the body.”

Daily changes in temperature include only a few degrees and like to stay at the normal normal range. This mechanism with fever or ambient temperature to do nothing, said Dr. Takahashi.

This system could be a change in an old circadian control system that developed in other organisms first, said Dr. Takahashi including cold-blooded animals whose daily biological Zyklen external temperature changes are affected.

“Circadian rhythms in plants, simple organisms and cold-blooded animals are very sensitive to temperature, so it makes sense that this primordial mechanism in warm-blooded animals have been modified in the course of evolution could”, he said.

In the current study, the researchers focused on cultured mouse cells and tissues, and found that gene controlled by temperature fluctuations related circadian functions.

SCN were cells not temperature sensitive, however.This is useful, said Dr. Takahashi because if the SCN as master mechanism responded to temperature cues, he said an annoying feedback loop taxes could result.

Dr. Seung-hee Yoo, trainers of the Neurosciences and former graduate student Ethan Buhr also participated in the investigation.

The study was funded by the national institutes of health and the HHMI.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is made of materials by UT Southwestern Medical Center printed provided (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

E. D. Buhr, S. h.Yoo, j. S. Takahashi.Temperature as a universal reset cue for mammalian circadian oscillators.Science, 2010; 330 (6002): 379 DOI: 10.1126/science.1195262

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Breakdown of correlated tunneling

May 9th, 2011

ScienceDaily (25 October 2010) – quantum systems often different behavior from what we would intuitively expect and our daily experience. An example is provided by the so-called Landau-Zener problem. It describes such as the tunneling of a quantum particle between two possible fountains with an initial difference in potential energy that gradually reversed in time. The Russian physicist Lev Landau and the American physicist Clarence Zener 1932 addressed this problem in a broader context. They found that the quantum particles from a fountain would be transported to the other, provided that the reversal in potential energy slowly enough.

This applies regardless of whether the particles in the well started the higher or lower in potential energy. In this respect it differs much of expectation for a classic liquid which finally will find well bottom always his way into the energy.MPQ University scientists to Prof. Immanuel Bloch in cooperation with theorists from the Weizmann Institute of science in Rehovot, Israel have a Landau-Zener scenario in a system of one-dimensional quantum gases in two coupled potential tubes experimentally untersucht.Sie found, ultimately changing the collective tunnels of many particles drastically from the single particles takes case to a breakdown of the transfer on the opposite side.

Scientists cooling in your experiments a little cloud “Bose” rubidium atoms, only a few Nano Kelvin on the absolute zero-the about minus 273 degrees Celsius. At such low temperatures, collect all the atoms in a single quantum state, form a new State of matter known as the Bose-Einstein condensate.This quantum ultracold gas geladen.Diese is then in a so-called two-dimensional “optical gratings.” optical grid is created by the interference of two orthogonal pairs of counter-propagating laser beams which results in two three-dimensional patterns of bright “lines light.” The interaction between light and atoms forces in a matching regular pattern of thousands of elongated quantum gases to organize each consisting of up to 110 atoms.

Now, add the scientists another pair of laser beams an optical grid with only half of the time together form one of the initial activities counter propagating.This leads to a breakdown of each possible tubes trapping the orthogonal rectangular quantum gases in zwei.Die full control over the relative phase between this additional optical grid and the first one the other higher in potential energy allows scientists of only one potential tubes each pair by override during the Division populate. in addition, are able to change the difference between the tubes each pair by checking the relative phase into potential energy in real time. Therefore quickly reverse an any initial difference in potential energy set and then gradually the potential energy difference as in the original Landau-Zener problem.

Physicists are interested in how the one-dimensional geometry and the n-body nature of gas, quantum would alter the results for a single quantum particles.

Showed some significant deviations from the single particle physics low. for slow enough changes of the potential power in the conceptually simple case where all the atoms in the potential also begin in energy or “sweeps” – landed all particles in opposite tubes as it would be the case for a single quantum particle. The speed of the train could be faster, the one-dimensional quantum gases. Here, the repulsive interaction forces the atoms to line up for the transmission and to move the opposite potential tube a-by-one instead of all at once. Because each of these single particle transfers can be done faster in the n-body system, the rate change the potential energy can be higher. The total time required for a successful sweep but is same as in the case of a single particle about, to move because all particles and the advantage of faster transfer of a single particle is lost.

The difference is even more apparent when start all particles in the potential tube initially in potential energy is higher. Here, the scientists found that not all particles no matter, how slow the scanning is performed, would reach the opposite pipe. Actually slower and slower Landau-Zener sweeps transfer efficiency was shrinking. This result is similar to strong expectation for a classic liquid, always in the lower tube-here that would flow the atoms from started.The classic case is the potential energy into kinetic energy. Finally passed this kinetic energy to the environment as the liquid comes to a halt.

Such an exchange of energy with the environment is not possible within a closed quantum system: the excess energy can not leave, the system and the relaxation of quantum gas into the lower energy pipe is blocked.A one-dimensional system however has low energy suggestions often referred to as “Phonon” due to the similarity with the lattice vibrations in solids.These Phonon suggestions provide a “home environment” can store the excess energy in any part.As a result, the quantum gas towards the potential tube is relax lower in energy while Aufheizen.Dieser relaxation mechanism is strongest for small differences in the potential energy of the two tubes. the slower the Landau-Zener sweep is performed, the longer it will be located in this region and relaxation are more effective.

Described here provides an experimental study of Landau-Zener problem a one-dimensional n body Setup generalized for the first time.The dynamics of such a system has a number of open questions.Especially understanding remains whether and how low-dimensional quantum gases far from equilibrium relax and finally thermalize in closed quantum systems an unsolved problem.In addition, keep such generalized Landau-Zener experiments prospect detection of n-body quantum phase transitions where the excitation spectra of quantum gases drastically as described here be scanned.the measurements allow a deep analysis of non-equilibrium phenomena in coupled one-dimensional systems and opens the way for the detailed study of your intrinsic sound wave like suggestions.

Story source:

The above story is made of materials the of Max Planck Institute for quantum optics reprinted provided (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

Chen Yu AO, Sebastian D. Huber, Stefan Trotsky, Immanuel Bloch, Ehud Altman.N body Landau-Zener dynamics in coupled one-dimensional Bose liquids.Natur physics, 2010; DOI: NPHYS1801 ONLINE output

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Watermelon lowers blood pressure, study finds

May 6th, 2011

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010) – no matter how you cut watermelon has a lot going for it-sweet, low-calorie, high fibre, nutrient realm – and now, it is more. A pilot study under the direction of food scientists at Florida State University suggest that watermelon can be an effective natural weapon against Prehypertension, a precursor of heart cardiovascular disease.

It is the first study of its kind in the Menschen.FSU Assistant Professor Arturo Figueroa and Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi found that when six grams of the amino acid L Citrulline/L-arginine Melone extract daily for six weeks was administered there improved arterial function and accordingly nine of prehypertensive themes (four men and five women after menopause, age 51 57) lowered aortic blood pressure in all.

“” We are the first improved aortic hemodynamics in Prehypertensive but otherwise healthy middle aged men and women, to document the therapeutic doses of watermelon”Figueroa said.”These results indicate that these “functional food’ has vasodilatory effect, and one that the Prehypertension might prevent progress to full-blown hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.”

“Given that encouraging evidence that generated by this preliminary study, we hope, continue to research and include a much larger group of participants in the next round,” he said.

Why watermelon?

“Watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L Citrulline, which closely with L-arginine, the amino acid that is connected to the formation of nitric oxide essential for the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure, necessary” Figueroa said.

Once converted in the body, the L Citrulline in L-arginine.L just spend-arginine as a dietary supplement is not an option for many hypertensive adults, said Figueroa because it can cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach complaints.

In contrast to watermelon is good verträglich.Teilnehmer in the Florida State pilot study no Nebenwirkungen.Und reported in addition to the vascular benefits of Citrulline watermelon offers abundant vitamin A, B6, C, fiber, potassium and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Watermelon can help even serum glucose levels, reduce according to Arjmandi.

“Heart cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States”, said Arjmandi.”In General Americans more worried about your blood cholesterol levels and dietary cholesterol have been feed, rather than their total heart cardiovascular health risk factors for CVD such as obesity and vascular dysfunction characterized by arterial stiffness and Dicke–problems that functional foods such as watermelon can help to mitigate.”

“Functional foods,” said Arjmandi, “we mean these foods that shown scientific and health promotion or disease prevention properties over the other intrinsically healthy nutrients also deliver.”

Figueroa said oral L Citrulline supplement could allow a reduced dose of antihypertensive drugs for the control of blood pressure.

“Even better, it may prevent the progress of Prehypertension to high blood pressure in the first place,” he said.

During water melon or watermelon extract the best natural source of L Citrulline, it is also in the synthetic form in the form of pills, which Figueroa in an earlier study of the younger male uses themes.The investigation showed that four weeks of L Citrulline slows or an important finding, weakened the increased aorta was blood pressure in response to cold Exposition.Es said Figueroa, because there is a greater occurrence of myocardial infarction associated with high blood pressure during the cold winter months.

“” Individuals with elevated blood pressure and arterial Steifigkeit–especially those who are older and people with chronic diseases such as such as type 2 diabetes-would benefit from L Citrulline in either of the synthetic or natural (watermelon) form “Figueroa said.”"The optimal dose appears to be four to six grams per day.”

About 60 percent of adults in the United States are Prehypertensive or hypertensive.Prehypertension is on blood pressure “Systolic” applies, if the heart is contracting characterized 120-139 mm mercury readings by systolic blood pressure (mmHg) of 80-89 mm Hg diastolic pressure..”Diastolic” mirrors the blood pressure when the heart is in a period of relaxation and expansion.

Findings from Figueroa’s latest pilot study at Florida State are in the American Journal of hypertension beschrieben.Eine copy of the paper (”effects of watermelon supplement on aortic blood pressure and wave reflection in persons with Prehypertension: A pilot study”) can be accessed online.

The paper lead author holds Figueroa, medicine, 2004 he is a member of the Faculty in the Florida State University Department of nutrition, food and Übung.Figueroa’s serves co-author and colleagues Arjmandi as Chairman of the Department, a PhD in physiological Sciences and a master’s degree in the Sportmedizin.seit part of Florida State’s interdisciplinary College of human sciences ist.Arjmandi is also the author or coauthor of an extensive body of published research on the health benefits of plums and other functional foods.

Co-author of the paper Figueroa Arjmandi American Journal of hypertension are Marcos A. Sanchez-Gonzalez, Florida State doctoral student in exercise physiology and Penelope Perkins Veazie horticulture Professor at North Carolina State University.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended, medical advice, provide diagnosis or treatment.

Story source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adjustments by ScienceDaily personnel) of materials provided by Florida State University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal reference:

Arturo Figueroa, Marcos A. Sánchez González, Penelope M. Perkins Veazie, Bahram H. Arjmandi.Impact the watermelon supplement on aortic blood pressure and wave reflection in people with Prehypertension: a pilot study.American Journal of hypertension, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2010.142

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