Mice exposed to retinoid deficiency in utero exhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness as adults Individuals with asthma and COPD are subject to debilitating bronchospasm as a result of airways that are hyperresponsive to stimuli. Factors that lead to the ...

Joslin researchers determine hormone linked to improved glucose metabolism activates browning of fat BOSTON – (January 9, 2013) – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that a hormone long associated with weight loss and improved glucose metabolism ...

NIH-funded scientists develop mouse model for atopic dermatitis Study identifies potential targets for eczema treatment A study reports the development of a new mouse model for atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disorder ...

Rewiring stem cells A fast and comprehensive method for determining the function of genes could greatly improve our understanding of a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease and cancer. The method uses stem cells ...

Why is type 2 diabetes an increasing problem? Popular theory to explain increasing frequency of type 2 diabetes refuted by evidence Contrary to a common belief, researchers have shown that genetic regions associated with increased risk of type 2 ...

Quantum mechanics explains efficiency of photosynthesis Light-gathering macromolecules in plant cells transfer energy by taking advantage of molecular vibrations whose physical descriptions have no equivalents in classical physics, according to the first unambiguous ...

Europe to suffer from more severe and persistent droughts As Europe is battered by storms, new research reminds us of the other side of the coin. By the end of this century, droughts in Europe are expected to be more frequent and intense due to climate change ...

Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care Coalition publishes new evidence on the patient impact of drug shortages in US According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious ...

Myotonic dystrophy disrupts normal control of gene expression in the heart HOUSTON – (Jan. 9, 2014) – Disruption of a transcription network controlled by MEF2 in heart tissue of people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 – an inherited form of muscular dystrophy ...

Mystery solved: How nerve impulse generators get where they need to go Study identifies essential molecule for transport of protein from neuron cell body to axon COLUMBUS, Ohio – Scientists have solved a longstanding mystery of the central nervous system, showing how a key ...

Surprising new class of 'hypervelocity stars' discovered escaping the galaxy An international team of astronomers has discovered a surprising new class of "hypervelocity stars" – solitary stars moving fast enough to escape the gravitational grasp of ...

Study of Nepalese pilgrims challenges diagnosis of acute mountain sickness A study led by University of British Columbia scientists calls into question a widely used method of diagnosing acute mountain sickness. The Lake Louise Score Questionnaire has ...

A new pathway for neuron repair is discovered Penn State University molecular biologists have discovered a brand-new pathway for repairing nerve cells that could have implications for faster and improved healing. The researchers describe their findings in a paper titled "Dendrite ...

Microalgae and aquatic plants can help to decrease radiopollution in the Fukushima area Springer's Journal of Plant Research presents the results of a 2-year investigation in a special issue After a huge earthquake caused severe damage to the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power ...

La Jolla Institute scientist identifies pivotal cellular protein underlying eczema Discovery opens new therapeutic avenue for chronic skin condition affecting millions SAN DIEGO – (January 9th, 2014) Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy ...

Unfit, lean people are better protected against heart attacks than fit, obese people In a study published in the European Heart Journal, a research team at Umeå University, Sweden, has shown that physical fitness in your teens can reduce the risk of heart ...

EU policy is driving up demand for pollination faster than honeybee numbers Research conducted by the University of Reading's Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, and funded by the EU FP7 project STEP and the Insect Pollinators Initiative Crops project, indicates that ...

A good outcome for the CHILD-INNOVAC project: successful test in humans of a nasal vaccine against pertussis The CHILD-INNOVAC European research programme, coordinated by Inserm, has enabled the development ...

Eye-catching electronics Thin film transistors on parylene membrane This news release is available in German. Niko Münzenrieder submerges a ficus leaf in water containing pieces of a shiny metallic membrane. Using tweezers, he carefully moves one of ...

Cancer drug protects against diabetes Very low doses of a drug used to treat certain types of cancer protect the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and prevent the development of diabetes mellitus type 1 in mice. The medicine works by lowering the ...

Prisoners believe they are just as law abiding as non-prisoners The belief that we consider ourselves better than our peers holds true to convicted criminals as well. Research from the University of Southampton has shown that prisoners believe themselves ...

Free public education that pays for itself? London, UK (January 09, 2014) Education funding, particularly at university level, is tighter than ever under current austerity measures. A new study published by SAGE in the journal Theory & Research in Education proposes ...

New imaging technique signals a breakthrough in the treatment of IBS Scientists at The University of Nottingham are leading the world in exploiting MRI technology to assist in the treatment and diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, a condition ...

Researchers discover a tumor suppressor gene in a very aggressive lung cancer In addition to identifying the tumor suppressor role of MAX in lung cancer, the group led by Montse Sanchez-Cespedes has unveiled a functional relationship between ...

Maternal stress hormones and maternal smoking increase daughter's risk of nicotine dependence Reports new study in Biological Psychiatry Philadelphia, PA, January 9, 2014 – Tobacco smoking by pregnant women has long been viewed as a public health risk because of smoking's ...