A novel drug may help increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy for the most deadly form of brain cancer, report scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. In mouse models of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the new drug helped significantly extend survival when used in combination with radiation therapy. Recently published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study provides the first preclinical evidence demonstrating that an ATM kinase inhibitor radiosensitizes gliomas. Gliomas are brain tumors that originate from glial cells, ...

Boston, MA – In new research published online May 13, 2013 in Advanced Materials, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are the first to report that synthetic silicate nanoplatelets (also known as layered clay) can induce stem cells to become bone cells without the need of additional bone-inducing factors. Synthetic silicates are made up of simple or complex salts of silicic acids, and have been used extensively for various commercial and industrial applications, such as food additives, glass and ceramic filler materials, and anti-caking agents. Silicate ...

PHILADELPHIA — Labs around the world, and a core group at Penn, have been studying recently described populations of immune cells called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Some researchers liken them to foot soldiers that protect boundary tissues such as the skin, the lining of the lung, and the lining of the gut from microbial onslaught. They also have shown they play a role in inflammatory disease, when the body's immune system is too active. In animal studies, group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) confer immunity during a parasitic infection in mice and are also involved ...

The song, "Get Happy," famously performed by Judy Garland, has encouraged people to improve their mood for decades. Recent research at the University of Missouri discovered that an individual can indeed successfully try to be happier, especially when cheery music aids the process. This research points to ways that people can actively improve their moods and corroborates earlier MU research. "Our work provides support for what many people already do – listen to music to improve their moods," said lead author Yuna Ferguson, who performed the study while she was an MU doctoral ...

Sporting events can bring a community together, such as when the Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA championship and University of Louisville campus was filled with camaraderie. They also can fuel bitter rivalries, such as the long-standing animosity between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A University of Missouri study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare. "One interesting thing about humans is that we are ...

New Rochelle, NY, May 14, 2013—Animals, insects, and plants use a variety of sensing mechanisms to detect invading pathogens such as viruses. One complex and effective antiviral defense system they share is based on recognition of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), often produced when a virus invades a host cell. New information leading to a clearer understanding of the mechanisms underlying viral dsRNA sensing is presented in a comprehensive Review article published in Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. ...

Forget apples – lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The study, published today in the online journal PLOS ONE, followed 86 women, aged 70- to 80-years-old, who were randomly assigned to participate in weight training classes, outdoor walking classes, or balance and toning classes (such as yoga and pilates) for six months. All participants have mild cognitive impairment, a well-recognized risk factor for Alzheimer's disease ...

WASHINGTON, DC—A study released today by George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) researchers offers an in-depth look at hospitals nationwide and admissions to intensive care units (ICU). The study, published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine, finds a sharp increase—nearly 50 percent—in ICU admissions coming from U.S. emergency departments. "These findings suggest that emergency physicians are sending more patients on to the ICU," said SPHHS researcher and lead author Peter Mullins. "The increase might be the result of ...

The time may be fast approaching for researchers to take better advantage of the vast amount of valuable patient information available from U.S. electronic health records. Lian Duan, an NJIT computer scientist with an expertise in data mining, has done just that with the recent publication of "Adverse Drug Effect Detection," IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (March, 2013). The article spotlights a new and promising way of using a combination of commonly used existing algorithms to root out more information about adverse drug reactions within electronic ...

While global attention has for decades been focused on reducing maternal mortality, population-based data on other causes of death among women of reproductive age has been virtually non-existent. A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that non-communicable diseases accounted for 48 percent of 1,107 investigated female deaths in rural Bangladesh between 2002 and 2007. The findings lend urgency to review global health priorities to address neglected and potentially fatal non-communicable diseases affecting rural women ...

In 1700, a massive earthquake struck the west coast of North America. Though it was powerful enough to cause a tsunami as far as Japan, a lack of local documentation has made studying this historic event challenging. Now, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have helped unlock this geological mystery using a fossil-based technique. Their work provides a finer-grained portrait of this earthquake and the changes in coastal land level it produced, enabling modelers to better prepare for future events. Penn's team includes Benjamin Horton, associate professor ...

A Brazilian investigative team, collaborating with a Simon Fraser University researcher, is citing an urgent need for targeted interventions among young crack users in cities throughout Brazil, identified as the world's biggest crack market, and further research to better address the problem. SFU health sciences professor Benedikt Fischer and his Brazilian collaborators carried out a study of 160 young adult crack users in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Its findings paint a somber picture of socially disenfranchised drug users with extensive health problems and involvement ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- When cells suffer too much DNA damage, they are usually forced to undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis. However, cancer cells often ignore these signals, flourishing even after chemotherapy drugs have ravaged their DNA. A new finding from MIT researchers may offer a way to overcome that resistance: The team has identified a key protein involved in an alternative death pathway known as programmed necrosis. Drugs that mimic the effects of this protein could push cancer cells that are resistant to apoptosis into necrosis instead. While apoptosis ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It seems that even for the smallest of people, a gentle massage may be beneficial. Newborn intensive care units (NICUs) are stressful environments for preterm infants; mechanical ventilation, medical procedures, caregiving activities and maternal separation create these stressful conditions. Born under-developed, preemies have an immature autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls stress response and recovery. For a preemie, even a diaper change is stressful and the immature ANS over reacts to these stressors. Since preterm infants can't process ...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (http://www.ucr.edu)— The atom-sized world of carbon nanotubes holds great promise for a future demanding smaller and faster electronic components. Nanotubes are stronger than steel and smaller than any element of silicon-based electronics—the ubiquitous component of today's electrical devices—and have better conductivity, which means they can potentially process information faster while using less energy. The challenge has been figuring out how to incorporate all those great properties into useful electronic devices. A new discovery by four scientists ...

A novel avian-origin reassortant influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged in China in February 2013, and is associated with severe lower respiratory tract diseases. To date, more than 100 human cases of infection, including at least 20 deaths, have been reported in China. Three early cases of infection were described in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The general clinical features of the three patients were similar to the previously reported cases in China. Two of the three patients had a history of direct contact with live poultry markets. Interestingly, poultry cage swabs ...

Imagine what Paula Spurlock must have been going through. Shortly after having a hip replaced in 2011, the trouble started. "I had horrible itching, really bad migraines and intense pain throughout my body," she said. "I couldn't take it. Every single thing in me itched." After many months and several trips to specialists, Spurlock was told it could be anything from food allergies to her medication. But no matter what she changed, the symptoms persisted and Spurlock resigned herself to a life of misery. "I just kind of thought that's what life was going to be like," ...

Philadelphia, PA, May 15, 2013 – Regular marijuana use is associated with favorable indices related to diabetic control, say investigators. They found that current marijuana users had significantly lower fasting insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant, even after excluding patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Their findings are reported in the current issue of The American Journal of Medicine. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) has been used for centuries to relieve pain, improve mood, and increase appetite. Outlawed in the United States in 1937, its ...

Why and when a stepparent may adopt a stepchild in South Carolina Article provided by Williams Hendrix Steigner & Brink, P.A. Visit us at http://www.whsblawfirm.com These days, it's not at all uncommon for a husband or a wife to bring children from a previous relationship into a marriage. When two households combine in such a fashion, a strong emotional bond often develops between the stepparent and stepchild. Yet, however close a stepparent is to his or her stepchildren, legally speaking, stepparents may not be entitled to all the same rights as biological ...

More Americans losing loved ones to car crashes as traffic deaths rise Article provided by Smith Magram Berenato Michaud P.C. Visit us at http://www.injurylawyernj.com/ For most of the last decade, the United States has made great strides in reducing deaths and injuries from car accidents. But, in May of 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released an official estimate of last year's motor vehicle death total, and it appears the United States has lost some momentum in terms of traffic safety. More miles traveled, increased motorcycle use ...

Show the State the money: What happens when you die without a will in Ohio? Article provided by Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA Visit us at http://www.rrlpa.com The importance of an estate plan was recently highlighted by a story out of New York when a 97 year-old man died without a will. The reason the man's story gained national attention: he was worth almost $40 million. The millionaire was a successful real estate developer who owned multiple pieces of property, valuable pieces of furniture and jewelry. He was a Holocaust survivor who married a fellow survivor ...

Will Truck Accident Rates Be Affected By Increased Weight Limits? Article provided by Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. Visit us at http://www.elkandelktoledo.com There was opposition to a proposal to raise truck weight limits on the Ohio Turnpike, according to a story in the Toledo Blade. Proponents of increased weight limits argued that it would save fuel, spur economic development, and bring Ohio in line with other states with higher weight limits. Opponents say that longer and heavier trucks will increase road maintenance costs and result in more severe accidents. ...

TNI Racing announces the joining of Henri Richard as a new team driver and coach. Richard will pilot one of TNI's Mazdaspeed 3 racecars in the 2013 Nitto Tire United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) beginning mid-season. His extensive experience in professional racing and motorsports marketing will add depth to the TNI team. "TNI Racing is thrilled to add Henri's proven professional racing results and extensive team management experience to our organization," said Ron Valtierra, TNI team owner. "To prepare for a full 2014 season, we are planning ...

What happens when you combine the connective power of the internet with the passionate community of soccer players and fans that numbers in the billions worldwide? At Cleats for Bare Feet (C4BF), the creative social project of greeNEWit—that collects boys and girls second-hand cleats (athletic shoes) and sporting equipment and sends them to disadvantaged youth all over the world— it is the opportunity to re-imagine what it means to give and receive a donation in the 21st century! Cleats for Bare Feet launched a 42-day crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo on Monday May ...

Park Hyatt Saigon and George V Records, Buddha-Bar Music Label and Distribution Company, will be hosting Buddha-Bar XV, "A Chill Wind from Russia", album release party on 29 June 2013 at 9 pm in 2 Lam Son Bar. Buddha-Bar's current resident mix-master, DJ Ravin, will be spinning and making his first guest appearance in Vietnam flying in from Paris. An entrance fee of 1.000.000 Vietnam Dong, which includes one drink, will be a nominal fee to witness the global success of yet another Buddha Bar original. Officially released on 29 April 2013, Buddha-Bar XV, "A ...