A study in a special early online publication of Cell, a Cell Press publication, reveals a promising new slow-release compound that protects mice against the neurodegenerative effects of both Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease. The 'prodrug' known only as JM6 works through a pathway involved in the breakdown of the amino acid tryptophan. Surprisingly, JM6 delivers those benefits even though it doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore cannot act directly on the brain. "Most would have assumed that the drug would have to enter the brain to have an effect," ...

Thousands of events are scheduled across the nation to celebrate the joys and traditions that come with riding bicycles. While most events are geared to welcome spring and summertime activities, some, like the Bike Bonanza in downtown Salt Lake City, promote healthy living and efficiency. Another national event, the Ride of Silence, is dedicated to reminding people about bicycle safety and honoring those killed in bicycle accidents. Each year since 2003, riders have gathered on the third Wednesday of May to bring awareness to the hazards bicyclists endure from motorists. ...

AUDIO: University of Michigan School of Public Health researcher Stoddard's research shows a link between violent behavior and brain injury in youth. Click here for more information. ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Young people who have sustained a head injury during their lifetime are more likely to engage in violent behavior, according to an eight-year study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Further, the research found that young people who suffered a recent ...

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Parents and health care providers can't always tell whether toddlers display signs of autism syndrome disorder (ASD), but new research from the University of Utah shows that a significant portion of at-risk children between 14-24 months can be identified through systematic screening by autism experts and providers working together. Identifying children with ASD as young as possible is critical for the early intervention that can improve their lives and ability to function in the world. But a systematic way to do that has not been established, according ...

As the World Health Organisation suggests the E. coli outbreak in Germany is a strain never before seen in an outbreak – O104:H4 – laboratory science conducted at the University of Southampton indicates a role for copper in preventing the spread of such infections. Professor Bill Keevil, Head of the Microbiology Group and Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the University of Southampton, explains: "A study looking at copper's efficacy against new strains of E. coli has just been completed. Although it did not specifically look at O104, all the strains investigated ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville researchers are one step closer to helping millions of people whose salivary glands no longer work because of disease or damage from treatment of diseases. The scientific finding of Douglas Darling, PhD, professor, Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry, and his team identified a protein sorting mechanism used by the salivary gland. The National Institutes of Health supported study published on-line first this week in the Journal of Dental Research. The scientific discovery could form the ...

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have uncovered a potentially important new therapeutic target that could prevent stress-related cell death, a characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, as well as heart attack and stroke. In the study, published recently in the journal ACS Chemical Biology, the scientists showed they could disrupt a specific interaction of a critical enzyme that would prevent cell death without harming other important enzyme functions. The enzyme in question is c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), ...

Wrong-site surgery is a one of the most preventable forms of medical malpractice because it is so unnecessary. It indicates sloppiness in procedure and a level of inattention to detail you would hope to never find in a surgeon or their staff. While there are often explanations, there is never any excuse. It might be excusable in an emergency military hospital, with surgeons operating under a crush of battle injured patients, but it should simply never occur in a modern hospital. A statement from the website of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes: "Wrong-site ...

The nation's system of freeing some terminally ill prisoners on grounds of compassionate release is so riddled with medical flaws and procedural barriers that many potentially medically eligible inmates are dying behind bars, say UCSF researchers in a new study. The research, which calls for an overhaul of current practices, is published online this week in Annals of Internal Medicine. "Current compassionate release guidelines are failing to identify seriously ill prisoners who no longer pose a threat to society, placing huge financial burdens on state budgets and contributing ...

The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (FSA) reduced what many have criticized as disproportionately harsh sentences for crack cocaine offenses. The sentencing ratio remains at approximately 18 to 1 for the amount of powder cocaine versus crack cocaine required to trigger the same penalty, but this is a significant reduction from a former ration of 100 to 1. 2007 Amendments The federal sentencing guidelines were previously amended in 2007 in an effort to reduce the disparity between sentences for crack and powdered cocaine offenses. Although the sentencing guidelines were ...

PASADENA, Calif.—In many ways, life is like a computer. An organism's genome is the software that tells the cellular and molecular machinery—the hardware—what to do. But instead of electronic circuitry, life relies on biochemical circuitry—complex networks of reactions and pathways that enable organisms to function. Now, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have built the most complex biochemical circuit ever created from scratch, made with DNA-based devices in a test tube that are analogous to the electronic transistors on a computer chip. Engineering ...

The sanctioned grounds for divorce in Georgia straddle traditional values and modern trends. Divorce and related family-law matters in the United States have been, and continue to be, governed mostly by state law, and divorce law varies among the states. Historically, for one spouse to divorce another, the husband or wife suing for divorce must have been able to show a type of legally recognized "fault" on the part of the other spouse. The most commonly thought of spousal faults were -- and still are, in some states -- adultery, desertion and cruelty. No-Fault ...

CORVALLIS, Ore. – One of the beneficial compounds found in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function and suppression of autoimmune disease, according to new research in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. This may be one of the underlying mechanisms for the health benefits of green tea, which has attracted wide interest for its ability to help control inflammation, improve immune function and prevent cancer. Pharmaceutical drugs are available that perform similar roles ...

Fast muscles, such as the thigh muscle in a sprinter, deliver energy quickly but fatigue quickly. Slow muscles, such as the soleus muscle in the lower calf, are less forceful but important for posture and endurance. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Virginia Tech have discovered one gene regulator that maintains the fast muscle type and inhibits the development of a slow muscle type. The research was posted in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' online early edition on June 1 in the article, "Concerted regulation ...

PORTLAND, Ore. — Eating a high-fat diet during pregnancy increases the chance of stillbirth, according to new research at Oregon Health & Science University. The new data show eating a typical American diet, which is high in fat, decreases blood flow from the mother to the placenta, the temporary organ that nourishes the unborn fetus. Prior to this study, exactly how a fatty diet contributes to stillbirth was unclear. The findings are published in the June edition of the journal Endocrinology. The study was conducted at the OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center. ...

Baltimore, MD -- A multicenter clinical trial led by a researcher at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center will evaluate a new approach to treat triple-negative breast cancer, an often-aggressive type of cancer that is more common among African-Americans and young women. The study will help researchers determine if an experimental drug, entinostat, can reprogram tumor cells to express a protein called an estrogen receptor to make them sensitive to hormone therapy. Saranya Chumsri, M.D., an oncologist at the Greenebaum Cancer Center and ...

In Michigan, there are four degrees of criminal sexual misconduct: the first degree is the most serious and covers a range of illegal activities, which is punishable by up to life in prison. The second and third degrees cover lesser activities which are punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment. Finally, the fourth degree covers acts punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.00. However, criminal sexual misconduct is not the only crime of its nature involved with the legal system. Acts such as juvenile and adult sex offenses, sexting (using a cell phone ...

Two promising new treatments to aid people with autism have shown effectiveness in pilot studies conducted by an Arizona State University professor and private researchers. Several studies indicate that children with autism often have abnormalities in critical biochemical functions that help maintain health – specifically methylation, glutathione, and mitochondrial functions. Methylation turns proteins in the body on and off – including DNA and RNA – a function that controls gene activity. Glutathione, a primary antioxidant, provides a defense against toxic metals ...

American companies frequently use the bankruptcy process to reorganize and help a business survive through difficult economic times. For similar reasons, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy make sound financial sense for individuals and married couples who have fallen behind due to mounting debts caused by medical expenses, job loss and other difficulties. One of the most notorious recent corporate bankruptcies in Arizona involves the local National Hockey League franchise, the Phoenix Coyotes. Since moving from Winnipeg in 1996, the club has not had a great ...

To arrange for an interview with a researcher, please contact the Communications and External Relations staff member identified at the end of each tip. For more information on ORNL and its research and development activities, please refer to one of our Media Contacts. If you have a general media-related question or comment, you can send it to news@ornl.gov. TRANSPORTATION -- Screening for safety . . . Unsafe commercial motor vehicles may be off the roads sooner with help from an Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led testing facility in Greene County, Tenn. ORNL researchers ...

Managers of northern Michigan forests may not see the birds for the trees – or at least are in danger of losing sight of songbird neighborhoods when looking out for timber harvests. In a novel look at managing both the future's timber harvest while being mindful of the impact on key songbirds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Michigan State University researchers use a new forest simulation model for the first time to look at what timber-friendly hardwood regeneration can mean to bird habitat. And it's a long-range look, given that the time lag between forest management ...

Illinois drugged-driving law is very tough to beat if you are charged with a violation. On April 21, 2011, the Supreme Court of Illinois in People v. Martin clarified important aspects of that law. Because the Supreme Court does not often decide DUI-drug cases, Illinois criminal defense attorneys and law enforcement are taking a close look at this major court opinion. Basically, Martin enunciates that four of the six provisions of the law require that to be guilty of alcohol or drugged driving the prosecution must prove that the ingestion of alcohol or drugs caused ...

Hampton Inn Spartanburg - North I-85, a premier Spartanburg SC hotel, offers nearby accommodations to attendees of the Creative Taste of Spartanburg. The event will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 5-10pm in downtown Spartanburg. Vendors will set up west of Morgan Square and the Clock Tower on Ezell Street, King Street, W. Main Street, and Daniel Morgan Avenue. Admission to the event is free. Attendees of the Creative Taste of Spartanburg will be able to purchase food and beverages from some of Spartanburg's most popular restaurants. Wine tastings will be offered ...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Using a high-resolution single-molecule study technique, University of Illinois researchers have seen the very subtle differences between two branches of an important family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. Professor Claudio Grosman and research scientist Gisela Cymes published their work in the journal Nature. Nicotinic-type receptors are proteins embedded in the membranes of nerve and muscle cells that regulate activity. A neurotransmitter, such as acetylcholine, triggers a small conformation change in the protein that opens a channel and ...

A University of California, San Diego faculty-student team is about to demonstrate a first-of-its kind, phase-change memory solid state storage device that provides performance thousands of times faster than a conventional hard drive and up to seven times faster than current state-of-the-art solid-state drives (SSDs). The device was developed in the Computer Science and Engineering department at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and will be on exhibit June 7-8 at DAC 2011, the world's leading technical conference and trade show on electronic design automation, ...