Impaired transport in neurons triggers prion disease

A new study shows that nervous system integrity and axonal properties may play a key role in prion diseases. The findings, from researchers at the Rudolf Virchow Center and the Institute of Virology of the University of Würzburg, expand our understanding of the development of prion disease and suggest novel targets for therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in its early stages. Details are published August 21 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens. more  

Clues to gigantism provided by family in Borneo mountains

An indigenous family living in a mountainous area of Malaysian Borneo helped Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) researchers to discover information about genetic mutations associated with acromegaly, a form of gigantism that often results in enlarged hands, feet, and facial features. more

Mount Sinai first with new technique to prevent a major cause for heart-related stroke

Physicians at The Mount Sinai Medical Center were the first in the country to perform a non-surgical procedure using sutures to tie off a left atrial appendage (LAA), which is the source of blood clots leading to stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is the most common sustained heart-rhythm disorder in the United States. more  

Research shows why low vitamin D raises heart disease risks in diabetics

Low levels of vitamin D are known to nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now think they know why. more

UCSF researchers identify two key pathways in adaptive response  

UCSF researchers have identified the two key circuits that control a cell’s ability to adapt to changes in its environment, a finding that could have applications ranging from diabetes and autoimmune research to targeted drug development for complex diseases. more

High serum insulin levels and risk of prostate cancer 

Elevated insulin levels in the normal range appear to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, according to a new study published online August 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. more

Anesthesiologists study antidote for local anesthetic drug toxicity

On rare occasions, anesthesiologists are required to treat the toxic effects of local anesthetic drugs on the heart, a rare, but dangerous complication of regional anesthesia or nerve block that can induce irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest. Such cases of local anesthetic-related cardiac arrest typically occur in conjunction with large doses of local anesthetics and can result in patient fatality. more

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