Experimental drug reduces ‘second stroke’ after aneurysm rupture

An experimental drug, clazosentan, reduced the risk of blood vessel spasm in patients with a brain aneurysm, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012.

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MIT: Stem cells could drive hepatitis research forward

Hepatitis C, an infectious disease that can cause inflammation and organ failure, has different effects on different people. But no one is sure why some people are very susceptible to the infection, while others are resistant.

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Lungs clothed in fresh cells offer new hope for transplant patients

For patients suffering from severe pulmonary diseases including emphysema, lung cancer or fibrosis, transplantation of healthy lung tissue may offer the best chance for survival. The surgical procedure, however, faces two primary challenges: an acute shortage of donor lungs and rejection of transplanted tissue by the recipient’s immune system.

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Dyslexia-linked genetic variant decreases midline crossing of auditory pathways

Finnish scientists have found that a rare dyslexia-linked genetic variant of the ROBO1 gene decreases normal crossing of auditory pathways in the human brain. The weaker the expression of the gene is, the more abnormal is the midline crossing. The results link, for the first time, a dyslexia-susceptibility gene to a specific sensory function of the human brain. This collaborative study between Aalto University and University of Helsinki in Finland and the Karolinska Insitutet in Sweden was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

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First-of-its-kind head patch monitors brain blood flow and oxygen

A research team led by investigators at Mayo Clinic in Florida has found that a small device worn on a patient’s brow can be useful in monitoring stroke patients in the hospital. The device measures blood oxygen, similar to a pulse oximeter, which is clipped onto a finger.

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Protein study gives fresh impetus in fight against superbugs

Scientists have shed new light on the way superbugs such as MRSA are able to become resistant to treatment with antibiotics.

Researchers have mapped the complex molecular structure of an enzyme found in many bacteria. These molecules – known as restriction enzymes – control the speed at which bacteria can acquire resistance to drugs and eventually become superbugs.

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New agent improves kidney transplant survival in mice, likely to speed replacement of other organs

New research published online in the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) details a new antibody, called “OPN-305″ that may significantly improve survival outcomes for those receiving donated kidneys and other organs. OPN-305 works by preventing inflammation triggered by oxygen deprivation in the donated organ, allowing for better recovery after transplantation. Specifically, it binds to sensors on transplant tissue, called “toll-like receptors” or “TLR-2,” in the circulating blood and turns off signals that provoke inflammation. In addition, the compound is likely to extend the life of a donated organ after it has been transplanted.

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Maker of VSL#3 probiotic offers assistance program for ulcerative colitis and ileal pouch patients

People who have Ulcerative Colitis (UC) or Ileal Pouch know that finding the right regimen for extending their time between flares is crucial to successfully living with the condition. The solution is often a personalized combination of drugs, dietary changes and, for many, the addition of VSL#3®, a probiotic medical food designated for the dietary management of these conditions. Now, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., maker of VSL#3 medical food is sponsoring a Patient Assistance Program (PAP) to help in-need patients obtain its prescription-only double strength formulation VSL#3 DS.

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Researchers identify key peptides that could lead to a universal vaccine for influenza

Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreeen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu.

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Researchers visualize the development of Parkinson’s cells

In the US alone, at least 500,000 people suffer from Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to control his or her movement. New technology from the University of Bonn in Germany lets researchers observe the development of the brain cells responsible for the disease.

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