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Gene pattern may identify kidney transplant recipients who don't need lifelong anti-rejection drugs

To prevent rejection of their new kidneys, kidney transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives. A handful of people, out of the thousands who have undergone transplantation, have been able to stop taking these drugs without losing their kidneys.

Researchers studying these rare individuals have identified a pattern of genes turned on in their white blood cells, which may one day be used to help identify other transplant recipients who could reduce or completely taper their immunosuppressive therapy without ill effect.

Gene pattern may identify kidney transplant recipients who don't need life-long anti-rejection drugs

Researchers have identified a distinct pattern of gene expression in the largest reported group of kidney transplant recipients who have not rejected the transplant kidneys even though they stopped taking anti-rejection drugs. This finding may help identify other transplant recipients who could safely reduce or end use of immunosuppressive therapy. In 2008, more than 80,000 people in the United States were living with a kidney transplant.

Viral infection linked to juvenile diabetes

SAN DIEGO, CA – May 24, 2010 -- Researchers from Italy have found a statistically significant association between enteroviral infection and diagnosis of type-1 diabetes in children. They report their findings today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego, California.

Model demonstrates infectious cause of asthma

SAN DIEGO, CA – May 24, 2010 -- Scientists from the University of Massachusetts have developed an animal model that shows how an early childhood lung infection can cause asthma later in life. They present their data today at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.

World leaders focus on stroke prevention, care as Stroke journal turns 40

On the 40th anniversary of the journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, stroke leaders from around the world celebrated stroke research accomplishments and set an agenda for the future, according to a special report in the journal.

"The past 40 years have seen more advances in stroke than the previous four millennia," said Vladimir Hachinski, M.D., editor of Stroke and distinguished university professor of neurology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. "We've accomplished a lot but we need to accelerate that progress."

Frequent doctor visits help diabetics lower blood pressure more quickly

DALLAS, May 24, 2010 — Frequent doctor visits helped diabetes patients lower their high blood pressure to normal quicker, according to a large study reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages may lower blood pressure

Drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages — a leading source of added sugar in the U.S. diet — may lower blood pressure, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Beta-blockers may be associated with benefits in patients with lung disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have fewer respiratory flare-ups and longer survival if they take beta-blocker medications, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Study finds H1N1 associated with serious health risks for pregnant women

Pregnant women who contract the H1N1 flu strain are at risk for obstetrical complications including fetal distress, premature delivery, emergency cesarean delivery and fetal death, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Symptom patterns differ between pandemic, seasonal flu in Singapore

In a tropical environment, influenza A(H1N1) appeared milder than seasonal flu, was less likely to cause fever and upset stomach and more likely to infect younger individuals, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Strategy may help translate research findings about blood-pressure treatment into clinical practice

Academic detailing—a method involving face-to-face education of clinicians by investigators trained to present trial findings and guidelines—may have been associated with a small change in prescribing patterns for patients with high blood pressure, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

LSUHSC researcher finds surprising link between sugar in drinks and blood pressure

New Orleans, LA – Research led by Liwei Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Public Health at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has found that there is an association between sugary drinks and blood pressure and that by cutting daily consumption of sugary drinks by just one serving a day, people can lower their blood pressure. The research is published online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

New study first to directly measure body temperatures of extinct species

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new study by researchers from five institutions including the University of Florida introduces the first method to directly measure body temperatures of extinct vertebrates and help reconstruct temperatures of ancient environments.

Caltech-led team first to directly measure body temperatures of extinct vertebrates

Caltech-led team first to directly measure body temperatures of extinct vertebrates

PASADENA, Calif.— Was Tyrannosaurus rex cold-blooded? Did birds regulate their body temperatures before or after they began to grow feathers? Why would evolution favor warm-bloodedness when it has such a high energy cost?

Using fish to illuminate the architecture of inherited disease

Durham, N.C. – A research team led by scientists from the Duke University Medical Center has developed a way to simultaneously look at the effects of 125 mutations occurring on 14 different genes. They used zebrafish as a model to analyze the function of every known mutation in an inherited syndrome called BBS, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.