Body

Helsinki, 4 July 2016: Despite the claims and counter-claims for new embryo assessment techniques introduced over the past two decades, the search for the holy grail of assisted reproduction - the key to the embryo destined to implant - continues. Genetic screening techniques so far have relied largely on the assessment of one component of the embryo's genetic constitution, the number of chromosomes in its cells. Studies dating back 20 years have shown beyond doubt that chromosomal abnormality is common in preimplantation embryos, and becomes even more common with increasing age.

A new study has found that reducing antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections - such as coughs, colds, sore throats and ear infections - is not linked to an increase in the most serious bacterial complications, such as bacterial meningitis. The study, published in the BMJ, investigated whether reducing antibiotic prescribing for people attending their GP with respiratory tract infections could have an effect on safety.

Detecting pesticides and nerve gas in very low concentrations. An international team of researchers led by Ivo Stassen and Rob Ameloot from KU Leuven, Belgium, have made it possible.

OAK BROOK, Ill. - Annual low-dose computed-tomography (CT) screening can eliminate the need for biopsy or surgery in nonsolid lung nodules, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Convincing kids to choose vegetables becomes easier when you deploy a team of animated characters to sell them on the good stuff, new research has found.

Miki Mushroom, Zach Zucchini and Suzie Sweet Pea appear to wield the kind of influence many moms and dads only wish they had.

BARCELONA-LUGANO, July 2, 2016 - A novel anti-interleukin 1-alpha antibody has shown a significant impact on symptoms, and a high level of safety and tolerability in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, according to phase III data (1) presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology's 18th World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, Spain.

Xilonix is the first monoclonal antibody immunotherapy to specifically target and neutralize interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), one of the most potent inflammatory substances manufactured by the body or tumour cells.

USC researcher Megan L. McCain and colleagues have devised a way to develop bigger, stronger muscle fibers. But instead of popping up on the bicep of a bodybuilder, these muscles grow on a tiny scaffold or "chip" molded from a type of water-logged gel made from gelatin.

First authors Archana Bettadapur and Gio C. Suh describe these muscles-on-a-chip in a new study published in Scientific Reports.

During normal embryonic development, skeletal muscles form when cells called myoblasts fuse to form muscle fibers, known as myotubes.

Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden are first to discover that bacteria can multiply disease-inducing genes which are needed to rapidly cause infection. The results were published in Science on June 30, 2016.

More than 22 years ago, researchers at Umeå University were first to discover an infection strategy of human pathogenic Yersinia bacteria -- a protein structure in bacterial cell-walls that resembled a syringe. The structure, named "Type III secretion system" or T3SS, makes it possible to transfer bacterial proteins into the host cell and destroy its metabolism.

University of California, Berkeley engineer Phillip Messersmith is happy to be learning lessons from a lowly mollusk, with the expectation that the knowledge gained will enable him and fellow physicians to prevent deaths among their youngest patients -- those who haven't been born yet.

The ability to control gene expression in cells allows scientists to understand gene function and manipulate cell fate. Recently, scientists have developed a revolutionary gene-editing tool, called CRIPSR/Cas9, which employs a system naturally used by bacteria as protection against viruses. The tool allows scientists to precisely add, remove or replace specific parts of DNA. CRISPR/Cas9 is the most efficient, inexpensive and easiest gene-editing tool available to date. However, scientists have not yet managed to effectively use it to activate genes in the cells.

Tubulin inhibitors are amongst the most successful anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and herbicidal agents. Their vascular disrupting activity has recently attracted research focus as it elicits anti-cancer effects at doses well below that of other toxic agents. The colchicine site of tubulin is located in a hydrophobic region at the interface of the tubulin α,β-dimer. Ligands binding at the colchicine site occupy different pockets and make different types of interactions with the protein.

Researchers are getting closer to understanding how some natural antibiotics work so they can develop drugs that mimic them.

A recent review commissioned by the British government reported that, "without policies to stop the worrying spread of antimicrobial resistance, today's already large 700,000 deaths every year would become an extremely disturbing 10 million every year by 2050, more people than currently die from cancer."

The protein STAT3 plays an important role in cell proliferation, survival and migration, making it an important modulator in inflammatory and malignant diseases. Mutations to the gene that signals its production can lead to a variety of diseases, including cancers and autoimmune disorders such as lymphoma, leukaemia, and childhood-onset autoimmunity. Understanding how STAT3 works is important to finding drugs that can treat these diseases.

A variety of normally harmless bacteria can cause bleaching disease in seaweeds when the seaweeds become stressed by high water temperatures, UNSW Australia researchers have discovered.

Seaweeds are the "trees" of the ocean, providing vital habitat, food and shelter for many species of fish and other coastal marine organism, such as crayfish and abalone.

"A lot of attention has been paid to coral bleaching, but seaweeds are also affected by temperature-related diseases," says study senior author UNSW's Dr Suhelen Egan.

The Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP), Earth's largest region of warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), has the highest rainfall and is fundamental to global atmospheric circulation and the hydrological cycle. The IPWP has experienced substantial warming and growth during the past century. The region also experienced the highest rates of sea-level rise over the world, indicating large increases in ocean heat content and leading to substantial impacts on small island states in the region.