Public Release: 5-Aug-2012
Nature Medicine
White blood cells mediate insulin resistance
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say neutrophils, an abundant type of white blood cell typically tasked with attacking bacteria and other foreign invaders, also plays an unexpected role in mediating insulin resistance -- the central characteristic of type 2 diabetes, which afflicts an estimated 26 million Americans.
National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 5-Aug-2012
Nature Genetics
Sequencing of malaria genomes reveals challenges, opportunities in battle against parasite
Genetic variability revealed in malaria genomes newly sequenced by two multi-national research teams points to new challenges in efforts to eradicate the parasite, but also offers a better picture of its genetic composition, providing an initial roadmap in the development of vaccines to combat malaria.
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Broad Institute, others

Public Release: 3-Aug-2012
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Heterogeneous ER+ breast cancer models allow more accurate drug testing
Cell cultures are homogeneous. Human tumors are not. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment reports the development of human-derived estrogen-positive breast cancer models that retain their heterogeneity, allowing researchers to more accurately test drugs for this disease.
National Institutes of Health, ASCO YIA, Grohne Cancer Research Fund

Public Release: 3-Aug-2012
Wayne State researchers working to improve genetic analysis, disorder detection
Wayne State University researchers are testing a way to determine the status of fetal chromosomes that could lead to healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.
National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 3-Aug-2012
EMBO Journal
Fragile X and Down syndromes share signalling pathway for intellectual disability
Intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes involves similar molecular pathways. The two disorders share disturbances in the molecular events that regulate the way nerve cells develop dendritic spines, the small extensions found on the surface of nerve cells that are crucial for communication in the brain.
National Institutes of Health

Public Release: 3-Aug-2012
Journal of National Cancer Institute
People with allergies may have lower risk of brain tumors
New research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that there's a link between allergies and reduced risk of a serious type of cancer that starts in the brain.
NIH/National Cancer Institute, OSUCCC