Cancer Research

Scientific happenings, big and small, on this day in history… But first, today’s quiz: What event, which took place on this day in 1883, produced the most violent explosion known in human history? You probably know the answer; it’s just a matter of thinking about it for a moment. But just to be sure, you can check the answer at the end of the article. And on to other historic happenings… EVENTS 1895 Electricity first transmitted commercially from Niagara Falls The Niagara Falls are a natural illustration of pure power. And tucked within them is their man-made companions, gargantuan…

I usually limit my book reviews to Goodreads or Shelfari but this one deserves much more attention. In Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs; When Scientists Find What They're NOT Looking for, Morton Meyers reviews examples of the unpredictability of scientific progress. This could just be a collection of interesting anecdotes - and some of the stories are truly fascinating. My favorite is probably the discovery of platinum compounds for the treatment of cancer. It came about from the accidental electro-dissolution of a platinum electrode during an experiment studying…

ScientificBlogger Matthew Brown had the chance to sit down with Dr. Judy Evans, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon in the UK, to talk about her award-winning Women In Medicine documentary on the BBC, her sex discrimination and victimization court case, and her life since returning to work after the trial. At the height of her career, she was suspended from her work in the UK's public health system when some of her male colleagues raised concerns about the integrity of her work. This suspension came within ten days after she gave her support to a Nigerian trainee—a black woman—who told Dr. Evans…

It may take just one or two proteins to polish off a simple cellular task, but life-or-death matters, such as caring for the ends of chromosomes known as telomeres, require interacting crews of proteins, all with a common goal but each with a specialized task. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies led by Vicki Lundblad, Ph.D., a Professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, have discovered that a protein that helps elongate chromosome ends—and hence saves cells from premature growth arrest—likely recognizes where to report to work through a common fold. Those…

According to new research in the Journal of Consumer Research, simply asking people a question about whether they're willing to volunteer their time leads to increases in donations of both time and money. The researchers conducted three separate studies, which yielded similar results. In the first study, participants completed an online survey and then read a statement about lung cancer and the American Lung Cancer Foundation's mission. Half of the participants were asked how much time they would like to donate to the foundation and half were not asked. Then all were asked how much money they…

TOKYO and INDIANAPOLIS, August 21 /PRNewswire/ -- - New analysis of landmark study showed patients taking prasugrel had lower risk of combined endpoint of recurrent heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death after first event than those taking clopidogrel A new, pre-specified analysis of the landmark Phase III head-to-head TRITON-TIMI 38 study showed patients who took prasugrel for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) managed with an artery-opening procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and had survived their first cardiovascular event and then suffered a subsequent event,…

Unusually high levels of physical exertion do cause oxidative stress, but this does not result in any long-term damage to DNA, say the results of a new research project. As part of the project, 42 male athletes took part both in a triathlon and an extensive biomedical study, which examined numerous physiological values parameters during the period from two days before to 19 days after the triathlon. The range of personal views on the benefits - or otherwise - of physical activity covers everything from "sport is good for you" to "sport is a killer" - not very scientific. There is no doubt…

The structure of gold nanoparticles has been largely unknown for over a decade. A current study helps to understand the stability, composition as well as electronic, chemical and optical properties of the particles. The research group, led by Professor Hannu Häkkinen of the Nanoscience Centre of the University of Jyväskylä, says the results of the study can be utilized in medicine, biomolecule research and nanoelectronics. With the help of gold nanoparticles it is, for instance, possible to destroy cancer cells. The particles are able to attach themselves to cancer cells due to a…

Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory were the five taste sensations you probably learned in school but a group of chemists in Philadelphia say a new one should be added — "calcium." In a report today at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, scientist Michael G. Tordoff, Ph.D., and colleagues with the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia described research they say demonstrates that a taste for calcium exists in mice. With mice and humans sharing many of the same genes, the findings suggest that people also may have such a taste, which could have a range of…

Our skin has an 'odor profile' and that knowledge may open doors to early and noninvasive skin cancer detection and diagnosis, say researchers at the Monell Center, who used odors from skin to identify basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Human skin produces numerous airborne chemical molecules known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, many of which are odorous. In the study presented at the ACS, the researchers obtained VOC profiles from basal cell carcinoma sites in 11 patients and compared them to profiles from similar skin sites in 11 healthy controls. The…