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Researchers Reprogram Tumor's Cells To Attack Itself

Researchers Reprogram Tumor's Cells To Attack Itself

Inserting a specific strain of bacteria into the microenvironment of aggressive ovarian cancer transforms the behavior of tumor cells from suppression to immunostimulation, researchers at Norris Cotton Cancer Center and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have found. The findings, published in OncoImmunology, demonstrate a new approach in immunotherapy that can be applied in a variety of cancer types.
"By introducing an attenuated and safe form of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), in collaboration with Aduro Biotech Inc., we found that the attenuated bacteria is taken up by the immunosuppressive cells and transforms them from cells that protect the tumor into cells that attack the tumor," said Steve Fiering, PhD, lead author of the study.

Air Pollution From Biomass Burners Used For Heating

Air Pollution From Biomass Burners Used For Heating

Here's an argument for more nuclear power instead of more biofuels. As many places in the U.S. and Europe increasingly turn to biomass rather than fossil fuels for power and heat, scientists are focusing on what this trend might mean for air quality -- and human health. One study on wood-chip burners' particulate emissions, which can cause heart and lung problems, appears in the journal Energy & Fuels.
The scientists say the findings could help manufacturers reduce the negative impact of this fuel in the future. Or we could just stop burning things for energy and at least get into the 20th century.

Infant Gut Microbiota Correlated To Gestation Duration And Even Delivery Method

Infant Gut Microbiota Correlated To Gestation Duration And Even Delivery Method

Researchers in Singapore and UK as part of the EpiGen consortium worked together with scientists at the Nestlé Research Center, Switzerland, on a new study on the bacterial makeup of the gut (gut microbiota) of infants in Singapore. Their study reveals that the rate of bacterial colonisation of the gut is influenced by external factors such as the method of delivery and duration of gestation. The study also found that infants with a mature gut bacteria profile at an early age had normal levels of body fat at the age of 18 months, while infants with less mature gut bacteria profiles tended to have lower levels of body fat at the age of 18 months, indicating that gut bacteria could be related to normal development and healthy weight gain.

How Accurately Do Lab-Grown Cells Model Human Disease?

How Accurately Do Lab-Grown Cells Model Human Disease?

Cell cultures are good for broad biology and medical research, they can help eliminate a lot of broad concerns, but they are not a faithful mimic of real tissue. For the foreseeable future, though the public thinks animal testing is unnecessary, it really is.A new study finds that laboratory-grown cells experience altered cell states within three days as they adapt to their new environment, and studies of human disease, including cancer, rely on the use of cell cultures that have often been grown for decades. 

Scientists Discover Viral 'Enigma Machine' Of Rhinovirus And Norovirus

Scientists Discover Viral 'Enigma Machine' Of Rhinovirus And Norovirus

Researchers have cracked a code that governs infections by a major group of viruses including the common cold and polio.
Until now, scientists had not noticed the code, which had been hidden in plain sight in the sequence of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) that makes up this type of viral genome.
But a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Early Edition by a group from the University of Leeds and University of York unlocks its meaning and demonstrates that jamming the code can disrupt virus assembly. Stopping a virus assembling can stop it functioning and therefore prevent disease.

Viral Enigma Machine Discovered - Now We Need A Bletchley Park

Viral Enigma Machine Discovered - Now We Need A Bletchley Park

Researchers have cracked a code that governs infections by the common cold and polio viruses.The code was known, it was 'hidden in plain sight' in the sequence of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) that makes up this type of viral genome but its meaning had not been unlocked. Now, researchers have found that jamming the code can disrupt virus assembly. Stopping a virus assembling can stop it functioning and therefore prevent disease. Single-stranded RNA viruses are the simplest type of virus and were probably one of the earliest to evolve. However, they are still among the most potent and damaging of infectious pathogens.

New Plant Genus Named After David Attenborough

New Plant Genus Named After David Attenborough

A new genus and species of flowering plants from the custard apple family, Annonaceae, has been discovered in the jungles of Gabon by French and Gabonese botanists. The extraordinary genus was named Sirdavidia, after David Attenborough to honor his influence on the life and careers of the scientists who discovered it.
But what is so special about this new discovery? The new genus was in fact erected to accommodate an unusual new species, found in Monts de Cristal National Park, Gabon during an expedition focusing on the study of Magnoliidae floral diversity in rain forests, to which the Annonaceae family belongs.

Using Bacteria, Tumor Gets Reprogrammed To Attack Itself

Using Bacteria, Tumor Gets Reprogrammed To Attack Itself

By inserting a specific strain of bacteria into the microenvironment of aggressive ovarian cancer, researchers transformed the behavior of tumor cells from suppression to immunostimulation - they attack themselves. Tumors protect themselves from attack by the immune system by generating an immunosuppressive microenvironment.  By introducing an attenuated and safe form of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), created by Aduro Biotech Inc., they found that the attenuated bacteria is taken up by the immunosuppressive cells and transforms them from cells that protect the tumor into cells that attack the tumor 

Heat Waves More Prominent In Urban Areas

Heat Waves More Prominent In Urban Areas

The world's urban areas have experienced significant increases in heat waves over the past 40 years, according to new research published today.
These prolonged periods of extreme hot days have significantly increased in over 200 urban areas across the globe between 1973 and 2012, and have been most prominent in the most recent years on record.
The results, which have been published today, 30 January, in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, show that over the same time period, more than half of the studied areas showed a significant increase in the number of individual extreme hot days, whilst almost two-thirds showed significant increases in the number of individual extreme hot nights.

Hospitals May Benefit From Six Sigma And Lean Management - Whether They Want It Or Not

Hospitals May Benefit From Six Sigma And Lean Management - Whether They Want It Or Not

No one likes to think of hospital patients like a factory assembly line but with more and more people competing for the same number of doctors, a lot of the patients entering the doors don't need "House" or to be tested for everything due to defensive medicine lawsuit defense policies.
Waiting times in hospital emergency departments could be cut with the introduction of Lean Management and Six Sigma techniques according to new research. Lean Management involves never ending efforts to eliminate or reduce 'waste' while Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven method for eliminating defects in any process. These methods were developed in manufacturing contexts. The two methods can be combined and referred to as Lean Six Sigma (LSS).

Study Analyzes Internet, Mobile And Video Game Effects On Young Users

Study Analyzes Internet, Mobile And Video Game Effects On Young Users

A study conducted by researchers at the UAB, the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) and the FPCEE Blanquerna (Ramon Llull University), and which included the methodological support of the Institute for Primary Healthcare Research (IDIAP Jordi Gol), has analysed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by secondary school students, by using a sample of 5,538 students from the Vallès Occidental region of Catalonia. The study, based on surveys taken in the 2010/2011 academic year, finds links between school failure and an elevated use of computers at home. It also correlates an intensive use if ICTS with the consumption of toxic substances.

How Accurately Do Lab-grown Cells Model Human Disease?

How Accurately Do Lab-grown Cells Model Human Disease?

Cell cultures used in biology and medical research may not act as a faithful mimic of real tissue, according to research published in Genome Biology.
The study finds that laboratory-grown cells experience altered cell states within three days as they adapt to their new environment. Studies of human disease, including cancer, rely on the use of cell cultures that have often been grown for decades. The findings could therefore affect the interpretation of past studies and provide important clues for improving cell cultures in the future.