1/13/15 Health News AMINO ACID CURTAILS E. COLI O157 ♦ Nanotechnology guides cancer surgery ♦ FDA label likely prevents use of metformin

RESEARCH: AMINO ACID AFFECTS E. COLI O157 BEHAVIOR

New research suggests that an amino acid is what affects the behavior of E. coli O157. A University of Glasgow team analyzed the genome sequence of 1,500 strains of E. coli to see how the genes of the pathogen respond to different concentrations of D-Serine, an amino acid produced in the brain, where it plays... Continue Reading

Glowing' new nanotechnology guides cancer surgery, also kills remaining malignant cells

A new way to selectively insert compounds into cancer cells has been developed by scientists -- a system that will help surgeons identify malignant tissues and then, in combination with phototherapy, kill any remaining cancer cells after a tumor is removed. Ultimately, it could make cancer surgery far more effective. Continue Reading

Ouch! When teeth and hands connect, bites may be beastly

Hand injuries are frequently caused by human and animal bites, prompting as many as 330,000 emergency department visits in the United States each year. A literature review outlines the potential complications of human and animal bites to the hand, the importance of early injury assessment, and the use of antibiotic and other treatment methods to avoid infection, permanent disability, and amputation. Continue Reading

Overly conservative FDA label likely prevents use of metformin in many type 2 diabetics, experts say

Many patients with type 2 diabetes in the United States may be discouraged from taking metformin--a proven, oral diabetes medicine--because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inappropriately labels the drug unsafe for some patients also suffering from kidney problems, researchers report  Continue Reading

1/18/14 Health News: Man Suing Grocery Over Tainted Beef Death - New Genetic Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetics - Embryonic Stem Cell Rejection Fixed

Edmonton man suing grocery chain over tainted-beef death

An Edmonton-area man has launched a $480,000 lawsuit against Save-On-Foods after alleging his wife died as a result of eating E. Coli-tainted beef bought there.According to a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen’s Bench on Jan. 8, Nancy Yauk became “extremely ill” with E. Coli on Oct. 2, 2012, after consuming beef products purchased from Save-On-Foods and died.Continue reading

A Surprising Genetic Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes is Discovered

All environmental factors being equal, Mexican Americans and other Latinos are at nearly twice the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than any other ethnic group. Now, an international research group known as the SIGMA (Slim Initiative in Genomic Medicine for the Americas) Type 2 Diabetes Consortium, may be a step closer to understanding why.  In the largest ever genetic study of its kind conducted a DNA analysis of more than 8,000 residents of Mexico and people who lived in Latin America and discovered a gene variant that highly correlates to developing the disease. People who carry one copy of the variant of this gene, named SLC16A11, have a 25 percent greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, while those who inherit the gene variant from both parents -- meaning they have two copies of it -- have a correlating 50 percent risk of developing the disease..Continue Reading

Embryonic Stem Cell Rejection Problem Fixed, Study Says

One of the toughest problems facing embryonic stem cell therapy, immune rejection of transplanted cells, may have been solved, according to a UC San Diego-led research team. The cells can be made invisible to the immune system by genetically engineering them to make two immune-suppressing molecules..Continue Reading