This month in Bio-Med Roundup:
- Corey et al. described that development of an HIV vaccine could be accelerated by testing candidate vaccines using adaptive clinical trial designs..
- Tao et al. found that one partner of a fusion gene found in gastric cancer, CD44-SLC1A2, may contribute to the tumor’s abnormal metabolism.
- Cheng showed that specific, durable epigenetic changes induced in the fetus by maternal diet may spur development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
- Furuta et al. reported that normal mammary epithelial cells secrete an anticancer cytokine, IL-25, suggesting that IL-25 receptor signaling may be a therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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NEUROSCIENCE/PSYCHOLOGY
Alzheimer’s Disease: The Challenge of the Second Century
D. M. Holtzman, J. C. Morris, and A. M. Goate
In the first of our State of the Art Review series, David M. Holtzman, John C. Morris, and Alison M. Goate explore the rapid pace of Alzheimer’s disease research and the challenges to translating research breakthroughs into clinical treatments.
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Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Disease Shows Promise
Anders Björklund and Tomas Björklund
A gene therapy trial for Parkinson's disease met its primary endpoint, but challenges remain.
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MICROBIOLOGY/VIROLOGY
Targeting Nrf2 Signaling Improves Bacterial Clearance by Alveolar Macrophages in Patients with COPD and in a Mouse Model
C. J. Harvey, et al
Bacterial clearance in macrophages from lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is improved by stimulating the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway.
Hunting for Those with Heavy Hearts
R. S. Boxer
Biomarkers may help to identify people with heart hypertrophy before the manifestation of heart failure.
Shocking Memories After Surgery
G. A. Mashour
Overexpression of heat shock protein can prevent postoperative memory impairment in mice.
Community Health Care: Therapeutic Opportunities in the Human Microbiome
J. L. Sonnenburg and M. A. Fischbach
The human microbiome harbors tremendous untapped therapeutic potential
HIV-1 Vaccines and Adaptive Trial Designs
L. Corey et al
Development of an HIV vaccine could be accelerated by testing candidate vaccines using adaptive clinical trial designs.
CELL/DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Nanoparticles and Jelly
E. Rytting
An implantable cisplatin-nanoparticle-hydrogel system shows promise for inhibiting tumor growth in vivo.
The Fate and Toxicity of Raman-Active Silica-Gold Nanoparticles in Mice
A. S. Thakor, et al
Gold-core nanoparticles designed for imaging by Raman spectroscopy in patients are generally nontoxic in mice, causing only temporary liver inflammation when given intravenously.
Establishment of Antitumor Memory in Humans Using in Vitro–Educated CD8+ T Cells
M. O. Butler, et al
Antitumor CD8+ T cells educated in vitro can persist as memory T cells and induce antitumor responses in humans without prior conditioning or cytokine treatment.
Differential Metabolic Impact of Gastric Bypass Surgery Versus Dietary Intervention in Obese Diabetic Subjects Despite Identical Weight Loss
Blandine Laferrčre
The enhanced decrease in circulating branched-chain amino acids and their metabolites after gastric bypass occurs by mechanisms other than weight loss.
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Blood Sample Supplants Biopsy?
S. Damani
Donor-heart DNA circulating in transplant recipients pinpoints people at risk for rejection.
BIOCHEMISTRY
Fishing For Answers
D. Gesty-Palmer
A zebrafish model of tuberculosis reveals new insights into how drug tolerance emerges in mycobacteria.
Balloons with Brains
C. L. Skelly
Semiconductor devices and sensors integrated into biocompatible materials transform balloon catheters into a next-generation surgical tool.
GENETICS
Genital HIV-1 RNA Predicts Risk of Heterosexual HIV-1 Transmission
J. M. Baeten et al
Genital HIV-1 RNA quantity predicts risk of heterosexual HIV-1 transmission independently of plasma HIV-1 concentration.
See related Perspective
CD44-SLC1A2 Gene Fusions in Gastric Cancer
J. Tao et al
One partner of a fusion gene found in gastric cancer, CD44-SLC1A2, may contribute to the tumor’s abnormal metabolism.
Starve Now, Gain Later
M. H. Cheng
Specific, durable epigenetic changes induced in the fetus by maternal diet may spur development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
Electronic Medical Records for Genetic Research: Results of the eMERGE Consortium
A. N. Kho, et al
Clinical data captured in electronic medical records accurately identify cases and controls for genome-wide association studies.
Divide and Conquer: Teasing Out the Cause of Heart Defects in Down Syndrome
R. M. Farrell
Individual genetic mutations may contribute to the distinct conditions that make up Down syndrome.
Actionable Pharmacogenetics for Epilepsy
T. B. Neiwold
An HLA allele is a major genetic risk factor for a severe adverse reaction to an anti-epileptic drug in Europeans.
Sperm Find Culture
C. Evans-Molina
Cultured neonatal mouse testes produce functional mature sperm, an advance that one day may be useful for treating male infertility.
The NCGC Pharmaceutical Collection: A Comprehensive Resource of Clinically Approved Drugs Enabling Repurposing and Chemical Genomics
R. Huang, et al
Resources from the National Institutes of Health Chemical Genomics Center include a database and a physical collection of approved drugs.
IMMUNOLOGY
Patient, Heal Thyself
D. S. Hong
CD40 activation boosts the antitumor response of stromal-associated macrophages in humans and mice with pancreatic cancer.
Enemies Among Us
M. Nyendak
Invasive streptococcal strains are genetically similar to pharyngitis strains, yet polymorphisms lead to changes in invasive potential.
Communicating Wirelessly with Our Bodies
W. Wang
Wireless communication for biomedical devices is enabled by using the human body for signal transmission.
IL-25 Causes Apoptosis of IL-25R–Expressing Breast Cancer Cells Without Toxicity to Nonmalignant Cells
S. Furuta et al
Normal mammary epithelial cells secrete an anticancer cytokine, IL-25, suggesting that IL-25 receptor signaling may be a therapeutic target for breast cancer.
A Little Tolerance Can Prevent a Broken Heart
A. K. Shum
Lack of thymic tolerance to a-MyHC may contribute to myocarditis development in patients with autoimmune-mediated myocardial disease.
The Power of Epistasis
C. M. Nielson
Mutations in human immunodeficiency virus genes work together to heighten drug resistance.
Breast Cancer Imaging Goes Green
S. Tridandapani
Near-infrared imaging of the breasts after intravenous injection of indocyanine green distinguishes benign from malignant lesions.
The Biological Response to Biologics
R. J. Lin
The development of antidrug antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients reduces long-term drug efficacy.
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