News and applications for life science research professionals
New Key to Organism Complexity Identified
January 18, 2024 10:40 am | News | CommentsThe diverse complexity seen amongst individual species within the animal kingdom evolved from a surprisingly small gene pool. The key to morphological and behavioral complexity, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests, is the regulation of gene expression by a family of DNA-binding proteins called “transcription factors.”
Researchers Use Luminescent Mice to Track Cancer and Aging in Real-time
January 18, 2024 10:25 am | News | CommentsA team has developed a strain of mice that turns on a gene from fireflies when the normal p16 gene is activated. In cells undergoing senescence, the p16 gene is switched on, activating the firefly gene and causing the affected tissue to glow.
Pfizer animal health IPO could raise more than $2B
January 18, 2024 10:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsDrugmaker Pfizer Inc., which is spinning off its animal health business through an initial public offering, intends to sell 86.1 million shares of common stock. New York-based Pfizer estimates the price for shares of the unit, called Zoetis (zoh-EHT'-ihs) Inc., at $22 to $25. At those prices, the...
Gov't: Food allergies may be disability under law
January 18, 2024 9:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments
Forest Labs says Bystolic approved in Canada
January 17, 2024 5:53 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsForest Laboratories Inc. said Thursday that Canadian regulators approved its high blood pressure drug Bystolic. Forest said Bystolic will be available in Canada starting in the second quarter. In Forest's latest fiscal quarter, worldwide sales of Bystolic rose 20 percent to $108.8 million. ...
Zimmer: FDA clears knee surgery guidance system
January 17, 2024 5:41 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsZimmer Holdings Inc. said Thursday the Food and Drug Administration cleared a new guidance system designed for use in knee replacement surgeries. The company said its iAssist Knee system uses small, disposable electronic components at the site of the surgery and a simple electronic display....
Stryker buying Trauson for $764 million
January 17, 2024 2:25 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMedical device maker Stryker is buying orthopaedic products maker Trauson Holdings Co. for $764 million in order to expand its business in China. Stryker Corp. said Thursday that it will pay 7.50 Hong Kong dollars (97 cents) per ordinary share. Privately held Trauson was founded in China in...
Study Finds a New Culprit for Epileptic Seizures
January 17, 2024 1:22 pm | News | CommentsEpileptic seizures occur when neurons in the brain become excessively active. However, a new study from MIT neuroscientists suggests that some seizures may originate in non-neuronal cells known as glia, which were long believed to play a mere supporting role in brain function.
Tree and Human Health May be Linked
January 17, 2024 12:59 pm | News | CommentsIn an analysis of 18 years of data from 1,296 counties in 15 states, researchers found that Americans living in areas infested by the emerald ash borer, a beetle that kills ash trees, suffered from an additional 15,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 6,000 more deaths from lower respiratory disease when compared to uninfected areas.
Obesity in young kids dropped in NYC, grew in LA
January 17, 2024 12:17 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments
Study: NYC better than LA at cutting kids' obesity
January 17, 2024 12:17 pm | by MIKE STOBBE - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsA new study shows New York City is doing better than Los Angeles in the battle against childhood obesity, at least for low-income children. From 2003 to 2011, obesity rates for poor children dropped in New York to around 16 percent. But they rose in Los Angeles and ended at about 20 percent. The...
Mindfulness Meditation May Relieve Chronic Inflammation
January 17, 2024 11:50 am | News | CommentsPeople suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma — in which psychological stress plays a major role — may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques, according to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientists.
Research Reveals Exactly How the Human Brain Adapts to Injury
January 17, 2024 11:31 am | News | CommentsFor the first time, scientists have used a new combination of neural imaging methods to discover exactly how the human brain adapts to injury. The research shows that when one brain area loses functionality, a “back-up” team of secondary brain areas immediately activates, replacing not only the unavailable area but also its confederates.
Large study confirms flu vaccine safe in pregnancy
January 16, 2024 7:24 pm | by MIKE STOBBE - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsA large study offers reassuring news for pregnant women: It's safe to get a flu shot. The research found no evidence that the vaccine increases the risk of losing a fetus, and may prevent some deaths. Getting the flu while pregnant makes fetal death more likely, the Norwegian research showed. ...
Amgen will spend $200M on Singapore drug facility
January 16, 2024 6:30 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Biotechnology company Amgen Inc. said Wednesday it plans to spend $200 million over the next several years to build a new antibody manufacturing facility in Singapore. Amgen said the facility will make clinical and commercial products. The drugs will be monoclonal...
