Aliquots - Research Briefs

March 15, 2013

Diagnostic codes identify smoking status

Diagnostic codes used for billing purposes effectively identify smokers in a general clinic population and can be used to adjust smoking status in genetic and epidemiologic studies.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 14, 2013

Bacterial resistance breaks bridges

Understanding how bacteria become resistant to quinolone antibiotics could guide strategies for developing new antibacterial drugs.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 6, 2013

Tick-tock – predicting menopause

An ultrasound count of potentially egg-producing follicles could predict the timing of menopause.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 4, 2013

Gene ‘dose’ may be key to autism

Individuals with overexpression of the gene MECP2 have core features of autism spectrum disorder.

By Bill Snyder
March 1, 2013

Target for inflammatory bowel disease

The factor STAT6 appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of an inflammatory bowel disease, suggesting it may be a promising target for new treatments.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 28, 2013

Starting up protein synthesis, in yeast

Researchers have found an unusual interaction between a factor that “turns on” protein synthesis and one that produces fatty acids.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 20, 2013

Factor CITED in pediatric liver cancer

Vanderbilt researchers report that they have found a factor involved in the persistence of embryonic cells implicated in childhood liver cancer.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 18, 2013

Pancreas cells full of potential

Adult cells in the pancreas can return to a less mature state – and then become a different cell type, like the beta cells that secrete insulin.
By Jessica Mazerik
February 15, 2013

Cure in sight for kissing bug’s bite

It’s possible to cure Chagas disease – a deadly tropical infection transmitted by “kissing bugs” – in a mouse model.
By Bill Snyder
February 14, 2013

Cell connections key in valve disease

A protein that connects cells together participates in the calcification that occurs in heart valve disease.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 6, 2013

Linking oxygen, iron and red blood cells

The HIF oxygen-sensing pathway and its responses to low oxygen may be targeted for treatments of anemia and disorders of iron balance.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 4, 2013

Brain tumor TIP reveals new target

The protein TIP-1 appears to be a novel prognostic marker for glioblastoma and may be a good therapeutic target for disrupting tumor-driven blood vessel development.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 1, 2013

Cell source of heart’s blood vessels

An unexpected group of cells generates the coronary arteries and may be useful for regeneration therapies following injury to the heart.
By Leigh MacMillan