Only 5 percent of cancer research funds are spent on metastases, yet it kills 90 percent of all cancer patients

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- On average, about 5 percent of total cancer research funding is spent on investigating metastases (the spread of cancer cells around the body) in Europe, yet metastatic disease is the direct or indirect cause of 90 percent of all cancer deaths, according to a new editorial.

在癌症的研究上應花更多的心力及資源在其擴散期上。

metastases (the spread of cancer cells around the body)


Journal Reference:
Jonathan Sleeman and Patricia S. Steeg. Cancer metastasis as a therapeutic target. European Journal of Cancer, 2010; 46 (7): 1177-1180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.02.039

UK research leads to blood test for early detection of cancer

ScienceDaily (2010-06-02) -- A ground-breaking blood test promises to aid the detection of cancer as much as five years earlier than current testing methods such as mammography and CT scans. Physicians will know the result of their patient’s test within one week of sending in a blood sample, according to researchers.


Oncimmune 所發展出的方法(immuno-biomarkers)，較現今使用的mammography 及 CT scans要提早上5年發現癌症，所收到的血液樣本送到Oncimmune只要一週便可檢出結果。
這個方法乃衍自John Robertson的研究結果之商業化。用在肺癌(EarlyCDT-Lung™ )已在全美上市，英國則在2011年上市

John Robertson, a world-renowned breast cancer specialist and Professor of Surgery in The University of Nottingham's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
mammography 【醫】乳腺X光攝影檢查術
CT scans (Computed tomography (CT))

Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Nottingham.

Body's own proteins may lead the way in global fight against tuberculosis

ScienceDaily (2010-06-06) -- Scientists hope to counter the re-emerging threat of tuberculosis with help from proteins within our bodies. In new research, scientists show how the protein CCL5 plays a protective role in helping the body ward off TB in early stages of infection. CCL5 is a member of a large family of proteins responsible for immune cell migration toward infection sites.



Journal Reference:
B. Vesosky, E. K. Rottinghaus, P. Stromberg, J. Turner, G. Beamer. CCL5 participates in early protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2010; DOI: 10.1189/jlb.1109742

Making enough red blood cells: Scientists identify molecules that ensure red blood cell production

ScienceDaily (2010-06-06) -- Scientists have identified two small RNA molecules which ensure that enough red blood cells are produced efficiently, by fine-tuning a number of different genes involved in this process.

科學家己找出兩個RNA小分子確保紅血球能有效率地生產。此二小分子微調了紅血球產生過程中其他數個基因。

To form red blood cells, large, round cells known as precursors have to become small and disc-shaped, like balls of plasticine squeezed between finger and thumb. In the process, they must also produce the large quantities of haemoglobin that will allow them to transport oxygen, and shrink and dispose of their nucleus. The EMBL scientists found that two microRNAs, called MiR144 and MiR451, control the final stages of this process.


blood cell formation, or haematopoiesis

Journal Reference:
K. D. Rasmussen, S. Simmini, C. Abreu-Goodger, N. Bartonicek, M. Di Giacomo, D. Bilbao-Cortes, R. Horos, M. Von Lindern, A. J. Enright, D. O'Carroll. The miR-144/451 locus is required for erythroid homeostasis. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2010; DOI: 10.1084/jem.20100458

Bone marrow plays critical role in enhancing immune response to viruses, researchers find

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Researchers for the first time have determined that bone marrow cells play a critical role in fighting respiratory viruses, making the bone marrow a potential therapeutic target, especially in people with compromised immune systems. They have found that during infections of the respiratory tract, cells produced by the bone marrow are instructed by proteins to migrate to the lungs to help fight infection.

科學家首次發現髓細胞扮演人體抵抗病體的主要功能.

Bone marrow is the soft fatty substance inside human or animal bones.


Journal Reference:
Tamar Hermesh, Bruno Moltedo, Thomas M. Moran, Carolina B. López. Antiviral Instruction of Bone Marrow Leukocytes during Respiratory Viral Infections. Cell Host & Microbe, 2010; 7 (5): 343-353 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2010.04.006

New pathway to cheap insulin

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Researchers have now developed a new method to cheaply produce insulin for the treatment of diabetes.

發現降低胰島素價格的方法:


They found the yeast Pichia pastoris and modified the cells so that they produce the building block for insulin while growing on a special medium.


diabetes /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/ 糖尿病；多尿症


Journal Reference:
Gurramkonda et al. Application of simple fed-batch technique to high-level secretory production of insulin precursor using Pichia pastoris with subsequent purification and conversion to human insulin. Microbial Cell Factories, 2010; 9 (1): 31 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-9-31

Inflammasome increases muscle damage in muscular dystrophy, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- In a new study, researchers demonstrate that affected muscle may directly contribute to inflammation in muscular dystrophy.

發炎直接導致肌肉萎縮

To investigate the role of the inflammasome, which is responsible for activation of inflammatory processes, in muscular dystrophy, Rawat et al examined the inflammasome platform in mouse and human tissues that develop limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B). They found that components of the inflammasome pathway were upregulated and activated in diseased muscle as compared with control muscle and that primary skeletal muscle cells can secrete inflammatory mediators, directly participating in inflammasome formation. Moreover, diseased muscle cells expressed innate immune molecules, suggesting that affected muscle may directly contribute to inflammation in muscular dystrophy and providing a new therapeutic target for LGMD2B.


muscular dystrophy肌肉萎縮
inflammation 發炎；炎症

Better animal-free test for chemicals that can cause contact dermatitis

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Scientists are reporting development of a fast, simple, inexpensive method for determining whether chemicals in consumer products and workplaces may cause skin allergies in people -- a method that does not involve use of animals.

不需動物的實驗, 人體皮膚是否會過敏....

現存的化學藥劑檢測使用的物有: glutathione 會類似皮膚蛋白質, 且與致敏物結合.
但科學家稱, 早期的皮膚敏感試驗皆不合適.

本研究的皮膚蛋白質替代物質為nitrobenzenethiol : 與皮膚過敏源比較, 此化合物極合適screen基本的致敏物質.

Journal Reference:
Itai Chipinda, Risikat O. Ajibola, Moshood K. Morakinyo, Tinashe B. Ruwona, Reuben H. Simoyi, Paul D. Siegel. Rapid and Simple Kinetics Screening Assay for Electrophilic Dermal Sensitizers Using Nitrobenzenethiol. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 2010; 23 (5): 918 DOI: 10.1021/tx100003w

Surgical procedure offers new option for pediatric patients with rare cancer in abdomen

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- A study by a pediatric surgical oncologist shows that an adult surgery adapted for use in young patients increased the survival of children with rare tumors in the abdomen.

成人的外科方法可增加小兒腹部罕見腫瘤的存活率。

Pediatric 【醫】小兒科的



Journal Reference:
Andrea Hayes-Jordan, Holly Green, Nancy Fitzgerald, Lianchun Xiao, Peter Anderson. Novel treatment for desmoplastic韌帶 small round cell tumor: hyperthermic 溫熱 intraperitoneal腹腔 perfusion【醫】灌注. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2010; 45 (5): 1000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2010.02.034

MicroRNA expression and turnover are regulated by neural activity in the retina and brain

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Scientists in Switzerland have found that microRNAs, small RNA regulators of gene expression, are up- and down-regulated in the retina during light-dark adaptation and in response to synaptic stimulation in hippocampal and cortical neurons. This important discovery provides an unexpected function for microRNAs: it shows that they are able to regulate rapidly the expression of synaptic proteins, which are involved in synapse plasticity and memory formation.


瑞士的科學家發現microRNAs的作用在視網膜。
(該要細讀一下microRNAs在神經元的作用及神經元的功能)



Journal Reference:
Jacek Krol, Volker Busskamp, Ilona Markiewicz, Michael B. Stadler, Sebastian Ribi, Jens Richter, Jens Duebel, Silvia Bicker, Hans Jörg Fehling, Dirk Schübeler. Characterizing Light-Regulated Retinal MicroRNAs Reveals Rapid Turnover as a Common Property of Neuronal MicroRNAs. Cell, 2010; 141 (4): 618 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.03.039

Will we succeed? The science of self-motivation

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Can you help you? Recent research has shown that those who ask themselves whether they will perform a task generally do better than those who tell themselves that they will.

[自問是否要做]的人，比起 [告訴自己要做]的人，前者做得更好。

"The popular idea is that self-affirmations enhance people's ability to meet their goals," Professor Albarracin said. "It seems, however, that when it comes to performing a specific behavior, asking questions is a more promising way of achieving your objectives."



The trio published its research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, in the April 2010 edition of the journal Psychological Science.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. The original article was written by Matthew Freeman.

Sugary band-aid may help heal post-operative tissue

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- A compound found in sunless tanning spray may help to heal wounds following surgery, according to plastic surgeons and biomedical engineers.

手術後的復原新材質。凝膠(含polyethylene glycol 及 a polycarbonate of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG-pDHA))
《Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences》 show that a sticky gel composed of polyethylene glycol and a polycarbonate of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG-pDHA) may help to seal wounds created by surgery.



Story Source: 內文中有提到出版的文獻？
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Lack of private insurance contributes to higher deaths among black heart transplant patients, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Transplant surgeons at Johns Hopkins who have reviewed the medical records of more than 20,000 heart transplant patients say that it is not simply racial differences, but rather flaws in the health care system, along with type of insurance and education levels, in addition to biological factors, that are likely the causes of disproportionately worse outcomes after heart transplantation in African Americans.

心臟移植後的存活率似乎與人種無關，主要可能與其保險系統。又：黑人接受換心手術者存活率較低？
(有別於以往的研究都是個別的研究中心，此次採樣大)




Journal Reference:
Jeremiah G. Allen, Eric S. Weiss, George J. Arnaoutakis, Stuart D. Russell, William A. Baumgartner, John V. Conte, Ashish S. Shah. The Impact of Race on Survival After Heart Transplantation: An Analysis of More Than 20,000 Patients. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2010; 89 (6): 1956 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.02.093

Epilepsy surgery can have beneficial effect on memory, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy run the risk of gradual deterioration in their cognitive abilities. Surgical treatment generally puts an end to seizures but can have a negative effect on memory. However, there is no further deterioration in memory, and some patients may even recover some of their memory capacity, new research from Sweden reveals.


具抗藥性的癲癇患者，有感知能力退化的危險。手術對記憶力而言可能會有負面的作用,但可停止其記憶的繼續惡化。甚至某些病人會回復其部份的記憶能力。(論文)

Epilepsy 癲癇



Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Gothenburg, via AlphaGalileo.

What happens when we get angry?

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- When we get angry, the heart rate, arterial tension and testosterone production increases, cortisol (the stress hormone) decreases, and the left hemisphere of the brain becomes more stimulated. This is indicated by a new investigation that analyzes the changes in the brain's cardiovascular, hormonal and asymmetric activation response when we get angry.

我們生氣時，心率(heart rate), 動脈張力arterial tension and 睾酮；睾丸素testosterone production 增加, 可體松,皮質醇cortisol (the stress hormone)降低, and the left hemisphere of the brain becomes more stimulated.大腦左半邊較受刺激。


Journal Reference:
Neus Herrero, Marien Gadea, Gabriel Rodríguez-Alarcón, Raúl Espert, Alicia Salvador. What happens when we get angry? Hormonal, cardiovascular and asymmetrical brain responses. Hormones and Behavior, 2010; 57 (3): 276 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.12.008

Antidepressants in pregnancy increase risk of miscarriage, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- A new study found a 68 percent increase in the overall risk of miscarriage in pregnant women using antidepressants.

孕婦使用抗憂鬱藥會導致流產。




Journal Reference:
Hamid Reza Nakhai-Pour, Perrine Broy, and Anick Bérard. Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion. Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 2010 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.091208

Impulsivity-related problem drinking decreases greatly for 18- to 25-year-olds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Impulsivity normally decreases during emerging and young adulthood and is associated with reduced substance abuse. Not all individuals, however, "mature out" of impulsive behavior. A new study has found that 18-to-25-year-olds exhibited the largest declines in impulsivity as well as the sharpest decreases in alcohol consumption.

本文指的是關於使用酒精的人的人格特質及其相關的研究。
(未細讀)

Journal Reference:
. Developmental Trajectories of Impulsivity and Their Associations with Alcohol Use and Related Outcomes during Emerging and Young Adulthood I. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, August 2010

Chances of surviving cardiac arrest depends on your neighborhood

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- The odds of surviving cardiac arrest may depend on which part of town you call home and whether anyone in the neighborhood comes to your rescue by attempting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to a new study.

結論是：因為社區的特性，要減低心臟停止時的致死，CPR的教育得更普及。

cardiac arrest【醫】心搏停止,心臟停跳
cardiopulmonary resuscitation復甦 (CPR)


Journal Reference:
Comilla Sasson et al. Small Area Variations in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Does the Neighborhood Matter? Annals of Internal Medicine, June 2010

Newly discovered kinase regulates cytoskeleton, and perhaps holds key to how cancer cells spread

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Scientists have identified a previously unknown kinase that regulates cell proliferation, shape and migration, and may play a major role in the progression or metastasis of cancer cells.

科學家已鑑定出原先未知的kanase，它控制了細胞的增殖、形狀及移動，可能也與癌細胞的惡化有關。
這篇文獻還未出版(至2010.06.01止)

"This molecule may be an important new target for future anticancer therapies and a clinical biomarker that predicts whether a cancer is likely to spread," said Klemke.

本文有個重要的概念，細胞的這些重要的"行為"與細朐骨架有關，而這個kinase 則可能是其重要的指標，這對癌症的治療可能有幫助。



Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of California - San Diego, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

身體狀況2010.06.13

2010.06.13 04:12
從03:50之後，忽然覺得從胸口(正中)開始有種滯頓感，然後是覺得是有點麻、熱連到右太陽穴，下頷(唇下)，到耳下的位置，是種緊張,但不似是肌肉的反而像是上述的骨骼之處。

我還在想說，我會否突然中風？？

該休息了，畢竟除了喝水(咖啡)抽煙，不太休息，已經算是工作了四個多小時了。

2010.06.13 05:11 應在05:05之前，已經較感受不到上述的感覺了。

Animal study reveals new target for antidepressants

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Antidepressants such as Prozac are not instant mood-lifters. But researchers have found clues to the delayed response and common return of depressive symptoms when taking serotonin-related antidepressants. Rather than activating all of the brain's serotonin receptors, as current drugs do, their study suggests there's just one critical serotonin receptor important to relieving depression and anxiety. It opens the door to more effective treatment for the 20.9 million Americans with depressive disorders.

serotonin-related抗憂鬱藥物不是速效的可能原因：腦中僅有一重要的受體，這對日後的研發有重要的啟示。



Journal Reference:
Traynor et al. RGS inhibition at Gai2 selectively potentiates 5-HT1A-mediated antidepressant effects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1000003107

Patients' skin, dental problems often misunderstood by care providers

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Problems patients experience due to dental or skin conditions are often differently perceived by care providers, according to a new European study.

病人的情緒經常被低估或忽略了。


Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Expertanswer (Expertsvar in Swedish), via AlphaGalileo.

Education helps against dementia, Swedish study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- Researchers have discovered that education not only delays the early symptoms of dementia, but can also slow down the development of the disease -- a finding that could result in faster diagnosis and treatment of dementia, reveals new research from Sweden.

教育不僅延緩早期的痴呆症，且降低其發展(develop)的速率。研究者因而可以有效率地診斷及治療。

dementia: a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to think, remember and behave normally 痴呆；精神錯亂



Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Gothenburg, via AlphaGalileo.

Breakthrough in stem cell culturing

ScienceDaily (2010-06-01) -- For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been cultured under chemically controlled conditions without the use of animal substances, which is essential for future clinical uses. The method has been developed by researchers in Sweden.

幹細胞的培養不用動物物質，這是一個重大進展？我太不瞭解幹細胞了。


Journal Reference:
Sergey Rodin, Anna Domogatskaya, Susanne Ström, Emil M Hansson, Kenneth R Chien, José Inzunza, Outi Hovatta, Karl Tryggvason. Long-term self-renewal of human pluripotent stem cells on human recombinant laminin-511. Nature Biotechnology, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1620

MRI research highlights high-risk atherosclerotic plaque hidden in the vessel wall

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Researchers have shown that use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an animal model can noninvasively identify dangerous plaques. The findings offer possible applications in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis.

1. MRI(核磁共振技術)可以藉此非穿入性的方法，檢測動物的plaques，此發現有助於動脈硬化之治療及診斷的應用。

2. Atheroma (Atheromatous plaque)動脈粥樣化:an accumulation and swelling in artery walls that is made up of cells (mostly macrophage cells), or cell debris, that contain lipids (cholesterol and fatty acids), calcium and a variable amount of fibrous connective tissue. In the context of heart or artery matters, atheromata are commonly referred to as atheromatous plaques. It is an unhealthy condition, but is found in most humans.

3. atherosclerosis【醫】動脈硬化(症)

4. Artery (動脈)


Journal Reference:
Alkystis Phinikaridou, Frederick L. Ruberg, Kevin J. Hallock, Ye Qiao, Ning Hua, Jason Viereck, and James A. Hamilton. In vivo Detection of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque by MRI in a Rabbit Model. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2010;3:323-332 DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.109.918524

Predicting severity of breast cancer

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Researchers have identified a biomarker in patient blood which can predict the severity of breast cancer in patients and may enable clinicians to track patients throughout the course of their treatment.

研究團隊發現生化標記，可藉以標定乳癌的嚴重程度，且可臨床醫師追蹤整個治療過程中病人的狀況。

維基上的乳癌


Journal Reference:
M. McIlroy, D. McCartan, S. Early, P. O Gaora, S. Pennington, A. D.K. Hill, L. S. Young. Interaction of Developmental Transcription Factor HOXC11 with Steroid Receptor Coactivator SRC-1 Mediates Resistance to Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer. Cancer Research, 2010; 70 (4): 1585 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3713

Consent forms for research: Have they improved in 25 years?

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Consent forms that people sign before participating in research are widely considered difficult to understand and sometimes inaccurate. Lack of clarity was implicated in a high-profile legal settlement in April between Arizona State University and a Native American tribe, which claimed that blood samples that its members provided for genetic research were used for purposes not stated in the consent form. Efforts have been made to improve the forms, but how effective are they?

研究知情同意書： 在可理解性上，二個研究結果具不同的影響趨勢。
1. 隨著時間遞移，同意書變得更詳實。這是比較同意書與計畫執行手冊，二者對於風險的描述之差異。
2. 同意書篇幅變得更長。同意書的增長，會干擾病人對研究本身的理解度。


Consent Forms for Research 研究同意書


Journal Reference:
Ilene Albala, Margaret Doyle, and Paul S. Appelbaum. The Evolution of Consent Forms for Research: A Quarter Century of Changes. IRB: Ethics & Human Research, 2010; 32 (3): 7-11

Circulating tumor cells correlate with poorer survival in pancreatic cancer patients

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Researchers have found that pancreatic cancer patients who have circulating tumor cells tend to have worse outcomes than patients without circulating tumor cells. Additionally, the team has uncovered evidence that not all circulating tumor cells are the same, and some may predict worse outcomes than others.

胰臟癌患者具循環腫瘤細胞者，往往比無循環腫瘤細胞更壞的結果。此外，該小組已發現證據表明，並非所有的循環腫瘤細胞是相同的，有些結果可能更糟糕。

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are cells that have detached from a primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. CTCs may constitute seeds for subsequent growth of additional tumors (metastasis) in different tissues.
Pancreatic Cancer: (胰臟癌/胰腺癌): is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. Each year in the United States, about 42,470 individuals are diagnosed with this condition and 35,240 die from the disease.



Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Fox Chase Cancer Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

basic of oncology

名稱來源/概述：資料皆來自維基百科(wikipedia)
Oncology (from the Ancient Greek onkos (ὄνκος), meaning bulk, mass, or tumor, and the suffix -logy (-λογία), meaning "study of") is a branch of medicine that deals with tumors (cancer). A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist.

簡單的分期：?

關於癌(wikipedia)

病理學Pathology：In medicine, pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease. The related scientific study of disease processes is called "general pathology." Medical pathology is divided into two main branches, anatomical pathology and clinical pathology.

Community conditions related to malnutrition deaths among older adults

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- In a new study, researchers tackle a problem seldom acknowledged in the United States -- the incidence of malnutrition-related deaths among older adults.

Acupuncture's molecular effects pinned down: New insights spur effort to boost treatment's impact significantly

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- Scientists have identified the molecule adenosine as a central player in parlaying some of the effects of acupuncture in the body. Building on that knowledge, scientists were able to triple the beneficial effects of acupuncture in mice by adding a medication approved to treat leukemia in people.

腺苷是針灸時主要的物質。可能會由老鼠的針灸治療來研究人類白血病。


Journal Reference:
Nanna Goldman, Michael Chen, Takumi Fujita, Qiwu Xu, Weiguo Peng, Wei Liu, Tina K Jensen, Yong Pei, Fushun Wang, Xiaoning Han, Jiang-Fan Chen, Jurgen Schnermann, Takahiro Takano, Lane Bekar, Kim Tieu, Maiken Nedergaard. Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture. Nature Neuroscience, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/nn.2562

Genes associated with throat cancer found through study of over 10,000 subjects

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2010) — Scientists from Singapore, China and USA have identified three new susceptibility genes in a genome-wide association study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The study, led by the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), a biomedical research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre, identified genetic risk factors of NPC that advance the understanding of the important role played by host genetic variation in influencing the susceptibility to this cancer.

發現3組鼻咽癌的敏感性基因，而這三者亦與白血病有關。


NPC is a type of cancer that forms in the epithelial lining(上皮內膜) of the nasopharynx(鼻咽), the area of the upper throat that lies behind the nose. It is particularly prevalent in southern China, such as Guangdong, with an occurrence rate of about 25 times higher than that in most regions of the world. NPC is therefore referred to as the Cantonese Cancer.

To search for the genetic risk factors for NPC, the scientists carried out a comprehensive genetic analysis of the human genome in a large clinical sample of southern Chinese descent -- approximately 5,000 patients and 5,000 controls. The researchers found that the genetic variation within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA，人類白細胞抗原) and the three genes known as TNFRSF19, MDSIEVI1 and CDKN2A/2B can significantly influence a person's risk of developing NPC. The researchers also noticed that these three susceptibility genes for NPC have been reported to be involved in the development of leukemia (白血病), suggesting there might be some shared biological mechanism between the developments of these two diseases. This finding provides an important opportunity for biologists to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the development of this cancer, and its unusual pattern of high prevalence in southern China.



nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)鼻咽癌
susceptibility 易受影響（或傷害等）的特性；敏感性；過敏性
leukemia 【醫】白血病(俗稱血癌)

Journal Reference:
Jin-Xin Bei, Yi Li, Wei-Hua Jia, Bing-Jian Feng, Gangqiao Zhou, Li-Zhen Chen, Qi-Sheng Feng, Hui-Qi Low, Hongxing Zhang, Fuchu He, E Shyong Tai, Tiebang Kang, Edison T Liu, Jianjun Liu, Yi-Xin Zeng. A genome-wide association study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma identifies three new susceptibility loci. Nature Genetics, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/ng.601

Natural self-repair mechanisms that kick in after spinal cord injury identified

ScienceDaily (2010-05-31) -- University of Alberta researchers have identified one of the body's natural self-repair mechanisms that kick in after spinal cord(脊髓) injury which could lead to the development of more effective treatments.
脊髓受傷後，其自然的自體修復機制被發現，將可導致更多有效治療的發展。


To help understand the discovery the researchers say it is important to first describe the neurons in the spinal cord that control muscle contractions. These neurons represent a fairly autonomous part of the nervous system that control many basic functions such as walking and bladder control. These neurons are brought into a state of readiness by a transmitter called serotonin. Serotonin originates in the brain and projects down the spinal cord where it binds to serotonin receptors on the neurons. This process turns a quiet neuron into one that's ready to respond to fast inputs from the brain.


University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine 復建醫學系？(病殘人的)康復


Journal Reference:
Katherine C Murray, Aya Nakae, Marilee J Stephens, Michelle Rank, Jessica D'Amico, Philip J Harvey, Xiaole Li, R Luke W Harris, Edward W Ballou, Roberta Anelli, Charles J Heckman, Takashi Mashimo, Romana Vavrek, Leo Sanelli, Monica A Gorassini, David J Bennett, Karim Fouad. Recovery of motoneuron and locomotor function after spinal cord injury depends on constitutive activity in 5-HT2C receptors. Nature Medicine, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/nm.2160

Beta blockers alone more effective for first variceal bleeding, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-09) -- A controlled trial conducted by researchers in Taiwan suggests that a combination of band ligation and nadolol may not be the most effective prophylaxis for first variceal bleeding resulting from cirrhosis.
在預防因[肝硬化]而導致的[首次靜脈曲張出血]，採結合band ligation與nadolol二種方法可能不是最有效的。
(美國肝病學會)
如標題，單獨採用beta blocker更有用。

Esophageal varices (EV，食管靜脈曲張) are abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus(食道) that occur when portal hypertension (門靜脈高壓症) obstructs(阻斷) normal blood flow to the liver and causes the blood to back up into the esophageal vessels. Variceal(靜脈曲張) rupture(破裂) is a life-threatening condition. Approximately one third of cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices bleed, and the mortality rate associated with first bleed may be as high as 50%. 約有1/3的肝硬化病人有靜脈曲張出血，而加上第一次出血這個因素，其死亡率高50%。

The World Gastroenterology Organization (世界胃腸病學組織) practice guideline for esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis and medium or large varices, but no hemorrhage (出血), recommends nonselective beta blockers (propranolol or nadolol) or endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL，內視鏡的靜脈曲張縫合術) for prevention of first variceal hemorrhage for patients at highest risk, and propranolol or nadolol for those who are not high risk or in whom EVL is not tolerated.



ligation ：【醫】結紮


Journal Reference:
Gin-Ho Lo, Wen-Chi Chen, Huay-Min Wang, Ching-Chang Lee. Controlled trial of ligation plus nadolol versus nadolol alone for the prevention of first variceal bleeding. Hepatology, 2010; : n/a DOI: 10.1002/hep.23617

Personality predicts political preferences

ScienceDaily (2010-06-09) -- There is a strong relationship between a voter's politics and his personality, according to new research.


Researchers at UofT have shown that the psychological concern for compassion and equality is associated with a liberal mindset, while the concern for order and respect of social norms is associated with a conservative mindset.
.....

選民的政治傾向與其個人人格特質極相關。
心理上的關注[同情和平等]，與[開明的心態]相關；而關注[公共秩序，尊重社會規範]則是與[保守的心態]相關。

Journal Reference:
J. B. Hirsh, C. G. DeYoung, Xiaowen Xu, J. B. Peterson. Compassionate Liberals and Polite Conservatives: Associations of Agreeableness With Political Ideology and Moral Values. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2010; 36 (5): 655 DOI: 10.1177/0146167210366854

Moving repeatedly in childhood linked with poorer quality-of-life years later, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- Moving to a new town or even a new neighborhood is stressful at any age, but a new study shows that frequent relocations in childhood are related to poorer well-being in adulthood, especially among people who are more introverted or neurotic.





introverted or neurotic：內向或神經質

Journal Reference:
Shigehiro Oishi, Ulrich Schimmack. Residential mobility, well-being, and mortality.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2010; 98 (6): 980 DOI: 10.1037/a0019389

A sense of humor helps keep you healthy until retirement age

ScienceDaily (2010-06-05) -- A sense of humor helps to keep people healthy and increases their chances of reaching retirement age. But after the age of 70, the health benefits of humor decrease, researchers have found.

幽默感讓人保持健康到退休年齡，但七十歲以後，幽默感對健康的好處漸趨不明顯。


Journal Reference:
Svebak, S., Romundstad, S., & Holmen, J. A 7-year prospective study of sense of humor and mortality in an adult county population: The HUNT-2 study. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 40, 125-146

Lovastatin: a new weapon against plague?

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- An experimental study has revealed that lovastatin, a drug prescribed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, protects animals against the deadly effects of plague. This infectious disease is on the upsurge in parts of the world. These results obtained by scientists at the Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (CNRS/Université Aix-Marseille 2) have been published in the journal PLoS ONE.



hypercholesterolemia：高膽固醇血症

Journal Reference:
Ayyadurai et al. Lovastatin Protects against Experimental Plague in Mice. PLoS ONE, 2010; 5 (6): e10928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010928

Gene related to aging plays role in stem cell differentiation

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- A gene shown to play a role in the aging process appears to play a role in the regulation of the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, according to new research.

老化過程的一個基因，在胚胎幹細胞的分化過程中扮演重要角色。





Journal Reference:
Johanna A. Smith, Abibatou M. N. Ndoye, Kyla Geary, Michael P. Lisanti, Olga Igoucheva, René Daniel. A role for the Werner syndrome protein in epigenetic inactivation of the pluripotency factor Oct4. Aging Cell, 2010; : no DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2010.00585.x

Stroke prevention study in children with sickle cell anemia, iron overload stopped early

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- Researchers have stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment.

停止了兒童鐮狀細胞性貧血的研究，以降低中風復發的危險。

sickle cell anemia：鐮狀細胞性貧血
recurrent stroke：中風復發


Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Potential genetic factor in eating disorders identified

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- For the first time, scientists have discovered a possible biological culprit in the development of eating disorders during puberty: a type of estrogen called estradiol.

宣稱第一次找到青春期的eating disorders可能的肇因。

Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Michigan State University.

Special care plan does not slow decline in patients with Alzheimer's, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-06-05) -- A special dementia care plan, involving regular assessments of patients with Alzheimer's disease in specialist memory clinics, does not slow functional decline compared with usual care, a new study finds.

特別的記憶臨床治療無法降低阿茲海默症的速度。

Alzheimer's disease：阿茲海默症(維基百科)


Journal References:
Fati Nourhashemi, Sandrine Andrieu, Sophie Gillette-Guyonnet, Bruno Giraudeau, Christelle Cantet, Nicola Coley, Bruno Vellas, on behalf of the PLASA Group. Effectiveness of a specific care plan in patients with Alzheimer's disease: Cluster randomized trial (PLASA study). British Medical Journal, 2010; 340: c2466 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2466
Lon S Schneider. Care plans for people with Alzheimer%u2019s disease. British Medical Journal, 2010; 340: c2626 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2626

New cancer treatment? MM-111 antibody uses HER2 target to reach and block HER3

ScienceDaily (2010-06-03) -- Patients with HER2-positive cancers can have dramatic responses to HER2-targeted drugs but eventually develop resistance to the agents. With that problem in mind, researchers are testing a novel type of antibody called MM-111 in patients with HER2-positive disease who have progressed on standard therapy.

癌症的抗藥改善(標靶?)。


Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Cysts hold clues to pancreatic cancer; Detection and removal may lower cancer risk

ScienceDaily (2010-06-03) -- Researchers have developed a method that could be used to predict whether pancreatic cysts are benign or are precursors to invasive cancer.


檢測出胰臟癌的新法。

胰腺囊腫：pancreatic cysts


Journal Reference:
Brian B. Haab, Andrew Porter, Tingting Yue, Lin Li, James Scheiman, Michelle A. Anderson, Dawn Barnes, C. Max Schmidt, Ziding Feng, Diane M. Simeone. Glycosylation Variants of Mucins and CEACAMs As Candidate Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms. Annals of Surgery, 2010; 251 (5): 937 DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181d7738d

Oncologists fight leukemia with two-pronged therapy, clinical trials planned

ScienceDaily (2010-06-03) -- Researchers have used an agent, called Oxi4503, to poison leukemia cells and destroy the blood vessels that supply the cells in mouse models of acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. The researchers plan human tests of the drug later this year.

血癌的新療法

leukemia：白血病
acute myelogenous leukemia：急性髓細胞性白血病


Journal Reference:
G. J. Madlambayan, A. Meacham, K. Hosaka, S. Mir, M. Jorgensen, E. W. Scott, D. W. Siemann, C. R. Cogle. Leukemia regression by vascular disruption and anti-angiogenic therapy. Blood, 2010; DOI: 10.1182/blood-2009-06-230474

Drug induces a memory of safety in rat brains

ScienceDaily (2010-06-05) -- Researchers have found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats, mimicking the effect of training. The finding suggests possibilities for new treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.

藉由藥學的方法，可促使大鼠的腦產生安全感~~即可能為燥症患提供可能的治療。

Journal Reference:
J. Peters, L. M. Dieppa-Perea, L. M. Melendez, G. J. Quirk. Induction of Fear Extinction with Hippocampal-Infralimbic BDNF. Science, 2010; 328 (5983): 1288 DOI: 10.1126/science.1186909

Autism finding could lead to simple urine test for the condition

ScienceDaily (2010-06-03) -- Children with autism have a different chemical fingerprint in their urine than non-autistic children, according to new research. The researchers suggest that their findings could ultimately lead to a simple urine test to determine whether or not a young child has autism.


自閉症小孩可藉由驗尿確認。
自閉症：autism
Proteome：一整套含有基因組的蛋白質(這個中文釋義怪怪的)