Category Health/Medical

A high breast density is an independent risk factor for breast cancer. MRT is the safest method for breast cancer diagnosis and is now used for early diagnosis. Medical University Vienna researchers at the University Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine have now successfully developed a method for the exact measurement of breast density using magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) examinations with the Dixon sequence. With this, in addition to a better breast cancer diagnosis, a better assessment of the risk is also possible.

For the first time worldwide an objective measurement of breast density, with fully automatic software and higher precision and reproducibility, has been detected with this method, and a prototype currently exists...

This image shows cell death of the human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) is mark by cleaved caspase 3 in red, the nuclei of hNPCs are labeled by DAPI in white/grey, and the ZIKA virus is labeled by ZIKA virus envelope protein in green. Credit: Sarah C. Ogden

The Zika virus infects a type of neural stem cell that gives rise to the brain’s cerebral cortex. On laboratory dishes, these stem cells were found to be havens for viral reproduction, resulting in cell death and/or disruption of cell growth. While this study does not prove the direct link between Zika and microcephaly, it does pinpoint where the virus may be doing the most damage.

The researchers from Johns Hopkins, Florida State Uni and Emory University School of Medicine, worked around the clock for a month to conduct the study, whi...

A new study suggests that the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life. Credit: © olyina / Fotolia

The LEAP-On study followed on from the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study, both led by Prof Gideon Lack at King’s, found the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life.

LEAP-On asked whether those infants who had consumed peanut in the LEAP study would remain protected against peanut allergy if they then stopped eating peanut for 12 months...

Highlights
d Loss of one Mcl-1 allele substantially delays
lymphomagenesis
d MCL-1 antagonizes BIM in lymphoma development
d Loss of p53 reduces requirement for MCL-1 during
lymphomagenesis

A protein that is key to the development of blood cancers caused by a common genetic error has been identified by researchers. The discovery is a missing piece in the puzzle of understanding how high levels of a protein called MYC drive cancer development, and may to lead to future strategies for early treatment or possibly even prevention of these cancers.

70% of human cancers have abnormally high levels of MYC, which forces cells into unusually rapid growth...