A new study from the US finds that in the process of targeting and killing off cancer cells, chemotherapy may also spur healthy cells in the neighbourhood to release a compound that stimulates cancer growth, eventually leading to treatment resistance. They hope their finding will lead to better therapies for cancer and buy precious time for patients with advanced cancer.
Senior author Peter S. Nelson, of the Human Biology Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues, write about their findings in a paper published online on …

A person’s eyes can often say what they are thinking, what emotions they are going through, and even if they are lying or telling the truth. Now, you may even be able to tell if a person is gay or straight, according to new research from Cornell University.
The researchers involved in the study said their findings indicate that someone’s sexual orientation can be revealed by their pupil dilation. Scientists say that when a person becomes aroused, his or her pupils will shoot open, helping those on the prowl to know …

The real estate crash may be having a surprising effect on the health of some Americans with asthma.
A survey of people with allergic asthma found that renters are less likely than homeowners to make changes to minimize exposures to the allergens that trigger their breathing problems.
Allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold are common asthma triggers. More than half of people with asthma in the U.S. are allergic to something in their environment.
Taking steps to minimize exposure to these environmental triggers in the home is an important …

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified a mechanism that can give energy-storing white fat some of the beneficial characteristics of energy-burning brown fat. The findings, based on studies of mice and of human fat tissue, could lead to new strategies for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study was published in the online edition of the journal Cell.
Humans have two types of fat tissue: white fat, which stores excess energy in the form of triglycerides, and brown fat, which is highly efficient at dissipating stored energy as …

Adding strawberry extract to skin cell cultures can help protect the cells against ultraviolet radiation while also reducing the damage done to DNA, a team of Spanish and Italian researchers claim in a new study.
The study, which was announced on August 3 by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, could lead the way to the formulation of photoprotective cream made from strawberries.
Lead author Maurizio Battino, a researcher at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, and colleagues prepared human skin cell …