Cancer News » function

Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment Improved By Cognitive Training

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:31:09 +0000

Women whose breast cancer had been treated with chemotherapy demonstrated improved executive function, such as cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency and processing speed after using exercises developed by Lumosity, the leading online cognitive training program.

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Scientists discover how a protein finds its way

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:32:33 +0000

Scientists have uncovered how an enzyme co-factor can bestow specificity on a class of proteins with otherwise nonspecific biochemical activity. Proteins can have more than one function, but they often need to be very specific in their action or they create cellular havoc, possibly leading to disease.

Reviving a foe of cancer

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 04:32:47 +0000

Cancer cells are a problem for the body because they multiply recklessly, refuse to die and blithely metastasize to set up shop in places where they don’t belong. One protein that keeps healthy cells from behaving this way is a tumor suppressor named p53. This protein stops potentially precancerous cells from dividing and induces suicide in those that are damaged beyond repair. Not surprisingly, p53’s critical function is disrupted in most cancers.

Link: Reviving a foe of cancer

Scientific Basis for Cognitive Complaints of Breast Cancer Patients

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:35:14 +0000

Whether this mental “fogginess” is psychosomatic or reflects underlying changes in brain function has been a bone of contention among scientists and physicians.

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Virus-like particles provide vital clues about brain tumors

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:32:27 +0000

Exosomes are small, virus-like particles that can transport genetic material and signal substances between cells. Researchers have made new findings about exosomes released from aggressive brain tumors, gliomas. These exosomes are shown to have an important function in brain tumor development, and could be utilized as biomarkers to assess tumor aggressiveness through a blood test.

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Breakthrough Enables Mapping Of Elusive 3-D Structure Of Telomerase Enzyme, Key Factor In Cancer, Aging

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:31:10 +0000

Like finally seeing all the gears of a watch and how they work together, researchers from UCLA and UC Berkeley have, for the first time ever, solved the puzzle of how the various components of an entire telomerase enzyme complex fit together and function in a three-dimensional structure…

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Nuclear life of actin uncovered: Protein with key job in muscle function moonlights in nucleus to help regulate genes

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:32:41 +0000

Actin, a protein with a well-known job in the cytoplasm and an active role in muscle contraction, moonlights in the nucleus. It’s function there was not understood, but now scientists find that it connects with chromatin.

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Will having one lung limit Pope Francis?

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:39:22 +0000

A pulmonologist explains why a person can function normally on one lung.

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New chemical probe provides tool to investigate role of malignant brain tumor domains in chromatin structure and regulation

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:40:10 +0000

Medical researchers have discovered a chemical probe that can be used to investigate the L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader domain. The probe, named UNC1215, will provide researchers with a powerful tool to investigate the function of malignant brain tumor (MBT) domain proteins in biology and disease.

Link: New chemical probe provides tool to investigate role of malignant brain tumor domains in chromatin structure and regulation

Bariatric surgery restores pancreatic function by targeting belly fat

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:41:10 +0000

Researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function in moderately obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

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