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Heart surgeons at Johns Hopkins have evidence to support further tightening rather than easing of standards used to designate hospitals that are best at performing heart transplants. New findings contradict the recently lowered government standard.

A new study may explain why women with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene face up to an 85 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer. Researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that BRCA1 plays a role in regulating breast stem cells, the small number of cells that might develop into cancers.

In the first study to use imaging technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so relieving -- and why it can be hard to stop. The researcher said patients occasionally report that intense scratching -- to the point of drawing blood -- is the only thing that relieves chronic itch. Of course, this is not recommended.

Gene therapy has been used successfully to breed large animals capable of producing therapeutic proteins in their milk, such as insulin or those that fight cancer. This represents a significant milestone, as previous methods involved cloning, which takes more time and generally costs more. This new research should reduce the cost and increase the availability of several drugs.

More than 13 million Americans have survived a heart attack or have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. In addition to medications, lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and exercise, are known to reduce the risk for subsequent cardiac events. Despite this evidence, a high proportion of heart attack survivors do not follow their doctor's advice to adhere to a healthy diet.

Genetic mutations in an enzyme related to amino acid metabolism called MTHFR and coagulation protein Factor V appear to have significant association with blood clots and tissue injury to the placenta and developing baby, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh's department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences report. "This indicates a possible genetic predisposition to a condition of real clinical consequence in terms of intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia and spontaneous preterm birth," the researchers said.

Scientists say they have identified a gene that is the key switch that allows embryonic cells to form into muscles in zebrafish. Much like students in a kindergarten class lining up to go to lunch, the trigger gene, which is identified as Smarcd3, must align correctly with two other genes for muscle formation to begin, a process known as myogenesis.

A drug already used to treat parasitic infections, and once looked at for cancer, also attacks the human immunodeficiency virus in a new and powerful way, according to new research in Retrovirology. Researchers seek to deny HIV its safe havens in the human body.

Many patients with a chronic disease or cancer have to contend with anemia. At present, the hormone EPO is administered to a large number of these patients to alleviate the anemia. But unfortunately, treatment with EPO is not always effective. Scientists have recently been researching the role of the Gas6 protein. This substance has proven successful in the treatment of mice with anemia. In addition, Gas6 contributes to a reinforcement of EPO's effect.

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic infection brings about skin lesions and severe eye damage and that can lead to irreversible blindness. Fertility-change associated genetic selection in parasite populations has now been found. Although the results do not prove with absolute certainty that the parasite Onchocerca volvulus is steadily becoming resistance to ivermectin, the only treatment available, they do show that certain parasites are more sensitive to treatment than others.