biochemical signals

(University of California - Berkeley) When UC Berkeley bioengineers tweaked how adult stem cells reacted to biochemical signals regulating cell division, they gave muscle in old mice a shot of youthful vigor.

The research sets the path for research on new treatments for age-related degenerative conditions, including muscle atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.

In a finding that challenges conventional medical knowledge, researchers report that plaques formed in during atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, are associated with certain harmful chemical reactions that can contribute to damage in the lungs, liver and other organs.

The study, which suggests that the effects of the disease are more widespread than previously believed, will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.