federation of american societies for experimental biology

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) A new discovery by London biologists may yield new ways of handling transplant rejection.

In a research article published in the FASEB Journal, scientists confirm the two-way transfer of a molecule that instructs the immune system to tell "self" from "non-self." By disrupting the transfer of this molecule, newly transplanted organs should become "invisible" to the host's immune system.

Such an advance would be considered a major medical breakthrough.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) As millions of Americans gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday, a new report published online in the FASEB Journal, may provide some relief for those leery second helpings.

Researchers describe a discovery that may allow some obese people avoid common obesity-related metabolic problems without losing weight: they make a common antioxidant, melanin, in excess.

Even more promising is that some of the antioxidant drugs that can mimic the melanin effect are FDA-approved and available.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) More than 13,000 biological and biomedical scientists will gather for Experimental Biology 2009.

This annual meeting brings together scientists from dozens of different disciplines, from laboratory to translational to clinical research, from throughout the United States and the world.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) A study published in the October 2008 print issue of the FASEB Journal, shows the brain, just like muscles, works harder during strenuous exercise and is fueled by lactate, rather than glucose.

This helps explain why the brain is able to work properly when the body's demands for fuel and oxygen are highest.

It also goes a step further to show that the brain shifts into a higher gear in terms of activity.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) By manipulating the machinery used by our cells for quality control, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have found a way to restore the function of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway cells.

This could significantly reduce the sticky mucus that plugs the lungs of CF patients, which leads to antibiotic-resistant infections and untimely death.

The study appears in the September 2008 print issue of the FASEB Journal.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Scientists discovered the underlying process in tumor formation is the same as for life itself --evolution.

This suggests a molecular "survival of the fittest" scenario plays out in every living creature as gene mutations strive for ultimate survival through cancerous tumors.

This finding, appearing in the August 2008 issue of the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org), improves our understanding of how evolution shapes life in all forms, while laying a foundation for new cancer drugs and treatments.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) A report by scientists from the Netherlands published online in rhe FASEB Journal identifies a compound in human saliva that greatly speeds wound healing.

This research may offer hope to people suffering from chronic wounds related to diabetes and other disorders, as well as traumatic injuries and burns.

In addition, because the compounds can be mass produced, they have the potential to become as common as antibiotic creams and rubbing alcohol.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) New research findings published online in the FASEB Journal provide more evidence that if we get smart about what we eat, our intelligence can improve.

According to MIT scientists, dietary nutrients found in a wide range of foods from infant formula to eggs increase brain synapses and improve cognitive abilities.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Scientists from Hungary, Germany and the UK have discovered that our own body not only makes chemical compounds similar to the active ingredient in marijuana, but these play an important part in maintaining healthy skin.

This finding on "endocannabinoids" just published online in, and scheduled for the October 2008 print issue of, the FASEB Journal could lead to new drugs that treat skin conditions ranging from acne to dry skin, and even skin-related tumors.

(Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) As bombs burst in air this July 4, chances are that sunburn will be the red glare that most folks see -- and feel.

But unfortunately, even when there is no burn, the effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays can have deadly consequences.

Thanks to new research published in the July 2008 issue of the FASEB Journal, scientists now know why UVB light is more likely to cause skin cancer than UVA light.