Arts appreciation

Photo by Robert BostonThe School of Medicine Arts Commission’s annual art show features a variety of art by School of Medicine students, faculty and staff and will be on display through Feb. 15.

Chemical chaperone could open door to treatment of neurological disorder

“Chemical chaperones” might be able to help a mutant protein (green) do its job of removing excess cholesterol (blue) from cells.An unexpected finding turned out to be a clue leading researchers at the School of Medicine to propose a new treatment approach for Niemann-Pick disease, a rare, deadly neurodegenerative disorder. To overcome the genetic defect in Niemann-Pick disease, the researchers suggest that chemical compounds could potentially “chaperone” mutant protein molecules through the cell’s quality control machinery.

Three faculty receive Loeb Teaching Fellowships for 2008-09

Thomas De Fer, M.D., James Fehr III, M.D., and Mary Klingensmith, M.D., have received the 2008-09 Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellowships at the School of Medicine. The program enables the fellows to take time from their regular duties to teach clinical medicine to students and residents.

Altering brain’s lipid metabolism reduces Alzheimer’s plaques in mice

Increasing levels of a protein that helps the brain use cholesterol may slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease changes in the brain, according to School of Medicine researchers studying a mouse model of the disease. Elevated levels of the protein ABCA1 sharply reduced buildup of brain plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, according […]

Activating protein enhances average lifespan, prevents some age-related diseases in mice

School of Medicine metabolism researchers have found that although it does not extend maximum lifespan in mice, activating a protein in muscle tissue increases average lifespan and prevents some age-related diseases. The researchers believe a similar approach may someday help people avoid age-related problems such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension and even some cancers.
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