Microbial manufacturing

For decades, scientists and doctors have known that bacteria in soil were capable of manufacturing streptozotocin, an antibiotic compound that is also an important treatment for certain types of pancreatic cancer. What was less clear, however, was exactly how bacteria managed to do it. Led by Emily Balskus, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, a…

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Certain characteristics linked with depression before and after giving birth

Depression during pregnancy and following childbirth (perinatal depression) is a common and potentially severe condition. In a Journal of Neuroscience Research study, researchers examined subgroups of women followed from pregnancy to six months postpartum, for example comparing those with depression only after childbirth with those experiencing depression during pregnancy. Several characteristics were associated with depression…

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Study examines race-based differences in social support needs among breast cancer patients

In a Psycho-Oncology study of 28 women who were being treated for breast cancer and were participating in focus groups, White participants noted that having other breast cancer survivors in their support network was essential for meeting their social support needs. Black participants did not reference other breast cancer survivors as part of their networks,…

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Maternal depression and natural disaster-related stress may affect infants’ temperament

A new Infant Mental Health Journal study demonstrates that prenatal maternal depression has important consequences for infant temperament. Furthermore, the negative impact of prenatal maternal depression appeared to be magnified when pregnant women lived through Superstorm Sandy. The study analyzed data on 310 mother-child dyads, with 64 percent of women being pregnant prior to Sandy…

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Workplace sexism’s effects on women’s mental health and job satisfaction

IMAGE: A new Journal of Applied Social Psychology study investigates the associations between workplace sexism, sense of belonging at work, mental health, and job satisfaction for women in male-dominated industries…. view more  Credit: Dr. Mark Rubin A new Journal of Applied Social Psychology study investigates the associations between workplace sexism, sense of belonging at work, mental…

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Combination treatment, diabetes drug and immunotherapy, may help to fight breast cancer

IMAGE: Left: Untreated patient breast cancer tissue was grown in three-dimensional culture. Right: Cancer tissue was treated with BCL-2 inhibitor and antidiabetic drug. Green color indicates the cancer cells, and red… view more  MYC, a gene with high cancer-initiating potential, is overexpressed in over 40% of breast cancers. While MYC programs breast cancer cells to build…

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Absentmindedness points to earlier warning signs of silent strokes among people at risk

IMAGE: A diagram of a brain with cerebral small vessel disease, otherwise known as silent stroke. view more  Credit: Provided by Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute Adults who notice that they frequently lose their train of thought or often become sidetracked may in fact be displaying earlier symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease, otherwise known as a…

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