September 2015

New research will help scientists and medical professionals to better understand the long-term complications caused by an immunosuppressant drug used to treat thousands of kidney transplant patients.

Tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2) is an enzyme involved in intracellular signalling and has an important role in activating the immune system. But enzymatically active Tyk2 can also promote excessive immune reactions and growth of certain cancer types.

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A new study shows that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PancSCs) are virtually addicted to oxygen-based metabolism, and could be “suffocated” with a drug already used to treat diabetes.

New research has found that teaching expectant parents to reduce stress, depression and anxiety can result in better birth outcomes. The findings were reported the Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Researchers have discovered new gene variants associated with an often-severe type of the disease that affects children under the age of five. The findings were published online in the journal Gastroenterology.

High salt in soil threatens to reduce the growth and yield of crops. In a breakthrough discovery, researchers have now identified a protein family that may help plants grow under slat stress. The study was published in Cell.

The Indian Patent Office has rejected American drug maker Pfizer's patents for its rheumatoid arthritis drug tofacitinib in India.

“After having considered the submissions submitted by the applicant (Pfizer) in the hearing, the written submission and amended claims filed as well as in view of the discussions and findings by me, it is hereby ordered that the invention disclosed and claimed in the instant application is not considered as an invention under the provisions of the Act”, said Bharat N S, assistant controller of patents & designs, Mumbai.