Dec

Research: autistic children's brains grow larger during first years of development, why is not clear

CHAPEL HILL - By age 2, children with the often-devastating neurological condition physicians call autism show a generalized enlargement of their brains, a new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University medical schools study concludes.

Benjamin is named first Floyd W. Denny Jr. distinguished professor at School of Medicine

CHAPEL HILL - Dr. John T. Benjamin has been selected as the first Floyd W. Denny Jr. M.D. Distinguished Professor in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Hospital-area pedestrian bridge slated to close in mid-December

Bridge C, the easternmost pedestrian bridge connecting the Dogwood parking deck and the N.C. Neurosciences Hospital, is scheduled to close Dec. 16, with demolition beginning Dec. 19.

Cancer support cells may evolve, fuel tumor growth, study shows; findings suggest need to expand targets of new treatments

CHAPEL HILL - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists have demonstrated in a living organism that cancers may cause surrounding supportive cells to evolve and ultimately promote cancer growth.

UNC Hospitals partners with Cape Fear Valley Health System to provide helicopter service

CHAPEL HILL -- UNC Hospitals has partnered with Cape Fear Valley Health System to bring an air ambulance to Fayetteville.

Bioterrorism, infection surveillance system receives national award for excellence

CHAPEL HILL - A computerized system developed by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. Division of Public Health experts to detect bioterrorism and infectious disease outbreaks has received a prestigious national award for excellence.

Novel enzyme offers new look at gene regulation; UNC scientists' findings have diverse implications

CHAPEL HILL -- Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have purified a novel protein and have shown it can alter gene activity by reversing a molecular modification previously thought permanent.

UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center receives $100,000 gift for lupus research

CHAPEL HILL - A private foundation in Charlotte has donated a major gift to support lupus research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Study finds genes that 'fine-tune' muscle development process

CHAPEL HILL -- Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found two genes that are essential for the proper development of muscle.

N.C. teen smoking prevention program making progress, but challenges remain

CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina's Teen Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Initiative, a key effort of the state's Health and Wellness Trust Fund, made substantial progress toward its four goals between April 2004 and June 2005, according to an annual independent evaluation released today. (Dec. 7)

Physicians: simple 'instrument' allows medical staff to check patients' literacy

CHAPEL HILL -- Health-care providers soon will have access to a new tool designed to assess patients' health literacy skills quickly and simply, thanks to medical school researchers at the universities of Arizona and North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Chromosome regions containing genes related to alcohol addiction affect drinking behavior in smokers: study

CHAPEL HILL -- Scientists have found in a study of tobacco users that their drinking behavior is linked to some of the same chromosome regions associated with alcohol addiction.