Major advance in blood donations

Blood made suitable for all

Scientists have discovered enzymes that can efficiently convert blood groups A, B and AB into the 'universal' O group — which can be given to anyone but is always in short supply.

[I]n practice the greatest risk in blood transfusion is not the transmission of disease but the accidental transfusion of the wrong blood group, he says. "As a clinician, I see the biggest advantage of the new enzyme technology as eliminating incidents of giving the wrong blood."

New advances in the fight against breast cancer

A Better Breast Cancer Detector

Mammography is still the gold standard for the early detection of breast cancer, but it's far from perfect: The technique misses up to 20% of breast cancers. Soon, it may get a bit of help. Researchers reported here today at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society that they've developed a pair of compounds that help spot the build up of tiny mineral deposits, a hallmark of breast cancer. If the compounds prove safe and effective in humans, they could prove a boon for combating a disease that afflicts 1 in 8 of women in the United States at some point in their lives