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Genetic markers may influence how breast cancer patients respond to treatment

Two previously unrecognized genetic markers may predict whether breast cancer patients would benefit from chemotherapy followed by tamoxifen, according to preclinical research from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the cooperative research group SWOG and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The results of this research will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016, to be held April 16-20 in New Orleans.

20 Apr 2016

Study links rise in double mastectomy to media coverage of celebrities with breast cancer

An increase in women with breast cancer choosing double mastectomy may be influenced by media coverage of celebrities, a new study finds.

20 Apr 2016

Nivolumab drug shows survival benefit in phase III trial of patients with head and neck cancer

The immunotherapy drug nivolumab has become the first to show a survival benefit in head and neck cancer, after a major international trial found that it was more effective than standard chemotherapy.

20 Apr 2016

Novel strategy for obesity prevention in young children

A novel approach to preventing overweight/obesity in young children by replacing traditional, individual well-child care with a series of group visits that emphasize nutrition-focused interventions during the first 18 months of life was associated with a significantly reduced obesity rate at 2 years of age.

20 Apr 2016

Family interventions may help reduce children's genetic risks for obesity

Children's genetic risks for obesity may be reduced by interventions that strengthen family communication and help children manage their emotions and feelings of satiety, according to a new review of research on the problem.

20 Apr 2016

Scientists identify underlying cause of immune suppression in people with high level spinal cord injuries

Scientists report in Nature Neuroscience they have identified an underlying cause of dangerous immune suppression in people with high level spinal cord injuries and they propose a possible treatment.

19 Apr 2016

Experts discuss recent controversies related to breast cancer screening recommendations

In 2015, American Cancer Society caused a stir in the oncology community—and among women in general—with the updated recommendation that women of average risk for breast cancer should commence annual mammography at age 45.

19 Apr 2016

Study describes precise mechanisms that enable TB bacteria to persist in the body

Bacteria that cause tuberculosis trick immune cells meant to destroy them into hiding and feeding them instead. This is the result of a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and published online April 18 in Nature Immunology.

19 Apr 2016

Researchers identify biological pathway that explains why current asthma therapies fail in many cases

Asthma is an enormous public health problem that continues to grow larger, in part because scientists don't fully understand how it is caused. Existing therapies don't cure the disease and often don't even significantly alleviate the symptoms. Now, scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University have identified a biological pathway that potentially explains why current asthma therapies don't work well in many cases—and might be targeted to help those patients.

19 Apr 2016

New computer algorithm can better characterize functional context of genomic variations in cancer

Cancer is rarely the result of a single mutation in a single gene. Rather, tumors arise from the complex interplay between any number of mutually exclusive abnormal changes in the genome, the combinations of which can be unique to each individual patient.

19 Apr 2016

Study investigates usefulness of plasma levels as biomarker for AD

A Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing paper published in Current Alzheimer Research presents the first detailed study of the relationship between plasma levels of two amyloid beta peptides (Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42), brain volumetrics (measures studying the size of brain, which shrinks with Alzheimer's disease) and cognitive performance in an investigation of the usefulness of plasma levels as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

19 Apr 2016

Researchers develop new method for identifying DNA mutations in single cancer cell

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a new method for detecting DNA mutations in a single cancer cell versus current technology that analyzes millions of cells which they believe could have important applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The results are published in the April 18 online issue of Nature Methods.

19 Apr 2016

Study: British adults agree to donate heart, kidney and lungs, but not eyes for transplant

Despite a shortage of corneas for transplant purposes, new research reveals that eyes are the one body part we are least likely to donate.

19 Apr 2016

MR may detect earliest Alzheimer's brain changes

Levels of the brain metabolite and neuroinflammation marker myo-inositol are elevated in asymptomatic patients with abnormal Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, say researchers. As repo ...

18 Apr 2016

Researchers reveal how relatively unknown pathogen led to current Zika outbreak

An analysis comparing the individual differences between over 40 strains of Zika virus (30 isolated from humans, 10 from mosquitoes, and 1 from monkeys) has identified significant changes in both amino acid and nucleotide sequences during the past half-century.

18 Apr 2016

Cancer causing genetic condition risk in children lower than previously thought

The odds of children having a genetic condition which causes learning difficulties and tumours have been dramatically cut, thanks to genetic analysis led by The University of Manchester and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

18 Apr 2016

ZIKA virus can be transmitted sexually, confirms Inserm study

A study by researchers from Inserm, the Paris Public Hospitals (Bichat Hospital, AP-HP), Aix-Marseille University, and the National Reference Centre for Arboviruses confirms that the ZIKA virus can be transmitted sexually. Their analyses have shown 100% genetic correlation between the form of the virus present in a man who contracted the virus in Brazil and that of a woman who had never travelled in the epidemic area, but who had sexual relations with him. These results are published in The New England Journal of medicine.

18 Apr 2016

Study shows children with rare eye disease have greatest benefit from gene therapy

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute and Baylor College of Medicine's Cullen Eye Institute published findings from a two-year Phase I clinical trial in the journal Ophthalmology, which showed that children had the greatest benefit from gene therapy for treatment of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) or severe early childhood onset retinal degeneration (SECORD).

18 Apr 2016

Studies confirm benefit of plasma genotyping to predict treatment outcomes for NSCLC patients

The benefit of plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is confirmed in three studies presented today at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. Researchers however warned that plasma tests are unlikely to fully replace tissue biopsies.

18 Apr 2016

UAB lab to offer new tests for genetic diseases using next-generation sequencing

The Medical Genomics Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is expanding its technological array with a new panel of diagnostic tests for genetic diseases known as neurofibromatoses and rasopathies. Beginning April 18, the UAB lab will offer new tests using the technique called customized deep-coverage, next-generation sequencing or NGS.

18 Apr 2016

Genetic News and Research

Genetic markers may influence how breast cancer patients respond to treatment

Study links rise in double mastectomy to media coverage of celebrities with breast cancer

Nivolumab drug shows survival benefit in phase III trial of patients with head and neck cancer

Novel strategy for obesity prevention in young children

Family interventions may help reduce children's genetic risks for obesity

Scientists identify underlying cause of immune suppression in people with high level spinal cord injuries

Experts discuss recent controversies related to breast cancer screening recommendations

Study describes precise mechanisms that enable TB bacteria to persist in the body

Researchers identify biological pathway that explains why current asthma therapies fail in many cases

New computer algorithm can better characterize functional context of genomic variations in cancer

Study investigates usefulness of plasma levels as biomarker for AD

Researchers develop new method for identifying DNA mutations in single cancer cell

Study: British adults agree to donate heart, kidney and lungs, but not eyes for transplant

MR may detect earliest Alzheimer's brain changes

Researchers reveal how relatively unknown pathogen led to current Zika outbreak

Cancer causing genetic condition risk in children lower than previously thought

ZIKA virus can be transmitted sexually, confirms Inserm study

Study shows children with rare eye disease have greatest benefit from gene therapy

Studies confirm benefit of plasma genotyping to predict treatment outcomes for NSCLC patients

UAB lab to offer new tests for genetic diseases using next-generation sequencing

Sequencing & Genomics: Elevating Science and Healthcare eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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