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Family history points to more severe bipolar disorder

A family history of mood disorders is associated with more severe symptoms at presentation and a poorer clinical course in patients with bipolar disorder, show findings from the STEP-BD study.

2 Jan 2014

Study reveals potential links to the underlying causes of cancers

New research by scientists at the University of Exeter has shown that cells demonstrate remarkable flexibility and versatility when it comes to how they divide - a finding with potential links to the underlying causes of many cancers.

2 Jan 2014

Researchers identify two novel BRAF fusions in melanomas

Stand Up To Cancer, the charitable initiative supporting ground-breaking research aimed at getting new cancer treatments to patients in an accelerated timeframe, announces that Jeffrey A. Sosman, M.D., a Stand Up To Cancer Melanoma Dream Team investigator, William Pao, M.D., Ph.D., a 2009 Stand Up To Cancer Innovative Research Grant recipient and colleagues identified two novel BRAF fusions in melanomas previously considered to be negative for molecular targets, and that melanomas with these fusions were found to be potentially sensitive to anticancer drugs called MEK inhibitors, according to a study recently published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

2 Jan 2014

Innovative therapy offers new hope to breast cancer patients

A novel breast-cancer therapy that partially reverses the cancerous state in cultured breast tumor cells and prevents cancer development in mice, could one day provide a new way to treat early stages of the disease without resorting to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, a multi-institutional team led by researchers from the Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University reported January 1 in Science Translational Medicine.

2 Jan 2014

MAPT gene is associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Chinese Han population

A previous study of European Caucasian patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis demonstrated that a polymorphism in the microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) gene was significantly associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis.

30 Dec 2013

UPV/EHU-University study shows that weekend alcohol consumption may affect DNA

A preliminary study led by a UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country researcher in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Nayarit, in Mexico, indicates that weekend alcohol consumption may affect DNA.

30 Dec 2013

Researchers provide new insights into how common cold virus infects

On average, each of us catches a cold two to three times a year. However, how the common cold virus actually infects us is only partly understood. Researchers from the Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, in collaboration with two Spanish groups, have now provided new insights into this process.

30 Dec 2013

Scientists obtain detailed molecular structure of member of Tet family of enzymes

Scientists have obtained the first detailed molecular structure of a member of the Tet family of enzymes.

28 Dec 2013

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent delays neuropathy progression, preserves quality of life

Among patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, a lethal, genetic neurodegenerative disease, use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent diflunisal compared with placebo for 2 years reduced the rate of progression in neurological impairment and preserved quality of life, according to a study appearing in the December 25 issue of JAMA.

27 Dec 2013

Researchers explore ways to overcome transplant rejection

Given that 10.5 % of patients who receive a transplant reject the new organ, researchers at the Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav) are working in the design of a tool capable of preventing this problem.

27 Dec 2013

FNIH Biomarkers Consortium announces initial results of I-SPY 2 trial for breast cancer

The I-SPY 2 TRIAL, a randomized phase II clinical trial for breast cancer launched through a unique partnership with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium and sponsored by QuantumLeap Healthcare Collaborative has graduated the first two drugs from its innovative, multidrug standing platform trial.

27 Dec 2013

Cells' adaptations to low oxygen conditions inside tumors promote breast cancer's spread

Biologists at The Johns Hopkins University have discovered that low oxygen conditions, which often persist inside tumors, are sufficient to initiate a molecular chain of events that transforms breast cancer cells from being rigid and stationery to mobile and invasive.

27 Dec 2013

EMA accepts Otsuka's marketing authorisation application for tolvaptan for treatment of ADPKD

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the submission of a marketing authorisation application (MAA) for the potential approval of tolvaptan for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

27 Dec 2013

Stem cell-based gene therapy shows long-term outcomes for treatment of genetic skin diseases

Stem cell-based gene therapy holds promise for the treatment of devastating genetic skin diseases, but the long-term clinical outcomes of this approach have been unclear.

27 Dec 2013

Scientists find inhibiting action of BRD4 protein may eradicate rare type of soft-tissue cancer

A deadly, rare type of soft-tissue cancer may be completely eradicated simply by inhibiting a key protein involved in its growth, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

27 Dec 2013

Magnetic nanoparticles-based method uses saliva to screen DNA polymorphism in stroke patients

C677T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is a risk factor for stroke. Studies have report a higher C677T homozygosity frequency in Chinese than in Europeans. Usually, the detection of genetic diseases is rather complicated on a large scale owing to the invasive sampling and a cumbersome DNA extraction process.

27 Dec 2013

THRIL could be novel biomarker for immune activation, potential target for inflammatory diseases

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute scientists have discovered a new molecule that forms when certain white blood cells-macrophages-are stimulated in response to pathogens.

27 Dec 2013

Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis contributes to biology and drug discovery

The results of the largest international study to date into the genetic basis of rheumatoid arthritis shed light on the biology of the disease and provide evidence that large-scale genetic studies can assist in the identification of new drugs for complex disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

26 Dec 2013

Researchers uncover new genetic clue that contributes to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

An international team of researchers in Mexico and the United States has uncovered a new genetic clue that contributes to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly the elevated risk among Mexican and other Latin American populations.

26 Dec 2013

Researchers complete genomic analysis of cervical cancer in two patient populations

Researchers from the Boston area, Mexico, and Norway have completed a comprehensive genomic analysis of cervical cancer in two patient populations. The study identified recurrent genetic mutations not previously found in cervical cancer, including at least one for which targeted treatments have been approved for other forms of cancer.

25 Dec 2013

Genetic News and Research

Family history points to more severe bipolar disorder

Study reveals potential links to the underlying causes of cancers

Researchers identify two novel BRAF fusions in melanomas

Innovative therapy offers new hope to breast cancer patients

MAPT gene is associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Chinese Han population

UPV/EHU-University study shows that weekend alcohol consumption may affect DNA

Researchers provide new insights into how common cold virus infects

Scientists obtain detailed molecular structure of member of Tet family of enzymes

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent delays neuropathy progression, preserves quality of life

Researchers explore ways to overcome transplant rejection

FNIH Biomarkers Consortium announces initial results of I-SPY 2 trial for breast cancer

Cells' adaptations to low oxygen conditions inside tumors promote breast cancer's spread

EMA accepts Otsuka's marketing authorisation application for tolvaptan for treatment of ADPKD

Stem cell-based gene therapy shows long-term outcomes for treatment of genetic skin diseases

Scientists find inhibiting action of BRD4 protein may eradicate rare type of soft-tissue cancer

Magnetic nanoparticles-based method uses saliva to screen DNA polymorphism in stroke patients

THRIL could be novel biomarker for immune activation, potential target for inflammatory diseases

Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis contributes to biology and drug discovery

Researchers uncover new genetic clue that contributes to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Researchers complete genomic analysis of cervical cancer in two patient populations

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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