Genetic News and Research

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Anesthesia can increase behavioral changes, risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

The use of repetitive anesthesia with isoflurane (one of the most common anesthetics by inhalation) increases the risk of developing changes similar to those observed in AD brains in mice with mutations of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). This is the main conclusion of Spanish researchers coordinated by Doctors Maria -ngeles Mena and Justo Garc-a de Y-benes, from CIBERNED (Centro de Investigaci-n Biom-dica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas).

25 Mar 2010

New study investigates effects of influenza among pregnant women

This spring, pregnant women in Bergen and Oslo will be invited to take part in the Norwegian Influenza Study (NorFlu). The aim is to find out how influenza in pregnancy affects maternal health and childhood development. NorFlu will also study any implications of vaccination during pregnancy.

25 Mar 2010

Life Technologies' real-time PCR instrument available for IVD use in Europe

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that its Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument is available as a platform suitable for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) use in Europe. Clinical laboratories from 22 countries and European institutions that develop in vitro molecular diagnostic assays in oncology, genetic disease and infectious disease will now be able to leverage the instrument’s regulatory clearance to develop tests for clinical applications.

24 Mar 2010

British couples seek alternative fertility treatment in the US

With strict social and legal restrictions associated with third party reproduction, as well as limited egg donors available in the UK, an increasing number of British couples are traveling to the U.S. for alternative fertility treatments, such as egg donation. Unfortunately, the UK does not allow financial compensation for egg donors; this greatly reduces the number of available donors and presents major obstacles for many infertile couples, some of whom wait for an egg donor for two years or longer. Last year approximately 1200 egg donors were needed in the UK, and roughly 500 families were unable to find a donor.

24 Mar 2010

Ambry Genetics introduces a suite of genetic tests to pinpoint the cause of mental retardation

Ambry Genetics today introduced The Ambry X-Linked Mental Retardation SuperPANEL™, a suite of genetic tests expected to pinpoint the cause of intellectual disability and X-linked mental retardation (XLMR).

24 Mar 2010

GENETICS 2010 meeting highlights latest research on human genetic disorders

The Genetics Society of America (GSA) biennial meeting, "GENETICS 2010: Model Organisms to Human Biology," June 12-15, 2010, at the Sheraton Boston, Massachusetts, will bring together investigators who study genetic models in organisms such as flies, yeast, fungi, mice and other non-human organisms, with researchers in human genetics

24 Mar 2010

High-density genotyping array launched to study complexity of mouse genetics

Affymetrix, Inc. and The Jackson Laboratory today announced the full commercial launch of the Affymetrix® Mouse Diversity Genotyping Array. This is the first high-density genotyping array that enables researchers to study the complexity of the mouse genome and the diversity among mouse strains.

24 Mar 2010

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

Conventional wisdom among scientists for years has suggested that because individuals with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome, the disorder most likely results from the presence of too many genes or proteins contained in that additional structure.

24 Mar 2010

Children with neurofibromatosis more likely to have cardiovascular problems

Researchers have discovered how a genetic disease known mainly for its life-threatening tumors also can cause sudden death from cardiovascular disease in children, and are mounting a clinical trial to develop treatments for the problem.

24 Mar 2010

Celladon Corporation receives USPTO notice of allowance covering MYDICAR for advanced heart failure

Celladon Corp. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a notice of allowance for a broad patent covering the company's lead drug candidate MYDICAR®, a genetically targeted enzyme replacement therapy for advanced heart failure. The patent will be issued to The Regents of the University of California and licensed exclusively to Celladon.

23 Mar 2010

Auditory brainstem implants for adults with damaged cochlear nerves

If a siren sounded but you were deaf, might you still be able to hear the sound?

23 Mar 2010

Genetic accident in sea provides new insight into diabetes: New research

A genetic accident in the sea more than 500 million years ago has provided new insight into diabetes, according to research from Queen Mary, University of London.

23 Mar 2010

T1D and IBD may respond to 2-way genetic switch: Study

Pediatric researchers analyzing DNA variations in type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease have found a complex interplay of genes. Some genes have opposing effects, raising the risk of one disease while protecting against the other. In other cases, a gene variant may act in the same direction, raising the risk for both diseases.

23 Mar 2010

ChemGenex shares falter as FDA requests more data on new leukemia drug

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Shares fell most in the last 16 years to AUD$0.44 following a concern raised by the US drug regulators – US FDA. The FDA requested on Monday for more uniform clinical test data before they review and consider approval of the company’s new leukemia drug.

23 Mar 2010

AARDA launches campaign on family AQ

In honor of the designation of March as National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month by the U.S. Senate on March 4, 2010, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) wants to help you learn your family's AQ. AQ is a play on IQ that stands for Autoimmune Quotient. It's about knowing how likely you or a loved one is to develop an autoimmune disease, based on the prevalence of these diseases and your family history. The campaign features AARDA National Spokesperson and Actress Kellie Martin, best known for her memorable roles on "E.R." and "Life Goes On."

22 Mar 2010

Mayo Clinic co-led research finds first gene linked to lung cancer in "never smokers"

A five-center collaborative study that scanned the genomes of thousands of "never smokers" diagnosed with lung cancer as well as healthy never smokers has found a gene they say could be responsible for a significant number of those cancers.

22 Mar 2010

Caltech-led trial demonstrates feasibility of nanoparticles and RNAi-based therapeutics for treating cancer

A California Institute of Technology -led team of researchers and clinicians has published the first proof that a targeted nanoparticle-used as an experimental therapeutic and injected directly into a patient's bloodstream-can traffic into tumors, deliver double-stranded small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and turn off an important cancer gene using a mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi).

22 Mar 2010

Genetic study may help develop potential treatment strategies for stiff skin syndrome

By studying the genetics of a rare inherited disorder called stiff skin syndrome, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have learned more about scleroderma, a condition affecting about one in 5,000 people that leads to hardening of the skin as well as other debilitating and often life-threatening problems.

20 Mar 2010

Turning microRNAs into novel drugs

Researchers around the globe are working on turning microRNAs, over 5,000 of which already have been identified, into novel drugs for a wide range of applications, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). These noncoding single-stranded RNAs act through binding to complementary mRNA sequences, thus preventing their translation into protein or accelerating mRNA breakdown, according to the March 15 issue of GEN.

20 Mar 2010

ELCA's 49-page draft social statement on genetics

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released March 18 a 49-page draft social statement on genetics, a framework for discussion on a variety of current topics in the field including certain advances in medicine, reproductive cloning, human embryonic stem cells, and animal and plant genetic engineering.

20 Mar 2010