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Drug treatment used for other conditions can help women combat urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence in women is common, with almost 50% of adult women experiencing leakage at least occasionally. Genetic or heritable factors are known to contribute to half of all cases, but until now studies had failed to identify the genetic variants associated with the condition.

29 May 2017

Researchers show how DPF2 protein controls blood cell production in leukemia

Many things go wrong in cells during the development of cancer. At the heart of the chaos are often genetic switches that control the production of new cells.

23 May 2017

Study identifies first genetic locus for anorexia nervosa

A landmark study led by UNC School of Medicine researchers has identified the first genetic locus for anorexia nervosa and has revealed that there may also be metabolic underpinnings to this potentially deadly illness.

12 May 2017

Human Vaccines Project, VUMC and Illumina team up to decipher genetic underpinnings of immune system

The Human Vaccines Project and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) today announced that they joined forces with Illumina, Inc., to decipher the human immunome, the genetic underpinnings of the immune system.

12 Apr 2017

Researchers uncover novel genetic links underlying Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

Corneal diseases are among the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness, with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), a gradual swelling and clouding of the cornea, being the most common reason for eventual corneal transplants.

31 Mar 2017

Neurons identified that link breathing to relaxation and arousal

Deep breathing is widely considered as one of the best ways to lower stress in the body and instil a sense of calm. Scientists at Stanford University have now identified the neurons that connect the respiratory control center in the brain with the centre controlling state of mind.

31 Mar 2017

Researchers report discovery of new gene linked to Tau accumulation in AD

Tau pathology is one of the defining features of Alzheimer disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia in older age.

25 Mar 2017

Researchers identify 90 genes in fat that could play key roles in cardiometabolic diseases

A sweeping international effort is connecting the dots between genes in our fat cells and our risk for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

6 Mar 2017

New study finds huge problem of multi-drug resistant infections among children

In a new, first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found a 700-percent surge in infections caused by bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics among children in the US. These antibiotic resistant infections are in turn linked to longer hospital stays and potentially greater risk of death.

24 Feb 2017

Genetic variant encoded in NCF1 linked to increased risk for autoimmune diseases, study shows

Investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina report pre-clinical research showing that a genetic variant encoded in neutrophil cystolic factor 1 (NCF1) is associated with increased risk for autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome, in the January 2017 issue of Nature Genetics.

8 Feb 2017

Missing gene may cause kidney and urinary tract defects in people with DiGeorge syndrome

Loss of function of the CRKL gene causes kidney and urinary tract defects in people with DiGeorge syndrome, a multinational team of scientists led by Columbia University Medical Center has found.

25 Jan 2017

MUSC researchers harness cutting-edge technology to uncover new role for pericytes during stroke

Pericytes are the primary locus of matrix-mellaproteinase-9-dependent (MMP-9) capillary damage and blood leakage during ischemia, according to preclinical findings reported by Medical University of South Carolina investigators in an article published online on November 14, 2016 by The Journal of Neuroscience.

5 Dec 2016

UAB researchers find microRNA as potential therapeutic target for MDD

A tiny RNA appears to play a role in producing major depression, the mental disorder that affects as many as 250 million people a year worldwide.

9 Sep 2016

Study sheds new light on biological mechanisms that drive flashbulb memory

Most people remember where they were when the twin towers collapsed in New York ... new research reveals why that may be the case.

8 Sep 2016

New mice study identifies trick to enhance memories

Imagine if playing a new video game or riding a rollercoaster could help you prepare for an exam or remember other critical information.

7 Sep 2016

Targeting specific neurons in the brain may provide effective treatment for anxiety

Clinical anxiety affects up to 30 percent of Americans who are in great need of better treatments with fewer side effects.

7 Sep 2016

Neuroscientists demonstrate revolutionary new way of mapping the brain at single-neuron resolution

Neuroscientists today publish in Neuron details of a revolutionary new way of mapping the brain at the resolution of individual neurons, which they have successfully demonstrated in the mouse brain.

19 Aug 2016

Study reveals crucial role of TERRA in preservation of telomeres

Despite their especially compact structure that is difficult to access, telomeres transcribe information like the rest of the DNA.

18 Aug 2016

Researchers uncover how GWAS-implicated gene affects HDL-cholesterol levels

Researchers have uncovered how genes identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, after comparing several animal models with human patient data.

10 Aug 2016

Overcoming gene silencing barriers to target neurological conditions: an interview with Dr Errol de Souza

Many gene mutations that cause neurological disorders have been identified. For example, in a rare neurological disorder such as Huntington’s disease, an autosomal dominant mutation through expansion of CAG (cytosine-adenine-guanine) triplet repeats in the gene coding for the Huntingtin protein results in abnormal protein production.

1 Aug 2016