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LMRI scientists discover cause of debilitating eye disease

Scientists at the Lowy Medical Research Institute have discovered one cause of a progressive, debilitating eye disease called macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel).

11 Sep 2019

First genetic cause for a rare eye disease discovered

John A. Moran Eye Center physician-researcher Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, and his patients at the University of Utah played a key role in the recent discovery of the first genetic cause for a rare eye disease.

11 Sep 2019

Pupil dilation provides clues to future Alzheimer’s risk

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the quality of life of those affected by the disease. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease negatively impacts thinking, memory, behavior. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease but treatments can slow its progression.

11 Sep 2019

New strain of Streptococcus A rampant in England and Wales

According to a new study on cases of scarlet fever and other Streptococcus A infections in England and Wales, the recent rise in cases is due to a newly identified strain. This accounted for the great increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever that occurred in 2014. The last such outbreak was way back in the 1960s.

11 Sep 2019

Gene coding error likely responsible for rare form of inherited 'short telomere' disease

By combing through the entire genetic sequences of a person with a lung scarring disease and 13 of the person’s relatives, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have found a coding error in a single gene that is likely responsible for a rare form of the disease and the abnormally short protective DNA caps on chromosomes long associated with it.

From Johns Hopkins Medicine 11 Sep 2019

Gyros Protein Technologies launches Gyrolab p24 Kit for scientists in cell and gene therapy market

Gyros Protein Technologies AB, a pioneer in automated nanoliter-scale immunoassays and leading provider of peptide synthesizers and reagents, today announced the introduction of Gyrolab® p24 Kit, for lentivirus titer determination in lentivirus vector manufacturing.

From Gyros Protein Technologies AB 11 Sep 2019

Developing broad-spectrum antivirals to target many viruses at once

Humanity faces an essentially unlimited pool of virus threats. The emergence of new viruses like HIV, Ebola, or Zika is only going to increase as humans encroach further into the wild environment.

11 Sep 2019

Scientists discover new strain of group A streptococcus bacteria in England and Wales

A team of scientists led by Imperial College London have discovered a new strain of group A streptococcus bacteria.

11 Sep 2019

Non-invasive accurate blood test for prostate cancer

For men, one of the most dreaded moments could be hearing, “We’re not yet sure, but your PSA is high; you’ll have to come for further tests.” This could start a chain of events which ends in the diagnosis of prostate cancer - including a prostate biopsy, and ending in a major surgery for prostate removal.

11 Sep 2019

Genetic engineering could open possibilities for patients with Parkinson’s disease

People with Parkinson’s disease experience loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, leading to tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, the primary symptoms of the disease.

11 Sep 2019

Long-term antibiotic use in preemies promotes drug-resistant gut bacteria

Very preterm infants are often sick and require antibiotic treatment to save their lives. However, when this form of therapy lasts for 20 months or more, it may affect the gut microbiome over the long-term in addition to its acute effects.

10 Sep 2019

Genetic testing may help patients with metastatic breast cancer

Breast cancer is a condition wherein the cells in the breast grow uncontrollably. Breast cancer can spread to the other parts of the body, termed as metastatic breast cancer. It is one of the most aggressive and potentially deadly types of cancer.

10 Sep 2019

Scientists unveil key brain cells that suppress drug cravings

Illicit drug use has been linked to disability, death, and the risk for many diseases. But more, it is associated with risks to the person’s family, friends, and the community.

10 Sep 2019

Nanocapsules packed with gene-editing tools could be promising platform for many gene therapies

New tools for editing genetic code offer hope for new treatments for inherited diseases, some cancers, and even stubborn viral infections. But the typical method for delivering gene therapies to specific tissues in the body can be complicated and may cause troubling side effects.

10 Sep 2019

Breakthrough research may help women extend their fertility windows

What if women could press pause on their biological clocks? Human eggs begin to mature from the onset of a woman's first period.

10 Sep 2019

Mutations linked with sensitivity or resistance to immunotherapy in mNSCLC

The relationship between gene alterations and response to anti-PD-L1 with and without anti-CTLA-4 are not well characterized.

10 Sep 2019

Salk researchers develop method to reveal epigenetic features of brain cells

The brain's prefrontal cortex, which gives us our ability to solve problems and plan ahead, contains billions of cells. But understanding the large diversity of cell types in this critical region, each with unique genetic and molecular properties, has been challenging.

10 Sep 2019

Researchers investigate how to prevent the onset of schizophrenia using mouse model

Although predisposing processes occur earlier, schizophrenia breaks out at young adulthood, suggesting it might involve a pathological transition during late brain development in predisposed individuals.

9 Sep 2019

Drug tolerant Tuberculosis could soon be tracked using genes

A team of researchers from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School have found genetic foot prints of tuberculosis bacteria that are resistant to the commonly used anti-tubercular drugs. This could help scientists develop drugs to combat drug resistance in tuberculosis.

8 Sep 2019

Researchers find synergistic connection between two deadly blood-clotting diseases

Two rare but potentially deadly blood-clotting diseases, namely thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or TTP, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, show similar pathologies -- a multitude of painful blockages in small blood vessels that cause varying degrees of organ injury throughout the body. However, the two disorders have distinct biological mechanisms.

8 Sep 2019