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ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Response Genetics Inc., a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced that it has expanded its ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel to detect the presence of EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients. EML4-ALK fusion genes are present in about four percent of tumors from patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

1 Jul 2010

Individual dental patterns are as reliable as DNA tests, say researchers

Researchers from the University of Granada have shown that a person's dental patterns can be used as proof of their identity with the same degree of reliability as DNA testing, the method that forensic police use to reveal the identity of dead bodies. The researchers came to their conclusion after analyzing the dental patterns of more than 3,000 people.

30 Jun 2010

U.S., China open Shanghai Epidemiology Center for chronic, epidemic diseases

Chinese and U.S. health officials opened an epidemiology center in Shanghai Tuesday to train experts to deal with and prevent chronic and epidemic diseases, the Associated Press reports.

30 Jun 2010

Original viral genetic sequences still present months after initial infection, says study

Scientists have been surprised to learn that, despite thousands of changes that viruses like HIV undergo in rapid fashion to evade the body's immune system, the original version that caused the infection is still present in the body months later.

30 Jun 2010

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that its applications for ALN-TTR01 have been given clearance by Portuguese, Swedish, and British regulatory authorities to begin clinical testing. The trial will begin enrolling patients shortly in a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase I study.

29 Jun 2010

Rare human antibodies protect mice from lethal strains of influenza

Scientists have identified a new, highly conserved molecular target on the influenza A virus and demonstrated that human antibodies against this target are protective in animal models of seasonal and highly-pathogenic avian influenza. The work was conducted by researchers at Theraclone Sciences, with collaborators at University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Tokyo and Johns Hopkins University; and is reported this week in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

29 Jun 2010

Transposons create genomic instability and are implicated in cancer and other diseases: Research

Transposons, or "jumping genes," make up roughly half of the human genome. Geneticists previously estimated that they replicate and insert themselves into new locations roughly one in every 20 live births.

28 Jun 2010

Helicos BioSciences to develop, market MDx tests that utilize HeliScope Single Molecule Sequencer

Helicos BioSciences Corporation announced today that it is in the early stages of validating molecular diagnostic (MDx) tests that utilize its HeliScope® Single Molecule Sequencer. The HeliScope Sequencer's ability to sequence single molecules of natural, unamplified DNA or RNA simplifies the diagnostic testing workflow obviating the need for the amplification steps utilized by most genetic analysis methods.

28 Jun 2010

PARP inhibitors may be effective in men with prostate cancer due to BRCA2 alteration: Researchers

The way prostate cancer develops in men who have an altered 'breast cancer gene' is the same route by which breast cancer develops in women with the same mutation, reveals a study published in PLoS Genetics today (Thursday).

25 Jun 2010

Specific virus can interact with mutation in host's genes to trigger diseases: Scientists

Scientists have shown that a specific virus can interact with a mutation in the host's genes to trigger disease. The observation may help explain why many people with disease risk genes do not actually develop disease.

25 Jun 2010

Impact of oil spill on humans and wildlife

University of Rhode Island Pharmacy Professor Bongsup Cho knows there are cancer-causing chemicals in diesel fumes and cigarette smoke.

25 Jun 2010

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

"A large polio outbreak in Tajikistan - Europe's first in years - has the potential to further spread the dangerous virus to other regions of the world, the [editors of] the Canadian Medical Association Journal [CMAJ] warned Wednesday" in an editorial appearing in the journal, the Canadian Press reports.

25 Jun 2010

Nektar commences dosing in Phase 1 study of NKTR-102 in combination with 5-FU/leucovorin

Nektar Therapeutics announced today that the first patients have been dosed in a new Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study to evaluate NKTR-102, the company's lead oncology compound, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin in refractory solid tumor cancers. The study is being conducted at University Hospitals Case Medical Center of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

24 Jun 2010

Blood flow disturbances in artery determine appearance of atherosclerosis: Study

A new animal model of atherosclerosis has allowed researchers to identify a host of genes turned on or off during the initial stages of the process, before a plaque appears in the affected blood vessel.

24 Jun 2010

New book provides comprehensive review of the functions of p53 family

The p53 tumor suppressor gene, the "guardian of the genome," protects cells against genotoxic stress but is mutated in many cancers. It encodes one of a family of proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and cell death. Mutations in p53 allow cells to escape normal growth controls and thereby contribute to tumor malignancy.

24 Jun 2010

Researchers find why patients with XPV are more susceptible to skin cancer

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found why patients with a variant form of xeroderma pigmentosum, an inherited genetic disorder characterized by extreme sensitivity to the sun, are more susceptible to skin cancers than the general population. The data are published in the current issue of the journal Nature. Their finding sets the stage for research into therapies that would help protect people with XPV from developing skin cancers.

24 Jun 2010

Mutation in ion channel that changes its dynamics is implicated in epilepsy: Scientists

In 2004, Washington University in St. Lous researcher Jianmin Cui was handed a puzzling clue to the structure of an ion channel his lab had been studying for five years.

24 Jun 2010

Phase I/II clinical trials show crizotinib reduces lung cancer tumors

Patients with a specific kind of lung cancer may benefit from a Phase III clinical trial offered by the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. The new drug, crizotinib, under development by Pfizer, showed dramatic results in reducing lung cancer tumors in some patients during Phase I and II clinical trials.

23 Jun 2010

NCI awards GeneGo Phase II SBIR grant for development of MetaMiner(Oncology) platform

GeneGo, Inc., a leading provider of databases, software and services in systems biology and chemistry, announced today that they were awarded with a Phase II SBIR grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for further development of an analytical platform for translational research and data analysis in oncology.

22 Jun 2010

Elevation of Smurf1 may play a role in molecular basis of PAH: Study

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease, marked by shortness of breath and fatigue which can be fatal if untreated. Increased pressure in the pulmonary artery and its branches is associated with dysfunctional growth control of endothelial and smooth muscle cells leading to excessive thickening of the blood vessel wall, obliteration of the lumen and right heart failure.

22 Jun 2010

Mutation News and Research

ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Individual dental patterns are as reliable as DNA tests, say researchers

U.S., China open Shanghai Epidemiology Center for chronic, epidemic diseases

Original viral genetic sequences still present months after initial infection, says study

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Rare human antibodies protect mice from lethal strains of influenza

Transposons create genomic instability and are implicated in cancer and other diseases: Research

Helicos BioSciences to develop, market MDx tests that utilize HeliScope Single Molecule Sequencer

PARP inhibitors may be effective in men with prostate cancer due to BRCA2 alteration: Researchers

Specific virus can interact with mutation in host's genes to trigger diseases: Scientists

Impact of oil spill on humans and wildlife

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

Nektar commences dosing in Phase 1 study of NKTR-102 in combination with 5-FU/leucovorin

Blood flow disturbances in artery determine appearance of atherosclerosis: Study

New book provides comprehensive review of the functions of p53 family

Researchers find why patients with XPV are more susceptible to skin cancer

Mutation in ion channel that changes its dynamics is implicated in epilepsy: Scientists

Phase I/II clinical trials show crizotinib reduces lung cancer tumors

NCI awards GeneGo Phase II SBIR grant for development of MetaMiner(Oncology) platform

Elevation of Smurf1 may play a role in molecular basis of PAH: Study

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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