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Study links 13 new gene regions to coronary atherosclerosis

Thirteen new gene regions have been convincingly linked to coronary atherosclerosis in a massive, new, international genetics study involving investigators from the Stanford University School of Medicine.

6 Mar 2011

Experts to discuss cause of sudden death on athletic playing fields

While the cause of death of the Fennville, Mich. high school basketball player is unknown, an inherited heart condition makes the top of the list for possible causes.

5 Mar 2011

Scientific symposium to examine new approaches to schizophrenia drug development

Despite significant investment in research and development by pharmaceutical companies, the last decade has seen a marked decline in the number of drugs developed and approved for schizophrenia. A multi-day symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences on Wednesday, March 9 - Friday, March 11 will convene world-leading experts in clinical, translational, and basic neuroscience to address this problem by examining novel, state-of-the-art approaches to schizophrenia drug development.

5 Mar 2011

Scientists detail role of TDP-43 in ALS pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or more popularly, Lou Gehrig's disease, is a notorious neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive deterioration of brain and spinal cord neurons, resulting in the gradual but catastrophic loss of muscle control and ultimately, death.

5 Mar 2011

Article outlines role of transcriptional mutagenesis in tumor development

DNA provides the instruction manual for all life forms. Occasionally, instructions are not carried out properly, and bad messages are sent leading to the creation of mutant proteins and possible tumor development.

5 Mar 2011

Research findings likely to improve understanding of gene regulation in humans

Many multi-cellular animals use sex chromosomes to determine sex. In fruit flies and in humans, this produces XX for females and XY for males. Cellular mechanisms then kick into gear to compensate the two-to-one imbalance of X-linked genes in females and males.

4 Mar 2011

Brain enzyme can restore even old, fading memories, say researchers

Even long after it is formed, a memory in rats can be enhanced or erased by increasing or decreasing the activity of a brain enzyme, say researchers supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health.

4 Mar 2011

New discovery holds promise for TB treatment

New findings on how tuberculosis bacteria develop multi-drug tolerance point to ways TB infections might be cured more quickly.

4 Mar 2011

Researchers transform human embryonic stem cell into neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease

Northwestern Medicine researchers for the first time have transformed a human embryonic stem cell into a critical type of neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease and is a major cause of memory loss.

4 Mar 2011

Cancer patients' willingness to undergo tests bodes well for future of personalized medicine

Cancer patients are willing to undergo many tests to receive advanced experimental treatment in clinical trials, according to a new study by Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

4 Mar 2011

Worldwide collaborative project to improve newborn screening accuracy for metabolic disorders

A unique worldwide collaborative project takes advantage of the Internet to improve the accuracy of screening for rare metabolic disorders in newborns, reports a paper in the March issue of Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics.

4 Mar 2011

New study finds liver instead of the brain as source of Alzheimer’s plaques

Unexpected results from a Scripps Research Institute and ModGene, LLC study could completely alter scientists' ideas about Alzheimer's disease—pointing to the liver instead of the brain as the source of the "amyloid" that deposits as brain plaques associated with this devastating condition. The findings could offer a relatively simple approach for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.

4 Mar 2011

Efficiency of brain function depends on family's genetic makeup

How well our brain functions is largely based on our family's genetic makeup, according to a University of Melbourne led study.

4 Mar 2011

Neuropathologist receives AAN Potamkin Prize for Alzheimer's disease research

The American Academy of Neurology has awarded the 2011 Potamkin Prize to Dennis Dickson, M.D., a neuropathologist at Mayo Clinic in Florida and the Robert E. Jacoby Professor for Alzheimer's Disease Research.

3 Mar 2011

Stem cell research updates

Two studies have been published this Wednesday in the journal Nature that show that work remains before so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are ready for use in laboratory studies or clinical therapies. These iPS cells are body cells that are programmed to unwind back into an embryonic state. Like embryonic stem cells, they have potential to develop into any other type of cell in the body. However researchers are showing that these cells do not reprogram perfectly.

3 Mar 2011

DNA methylation patterns can accurately detect early bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered for the first time that DNA methylation patterns - a key process in cell development - could accurately detect early bowel cancer, according to research published in Gut, today.

3 Mar 2011

VICC introduces nation's first personalized cancer decision support tool

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has launched the nation's first personalized cancer decision support tool, "My Cancer Genome," to help physicians and researchers track the latest developments in personalized cancer medicine and connect with clinical research trials for their patients.

3 Mar 2011

New study provides fascinating insight into genetic basis of bipolar disorder

A new study provides fascinating insight into the genetic basis of bipolar disorder, a highly heritable mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression.

3 Mar 2011

Scientists uncover genetic pathway that affects breast cancer development

Using recent advances in genomics, researchers have uncovered a genetic pathway that affects the development of breast cancer, work that could help predict which patients are at risk of relapse for the disease.

3 Mar 2011

Neurodegenerative Disease Management – meeting the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases

Future Medicine Ltd has today announced the launch of Neurodegenerative Disease Management – a new bimonthly title addressing all the latest trends in the field, from R&D through to clinical application and management, presenting research, findings, analysis and commentaries from experts around the world.

3 Mar 2011