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Researchers validate effectiveness of genome sequencing process for hereditary genetic diseases

A research team led by Dr. Nada Jabado at the MUHC Research Institute and Dr. Jacek Majewski at McGill University has proven for the first time that it is possible to identify any genetic disease in record time thanks to a powerful and reliable exome sequencing method. The exome, a small part of the genome ((less than) 2%), is of crucial interest with regard to research on genetic diseases as it accounts for 85% of mutations.

10 Jun 2010

Misinterpretation of genetic information may undermine efforts to promote behavioral changes for disease prevention

Does knowing that genes are partly responsible for your health condition mean you are less likely to be motivated to find out about the benefits of behavioral changes? According to Dr. Suzanne O'Neill from the National Human Genome Research Institute/National Institutes of Health, and her colleagues, people on the whole are still interested in how health habits affect disease risk.

10 Jun 2010

Brain stimulation with ultrasound may enhance cognitive function

The ability to diagnose and treat brain dysfunction without surgery, may rely on a new method of noninvasive brain stimulation using pulsed ultrasound developed by a team of scientists led by William "Jamie" Tyler, a neuroscientist at Arizona State University. The approach, published in the journal Neuron on June 9, shows that pulsed ultrasound not only stimulates action potentials in intact motor cortex in mice but it also "elicits motor responses comparable to those only previously achieved with implanted electrodes and related techniques," says Yusuf Tufail, the lead author from ASU's School of Life Sciences.

10 Jun 2010

Researchers differentiate human stem cells to become heart cells with cardiomyopathy

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have for the first time differentiated human stem cells to become heart cells with cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle cells are abnormal. The discovery will allow scientists to learn how those heart cells become diseased and from there, they can begin developing drug therapies to stop the disease from occurring or progressing. The study is published in the June 9th issue of Nature.

10 Jun 2010

Study to understand process of telomere shortening

A new study at the University of Leicester is examining a sequence of DNA- known as telomeres - that varies in length between individual.

10 Jun 2010

Differences in immune systems of men and women can impact diseases: Research

In the book Sex Hormones and Immunity to Infection, Sabra Klein, PhD, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, explores the differences in the immune systems of men and women and how these differences can impact disease.

10 Jun 2010

DermaGenoma releases CelluliteDX Genetic Test for women

As summer swimsuit season heats up, women around the world will inspect their looks in the mirror. A majority of them will see cellulite - at some point - but a new genetic test may be able to help them avoid cellulite before anyone notices.

10 Jun 2010

Copy number variants may cause autism: Study

An international consortium of researchers from more than 70 universities, including the University of Utah, has reported that a study of nearly 2,300 people supports the growing consensus that autism is caused in part by rare genetic changes called copy number variants (CNVs).

10 Jun 2010

New genetic discoveries from Autism Genome Project

An international consortium of researchers working under the auspices of Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, has announced new genetic discoveries from the second phase of its collaborative study: the Autism Genome Project. The results were published today in the journal Nature, one of the world's most respected peer-reviewed scientific publications.

10 Jun 2010

Forensic pathologists chronicle phenomenon of doctors who kill

Most people have heard of the Hippocratic Oath, taken by doctors committed to practicing medicine ethically. What happens though when doctors, those dedicated to healing and preserving life, cross the line and kill?

10 Jun 2010

World's largest DNA scan reveals new genetic changes in autistic children

The world's largest DNA scan for familial autism has uncovered new genetic changes in autistic children that are often not present in their parents. Identified in less than 1 percent of the population, these rare variants occur nearly 20 percent more in autistic children.

10 Jun 2010

Mutations in ion channels cause rare inherited pain disorder: Research

A mutation that enhances the function of a specific ion channel has been identified as the cause of a rare inherited pain disorder. The research, published by Cell Press in the June 10 issue of the journal Neuron, proposes a potential treatment for the disorder and may lead to a better understanding of chronic pain in humans.

10 Jun 2010

Texas Tech signs worldwide license agreement for metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors with RI Scientific

Officials at Texas Tech University System's Office of Technology Commercialization announced Wednesday (June 9) the signing of an exclusive worldwide license agreement for a chemical additive called an aptamer that makes certain existing antibiotics viable against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

10 Jun 2010

New findings may help researchers design drugs that can prevent HIV

Researchers at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and University of Nebraska Medical Center have created a three-dimensional picture of an important protein that is involved in how HIV -- the virus responsible for AIDS -- is produced inside human cells. The picture may help researchers design drugs that can prevent HIV from reproducing.

10 Jun 2010

Sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function: Researchers

Once damaged, nerves in the spinal cord normally cannot grow back and the only drug approved for treating these injuries does not enable nerve regrowth. Publishing online this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine show that treating injured rat spinal cords with an enzyme, sialidase, improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function.

10 Jun 2010

Novel gene replacement therapy holds promise for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Children who suffer from the devastating disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy are set to benefit from a new breakthrough in therapy developments by researchers at the University of Sheffield.

10 Jun 2010

New information to help patients make important decision regarding stem cell treatments

Patients hoping to learn more about the credibility of clinics selling stem cell treatments abroad will soon have new information to help them make important and often costly decisions regarding their health. A report released today by the Task Force on Unproven Stem Cell Treatments, convened by the International Society for Stem Cell Research outlines criteria by which people can evaluate the claims made by the hundreds of so-called "rogue" clinics operating across the globe.

10 Jun 2010

Scientists discover how polyphenols present in red wine and green tea inhibit prostate cancer growth

In what could lead to a major advance in the treatment of prostate cancer, scientists now know exactly why polyphenols in red wine and green tea inhibit cancer growth. This new discovery, published online in The FASEB Journal, explains how antioxidants in red wine and green tea produce a combined effect to disrupt an important cell signaling pathway necessary for prostate cancer growth.

10 Jun 2010

Argus Optical Mapping System for microbial whole genome analysis launched at ASM 2010 General Meeting

OpGen, Inc., a microbial genomics solutions company, announced the launch of the Argus Optical Mapping System for microbial whole genome analysis at the ASM 2010 General Meeting held in San Diego, CA May 23-27, 2010. The Argus Optical Mapping System is based on Optical Mapping Technology which generates ordered, whole genome restriction maps from single DNA molecules.

10 Jun 2010

Drinking coffee may help prevent diabetes, report scientists

Scientists are reporting new evidence that drinking coffee may help prevent diabetes and that caffeine may be the ingredient largely responsible for this effect. Their findings, among the first animal studies to demonstrate this apparent link, appear in ACS' bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

10 Jun 2010

Medical Science News

Researchers validate effectiveness of genome sequencing process for hereditary genetic diseases

Misinterpretation of genetic information may undermine efforts to promote behavioral changes for disease prevention

Brain stimulation with ultrasound may enhance cognitive function

Researchers differentiate human stem cells to become heart cells with cardiomyopathy

Study to understand process of telomere shortening

Differences in immune systems of men and women can impact diseases: Research

DermaGenoma releases CelluliteDX Genetic Test for women

Copy number variants may cause autism: Study

New genetic discoveries from Autism Genome Project

Forensic pathologists chronicle phenomenon of doctors who kill

World's largest DNA scan reveals new genetic changes in autistic children

Mutations in ion channels cause rare inherited pain disorder: Research

Texas Tech signs worldwide license agreement for metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors with RI Scientific

New findings may help researchers design drugs that can prevent HIV

Sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function: Researchers

Novel gene replacement therapy holds promise for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

New information to help patients make important decision regarding stem cell treatments

Scientists discover how polyphenols present in red wine and green tea inhibit prostate cancer growth

Argus Optical Mapping System for microbial whole genome analysis launched at ASM 2010 General Meeting

Drinking coffee may help prevent diabetes, report scientists

Unlocking live single-cell functional insights

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

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