Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Landmark international study confirms common genetic contribution to mental illness

An international research consortium has confirmed that common genetic variants contribute to a person’s risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The largest study of its kind provides new molecular evidence that 11 regions have strong association with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed. The researchers also found that many of these DNA variations contribute to both diseases. The findings, reported by the Psychiatric Genome-Wide Association Study Consortium (PGC) and published online in two papers in the journal Nature Genetics, represent significant advances in the understanding the causes of these severe and often debilitating disorders.

18 Sep 2011

Researchers discover molecular-level changes in brains of women with major depressive disorder

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered molecular-level changes in the brains of women with major depressive disorder that link two hypotheses of the biological mechanisms that lead to the illness. Their results, published online this week in Molecular Psychiatry, also allowed them to recreate the changes in a mouse model that could enhance future research on depression.

17 Sep 2011

Case Western Reserve awarded $11.3M to establish gastrointestinal cancer research center

The National Cancer Institute has awarded $11.3 million to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine to establish a center of excellence for research on gastrointestinal cancers. The funding designates the university as a Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers - recognition extended to just one institution this year.

17 Sep 2011

Reducing levels of protein FKBP51 may yield new antidepressant therapies

Decreasing expression of a protein associated with susceptibility to depression made old mice resistant to depressive-like behavior while improving their hormonal response to stress, a study led by researchers at the University of South Florida found. The lack of this protein, FKBP51, did not adversely affect their memory, learning, or basic motor functions.

17 Sep 2011

Good absorption of calcium linked to prostate cancer

A study by epidemiologists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues suggests that a high intake of calcium causes prostate cancer among African-American men who are genetically good absorbers of the mineral.

17 Sep 2011

Study reveals altered digestive genes in children with autism and gastrointestinal disturbances

Researchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and at the Harvard Medical School report that children with autism and gastrointestinal disturbances have altered expression of genes involved in digestion. These variations may contribute to changes in the types of bacteria in their intestines.

17 Sep 2011

Estrogen therapy can reverse progression of pulmonary hypertension

UCLA researchers have found that the hormone estrogen may help reverse advanced pulmonary hypertension, a rare and serious condition that affects 2 to 3 million individuals in the U.S., mostly women, and can lead to heart failure.

16 Sep 2011

TCT to showcase major scientific research breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the late breaking trials and first report investigations that will be presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2011 scientific symposium. Presented in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC), TCT 2011 is the world's leading educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine and will take place November 7-11, 2011 in San Francisco.

16 Sep 2011

Researchers identify molecular pathway that may play key role in evolution of chemotherapy resistance

For patients with ovarian cancer and their physicians, resistance to chemotherapy is a serious concern. However, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have identified a molecular pathway that may play a key role in the evolution of chemotherapy resistance.

16 Sep 2011

Scientists discover new type of spinal cord stem cell

A group led by a University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health scientist has discovered a type of spinal cord cell that could function as a stem cell, with the ability to regenerate portions of the central nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

16 Sep 2011

New cell type could play an important role in spinal cord injury and disease

The Allen Institute for Brain Science announced today the discovery of a new class of cells in the spinal cord that act like neural stem cells, offering a fresh avenue in the search for therapies to treat spinal cord injury and disease.

16 Sep 2011

Scientists uncover unknown fail-safe pathway for inherited disorders

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have uncovered a previously unknown fail-safe (compensatory) pathway that potentially protects the brain and other organs from genetic and environmental threats.

16 Sep 2011

Researchers identify promising new therapies for ependymoma

Researchers have identified promising new therapies for ependymoma, a rare tumor with few treatment options. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators led the effort, which used a new, faster drug development system that combines the latest drug screening technology with the first accurate animal model of the tumor.

16 Sep 2011

Experts urge women to recognize warning signs of ovarian cancer, receive appropriate screenings

Ovarian cancer is a rare but often deadly disease that can strike at any time in a woman's life. It affects one in 70 women and in the past was referred to as a silent killer, but researchers have found there are symptoms associated with ovarian cancer that can assist in early detection. Experts at Northwestern Memorial say the best defense is to make use of preventive methods, understand the risks and recognize potential warning signs of ovarian cancer.

16 Sep 2011

CRF announces late breaking trials & first report investigations to be presented at TCT 2011

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the late breaking trials and first report investigations that will be presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2011 scientific symposium. Presented in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC), TCT 2011 is the world’s leading educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine and will take place November 7-11, 2011 in San Francisco.

15 Sep 2011

Positive results from PROLOR Biotech's Factor VIIa-CTP preclinical study on hemophilia

PROLOR Biotech, Inc.,, today reported positive results from a comparative study of its biobetter longer-acting version of the hemophilia drug Factor VIIa (Factor VIIa-CTP) in hemophilic mice.

15 Sep 2011

ITA president hosts International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium

Fifty-two year-old Paul McNeel, a fire chief from Leonardtown, Maryland was 37 in 1996 when a sudden health problem caused the loss of his small intestine. Almost all of it had to be surgically removed to save his life. For 13 years after that, McNeel continued to fight fires and stayed alive only because he fed himself a special liquid formula through a tube that went from a port in his chest directly to his heart and into his bloodstream.

15 Sep 2011

Differences in lifestyle, tumor genetics linked to head and neck cancer in African Americans

Why are African Americans more likely than Caucasians to be not only diagnosed with head and neck cancer, but also die from the disease? While the answer isn't a simple one, differences in lifestyle, access to care and tumor genetics may, in part, be to blame, according to a new study from Henry Ford Hospital.

15 Sep 2011

Heart specialists reveal how pacemaker works at the biological level

Heart specialists at Johns Hopkins have figured out how a widely used pacemaker for heart failure, which makes both sides of the heart beat together to pump effectively, works at the biological level.

15 Sep 2011

Sickle cell trait does not increase risk of severe kidney disease in African-Americans

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center report that sickle cell trait is not a risk factor for the development of severe kidney disease in African-Americans.

15 Sep 2011

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Landmark international study confirms common genetic contribution to mental illness

Researchers discover molecular-level changes in brains of women with major depressive disorder

Case Western Reserve awarded $11.3M to establish gastrointestinal cancer research center

Reducing levels of protein FKBP51 may yield new antidepressant therapies

Good absorption of calcium linked to prostate cancer

Study reveals altered digestive genes in children with autism and gastrointestinal disturbances

Estrogen therapy can reverse progression of pulmonary hypertension

TCT to showcase major scientific research breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine

Researchers identify molecular pathway that may play key role in evolution of chemotherapy resistance

Scientists discover new type of spinal cord stem cell

New cell type could play an important role in spinal cord injury and disease

Scientists uncover unknown fail-safe pathway for inherited disorders

Researchers identify promising new therapies for ependymoma

Experts urge women to recognize warning signs of ovarian cancer, receive appropriate screenings

CRF announces late breaking trials & first report investigations to be presented at TCT 2011

Positive results from PROLOR Biotech's Factor VIIa-CTP preclinical study on hemophilia

ITA president hosts International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium

Differences in lifestyle, tumor genetics linked to head and neck cancer in African Americans

Heart specialists reveal how pacemaker works at the biological level

Sickle cell trait does not increase risk of severe kidney disease in African-Americans

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