Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Kids with rare mutations in two genes are 4 times more likely to develop severe scoliosis

Children with rare mutations in two genes are about four times more likely to develop severe scoliosis than their peers with normal versions of the genes, scientists have found.

16 Jun 2014

Researchers identify tremendous genetic diversity

In the most comprehensive genetic study of the Mexican population to date, researchers from UC San Francisco and Stanford University, along with Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), have identified tremendous genetic diversity, reflecting thousands of years of separation among local populations and shedding light on a range of confounding aspects of Latino health.

13 Jun 2014

Researchers explain possibility of using biomarkers in children with JIA to predict status of disease

Data presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2014) demonstrate the possibility of using biomarkers (developed from whole blood gene expression profiles) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to predict the status of their disease at 12 months.

13 Jun 2014

New genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites could be used to track and contain spread of disease

A new genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites has been found which could be used to track and contain the spread of the disease, according to new research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

13 Jun 2014

Tufts researchers gain new insight into protein associated with bipolar disorder

Researchers from Tufts have gained new insight into a protein associated with bipolar disorder. The study, published in the June 3 issue of Science Signaling, reveals that calcium channels in resting neurons activate the breakdown of Sp4, which belongs to a class of proteins called transcription factors that regulate gene expression.

12 Jun 2014

DNA methylation identified as potential anti-TNF response biomarker for RA

DNA methylation has been identified as a potential biomarker of response to etanercept and adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to preliminary results from one of the largest methylome-wide investigations of treatment response to anti-TNF therapies.

12 Jun 2014

People with obesity gene FTO tend to gain more weight as they age

A new study from Uppsala University demonstrates that elderly humans carrying a common variant of the fat mass and obesity gene FTO also have a shifted endocrine balance. Low blood concentrations of the satiety hormone leptin and high blood concentrations of the hunger promoting hormone ghrelin makes carriers of the FTO gene put on weight.

12 Jun 2014

Cancer drug offers protection against thrombosis

Case Western Reserve University researchers have discovered that an existing drug used to help cancer patients has the potential to protect thousands of others from the often-deadly impact of vascular clots.

12 Jun 2014

Researchers study structural aspects of DNA-particle/lipid interface directly using x-ray scattering

Scientists seeking ways to engineer the assembly of tiny particles measuring just billionths of a meter have achieved a new first-the formation of a single layer of nanoparticles on a liquid surface where the properties of the layer can be easily switched.

11 Jun 2014

Molecular mechanisms regulating tumour initiation in skin SCC uncovered

Advanced online publication in Nature: Researchers at the Université libre de Bruxelles, ULB uncover the molecular mechanisms regulating tumour initiation and cancer stem cells functions in skin squamous cell carcinoma.

11 Jun 2014

Celgene: OTEZLA phase III study for psoriatic arthritis meets primary endpoint

Celgene International Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), today announced results of additional analyses from the phase III clinical trials of OTEZLA, the Company's oral, selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4).

11 Jun 2014

Gene variant that increases risk of type 2 diabetes identified in Latino individuals

A genetic analysis of DNA samples of approximately 3,700 Mexican and U.S. Latino individuals identified a gene variant that was associated with a 5-fold increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, findings that may have implications for screening in this population, according to a study in the June 11 issue of JAMA, a diabetes theme issue.

11 Jun 2014

Human herpes simplex virus infected human approximately 1.6 million years ago

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the evolutionary origins of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) -1 and -2, reporting that the former infected hominids before their evolutionary split from chimpanzees 6 million years ago while the latter jumped from ancient chimpanzees to ancestors of modern humans - Homo erectus - approximately 1.6 million years ago.

11 Jun 2014

Study presents oxytocin as latest treatment target for age-related muscle wasting

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that oxytocin -- a hormone associated with maternal nurturing, social attachments, childbirth and sex -- is indispensable for healthy muscle maintenance and repair, and that in mice, it declines with age.

11 Jun 2014

Scientists find out what goes wrong in cancer cell

Cancer - about one in three Europeans is confronted with this diagnosis during their lifetime. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ in Heidelberg are investigating the development of cancerous cells to find out how their growth is controlled and what goes wrong in a cancer cell.

11 Jun 2014

Researchers discover new class of tumor

This is the story of two perfectly harmless genes. By themselves, PAX3 and MAML3 don't cause any problems. However, when they combine during an abnormal but recurring chromosomal mismatch, they can be dangerous.

11 Jun 2014

EU-funded project aims to identify potential new targets for cancer therapy

Targeted therapies have revolutionised the treatment of cancer since they were first introduced. Amongst the first medications approved in Europe, was the breast cancer drug Herceptin, which was approved in 2000. Then, the drug Glivec, was initially introduced to treat a certain form of leukaemia, and approved in 2001. Targeted therapies specifically inhibit molecules within so-called signalling pathways that usually control cell growth, death and differentiation. If they are altered, for example falsely inactivated or activated, the cells may start growing in an uncontrolled manner.

11 Jun 2014

Researchers discover strong genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Latin American patients

In the largest study of its kind published to date, an international team of researchers in Mexico and the United States has discovered a strong genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes that primarily affects Latin American patients, but is rare elsewhere.

11 Jun 2014

Alnylam announces new pre-clinical results with DC for ALN-CC5 to treat complement-mediated diseases

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today new pre-clinical results with its Development Candidate (DC) for ALN-CC5, a subcutaneously administered investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting complement component C5 in development for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases.

10 Jun 2014

Inovio evaluates responses of immunotherapy product in treating HPV linked head and neck cancer

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INO) today announced it has initiated a phase I/IIa clinical trial to evaluate safety, immunogenicity and clinical responses of its immunotherapy product, INO-3112, in treating human papillomavirus (HPV)- associated head and neck cancer.

10 Jun 2014

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Kids with rare mutations in two genes are 4 times more likely to develop severe scoliosis

Researchers identify tremendous genetic diversity

Researchers explain possibility of using biomarkers in children with JIA to predict status of disease

New genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites could be used to track and contain spread of disease

Tufts researchers gain new insight into protein associated with bipolar disorder

DNA methylation identified as potential anti-TNF response biomarker for RA

People with obesity gene FTO tend to gain more weight as they age

Cancer drug offers protection against thrombosis

Researchers study structural aspects of DNA-particle/lipid interface directly using x-ray scattering

Molecular mechanisms regulating tumour initiation in skin SCC uncovered

Celgene: OTEZLA phase III study for psoriatic arthritis meets primary endpoint

Gene variant that increases risk of type 2 diabetes identified in Latino individuals

Human herpes simplex virus infected human approximately 1.6 million years ago

Study presents oxytocin as latest treatment target for age-related muscle wasting

Scientists find out what goes wrong in cancer cell

Researchers discover new class of tumor

EU-funded project aims to identify potential new targets for cancer therapy

Researchers discover strong genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Latin American patients

Alnylam announces new pre-clinical results with DC for ALN-CC5 to treat complement-mediated diseases

Inovio evaluates responses of immunotherapy product in treating HPV linked head and neck cancer

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