Results of the largest autism study to use whole genome sequencing suggest that no two autism cases are the same, even if they come from the same family. The study, published online Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, shows that there is a large genetic diversity in autism. It also underscores the need to do whole genome sequencing on patients, Dr. Stephen Scherer from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children said in a statement. "We already knew that there are many differences between autism cases, but our recent findings firmly nail that down," he said. "It shows that a full assessment of each individual's genome is needed to determine how to best use knowledge of their own genetic makeup for autism treatment." For the study, researchers analyzed the DNA of 85 different families, each with two children with autism. Whole genome sequencing technology was used to detect any genetic mutations in the children. Scherer said the results showed that no two autism cases are the same, even if they come from the same family. "We believe each child with autism is like a snowflake; one is unique from another. Surprisingly, our research found that in more cases than not, even siblings … Continue reading →

Scientists are leveraging cloud services provided by Google and other companies to streamline and share massive amounts of data generated by sequencing the human genome. The hope is that the increased power and speed of cloud services will accelerate research and increase opportunities for advances in medicine and other fields. For example, a thousand genomes of people who fall within the autism spectrum were uploaded to Googles servers Monday as part of a new projectsponsored by the nonprofit Autism Speaks. The data dump represents the first of 10,000 genomes that will eventually be stored in the companys cloud and shared among autism specialists. The funders of the project, known as Mssng, hope researchers will use the trove of genomes to enable earlier diagnosis, develop targeted treatments or even find a cure for the disorder thought to have at least some basis in genetics. Mssng is the latest in a series of genome-based projects that use cloud storage technology to advance science. Through these initiatives, cloud storage technology has proven to be a boon for both companies and scientists. Worldwide, cloud services make up a $45.7 billion industry,according to analystsat International Data Corp. Google has welcomed researchers by creating theGoogle Genomicsplatform … Continue reading →

PRESS RELEASE GALVESTON The University of Texas Medical Branch offers a new minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots that has been shown to help patients better recover from a stroke. The procedure currently only is available in about half of the advanced stroke centers in the U.S. and UTMB is the only stroke facility in Galveston County that offers this procedure. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the procedure, called an intra-arterial treatment, is significantly more effective than intravenous drugs that dissolve clots. The study, conducted in the Netherlands, found that the procedure was about twice as likely to restore mobility and functional independence compared to the clot-breaking drugs. In fact, the results were so promising that four clinical trials of the procedure being conducted across the globe, including the U.S., were halted and interim results of those trials also were very positive. At UTMB, we have seen how using intra-arterial treatment can change the course of a patients life for the better, said Dr.Venkata Dandamudi, assistant professor of neurology, neurosurgery and radiology. With intra-arterial treatment like stent based clot retrieval and suction-based catheter treatment, more patients are able to not only survive … Continue reading →

Melbourne, Jan 26: Scientists have developed a new treatment which uses a 3D virtual reality environment to improve the memory of stroke patients. Researchers from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, have developed the treatment method which improves prospective memory in stroke patients. These tests using a virtual reality environment for stroke patients to practise their cognitive skills clearly work, said Professor Tanja Mitrovic. Prospective memory, or remembering to perform actions in the future, is of crucial importance for everyday life. This kind of memory is often impaired in stroke survivors and can interfere with independent living, as it can result in forgetting to take medication, or remember something they had to do. It is a complex cognitive ability, which requires coordination of multiple cognitive abilities: spatial navigation, retrospective memory, attention and executive functioning. We have developed a computer-based treatment based on visual imagery which teaches participants how to remember time and event-based prospective memory tasks. After the treatment, participants practiced their skills using videos first and later in a 3D virtual reality environment, Mitrovic said. The study included 15 stroke survivors and each participant had 10 individual sessions spread over 10 weeks. Read the rest here: Virtual reality helps … Continue reading →