Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise Genetic mutations may cause more cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than scientists previously had realized, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The scientists also showed that the number of mutated genes influences the age when the fatal paralyzing disorder first appears. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, destroys the nerve cells that control muscles, leading to loss of mobility, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and eventually paralysis and death. Understanding the many ways genes contribute to ALS helps scientists seek new treatments. The study appears online in Annals of Neurology. Scientists have linked mutations in more than 30 genes to ALS. Alone or in combination, mutations in any of these genes can cause the disease in family members who inherit them. Roughly 90 percent of patients with ALS have no family history of the disease, and their condition is referred to as sporadic ALS. Scientists had thought mutations contributed to barely more than one in every 10 cases of sporadic ALS. But researchers recently started to suspect that patients with sporadic ALS carry mutations in the 30 genes … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 5-Dec-2014 Contact: Sandy Van sandy@prpacific.com 808-526-1708 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center @cedarssinai LOS ANGELES (Dec. 4, 2014) - Genetics may play a larger role in causing Lou Gehrig's disease than previously believed, potentially accounting for more than one-third of all cases, according to one of the most comprehensive genetic studies to date of patients who suffer from the condition also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The study, conducted by investigators at Cedars-Sinai and Washington University in St. Louis, also showed that patients with defects in two or more ALS-associated genes experience disease onset about 10 years earlier than patients with single-gene mutations. "These findings shed new light on the genetic origins of ALS, especially in patients who had no prior family history of the disease," said Robert H. Baloh, MD, PhD, director of neuromuscular medicine in the Department of Neurology and director of the ALS Program at Cedars-Sinai. Baloh is senior author of the study, published online in Annals of Neurology. Typically, researchers classify 90 percent of ALS cases as "sporadic," meaning they occur in patients without a family history of the disease. In their study, however, the researchers found a significant degree of genetic involvement in … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise LOS ANGELES (Dec. 4, 2014) Genetics may play a larger role in causing Lou Gehrigs disease than previously believed, potentially accounting for more than one-third of all cases, according to one of the most comprehensive genetic studies to date of patients who suffer from the condition also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The study, conducted by investigators at Cedars-Sinai and Washington University in St. Louis, also showed that patients with defects in two or more ALS-associated genes experience disease onset about 10 years earlier than patients with single-gene mutations. These findings shed new light on the genetic origins of ALS, especially in patients who had no prior family history of the disease, said Robert H. Baloh, MD, PhD, director of neuromuscular medicine in the Department of Neurology and director of the ALS Program at Cedars-Sinai. Baloh is senior author of the study, published online in Annals of Neurology. Typically, researchers classify 90 percent of ALS cases as sporadic, meaning they occur in patients without a family history of the disease. In their study, however, the researchers found a significant degree of genetic involvement in patients with no family history. Examining … Continue reading →

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Saraya Bandar Jissah Muscat's newest Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) has supported an initiative to help raise awareness of autism in the sultanate. The Charity Golf Day brought together 24 groups from within Muscat's business sector to raise funds and awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Held at Almouj Golf the Charity Golf Day raised a total of RO20136 to assist the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities to provide resources and training and create international relationships with leading autism treatment facilities around the world for Oman-based therapists. Melodi Marx marketing and branding manager at Saraya Bandar Jissah said 'The Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities aims to increase the understanding of autism in Oman. Coming together to support this truly noble cause will not only widen awareness of autism but assist the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities to provide adequate training to teachers on autism detection. People are now beginning to recognise different types of developmental conditions and early diagnosis and intervention is the key.' Steve Johnson course superintendent at Almouj Golf set the ball rolling on this initiative shortly after his son was diagnosed with the developmental disorder … Continue reading →

Irish rugby player recovering after stroke Photo Source: PAA Ireland flanker Chris Henry admits he was terrified after suffering a stroke last month. A blocked blood vessel in the 30-year-old's brain caused him to have a Transient Ischaemic Attack, or mini stroke, hours before Ireland beat South Africa 29-15 on November 8. Ulster's Henry was pulled out of the Test against the Springboks and at first it was thought he had suffered a severe migraine. But after four days of treatment at the St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, the true cause was confirmed. It was found he had a hole in his heart, which led to the mini stroke and left Henry fearing the worst. "It's been a scary few weeks to be honest but I feel very lucky that I was in that environment and getting such incredible medical expertise so quickly," he told Ulster's official website. "They got to the bottom of things swiftly and I think that's the most important thing; when something like that happens, the unknown is the scary thing and to have clarity on what was going on and having the problem fixed so quickly -- for me, I feel very lucky." Henry is … Continue reading →