PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 13-Jun-2014 Contact: Kimberly Polacek Kim.Polacek@moffitt.org 813-745-7408 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute TAMPA, Fla. (June 13, 2014) A new Moffitt Cancer Center study published Thursday in Genetics in Medicine shows that counseling from a genetic health care provider before genetic testing educates patients and may help reduce unnecessary procedures. Up to 10 percent of cancers are inherited, meaning a person was born with an abnormal gene that increases their risk for cancer. "Pre-test genetic counseling in which a health care provider takes a thorough family history and discusses the potential risks and benefits of genetic testing is standard of care as recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Society of Genetic Counselors," said Tuya Pal, M.D., a board-certified geneticist at Moffitt and senior author of the paper. In the Moffitt study, researchers surveyed 473 patients who had genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Among study participants who saw a board-certified geneticist or genetic counselor, almost all recalled having a pre-test discussion, compared to only 59 percent of those who did not. These findings suggest large differences in quality … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 12-Jun-2014 Contact: Krista Conger kristac@stanford.edu 650-725-5371 Stanford University Medical Center The first large-scale, comprehensive analysis of the genomic diversity of Mexico led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the University of California-San Francisco and the Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine has identified a dazzling mosaic of genotypes and population substructures across the country. Some groups are as genetically different from one another as Europeans are from East Asians. The study, which will be published June 13 in Science, soundly refutes the current practice of lumping together Mexicans or Latinos as a homogenous group for genetic, clinical or population studies. In particular, the researchers found that variations in Native American ancestry among Mexicans and Mexican Americans significantly affect biomedical traits, such as lung function, emphasizing the importance of incorporating fine-scale ethnic information into clinical practice. The analysis represents an international collaboration of researchers from the United States, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. "Understanding the genetic structure of a population is important for understanding its population history, as well as designing studies of complex biomedical traits, including disease susceptibility," said Stanford professor of genetics Carlos Bustamante, PhD. "As we deploy genomics technology in previously … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 16-Jun-2014 Contact: Prof. Dr. Holger Schulz schulz@helmholtz-muenchen.de 49-893-187-4119 Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health In their investigations or so-called genome-wide association studies, the team of researchers compared the genetic profile of study participants to the forced vital capacity (FVC), a volume parameter of lung function. Six gene loci here displayed a clear association with the FVC values. Involvement in lung development or certain pulmonary diseases is furthermore suspected for these genes. Better understanding of the association between genes, lung function and lung diseases The identified genes open up new molecular biological approaches for a better understanding of lung development and of the repair and remodelling processes during disease pathogenesis. "The results supply the foundation for detailed research into lung diseases and clarification of the association between genetics, lung function and susceptibility to respiratory disorders", reports Prof. Dr. Holger Schulz, head of the Pulmonary Epidemiology research group at the Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen (HMGU). "Against the background of these findings, we can, for example identify possible risk groups and develop new therapeutic approaches", adds Dr. Christian Gieger (HMGU). Comprehensive genome analysis: more than 85,000 participants from 35 studies Under the direction of the National Institute … Continue reading →

Many genetic conditions such as Down's syndrome, Fragile X and Progeria are associated a distinct facial appearance New software uses facial recognition technology to scan photos of faces from regular family snaps It then builds a description of the structure of the face from various features such as corner of eyes, nose, mouth Scanning photos helps identify distinctive facial traits of associated with particular conditions Software, developed by Oxford and Edinburgh scientists, can identify disorders that affect only a handful of people By Anna Hodgekiss Published: 18:02 EST, 23 June 2014 | Updated: 18:44 EST, 23 June 2014 Doctors can now diagnose extremely rare genetic conditions simply using a family photo. This is thanks to computer software that can diagnose rare genetic diseases from snaps in just a few hours. The software, developed at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, scans ordinary photographs of patients faces using facial recognition technology - similar to that used by Facebook. Many genetic conditions are associated with changes in facial appearance. Image above shows the typical distinct facial features of people with the following conditions (top L-R): Angelman syndrome, Apert, Cornelia de Lange, Down's syndrome (bottom L-R) Fragile X, Progeria, Treacher Collins, Williams-Beuren syndrome … Continue reading →

Alzheimer's Disease Prevention and Treatment http://www.placidway.com/subtreatment-detail/treatment,31,subtreatment,256.html/Alzheimers-Disease-Stem-Cell-Therapy--Treatment-Abroad - Watch this educational video about Alzheimer's disease... By: placidways … Continue reading →