David Webb rips organizer behind Million Muslim March on 9-11-13 By: LSUDVM … Continue reading →

Washington, August 19 (ANI): Researchers have decoded the genetic basis of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) or Monge's disease. Their study provides important information that validates the genetic basis of adaptation to high altitudes, and provides potential targets for CMS treatment. More than 140 million people have permanently settled on high-altitude regions, on continents ranging from African and Asia to South America. The low-oxygen conditions at such high altitudes present a challenge for survival, and these geographically distinct populations have adapted to cope with hypoxia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood. Interestingly, many humans living at high elevations, particularly in the Andes mountain region of South America, are maladapted and suffer CMS. The disease is characterized by an array of neurologic symptoms, including headache, fatigue, sleepiness and depression. Often, people with CMS suffer from strokes or heart attacks in early adulthood because of increased blood viscosity (resistance to blood flow that can result in decreased oxygen delivery to organs and tissues). Past studies of various populations show that CMS is common in Andeans, occasionally found in Tibetans and absent from Ethiopians living on the East African high-altitude plateau. Therefore, the researchers dissected the genetic mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation by … Continue reading →

Cell-free fetal DNA tests are one of the most exciting new prenatal screening tools available to pregnant women. And they could change the way genetic screening is done in the future. Find out what these tests can tell you, if youre a candidate, and why it might not give you all the answers you need. A non-invasive, no-risk, simple blood test In less than two years, four companies in the United States have rolled out cell-free fetal DNA tests: Ariosa Diagnostics Harmony, Nateras Panorama, Verinatas Verifi and Sequenoms MaterniT21. Unlike amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which are invasive and carry risks, a cell-free fetal DNA test is a simple blood test. The test can also be done early on in pregnancy at around 10 weeks and results are available within seven to 10 business days. All four companies also tout a nearly 100 percent accuracy rate. What do they screen for? Cell-free fetal DNA tests screen for Trisomy 13, 18, and 21. Also known as Down syndrome, Trisomy 21 affects one in every 691 babies in the United States, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. Some tests also screen for more obscure conditions like Turner and Triploid syndromes, … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Molecular Diagnostics in Genetic Testing http://www.reportlinker.com/p01597716/Molecular-Diagnostics-in-Genetic-Testing.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic Molecular diagnostics in genetic testing brings advanced analytical techniques to the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders. The confluence of breakthroughs in genomics and proteomics and the development of microarray devices to measure analytes in the blood and various body tissues are driving significant growth in the segment. Major developments include the integration of specialty labs and gene expression profiling into clinical practice, the introduction and rapid growth of cell-free fetal DNA prenatal testing, the advancement of companion diagnostics for drug development, the widespread installed base of automated instruments for molecular testing and the development of personalized medicine. The genetic testing space is one of the most profitable sectors of molecular diagnostics and is expected to be an area of high growth and corporate change throughout the forecast period. This TriMark Publications report describes the emerging field of molecular diagnostics in genetic testing. This review analyzes the size and growth of the molecular diagnostics in genetic testing market, including the factors that influence the various market segments within it and the dollar volume of … Continue reading →

Cigna Corp. will require its customers to get "genetic counseling" before the health insurer pays for extensive testing to determine if a customer has genes associated with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer or a heart condition called Long QT syndrome. The Bloomfield company is the first major health insurer to adopt such a policy. The change takes effect Sept. 16. The new policy reflects a shift in thinking among medical societies and cancer groups who now believe that far more people are getting tested than those who are at risk of having genes associated various cancers or Long QT syndrome. In medicine, there's a wide variety of genetics testing, and Cigna will continue to pay for many tests, said David Finley, national medical officer for enterprise affordability and policy at Cigna Corp. Some tests are applicable for some patients and not others. Cigna decided to manage genetic tests for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer and Long QT syndrome because the tests are commonly requested and frequently misunderstood, Finley said. In the current system, a patient tells her doctor that she is interested in getting genetic testing to see if she has a gene associated with breast cancer. The … Continue reading →

Stem Cell Therapy: Where's the Evidence? Dr. Tony Dans of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine discusses dilemmas in research and regulation of stem cell therapy in the Philippines.... By: Antonio Dans … Continue reading →

By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com August 18, 2013 5:02 PM REUTERS FILE PHOTO InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will conduct on Friday, August 23, a public hearing on the regulation of stem cell therapy in the country. The FDA said the public hearing is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 5 p,m, at the Audio-Visual Room, 3rd floor, Annex Building, FDA office on Civil Drive in Alabang Muntinlupa. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the regulation of stem cell therapy, the stem cell products, and the health facilities that are offering the service in the court, it said. The FDA also established an online reporting system to document adverse events linked to human cells, tissues, and cellular- and tissue-based products such stem cell therapies acquired in any facility. The agency said those who experienced any untoward event or side effect or treatment failures after undergoing stem cell procedures can report through FDA website at http://www.fda.gov.ph under eReport and Adverse Drug Reaction, Report section. E-mails may also be sent toreport@fda.gov.ph. All consumers are assuredthat all information given will be treated with utmost confidentiality.Contact details are needed in case of a … Continue reading →

STUDIES show that stem cell treatment has the potential to treat even those considered as end-stage diseases but it may remain exclusive to moneyed individuals. Stem cell therapy is a type of intervention strategy that introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury and has recently seen growing popularity in the country. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona admitted that it would be hard to make the treatment affordable and will likely continue to cost millions of pesos in the next few years. We are not yet talking here of professional fees. We are just talking of equipment, technology napakamahal ho ng mga yan. That is the reason why we hear about millions of pesos being spent for stem cell treatment, said Ona. Hindi pa ho natin magagawa itong mga ganito na mapamura dahil napakamahal ng proseso ng stem cell po, he added. The Health chief said the only time that stem cell treatment can be offered to the poor Filipinos is by the time that the country already has an approved standard care. Ang atin hong pangarap is that when this type of therapy already has a standard of care already, … Continue reading →