Feb. 15, 2013 Researchers don't know the exact cause of Behet's disease, a chronic condition that leads to oral and genital sores and serious complications such as blindness, but new research brings better understanding to what makes some people more susceptible to being affected. In one of the most extensive genetic analyses of Behet's disease, a University of Michigan-led, international team of researchers has identified novel gene variants in the inflammatory disorder and uncovered data that could apply to studies of other diseases. The results appear in the journal Nature Genetics. "This disease is associated with significant complications and because it is not well understood, treatment options are limited," says lead author Amr Sawalha, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine in the division of rheumatology at the U-M Medical School. "We were able to identify and localize robust genetic risk factors associated with Behet's disease in a way that will hopefully bring us a step closer to better understanding this devastating illness." The UMHS research, a collaboration that includes researchers from Turkey, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, identifies how a specific group of genes are linked to Behet's disease. The disease can affect people from all ethnicities, but has an … Continue reading →

Feb. 18, 2013 Genetic medicine experts from Manchester Biomedical Research Centre at Saint Mary's Hospital and The University of Manchester have identified a new gene responsible for causing an inherited form of tumour, known as spinal meningioma. Meningiomas are the commonest form of tumour affecting the brain and spine. Usually meningiomas can be removed by surgery and do not recur. Occasionally people can develop more than one meningioma or many members of the same family can be affected. A team led by Dr Miriam Smith, Professor Gareth Evans and Dr Bill Newman worked with families with a history of meningiomas affecting the spinal cord. Using a powerful new genetic sequencing technique called next generation sequencing, they were able to check all the genes of three individuals with multiple spinal meningiomas. This lead to the identification that changes in a gene called SMARCE1 lead to spinal meningiomas in some families. In December 2012 the government announced a focus on genetic sequencing with an aim of sequencing the genomes (a person's DNA) of 100,000 Britons with cancer and rare diseases in UK centres. The voluntary sequencing of patients will lead to better testing, better drugs and above all better care for patients. … Continue reading →

Mummy 02-17-2013 3 weeks till Stem Cell infusion. Mummy just got over another terrible bout of Pneumonia. But she's starting to look better. I know that's hard for you to tell, but for the past 2 weeks she's been in the ICU looking, well, not good! So I'm thankful once again my prayers are answered. She was scheduled to start the Stem Cell study last week, but they had to set her back for obvious reasons. I'm looking forward to the next video which will hopefully be showing some sort of improvement. There have been some significant successes within the first 2 groups of stroke victims who recently participated in the study. My Sisters being doctors have tried to tell me not to get my hopes up too high, but I'm remaining optimistic. Anyone out there who thinks prayer can help, please share! I'm a bit of a convert, to prayer that is, not religion. Not that there's anything wrong with that 😛 By: Jamey E … Continue reading →

Melbourne, Feb. 18 (ANI): A team of scientists from Australia are turning human skin cells into eye cells by using stem cell research to find a way to treat a common but incurable form of blindness. According to figures, age-related macular degeneration that results from dying retinal cells, affects one in seven older Australians and costs the 5.15 billion dollars a year. The team at Melbourne's Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) takes skin cells from affected patients, turns them into stem cells and then into new retinal cells, Herald Sun reported. These cells are then compared with the patient's damaged cells, allowing them to see in detail what's gone wrong. A new charity, the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, has devoted its first investment to the project, bringing Kathryn Davidson, a US stem cell expert, to the centre from Seattle. Davidson said that stem cell research has lets her team "mimic the disease in a dish," with a view to finding means for better diagnosis and treatment. (ANI) More here: Skin cells 'key to beating blindness' … Continue reading →