A team led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers has identified a novel therapeutic target for retinal neovascularization, or abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, a hallmark of advanced diabetic eye disease (proliferative diabetic retinopathy). According to a report published online today in Diabetes, the transcription factor RUNX1 was found in abnormal retinal blood...
Post
The gene that turns epilepsy treatment deadly
Drug-induced Hyper sensitivity reactions (DIHRs) are serious and life-threatening complications post drug administration. A common example: Antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, however the mechanisms that trigger it are unclear. Current scientific consensus holds that people who have a specific variation of the HLA-B gene (Human leukocyte antigen B) which codes for the protein that plays a crucial...
Post
Facial-recognition software finds a new use: diagnosing genetic disorders
Dr. Maximilian Muenke has a superpower: He can diagnose disease just by looking at a person’s face. Specifically, he can spot certain genetic disorders that make telltale impressions on facial features. “Once you’ve done it for a certain amount of years, you walk into a room and it’s like, oh, that child has Williams...
Post
Detecting Alzheimer’s disease earlier using … Greebles?
Unique graphic characters called Greebles may prove to be valuable tools in detecting signs of Alzheimer’s disease decades before symptoms become apparent. In an article published online last week in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Emily Mason, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Louisville, reported research showing that...
Post
Research uncovers potential new treatment to treat and stop progression of cystic fibrosis
Researchers from the George Washington University (GW), the University of Perugia, and the University of Rome have discovered a potential new drug to treat and stop the progression of cystic fibrosis. Thymosin (Tα1) is a novel therapeutic single molecule-based therapy that corrects genetic tissue defects and significantly reduces inflammation seen in cystic fibrosis. Right now...
Post
A Scientist is 3D Printing Blood vessels for Sick children
Scientists are developing flexible materials to 3D print blood vessels for treating vascular defects in children. The team has been awarded a grant totaling $211,000 from the NIH for their cause. 3D Printed medical magic: Since the introduction of 3D printing technology, the world is taken by storm. From fashion industry to traditional home construction,...
Post
Conversion of brain cells offers hope for Parkinson’s patients
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have made significant progress in the search for new treatments for Parkinson’s disease. By manipulating the gene expression of non-neuronal cells in the brain, they were able to produce new dopamine neurons. The study, performed on mice and human cells, is published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Biotechnology. Production of...
Post
A new target for the life-on-Mars probe: Nasa hand-held scanner is being used to detect bed sores before they occur
A hand-held scanner used for Mars missions is being used by NHS doctors The device works by moisture under the skin in commonly-affected areas There are 500,000 reported cases each year in the UK and 1,000 related deaths A hand-held scanner that harnesses technology developed by Nasa for missions to Mars is being used by NHS doctors to detect...
Post
Coeliac disease could be triggered by common strain of reovirus, research finds
What is coeliac disease? It’s an immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats It causes damage to the small bowel, leading to a reduced surface area for nutrient absorption Only 1 in 30 people with a genetic susceptibility to coeliac will develop the disease 80 per cent of Australians...
Post
Screening the dark genome for disease
IMAGE: THIS IS CHARLES GERSBACH, THE ROONEY FAMILY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. Researchers have developed a method to swiftly screen the non-coding DNA of the human genome for links to diseases that are driven by changes in gene regulation. The technique could revolutionize modern medicine’s understanding of the genetically inherited risks...