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Touch And Hearing Impaired By Gene Mutation
Date: May-01-2012According to a study conducted by Dr. Henning Frenzel and Professor Gary R. Lewin of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Germany, two of the 5 human senses - hearing and touch - have a common genetic basis. In individuals with Usher syndrome, the researchers identified a gene variation that is also responsible for the patients' impaired touch sensitivity. Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by deafness and gradual vision loss. In total the team evaluated sensory function in 518 volunteers. The researchers note that both hearing and touch rely on the...
Genes For Fracture Susceptibility And Osteoporosis Risk Discovered
Date: May-01-2012Osteoporosis is a common, silent and devastating age-related disease. 25% of Australian women with osteoporosis who sustain a hip fracture die within 12 months, with a greater mortality risk of women older than 65 than from breast cancer. In comparison to women, the mortality rate amongst men with hip fractures is even higher. Even though scientists are aware of the consequences of osteoporosis, their knowledge about the causes of the disease is still elusive. Scientists have known for years that osteoporosis has a strong genetic link. However, the genes responsible for the disease have still...
Minimally Invasive Procedure For Oesophageal Cancer Shows Promise
Date: May-01-2012Patients with oesophageal cancer could gain substantial benefit from minimally invasive procedure. A new study published Online First in The Lancet reveals that removing the oesophagus via minimally invasive surgery is considerably more beneficial for individuals with oesophageal cancer than traditional open surgery. Results from the study indicate that oesophageal cancer patients who undergo the minimally invasive procedure have better short-term quality of life, considerably shorter hospitalizations and are nearly three times less likely to develop pulmonary infections. According to the...
Heart Screening Recommended For Newborns
Date: May-01-2012A new study published Online First in The Lancet shows that screening newborns for life-threatening congenital heart defects by using pulse oximetry is more accurate than other detection methods. Pulse oximetry is a simple, low-cost tests that measures oxygen levels and researchers suggest that the test should be adopted internationally as part of the routine assessment of all newborns. Lead author of the study, Shakila Thangaratinam from Queen Mary, University of London, explained: "The findings of this meta-analysis provide compelling evidence for introduction of pulse oximetry as a...
Teenage Brain Networks Wired For Drug Abuse
Date: May-01-2012Teenagers tend to push the envelope, it's a part of growing up, beginning to explore and investigate for oneself and not just taking instructions like a child. The trait is obvious and has its benefits. It is seen in all cultures and even in the animal kingdom. As offspring start to mature it is necessary for them to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes. However, what is less understood is why some teenagers have a tendency to be super rebellious, driving parents and teachers to distraction. Of course, an obvious outlet for rebels is drinking, smoking and drug taking. Now we...
Epigenetic Cancer Pills Are Safe
Date: May-01-2012A brand new type of epigenetic cancer pill has been deemed safe for use in a Phase I trial according to Clinical Cancer Research. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, which refers to functionally relevant modifications to the genome that do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence. Epigenetics play many different roles in nature, for instance the ability of a caterpillar to morph into a butterfly without changing its DNA. The drug, a collaboration of The Institute of...
Genetic Mutations Linked To Childhood Kidney Cancer
Date: May-01-2012According to a study published in Nature Genetics, an international team of researchers have identified mutations in two regions of the genome that increase the risk of developing Wilms tumor. Wilms tumor is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer in children and usually develops before the age of five. The disease affects around 1 in 10,000 children and has a 90% cure rate. In the majority of children researchers are unsure as to what causes the tumor although they know that genes play a role. In this study, the researchers report on the first scan of common mutations in the genomes of Wilms...
Red Cross Worker Beheaded, WMA Appalled
Date: May-01-2012After the discovery of Khalil Rasjed Dale's beheaded and bullet-strewn body in Pakistan, the World Medical Association (WMA) denounced his appalling treatment. Dale worked in Pakistan as a health-program manager for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Chair of the WMA, Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal, commented: "On behalf of our nine million physician members worldwide I can say that the WMA is shocked by Mr. Dale's beheading as an action that does not bear description. Once again a dedicated, selfless health worker has paid an unacceptable price for pursuing his vocation of bringing relief...
Tiny Microphone May Be Implanted In Middle Ear
Date: May-01-2012Even though cochlear implants have restored basic hearing to about 220,000 deaf people worldwide, they do require the persons wears a microphone and associated electronics behind the ear, which not only creates a social stigma, but it also raises issues in terms of reliability and prevents patients from swimming and some other activities. These problems can now be avoided thanks to a tiny prototype microphone that can be implanted in the middle ear. A study published online in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers journal Transactions on Biomedical Engineering reports that the...
Huge Increase In Maternal Opiate Use In Nine Years
Date: May-01-2012Five times as many pregnant women were using opiates in 2009 compared to 2000, while during the same period the number of newborns with a diagnosis of drug withdrawal syndrome, neonatal abstinence syndrome has increased 3-fold, researchers from the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, reported in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). The authors added that hospital charges related to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) have increased considerably. According to a recent USA-wide study, 16.2% of pregnant teenagers and 7.4% of pregnant mothers aged from 18 to 25...
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