MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'genetic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:45:33 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174803&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1065-The-Transhumanism-Trap.html is out there.  I am seeing it more and more often. SpliceIf you do not know what transhumanism is let alone know that it has a logical trap into which the average person is likely to fall, don't worry.  Most people don't.   Transhumanism is a movement that wants to use technology to go beyond curing or preventing disease or disability.  Transhumanists hunger for technology that will take an otherwise healthy individual and enhance him or her beyond normal human ability.  Transhumanism seeks not just to cure disease but to change the very nature of man.  To make him more than human, even immortal, with whatever means are available, whether it is with nanotechnology, artificial limbs, artificial intelligence, or genetic enhancement.  Transhumanism is a in... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174803 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:09:00 +0100 5174803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140181&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fu-k-researchers-launch-clinical-trial-of-mercaptopurine-6-mp-in-women-with-hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer%2F A Cancer Research UK-funded clinical trial of a new drug for patients with advanced breast or ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA gene mutations has been launched at the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at the University of Oxford. A Cancer Research UK-funded trial of a new drug for patients with advanced breast or ovarian cancer [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140181 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:07:56 +0100 5140181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130962&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1055-Early-sex-determination-test-turns-an-embryo-into-a-boy-or-girl.html No longer just an embryo, but a boy or girl.Photo: Westside Pregnancy ClinicThe Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that early prenatal sex determination tests are accurate.  These tests are non-invasive looking for minute pieces of fetal DNA in the mother's blood.  They report that the sex determination is 95 to 99% accurate as early as 5 to 7 weeks gestation!  This procedure will likely replace amniocentesis for all kinds of prenatal genetic testing, not just for sex determination, which greatly lowers the risk for the growing fetus. At the news, there was a collective groan from both sides of the abortion debate.  Prolifers and prochoicers alike realize that this test will make sex selective abortions much easier.  I am encouraged to see tha... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130962 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:14:12 +0100 5130962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118579&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008233.html The number of genetic variants which are related to risk of multiple sclerosis has just doubled. Given the continued rapid rate of decline in the costs of genetic testing and genetic sequencing the corresponding explosion in genetic discoveries as in this report should not come as a surprise. Dr. John Rioux, researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Université de Montréal and original co-founder of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium is one of the scientists who have identified 29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis, providing key insights into the biology of a very debilitating neurological disease. Many of the genes implicated in the study are relevant to the immune system, shedding light... (Source: FuturePund... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118579 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5118579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107829&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F07%2Finherited-mutations-in-rad51d-gene-confer-susceptibility-to-ovarian-cancer%2F Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have discovered that women who carry a faulty copy of a gene called RAD51D have almost a 1-in-11 chance of developing ovarian cancer. The finding that inherited mutations in the RAD51D gene confer susceptibility to ovarian cancer was reported in a study published online in Nature Genetics on August 7, 2011. Cancer [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107829 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:57:32 +0100 5107829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086441&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1048-Court-Rules-that-DNA-Patentable-if-Removed-from-Your-Body.html For decades the U.S. Patent Office has been issuing patents for naturally occurring genes.  This affects you directly whether you know it or not.  Because a company legal "owns" a gene sequence, they control who is able to test or research that gene.  In the case of genetic testing, labs are limited on what genes they can offer tests for because of gene patents, which limits the choices they can offer patients. Labs that are allowed to test a patented gene pay royalties to the companies that own the genes which drives up the cost of the genetic test.  Many labs, like ones I have worked in, just chose not to offer the test at all.In the case of some genes like the breast cancer genes BRCA I and BRCA II, one company, Myriad, owns the gene and only Myriad offers ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086441 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:54:44 +0100 5086441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992693&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhelpful-breast-cancer-qa%2F2011.06.30 Attendees of the breast cancer awareness symposium “Bridging the Gap: Promoting Breast Cancer Prevention, Screening and Wellness” were given the chance to submit questions on breast cancer in the minority community. This is the first part of these questions answered by Dr. Preya Ananthakrishnan, Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery and a host of the event. Q: I am a 51 year old Black women, whose mother died 13 years ago from breast cancer & her sister was diagnosed last year. I had a mammography 2 weeks ago and got the dreaded come back letter. Should I get genetic counseling? Dr. Ananthakrishnan: I would suggest that your sister with the breast cancer get tested first, and if her test result is positive then you should get tested. Furthermore, it is likely that even though you... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992693 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:00:57 +0100 4992693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976115&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1036-Good-News-for-Gene-Therapy.html Gene therapy is the kind of genetic engineering Catholics can get behind.  Gene therapy would deliver a copy of a normal gene into the cells of a patient with defective genes to cure or slow the progress of disease. The added gene would produce a protein that is missing or defective in the diseased patient.  It has proven to be not such an easy thing to do however because the gene has to be targeted to the right spot and our bodies have a lot of ways to prevent foreign DNA from inserting itself into our genome.  And even if a new gene is inserted properly, it often does not make it into a daughter cell when the cell divides.  Scientists have announced that they have found a way to get a normal blood clotting gene into mice with hemophilia and keep it there.  From The Scientist: Using ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976115 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:04:38 +0100 4976115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934653&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1029-State-supported-eugenics-in-France.html It has been estimated that 96% of fetuses with Down Syndrome in France are aborted.  Most of the cases are detected in older women whose physicians offer prenatal testing.  As in the United States, offering prenatal testing for Downs in France is not a government mandated practice for obstetricians.  The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists simply recommends that doctors offer it.  Lawmakers in France are considering making it mandatory for physicians to offer prenatal testing for Down Syndrome.Why is this significant?  Because mandating that doctors offer prenatal testing completely changes the game.  It is not that the prenatal testing is inherently evil.  In most cases it is simply a way to get more information about the life growing inside the womb.  It is what ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934653 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:36:41 +0100 4934653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911737&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fdirect-to-consumer-genetic-tests-are-not-beneficial%2F While 23andMe brings down the price of consumer genetic tests and builds up relations with big pharma (doesn’t share individual data though), it seems the DTC genetic testing is neither accurate in predictions nor beneficial to individuals according to a study described on Medical News Today. Working under the supervision of Associate Professor Cecile Janssens, together with researchers from Leiden, The Netherlands, and Boston, USA, Ms Kalf examined the risk predictions supplied by two large DTC companies, deCODEme (Iceland) and 23andMe (USA). They simulated genotype data for 100,000 individuals based on established genotype frequencies and then used the formulas and risk data provided by the companies to obtain predicted risks for eight common multi-factorial diseases – age-re... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911737 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:53:14 +0100 4911737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902644&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F04%2F2011-asco-women-with-brca-gene-mutations-can-take-hormone-replacement-therapy-safely-after-ovary-removal%2F Women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, which are linked to a very high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, can safely take hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) to mitigate menopausal symptoms after surgical removal of their ovaries, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, which are linked [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902644 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:16:50 +0100 4902644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4882969&cid=t_91718_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FIkvedTW5RBY%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Roger Hendrix, Rachel Katzenellenbogen, and Harmit Malik Vincent and guests Rachel Katzenellenbogen, Roger Hendrix, and Harmit Malik recorded TWiV #135 live at the 2011 ASM General Meeting in New Orleans, where they discussed transformation and oncogenesis by human papillomaviruses, the amazing collection of bacteriophages on the planet, and the evolution of genetic conflict between virus and host. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #135 (63 MB .mp3, 97 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Papillomavirus E6 proteins (Virology) Diversity of mycobacteriophages (PLoS One) Adaptive evol... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4882969 Sun, 29 May 2011 18:57:32 +0100 4882969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872338&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1014-Controlling-Human-Genetic-Engineering-Before-it-Controls-Us-Part-2.html Cartoon S. HarrisControlling Human Genetic Engineering Before it Controls Us Part 1 was all about the distinction between gene therapy and genetic enhancement.  I want to delve deeper into the world of human genetic engineering in Part 2 and discuss somatic and germ-line genetic modifications. I know that for some of you the words "somatic" and "germ-line" have made your eyes glass over and I am about to lose you (if I haven't already). Stick with me! This will not be as painful as it sounds and you might actually enjoy knowing more about human genetic engineering than 99.9% of the general populaceThe distinction between somatic and germ-line modifications is just as important as the distinction between gene therapy and genetic enhancement. Somatic is a fancy scientifi... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872338 Fri, 27 May 2011 20:53:00 +0100 4872338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862493&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2Fcanadian-court-ruling-allows-donor-offspring-to-find-biological-parents Many of us have at least heard of controversies over open vs. closed adoption laws, and the efforts by many to make adoption more open so children can find out about their biological parents. One of many arguments for open adoptions relates to health – children may want or need to find out about their family history and risk for medical conditions that may affect them. Until recently, I hadn’t heard that the same debate is raging with regards to “donor offspring” – people conceived as the result of sperm, egg, or embryo donation. It makes sense – many of the same issues are raised in a donor situation, including what hereditary medical issues are important to watch out for. Last week, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada) ruled in favor of jou... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862493 Mon, 23 May 2011 22:05:03 +0100 4862493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852937&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F23%2F10-things-you-should-know-about-male-depression%2F What looks and feels like depression to a woman may not to a man, which is why so many men in America are misdiagnosed or missed altogether. However, considering that the rates of completed suicide of men are three to four times that of women, we need to educate ourselves about male depression and its unique symptoms. The following are 10 things you should know about male depression, compiled from Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin and other sources. 1. Depression affects about 6 million American men and 12 million American women each year. But these numbers don’t tell the story of men, and older men, in particular. 2. Suicide in men peaks in the 20s and again in the 60s and 70s. 3. Many men experience “depression without sadness,” which makes it more challenging for prima... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852937 Mon, 23 May 2011 16:45:23 +0100 4852937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780435&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1013-Controling-human-genetic-engineering-before-it-controls-us-Part-1.html I have not had much time lately to write so here is a repost for my readers of a guest piece at Creative Minority.www.chrismadden.co.ukMore and more movies depicting a dystopian future are playing on big screens everywhere.  They are usually cautionary tales of how technology ends up dominating human existence, our choices, our families, our relationships, our lives.  These tales are not new.  From GATTACA to The Island, from Surrogates to Limitless, what begins as man wielding his superior intellect to mold his world and harness nature ends up as individuals losing their humanity and becoming slaves to technology. As in Surrogates, often the technology is developed as a way to cure disease or help the disabled, but applied to the common man it changes who we are and how we interact wit... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780435 Tue, 03 May 2011 20:18:00 +0100 4780435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768046&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F29%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-29-2011%2F You know what amazes me? No matter how far we come in life, there is always a point where we suddenly forget. Maybe it’s the relative who negated your recent accomplishment or the friend who brushed off your latest idea. It could be the classmate that surpassed you in school or the colleague who got one step ahead of you in your career. Suddenly, everything you ever did is just not good enough. How do you get back to that place of peace and gratitude? How do you return to the moment where you remember all of the trials and tribulations and trauma you have already overcame in the past? You get back to yourself. Whether it’s by yoga, meditation or walking, these posts will help inspire you to do just that. Yoga and Meditation: The Benefits (ADHD in Focus) – Are you mystifi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768046 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:07:25 +0100 4768046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771076&cid=t_91718_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.com%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fcan-hobbyists-and-hackers-transform-biotechnology%2F For most of us, managing our health means visiting a doctor. The more serious our concerns, the more specialized a medical expert we seek. Our bodies often feel like foreign and frightening lands, and we are happy to let someone with an MD serve as our tour guide. For most of us, our own DNA [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771076 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:21:06 +0100 4771076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742592&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fvisiting-direct-to-consumer-genetic-companies%2F When I had a free test at Navigenics and Pathway Genomics, I had a chance to visit the Navigenics HQ as well in San Francisco. Now Daniel MacArthur visited the 23andMe and Complete Genomics HQs. I was graciously received by Shirley Wu, who gave me the grand tour, and various members of the 23andMe science team (especially Nick Eriksson and Tom Do) then uncomplainingly put up with my questions for what must have seemed like hours. The visit reinforced my overall impression of the company: this is a group of very smart people working with an increasingly impressive customer data-set on some seriously interesting problems. Their recently announced discovery of two novel genetic regions associated with Parkinson’s disease (due for publication in the near future) is a taste of what’s to com... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742592 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:19:37 +0100 4742592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734247&cid=t_91718_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpgd-cgh-is-it-of-any-use.html The newest IVF technology uses a fancy new technique which marries IVF and genetics. This is called PGD ( preimplantation genetic diagnosis) with CGH ( comparative genomic hybridisation) and there are lots of press releases and articles touting this as the newest breakthrough !Doctors , like all big boys, love to play with new toys - and the newer the better ! This is especially true when they have expensive new technological tools, which no other competitor has. Doctors can be very competitive - and are always trying to be one-up on each other. An easy way of being different is to use the newest technology - but the trouble is that never is not always better ( though newer is always more expensive !)Because these new tools are so expensive , doctors need to use them extensively, to justif... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734247 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:45:00 +0100 4734247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664121&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007997.html The rare genetic variants and not the common variants contribute the most to disease risks. DURHAM, N.C. – New genomic analyses suggest that the most common genetic variants in the human genome aren't the ones most likely causing disease. Rare genetic variants, the type found most often in functional areas of human DNA, are more often linked to disease, genetic experts at Duke University Medical Center report. We all carry at least hundreds of rare genetic variants. So one has to read "rare" to mean that each rare variant is not covered by large numbers of people even though the total number of rare variants is very high. These results make sense because any genetic variant that makes a big... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664121 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4664121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658514&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1011-3-Parent-Babies-Could-Be-Conceived-in-UK-Next-Year.html Yes.  Thats right a three genetic parent baby maybe on the way in the UK within the next year.  Why would scientists want to engineer an embryo with the genetic material from 3 people?  To "prevent" the inheritance of mitochondrial disease.  Not all of our DNA that we inherit is in the nuclei of the egg and sperm that join at fertilization.  In the cytoplasm of our mother's egg are mitochondria.  Mitochondria have their own DNA called mtDNA.  We inherit our mtDNA only from our mother because sperm's mitochondria are dumped at conception.  There are genetic mutations that cause disease in mtDNA and a woman with a such a mutation cannot help but pass this mutation on to her children.This is where the three parent embryos come in.  Here is how it works.  Scientists took th... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658514 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:45:12 +0100 4658514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626795&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1213 Genetic diseases affect an estimated 12 million Americans, yet according to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by the Genetic Disease Foundation (GDF), while two-thirds of those surveyed were willing to and saw the benefits of undergoing genetic testing, close to 80 percent had never talked to their physician about genetic screening – an inconsistency that can have serious implications on a person’s overall health and the health of their immediate family members.  Read here for an extensive article about genetic testing and questions to ask yourself and your significant if you should seek genetic testing and what to do with the results. These questions are all part of preparing yourself and your SO for the birth.Other questions may include the decision to bank your baby’s cord b... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626795 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:24:09 +0100 4626795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592642&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F15%2F2011-nccn-conference-new-treatment-options-lead-to-steady-progress-against-ovarian-cancer%2F Recommendations stemming from recent clinical trials highlight notable updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines™) for Ovarian Cancer at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) 16th Annual Conference. Although finding effective screening tools remains a priority, new treatment options for women with ovarian cancer, such as the ones outlined in the [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592642 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:20:30 +0100 4592642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4566165&cid=t_91718_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fis-doctor-professional-or-technician.html I just saw a patient who was 40 years old; she had had 2 miscarriages; and she wanted me to do surrogacy for her. I spent a long time explaining to her why I did not think this was her best choice. Surrogacy is an expensive and complex treatment option, which is best reserved forwomen without a uterus. Research shows that the reason for failed implantation is much more likely to be genetically abnormal embryos ( because of poor quality eggs), rather than a uterine problem.Her reasoning was completely different. The fact I got pregnant means my eggs are OK ! The fact I miscarried means my uterus is defective because it could not hold the baby. This means that if use a surrogate uterus, I will have a baby !The reality is completely different. The fact that she conceived means her uterus is f... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4566165 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:26:00 +0100 4566165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560519&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F07%2F2011-sgo-annual-meeting-ovarian-cancer-abstracts-selected-for-presentation%2F The March 2011 supplemental issue of Gynecologic Oncology sets forth the ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer-related medical abstracts selected by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists for presentation at its 42nd Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer™, which is being held in Orlando, Florida from March 6-9, 2011. The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) is hosting its 42nd Annual [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560519 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:39:54 +0100 4560519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522231&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1006-Jim-A-movie-about-genetic-enhancement.html This movie looks phenomenal.  I am hoping it delivers.  Jim is a movie about genetic enhancement, taking otherwise normal humans and genetically engineering them to be more than human.  After crushing life experiences, Jim decides to order up a child who is enhanced to handle all of the troubles that he could not.  There is another story line of a distant future where a genetically enhanced super race controls a race of clones.  Here is the trailer:<p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14282384">Jim Theatrical Tr... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522231 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:37:18 +0100 4522231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517166&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-importance-of-diagnosing-birth-defects%2F2011.02.24 Birth defects, particularly those of the blood vessels, account for the majority of infant deaths, especially after the first week of life. Congenital heart disease (CHD) — meaning defects of the heart – is responsible for one-third of deaths between birth and the first year of life. Therefore, the diagnosis of CHD is critical in order to plan life-saving treatments, such as the proper place for the delivery, the type of delivery, and its timing. If it’s known in advance that an unborn baby has a heart problem and is delivered in a hospital that provides special care, its survival and future health will increase dramatically. Who’s at risk for having CHD and which expectant moms should have further evaluation? Families who have a history of CHD — especially ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517166 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:49 +0100 4517166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507281&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-human-genome-turns-10%2F2011.02.22 The human genome has been around for a bit more than ten years, but on February 15, 2001, the first complete human genome sequence was published. This was nothing short of a revolution within medicine. Since then, great advancements have been made in our understanding of genetics and its associations with human traits and diseases. Nature is celebrating this tenth birthday with a special titled “Human Genome at Ten.” In it, multiple papers reflect on what we learned and discovered, what is still unknown, and what we can expect for the near future. Best of all, Nature has packaged the special in a free iPad app for everyone to read, which features interactive graphs, videos, and audio commentaries. Nature special: The Human Genome at Ten… iTunes link: Nature Human Genome S... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507281 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:00:52 +0100 4507281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433257&cid=t_91718_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fparents-cause-autism%2F I know this is going to be an unpopular post but it needs to be say that parents are the cause of Autism, not vaccines.  Let me be clear however, it is not due to parents being negligent, due to parents being horrible parents, or not giving their children enough love.  Its due to genetics. [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433257 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:39:14 +0100 4433257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394661&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2011%2F01%2F25%2Fpsychological-effects-of-personal-genetic-testing%2F Direct-to-consumer genetic testing is becoming more and more apparent even though its clinical validity and utility are pretty questionable regarding medical decisions. Eric Topol and his team now studied over 2000 patients who had genomic tests (Navigenics) and reported if there was any changes in symptoms of anxiety, intake of dietary fat, and exercise behavior. The results are not surprising therefore they raise the question whether these tests can be used for anything at all. The study was published in NEJM. From a cohort of 3639 enrolled subjects, 2037 completed follow-up. Primary analyses showed no significant differences between baseline and follow-up in anxiety symptoms (P=0.80), dietary fat intake (P=0.89), or exercise behavior (P=0.61). Secondary analyses revealed that test-relat... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394661 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:41:15 +0100 4394661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394530&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F24%2Feugenics-the-story-of-carrie-buck%2F Psychology has a fascinating and rich history, filled with amazing advances. But it wasn’t all progress. Psychology has a painful past — with many victims. One of the most devastating times in psychology was a movement called eugenics, a name coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1883. The goal of eugenics was to improve the genetic composition of the population: to encourage healthy, smart individuals to reproduce (called positive eugenics) and to discourage the poor, who were considered unintelligent and unfit, from reproducing (negative eugenics). One of the main methods to discourage reproduction was through sterilization. While it seems ludicrous now, many people, both abroad and in the U.S., agreed with the principles of eugenics. In fact, state governments soon started establishing st... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394530 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:52:48 +0100 4394530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386271&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-peddling-of-genetic-tests%2F2011.01.22 In a recent issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), journalist Ray Moynihan wrote: “Beware the fortune tellers peddling genetic tests.” (Subscription required for full access.) Excerpts: “For anyone concerned about the creeping medicalisation of life, the marketplace for genetic testing is surely one of the latest frontiers, where apparently harmless technology can help mutate healthy people into fearful patients, their personhood redefined by multiple genetic predispositions for disease and early death. … Again a tool that’s proved useful in the laboratory has escaped like a virus into the marketplace, incubated by entrepreneurs, lazy reporters, and the power of our collective dreams of technological salvation, this time in the form of personalised medici... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386271 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:00:22 +0100 4386271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377571&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpersonal-genetic-testing-psychological-and-behavioral-effects%2F2011.01.20 In conclusion, personal genetic testing does not seem to generate a lot of distress, although the study was clearly limited by a high dropout percentage of 44 percent and the self-selection of participants who opted to do the test. Article in New England Journal of Medicine: Effect of Direct-to-Consumer Genomewide Profiling to Assess Disease Risk Flashback: An Interview with Navigenics… *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377571 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:00:21 +0100 4377571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318328&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FVf7qikM2ErY%2F By Sharon Terry. A peek into the past can reveal a lot about your future. Family health history is the story of diseases that run in your family. It is one part of the entire history of your family. Along with culture, values, environment, and behaviors, family health history influences the way you live your life. Learning about your family health history can help you make healthy choices: It is a cheap, easy way to improve your own health and the health of your family. Share the information you gather with your healthcare provider to further reduce your risk of disease and create a partnership around your health. Check out the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit in English and Spanish! “A Guide to Family Health History” explains the importance of family health history, how to collect ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318328 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:05:46 +0100 4318328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294593&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007776.html Full sequencing of a 3 year year old's genome enabled identification of a life-threatening mutation and a successful treatment using donor cord blood stem cells. A collaborative team of scientists and physicians at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin uses genetic sequencing to identify and treat an unknown disease. For the one of the first times in medical history, researchers and physicians at The Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin sequenced all the genes in a boy's DNA to identify a previously-unknown mutation. The team was able not only to identify the mutation, but to develop a treatment plan using a cord blood transplant, and stop the course of the disease. The poor... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294593 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4294593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275541&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fgenetic-test-may-refine-psa-or-it-may.html I am going to read this article for the seventh time and get back to you this week. In case you missed it, the PR Firm hired by DeCode pumped out a presser (press release), which I refuse to link to directly.....which essentially said "Analysis of Four SNPs, in Tandem With Genetic Risk Factors Detected by the deCODE ProstateCancer(TM) Test, Yields Substantial Improvement in Efficacy of PSA Screening"OK, 4 SNPs tells us whose PSA value is a bad 2.8 vs. good 5.8?Or at least that's what the Kari S. tells us"This is straighforward genetics with direct clinical utility." -Kari S. (Yes they rushed the release out with the misspelling of "straightforward")Ok, so tell me, how has this straightforward genetic test performed in a prospective analysis?What do you mean you haven't done that yet? So ho... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275541 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:26:00 +0100 4275541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249179&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F996-Do-you-know-what-the-Catholic-Church-teaches-about-human-genetic-engineering.html Would you be surprised to find out that the Catholic Church teaches that some genetic engineering of humans is morally acceptable?  Read here to find out what kinds of human genetic engineering are ethical.  Think you don't need to know?  Think again.  The genetic engineering of humans is around the corner.  Gene therapy trials have already begun.  Find out what is ethical and what is not before human genetic engineering is out of control. (Source: Mary Meets Dolly) Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249179 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:22:06 +0100 4249179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164524&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftalk-to-patients-before-running-tests%2F2010.11.14 The Associated Press ran a provocatively-titled piece recently, “Family health history: ‘best kept secret’ in care”, which noted how a geneticist at the Cleveland Clinic discovered that asking about family members and their history of breast, colon, or prostate cancer was better than simply doing genetic blood testing. Surprising? Hardly. This is what all medical students are taught. Talk to the patient. Get a detailed history and physical. Lab work and imaging studies are merely tools that can help support or refute a diagnosis. They provide a piece of the puzzle, but always must be considered in the full context of a patient. They alone do not provide the truth. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Saving Money and Surviving the H... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164524 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0100 4164524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159395&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F991-Where-the-Catholic-Church-and-Obamas-Department-of-Justice-Agree.html Is there an issue where the current federal administration and the Catholic Church agree?  Yes.  The granting of patents for naturally occurring human genes. Many people are not aware that about 25% of all human genes are patented.  This means that a company or university owns the genetic code that makes up that gene.  They own genes that you have and use in your body everyday.You may be surprised to find out that the patenting of your genes affects you directly. Because a company legal "owns" a gene sequence, they control who is able to test or research that gene.  In the case of genetic testing, labs are limited on what genes they can offer tests for because of gene patents, which limits the choices they can offer patients. Labs that are allowed to test a patented gene pay... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159395 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:50:55 +0100 4159395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159242&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstem-cell-researchers-turn-skin-into-blood-could-help-cancer-treatment%2F2010.11.12 From The Australian: Stem cell researchers have found a way to turn a person’s skin into blood, a process that could be used to treat cancer and other ailments, according to a Canadian study published today. The method uses cells from a patch of a person’s skin and transforms it into blood that is a genetic match, without using human embryonic stem cells, said the study in the journal Nature. Wow. Very cool. I wonder if hopefully someday this could be a replacement for random blood donation? *This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159242 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:00:50 +0100 4159242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4023092&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Freal-men-face-their-breast-cancer-risk%2F Breast Cancer Awareness Month always reminds me of my responsibility to promote awareness and early detection to my girlfriends and the women that I know. I seldom consider the possibility of breast cancer affecting the men in my life, although I should, because it is very real. My boys and their cousin (Sister’s son) are at risk for breast cancer for the same reason as my nieces — their mothers are carriers of the breast cancer gene. Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does happen, and there are men at risk who may never get tested. It generally occurs in older men (between the ages of 60 and 70), and it can be due to abnormal estrogen levels or a family genetic predisposition. Breast cancer can also develop in men who have been exposed to radiation. Male breast cancer also comes... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4023092 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:48:09 +0100 4023092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018142&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F202679%2F Inherited ADHD: A new study suggests that ADHD is genetic. (via CNN) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018142 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:45:04 +0100 4018142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001808&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholism-is-a-disease-of-the-family-2%2F Alcoholism; a disease of families Not only is there a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, but the drinking problems of a single family member affect all other family members. The family environment and genetics can perpetuate a vicious and destructive cycle. Many marriages break up over a husband’s or wife’s drinking. Domestic violence typically erupts when one or both spouses have been drinking, and drinking makes domestic violence more dangerous. Families play a critical role in recovery from alcoholism. They can be instrumental in encouraging a family member with alcoholism to seek treatment. Strong family support also increases the chances for successful recovery. Alcoholism and Problem Drinking – Pervasive in Family Life More than h... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001808 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:39:37 +0100 4001808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976639&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F09%2F16%2Fpersonal-genomics-in-the-news%2F There are 4 articles focusing on personalized medicine I would like to share with you today. Personal Genotyping Course Progress Report At the Stanford School of Medicine’s Scope blog, Lia Steakley recounts student participation in the school’s summer elective course that offered the physicians-in-training the option to study their own genotype data. “Overall, 33 students in the class of 60 … opted for personal genotyping. Ten others analyzed their genetic background using commercial services before the class,” Steakley reports, adding that a Stanford task force will deliberate to determine whether to offer the course again. Our sister publication Genome Technology spoke with Stuart Kim, one of the course organizers, and professors at other medical schools who&#82... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976639 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:58:51 +0100 3976639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938460&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F09%2F07%2Fpersonalized-genomics-in-the-news%2F I would like to share three papers, articles that focus on the personalized genomics market with you. Almost 3 years ago, I wrote about that FDA had suggested two genetic markers to be used to determine the minimal starting dose of Coumadin. Later, in a paper, Rosove et al. said that “The value and cost-effectiveness of genetic testing to reduce bleeding or thrombosis rates remain unknown.” Well, now it seems there is the answer. Patients who received a test of two genes connected to warfarin sensitivity were 28 percent less likely to be hospitalized for a bleeding episode or blood clot than those whose safe and effective warfarin dosing was determined by traditional trial and error method. Also researchers have provided the first published example of genome-scale RNA and DNA... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938460 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:52:18 +0100 3938460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3934505&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F04%2Fspecial-issue-on-schizophrenia-is-free-and-open%2F Late last week, I received this notice that may be of interest to readers who are interested in the topic of schizophrenia and peer-reviewed journal articles: The Special Issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science on Schizophrenia has been getting so much attention that, in special arrangement with our publisher SAGE, we have just made the issue completely Open Access. Open Access means that all the articles are open to anyone to read and download — it’s free! It’s rare to see a journal publisher agree to make an entire issue of their journal open and free to the public to read. So enjoy this little gift from the Association for Psychological Science and SAGE. While schizophrenia is likely to affect less than 1% of the general population, it’s impact on ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3934505 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:08:21 +0100 3934505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3925055&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Fu-s-president-barack-obama-proclaims-september-2010-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month%2F Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those lost to and living with ovarian cancer, and we renew our commitment to developing effective screening methods, improving treatments, and ultimately defeating this disease. The White House Office of the Press [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3925055 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:36:36 +0100 3925055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3921011&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F08%2F31%2Fpersonalized-genomics-on-slideshows%2F When preparing for this year’s Researchers’ Night (details below), I was trying to collect some information and updates about the consumer genomics market for my presentation and found great slideshows. Enjoy! If you thought that research was all about lab coats and Bunsen burners, think again. Like everyone else, researchers come from numerous backgrounds, have diverse interests and pursue a spectrum of hopes and dreams. One thing they all have in common is a passion for research – and they want to share it with you. The European Commission’s ‘Researchers in Europe’ (RIE) initiative allows citizens to get closer to our researchers and gives a face to European research. (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3921011 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:42:35 +0100 3921011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895936&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F23%2Fobama-kanazawa-endogamy-and-religion%2F A recent blog entry by Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist, recently came across my desk that made the outrageous claim that one cannot chose one’s religion. If one’s family is a Muslim, you will be too, no matter what you actually practice — genetically speaking. He relates this piece of news by suggesting that Obama cannot choose to be a Christian, because his family was a Muslim. He suggests that, genetically, Obama is a Muslim no matter what he practices. If this doesn’t pass the basic logic smell test for you, then you’re not alone. Like other world religions, Islam not only is a religion but also comprises largely endogamous ethnic groups. When a group of individuals remain largely or entirely endogamous (marry only other members of the group ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895936 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:27:31 +0100 3895936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895890&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcovertrationingblog.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F876%2F0%2Fobesitydividend.mp3 DrRich has pointed out several times that it is very important to our new healthcare system, as a matter of principle, to be able to discriminate against the obese. The obese are being carefully groomed as a prototype, as a group whose characteristics (ostensibly, their lack of self-discipline, or their sloth, or their selfishness, or whatever other characteristics we can attribute to them to explain how their unsightly enormity differentiates them from us), will justify “special treatment” in order to serve the overriding good of the whole. The obese are a useful target for two reasons. First, their sins against humanity are painfully obvious just by looking at them, so it is impossible for them to escape public scorn by blending in to the population, unlike some less obvious sinners ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895890 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:00:16 +0100 3895890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891656&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F08%2Fits-my-life-its-now-or-never.html By LISA SUENNEN You can walk into a pharmacy any day and buy a test kit to find out if you are ovulating so that you can undertake family planning activities. You can buy home testing kits to screen for... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891656 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3891656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885345&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-dna-dilemma%2F2010.08.19 Mary Carmichael of Newsweek had a great series of articles focusing on direct-to-consumer genetic testing. An excerpt: I’ve been following DTC genetics since 2007, when wide scanning first became available to the public. Since then, a number of writers have gotten wide-scale genetic tests and expounded on the results. Indeed, I sometimes wonder if I’m the last science reporter on earth with virgin genes. (Technical virgin: My doctor gave me a cystic fibrosis carrier test when I was pregnant.) Initially, I put off getting a full-genome scan because I wasn’t sure how useful such a test would be. I had no particular reason to take one, save curiosity. I wouldn’t expect to find anything serious and potentially life-altering like the Huntington’s disease gene in my results, because ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885345 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:00:08 +0100 3885345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876833&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F08%2F17%2Fdna-dilemma-on-newsweek%2F Mary Carmichael at Newsweek had a great series of articles focusing on direct-to-consumer genetic testing. An excerpt: I’ve been following DTC genetics since 2007, when wide scanning first became available to the public. Since then, a number of writers have gotten wide-scale genetic tests and expounded on the results. Indeed, I sometimes wonder if I’m the last science reporter on earth with virgin genes. (Technical virgin: My doctor gave me a cystic fibrosis carrier test when I was pregnant.) Initially, I put off getting a full-genome scan because I wasn’t sure how useful such a test would be. I had no particular reason to take one, save curiosity. I wouldn’t expect to find anything serious and potentially life-altering like the Huntington’s disease gene in my results, because... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876833 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:57:08 +0100 3876833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3861952&cid=t_91718_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fuc-berkeley-drop-genetic-scanning-incoming-freshmen-comply-state-regulations%2F In a perplexing decision, the University of California Berkeley decided to promote incoming freshman class solidarity by offering genetic screening to students. State regulators have said that the campus must comply with regulations concerning medical testing and information release. College administrator Mark Schissel comments. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3861952 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:34:23 +0100 3861952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862193&cid=t_91718_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fmn94xwkWAbU%2F Hello, everyone, nice to see you again. There is a cool and welcome breeze wafting across the Pharmalot corporate campus this morning. And so what better way to greet such inviting weather than with a steaming cup of stimulation? Please join us. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits from around your world. We hope your day is productive and pleasant, and do stay in touch… Indian Supplier Of Gelatin Capsules To Double Output (Bloomberg News) Former Sirtris Execs Sell Resveratol Anti-Aging Supplement Online (Xconomy) Medco And CVS Are Giving A Gene Test To Millions (Bloomberg News) Antibiotic Use Rises After Part D (MedPage Today) New Superbug From India Causes Alarm In The UK (PharmaTimes) FDA Panel Backs Epilepsy Drug From Glaxo And Valeant (Reuters) Sanofi And Genzyme In A Game Of Chicke... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862193 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:07:49 +0100 3862193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858229&cid=t_91718_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fpgd-newest-art.html Open publication - Free publishing - More infertility (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858229 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:37:00 +0100 3858229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858309&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Fhealth-2-0-news-centrifuge-for-labor-and-behind-healthcare-gov%2F Measuring Hospital Quality: The data presented is from The Joint Commission’s 2009 Annual Report on Quality and Safety Database of peer-reviewed articles related to the coverage of medicine on Wikipedia The Facts About Heart Disease through data visualization Centrifuge for Helping Women in Labor: An unbelievable patent How well can a screening test predict disease risk? At the moment the sensitivity and specificity of a lot of genetic tests for complex, polygenic disorders (for which we haven’t yet identified all the genetic variants that increase risk) are unlikely to match those of standard diagnostic or screening tests.  What’s likely is that the predictive capacity of these tests will improve as more variants are identified, and/or if additional non-genetic infor... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858309 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:55:45 +0100 3858309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827000&cid=t_91718_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fcontroversial-ncaarequired-genetic-screening-start-month%2F The controversial new NCAA rule that college athletes competing in NCAA athletic programs must undergo genetic screening for sickle cell trait is due to start next month. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827000 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:05:44 +0100 3827000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827020&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F08%2Fshould-we-fear-genetic-testing.html By THOMAS GOETZ Though the prospect of learning about our DNA might seem wrapped in mystery and intrigue, genetic information is not so different from any other metrics we know about ourselves: Our age, our weight, our blood pressure. With... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827020 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3827020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816657&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F03%2Flargest-study-matching-genomes-to-potential-anticancer-treatments-releases-initial-results%2F The largest study to correlate genetics with response to anticancer drugs released its first results on July 15. The researchers behind the study, based at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, describe in this initial dataset the responses of 350 cancer samples (including ovarian cancer) to 18 anticancer therapeutics. U.K.–U.S. [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816657 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:43:59 +0100 3816657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813143&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F08%2F02%2Fnational-society-of-genetic-counselors-interview-with-elizabeth-kearney%2F Elizabeth Kearney, the President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors in the US, gave me an interview this weekend, and commented on how direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomic companies should provide their customers with genetic counseling, which is a crucial part in the whole process. As President of NSGC, Liz Kearney is responsible for leading the association and serving as the chief spokesperson. Liz is committed to promoting the many benefits genetic counselors bring to other healthcare professionals and patients.  Liz received her genetic counseling degree from the University of Michigan in 1996 and practiced in a variety of settings, including prenatal diagnosis centers, a general genetics department, and a diagnostic laboratory.  She also earned an MBA from Northwestern Uni... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813143 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:25:48 +0100 3813143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3805966&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F07%2F30%2Fpersonalized-genomics-dtc-companies-are-in-huge-trouble%2F Federal ‘Sting’ Slams Gene Tests (New York Times): Watch this video A sad day for personal genomics (Genetic Future): Today’s US Congress Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing into the direct-to-consumer genetic testing industry was a vicious affair. Representatives from testing companies 23andMe, Navigenics and Pathway faced a barrage of questions about the accuracy and utility of their tests, made all the worse by the fact that many of the Committee’s members seemed unable to distinguish between the more responsible companies in the field and the scammers and bottom-feeders. Consumer Genetics Needs More Transparency, Not Excessive Regulation: Daniel MacArthur and Daniel Vorhaus provide potential solutions. What If Your Genetics Defined Your Community? How I go... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3805966 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:36:35 +0100 3805966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790886&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Fyale-identifies-kras-gene-variant-in-ovarian-cancer-patients-with-non-brca-family-history-of-breastovarian-cancer%2F A team of Yale researchers have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the risk of developing ovarian cancer, a hard to detect and often deadly form of cancer. A team of Yale researchers have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the risk of developing ovarian cancer, a hard to detect and [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790886 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:00:00 +0100 3790886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790813&cid=t_91718_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2FKmwipNB0wE0%2Falpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-video-on.html GENETICS from Alpha-1 Association on Vimeo. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790813 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:50:00 +0100 3790813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786159&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F24%2Fgenetic-testing-for-mental-disorders-avoid-23andme-navigenics-others-for-now%2F Genetic testing allows individuals to submit a genetic sample to a company, which then analyzes the genes for known anomalies or other problems. The idea is that by having that information, you may be able to be more aware of potential health problems down the road. Or even stave them off before they become a problem by changing your behaviors, diet, and exercise regimen. Companies like 23andme and Navigenics provide genetic DNA testing reports that purportedly tell you your risk factors for getting not only certain medical conditions, but also mental disorders, like bipolar or attention deficit disorder. This may work fine for some very well-defined health issues, like heart disease (although a recent government investigation into these companies’ abilities to provide even this info... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786159 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:35:23 +0100 3786159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784501&cid=t_91718_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIc5cj0KKC-k%2F And so another work week soons draw to a close. A respite, of course, is always welcome. Already, we look forward to spending time with our oh-so-busy short people, catching up on reading and promenading with the official Pharmalot mascots. And you? How will you keep cool? We trust you have some ideas in mind. While you ponder, here are the latest tidbits. Whatever you do, have a great time and see you soon… Gene Curtails Alzheimer’s In Mice (The Wall Street Journal) Pittsburgh Doctors And Pharma Money (Pittsburgh Business Times) EU Needs More Time To Review Avandia (PharmaTimes) GAO Finds Consumer Gene Tests Are Misleading (Reuters) Lilly Pushes Into Men’s Health Drug (The Indianapolis Star) Negative Clinical Studies Could Avoid Costly Treatments (The Washington Post) Fe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784501 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:52:38 +0100 3784501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776617&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcohol-risk-factors-differ-for-men-and-women%2F Research Summary; Women and men appear to have different genetic and environmental risk factors for alcoholism, Reuters reported. A quartet of new family studies on alcoholism show, for example, that while both sexes are more likely to develop alcoholism if they have a history of aggressive behavior in childhood, women who experienced severe physical punishment in childhood were also at elevated risk, while men were not. "Clearly, there are some common antecedents (to alcoholism), such as conduct disorder or symptoms, but there are also predictors unique to each gender," said researcher Aruna Gogineni of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "These are the kinds of findings that call out for many more studies on women in order to determine how the mechanisms of a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776617 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:05:18 +0100 3776617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767235&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F07%2F19%2Fnumber-of-genomes-sequenced%2F I remember when Hsien-Hsien Lei tried to list all the people who had their genomes sequenced. Here is a more comprehensive list from SNPedia. Now the FuturePundit blog shared some interesting projections about the number of people who would have their genomes sequenced in the future: 2001-2009: A Human Genome 2010: 1,000 Genomes – Learning the Ropes 2011: 50,000 Genomes – Clinical Flirtation 2012: 250,000 Genomes – Clinical Early Adoption 2013: 1 Million Genomes – Consumer Awareness 2014: 5 Million Genomes – Consumer Reality 2015-2020: 25 Million Genomes And Beyond – A Brave New World The cost of sequencing is still decreasing, but the cost of data analysis and whether it can affect medical decision-making are different questions. Even if many of us thought we would be quite ... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767235 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:54:59 +0100 3767235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742311&cid=t_91718_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fafter-failed-ivf-cycle-whats-next.html I just got this email from a patient.Doctor, I am now at my wit's end ! I have failed 4 IVF cycles at 2 different clinics. The doctor transferred 2 beautiful blastocysts each time ! What do I do next ? My doctor is advising surrogacy, since he believes my uterus is rejecting the embryos.IVF failure is reproductive medicine's most frustrating problem ! When beautiful embryos fail to implant in a perfect cycle , it's often impossible to determine "what went wrong" ! A knee jerk reflex is to then consider surrogacy.However, surrogacy is an expensive and complex treatment option, which is best reserved forwomen without a uterus. Research shows that the reason for failed implantation is much more likely to be genetically abnormal embryos , rather than a uterine problem.Just because the embryo t... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742311 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:31:00 +0100 3742311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740787&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F09%2Fesmo-clinical-practice-guidelines-regarding-brca-gene-mutations-ovarian-cancer-supportive-cancer-care%2F The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the leading European professional organization committed to advancing the specialty of medical oncology, and promoting a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment and care. …  The ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines include coverage of  (i) BRCA gene mutations in breast and ovarian cancer, (ii) gynecologic tumors, and (iii) supportive [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740787 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:27:51 +0100 3740787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726782&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fasian-alcoholism-genetics%2F New Findings on Asian Alcohol-Protection Gene Only certain East Asian populations have a high prevalence of a gene that protects against alcohol over-consumption, and researchers speculate that some event must have occurred over the past few thousand years to make this genetic protection advantageous, Reuters reported. Yale University researchers said that unknown environmental factors are the likely cause for the prevalence of the ADH1B*47His gene variant among some Asian populations, but not others. The gene causes rapid metabolism of alcohol into acetaldehyde, a chemical that produces hangovers, flushing, nausea and other unpleasant symptoms that make even moderate drinking a poor experience. Researchers found that the gene variant was very prevalent in East Asia, fairly common in West ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726782 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:27:00 +0100 3726782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714362&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F30%2F5949%2F 23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic company that also launched the 23andWe project in which they tried to use the data they obtain from patients in studies. Now the results are published in PLoS Genetics. Despite the recent rapid growth in genome-wide data, much of human variation remains entirely unexplained. A significant challenge in the pursuit of the genetic basis for variation in common human traits is the efficient, coordinated collection of genotype and phenotype data. We have developed a novel research framework that facilitates the parallel study of a wide assortment of traits within a single cohort. The approach takes advantage of the interactivity of the Web both to gather data and to present genetic information to research participants, while taking care to correct for the... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714362 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:47:23 +0100 3714362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695647&cid=t_91718_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fworlds-first-virtual-ivf-clinic-on.html We have created the world’s first IVF clinic on Second Life. The clinic is now open – please do come and browse around ! We have a reception area where you can watch videos about IVF a consultation room, where you can do a consultation with a virtual IVF specialist an operation theater, where you can watch an egg collection and embryo transfer an IVF lab, where you can see how embryos grow an andrology lab where you can see how we process sperm for IUI a PGD lab, where you can watch how we do an embryo biopsy a virtual support group, where you can get counseling and support Go to Second Life ( www.secondlife.com) and set up a free account. Use the link below to get to the clinic once you in Second Life http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nileswarm/40/... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695647 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:09:00 +0100 3695647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695523&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007275.html Jumping genes are jumping all over human genomes. They are out of control. Though some (probably most) of those jumps to new insertion points do not cause any functional differences. Scientists are finding more variation in the human genome than they had previously expected, now that new technologies are allowing researchers a closer look at the genomes of many individuals, according to a new study from University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers. The study, to be published in the June 25 issue of the journal Cell, is one of the first to take an in-depth look at transposons, known as "jumping genes." Transposons are segments of DNA that can replicate themselves — meaning that each generation of a human... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695523 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3695523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691023&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F23%2Fginahelp-org%2F Have you ever had problems with understanding what GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, is really about? Anyway, this is a U.S. federal legislation that protects Americans from discrimination on the basis of genetic information. According to Spittoon: The Genetic Alliance, the Genetics and Public Policy Center at the Johns Hopkins University, and the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics have created an online resource to help people better understand the protections GINA provides.  This information is available in English and Spanish at www.GINAhelp.org. You can find out more about genetic information, GINA and health insurance; also GINA and employment. (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691023 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:11:27 +0100 3691023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687297&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F22%2Fpersonalized-genetics-fda-dtc-and-gina%2F Here are some interesting news and announcements to keep you absolutely up-to-date regarding the improvements of personalized medicine. Why 23andMe’s Sample Swap is Actually an Argument In Favor of DTC Genetic Testing There are a number of reasons why DTC genetic testing may soon find itself subject to increased federal regulatory oversight. However, 23andMe’s widely publicized data error should not be one of those reasons. In fact, the sample swap, while unfortunately timed, actually presents a compelling argument in favor of the direct-to-consumer model for genetic testing. Challenging the FDA: A History Lesson for DTC Genetics A Positive Response to Genetic Testing A personalized medicine study from the Coriell Institute for Medical Research suggests that patients who underg... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687297 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:58:44 +0100 3687297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695817&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FUUeQOwQ1cyQ%2F New Findings on Asian Alcohol-Protection Gene Only certain East Asian populations have a high prevalence of a gene that protects against alcohol over-consumption, and researchers speculate that some event must have occurred over the past few thousand years to make this genetic protection advantageous, Reuters reported. Yale University researchers said that unknown environmental factors are the likely cause for the prevalence of the ADH1B*47His gene variant among some Asian populations, but not others. The gene causes rapid metabolism of alcohol into acetaldehyde, a chemical that produces hangovers, flushing, nausea and other unpleasant symptoms that make even moderate drinking a poor experience. Researchers found that the gene variant was very prevalent in East Asia, fairly common in West ... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695817 Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:18:17 +0100 3695817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676833&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F18%2Festher-dyson-about-genomics%2F Esther Dyson answers questions about the direct-to-consumer genome market at the recent New York City Quantified Self Show&Tell meetup: (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676833 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:23:47 +0100 3676833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672043&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FAfjobfsd9VI%2F The American National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has announced a ‘Five Year Strategic Plan’ titled ‘Alcohol Across the Lifespan’   The Lifespan Perspective Investigators traditionally have pursued solutions to the wide range of alcohol-related issues through studies of alcohol’s effects on biological systems, the genetic factors underlying these biological effects, and the environmental and cultural factors that influence alcohol use. This Plan applies a new organizing principle – the lifespan perspective – to these diverse areas of alcohol research. Scientists now recognize that human biology and behavior continues to change throughout life and changes occurring throughout the lifespan affect individuals’ drinking pa... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672043 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:29:25 +0100 3672043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658922&cid=t_91718_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F14%2Ffda-to-regulate-genetic-testing-by-dtc-companies-like-23andme%2F Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing refers to genetic tests that are marketed directly to consumers via television, print advertisements, or the Internet. This form of testing, which is also known as at-home genetic testing, provides access to a person’s genetic information without necessarily involving a doctor or insurance company in the process. [definition from NLM's Genetic Home [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658922 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:25:05 +0100 3658922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644932&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F08%2Fpersonalized-genomics-news-from-virtuality-to-the-streets%2F DNA As Crystal Ball: Buyer Beware (Newsweek): A genome-wide association study identified a new gene variant associated with Alzheimer’s disease but it turned out clinically it’s not useful. “Adding these genes to traditional risk factors, such as age and sex, does nothing to aid prediction” of whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s, she told me. “Knowing your genetic status will not help. We may still be in the Stone Age when it comes to gene-based prediction.” Breaking: Congress to Investigate DTC Genetic Testing (Genomics Law Report): A really detailed and interesting review. The United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce today launched an investigation into direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, sending letters to three promine... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644932 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:43:26 +0100 3644932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635962&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2F23andme-swapped-samples%2F What we were all afraid of finally happened. 23andMe admitted that it swapped some samples in the lab. Even if these things happen in labs, it should really not happen in such a sensitive area. We, bloggers and geneticians, have been writing about how hard it is for patients to analyze and interprete their direct-to-consumer genetic results properly and how hard it is for this market to remain attractive despite all the criticisms. And now they swap samples. Daniel MacArthur at Genetic Future has a nice review about all the related articles and news. For example, a mother posted her recent story on the 23andMe community: Still upset I checked family inheritance and noticed my daughter shared with me, and then I checked my son’s. He was not a match for any of us. I checked his haplogr... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635962 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:58:36 +0100 3635962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603755&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F05%2F27%2Fdiygenomics-on-smartphones%2F In personal or direct-to-consumer genomics, what we need is reliable, scientifically correct smartphone applications. Here is DIY Genomics, and Android app, which performs a side-by-side comparison of consumer genomic services such as deCODEme, Navigenics and 23andme by loci and variants for 20 conditions. It also does the same for drug responses and health risks. What can you do? Select 1 of 20 top conditions covered by consumer genomic services Side-by-side locus, gene and SNP comparison of deCODEme, Navigenics and 23andme Selecting any SNP row, comparison of underlying studies cited by company Click-through to PubMed study listing Actually it provides the user with reliable pieces of information that might help interprete the data. (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603755 Thu, 27 May 2010 10:23:06 +0100 3603755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607655&cid=t_91718_122_f&fid=35066&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurodudes.com%2F2010%2F05%2F24%2Fallen-brain-institute-adds-human-brain-data%2F Expression data is now available for over 60K gene probes over the entire human brain. Click here to access this monster data set! More info after the jump. Press release: Dear Colleague, I am writing to let you know that we have just launched our first data set mapping gene expression across an adult human brain.   As with all Allen Institute Atlases, the data is freely available at www.brain-map.org For this first release, we have included: · Spatially mapped microarray data for over 700 distinct anatomic locations throughout the brain and containing information for over 62,000 gene probes with 93% of known genes represented by at least 2 probes · A hierarchical anatomic naming system (ontology) integrating leading schemes for different brain regions · Searches by anatomic region, ... neurodudes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607655 Mon, 24 May 2010 18:48:33 +0100 3607655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595711&cid=t_91718_122_f&fid=35066&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurodudes.com%2F2010%2F05%2F24%2Fallen-brain-institute-adds-human-brain-data%2F Expression data is now available for over 60K gene probes over the entire human brain. Click here to access this monster data set! More info after the jump. Press release: Dear Colleague, I am writing to let you know that we have just launched our first data set mapping gene expression across an adult human brain.   As with all Allen Institute Atlases, the data is freely available at www.brain-map.org For this first release, we have included: · Spatially mapped microarray data for over 700 distinct anatomic locations throughout the brain and containing information for over 62,000 gene probes with 93% of known genes represented by at least 2 probes · A hierarchical anatomic naming system (ontology) integrating leading schemes for different brain regions · Searches by anatomic region, ... neurodudes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595711 Mon, 24 May 2010 18:48:33 +0100 3595711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588958&cid=t_91718_122_f&fid=35066&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurodudes.com%2F2010%2F05%2F21%2Ffirst-organism-from-entirely-synthesized-genome%2F Craig Venter has made a bacterium from an entirely synthesized genome (link is nice summary in WSJ). Here’s the paper in Science. Now, that that’s taken care of… who will be the first to design a “synthetic biological neural circuit”? (Source: neurodudes) neurodudes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588958 Fri, 21 May 2010 19:31:40 +0100 3588958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585611&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcurious-about-your-dna-just-stop-by-walgreens%2F2010.05.20 I’ve been writing about personal genomics for years. The standard concept of it is that you can order such genetic tests online, send your saliva or buccal swab to the lab where they analyze your DNA, then you can check online what kind of diseases you have elevated or lowered risk for. That’s how Navigenics, 23andMe or Pathway Genomics works. Now Pathway had a major announcement: San Diego based startup Pathway Genomics announced [May 18th] that it will begin selling its DNA collection kits at Walgreens drugstores beginning in mid-May, for about $20 to $30. Unlike a pregnancy test, users won’t be able to get results immediately. They will have to send in their saliva sample and then go to Pathway’s website to select the particular test they want. Users choose from drug response ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585611 Thu, 20 May 2010 16:00:07 +0100 3585611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573863&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F05%2F18%2Fpersonal-genomics-comes-to-us-drugstores%2F I’ve been writing about personal genomics for years. The standard concept of it is that you can order such genetic tests online, send your saliva or buccal swab to the lab where they analyze your DNA, then you can check online what kind of diseases you have elevated or lowered risk for. That’s how Navigenics, 23andMe or Pathway Genomics works. Now Pathway had a major announcement: San Diego based startup Pathway Genomics announced today that it will begin selling its DNA collection kits at Walgreens drugstores beginning in mid-May, for about $20 to $30. Unlike a pregnancy test, users won’t be able to get results immediately. They will have to send in their saliva sample and then go to Pathway’s website to select the particular test they want. Users choose from drug ... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573863 Tue, 18 May 2010 13:03:07 +0100 3573863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573775&cid=t_91718_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FQ4Reaa85lRs%2F           Tourette syndrome (TS), or Tourette disorder, is more common Origins of Tourette Syndrome than doctors once thought.  It affects at least 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 people and maybe more.  It is believed that about 100,000 Americans have the disorder. Many more may have other tic disorders that are less severe.  Tourette syndrome is more common in boys than in girls.  It almost always starts before age 18 – usually between ages 5 and 7.  Even though kids with Tourette syndrome can get better as they get older, many will always have it.  The good news is that it won’t make them sick or shorten their lives.  The syndrome is a condition that affects a person’s central nervous system and causes tics.  Tics are unwanted twitches, movements or sounds that ... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573775 Tue, 18 May 2010 09:35:04 +0100 3573775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3569782&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E5%2FNhh_F7xpU4c%2FPR_AJHG_ANCESTRY_TESTING.pdf I met Cynthia in a van from the airport, headed to the annual meeting of Family Tree DNA (familytreedna.com), where I was to speak about genetic testing. A beautiful blonde who looked decades younger than her 60 years, she’d led a painful life, with type 1 diabetes since childhood, just like her father, brother, and grandfather. The family, so they thought, was 100% European, mostly Polish. My talk did not go over well. Genetic testing companies and their customers do not like to hear that a geneticist thinks their tests should be regulated, for reasons of both privacy and accuracy. Cynthia, intrigued despite my warnings, sent off a spit sample to 23andme (23andme.com), to learn about her ancestry. She got that, and more – health information, including a “lower than average” risk o... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3569782 Mon, 17 May 2010 15:19:42 +0100 3569782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3563958&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FUHjGKILo-L8%2F By Archelle Georgiou. On Wednesday, the FDA suddenly decided to impose their regulatory authority on personalized genetic test kits after Walgreens and Pathway Genomics announced they’d be selling them in local pharmacies. But, what triggered this response from the FDA? Are they new? No. These kits have been available to consumers via the Web for 3 years. Have they been off the regulatory radar screen? No. As far back as 2008, the rapid emergence of genetic testing fueled the passage of GINA, a federal law prohibiting health insurers and employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information. Have these companies been quietly launching their strategy and staying invisible? No. They have made major investments in marketing with an abundant amount of media coverage in women&... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3563958 Fri, 14 May 2010 11:57:24 +0100 3563958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3563935&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F178201%2F According to The New York Times, Walgreens pharmacies are holding off selling a new at-home genetic test, because the FDA just challenged legal issues surrounding the test. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3563935 Fri, 14 May 2010 01:00:02 +0100 3563935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560357&cid=t_91718_122_f&fid=35066&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurodudes.com%2F2010%2F05%2F12%2Fmosaic-genetic-methods-not-news%2F Mosaic (genetics) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This has been done for quite awhile but I thought I’d post about it because I think it’s a neat idea — genetically manipulate experimental subjects so that only some cells have the mutation, while others are wild-type. (Source: neurodudes) neurodudes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560357 Thu, 13 May 2010 02:30:08 +0100 3560357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3551987&cid=t_91718_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F022_W3310_10.wmv Download: .wmv (393 MB) | .mp4 (102 MB) Visit the virology W3310 home page for a complete list of course resources. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3551987 Mon, 10 May 2010 16:47:38 +0100 3551987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538090&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-you-own-your-genome%2F2010.05.06 As the costs of sequencing our DNA shrink and the roles of digital media in our lives expand, we will need to understand who (or what) controls the ownership, access and use of our genomic information. From state regulation to Google to Facebook, who controls the acquisition, transmission and replication of our genomic information and material will become an important battle in the 21st century. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Phil Baumann* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538090 Thu, 06 May 2010 14:00:11 +0100 3538090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501581&cid=t_91718_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FfTeyILguohY%2F           Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, inherited and degenerative brain disorder that produces physical, mental and emotional changes.  Named after George Huntington, the physician who first described the illness in 1872, Huntington’s disease was formerly known as Huntington’s chorea, from the Greek for choreography, or dance.  The name refers to the involuntary, jerky movements that can develop in later stages of the illness.  Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have Huntington’s disease, which affects men and women equally across all ethnic and racial lines.  While more common in adults, juvenile Huntington’s accounts for about one-sixth of all cases.  Every child of a parent who carries the HD gene has a 50% chance... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501581 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:29:03 +0100 3501581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501683&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F23%2Fparp-inhibitor-olaparib-benefits-women-with-inherited-ovarian-cancer-based-upon-platinum-drug-sensitivity%2F Olaparib (AZD2281), a new type of cancer drug known as a “PARP inhibitor,” produced promising results in patients with platinum-refractory, platinum-resistant, and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer linked to an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. A new type of cancer drug — known as a “PARP inhibitor” — produced promising results in patients with ovarian cancer linked [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501683 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:38:57 +0100 3501683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501608&cid=t_91718_122_f&fid=35066&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneurodudes.com%2F2010%2F04%2F23%2F999%2F When we learn new information we use only a tiny fraction of the neurons in our brain for that particular memory trace. In order to allow the molecular study of those specific neurons we combined elements of the tet system with a promoter that is activated by high level neural activity (the cfos promoter) to generate mice in which a genetic tag can be introduced into neurons that are active at a given point in time. The tag can be maintained for a prolonged period, creating a precise record of the neural activity pattern at a specific point in time. Using fear conditioning we found that the same neurons activated during learning were reactivated when the animal recalled the fearful event. We also found that these neurons were no longer activated following memory extinction, consistent with... neurodudes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501608 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:43:11 +0100 3501608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499284&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F22%2Fincreased-ovarian-cancer-metastases-identified-in-women-with-brca-gene-mutations-may-shed-light-on-new-treatment-approach%2F U.K. researchers have found that patients with hereditary ovarian cancer – whose tumors are caused by faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes – are more likely to experience metastases of the liver, lung, spleen, and viscera. … [T]he researchers suggest that ovarian cancer patients whose tumors spread to the solid organs … should be tested for [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499284 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:32:44 +0100 3499284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494508&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F21%2Fresearchers-identify-a-new-breast-ovarian-cancer-susceptibility-gene%2F German researchers identify a new breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene known as “RAD51C.”  The risk for breast cancer in women with the RAD51C mutation is 60 to 80 percent, while the risk for ovarian cancer is 20 to 40 percent. The discovery 15 years ago that the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer high risks for [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494508 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:46:29 +0100 3494508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494273&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007116.html A gene that breaks down degrade catecholamines such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine (all neurotransmitters) has variants that influence brain aging and brain performance. The variants come with trade-offs. For the study, researchers followed 2,858 African-American and Caucasian people between the ages of 70 and 79 for eight years. Participants’ DNA was analyzed for the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, a gene shown in studies to affect thinking skills. The allelic variants associated with this gene are the Val and Met variants. The group was also given two types of thinking tests. One test measured skills such as language, concentration and memory. The other test measured response time, attention and judging sights and objects. The study found that the Met variant of.... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494273 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3494273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487290&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F959-Update-on-gene-patents.html Believe it or not there is one issue  out there where the mainstream media and the Catholic Church do not collide.  What is it?  The granting of patents for naturally occurring human genes.  You are probably not aware that about 25% of all human genes are patented.  This means that a company or university owns the genetic code that makes up that gene.  They own genes that you have and use in your body everyday.You also may not be aware that the patenting of your genes affects you directly. Because a company legal "owns" a gene sequence, they control who is able to test that gene or research that gene.  In the case of genetic testing, labs are limited on what genes they can offer tests for because of gene patents, which limits the choices they can offer patients. Labs that ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487290 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:58:00 +0100 3487290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476000&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F957-3-parent-human-embryos-created-in-the-UK.html Previously, I blogged about 3 parent monkeys that were created to "cure" mitochondrial disease.  I warned that there was a push to create 3 parent human embryos for the same purpose.  Well less than a year later, scientists in the UK announced they have created human embryos with 3 genetic parents. Why would scientists want to engineer an embryo with the genetic material from 3 people?  To "prevent" the inheritance of mitochondrial disease.  Not all of our DNA that we inherit is in the nuclei of the egg and sperm that join at conception.  In the cytoplasm of our mother's egg are mitochondria.  Mitochondria have their own DNA called mtDNA.  We inherit our mtDNA only from our mother because sperm's mitochondria are dumped at conception.  There are genetic mutation... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476000 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:18:22 +0100 3476000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471783&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FVfbpbwFJYZ8%2F I’ve been called many names…and, most of the time, I ignore it and let it roll off my back. But last week, I got the ultimate compliment. I was ordained as one of the “Disruptive Women in Healthcare,” a blog site that invites anyone, particularly women, to speak up and challenge the health care status quo. Since I got formal permission to be disruptive (as if I really needed to have someone tell me it’s okay), I am going to allow myself to be a bit irreverent in this blog entry. I apologize in advance. The focus of this week’s blog is on the health benefits of personal genetic testing–an emerging area of medicine that intrigues many people when they read about it, but scares them too much to get tested themselves. Yes, the blog last week had a simi... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471783 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:43:06 +0100 3471783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420672&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FsdoVPlbMcgM%2F A follow up to the post below, see John Hawks, Selection’s genome-wide effect on population differentiation and p-ter’s Natural selection and recombination. As I said, it’s a dense paper, and I didn’t touch on many issues. (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420672 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:31:46 +0100 3420672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420674&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F0-5hB0p-XtA%2F The following passage is from the epilogue of The Real Eve: Modern Man’s Journey Out of Africa by Stephen Oppenheimer: In this book I have offered a synthesis of genetic and other evidence. Everything points to a single southern exodus from Eritrea to the Yemen, and to all the non-African male and female gene lines having arisen from their respective single out-of-Africa founder lines in South Asian (or at least near the southern exit). I regard the genetic logic for this synthesis as a solid foundation, and I have based the rest of my reconstruction of the human diaspora upon it. Obviously, the ‘choice’ of starting point (mine or theirs) determined all the subsequent routes our ancestors and cousins took. Tracing the onward trails is only possible as a result of marked s... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420674 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 07:15:38 +0100 3420674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420678&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FJr_qmaJW7go%2F In conclusion, we have shown that genome-wide human population differentiation in allele frequencies is significantly correlated with recombination rate on a megabase scale, demonstrating that natural selection has had a profound effect on allele frequency distributions averaged over the last hundred thousand years. While these results likely reflect the effects of hitchhiking and background selection, disentangling the strengths of these two forces will require extending the analyses presented in this paper. One important direction is to use genetic maps that have fine spatial resolution, which may shed light on the detailed distribution of selective coefficients that have shaped allele frequency differentiation. A second direction in which these results can be extended is to compare more... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420678 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:28:15 +0100 3420678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3399104&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fpersonalized-genomics-genetic-testing-registry-and-next-gen-sequencing%2F I know I have not been updating you about the improvements of personalized genomics lately, but here are the most interesting and important news focusing on this emerging field of medicine. When DNA means do not ask (TIME): Quite a negative (but partly valid) article from Camilla Long about genetic testing and DTC companies. And the answer for this piece by Genetic Future point by point. If Long wishes to stay ignorant of her own genetic risks – just as she has managed to remain ignorant of the entire field of genetics, even while writing an op-ed piece about it – that should be her choice. But her criticism of others who choose to pursue a greater understanding of their own genetic risk is entirely, horrendously misplaced. Next-Gen Sequencing in 2010 (Mass Genomics): Ever... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3399104 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:10:39 +0100 3399104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395377&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FnbVUbymk-gI%2F Alcoholism is a disease experienced by the family. Not only is there a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, but the drinking problems of a single family member affect all other family members. The family environment and genetics can perpetuate a vicious and destructive cycle. Many marriages break up over a husband’s or wife’s drinking. Domestic violence typically erupts when one or both spouses have been drinking, and drinking makes domestic violence more dangerous. Families play a critical role in recovery from alcoholism. They can be instrumental in encouraging a family member with alcoholism to seek treatment. Strong family support also increases the chances for successful recovery. Alcoholism and Problem Drinking Pervasive in Family ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395377 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:13:17 +0100 3395377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385501&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F03%2F19%2Fpathway-genomics-lets-see-my-genes%2F As I’m doing PhD in clinical genomics and I’m really interested in the connection between internet and medicine, so I was very happy when Pathway Genomics, one of the newest direct-to-consumer genetic companies, offered me a free genetic test. After an interview I did with them, I sent my saliva sample back and 3-4 weeks later, I received an e-mail that my results were ready. This is just an entry about my experience and the things I found interesting. As I got a free test from Navigenics a year ago, I plan to compare these services in a future entry. The reason why I was very interested in the service of Pathway Genomics is what they analyze: Risk markers for 70+ diseases Maternal and paternal ancestry Drug responses Carrier status 1) Sampling: It was quite an easy process... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385501 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:17:47 +0100 3385501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383094&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FFepiWldxlAA%2F Second Edition For nearly a decade, The Addictive Personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Now, through this second edition, author Craig Nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. Going beyond the definition that limits dependency to the realm of alcohol and other drugs, Nakken uncovers the common denominator of all addiction and describes how the process is progressive. Through research and practical experience, Nakken sheds new light on: Genetic factors tied to addiction Cultural influences on addictive behaviors The progressive nature of the disease Steps to a successful recovery The author examines how addictions start, how society pushes people toward addiction, and what happens inside those who beco... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383094 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:25:39 +0100 3383094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366427&cid=t_91718_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAivY3Hc3qck%2F A trial gets under way today involving a former Pfizer biologist who claims she was illegally fired for claiming she was intermittently paralyzed by a genetically engineered virus to which she was exposed, and the proceedings are being closely watched because the alleged incident raises questions about safety practices in genetic engineering, The Hartford Courant writes. Organizations involved in workplace safety and responsible genetic research say the lawsuit filed by Becky McClain is an example of what they claim is evidence that risks caused by genetic manipulation have outstripped more slowly evolving government regulation of laboratories, the paper continues. McClain suspects she was inadvertently exposed, through work by a former Pfizer colleague, to an engineered form of the lentiv... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366427 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:25:33 +0100 3366427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363771&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F03%2F13%2F23andme-medical-advice%2F ThinkGene reported that Myriad and 23andMe perform the same breast cancer genetic test on the BRCA gene. The problem is 23andMe cannot provide medical advice. The conclusion is interesting and it would be great to hear what 23andMe has to say about this. The objections to this claim are that this same test is already defined for use as “health ascertainment or disease purposes” and that the use of this test is already included in standard medical practices in the United States. One implementation of this test for use as “health ascertainment or disease purposes” includes the Myriad “Multisite 3 BRACAnalysis” test. Thus, either the 23andMe “BRCA Cancer Mutations (Selected)” test is medicine, or the the Myriad “Multisite 3 BRACAnalysis” test is not medicine. And the seco... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363771 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:56:52 +0100 3363771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354273&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007005.html The cost of genome sequencing has now fallen far enough that scientists are able to sequence the entire genome of people with rare genetic diseases to identify their causes. James Lupski, a physician-scientist who suffers from a neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth, has been searching for the genetic cause of his disease for more than 25 years. Late last year, he finally found it--by sequencing his entire genome. While a number of human genome sequences have been published to date, Lupski's research is the first to show how whole-genome sequencing can be used to identify the genetic cause of an individual's disease. The project, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, reflects a new approach to the hunt for... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354273 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3354273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302547&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F945-Genetic-testing-doesnt-kill%2C-abortion-does.html I am reluctant to write this post simply because I greatly admire the woman who I am about to comment on.  More importantly, I feel her outrage.  But I feel it is important to put the blame for eugenic abortion where it truly belongs.  Kristan Hawkins, a pro-life mother of a child with cystic fibrosis, writes at LifeNews.com about how prenatal genetic testing is killing babies: As I have written before, I have become deeply involved with the current healthcare reform debate arguing that the system desired by the President and Democratic Congressional leaders will lead to rationing of care and slower development of potential life-saving treatments for children like Gunner. Recently my research into this issue has led me down another path: pre-natal genetic testing.Doing a simple Google s... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302547 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:38:52 +0100 3302547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283506&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fh7eQIpWbePw%2Fdiy-synthetic-biology-more-than.html A few years in his book, A Many-Colored Glass, Freeman Dyson envisioned that the domestication of biotechnology would result in a new art form, as creative as painting or sculpture and would give rise to an explosion of new diverse creatures, few of which will be masterpieces, but “all will bring joy to their creators and variety to our flora and fauna.”  Now, college biology students are competing to see who can create new, living tools to address the planet's problems (e.g., bacteria that   The comments and reactions to the article range from go-get-'em to we-are-destroying-ourselves-and-the planet to philosophical: Sample comment 1:  Genetic engineering by experienced professionals is dangerous enough. Genetic engineering by students is a spectacularly bad idea. S... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283506 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:47:25 +0100 3283506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276041&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F15%2Flibbys-hope-to-present-at-nocc-6th-annual-womens-health-expo-rejuvenate-finding-balance%2F On March 20, 2010, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (Maryland Chapter) will hold its 6th Annual Women’s Health Expo entitled, REJUVENATE Finding Balance (NOCC Rejuvenate), at the Sheraton Annapolis Hotel. … On behalf of Libby’s H*O*P*E*™, I will conduct a seminar as part of Session II entitled, A Patient Advocate’s Perspective on the Importance of [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276041 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:53:26 +0100 3276041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254632&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F935-Does-the-government-have-your-childs-DNA-Updated..html **It seems like the practice of saving newborn screening cards by state governments is getting more and more attention.  This entry is becoming very popular, so I decided to update it a bit with a link to a document that lists which states are saving newborn cards and for how long.**HealthofChildren.comI hate to be so sensational, but I think it is important for parents to understand that your child's DNA maybe stored in a state government facility and you have no idea. Impossible you say? You know that heel stick that your child got in the hospital right after birth?  Some states keep and catalog that blood for use in further research and some envision a time when a whole genome scan is performed on that sample.  There are real concerns that the information provided by that seemingly i... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254632 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:05:51 +0100 3254632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236010&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F933-Surrogates-movie-a-comment-on-enhancement-vs.-therapy.html Last night I saw the latest Bruce Willis flick Surrogates.  It is a story about a world where most everyone uses a robotic surrogate to go about their daily business.  Crime and disease disappear as people no longer interact face to face, but through their synthetic double.  Even husband and wife living in the same house use their surrogates to relate. I won't spoil the movie by giving away the plot details, but I wanted to talk about how most things in science and technology that threaten our humanity begin: as a way to help the sick.  The man who designed the surrogate in this movie did it as a way to help disabled people live a better life.  His vision was taken and used by people who did not need it.  It was used for vain and selfish reasons.The real world is no different.  Whi... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236010 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:40:07 +0100 3236010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216774&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F01%2F28%2Fpathway-genomics-i-spit-again%2F Last year, I got an offer from Navigenics to analyze my salive sample and of course, I gladly accepted it and shared the results with you. I also visited Navigenics HQ in Redwood City. Now, after an interview with Pathway Genomics, I got a chance to send my saliva sample to Pathway Genomics as well. I’m very interested to see the ancestry, carrier status and drug responses. Here are some pictures I took: I plan to share my experiences and also compare the results and the sampling processes which is going to be quite exciting. I will keep you posted. (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216774 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:22:46 +0100 3216774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212502&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fsmartphone-as-a-personal-genome-assistant%2F A few months ago, I wrote about a press release: Using the Google Phone’s built-in bar code reader, Dr. Pellionisz demonstrated how personal genome computing can detect genome-friendly and genome-supportive products from foods to cosmetics to building materials and beyond. You upload data from personal health record system such as Microsoft Healthvault or Google Health; genomic data from 23andMe or Navigenics to your smartphone and then by using the bar code reader, you can find products that are probably good for you based on your genomic and health profiles. Though the system has several limitations (e.g. how useful genomic data is right now regarding medical decisions), it sounds quite interesting. Here is the process on video: (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212502 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:15:32 +0100 3212502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201860&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2010%2F01%2F23%2Festher-dyson-on-personalized-medicine%2F Esther Dyson is a catalysist of start-ups in the IT field, and also a director of 23andMe, the popular direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. She was now interviewed about personalized medicine. (Source: ScienceRoll) ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201860 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:13:25 +0100 3201860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149250&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F918-Can-a-simple-genetic-test-tell-you-your-childs-natural-talents.html I just came upon the website My Gene Profile via one of my favorite genetics bloggers Daniel MacArthur.  My Gene Profile claims that your children have inborn talents and they can discover them for you with a simple genetic test.  They insist that they can tell you what your child's talents are "immediately after birth" with their Inborn Talent Genetic Test.  My Gene Profile claims that you can find out about your child's IQ, athletic ability, creativity, musical ability and social aptitude while they are still an infant because these are genetically determined traits.  Their information comes from the Human Genome Project which sequenced the entire human genome.My Gene Profile says that with their Inborn Talent Genetic Test your parenting woes are over.  You can customize t... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149250 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:18:16 +0100 3149250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136614&cid=t_91718_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FBGgesr1ruaw%2F When a woman is pregnant, in her mind, her baby will be perfect. But perfect isn’t always what we think it will be. Sometimes, our perfect baby is born with a problem, such as spina bifida (hole in the back) or missing a limb, or a heart defect. Birth defects can sometimes be prevented and January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. The goal of the month is to educate as many people as possible, not just mothers, about prevention of preventable birth defects. Taken from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, here are 10 important facts you should know about birth defects: 1 Birth defects affect one out of ever 33 babies in the United States and is the cause of death in one of every five infant deaths. 2 Folic acid (folate) is a vitamin that all women of childbearing ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136614 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:41:36 +0100 3136614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044941&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Fpathway-genomics-interview%2F Some months ago, I wrote about the importance of customer service in the life of direct-to-consumer genomic companies. After the post, Pathway Genomics contacted me and said they were excited to speak more openly about their service. They also want to educate the community on genetic testing services and what these test results will and will not tell you. Here is the interview they have recently given to me. Pathway Genomics is one of the newest competitors in the DTC genomics market. How do you aim to make a difference? Quality. Pathway has a wholly owned federal CLIA and California State licensed laboratory. This onsite lab removes any “middle-man” issues. DNA samples are collected in Pathway’s custom-designed DNA collection kits and shipped directly to Pathway’s laboratory in... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044941 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:46:15 +0100 3044941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3037091&cid=t_91718_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholism-what-is-it%2F Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative social consequences it causes. Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, including dependence and sympt... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3037091 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:57:09 +0100 3037091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008306&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fagenda-for-personalized-medicine-answers%2F A few weeks ago, Pauline C. Ng, Sarah S. Murray, Samuel Levy and J. Craig Venter published a quite an interesting piece  in the October 8, 2009 issue of Nature. In this publication, they had really relevant suggestions for Direct-to-consumer genomics companies such as Navigenics or 23andMe. Now, surprisingly, they two giants published an answer together: Dear Editor: We read with interest the Opinion piece entitled “An agenda for personalized medicine” in the October 8, 2009 edition of Nature. Our two companies, though commercially distinct with differentiated products, would like to respond to this piece jointly to show our commitment to working together in an open, transparent fashion. Our companies agree with most of the recommendations Ng and colleagues made.  Without doubt, geno... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008306 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:06:21 +0100 3008306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2993889&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F11%2F15%2Feuropean-personalised-medicine-diagnostics-association%2F We all know about the Personalised Medicine Coalition: The Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) is an independent, non-profit group that works to advance the understanding and adoption of personalized medicine for the ultimate benefit of patients. Our diverse members work together to educate opinion leaders and the public about the issues that will shape how personalized medicine develops — and how quickly all of us can benefit from it. Now I was glad to see the European Personalised Medicine Diagnostics Association just launched as reported by GenomeWeb. Made up of biotechnology firms, academic and institutional researchers, small and large businesses, and patient advocacy groups, the European Personalised Medicine Diagnostics Association (EPEMED) announced its board of directors this ... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2993889 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:22:05 +0100 2993889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2970207&cid=t_91718_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FVbmPZlSqcW4%2F This month, Disruptive Women welcomes Patrick F. Terry, a self-proclaimed “JAD” (Just A Dad), as our Man of the Month. Q: So, where should we start? You have been involved with founding a number of ground breaking biotechnology companies, life science research foundations, trade associations, philanthropic groups, and a whole host of public policy organizations. A: I enjoy thinking ahead and trying to do the next new thing to advance science, biomedical research, and the business of patient-centered health care. I’m very impatient for change. I consider myself an unrepentant insurgent, renegade, and rabble rouser. I think that is the most powerful disruptive technology there is. That’s why I love the Disruptive Women in Health Care Blog. But honestly, everything I do is i... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2970207 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:44:25 +0100 2970207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923405&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Fpersonalized-medicine-exposes-a-gap-in-medical-education%2F Do you remember the report focusing on how young physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center test their own DNA in search of genes linked to various illnesses? I’ve now just come across a great article in PLoS Medicine about how the dawning era of personalized medicine exposes a gap in medical education. As personal genetic information becomes an increasingly frequent component of the patient medical record, it is crucial that medical students be trained to use and interpret this information appropriately and responsibly. Here, I argue the need for medical education reform that equips physicians with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to practice personalized medicine. In my university credit course, “Web 2.0 in Medicine“, I cover partly this issue ... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923405 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:07:41 +0100 2923405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920446&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdr-kristi-funk-on-breast-cancer-and-genetic-testing%2F I was so blessed to get some time to talk with Dr. Kristi Funk in a phone interview. In my last blog I shared the first part of our interview when I asked her about choosing a lumpectomy over a mastectomy. While she was willing to put forth her thoughts on my questions, Dr. Funk is very supportive of her profession as a whole, indicating that a woman needs to discuss all her options with her own surgeon. Genetic testing for the BRCA gene mutation is one of the biggest advancements recently that we have made in the battle against breast cancer in my mind. So this was definitely an issue I wanted to explore further with Dr. Funk. I know that genetic testing is now being examined by oncologists to help determine the types of treatment to prescribe for a patient with breast cancer, but I wante... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920446 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:49:29 +0100 2920446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912374&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwfK90aoXZSQ%2F This is such a cool application of genetics! By sequencing all the genes of a patient, scientists diagnosed a congenital disease that could not be identified using clinical observations. Because of the “molecular diagnostics technique”, doctors were able to provide a treatment tailored for the disease.   The patient, an infant, was persistently dehydrated and failing to gain weight, and researchers uncovered a gene mutation that was responsible to the infant’s condition called congenital chloride diarrhea. Instead of sequencing all the thousand base pairs in a genome, researchers focused only on DNA that encodes proteins, about 1% of the total genome. DNA mutations in this region can result in a nonfunctional protein, and would have far-ranging effects on health. According to H... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912374 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:57:31 +0100 2912374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902814&cid=t_91718_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F18%2F7-myths-of-depression%2F Depression is often viewed as the “common cold” of mental disorders, because it is so prevalent in our lives. The lifetime prevalence of depression suggests that more than 1 in 9 people could be diagnosed with the disorder at one point in their lives. And unlike some other mental disorders, depression affects virtually every aspect of what you do and how you interact with others. Every year, it wreaks havoc in millions of Americans’ lives, especially amongst those who believe it is something you should just “get over” on your own. Here are seven common myths about depression, and the facts that answer them. 1. Depression means I’m really “crazy” or just weak. While depression is indeed a serious mental disorder, it is no more serious than mos... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902814 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:05:35 +0100 2902814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894753&cid=t_91718_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2Fd3-9WYBUo2U%2Fare-commercial-genetic-tests-worth.html By Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Reading Room Editor...droves of people are flocking to get genetic tests -- which are now marketed direct-to-consumer -- ranging from the $179 CaffeineGen to assess caffeine metabolism to those that claim to gauge risk for Alzheimer's disease. There's also a $79 HomeDNA Home Paternity Testing System that includes, for an additional $25, lab services for the "alleged" father and one child. But whether or not the commercially available genetic tests currently entering the market actually provide any useful information is another question. Editor note: It is my belief that the genetic tests being used for Alzheimer's disease are basically worthless. There is no real documented science underneath these test to show they are of value. In addition, even if you were... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894753 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:12:35 +0100 2894753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2886649&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FR7LcuCQ5FUE%2F Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a potentially fatal genetic disorder caused by a deficient or abnormal blood protein called C1 inhibitor. It causes swelling of the extremities, face, trunk, abdomen or airways. Abdominal attacks can result in severe pain, nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. The attacks can be spontaneous but may also be triggered by stress, surgery or infection. Death may result when the airways close because of the swelling. Only 1 in 50,00 to 150,000 people worldwide/ 1 in 10,000 to 50,000 in the US is affected by this rare dominant mutation, but the mortality is quite high (30%) so it’s really good that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment Hereditary angioedema. The FDA announced that Berinert has been approved for adults and adolescents wi... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2886649 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:58:27 +0100 2886649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881287&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FFccxlRW8-qg%2F Couples at high risk for genetic disorders would prefer to have pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) rather than risk terminating a pregnancy later, a study from Fertility and Sterility Journal showed. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is performed after in-vitro fertilization where an embryo is tested for mutations that can lead to genetic defects, before being implanted into the uterus. Obviously, PGD reduces the need for prenatal genetic testing in the middle of a pregnancy, and avoid having to choose between terminating or continuing on with the pregnancy. The study showed that among 210 Dutch couples with genetic disorders, 60% would prefer diagnostic testing and, of these 74% preferred PGD over prenatal testing. Couples who are high risk for specific disorders and where ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881287 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:50:00 +0100 2881287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879737&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2009%2F10%2F09%2Fpersonalized-genetics-in-the-news-3d-structure-and-bar-code-reader%2F Scientists Decipher The 3-D Structure Of The Human Genome The researchers report two striking findings. First, the human genome is organized into two separate compartments, keeping active genes separate and accessible while sequestering unused DNA in a denser storage compartment. Second, at a finer scale, the genome adopts an unusual organization known in mathematics as a “fractal.” The specific architecture the scientists found, called a “fractal globule,” enables the cell to pack DNA incredibly tightly – the information density in the nucleus is trillions of times higher than on a computer chip — while avoiding the knots and tangles that might interfere with the cell’s ability to read its own genome. Moreover, the DNA can easily unfold and refol... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879737 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:02:09 +0100 2879737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876252&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrjGAhr4M6Hk%2F Over 90% of deaths from breast cancer are caused by metastasis, when the cancer has returned and spread to other parts of the body, including the chest wall, lymph nodes, bones, lungs, liver or brain. But Breastcancer.org says that metastatic breast cancer is more treatable compared to a cancer that starts in the bones or liver so that’s good news. Well, researchers from The Wistar Institute has uncovered another good news – they identified the gene that can suppress the spread of tumor cells in the body! The gene, KLF17, is called a “metastasis-suppressor gene” which prevents the spread of cancer cells from the breast to the lungs (as in the study) when it is turned on, and promotes metastasis when it is knocked down, damaged or absent. The protein from KLF17 attaches itself t... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876252 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:10:35 +0100 2876252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2852016&cid=t_91718_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhen-young-women-have-to-alter-family-planning-because-of-breast-cancer%2F Along with genetic counseling comes the discussion for young women about having children. If someone tests positive for a genetic mutation that makes them predisposed to breast cancer, thoughts immediately turn to treatment and prevention. For women who are younger and have never been pregnant, those thoughts also include how to reduce risks of breast cancer while protecting fertility. I mentioned last week that my niece Nicole is expecting her first child. A couple of years ago she tested positive for the BRCA II mutation, putting an added burden on this childhood survivor of leukemia. While we wait with joy for her baby, we also think about all that that young woman has endured to have this life. She is married to a wonderful, incredibly intuitive and talented young man. They are a beaut... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2852016 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:53:12 +0100 2852016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851966&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FZUeNu28vVNU%2F The normal human karyotype has two sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent, so that we have 46 chromosomes (22 pairs, including either an XX if you’re a female, or XY if male). But sometimes during cell division of the zygote (early in fertilization), the chromosomes don’t divide properly into their respective cells and the developing fetus carries an abnormal number of chromosomes in all cells of the body (termed aneuploidy). Usually the fetus does not survive into full term, but in some cases when the baby does, a rare chromosome disorder happens. Trisomy happens when there are three copies of a chromosome, instead of the normal two copies. Take for example Down Syndrome, which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, resulting in 47 chromosomes.  Every pe... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851966 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:59:26 +0100 2851966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851967&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F4lh20j6D4h4%2F A good eight hours of sleep really does our life good, well into the twilight years! A new study has found that sleep abnormalities in midlife may be linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s later in life. Chronic sleep abnormalities include  insomnia, late-night habits, sleep deprivation and irregular sleep habits. Alzheimer’s is triggered as the peptide amyloid-beta transforms into plaque in the brain’s fluid, and amyloid-beta naturally increases during the day and decreases at night. Published in Science Express, neurologist Jae-Eun Kang and her colleagues found, in both men and mice, that concentrations of amyloid-beta increases during periods of sleep deprivation. When the researchers kept mice awake for an extra 6 hours, the levels of amyloid-beta spiked. So the scientists are ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851967 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:13:00 +0100 2851967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851968&cid=t_91718_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fd0tjpkB_Oss%2F Music and cancer do not go together, and I mean that in the context of this new technology: A project at Harvard Medical School created a program to translate the signals from cells into musical notes. Normal signals will sound harmonious, abnormal signals like those coming from cancer cells will sound awful. Listen to this –     Using date from a pre-existing colon cancer study, bioinformatician Gil Alterovitz and his team created a program that transforms complex genomic information into musical notes, so that abnormal data will sound discordant. “When things go awry, such as in the case of p53-null mutant colon cancer cells under inflammatory stress conditions, gene expression varies slightly, and inharmonious chord progressions result. Listening to the result... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851968 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:11:20 +0100 2851968