Newly discovered gene promotes muscle strength

Researchers have identified a gene that promotes muscle strength when switched on by physical activity, unlocking the potential for the development of therapeutic treatments to mimic some of the benefits of working out. The University of Melbourne-led study, published in Cell Metabolism, showed how different types of exercise change the molecules in our muscles. This resulted in the discovery of the […]

One in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at higher risk of several common diseases

Around one in 500 men could be carrying an extra X or Y chromosome — most of them unaware — putting them at increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, say researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Exeter. In a study published in Genetics in Medicine, researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK […]

Largest genetic study of migraine to date reveals new genetic risk factors

An international consortium of leading migraine scientists identified more than 120 regions of the genome that are connected to risk of migraine. The groundbreaking study helps researchers better understand the biological basis of migraine and its subtypes and could speed up the search for new treatment of the condition, which affects over a billion individuals worldwide. In the largest genome […]

NICE (UK) recommends Adakveo as a treatment for preventing recurrent sickle cell crises – Novartis

Novartis is pleased to announce that eligible patients in England and Wales will soon have routine access to Adakveo (crizanlizumab) under a Managed Access Agreement (MAA). The news comes as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), published the Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommending crizanlizumab as an option for preventing recurrent sickle cell crises (two or more vaso-occlusive […]

Our genes shape our gut bacteria, new research shows

Our gut microbiome — the ever-changing “rainforest” of bacteria living in our intestines — is primarily affected by our lifestyle, including what we eat or the medications we take, most studies show. But a University of Notre Dame study has found a much greater genetic component at play than was once known. In the study, published recently in Science, researchers discovered […]

Nearly one in five patients who die from unexplained sudden cardiac death have suspicious gene, study finds

“Genetic screening isn’t routinely used in cardiology, and far too many patients still die suddenly from a heart condition without having any previously established risk factors. We need to do more for them,” said study corresponding author Aloke Finn, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UMSOM. To conduct the study, Dr. Finn and his colleagues performed genetic sequencing in […]