Autoimmune diseases—i.e. diseases where our own immune system damages the body—are growing, but we know little about what triggers them. Researchers are now a step closer to finding an explanation. With the help of a new technique, researchers from Aarhus University have succeeded in identifying the particles in the blood that determine the development of […]
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Study identifies nearly 600 genetic loci associated with anti-social behavior, alcohol use, opioid addiction and more
An analysis of data from 1.5 million people has identified 579 locations in the genome associated with a predisposition to different behaviors and disorders related to self-regulation, including addiction and child behavioral problems. With these findings, researchers have constructed a genetic risk score—a number reflecting a person’s overall genetic propensity based on how many risk […]
In-depth analysis identifies causes and mitigation efforts in COVID-19 cluster
Hospitals across the United States have gone to great lengths to implement infection control measures to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2. And yet, as the pandemic has unfolded, many health care settings have experienced clusters of cases, with the virus spreading among patients, staff or both. Some clusters have been easily traced back to break rooms […]
New technique identifies important mutations behind Lynch syndrome
Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer. While 90% of cases are in people older than 50, there is an as-yet unexplained rising incidence in younger people. Family history ranks high among risk factors for developing colorectal cancer, and people with such a history are often advised to get more frequent screening […]
Study on placenta membrane cells identifies genetic markers associated with preterm birth
A new research study from the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center led by investigators at the University of Chicago has identified new genetic markers associated with gestational length, providing new insights into potential risk factors for preterm birth. In a collaboration between multiple labs and funded through the March of Dimes Foundation, the investigators […]
Research identifies sperm biomarker associated with couples’ pregnancy probability
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified a single-measure biomarker in sperm mitochondrial DNA that may predict male reproductive health and pregnancy success. The discovery applies not just to couples seeking care for infertility but also for the general population. This biomarker could become a more accurate predictor of male infertility than semen […]
International team identifies a new regulatory pathway in bladder cancer
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Insilico Medicine announce the publication of a new research paper titled “GULP1 regulates the NRF2-KEAP1 signaling axis in urothelial carcinoma” in Science Signaling. The KEAP1-NRF2 pathway plays a key role in cancer prevention and protective cellular responses to oxidative and electrophilic stress. In normal and premalignant tissues […]
Deep learning identifies molecular patterns of cancer
A new deep-learning algorithm can quickly and accurately analyze several types of genomic data from colorectal tumors for more accurate classification, which could help improve diagnosis and related treatment options, according to new research published in the journal Life Science Alliance. Colorectal tumors are extremely varied in how they develop, require different drugs and have […]
Liver-chip identifies drug toxicities in human, rat, and dog models
Among the numerous microengineered Organ-on-a-Chip (Organ Chip) models developed at the Wyss Institute, the Liver Chip is of special interest to a number of industries because the real-time analysis of complex biochemical interactions could greatly enhance the liver toxicity testing that is ubiquitous in the development of drugs, foods, and other consumer products. The Wyss […]
Hope for millions of Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers as research identifies cause of pain as ‘gut itch’
This is big news for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients: 11 percent of the world’s population suffers from IBS, but the fight against chronic pain has taken a major step forward with scientists identifying receptors in the nervous system which cause the condition in the hope of developing effective treatments. Flinders University researchers at SAHMRI […]